Genealogy Humor

Susan Angeline Schumacher Lostetter Here is the "Candy Bomber"

Colonel Gail S. "Hal" Halvorsen USAF Ret.

Thank you, Eldon. And,

Colonel Gail S. "Hal" Halvorsen USAF Ret. is my husband's aunt's husband's second great uncle's wife's niece's wife's brother's wife's niece's husband's great grandson.

Have a super day,

Susie

Pat...that Turkey Talk is a Hoot!

Eldon Lester Clark , do you think that video about Col. Gail "Hal" Halvorsen should be attached to his profile??? (Maybe in the Media/video section???) I just listened to it in full and thought it would be a nice tribute to him & addition to his profile. What do you think???

With all of the weather issues many are enduring, I hope this will result in a few chuckles.

Thanksgiving Weather Forecast

In the pre-Thanksgiving rush, we have received an early weather report from our in-house weather reporters. This is one, you should be sure to email your Mom. Turkeys will thaw in the morning, then warm in the oven to an afternoon high near 190F. The kitchen will turn hot and humid, and if you bother the cook, be ready for a severe squall or cold shoulder.


During the late afternoon and evening, the cold front of a knife will slice through the turkey, causing an accumulation of one to two inches on plates. Mashed potatoes will drift across one side while cranberry sauce creates slippery spots on the other. Please pass the gravy.


A weight watch and indigestion warning have been issued for the entire area, with increased stuffiness around the beltway. During the evening, the turkey will diminish and taper off to leftovers, dropping to a low of 34F in the refrigerator.


Looking ahead to Friday and Saturday, high pressure to eat sandwiches will be established. Flurries of leftovers can be expected both days with a 50 percent chance of scattered soup late in the day. We expect a warming trend where soup develops. By early next week, eating pressure will be low as the only wish left will be the bone.

Patricia Ann Scoggin I never look at the media tab but it couldn't hurt. Those of us of a certain age :-) know the story but there are some who might find it interesting. If you want to do it, go ahead..

Off topic, The sticky posts are now dominating the discussion first page for curators so we need to look further to find unread ones.

BAD Parrot....................

A young man named John received a parrot as a gift.
The parrot had a bad attitude and an even worse vocabulary.

Every word out of the bird's mouth was rude, obnoxious and laced with profanity. John tried and tried to change the bird's attitude by consistently saying only polite words, playing soft music and anything else he could
think of to 'clean up' the bird's vocabulary.

Finally, John was fed up and he yelled at the parrot. The parrot yelled back. John shook the parrot and the parrot got angrier and even more rude. John, in desperation, threw up his hand, grabbed the bird and put him in the freezer.

For a few minutes the parrot squawked and kicked and screamed.
Then suddenly there was total quiet.
Not a peep was heard for over a minute.

Fearing that he'd hurt the parrot, John quickly opened the door to the freezer. The parrot calmly stepped out onto John's outstretched arms and said ..."I believe I may have offended you with my rude language and
actions..... I'm sincerely remorseful for my inappropriate transgressions and I fully intend to do everything I can to correct my rude and unforgivable behavior."

John was stunned at the change in the bird's attitude.

As he was about to ask the parrot what had made such a dramatic change in his behavior, the bird spoke-up, very softly.....
....."May I ask what the turkey did?"

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Not Humorous ...and certainly Not Kosher...but a historical fact...
..."Bacon was responsible for the new scientific age"...

-- from Rebellion by Peter Ackroyd.

Though glimmerings of the scientific age came before him, Frances Bacon can be said to have truly announced that new age in 1605 with the publication of his book The Advancement of Learning. Prior to that time, men of learning had relied on the writings of the esteemed philosophers of the past more than their own direct observations. For example, men believed that a heavier object fell faster than a lighter one because Aristotle had written so. Then Galileo leaned out of the Leaning Tower of Pisa (according to Viviani), dropped two balls of different weight, and disproved Aristotle's theory. In his book, Bacon charged that "men have withdrawn themselves too much from the contemplation of nature, and the observations of experience, and have tumbled up and down in their own reasons and conceits":

15 Medieval Hygiene Practices That Might Make You Queasy

http://www.answers.com/article/1234182/15-medieval-hygiene-practice...

