On 17 January 2013   I published my 1st post for this blog,  so  today is my  13th  blogiversary ! In those years August 2018, October 2019 and January and November 2022 were the months with the most posts. Of course it’s not about quantity, but about quality. I've tried to achieve quality by writing about topics that arouse my interest. The stories on this blog are usually not about my own ancestors, but about people who catch my attention while doing research. Nowadays, with my own ancestors, I often find myself stuck in missing or illegible sources. Therefore, new research often depends on newly available transcriptions of sources that have become available. In villages with mostly missing sources, like 's-Gravendeel and Sint Anthoniepolder in South Holland, I try to include many people of those and their surrounding villages in my database, hoping that someone will marry a relative of mine, I didn't know before. Occasionally, I do find a small addition this way. Other times I find small additions in genealogical magazines. These were Popular Blog Posts in 2025: * The Kleinjan family and their American branch (2013) * Anneke Jans and the Webber Controversy (2013) * Alberdiena Rientjes was locked up in a mental institution (2025) * Divorce and longevity for Johanna Schenk in Gouda (2025) * Short-lived Marriage ~ Maria Fresia Kromme and Hermann Franz Kromme (2025) * Paternal ancestors of rock star Eddie van Halen in Dordrecht (2025)

Twelve years ago on this day, I launched this blog!

Every year on the 14th January, I mark the anniversary of my first blog post from 2002. Which is today, and so it’s been 24 years since I started blogging. That being said, I took a four year gap between...

The commemoration of Unwanted Life's blog being active for another year has finally arrived, so why not join in on the celebration

Hello followers, blog readers, and new people one and all, I am going to write this one in a letter format because I want this one to feel closer to my heart than previous ones. So let’s get into some more personal stuff first before getting into some important sorts of blog information. Mainly music playing music, the instability at work, and sitting on councils of people that make decisions for other groups of people.

Welcome to my 10 year blog anniversary!

Surprise, surprise! This week marks my First Blogiversary here at Under the Elderberry Tree! My very first introductory post went live on the last day of 2024 and a year ago today I wrote about a drea...

Here we are again! Another year down, and another year closer to a big milestone! :) Maybe next year I will actually post this on my actual blogiversary!

Barbara Marsden was dazzling at the Wavering New Year Social and Dance, wearing a stunning yellow dress. But she never came home. Despite numerous searches, no trace was found of her. A month later…

Alt: a birthday cake from lucas & friends with strawberries and candles

Thanks for stopping by! I’m still a little shocked that my little blog is ten. How can it be ten years since I started my blog?! It’s been a bit up and down at times especially this year but hopefu…

Thanks for stopping by! I’m still a little shocked that my little blog is ten. How can it be ten years since I started my blog?! It’s been a bit up and down at times especially this year but hopefu…

Thanks for stopping by! I’m still a little shocked that my little blog is ten. How can it be ten years since I started my blog?! It’s been a bit up and down at times especially this year but hopefu…

Thanks for stopping by! I’m still a little shocked that my little blog is ten. How can it be ten years since I started my blog?! It’s been a bit up and down at times especially this year but hopefu…

Fifteen years ago today this blog  was born !     Thanks to you...

Cupcake with a single lit candle celebrates a blog’s birthday.