Here is our list of upcoming webinars from Legacy. If any are of interest to you, visit www.familytreewebinars.com to register to watch in real time or to view for a week following each presentation. You can also find out more about each topic.
Tuesday, August 4 - "Tracing Australian and New Zealand World War One Ancestors" by Helen Smith. Intermediate
Wednesday, August 5 - "Using DNA to Solve Adoption and Unknown Parentage Mysteries" by Michelle Leonard. Intermediate
Wednesday, August 12 - "Dissecting a Civil War Pension Packet--Union and Confederate" by Jill Morelli. Beginner, Intermediate
Tuesday, August 18 - "The Advance of Research Habits over Recent Decades — And the Downside" by Tom Jones. Intermediate
Wednesday, August 19 - "Getting to Know Mexican Church & Civil Registration Records" by Colleen Robledo Greene. Beginner
Wednesday, August 26 - "Using Slack for Genealogy Projects" by Thomas MacEntee. Intermediate (Slack is a free online collaboration hub.)
Friday, July 31, 2020
Thursday, July 30, 2020
Using Cluster Methodology
We watched a class the other day that dealt with cluster genealogy. The speaker related how she was able to prove the parents of an ancestor from upper New York state by researching his siblings and their spouses. Eventually she was able to trace several families that had traveled from Rhode Island through Connecticut to the same county in New York.
Although the session itself focused on that particular case study, the handout provided many ideas for research in New York. Locating information in the area of rural upstate New York is difficult before 1850 because of the lack of vital records. There were several suggestions for finding substitutes for those missing records.
Although the session itself focused on that particular case study, the handout provided many ideas for research in New York. Locating information in the area of rural upstate New York is difficult before 1850 because of the lack of vital records. There were several suggestions for finding substitutes for those missing records.
Thursday, July 23, 2020
Dutch Reformed Church, Ohio Settlers, Mobile Technology
We watched three more virtual classes over the past few days. We knew we would have plenty of time for viewing during "isolation," and it is working out well. There is always at least one bit of helpful information from every session.
I selected "The Dutch Reformed Churches in America" because Dick has a brick wall back in Westchester County, New York. He has found a few records for his Ward and Berrian surnames in the Dutch Reformed Church there. The speaker was very knowledgeable about her subject, and we learned how that church split into two factions--one settling in the Holland, Michigan area and the other in Pella, Iowa. The bit of information that might help our research: records from the New York area churches are held in the state archives in Albany.
"Where Did They Go When They Left Ohio?" was organized in an interesting way. The speaker first listed reasons for movement westward: river transportation, cessions of Native American land, federal land sales, military bounty acts, the 1862 Homestead Act, and construction of railroads. Another reason for migration was the fact that original settlers in Ohio had sons who needed land to support their families. She used compiled census data from 1850-1890 to determine the number of Ohio-born residents in the states to the west of Ohio.
"Mobile Technology for Genealogy" discussed the apps available for family research, including two versions of family tree software (Family Tree Maker and Roots Magic) and several websites where you can build a tree. She also briefly mentioned using Evernote for genealogy. The session was only about 30 minutes, so she could have spent much more time demonstrating her suggestions.
I selected "The Dutch Reformed Churches in America" because Dick has a brick wall back in Westchester County, New York. He has found a few records for his Ward and Berrian surnames in the Dutch Reformed Church there. The speaker was very knowledgeable about her subject, and we learned how that church split into two factions--one settling in the Holland, Michigan area and the other in Pella, Iowa. The bit of information that might help our research: records from the New York area churches are held in the state archives in Albany.
"Where Did They Go When They Left Ohio?" was organized in an interesting way. The speaker first listed reasons for movement westward: river transportation, cessions of Native American land, federal land sales, military bounty acts, the 1862 Homestead Act, and construction of railroads. Another reason for migration was the fact that original settlers in Ohio had sons who needed land to support their families. She used compiled census data from 1850-1890 to determine the number of Ohio-born residents in the states to the west of Ohio.
"Mobile Technology for Genealogy" discussed the apps available for family research, including two versions of family tree software (Family Tree Maker and Roots Magic) and several websites where you can build a tree. She also briefly mentioned using Evernote for genealogy. The session was only about 30 minutes, so she could have spent much more time demonstrating her suggestions.
Tuesday, July 14, 2020
Researching German Immigrants in U.S. Church Records
We learned how to locate records for German immigrants in American Protestant church records in a class we watched yesterday. Many of the records include the village where the immigrants were born, which is what we all need to find church records in Germany.
Most records include critical information by the 1850s. They were written in German using the Gothic alphabet until about 1870. After 1870 you will find records written in both Latin and Gothic. Most churches began to use English by 1900.
I was interested to see that many of the examples used by the speaker were from Ancestry's database called Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Church Records, 1781-1969.
Roger Minert has published a set of books called German Immigrants in American Church Records. This is an ongoing series published beginning in 2003. The set of books concentrates on Midwest states and can be found at the Family History Library and other libraries around the country.
