Annmarie Throckmorton, M.A.
- Feb 23, 2021

Intimidating Search

"The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints provides FamilySearch free of charge to everyone, regardless of tradition, culture, or religious affiliation. Originally intended for Church members, FamilySearch resources help millions of people around the world discover their heritage and connect with family members." So I created an account on https://www.familysearch.org.

The worldwide headquarters of the Latter-day Saints is The Salt Lake Temple, 40°46′14″N 111°53′31″W, elevation 4,327 feet, which is very high above sea level. Everyone has avoidance techniques, sometimes I try to sidestep intimidation by moving into the abstract, by quantifying.

I have had some experience with Mormons, as Latter-day Saints were more commonly known in the mid-1900s. When I was a very young adult my Mormon girlfriends took me to some of their social events, a hayride, a juice and cookies mingle event, and such. I was startled by how seriously these boys and girls took marriage and finding a good match, it seemed too soon to me. (Any problems with polygamy and child brides was in the past or hidden.) Later I had several married Mormon friends, and they were wholesome, pleasant, cheerful. I liked them more than some other sorts of people I have met. When I was in Salt Lake City, Utah, I visited what was then known as the Mormon tabernacle, and I was impressed by its grandeur. In Phoenix, Arizona I was ushered into an inner sanctum of the Phoenix Arizona Temple - Church of Jesus Christ, where I was to considered whether I wanted Mormon instruction. I did not, although I appreciated their gift of The Book of Mormon, and I read it entirely as I have read the teachings of many faiths.

The website FamilySearch informs me that there are 7,216 people with the last name Throckmorton* in their shared Family Tree, which feels like too many. I will search them with intrepidity. My dear friend from university, Tinia told me to approach my progenitors with all my love. One of my mottos is to: take good advise when it is given.

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English: habitational name from Throckmorton in Worcestershire, possibly named from Old English þroc ‘beam bridge’ + mere ‘pool’ + tūn ‘enclosure’, ‘settlement’. Emphasis added. Source: A Dictionary of American Family Names. "Technically a mere is a lake that is really shallow in relation to its size (breadth)."

So, essentially Throckmorton derives from a bridge over a swamp. It is good to live beside a swamp where one can hunt dinner, or hide from enemies, depending on the circumstances!