*[Die Tulpen bluehen schon.]
There is an interesting genealogy group called the International Black Sheep Society of Genealogists ! Their motto is, “A baaad ancestor is good to find. . .”
There is an excellent purpose to the Society. First, it is a way to overcome the “wall of silence” that impedes family history research. Rather than hide the facts, bring them out into the open and admit that your ancestor was not a noble creature. Once the facts are exposed, one can normalize the views of the black sheep family members. Then one can understand the factual place the person had in the family regardless of the ancestor’s behavior.
One could say that one’s ancestor occupied an electrifying chair at a New York higher institution, or one could say that one’s ancestor was electrocuted at Sing Sing prison. Once you admit the truth of the facts, you can openly proceed to discuss the case and you have grounds to join the IBSSG.
To join, you need an ancestor who qualifies. If your spouse has a black sheep ancestor, you may also join. If the direct ancestor had black sheep siblings or a spouse, then that ancestor can get you into the Society. At the extreme, the ancestor need only have lived in the same household as black sheep. The general rule is that the direct ancestor of you or your spouse need only be tainted by a close connection to a black sheep if the ancestor were not a black sheep. (The society has a "once removed" rule.)
What makes a black sheep? Murder, kidnaping, armed robbery, treason, major theft, membership in a famous gang, assassin, felon, FBI most wanted list, extreme public embarrassment, involvement in witchcraft trails, bigamy, and being expelled from normal society can you in the society. You may have other reasons that will have to be examined. Living with a partner without the benefit of marriage probably won’t do it. Being a pirate is problematic.
If you think you might qualify, you can investigate at this web site: blacksheep.rootsweb.com/main.htm.
If you do qualify and you join the society, you may add the letters IBSSG after your name.
Now, the next question is, “Are any of the readers here members already?” And the next question after that is, “Do you think you might qualify?”
*[The tulips are already blooming.]
(30 Mar 07)
We gratefully acknowledge the work of John Blankenbaker who published over 2,500 Germanna History Notes via the Germanna-L@rootsweb.com email list from 1997 to 2008. We are equally thankful to George Durman (Sgt. George) for hosting the list and republishing the notes via rootsweb.com.