SCHOOL DAZE...

Students in an advanced Biology class were taking their mid-term exam.
The last question was, 'Name seven advantages of Mother's Milk’.
The question was worth 70 points or none at all.
One student, in particular, was hard put to think of seven advantages.
However, he wrote:

1) It is perfect formula for the child.
2) It provides immunity against several diseases.
3) It is always the right temperature.
4) It is inexpensive.
5) It bonds the child to mother, and vice versa.
6) It is always available as needed.

And then the student was stuck.
Finally, in desperation, just before the bell rang indicating the end of the test, he wrote:
7) It comes in two attractive and spillproof containers and is high enough off the ground where the cat can't get it.

He got an A.

Here is some history I'll bet you didn't know... At least this is what some 8th graders had to say about the Pilgrims and Thanksgiving...

History of the Pilgrims
(These are selections from a book called "Then Some Other Things Happened", a collection of short pieces about history written by eighth graders and compiled by Bill Lawrence, a teacher and columnist. Wording and spelling have not been changed.)

PILGRAM INTERUPTERS

The Pilgrams were a bunch of English wonderers who wanted to worship as they wanted to. They excaped the Church of England and came over here because they heard that American churches were different.

The May Flower was the ship with which they came in. It didn't have a bathroom on board so there was quite an oder. Priscillia Mullins was the captain.

First the Pilgrams had gone to Holland but left when their children started developing customs there. After a stopover at Williamsbug when a large storm blew them off course they landed on a big, slimey rock in Massatusetts. They spent the winter there.

Before they got off the ship even they drew up an agreement for the people of Plymouth to agree on the voting for governors and congressmen. They kept this hid in the May Flower Compact. Lord Delaware was elected the first governor of Plymouth Rock.

A friendly Indian named Rhone Oak showed the Pilgrams how to plant corn by putting it in the ground. Rhone Oak had been the first Indian to come to America and always wanted a beer. He traveled around with Miles Standy and translated language. He knew enough English to interupt.

Another interupter for the white man was Squanto, who was called that because he was so short. Squanto drew up a declaration to give the settlers freedom of government in the new land. The Pilgrams gave the Indians thanks for all this and that's what started Thanksgiving.

The Pilgrams then appointed Thanksgiving as a national holiday. Abraham Lincoln later pronounced it and gave it to them and it soon became a national holiday all around the world.

These people always wore old shoes with a big buckel on the top of them. The men wore pants that only came a little ways past the knees and the girls wore funny bonets.

But if these people wouldn't had of come to America the United States wouldn't be like it is today.

17. Ring Around the Rosy Rhyme

AKA as Ring a ring o' rosies
Ring around the rosy

A pocketful of posies

"Ashes, Ashes"

We all fall down

AKA
Ring-a-Ring o'Rosies

A Pocket full of Posies

"A-tishoo! A-tishoo!"

We all fall Down!

Connections to the Bubonic Plague (Black Death)?
 The words to the Ring around the rosy children's ring game have their origin in English history. The historical period dates back to the Great Plague of London in 1665 (bubonic plague) or even before when the first outbreak of the Plague hit England in the 1300's. The symptoms of the plague included a rosy red rash in the shape of a ring on the skin (Ring around the rosy). Pockets and pouches were filled with sweet smelling herbs ( or posies) which were carried due to the belief that the disease was transmitted by bad smells. The term "Ashes Ashes" refers to the cremation of the dead bodies! The death rate was over 60% and the plague was only halted by the Great Fire of London in 1666 which killed the rats which carried the disease which was transmitting via water sources. The English version of "Ring around the rosy" replaces Ashes with (A-tishoo, A-tishoo) as violent sneezing was another symptom of the disease. We recommend the following site for comprehensive information regarding the Bubonic Plague. 
http://www.william-shakespeare.info/bubonic-black-plague-elizabetha...

