Research during my first 10 years of genealogy research sure has been different than the past 10. I tend to think of my research in the 1990s as the first 10, and in the 2000s as the last 10. Which was more fun or more rewarding or easier? Pretty hard to say. Advantages apply to both time frames, as the entire 20 years have been fun.
To me, nothing beats getting mail from a town hall with my super inexpensive copies of B-M-D records, town clerks taking the time to help on the phone, and finally finding somebody else who shares your passion (there weren't that many around or at least we couldn't find them, many didn't have computers we could connect with). Cemetery employees were more than happy to help you. It was even fun preparing group sheets and I sure used a lot of white-out. I even saved a few group sheets, before entering all the data into FamilyTreeMaker. Several, friends took photos of cemetery stones, had the film developed, and snail mailed the photos to me. Gas used to get to a cemetery and Xerox copies of books were so inexpensive. Looking back, even trying to find a seat in one of the major libraries (DAR and NEHGS) was exciting, and when you did, you felt like you were on the king’s throne. The NARA in Waltham, MA (outside of Boston) was always packed. that on a Saturday; there was a time limit for using the microfilm readers. There were so many people doing research at these people, but not a whole lot of talking, quiet in the libraries and quiet at the NARA. Oh yes, even Ancestry.com was free. What were the drawbacks, at the time, I didn’t think there were any, as there was no idea of what the future would bring.
Update on the NARA, they took out ¾ of the microfilm readers, and most of their census rolls. When I went rather recently, there were four people there, all using computers and doing their research on Ancestry! Such changes.
The last 10 has been filled with many changes in ways to do data entering into a genealogy software program, finding material online and connecting with others…you all know about that. Every service that we use is getting so expensive, copies of this and that from town halls; subscriptions to software or databases go up every year, as well as memberships into societies, and conferences. This past year, I've had to cut back, dropped one society membership and then Ancestry for the time being. What I like is the researching from home, and connecting with people. I hope that doesn’t change. I am so glad for the bloggers and social networks, because I don’t feel so isolated in my little world any more. Nothing is more fun than reading a genealogy magazine, periodicals or blog.
You can still combine the best from both the first 10 and last 10 methods, but it might take a little more work. Taking the time to write a formal letter to a city hall or cemetery with the all important self-addressed stamped envelope takes a little time and effort, but oh the rewards could be great. Want to try it?
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Introduction -- New Kid on the Block
The nice thing about being the new kid on the blogging block is meeting new people, connecting with some who know the ropes, and some who encouraged me. The recent comments have been kind, and believe me, that helps. The fact that I have joined over 700 other Geneablogger is pretty impressive, it would be nice to follow all of them, but it won't be possible. Some future articles of mine have already been drafted, and I have seen that they are quite similar to others posted, but I guess with so many writers, that is to be expected.
My blog was created back in the summer of 2009, but I didn't write anything...writers block so early in the game. Even before that date, I wrote a couple of guest blogs for Steve Danko in 2006 and 2007, so I already knew how much fun it was to write them. Cheryl Fleming Palmer also received a few. However, I am not a writer, and rather enjoyed having my work corrected by Steve and Cheryl. Here I am on my own, it is a little scary. I at least warned you of my writing capabilities.
Most of my pieces will be from what I experienced through the hobby of genealogy. Not a whole lot about my immediate family as most are deceased such as parents, grandparents and an aunt. As a person who moved 17 different times, from CT to CA to MA to VA to MA to VA to MA, and went to 4 different 4th grades (CA, 2 in CT and 1 in Lexington, MA), I am not lucky to have any childhood friends, and only a few from high school (yes, I went 3 yrs. to one HS and graduated from an other, in a different town). So you see, I have often been the new kid on the block.
My blog was created back in the summer of 2009, but I didn't write anything...writers block so early in the game. Even before that date, I wrote a couple of guest blogs for Steve Danko in 2006 and 2007, so I already knew how much fun it was to write them. Cheryl Fleming Palmer also received a few. However, I am not a writer, and rather enjoyed having my work corrected by Steve and Cheryl. Here I am on my own, it is a little scary. I at least warned you of my writing capabilities.