Most records include critical information by the 1850s. They were written in German using the Gothic alphabet until about 1870. After 1870 you will find records written in both Latin and Gothic. Most churches began to use English by 1900.
I was interested to see that many of the examples used by the speaker were from Ancestry's database called Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Church Records, 1781-1969.
Roger Minert has published a set of books called German Immigrants in American Church Records. This is an ongoing series published beginning in 2003. The set of books concentrates on Midwest states and can be found at the Family History Library and other libraries around the country.
Wednesday, July 8, 2020
Midwestern Research
The presentation we watched this week was a comparison of the different research facilities in our midwestern states. The speaker suggested creating an overview guide for each state, including a timeline and maps. Use the FamilySearch Wiki for assistance.
She provided a chart for each state that showed information about state archives, libraries, historical or genealogical societies and digital collections.
Ohio: Visit the state archives in Columbus and use the Ohio Memory website.
Indiana: This state has strong record collections. Visit the Indiana State Archives for digital records.
Illinois: There are regional archives connected to the state universities. The Illinois State Genealogical Society has free webinars.
Missouri: The state archives holds county records. Missouri Digital Heritage is the go-to website.
Michigan: Try the Michigan Biographical Index.
Iowa: Use the State Historical Society website. IowaGenWeb is particularly well done.
Wisconsin: The Wisconsin Historical Society has a useful website. The Wisconsin Genealogical Society presents webinars.
Minnesota: Visit the Minnesota Historical Society; its library guides are a plus. The Iron Range Research Center is great for northern Minnesota.
She provided a chart for each state that showed information about state archives, libraries, historical or genealogical societies and digital collections.
Ohio: Visit the state archives in Columbus and use the Ohio Memory website.
Indiana: This state has strong record collections. Visit the Indiana State Archives for digital records.
Illinois: There are regional archives connected to the state universities. The Illinois State Genealogical Society has free webinars.
Missouri: The state archives holds county records. Missouri Digital Heritage is the go-to website.
Michigan: Try the Michigan Biographical Index.
Iowa: Use the State Historical Society website. IowaGenWeb is particularly well done.
Wisconsin: The Wisconsin Historical Society has a useful website. The Wisconsin Genealogical Society presents webinars.
Minnesota: Visit the Minnesota Historical Society; its library guides are a plus. The Iron Range Research Center is great for northern Minnesota.
Saturday, July 4, 2020
Irish Websites
This week we attended our first virtual class at the National Genealogical Society's 2020 Family History Conference. We chose the session called "Shamrocks in Cyberspace."
Subscription websites:
Ancestry - Begin by using the card catalog for "Ireland." Catholic parish records for 1655-1915 are available, as well as Griffith's Valuation.
FindMyPast.ie - It looks as if the Irish collection is a separate subscription. Two databases were recommended: Ireland Petty Court Records 1828-1914 and A-Z Record Sets for Landed Estates Court Rentals 1850-1885.
Roots Ireland is the website of the Irish Family History Foundation. You can purchase a 24-hour pass to view transcribed records of baptism/birth, marriage and death records. There are a few early census records and the 1901 and 1911 census.
JohnGrenham.com provides a surname search plus the ability to cross reference a second surname.
Free websites:
Irish National Archives - This is the best website for the 1901 and 1911 census records.
National Library of Ireland - There are maps available to locate parish names and Catholic parish registers have recently been added to the site.
Proni - The Public Record Office of Northern Ireland has an online database of freeholders who were eligible to vote. Proni would be a place to begin for Scots-Irish research.
Irish Genealogy ie - New civil vital records include births 1864-1919, marriages 1845-1944 and deaths 18778-1969.
The Ireatlas (The Core.com) - Find the 1851 index to Townlands and Towns and Parishes.
Ask About Ireland - Griffith's Valuation for those who do not have an Ancestry subscripton.
Subscription websites:
Ancestry - Begin by using the card catalog for "Ireland." Catholic parish records for 1655-1915 are available, as well as Griffith's Valuation.
FindMyPast.ie - It looks as if the Irish collection is a separate subscription. Two databases were recommended: Ireland Petty Court Records 1828-1914 and A-Z Record Sets for Landed Estates Court Rentals 1850-1885.
Roots Ireland is the website of the Irish Family History Foundation. You can purchase a 24-hour pass to view transcribed records of baptism/birth, marriage and death records. There are a few early census records and the 1901 and 1911 census.
JohnGrenham.com provides a surname search plus the ability to cross reference a second surname.
Free websites:
Irish National Archives - This is the best website for the 1901 and 1911 census records.
National Library of Ireland - There are maps available to locate parish names and Catholic parish registers have recently been added to the site.
Proni - The Public Record Office of Northern Ireland has an online database of freeholders who were eligible to vote. Proni would be a place to begin for Scots-Irish research.
Irish Genealogy ie - New civil vital records include births 1864-1919, marriages 1845-1944 and deaths 18778-1969.
The Ireatlas (The Core.com) - Find the 1851 index to Townlands and Towns and Parishes.
Ask About Ireland - Griffith's Valuation for those who do not have an Ancestry subscripton.
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