From: http://mentalfloss.com/article/55035/dark-origins-11-classic-nurser...

Considering that some of today’s classic nursery rhymes are more than two centuries old, there are often several theories surrounding their origins—and not a lot of sound proof about which argument is correct. But of all the alleged nursery rhyme backstories, “Ring Around the Rosie” is probably the most infamous. Though its lyrics and even its title have gone through some changes over the years, the most popular contention is that the sing-songy verse refers to the 1665 Great Plague of London.“The rosie” is the rash that covered the afflicted, the smell from which they attempted to cover up with “a pocket full of posies.” The plague killed nearly 15 percent of the country’s population, which makes the final verse—“Ashes! Ashes! We all fall down”—rather self-explanatory.

But Snopes labels this reading false, and quotes folklorist Philip Hiscock with a more likely suggestion: That the nursery rhyme probably has its origins "in the religious ban on dancing among many Protestants in the nineteenth century, in Britain as well as here in North America. Adolescents found a way around the dancing ban with what was called in the United States the 'play-party.' Play-parties consisted of ring games, which differed from square dances only in their name and their lack of musical accompaniment. They were hugely popular, and younger children got into the act, too."

Family Tree

I climbed my family tree and found it was not worth the climb;
And so, I scampered down, convinced it was a waste of time.
Some branches of my tree, I found, were rotten to the core.
And, all the tree was full of sap and hung with nuts galore!
I used to brag of my kinfolk, before I made the climb, but truth compels me not to tell of those not worth a dime.
And I beg friends, who boast aloud of their ancestors great,
To climb their family tree and learn of those who weren't so straight.
I've learned what family trees are like, I've seen them growing 'round.
They're like a 'tater' vine because, the best are underground!

What can I say about this one other than I wonder if she was a blond... sorry blonds. If you didn't grow up on a farm, maybe you wouldn't know... What do you think???

The Tale of the Pregnant Turkey

One year at Thanksgiving, my brothers and I were invited to my sister Jenny's house for the traditional feast.

Knowing how gullible my sister is, we decided to play a practical joke. My two brothers lured Jenny outside to check out some trees at the bottom of the garden.

As soon as Jenny left I took the turkey out of the oven, removed the stuffing, and replaced it with a partridge. Then I replaced the bird carefully in the oven.

Later, when the turkey was cooked my sister took the bird out of the oven and when it had rested she started to carve it. Then she decided to add the stuffing. Much to her amazement she found the partridge. At this point our mother piped up, "Jenny you've cooked a pregnant bird!" With this Jenny started to cry.

It took my brothers and I until early evening to convince Jenny that turkeys lay eggs, and don't give birth to live young.

I hope Jenny got revenge on her brothers - like telling their girlfriends he wore pink underwear!!

Thanksgiving Alphabet
T ... Turkeys, table-spreads, being together,

H ... Happiness and homes to protect us from all weather,
A ... Aunts and uncles, a reunion in Fall,

N ... Nieces and nephews, family members all.

K ... Kind-hearted kin coming over for dinner,

S ... Surely you'll have fun, but you won't get thinner,
G ... Gourds and pumpkins, mouths open wide,

I ... Indians and Pilgrims we remember with pride,

V ... Very special times-there could even be snow,

I ... Imagine what it was like at Plymouth long ago,

N ... Never forget how the settlers led the way,

G ... Giving thanks and blessing this special day.

This isn't humorous, but I like to share FYI info from time to time and I thought this sort of fit the bill since Thanksgiving is just around the corner. Hope you find it interesting as I did. (The spelling in that first paragraph is just like I found it...)

Pilgrim History
How the Pilgrims Got Their Name:
The first record ot the term “pilgrim” applying to some of the Mayflower passengers, and those of their group that followed later, appeared in William Bradford’s “Of Plymouth Plantation.” In it, he used biblical imagery to describe the Pilgrim’s departure from Leiden in 1620: “So they lefte goodly & pleasante citie, which had been ther resting place, her 12 years; but they knew they were pilgrims, & looked not much on these things; but lift up their eyes to ye heavens, their dearest cuntrie, and quieted their spirits.”

