Monday, February 7, 2011
National Institute of Genealogical Studies Acquires GenealogyWise website
I received this interesting press release from Elizabeth LaPointe of the National Institute for Genealogical Studies (NIGS):
(Toronto, February 7, 2011) Louise St. Denis, Managing Director of the National Institute for Genealogical Studies, has announced that the Institute has acquired the website, GenealogyWise (www.genealogywise.com). The Genealogy Community Director of GenealogyWise, Gena Philibert Ortega, has also officially joined the Institute. She can be reached at (genwise@genealogicalstudies.com).
"I would say that GenealogyWise is a great fit with the National Institute's goals. GenealogyWise is a place to connect with new found cousins, share resources, and learn more about genealogy. As part of the National Institute, GenealogyWise members will benefit from the opportunities that the National Institute provides," said Gena.
GenealogyWise is the social network for genealogists. This is the place to network with other researchers, and make discoveries about your family history.
You can join or create surname, locality, or topic groups. The Group feature allows you to collaborate, share, and ask questions of other members.
You can also join the Chat Room for a quick question about research, a chat with fellow genealogists, or attend one of our educational presentations. As well, you can post a blog entry or a forum question from the GenealogyWise homepage. This is a great way to share your knowledge on a genealogy topic or to ask a question.
To date, there are over 23,000 members online.
A new feature will be added - the Live Meeting. GenealogyWise members will be able to access Live Meetings onsite, and this will open up more education opportunities to members that the Institute has to offer.
For the month of March, the Institute is offering a number of US courses as well as courses on Methodology, Electronic Records, and in Analysis and Skill Mentioning.
To read a detailed description about a specific course, please go to our website at (www.genealogicalstudies.com), click on the menu item "COURSES", and click on "COURSES" again. Then click on "ALPHABETICAL LISTING" to make searching through over 60 courses given in March a little easier!
And to learn more about our instructors, please go to our site at (www.genealogicalstudies.com), click on menu item "INSTITUTE", then click on "FACULTY", and click again on the instructor's name.
If you need more information, please call us toll-free in North America at 1-800-580-0165, or send us a message at (admin@genealogicalstudies.com).
You can enroll in these or other courses by simply going to the Institute's website at (www.genealogicalstudies.com), choosing the ones which interest you, and registering online.
-----------
About The National Institute for Genealogical StudiesAbout the National Institute for Genealogical Studies: The Institute now offers over 150 courses in genealogical studies, including courses in the records of Australia, Canada, England, Ireland, Germany, and the United States.
If you are looking for a more formal educational training, the Institute offers—in affiliation with the Continuing Education Unit of the University of St. Michael's College at the University of Toronto—Certificate Programs in the records of Australia, Canada, England, Ireland, Germany, and the United States, as well as a Librarianship Certificate.
(Toronto, February 7, 2011) Louise St. Denis, Managing Director of the National Institute for Genealogical Studies, has announced that the Institute has acquired the website, GenealogyWise (www.genealogywise.com). The Genealogy Community Director of GenealogyWise, Gena Philibert Ortega, has also officially joined the Institute. She can be reached at (genwise@genealogicalstudies.com).
"I would say that GenealogyWise is a great fit with the National Institute's goals. GenealogyWise is a place to connect with new found cousins, share resources, and learn more about genealogy. As part of the National Institute, GenealogyWise members will benefit from the opportunities that the National Institute provides," said Gena.
GenealogyWise is the social network for genealogists. This is the place to network with other researchers, and make discoveries about your family history.
You can join or create surname, locality, or topic groups. The Group feature allows you to collaborate, share, and ask questions of other members.
You can also join the Chat Room for a quick question about research, a chat with fellow genealogists, or attend one of our educational presentations. As well, you can post a blog entry or a forum question from the GenealogyWise homepage. This is a great way to share your knowledge on a genealogy topic or to ask a question.
To date, there are over 23,000 members online.
A new feature will be added - the Live Meeting. GenealogyWise members will be able to access Live Meetings onsite, and this will open up more education opportunities to members that the Institute has to offer.
For the month of March, the Institute is offering a number of US courses as well as courses on Methodology, Electronic Records, and in Analysis and Skill Mentioning.
