For Today Only

For all the hummingbird lovers.

I couldn't pass up taking these shots.

Tombstone Tuesday -- BROOKS (3 Direct Lines) Massachusetts

Caleb Brooks (my 8th great-grandfather)

Born:  1632, Prob. England

Died:  July 29, 1696, Medford, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts

His wife, Hannah Atkinson (my 8th great-grandmother)

Died:  March 10, 1701/02

Their son, Ebenezer Brooks

Born:  February 24, 1669/70, Concord, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts
Died:  February 11, 1742/43


His wife, Abigail Boylston

Born:  November 15, 1674, Roxbury, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts
Died:  May 26, 1756, Medford, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts


Their son, Caleb Brooks

Born:  July 08, 1694, Medford, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts
Died:  November 21, 1766, Medford, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts


His wife, Mary Winn

Born:  July 03, 1710, Woburn, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts

Died:  January 01, 1744/45, Charlestown, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts

My New Way of Doing Research

There aren't many times that I get totally excited about finding a new piece of information for my genealogy puzzle.  After 20 years, most of my basic bits of information have been found and celebrated alone.  At this point, I could simply walk away and say to myself, "I really know whom I am," with all the proof and two DNA tests done. 


I keep thinking, what else do I need, other than solve a few brick walls.  Well yes, I could fix up some sources that were done 15 or so years ago...and I do, when I find them.  Within the past several months, I've had a number of people write offering to do this and that for me, including sending me ledger pages with my ancestors names, and several wonderful "new" friends who have helped with cemetery photos and research.  How nice, and I could get used to any help, as long as I help others, it isn't all take and no give.


My new way of doing research has been reading blogs, over 150 now, and I've gotten wonderful bits of information that have helped me.  The most recent help was from Marian Pierre-Louis of  The Symbolic Past.  She posts New England cemetery photos, and I really pay attention to the names as well as all her locations.   Whenever there is a name of a town that sounds familiar, I always check my genealogy software database to see if I have anybody from that area.  One time, I discovered I had a Kilborn buried in a town where she took several photos, and the second time, she posted a cemetery photo of my direct ancestor and, I didn't even know that my Brooks was buried at that cemetery. It turns out there were 3 generations of Brooks there, and I was so excited that my husband and I went to that cemetery the other day to take my own photos.  Marian didn't know she was helping me twice, it was just my paying attention to names and locations that did the trick.


One of the strangest things happened last night, as I posted the piece about The Wedding, which had nothing to with the Clinton wedding, but was about the town my ancestors lived many years ago.  Ancestry.com sent me a notice that there was a possible match for two of family members. Sure, I thought, since most times I already have the information.  But, not this time.  There were two U.S. Passport Applications, 1795-1925 that I hadn't seen.  One for my great-grandmother and a great-aunt.  And...there were passport photos as well!  I had no idea what they looked like at the ages of 67 and 32. Don't have to tell you how excited I was. My great-grandmother's application is below.

What a nice feeling to realize that my research isn't over, new things are appearing, whether through a blog, a genealogy database or from other helpful cousins.  I can now celebrate these recent findings; it feels good, really good. These methods were not available to me in my beginning years, and I need to get used to it. I wonder what tomorrow will bring.

The Wedding

The news has been covering the wedding of Chelsea Clinton to Marc Mezvinsky in Rhinebeck*, Dutchess Co., New York on July 31, 2010.  I am not following any of it, unless it is forced upon me, thanks to the internet, newspapers and television.  However, I was a bit excited when I remembered using several vital record and history books on that small town.  Why?  I have quite a few ancestors and related family from Rhinebeck. When my husband and I went through the town several years ago, I thought it was one of the most beautiful towns I had ever seen.


In my family tree, I have 6 with the surname of BOCKUS, 6 with the surname of KRANS, 26 with the surname of NEER / NEHER, 1 of ROOSA, and 3 of ROSENBERGER.  Most were born in the town, and quite a few died there.  The BOCKUS, KRANS, NEER and ROSENBERGER lines migrated to Missisquoi Co., Quebec, Canada (the Eastern Townships area, north of Vermont).


