I am a Laird. Charles Laird actually. I was born a Laird, born to a Laird and currently live in the Fort Worth, Texas area. My grandfather was from Illinois, but I really didn’t get to know much from him, given he was born in 1899 and he died before I was a teen. I started doing genealogy when I was 16, after seeing the work that a great uncle of mine had done from long before my time. His name was Maurice and he was from the Thompson line which is the family he did most of his research for. He had not done any work with the Laird line and so it was a fresh start. My grandmother told me lots of stories about the work he did.
When I originally started this adventure, the source of family information that I had at my disposal was in the form of microfiche at the local state library. A lot has changed since the 80’s. But I was able to get some valuable family information and it ultimately led me to some very thin information for my 4-G grandfather John Lard in Sangamon County, Illinois. But it very much sparked my interest. I was getting to meet family I had never even heard of though books and censuses and tales of my family from many different people.
I don’t know many Lairds. My dad, older brother and I are the only direct family we have – but of course my brother and I had some children. The bigger point is that we don’t have much in the way of family at all. Genealogy has actually helped me to connect with a few other Lairds, that I would not likely have come in contact with otherwise. I have had the fortune of connecting with a 4th cousin once removed, through a random conversation with a Laird up near Chicago, which led to talking with his father about genealogy and ultimately that we are related. What an awesome experience and we stay in touch from time to time. I have spoken with other Lairds and as of yet, I’m not sure if we are related or not. And so my search continues. If you or someone you know is a Laird or Lard, do please let me know. Family is really important and it would be a pleasure to meet you. Be blessed.