To read a detailed description about a specific course, please go to our website at (www.genealogicalstudies.com), click on the menu item "COURSES", and click on "COURSES" again. Then click on "ALPHABETICAL LISTING" to make searching through over 60 courses given in March a little easier!
And to learn more about our instructors, please go to our site at (www.genealogicalstudies.com), click on menu item "INSTITUTE", then click on "FACULTY", and click again on the instructor's name.
If you need more information, please call us toll-free in North America at 1-800-580-0165, or send us a message at (admin@genealogicalstudies.com).
You can enroll in these or other courses by simply going to the Institute's website at (www.genealogicalstudies.com), choosing the ones which interest you, and registering online.
-----------
About The National Institute for Genealogical StudiesAbout the National Institute for Genealogical Studies: The Institute now offers over 150 courses in genealogical studies, including courses in the records of Australia, Canada, England, Ireland, Germany, and the United States.
If you are looking for a more formal educational training, the Institute offers—in affiliation with the Continuing Education Unit of the University of St. Michael's College at the University of Toronto—Certificate Programs in the records of Australia, Canada, England, Ireland, Germany, and the United States, as well as a Librarianship Certificate.
Louise St. Denis
Managing Director
The National Institute for Genealogical Studies
Toll-free in North America - 1.800.580.0165
GenealogyWise was formerly a website belonging to the FamilyLink.com company, which also owns WorldVitalRecords.com and other websites.
I think that this is a good acquisition for the Institute, since it combines social networking with education, and will expose the Institute's offerings to a range of genealogy researchers.
Gena Ortega is a good genealogical friend of mine, and I wish her all good fortune in this endeavor.
GenealogyWise was formerly a website belonging to the FamilyLink.com company, which also owns WorldVitalRecords.com and other websites.
I think that this is a good acquisition for the Institute, since it combines social networking with education, and will expose the Institute's offerings to a range of genealogy researchers.
Gena Ortega is a good genealogical friend of mine, and I wish her all good fortune in this endeavor.
Labels: Message Boards, Online resources
Do Genealogy Template Sources Survive When Passed Through GEDCOM?
I've shown in these posts over the past few weeks that Source Citations created by Source Templates (using Evidence! Explained guidelines), when exported from a GEDCOM file, do not survive as source templates when they are imported into another software program:
* FTM2011 Source Citations in RootsMagic 4 - Mangled?
* FTM 2011 Source Citations in Legacy Family Tree 7 - Mangled?
* How did the RootsMagic 4 Source Citations Look in Legacy Family Tree 7?
I haven't reported it, but I've tested the import of Legacy Family Tree 7 template sources (using GEDCOM) into Family Tree Maker 2011 and RootsMagic 4, and of RootsMagic 4 (using GEDCOM) into Family Tree Maker 2011/.
In all these cases, the sources are imported as "Free-form" sources, and the hard work of users who created quality source citations using the source templates in the software program are lost.
I haven't tested importing a Legacy Family Tree 7 native file into Family Tree Maker 2011, or a RootsMagic 4 native file into Legacy Family Tree 7, which the programs say can be done. Will the source citations include the source template fields and the formatting? I don't know.
The conclusion I've found - at least with these three programs - is that:
Using a GEDCOM file to export data from one program and import it into another program will result in the loss of all Source Template information. The resulting source templates are "Free-form" after the program interprets the GEDCOM data that is provided. In the process, some programs do not put information in the correct Free-form source template field.
Last week, Bruce Buzbee of RootsMagic asked me in a Facebook message if I had exported a GEDCOM file from each program, then imported that GEDCOM file back into the program, and if the source template formatting survives the export/import process. After all, this is what many researchers would do when providing a GEDCOM file to another researcher, since you often don't know what software program the other researcher uses, or it is often different.
I decided to try it with Family Tree Maker 2011, Legacy Family Tree 7, and RootsMagic 4.
1) Here's the Source Citation image from Family Tree Maker 2011 (from a GEDCOM created by FTM 2011):
The form above is the "Free-form" Source template, not the "Book: Basic Format (Print Publication)" template that the source citation was created from in Family Tree Maker 2011. So it looks like Family Tree Maker 2011 is a FAIL for this test.