So, I am a bit proud that my ancestors had good taste in where they chose to live, and if they could only see their town tonight!  A report of the full names is below.

Sources used for my Rhinebeck families:


Frashuer, Mary Near, Our Canadian Nears and Early Kin Descendants of Carl Naeher, Palatine Immigrant to Colonial America, 1710,  (Akron, Ohio : MFC Print. & Pub. Co., 1973).  (FHL, SLC)


Jones, Henry Z., Jr., The Palatine Families of New York (A Study of the German Immigrants Who Arrived in Colonial New York in 1710), Vol. 2,  (Universal City, CA: 1985).


Kelly, Arthur C. M., Baptismal Record of St. Peter's Lutheran Church (known as Stone Church), Rhinebeck, NY (1733-1899),  (1968).


* From Wikipedia.

Surname Saturday -- VAN NESS (5 Generations) NEW YORK

The Van Ness / Van Nest / Van Neste line is an old Dutch line of mine.  This listing is longer than many others because I descend twice through the first generation of Cornelius Van Ness.  As in the past, my direct lines are in green.
Descendant Register, Generation No. 1

1.	CORNELIS HENDRICKSE VAN NESS (HENDRICK VAN NESS) was born ABT 1604, and died BEF 1685 in of Rensselaerwyck, New York. He married MAYKEN HENDRICKSE VANDENBURCHGRAEFF 31 JUL 1625 in of Vianen, Holland, daughter of HENDRICK ADRIAENSE BURCHGRAEFF and ANNATIE JANSE. She was born in of Lekmond, Holland, and died BEF 1664. He married Maritie\Maria DAMEN 21 MAR 1663/64. She died 3 JUL 1682.
	Children of CORNELIS HENDRICKSE VAN NESS and MAYKEN HENDRICKSE VANDENBURCHGRAEFF are: + 2   i. HENDRICKJE VAN NESS. 3   ii. Hendrick VAN NESS. He married Annetje EVERTS. He married Catryn VANDAM. 4   iii. Gerritie VAN NESS was born 1627. She married Roelof Cornelisz VANHOUTEN 1643. + 5   iv. Grietje VAN NESS was born ABT 1630 in Netherlands, and died BET 1699 AND 1703. + 6   v. JAN CORNELISSE VAN NESS was born BET 1640 AND 1645, and died AFT 1702. 7   vi. Gerrit Cornelisse VAN NESS was born ABT 1645. He married Unknown (__). Cornelisse VAN NESS. She died BEF 1677. He married Marietje LOOCKERMANS 14 FEB 1676/77.

Descendant Register, Generation No. 2

2.	HENDRICKJE VAN NESS (CORNELIS HENDRICKSE VAN NESS, HENDRICK VAN NESS). She married JAN JANSE OOTHOUT. He died BET 13 MAR 1686/87 AND 3 JAN 1695/96.
	Children of HENDRICKJE VAN NESS and JAN JANSE OOTHOUT are: 8   i. Johannes OOTHOUT. 9   ii. Arien OOTHOUT. 10   iii. Mayke OOTHOUT. She married Johannes Thomase MINGAEL. 11   iv. Antje OOTHOUT. 12   v. Jannetje OOTHOUT. She married Hendrick VAN NESS. + 13   vi. HENDRICK OOTHOUT was born 1663, and died BET 11 OCT 1738 AND 26 APR 1740 in Schenectady, Schenectady Co., New York.