The next two instances of them being called Pilgrims came when Nathaniel Morton and Cotton Mather in 1669 and 1702, respectively, both paraphrased Bradford’s words. The next reference was in 1793 by Rev. Chandler Robbins who recited Bradford’s words at a Plymouth Forefathers Day observance. From here, the term caught on and it became popular to toast to the “Pilgrims of Leyden” on this observance day. By 1820, Daniel Bester referred to this group as the “Pilgrims” at the Plymouth’s bicentennial, which is hugely responsible for the term being picked up popularly as the name of this group.

Only about Half of the People on the Mayflower were Pilgrims:
Of the 102 people on the Mayflower, only about half of them were what have traditionally come to be known as Pilgrims. The others, which are called “Strangers”, were just people hitching a ride to the New World.

This is insane...Drop in your Birth Year and Click & see what happens...

http://whathappenedinmybirthyear.com/

"HowDoDeyDoDat??????"

Should I Really Join Face book? (Priceless)

Read it all the way through! It's a good laugh! AND really quite true!!

*****

When I bought my Blackberry, I thought about the 30-year business I ran with 1800 employees, all without a cell phone that plays music, takes videos, pictures and communicates with Facebook and Twitter. I signed up under duress for Twitter and Facebook, so my seven kids, their spouses, my 13 grand kids and 2 great grand kids could communicate with me in the modern way. I figured I could handle something as simple as Twitter with only 140 characters of space.

That was before one of my grandkids hooked me up for Tweeter, Tweetree, Twhirl, Twitterfon, Tweetie and Twitterific, Tweetdeck, Twitpix and something that sends every message to my cell phone and every other program within the texting World.

My phone was beeping every three minutes with the details of everything except the bowel movements of the entire next generation. I am not ready to live like this. I keep my cell phone in the garage in my golf bag.

The kids bought me a GPS for my last birthday because they say I get lost every now and then going over to the grocery store or library. I keep that in a box under my tool bench with the Blue tooth [it's red] phone I am supposed to use when I drive. I wore it once and was standing in line at Barnes and Noble talking to my wife and everyone within 50 yards was glaring at me. I had to take my hearing aid out to use it, and I got a little loud.

I mean the GPS looked pretty smart on my dash board, but the lady inside that gadget was the most annoying and rudest person I had run into in a long time. Every 10 minutes she would sarcastically say, "Re-calc-u-lating." You would think that she could be nicer. It was like she could barely tolerate me. She would let go with a deep sigh and then tell me to make a U-turn at the next light. Then if I made a right turn instead. Well, it was not a good relationship...
When I get really lost now, I call my wife and tell her the name of the cross streets and, while she is starting to develop the same tone as Gypsy, the GPS lady, at least she loves me.

To be perfectly frank, I am still trying to learn how to use the cordless phones in our house. We have had them for 4 years, but I still haven't figured out how I lose three phones all at once and have to run around digging under chair cushions, checking bathrooms, and the dirty laundry baskets when the phone rings.

The world is just getting too complex for me. They even mess me up every time I go to the grocery store. You would think they could settle on something themselves but this sudden "Paper or Plastic?" every time I check out just knocks me for a loop. I bought some of those cloth reusable bags to avoid looking confused, but I never remember to take them with me.

Now I toss it back to them. When they ask me, "Paper or plastic?" I just say, "It doesn't matter to me. I am bi-sacksual." Then it's their turn to stare at me with a blank look. I was recently asked if I tweet. I answered, No, but I do fart a lot."

We senior citizens don't need anymore gadgets.
The TV remote and the garage door remote are about all we can handle.

Norm, I loved both!!!
I didn't realize all that was going on in the world the year I was born! That was fascinating!

It took me until 2008 before I joined the 21st century and got connected to the internet. Still don't have a cell phone... and if you want to contact me there is the phone (if I am not at home, please leave a message...) or send an email. I do have a garage door remote & TV remotes & with a phone in the 3 rooms I am most frequently in, I don't have to hunt for one of those as one is always at hand. I do like the caller ID function--know when to ignore a call (those pesky tell-a-marketers!!!) and who to expect when I do pick up the phone.