2) Here's the Source Citation image from Legacy Family Tree 7 (from a GEDCOM created by LFT 7):
The form above is the "Free-form" Source template, not the "Books: Book Authored : Authored by an Agency: Basic Format" template that the source citation was created from in Legacy Family Tree 7. So it looks like Legacy Family Tree 7 is a FAIL for this test.
3) Here's the Source Citation image from RootsMagic 3 (from a GEDCOM created by RM 4):
The form above is the "Book: Basic Format" template that the source citation was created from in RootsMagic 4, not a "Free-form" source template. So it looks like RootsMagic 4 is a PASS for this test.
The conclusion here, for me, is that:
If you want to preserve Sources created by Source Templates in one program, then RootsMagic is the only one of these three programs that retains the template fields and formatting when exported using a GEDCOM file and imported into the same program. Of course, importing a file with the same native file (e.g., a Family Tree Maker file in native format sent to a person with Family Tree Maker) retains the source template fields and formatting.
I want to look at one more set of tests - how do the GEDCOMs import into an Ancestry Member Tree? Are the source templates fields and formatting retained?
The Seaver Source Citation Saga continues... bored yet? [hmmm, probably back on the first post...]
* FTM2011 Source Citations in RootsMagic 4 - Mangled?
* FTM 2011 Source Citations in Legacy Family Tree 7 - Mangled?
* How did the RootsMagic 4 Source Citations Look in Legacy Family Tree 7?
I haven't reported it, but I've tested the import of Legacy Family Tree 7 template sources (using GEDCOM) into Family Tree Maker 2011 and RootsMagic 4, and of RootsMagic 4 (using GEDCOM) into Family Tree Maker 2011/.
In all these cases, the sources are imported as "Free-form" sources, and the hard work of users who created quality source citations using the source templates in the software program are lost.
I haven't tested importing a Legacy Family Tree 7 native file into Family Tree Maker 2011, or a RootsMagic 4 native file into Legacy Family Tree 7, which the programs say can be done. Will the source citations include the source template fields and the formatting? I don't know.
The conclusion I've found - at least with these three programs - is that:
Using a GEDCOM file to export data from one program and import it into another program will result in the loss of all Source Template information. The resulting source templates are "Free-form" after the program interprets the GEDCOM data that is provided. In the process, some programs do not put information in the correct Free-form source template field.
Last week, Bruce Buzbee of RootsMagic asked me in a Facebook message if I had exported a GEDCOM file from each program, then imported that GEDCOM file back into the program, and if the source template formatting survives the export/import process. After all, this is what many researchers would do when providing a GEDCOM file to another researcher, since you often don't know what software program the other researcher uses, or it is often different.
I decided to try it with Family Tree Maker 2011, Legacy Family Tree 7, and RootsMagic 4.
1) Here's the Source Citation image from Family Tree Maker 2011 (from a GEDCOM created by FTM 2011):
The form above is the "Free-form" Source template, not the "Book: Basic Format (Print Publication)" template that the source citation was created from in Family Tree Maker 2011. So it looks like Family Tree Maker 2011 is a FAIL for this test.
2) Here's the Source Citation image from Legacy Family Tree 7 (from a GEDCOM created by LFT 7):
The form above is the "Free-form" Source template, not the "Books: Book Authored : Authored by an Agency: Basic Format" template that the source citation was created from in Legacy Family Tree 7. So it looks like Legacy Family Tree 7 is a FAIL for this test.
3) Here's the Source Citation image from RootsMagic 3 (from a GEDCOM created by RM 4):
The form above is the "Book: Basic Format" template that the source citation was created from in RootsMagic 4, not a "Free-form" source template. So it looks like RootsMagic 4 is a PASS for this test.
The conclusion here, for me, is that:
If you want to preserve Sources created by Source Templates in one program, then RootsMagic is the only one of these three programs that retains the template fields and formatting when exported using a GEDCOM file and imported into the same program. Of course, importing a file with the same native file (e.g., a Family Tree Maker file in native format sent to a person with Family Tree Maker) retains the source template fields and formatting.
I want to look at one more set of tests - how do the GEDCOMs import into an Ancestry Member Tree? Are the source templates fields and formatting retained?
The Seaver Source Citation Saga continues... bored yet? [hmmm, probably back on the first post...]
