Cool things come to those who are patient

[JohnR]

Wow - nice finds though sorry for your wife's loss.

[FishermanTim]

Isn't it sad when the siblings only show interest, or bother to help when there is something they can get/take?

I'm sorry for your wife's loss. She sounds like a daughter any father would be proud to have.....Sorry she didn't have similar siblings.


I have a friend whose grandparents passed away, and left some properties for the family when they passed. Well, the first thing was the furniture in their house. The siblings came by and proceeded to claim pieces (That chest is mine, that table and chairs are mine, etc...)

OK, that was pathetic enough as it was, but when they learned about the property in Marshfield that was to be sold, these same "loving, caring children" were demanding their "share" of the proceeds.

Now keep in mind that my friend and his father spent countless weekends trying to clean up the properties without as much as one "loving, caring sibling" lifting a finger to help.

Once the properties were sold, my friend's father took his portion (plus extra for the work he put in to it) and left the rest for the vultures to fight over. They also complained that he took more than his share, but my friend's father's lawyer explained to them that they were lucky to get what they did.

It's a shame when people get to show their true colors, and their colors are dull and faded.

[Jimbo]

Thanks for the sincere wishes. My wife's sisters and brother really aren't bad people, it's just very upsetting to me that I think their priorities are screwed up, but my wife won't let me say anything about that. Maybe mine are, but I was brought up in a family where having things around that tie you to your ancestors was and still is a big deal. So far we haven't been able to find a family tree so it's been sort of an adventure figuring out who originally or at one time belonged to what and what significance it might have had that my father in law hung on to it. Probably gets a little boring at this point, but I have to finish this. That rifle I found belonged to my wife's great grandfather, who it turns out raised my father in law from a child because his own parents didn't want him. Great Grand Pappy was indeed in the military and was one of the founders (comprised of veterans of foreign service in the Spanish American War and WWI) of the Downingtown, PA VFW. The rifle and his approximate age more likely puts him in the Spanish American War. I'm right now trying to contact the VFW to see if they have any records they can share. It's no longer "just" a gun from the attic and I'm really excited to find out if it went up San Juan Hill with Teddy and the boys. I'll shut up now.

[Swimmer]

Originally Posted by Jimbo

Thanks for the sincere wishes. My wife's sisters and brother really aren't bad people, it's just very upsetting to me that I think their priorities are screwed up, but my wife won't let me say anything about that. Maybe mine are, but I was brought up in a family where having things around that tie you to your ancestors was and still is a big deal. So far we haven't been able to find a family tree so it's been sort of an adventure figuring out who originally or at one time belonged to what and what significance it might have had that my father in law hung on to it. Probably gets a little boring at this point, but I have to finish this. That rifle I found belonged to my wife's great grandfather, who it turns out raised my father in law from a child because his own parents didn't want him. Great Grand Pappy was indeed in the military and was one of the founders (comprised of veterans of foreign service in the Spanish American War and WWI) of the Downingtown, PA VFW. The rifle and his approximate age more likely puts him in the Spanish American War. I'm right now trying to contact the VFW to see if they have any records they can share. It's no longer "just" a gun from the attic and I'm really excited to find out if it went up San Juan Hill with Teddy and the boys. I'll shut up now.

Jimbo, everyone's service record are public records. You can access them through the Veterans Administration.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[nightfighter]

Originally Posted by Swimmer

Jimbo, everyone's service record are public records. You can access them through the Veterans Administration.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

The VA had a fire a number of years back. Many records were lost, including those of my father's service in WW2.

[Jimbo]

Thanks for those tips. I may be on to something now.