Most of my pieces will be from what I experienced through the hobby of genealogy. Not a whole lot about my immediate family as most are deceased such as parents, grandparents and an aunt. As a person who moved 17 different times, from CT to CA to MA to VA to MA to VA to MA, and went to 4 different 4th grades (CA, 2 in CT and 1 in Lexington, MA), I am not lucky to have any childhood friends, and only a few from high school (yes, I went 3 yrs. to one HS and graduated from an other, in a different town). So you see, I have often been the new kid on the block.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Ancestry.com and a Good Laugh
After almost 10 months of not being an Ancestry.com subscriber, I bit the bullet and signed on for the Limited Time Offer of a one month subscription, at a 20% savings, for the grand total of $15.95. My only reason for signing up was to reply to queries pertaining to my Ancestry tree on their site. (Even though I wasn’t a member, the tree remained for anybody to see.) I had about eight letters from people, sent through Ancestry, of which I couldn’t send a reply, since I wasn’t a “member.” I wonder if the writers ever received a notification that I was unable to reply.
Two things I learned were: if I ever write to somebody through Ancestry (if as a member), I will type my email address in the first sentence and tell them to write me personally. If your tree is on Ancestry’s site, like mine is, I will keep my email address in the first sentence where I describe me or the tree. This works, because several people have written write me directly. The other thing is, if I write somebody and they don’t reply back, I won’t take it too personally, as they may have let their subscription lapse. They have no way of contacting you. In other words, if you reply or write through Ancestry, I think your email should be in the first line.
I immediately received a response to one of the emails I sent. Well, this is a funny email and I thought I would share it. I know you all get them; ones that don’t make sense are really funny. I have no idea about the weather thing.
“Hi Barbara,
It's been long enough since we communicated, that I can't remember the HARVEY connection and whose family I was working on to need it.
Can you refresh me?
Meantime, we now have addresses for each other.
We had a beautiful autumn morning in central Michigan, but now it's clouded over again. Guess more rain is on the way. On which day did you have summer in your part of the world? Here, it was from 8 - 12 am, August 25.”
We never communicated, I sent him my first email yesterday giving him my email address and apologizing for not replying sooner, and told him not to go through Ancestry, of course he did. What is he talking about? I am not sure if I will reply to him, but if I want another laugh, maybe I should.
Two things I learned were: if I ever write to somebody through Ancestry (if as a member), I will type my email address in the first sentence and tell them to write me personally. If your tree is on Ancestry’s site, like mine is, I will keep my email address in the first sentence where I describe me or the tree. This works, because several people have written write me directly. The other thing is, if I write somebody and they don’t reply back, I won’t take it too personally, as they may have let their subscription lapse. They have no way of contacting you. In other words, if you reply or write through Ancestry, I think your email should be in the first line.
I immediately received a response to one of the emails I sent. Well, this is a funny email and I thought I would share it. I know you all get them; ones that don’t make sense are really funny. I have no idea about the weather thing.
“Hi Barbara,
It's been long enough since we communicated, that I can't remember the HARVEY connection and whose family I was working on to need it.
Can you refresh me?
Meantime, we now have addresses for each other.
We had a beautiful autumn morning in central Michigan, but now it's clouded over again. Guess more rain is on the way. On which day did you have summer in your part of the world? Here, it was from 8 - 12 am, August 25.”
We never communicated, I sent him my first email yesterday giving him my email address and apologizing for not replying sooner, and told him not to go through Ancestry, of course he did. What is he talking about? I am not sure if I will reply to him, but if I want another laugh, maybe I should.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Tombstone Tuesday -- Anne Dudley Bradstreet
.JPG)
Anne Dudley Bradstreet, America's First Poetress
My 8th great grandmother
First Burying Ground, No. Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts.
It is assumed that Anne Dudley Bradstreet was buried in this cemetery, and the memorial stone was placed here on September 16, 2000. It was in honor of her 350 yr. anniversary of her birth. I was invited to attend, by the No. Andover Historical Commission, and there were about 50 of us there.