Labels: FamilyTreeMaker, GEDCOM, genealogy software, Legacy Family Tree, RootsMagic, Source Citation
"The Schoolmaster's in that Bed"
While I was finding the Perley Seaver article last night, I also found this article right next to it. I hadn't thought about this issue occurring in the 1860 time frame, but I can see how this could happen:
The Progressive Age, Coshocton, Ohio, Wednesday, March 7, 1860 (Volume 7, Number 20):
THE SCHOOLMASTER'S IN THAT BED. -- A correspondent of the New York Waverly gives the following as one of many incidents that befall a "boarding round schoolmaster:"
I had been teaching in Mason County in this, the Sucker state, and this term was boarding round. One evening, after school, one of my little scholars stepped up to me and said:
"Mr. Jones, father said you could come home with me."
"Very well," I replied, and forthwith set out for my patron's house, which was distant about two miles. Now, be it known, James McHarry, for such was his name, had two daughters - the pride and envy of the whole community. I had heard so much about them that I was naturally anxious to see them. It seemed, however, that I was to be disappointed. When we arrived, I learned that the "gals" had gone to a party the other side of the creek; so I went to bed, execrating the luck which deprived me of seeing them that night.
The night had well advanced when I heard on of the girls come home, and passing into the adjoining room, she warmed herself before some coals which were alive on the hearth. It seems the old gentleman and lad slept in the same room, but I was not aware of it then. Having warmed herself, she turned to leave the room, when the old man spoke: "Girls," said he, "the schoolmaster's in your bed."
"Very well," said Sarah, and passing through the room I slept in, went up stairs. About an hour elapsed, when I heard Judy, the other one, come. She stood at the door a long time, talking with "her feller," then entered softly. Disrobing her feet, she entered the room where I lay, in her stocking feet, she carefully undressed herself, and coming to the bedside, prepared to get in. Now it happened that I lay in the middle, and, turning back the clothes, she gave me a shake, and said in a suppressed whisper, "Lay over, Sarah."
I rolled over and whipped the corner of the pillow in my mouth to keep from laughing. In she bounced, but the bed would squeak. The old man heard it and called out:
"Judy!"
"Sir," was responded in a faint voice from the bed beside me.
"The schoolmaster is in that bed."
With one loud yell and an "Oh Heavens!" she landed on the floor, and fled, with the rapidity of a deer, up stairs. She never heard the last of it, I can tell you.
This tells us something about the McHarry family, but not the schoolmaster's first name. I wonder if this is a true story? There is a James Mcharry (age 42, born in Ireland) residing in Mason County, Illinois in the 1860 census, but only one child, Margaret age 7, is listed with him. I found no Sarah or Judy McHarry's (or similar names) in Mason County, Illinois in the 1860 census. So, this appears to be a story that may be true but with different names. Or it was totally made up! Nobody will ever know, I guess.
If not apocryphal, I wonder if the schoolmaster ever got any sleep, what with all of that talking going on!
The Progressive Age, Coshocton, Ohio, Wednesday, March 7, 1860 (Volume 7, Number 20):
THE SCHOOLMASTER'S IN THAT BED. -- A correspondent of the New York Waverly gives the following as one of many incidents that befall a "boarding round schoolmaster:"
I had been teaching in Mason County in this, the Sucker state, and this term was boarding round. One evening, after school, one of my little scholars stepped up to me and said:
"Mr. Jones, father said you could come home with me."
"Very well," I replied, and forthwith set out for my patron's house, which was distant about two miles. Now, be it known, James McHarry, for such was his name, had two daughters - the pride and envy of the whole community. I had heard so much about them that I was naturally anxious to see them. It seemed, however, that I was to be disappointed. When we arrived, I learned that the "gals" had gone to a party the other side of the creek; so I went to bed, execrating the luck which deprived me of seeing them that night.
The night had well advanced when I heard on of the girls come home, and passing into the adjoining room, she warmed herself before some coals which were alive on the hearth. It seems the old gentleman and lad slept in the same room, but I was not aware of it then. Having warmed herself, she turned to leave the room, when the old man spoke: "Girls," said he, "the schoolmaster's in your bed."