My grocery store doesn't usually ask "Paper or plastic" so I have multiple bags (huge ones) full of all those plastic ones that I forget to take with me to recycle!!! I do ask that they fill them as full as possible, but I still seem to collect far tooooooo many of those plastic bags!!! Do try to recycle some & use in my smaller wastebaskets.

Norm - at least your GPS recalculates - the GPS in our truck once told us to "turn wherever you can". When your GPS throws up its hands - you are in trouble.

Pat...I had the simple phone which I was able to work perfectly...the primary use was sooo we didn't lose each other in the supermarkets or malls...then they got me the new Galaxy which is a small computer so I can see me E-Mail friends everywhere & even watch movies on......unfortunately I still can't figure out how to make or answer a call!!! I can run a $1000 Dollar Digital Projector but I can't answer the damn phone!

Colleen my dear...speaking of GPS... we were in my son's van going somewhere and he was looking for an address...the voice was a sexy French Lady who was whispering the directions ...our daughter-in-law swore the voice was trying to proposition our son...then the French Vixen got frustrated and called us a bunch of Stupid Americans and switched to German...Now Brunhilda came on and Ordered us to follow her directions precisely to the letter or getting lost wouldn't be our only problem!!!

Norm & Colleen,
Technology does have it's advantages, but it also has it's limitations!!! I love my microwave and had to do w/o it for several weeks while I waited for a new one to come in & be delivered. Boy did I MISS it!!! Didn't realize how much I used it until I didn't have it!!! Rarely use my stove or oven!!! Have learned to use the convection feature on the microwave (did learn that putting plastic in the convection oven isn't a good idea!!!)

Don't have GPS--I look up directions on the internet before going to some place new then follow those... usually works for me!

DEAR ANCESTOR

Your tombstone stands among the rest;
Neglected and alone.
The name and date are chiseled out
On polished, marbled stone.
It reaches out to all who care
It is too late to mourn.
You did not know that I exist
You died and I was born.
Yet each of us are cells of you
In flesh, in blood, in bone.
Our blood contracts and beats a pulse
Entirely not our own.
Dear Ancestor, the place you filled
One hundred years ago
Spreads out among the ones you left
Who would have loved you so.
I wonder if you lived and loved,
I wonder if you knew
That someday I would find this spot,
And come to visit you.

Author Unknown

Thanks Patricia for the above Poem. I have copied it to my FB page to share and I will frame it too!

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and survived Black Friday. I am soooooo tired of hearing about Black Friday sales!!! Oh, well, businesses are attempting to make ends meet, I guess. It just irritates me all of the hype before Thanksgiving for Christmas!!! I'll get off my soap box... and will start to include some Christmas humor now.

Christians focus on Christmas at this time of year and there is a lot of associated humor. Do any other religions have humor associated with this time of year??? Please feel free to share it. If anyone wants to share some FYI info/traditions about your culture/religion at this time of year, please feel free to share it here. No soap-boxing or bashing, but info that we can all learn from. The more we know of one another's culture & religion the more tolerant we can be of our differences (hopefully)!!!

Hugs to all,
Pat

.....Post Thanksgiving Funnies...

~ John Glenn...
As I hurtled through space, one thought kept crossing my mind - every
Part of this rocket was supplied by the lowest bidder.

~ Desmond Tutu...
When the white missionaries came to Africa they had the Bible and we
Had the land.
They said 'Let us pray.' We closed our eyes.
When we opened them we had the Bible and they had the land.

~ David Letterman...
America is the only country where a significant proportion of the
Population believes that professional wrestling is real but the moon
Landing was faked.

~ Howard Hughes...
I'm not a paranoid, deranged millionaire. I'm a billionaire.

~ Old Italian proverb...
After the game, the King and the pawn go into the same box.

~ Jean Kerr...
The only reason they say 'Women and children first' is to test the
Strength of the lifeboats.