5.	Grietje VAN NESS was born ABT 1630 in Netherlands, and died BET 1699 AND 1703. She was buried in Flatlands, Long Island, New York. She married Peter Claesen WYCKOFF BEF 1646. He was born 6 JAN 1624/25 in Boda, Oland Island, Netherlands, and died 30 JUN 1694 in New Ameersfoort, Long Island, New York. He was buried in Flatlands, Long Island, New York.
	Children of Grietje VAN NESS and Peter Claesen WYCKOFF are: 14   i. Gretje\ Margrietje WYCKOFF was born ABT 1648. She married Mathys Adams BROUWER 26 JAN 1672/73 in New York. 15   ii. Annatje\Antje WYCKOFF was born ABT 27 NOV 1650 in New York. She married Roelof Martense SCHENCK 1675. 16   iii. Mayken\ Moycah\ Maria WYCKOFF was born ABT 19 OCT 1653 in New York. He married Willem WILLEMSEN ABT 1678. 17   iv. Nicholas WYCKOFF was born ABT 1654 in Beverwyck (Albany), Albany Co., New York, and died AFT 24 FEB 1714/15. He married Sara MONFORT ABT 1672. 18   v. Cornelius WYCKOFF was born ABT 1656, and died 1746. He married Gertje (Charity) VAN ARSDALEN 12 OCT 1678. + 19   vi. Cornelius WYCKOFF was born ABT 1657, and died 1746. 20   vii. Hendrick WYCKOFF was born ABT 1658, and died 6 DEC 1744 in New York. He married Helena. 21   viii. Geertje WYCKOFF was born ABT 1660. She married Christoffel Janse ROMEYN. 22   ix. Garret Pieterse WYCKOFF was born 1662, and died JUN 1707. He married Catherine Johanna NEVIUS 1691, daughter of Joannes NEVIUS and Adriaentje BLEIJEK. 23   x. Martin\ Marten WYCKOFF was born 1663, and died ABT 1707. He married Hannah WILLEMSE 27 MAY 1683. 24   xi. John\ Jan Pieterse WYCKOFF was born 16 FEB 1664/65, and died AFT 1730 in of Monmouth Co., New Jersey. He married Neeltje COUWENHAVEN 1692. She was born 7 FEB 1668/69. 25   xii. Peter WYCKOFF. He married Willmetje.

6.

JAN CORNELISSE VAN NESS (CORNELIS HENDRICKSE VAN NESS, HENDRICK VAN NESS) was born BET 1640 AND 1645, and died AFT 1702. He married AALTJE VAN NESS. She died 17 JAN 1733/34 in Half Moon (now Waterford), Albany Co., New York.

Children of JAN CORNELISSE VAN NESS and AALTJE VAN NESS are: 26   i. Hendericje VAN NESS. She married Cornelis Hendricks VAN BUREN 26 DEC 1702 in Reformed Dutch Church of Albany. 27   ii. Johannes VAN NESS. 28   iii. Maria VAN NESS. + 29   iv. CORNELIS GERRITSE VAN NESS was born 1669 in Albany, Albany Co., New York. + 30   v. Mayke VAN NESS was born ABT 1674, and died 20 OCT 1747. 31   vi. William VAN NESS was born ABT 1676 in Half Moon (now Waterford), Albany Co., NY. He married Lena FONDA 10 MAR 1702/03 in Albany, Albany Co., New York. 32   vii. Dirkje VAN NESS was born ABT 1678. She married Daniel WINNE 16 MAR 1697/98 in Albany, Albany Co., New York.