Monday, October 26, 2009
New York Public Library Adventures
My previous, and also my first trip to the Library was the year before. A girlfriend and I took a bus trip there, and I mentioned I wanted to stop in the Library to check out a book (no, you can’t really check them out, but I mean to look at one). The Library has closed stacks, so if you want a book, they have to retrieve it for you. Well, no problem, but I really got to test my patience….like one of the lion statues guarding the Library. “Patience" and "Fortitude" are quite well known. We waited a long time, then found out that the conveyor belt was broken, the lines at the counters were long with frustrated people, like me. I was so sure I was going to lose my friendship with my friend, a non-genealogist, but she was patient as well, and said we could wait a little longer. Here we were, in NYC, sitting in the reading room for three hours. When I got the book, they wouldn’t even let me copy it, as it was considered rare! However, I opted to let them copy it when they had time, and within a week, I had the book (abt. 50 pages), at an extremely low cost. I was finally happy. But, I didn’t suggest any other day trips with my friend, until last year. I know she hasn’t forgotten the Library, nor have I.
Update: In March 2012, a great, simply great video has been making the rounds on the internet. This was filmed at the New York Public Library, and I hope you watch and enjoy it.
UPDATE: In April, I went back to the New Your Public Library and wrote a blog report on the History and Genealogy Room. You might enjoy seeing the photos at https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4664905362839287500#editor/target=post;postID=3051348979015926333;onPublishedMenu=posts;onClosedMenu=posts;postNum=51;src=link
Friday, October 23, 2009
"My Scrambled Eggs"
One of the nice things about having your information out in cyberspace is that somebody may find you. With unusual names, especially those spelled many ways, this hope and pray method might help me connect with somebody searching the same line. In the past, I have posted names on Message Boards, and Surname Boards, both have been around many years. I received a few inquiries, but not many.The family I am researching is SCHRAMBLING OR SCHREMBLING. It is also the SCRAMBLING, SCRAMLIN and SCRAMBLIN. In addition, many other spellings have been applied to this family. Census takers took much liberty with this name! The family was at times very easy to trace, and difficult other times.
They settled in New York in 1710, along the Mohawk River, then migrated to Michigan. Much like many other families. The family is well documented, and my ancestor was a Revolutionary War patriot. What made research difficult was, there were too many Hendricks, Johns, and Jacobs. So I began a file called, "My Scrambled Eggs" because each name was just a tad different from the other, although it was the same family. As they branched out, I thought it would be fun to trace the entire family. Unresolved censuses were printed out and put in the new paper file, as well as every other bit of information with this name. My hope was to connect the entire family. I now have over 700 with that name.
Now, many years later, and with great assistance from www.findagrave.com and Google alerts, I have very few unsolved ends, but there are some. Fortunately, too, many cousins have contacted me over the years and valuable information was exchanged. One person met me in Oneonta, New York to show me where my ancestor, Hendrick Schrambling was buried. About 10 have written, two sent me information, and one sent a huge wall chart. So I have had help.
It has been months since I have received any new information, and that is ok. But, I do enjoy seeing the younger generation, posting things on various social sites, which appear through my Google Alerts. I doubt I will contact them, but it brings a smile to my face, as I have spent so much time on their family history. I already feel like I know them. Who knows, maybe one will google their last name and find me!
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Genealogy: Tips for Finding Females that Matter to You
Julie Miller, Enterprise columnist
Posted: 10/17/2009
(Permission was granted to me, Barbara Poole, to publish her excellent article)
Identifying females is one of the hardest challenges genealogists face.
It might be that only the first name and married surname are known. Or perhaps a daughter disappears from census records and it is not known whom she married. The biggest obstacle when researching women is that their name changed when they married. This is compounded by fewer records. Before the 20th century, women did not have the same rights as men and, therefore, they generated considerably fewer records. Although few research problems are as difficult as finding the identity of females in our family history, there are records and strategies that can be used to overcome the challenges.