~ Zsa Zsa Gabor...
I've been married to a communist and a fascist, and neither would take
Out the garbage.

~ Jeff Foxworthy...
You know you're a redneck if your home has wheels and your car doesn't.

~ Prince Philip...
When a man opens a car door for his wife, it's either a new car or a new wife.

~ Harrison Ford...
Wood burns faster when you have to cut and chop it yourself.

~ Spike Milligan...
The best cure for Sea Sickness, is to sit under a tree.

~ Robin Hall...
Lawyers believe a person is innocent until proven broke.

~ Jean Rostand...
Kill one man and you're a murderer, kill a million and you're a conqueror

~ Arnold Schwarzenegger...
Having more money doesn't make you happier. I have 50 million dollars But I'm just as happy as when I had 48 million.

~ WH Auden...
We are here on earth to do good unto others. What the others are here For, I have no idea.

~ Jonathan Katz...
In hotel rooms I worry. I can't be the only guy who sits on the furniture naked

~ Johnny Carson...
If life were fair, Elvis would still be alive today and all the
Impersonators would be dead.

~ Jimmy Durante...
Home cooking. Where many a man thinks his wife is.

~ Doug Hanwell...
America is so advanced that even the chairs are electric.

~ George Roberts...
The first piece of luggage on the carousel never belongs to anyone

~ Jonathan Winters...
If God had intended us to fly he would have made it easier to get to The airport.

~ Robert Benchley...
I have kleptomania, but when it gets bad, I take something for it.

Murphy says to Paddy, "What ya talkin into an envelope for?"
"I'm sending a voicemail, ya fool!"

19 paddies go to the cinema, the ticket lady asks "Why so many of you?" Mick replies, "The film said 18 or over."

The Grim Reaper came for me last night, and I beat him off with a
Vacuum cleaner. Talk about Dyson with death.

I went to the cemetery yesterday to lay some flowers on a grave. As I Was standing there I noticed 4 grave diggers walking about with a Coffin, 3 hours later and they're still walking about with it. I Thought to myself, they've lost the plot!!

My daughter asked me for a pet spider for her birthday, so I went to Our local pet shop and they were �170!!! Blow this, I thought, I can Get one cheaper off the web.

I was at an ATM yesterday when a little old lady asked if I could
Check her balance, so I pushed her over.

I start a new job in Seoul next week. I thought it was a good Korea move.

I was driving this morning when I saw a parked RAC van. The driver Was sobbing uncontrollably and looked very miserable. I thought to Myself, that guy's heading for a breakdown.

Statistically, 6 out of 7 dwarfs are not Happy.

My neighbor knocked on my door at 2:30am this morning, can you
believe that, 2:30am?! Luckily for him I was still up playing my
bagpipes.

The wife has been missing a week now. Police said to prepare for the worst. So I have been to the charity shop to get back all her clothes.

Sat opposite an Indian lady on the train today, she shut her eyes and stopped breathing. I thought she was dead, until I saw the red spot on her forehead and realized she was just on standby.

The wife was counting all the 5ps and 10ps out on the kitchen table
when she suddenly got very angry and started shouting and crying for no reason. I thought to myself, "She's going through the change."

When I was in the pub I heard a couple of plonkers saying that they wouldn't feel safe on an aircraft if they knew the pilot was a woman. What a pair of sexists. I mean, it's not as if she'd have to reverse the bloody thing!

Local Police hunting the 'knitting needle nutter', who has stabbed six people in the rear in the last 48 hours, believe the attacker could be following some kind of pattern.

Bought some 'rocket salad' yesterday but it went off before I could eat it!

My girlfriend thinks that I'm a stalker. Well, she's not exactly my
girlfriend yet.

Just got back from my mate's funeral. He died after being hit on the head with a tennis ball. It was a lovely service.

An Asian fellow has moved in next door. He has travelled the world, swum with sharks, wrestled bears and climbed the highest mountain. It came as no surprise to learn his name was Bindair Dundat.