Descendant Register, Generation No. 3

13.	HENDRICK OOTHOUT (HENDRICKJE VAN NESS, CORNELIS HENDRICKSE VAN NESS, HENDRICK VAN NESS) was born 1663, and died BET 11 OCT 1738 AND 26 APR 1740 in Schenectady, Schenectady Co., New York. He was buried 15 JUL 1739. He married CAATJE (Catrina) DOUW 30 APR 1684 in Reformed Dutch Church of Albany, daughter of VOLCKERT DOUW and DOROTHEA JANSEN VANBREESTEDE.
	Children of HENDRICK OOTHOUT and CAATJE (Catrina) DOUW are: 33   i. Volkert OOOTHOUT was born ABT 1 MAR 1684/85 in Albany, Albany Co., New York. 34   ii. Hendrick OOTHOUT was born ABT 10 MAR 1685/86 in Albany, Albany Co., New York. 35   iii. Dorothea OOTHOUT was born 16 DEC 1687, and died 23 DEC 1777. She married Cornelis BOGARD 8 OCT 1707 in "at Bride's fathers" Albany, NY. 36   iv. Maritie OOTHOUT was born ABT 12 MAR 1689/90, and died 15 JUL 1739. 37   v. Volkert OOOTHOUT was born 23 OCT 1692 in Albany, Albany Co., New York. He married Catrine DERIDDER. She was born MAR 1698/99. 38   vi. Jan OOTHOUT was born ABT 7 APR 1695 in Albany, Albany Co., New York. 39   vii. Jan OOTHOUT was born 7 APR 1695. 40   viii. Henderickje OOOTHOUT was born ABT 2 MAY 1697 in Albany, Albany Co., New York. + 41   ix. HENDRIKJE OOTHOUT was born ABT 3 SEP 1699 in Albany, Albany Co., New York, and died 21 APR 1764. 42   x. Margariet OOTHOUT was born 13 JUL 1701 in Albany, Albany Co., New York. She married Domine Johannes VAN DRIESSEN. 43   xi. Anna OOTHOUT was born ABT 15 DEC 1703 in Albany, Albany Co., New York. She married Pieter Wourterse QUACKENBUSH\BOS 27 DEC 1733 in Reformed Dutch Church of Albany. 44   xii. Jonas OOTHOUT was born 9 DEC 1705. He married Elizabeth LANSING 30 MAR 1741 in Reformed Dutch Church of Albany. He married Elisabeth VINHAGEN 13 APR 1756 in Reformed Dutch Church of Albany.

19.	Cornelius WYCKOFF (Grietje VAN NESS, CORNELIS HENDRICKSE VAN NESS, HENDRICK VAN NESS) was born ABT 1657, and died 1746. He married Geertje VAN ARSDALEN 13 OCT 1678.
	Children of Cornelius WYCKOFF and Geertje VAN ARSDALEN are: 45   i. John\Jan WYCKOFF died APR 1746. 46   ii. Pieternella WYCKOFF. 47   iii. Peter\Petrus WYCKOFF was born ABT 14 SEP 1679, and died 1777. + 48   iv. Simon WYCKOFF was born ABT 23 NOV 1683, and died 1765. 49   v. Jacob WYCKOFF was born 1686, and died 1732.

29.	CORNELIS GERRITSE VAN NESS (JAN CORNELISSE VAN NESS, CORNELIS HENDRICKSE VAN NESS, HENDRICK VAN NESS) was born 1669 in Albany, Albany Co., New York. He married MARRITJE GERRITSE VANDENBERGH 17 JUL 1696 in Reformed Dutch Church of Albany, New York, daughter of GERRIT GYSBERTSE VANDENBERGH and TEUNTJE GERRITS. She was born 1672 in Albany, Albany Co., New York.
	Children of CORNELIS GERRITSE VAN NESS and MARRITJE GERRITSE VANDENBERGH are: + 50   i. GERRIT VAN NESS was born ABT 20 DEC 1702 in Albany, Albany Co., New York, and died 1795. 51   ii. Aaltje VAN NESS died BEF 1721. She married Wynant C. VANDENBERGH 20 NOV 1715 in Reformed Dutch Church of Albany. 52   iii. Maria VAN NESS. She married Johannes VANDENBERGH 26 JAN 1725/26 in Reformed Dutch Church of Albany.

30.	Mayke VAN NESS (JAN CORNELISSE VAN NESS, CORNELIS HENDRICKSE VAN NESS, HENDRICK VAN NESS) was born ABT 1674, and died 20 OCT 1747. She married Isaac OUDERKERK 3 MAY 1696 in Reformed Dutch Church of Albany, Albany Co., New York, son of JAN OUDERKERK and AARIANTJE w\o JAN OUDERKERK. He was born ABT 1675 in Albany, Albany Co., New York, and died in of Kinderhook & Half Moon, New York.
	Children of Mayke VAN NESS and Isaac OUDERKERK are: 53   i. Johannes OUDERKERK. 54   ii. Cornelis OUDERKERK. 55   iii. Abraham OUDERKERK. 56   iv. Aaltje OUDERKERK. 57   v. Cornelis OUDERKERK. 58   vi. Annatie OUDERKERK. 59   vii. Williem OUDERKERK. 60   viii. Maritie OUDERKERK. 61   ix. Isaac OUDERKERK. 62   x. Jacob OUDERKERK.