Often the answer to identifying a woman can be found in the records of her husband, son or brother. Men owned the land, they ran the businesses and their lives were recorded in more detail than women`s. Look for clues about women in the records of the men in their lives.
Records relating to a child`s birth, marriage and death will often give the mother`s maiden name. Even a child`s name can be a clue about a mother`s maiden name. Children are often named after grandparents, uncles and aunts. A clue to a maiden name might be in a child`s unusual first or middle name when the name is typically a surname.
Women can be found as witnesses on records. Marriage, baptismal and other legal documents are all examples of the types of records a woman might have witnessed. Making a connection between the woman witnessing the event and the names in the documents can lead to finding a woman`s identity.
Some records that can be useful in finding female identities are:
1. Marriage records are the most obvious place to look for a maiden name and names of parents. This could be a civil marriage license or bond, a church marriage record or marriage announcement. If the name of parents is not included, be sure to check the marriage records for all known siblings, since they might have information not included in the record for your direct line.
2. Death records usually include the maiden name of the deceased. They also might include the mother`s maiden name. Again, checking for all the siblings of your direct line will increase the odds of finding the names of parents.
3. Church records usually list the maiden name of the mother in the baptismal record and the maiden name of the woman in a marriage record. A closer examination of church records will reveal that women were often witnesses for the baptisms and marriages of close family members.
4. Land records frequently show the passing of land ownership from one generation to the next. These records provide the names of wives and married daughters, and in some cases, the names of the daughter`s husband.
5. Wills and probate records are one of the most useful records when looking for a woman`s identity. Parents usually named each child in their will and it is common for each child to receive a portion of the estate. A woman also could have been named in the will and probate of grandparents and other relatives. Married names are usually used, and the name of their spouse also might be listed.
6. Pension files might include the maiden name of a pensioner`s wife. They also can include affidavits from close family members who might be related to the wife. Widow pension files should have the maiden name in the proof that the woman was married to the pensioner.
7. Obituaries frequently list the maiden name of females or give the names of their parents. Additionally, a married name will be given when a woman is listed in her the obituary of her father, mother or sibling.
8. Letters and diaries can be a source of information about females and their families. These are usually found in family records, either immediate family or that of a collateral line. If you suspect letters and diaries exist for a female in your genealogy but have not located the items, perhaps they have been donated to a repository. Check for these treasures in the National Union Catalog of Manuscript Collections (NUCMC), which is available online.
9. Census records are easily accessible and are full of information on female ancestors. Although census records do not ask for a maiden name, they give many clues about a woman`s origins. It is common to find children living with parents directly after they marry and for parents to live with married children as they age.
10. Cemetery records might list maiden names and they often hold clues about a family. People often bought cemetery lots close to other family members or bought lots large enough to accommodate extended family members. Look for the relationship between the deceased and the owner of the cemetery lot, which may be listed on the cemetery record.
Females make up half of our ancestry, yet they are often neglected. Be sure you don`t shortchange the females in your family just because the research takes a little extra effort.
Julie Miller is a certified genealogists. She is a genealogy researcher, lecturer, and writer. If you have a genealogy question, send it to julie@jpmresearch.com.
Posted: 10/17/2009
(Permission was granted to me, Barbara Poole, to publish her excellent article)
Identifying females is one of the hardest challenges genealogists face.
It might be that only the first name and married surname are known. Or perhaps a daughter disappears from census records and it is not known whom she married. The biggest obstacle when researching women is that their name changed when they married. This is compounded by fewer records. Before the 20th century, women did not have the same rights as men and, therefore, they generated considerably fewer records. Although few research problems are as difficult as finding the identity of females in our family history, there are records and strategies that can be used to overcome the challenges.
Often the answer to identifying a woman can be found in the records of her husband, son or brother. Men owned the land, they ran the businesses and their lives were recorded in more detail than women`s. Look for clues about women in the records of the men in their lives.
Records relating to a child`s birth, marriage and death will often give the mother`s maiden name. Even a child`s name can be a clue about a mother`s maiden name. Children are often named after grandparents, uncles and aunts. A clue to a maiden name might be in a child`s unusual first or middle name when the name is typically a surname.