Family Tree

I think that I shall never see,
A poem as gnarled as my family's tree.
The branches go way up and around,
Some of them dip down to the ground.

Now over there a sappling grows,
Tall and straight, but this I know,
It really isn't another, you see,
Just a branch of my family.

There are a few who'd like to free,
Not concidered a branch of this old tree,
But if you follow that twisted root line,
You'll find they are connected to mine.

They like say," Sure we share a name,
But, our bloodlines just are not the same."
"HA ha," I say," take that DNA test,
and we can put this arguement to rest!"

"No no ", they sigh," there is no need,
For we were grown, from a different seed."
But I look at the census, and it is clear,
Our great grandpas, were brothers, My dear!

The other documents show the same,
There is more between us than just a name.
Although some like to stand apart,
They are all right here on my pedigree chart!!

Author Unknown

18. Rock a Bye Baby Rhyme
Rock a bye baby song,
AKA Hush a bye baby
Rock a bye baby on the tree top,

When the wind blows the cradle will rock,

When the bough breaks the cradle will fall,

And down will come baby, cradle and all.


Origins of words to "Rock a bye baby" in American history: The words and lyrics to the "Rock a bye baby" rhyme are reputed to reflect the observations of a young pilgrim boy in America who had seen Native Indian mothers suspend a birch bark cradle from the branches of a tree. Thus enabling the wind to rock the cradle and the child to sleep! This rhyme is also known as "Hush a bye baby" which is the correct title. The confusion regarding these lyrics occurred due to the popularity of the old Al Jolson classic song "Rock a bye my baby with a Dixie melody!"

Origins of words to "Rock a bye baby" in English history dating back to the 1700's: 
The story of the Nursery Rhyme relates to a family who lived in a tree house which was formed within a massive Yew tree. The Yew Tree concerned was believed to be nearly 2000 years old. The family was charcoal burners who lived in Shining Cliff Woods, Ambergate, Derbyshire in the 1700's. The ancient occupation of Charcoal Burning would be conducted by people who actually lived in the woods. Just like this family. Their names were Kate and Luke Kennyon and they lived in what was locally called the 'Betty Kenny Tree' - a colloquialism for Kate Kenyon. The Kenyons had 8 children and a tree bough was hollowed out to act as a cradle for their children! Shining Cliff Woods was owned at the time by the Hurt family. The Kenyons were favoured by the Hurts who commissioned the artist James Ward of the Royal Academy to paint their portraits. The Yew tree still exists but was severely fire damaged by vandals in the 1930s. More information may be located on the Amber Valley Borough Council website.

Sometimes humor can be found where you least expect it - such as in the cemetery. These epitaphs include humor, the famous, the curious and the just plain strange. (these have been around awhile)

*Lester Moore was a Wells Fargo Co. station agent, and is buried at Boot Hill Cemetery in Tombstone, Arizona:

Here lies Lester Moore
Four slugs from a .44
No Les No More.

*In memory of Lettuce Manning:

Oh cruel death
To satisfy the palate,
Cut down our Lettuce
To make a salad.

*Self Written Epitaph:

When people's ills, they come to I
I physics, bleeds, and sweats 'em;
Sometimes they live, sometimes they die;
What's that to I?
--I. Let some

*Epitaph for a Dentist

Stranger! Approach this spot with gravity.
John Brown is filling his last cavity.

*A marker in Enosburg Falls, Vermont

Here lies the body of our dead Anna
gone to death by a banana
It wasn't the fruit that dealt the blow
But the skin of the thing that laid her low!

*From the grave of Ezekial Aikle, East Dalhousie Cemetery, Nova Scotia, Canada:

Here lies
Ezekial Aikle
Age 102
The Good
Die Young

*The widow gets her say in this tombstone epitaph in a Vermont cemetery:

Sacred to the memory of
my husband John Barnes
who died January 3, 1803
His comely young widow, aged 23, has
many qualifications of a good wife, and
yearns to be comforted.

*In a cemetery in London, England:

Here lies Ann Mann
Who lived an old maid
But died an old Mann
Dec. 8, 1767