Descendant Register, Generation No. 4

41.	HENDRIKJE OOTHOUT (HENDRICK OOTHOUT, HENDRICKJE VAN NESS, CORNELIS HENDRICKSE VAN NESS, HENDRICK VAN NESS) was born ABT 3 SEP 1699 in Albany, Albany Co., New York, and died 21 APR 1764. She married Isaac BOGARD. She married JACOB VAN WOERT 17 OCT 1723 in Reformed Dutch Church of Albany, son of JACOB TEUNISSE VAN WOERT and ANNATJE LOOKERMAN. He was born ABT 30 OCT 1698 in Albany, Albany Co., New York, and died 1765.
	Children of HENDRIKJE OOTHOUT and JACOB VAN WOERT are: 63   i. Louis VAN WOERT. He married Catharina VANDENBERGH 10 OCT 1765, daughter of VOLKERT VANDENBERGH and CATHARINA HUYCK. She was born ABT 20 MAR 1742/43. 64   ii. Anneke VAN WOERT. She married Isaac LANSING 1746. 65   iii. Alida VAN WOERT. 66   iv. Fytje VAN WOERT. He married Jellis WINNE 5 MAY 1754. 67   v. Petrus VAN WOERT. He married Rachel RIDDER 25 OCT 1760 in Reformed Dutch Church of Albany. 68   vi. Louis VAN WOERT. He married Catharyntjie VANDENBERGH 10 OCT 1765 in Reformed Dutch Church of Albany. 69   vii. Myndert VAN WOERT. 70   viii. Eva VAN WOERT. She married Isaac SLINGERHAND 27 DEC 1759 in Reformed Dutch Church of Albany. 71   ix. Myndert VAN WOERT. 72   x. Sarah VAN WOERT. She married Abraham FORT 18 NOV 1751 in Reformed Dutch Church of Albany, son of JACOB FORT and SARA DEWANDELAER. He was born ABT 3 FEB 1730/31, and died 1822. 73   xi. Rebecca VAN WOERT. She married Harman FORT, son of JACOB FORT and SARA DEWANDELAER. He was born ABT 8 JAN 1736/37. + 74   xii. JACOB VAN WOERT was born ABT 8 JAN 1723/24. 75   xiii. Johannes VAN WOERT was born 1 NOV 1725, and died 26 AUG 1746. 76   xiv. Margarieta VAN WOERT was born ABT 1748.

48.	Simon WYCKOFF (Cornelius WYCKOFF, Grietje VAN NESS, CORNELIS HENDRICKSE VAN NESS, HENDRICK VAN NESS) was born ABT 23 NOV 1683, and died 1765. He married Geertye Van Der VLIET 1705, daughter of John\Jan Dirkse Van Der VLIET and Geertruy\Geertie VERKIRK. She died in of Ten Mile Run, New Jersey.
	Child of Simon WYCKOFF and Geertye Van Der VLIET is: + 77   i. Cornelius Simonse WYCKOFF was born ABT 25 APR 1705 in New York, and died 4 APR 1796 in White Horse, Somerset Co., New Jersey.

