There are a couple of family lines over a specific set of generations that I do trace, as they are very much allied families of my direct kin. Related to my specific line is that they are a part of about of half dozen family groups migrating from one community to and settling into the same destination. All of these these families are interrelated though. I follow the individuals of this whole migrating group for a specific reason.

it still boggles me would just want to collect names. But they are out there.

Probably of the same ilk like these two old ladies that used to sit in on public wakes or funerals the town I grew up near.They could always be counted upon to show. Knowing you beforehand was not a pre-requisite. They would just sit by themselves and never caused any trouble. Maybe go up and check out the corpse once in a while. Weird.