Begin forwarded message: > > > Ten Commandments for Ancestors > > Thou shalt use the same forenames, (preferably Mary, Elizabeth, > William and Thomas), for at least one person in each > > generation. > > Thou shalt wait the maximum amount of time before registering births > and deaths, or better still somehow forget to get > > them registered at all. > > Thou shalt use every conceivable spelling for your surname, and make > up a few as well. > > Thou shalt never use the same year of birth or birthdate. Always vary > it, adding on a couple of years > > here and taking away a couple of years there. > > Thou shalt use the house name and county or state as your place of > birth, and not the village or town. > > Thou shalt disappear without trace for at least 15 years of your life, > and suddenly turn up again. > > Thou shalt not have all of your children baptised, and shall only use > the same church sometimes. > > Thou shalt get married somewhere that neither of you live and never > use family members as witnesses. > > Thou shalt run a mile when confronted by any record keeper; if caught > thou shalt be stricken by amnesia. > > Thou shalt obey these commandments during your lifetime as often as > possible, with the constant aim of confusing and > > befuddling any descendants who may interest themselves in your history. > > .