50.	GERRIT VAN NESS (CORNELIS GERRITSE VAN NESS, JAN CORNELISSE VAN NESS, CORNELIS HENDRICKSE VAN NESS, HENDRICK VAN NESS) was born ABT 20 DEC 1702 in Albany, Albany Co., New York, and died 1795. He married SARA VANDENBERGH 11 SEP 1724 in Reformed Dutch Church of Albany, daughter of CORNELIS CLAASE VANDENBERGH and SUSANNA OUDERKERK. She was born ABT 13 MAY 1705 in Albany, Albany Co., New York, and died in Albany, Albany Co., New York.
	Children of GERRIT VAN NESS and SARA VANDENBERGH are: 78   i. Cornelis VAN NESS was born ABT 19 JAN 1725/26 in Albany, Albany Co., New York. He married Alida VAN WOERT. + 79   ii. JAN VAN NESS was born ABT 1 OCT 1727 in Albany, Albany Co., New York, and died BEF 20 JAN 1769. 80   iii. Santie VAN NESS was born 9 FEB 1728/29 in Albany, Albany Co., New York. 81   iv. Petrus VAN NESS was born ABT 23 JAN 1731/32 in Albany, Albany Co., New York. 82   v. Marritie VAN NESS was born ABT 25 APR 1736 in Albany, Albany Co., New York, and died BEF 9 APR 1784. She married Leendert MULLER. 83   vi. Abraham VAN NESS was born ABT 20 DEC 1738 in Albany, Albany Co., New York. He married Annatje DERIDDER 27 JAN 1762 in Reformed Dutch Church of Albany, New York. 84   vii. Aaltje VAN NESS was born ABT 23 AUG 1741 in Albany, Albany Co., New York. 85   viii. Nicholaas VAN NESS was born ABT 17 JUN 1744 in Albany, Albany Co., New York.

Descendant Register, Generation No. 5

74.	JACOB VAN WOERT (HENDRIKJE OOTHOUT, HENDRICK OOTHOUT, HENDRICKJE VAN NESS, CORNELIS HENDRICKSE VAN NESS, HENDRICK VAN NESS) was born ABT 8 JAN 1723/24. He married ELIZABETH FORT, daughter of JACOB FORT and SARA DEWANDELAER. She was born ABT 23 APR 1727, and died 30 MAY 1756 in Albany, Albany Co., New York.
	Children of JACOB VAN WOERT and ELIZABETH FORT are: + 86   i. Johannes \ John VAN WOERT was born ABT 17 JUN 1750 in Albany, Albany Co., New York. + 87   ii. JACOB VAN WOERT was born ABT 27 JUN 1754 in Albany, Albany Co., New York, and died 27 JUN 1843 in Oneonta, Otsego Co., New York.

77.	Cornelius Simonse WYCKOFF (Simon WYCKOFF5, Cornelius WYCKOFF, Grietje VAN NESS, CORNELIS HENDRICKSE VAN NESS, HENDRICK VAN NESS) was born ABT 25 APR 1705 in New York, and died 4 APR 1796 in White Horse, Somerset Co., New Jersey. He married Elizabeth ANDERSON 9 JUN 1740 in Readington, Hunterdon Co., New Jersey, daughter of GEORGE ANDERSON and JACOMYNTJE GERRIT VAN DUYN. She was born ABT 2 AUG 1719 in New Brunswick, Middlesex Co., New Jersey, and died 1 MAY 1799.
	Children of Cornelius Simonse WYCKOFF and Elizabeth ANDERSON are: 88   i. Annoytie WYCKOFF. 89   ii. Charity WYCKOFF. 90   iii. Cornelia WYCKOFF. 91   iv. Cornelius WYCKOFF. 92   v. Dennis WYCKOFF. 93   vi. George WYCKOFF. 94   vii. Simon WYCKOFF. 95   viii. Elizabeth WYCKOFF was born ABT MAY 1750. + 96   ix. Anne Wickoff \ WYCKOFF was born 12 NOV 1752 in Readington Church, Somerset Co., New Jersey.

79.	JAN VAN NESS (GERRIT VAN NESS, CORNELIS GERRITSE VAN NESS, JAN CORNELISSE VAN NESS, CORNELIS HENDRICKSE VAN NESS, HENDRICK VAN NESS) was born ABT 1 OCT 1727 in Albany, Albany Co., New York, and died BEF 20 JAN 1769. He married MAYCKE VANDENBERGH, daughter of VOLKERT VANDENBERGH and CATHARINA HUYCK. She was born ABT 2 AUG 1730.
	Child of JAN VAN NESS and MAYCKE VANDENBERGH is: + 97   i. SARAH VAN NESS was born 15 MAR 1754 in Albany, Albany Co., New York, and died 22 APR 1832 in Oneonta, Otsego Co., New York.