Women can be found as witnesses on records. Marriage, baptismal and other legal documents are all examples of the types of records a woman might have witnessed. Making a connection between the woman witnessing the event and the names in the documents can lead to finding a woman`s identity.
Some records that can be useful in finding female identities are:
1. Marriage records are the most obvious place to look for a maiden name and names of parents. This could be a civil marriage license or bond, a church marriage record or marriage announcement. If the name of parents is not included, be sure to check the marriage records for all known siblings, since they might have information not included in the record for your direct line.
2. Death records usually include the maiden name of the deceased. They also might include the mother`s maiden name. Again, checking for all the siblings of your direct line will increase the odds of finding the names of parents.
3. Church records usually list the maiden name of the mother in the baptismal record and the maiden name of the woman in a marriage record. A closer examination of church records will reveal that women were often witnesses for the baptisms and marriages of close family members.
4. Land records frequently show the passing of land ownership from one generation to the next. These records provide the names of wives and married daughters, and in some cases, the names of the daughter`s husband.
5. Wills and probate records are one of the most useful records when looking for a woman`s identity. Parents usually named each child in their will and it is common for each child to receive a portion of the estate. A woman also could have been named in the will and probate of grandparents and other relatives. Married names are usually used, and the name of their spouse also might be listed.
6. Pension files might include the maiden name of a pensioner`s wife. They also can include affidavits from close family members who might be related to the wife. Widow pension files should have the maiden name in the proof that the woman was married to the pensioner.
7. Obituaries frequently list the maiden name of females or give the names of their parents. Additionally, a married name will be given when a woman is listed in her the obituary of her father, mother or sibling.
8. Letters and diaries can be a source of information about females and their families. These are usually found in family records, either immediate family or that of a collateral line. If you suspect letters and diaries exist for a female in your genealogy but have not located the items, perhaps they have been donated to a repository. Check for these treasures in the National Union Catalog of Manuscript Collections (NUCMC), which is available online.
9. Census records are easily accessible and are full of information on female ancestors. Although census records do not ask for a maiden name, they give many clues about a woman`s origins. It is common to find children living with parents directly after they marry and for parents to live with married children as they age.
10. Cemetery records might list maiden names and they often hold clues about a family. People often bought cemetery lots close to other family members or bought lots large enough to accommodate extended family members. Look for the relationship between the deceased and the owner of the cemetery lot, which may be listed on the cemetery record.
Females make up half of our ancestry, yet they are often neglected. Be sure you don`t shortchange the females in your family just because the research takes a little extra effort.
Julie Miller is a certified genealogists. She is a genealogy researcher, lecturer, and writer. If you have a genealogy question, send it to julie@jpmresearch.com.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
A Year Goes by Fast -- Salt Lake City
In October of 2008, I spent a week at the Family History Library (FHL) at Salt Lake City. It took me several months to prepare for that 3rd visit. Had a great time, and it was in the 70s every day, a very unusual heat wave, which I loved.
But now, I am complaining because I still haven't completed entering sources on what I found. While that trip was far more organized than the others, and I made copies of far less material, it is taking me way too long to go through it and enter into the genealogy software that I use. I am afraid, that if I don't complete this task soon, I will be looking up the same stuff next year when I go to Salt Lake City for the National Genealogical Society's (NGS) annual conference in May. See: http://74.125.93.132/search?q=cache:J2yADIxY4B4J:www.ngsgenealogy.org/cs/conference_info+national+genealogical+society+2010&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us One thing I don't want to do, is double research! Would you?
I thought a few pictures would help get me motivated. The above were taken from my room.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Corresponding with a New Cousin
On one of the darkest, coldest and later a snowy October day, my world brightened when somebody found my genealogy tree posted on Ancestry.com. Now, I hold my breath when I open emails forwarded from Ancestry to me, because I am no longer a subscriber. The people writing me, do not know that, and as a result, I can't reply back to them.
