Stunned Disbelief and Incredulous Silence

Last week, I posted, Do you Have Ellsworth in your Tree? There was a reason for that, I was trying to help somebody from New Zealand who has ancestors from the same county as mine in Quebec, Canada (I live in Massachusetts). On a whim, I sent the post to a good friend still living there in Missisquoi County, Quebec. This Ellsworth family is not in my direct line, we are very distant cousins, so, I had nothing to gain by writing the post.

You know how it goes, in what seemed minutes, I received three photos from my Canadian friend. These photos were of people mentioned in my post, and were family members of my New Zealand friend, Sue. One was of her gg-grandfather, she had never seen a photo of him before now, a photo that went from Canada, to Massachusetts to her, within a very short time.

She responded right away with, "I’m speechless, gratitude beyond measure." and "Stunned Disbelief and Incredulous Silence." You will always make somebody's day when you share information, so why not make somebody's day soon.

Ed A. Ellsworth h.o. Catherine Primmerman

(Catherine was my 2nd cousin 4x removed)

 Elmer, John, Sarah children of Henry and Elizabeth (Ellsworth) Cossitt
(They are my 4th cousins 2x removed.)

Jim Ellsworth
(3rd cousin 3x removed.)

It's Nice to be Back, Connecticut

If you have ancestors in Connecticut, I hope you know about the Connecticut Society of Genealogists, Inc. (CSG). If not, you're in for a nice surprise. This was the first society I joined in 1990, and was a member for about 14 years, I dropped out for a period and then rejoined a few months ago. When I inquired about rejoining, I was happy to learn that my new membership number would be the same as my old one, it's like I never left. The packet I received was huge, boy it's nice to be back with them.

Their online site has great information, so good in fact, that I made a call to the office and received permission to share some of their information with you. They offer a lot to the members, but this post is about what they offer for free, extremely useful for those new to genealogy.

For example:

Under their first tab, Resources, click on Overview. This will bring you to Getting Started in Genealogy. A part of that section includes:
 Detailed Step-by-step Genealogy instructions

 Download free genealogy charts and forms  Join us for one of our upcoming genealogy events

Under the Resources tab is another nice section on Genealogy Basics. I receive quite a few queries about how do I begin. Now, I can point them to this site! Below is used with permission. Note: The "more detail" in red is only accessed by members.

What do you need to get started?
There are a few basic items you should have available as you begin your project. A few sheets of paper or a notebook, a few empty folders, and a pen or pencil. As your research continues, you may also find a tape recorder, camera, and computer to be useful tools, but they certainly are not requirements to get started. Better to get started and add those tools later.

STEP 1 - Start with Yourself
If you haven't already done so, you should download the free Pedigree Chart to make your note taking more organized. Start with yourself by recording your full name (including maiden name if a married female), as well as your date and place of birth. If married, record your date and place of marriage and the name of your spouse. Continue by stepping back one generation and list the same information for your father (called your paternal line) and mother (maternal line). It's also helpful to make a note of your parents siblings (your aunts and uncles). more detail

STEP 2 - Hunt for Clues
You'll quickly learn that this step is never-ending, but can be one of the most interesting components of your research. Over time, you'll recognize that clues are all around you, but you just need to learn to recognize them. An old letter may have a date and names, but the envelope (if it is still with the letter) may also carry a postmark, as well as a destination and return address which can be used to fix two people at specific places for a particular time period. Newspaper clippings, postcards, family bibles, school yearbooks, and old photographs are just some of the sources that may already be in your possession. more detail

STEP 3 - Interview Relatives
This is no time to be shy - seek out the senior members of your various family lines and initiate a dialog about your family history. Whether it's a phone call, a visit, a letter or email - try to establish a connection which can fill in gaps in your pedigree chart or verify some of what you already have found. Sharing certain items from your treasure hunt (step 2, above) can be a great way to get a discussion going. Studying an old photograph and asking who, when, where, and why can help yield valuable clues. Who is pictured in the photo, when and where was it taken, and what was the occasion for the photo. more detail

STEP 4 - Verify Your Findings
Through the first few steps described above, you will have collected information from a variety of sources. Individual memories, government documents, personal notes, and many other sources will provide a collection of names, dates, and places. Some of these sources will point in the same direction, but others will conflict with one another. In this stage of your research, you will set about to verify the accuracy of what you have found to this point. more detail

STEP 5 - Share Your Findings
Depending upon your goals, you may wish to publish your work for the benefit of distant cousins or simply to organize your findings for your immediate family. There are different points of view and no single correct course of action, but you will generally find that sharing at least some of your work will help connect you with someone sharing at least one line of your family. You can choose to share your research on a case-by-case basis, post files on the Internet, or publish a book or manuscript - the decision is entirely up to you. more detail

Asking For Help -- Skokie, Illinois area

My husband helping me find a grave.

Do You live in the Skokie, Illinois area?

Follow-up:  An employee of the cemetery took photos for me in September 2011.

My grandparents are buried in the Memorial Park Cemetery and Crematorium, Skokie, Illinois. Many years ago, I wrote the Cemetery for information and received the information below. I sure would love some help if somebody could take photos for me. On March 21st, I submitted a request to FindAGrave...still hoping a volunteer will take a trek to the cemetery. But, if not, maybe a reader can help out.

Clarence Poole
b. 1891, d. 1957
Plot: Mausoleum Annex, Block 4, Lot 2.
Added by Barbara Poole
Mar 21, 2011 Memorial Park Cemetery an...
Skokie Cook County, IL

Marjorie Poole
b. 1891, d. 1953
Plot: Mausoleum Annex, Block 4, Lot 2.
Added by Barbara Poole
Mar 21, 2011 Memorial Park Cemetery an...
Skokie Cook County, IL

Asking For Help -- Adoption of Mark Weiss or Mark Davis

The below letter was sent to me from a researcher in Missisquoi Co., Quebec, Canada. I obtained additional information and decided to post it here, in hopes he could be located for the family. The photo is of MARK WEISS / MARK DAVIS at age 1.



"Dear Friends, Family and all my Cemetery Contacts,

God help me, I'm hoping I will do a good job with this plea for help.


I have an Aunt, who is now 88 years old and quite possibly won't have many years left, this is her story more than mine but after trying to help the past few years without success I have decided that maybe the best way is through Internet. 


If everyone I send this to sends it on to their friends, family and e-mail contacts we should be able to cover the whole North American map and quite possibly help my Aunt in her quest. We will keep this simple and just maybe we will find him.


Many years ago she gave her son up for adoption, she did this in order to with the hope of giving him a better life than what she could afford to do at that time. She kept him as long as she possibly could without help from ex-husband, family or welfare and on minimum wages. After a time she made a heart wrenching decision with hopes that this child would have a better chance in life in a good home with 2 loving parents and possibly a good education to base his future life as an adult on.


She has kept his picture over the years, with all items, papers, letters etc concerning his adoption with the hope of someday finding him and being able to express her reasons for giving him to a  loving family and the love she still has in her heart for him. 


Her biggest fear over the years was that maybe he had died, but in the past year she was informed that he was still living so therefore the search goes on. 


His birth name was MARK WEISS / or MARK DAVIS and he was born on February 28, 1962 in Rhode Island.


If anyone has information concerning this man who will be 49 yrs old shortly, please have him contact me,  Marilyn ( his cousin), davism1582@gmail.com or Evelyn (his sister) at ever411@bellsouth.net"
______
When I wrote Marilyn, I told her I was very familiar with her name as she has posted many cemetery records on the internet, and I've used her information. I am hoping somebody will know of Mark Weiss, OR he will see this and contact either of the above two women.  Thank you.