Follow Friday -- Becky of KINEXXIONS

For many months, I've been following a fabulous blog called Kinexxions by Becky Wiseman.  She began her journey alone, from Indiana last August, and has traveled through New England, down south, then the southwest, west and up through many of the national parks. Since I had been in many of the parks and various other sites, I've enjoyed her journey on a personal level.


Follow Friday is a day when genealogists can write about another blog, book, genealogy society / historical society or anything they recommend to others. For this reason, I choose Becky's site.


Today, when she posted a map of her newest detour, that of driving to Alaska (see her map, click to enlarge), I thought this would be a great way for children to follow along.  Many still have a month of vacation, and they can take the trip with her.  What a wonderful way to learn.  And, as she mentioned today, she might not always have wifi, so if there is a lapse, you can always go back through her blogs and read about other locations and see some of the best photos you will ever see.  She doesn't sightsee like me....she does it, as in taking long hikes and getting the best shots (unlike mine taken a few feet from the car). In addition, she explains things and discusses history...it isn't just photos.


I wish her a safe journey and hope many of you will follow her along this great journey.

Looking Back

The month of July has been rather busy. Among the happenings not blogged about are shared below.


Tina Lyons of Gen Wish List surprised me with a Follow Friday for my blog.  Thank you Tina.

My cousin, Claire of the Adams coverlet, sent me over 50 tombstone photos.  Besides posting some to Find-A-Grave, I was able to get corrected a few other photos that were mistakenly placed in the wrong cemetery.  All the errors came came to light after Claire actually went to the cemeteries and cleaned around the stones.  She also left flowers!


My above cousin also pointed me in the direction of Library History Bluff Blog when she saw a write up about my librarian gg grandfather.  What a nice surprise.  You never know where your ancestors will show up.



When I typed up the longest obituary I've ever seen on my ancestor, I had no idea that the New York Times had it online!  A week later, after my post, I was looking for something else on google pertaining to that family and came across it.  I think I should use Google more than I do, if I had, I could have saved myself a huge amount of time!

Miriam Robbins Midkiff of the AnceStories: The Stories of My Ancestors  has given me permission to use her Digital Archives and Database for Massachusetts on my home page.  She is doing a listing for each of the 50 states, one per week in alphabetical order.  Please visit her blog for the states already done, and more great articles.


It was time for a change on my blog layout, nothing drastic, as you can see.  Made a number of corrections and updated many old posts, also changed many labels.  One new label is for Blogger Cousins (to enable me to keep track of those bloggers who are related to me), so, if your memory is better than mine, and we are related, could you please let me know. Thanks.  Also, I changed my town and state areas to be listed under Location:, such as Location: Michigan.

I donated three books to the New England Historic and Genealogical Society in Boston.

Travis  LeMaster of  TJL Genes: Perserving Our Family History posted a A Genealogy Clerihew*. He wrote:Looking up the family tree
I thought I caught a glimpse of me
Soon my present will be past
For I will not forever last.

* A humorous or satirical verse consisting of two rhyming couplets in lines of irregular meter about somebody who is named in the verse.

Bits of News -- Boston Family History Day with NEHGS and Ancestry.com

The other day while at the New England Historic and Genealogical Society's Library, I checked my email.  And, I'm glad I did, as there was an email from NEHGS informing me of an upcoming Family History Day sponsored by NEHGS and Ancestry.com!


This message was giving advance notice of two days to those who might be interested in the Boston Family History Day 2010. (The  notice was for those who had registered for the winter Family History Day, which was an enormous success.)


As luck would have it, there were several members of the staff near me and I asked about it.  One said, "they are planning for 2,000 people" and the other said, "it's going to be huge." Hum, that is pretty impressive.  That is as many people who attend the major conferences, such as the recent National Genealogical Society Conference in Salt Lake City, and I hope the upcoming Federation of Genealogical Societies Conference in Knoxville, Tennessee.


General registration opens on Thursday, July 29, 2010 to everybody, and I'm giving you a little advance notice.  I am assuming information about the conference will be in the NEHGS eNews (weekly newsletter).  The newsletter is free, and you can subscribe by going to NEHGS eNews.


The last time there was a large genealogy conference in Boston was in the fall of 2006, so it has been some time.  We deserve it.