But, today, Brad thought to include his email, so I was able to reply to him. After a few back and forth emails, we determined that we share the same common ancestor, SAMUEL GRIFFIN, born February 10, 1738/39 in Killingworth, Middlesex Co., Connecticut and died July 27, 1808 in Essex, Chittenden Co., Vermont. It was indeed nice to share what we have with each other.
As the year is nearing to a close, I am happy to say that over 75 people have contacted me during the year because they saw my tree either on Ancestry or on RootsWeb. I get a lot of satisfaction when I help them, and I love it when I get little bits of information in return.
But, today, Brad thought to include his email, so I was able to reply to him. After a few back and forth emails, we determined that we share the same common ancestor, SAMUEL GRIFFIN, born February 10, 1738/39 in Killingworth, Middlesex Co., Connecticut and died July 27, 1808 in Essex, Chittenden Co., Vermont. It was indeed nice to share what we have with each other.
As the year is nearing to a close, I am happy to say that over 75 people have contacted me during the year because they saw my tree either on Ancestry or on RootsWeb. I get a lot of satisfaction when I help them, and I love it when I get little bits of information in return.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
New Hampshire Birth Records, Early to 1900
When the http://www.familysearch.org/ site had a notification, in the late summer of 2009, announcing that they now had the New Hampshire Birth Records, Early to 1900, now online, I almost fell off my chair. These records are currently located from the Search Records Tab, then drop down tab, Record Search Pilot at the main page of the Family Search site, and a few more steps. To make it easier for those search these records, the direct link is: http://pilot.familysearch.org/recordsearch/start.html#p=collectionDetails;c=1542861 .
I don't have many direct lines in New Hampshire, but do have a lot of names of those born in the state. They are mostly siblings or others somehow related to my ancestors. I think the state of New Hampshire has a very confusing method of putting their records on microfilm. It is not in alphabetical order, that's for sure. No matter how many times, I asked the staff at the New England Historic and Genealogical Society (NEHGS) how to find a name, I never was able to grasp the method in the wonderful world of discovering birth records from New Hampshire. I soon gave up with that state.
Back to almost falling off my chair. Once at the New Hampshire site, I did one quick entry of a first and last name, and instantly, it brought up the person I was interested in. Simple and so easy. Getting the results was something I never thought I'd be able to get from the microfilm. Quickly, I did a custom report through my Family Tree Maker data base. There were about 150 names of those born in New Hampshire. Sure, I was able to cross off those born after 1900, but that amounted to about five people. With my list of seven pages, I got right to it.
Finding a record not only allows you to view the actual record, but also copy a modified transcript of the record directly to your data base. This includes the name, date, and location of birth, parent's names and film number. I am now done entering 105 sources for my New Hampshire lines, and am patiently waiting for the marriages and deaths for that state. I truly thank the volunteers who tackled these records.
I don't have many direct lines in New Hampshire, but do have a lot of names of those born in the state. They are mostly siblings or others somehow related to my ancestors. I think the state of New Hampshire has a very confusing method of putting their records on microfilm. It is not in alphabetical order, that's for sure. No matter how many times, I asked the staff at the New England Historic and Genealogical Society (NEHGS) how to find a name, I never was able to grasp the method in the wonderful world of discovering birth records from New Hampshire. I soon gave up with that state.
Back to almost falling off my chair. Once at the New Hampshire site, I did one quick entry of a first and last name, and instantly, it brought up the person I was interested in. Simple and so easy. Getting the results was something I never thought I'd be able to get from the microfilm. Quickly, I did a custom report through my Family Tree Maker data base. There were about 150 names of those born in New Hampshire. Sure, I was able to cross off those born after 1900, but that amounted to about five people. With my list of seven pages, I got right to it.
Finding a record not only allows you to view the actual record, but also copy a modified transcript of the record directly to your data base. This includes the name, date, and location of birth, parent's names and film number. I am now done entering 105 sources for my New Hampshire lines, and am patiently waiting for the marriages and deaths for that state. I truly thank the volunteers who tackled these records.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)