"Very well," said Sarah, and passing through the room I slept in, went up stairs. About an hour elapsed, when I heard Judy, the other one, come. She stood at the door a long time, talking with "her feller," then entered softly. Disrobing her feet, she entered the room where I lay, in her stocking feet, she carefully undressed herself, and coming to the bedside, prepared to get in. Now it happened that I lay in the middle, and, turning back the clothes, she gave me a shake, and said in a suppressed whisper, "Lay over, Sarah."
I rolled over and whipped the corner of the pillow in my mouth to keep from laughing. In she bounced, but the bed would squeak. The old man heard it and called out:
"Judy!"
"Sir," was responded in a faint voice from the bed beside me.
"The schoolmaster is in that bed."
With one loud yell and an "Oh Heavens!" she landed on the floor, and fled, with the rapidity of a deer, up stairs. She never heard the last of it, I can tell you.
This tells us something about the McHarry family, but not the schoolmaster's first name. I wonder if this is a true story? There is a James Mcharry (age 42, born in Ireland) residing in Mason County, Illinois in the 1860 census, but only one child, Margaret age 7, is listed with him. I found no Sarah or Judy McHarry's (or similar names) in Mason County, Illinois in the 1860 census. So, this appears to be a story that may be true but with different names. Or it was totally made up! Nobody will ever know, I guess.
If not apocryphal, I wonder if the schoolmaster ever got any sleep, what with all of that talking going on!
Labels: Genealogy Fun, Oldtime newspapers, strange or funny
Amanuensis Monday - Probate Records of Benjamin Allen (1662-1721)
Genea-blogger John Newmark (who writes the excellent TransylvanianDutch blog) started a Monday blog theme many months ago called Amanuensis Monday. What does "amanuensis" mean? John offers this definition:
"A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another."
The subject today is the probate file of Benjamin Allen (1662-1721) of Weston, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. He married Frances Rice (1671-????), daughter of Thomas and Mary (King) Rice, in about 1690. They had six children: Thomas Allen (1691-1777); Grace Allen (1696-1730); Jonas Allen (1699-1789); Zebadiah Allen (1702-1777); Frances Allen (1704-1753); Benjamin Allen (1709-1768).
The probate records for Benjamin Allen of Weston are in Middlesex County Probate Packet 302 (image copies of original papers accessed on FHL US/CAN Microfilm 0,386,001). His will was written on 10 August 1721, and proved on 29 August 1721. The will reads (transcribed by Randy Seaver, with paragraphs added for readability):
"In the Name of GOD, Amen. I Benjamin Allen of Weston in the County of Middlesex in the Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England, yeoman, being infirm in Body but of sound & disposing mind - Do make & ordain this my Last Will & Testmt. First I comit my Soul to Christ hoping for pardon acceptce & Eternal Life only thro' him, And my body to to decently buried at ye Discretion of my Executr hereafter named. And as to the Temporal Estate which God has given me, I dispose of it in manner following.
"Imprimus, That my Debts & Funerl Charges be paid.
"Item. I will & bequeath unto my well beloved wife Frances Allen, Her Comfortable Support & maintenance out of my Estate during her widowhood and that She dwell with my son Jonas, having the Liberty of a Room in my Dwelling House. As also the Movables within Doors, Bedding, Pewtr & Brass, to be for her use & benefit & at her disposall. I also give her the sum of Four pounds due from Brother Elisha Rice of Sudbury. And in case of her marriage, or if she shall not incline to dwell within my Sd Son, that then she shall receive one third part of ye income of my Estate during her naturl life.
"Item. I give unto my son Thomas Allen Five Shill: He having already Rec'd a Deed of Gift of Lands in Sudbury in full of his portion.
"Item. I give & bequeath unto my Daughter Frances the Sum of Thirty pounds in Currt. money or Bills of Credit or Movables or Chattels at ye value thereof to be paid by my Executr, upon her marriage, or within Two years after my Decease. As also the Liberty of Houseroom convenient while she continues Single. Ye Sum, to be paid in full of her portion.
"Item. I give unto my Daughter Grace Harrington The Sum of Twelve pounds to be ye Complement or Full of her portion, with wht she has already receivd to be paid by my Executr within three years after my Decease, or to her Heirs.
"Item. I will & bequeath unto my son Zebadiah The Sum of one hundred pounds in Province Bills of Credit or movables or other Estate which shall be equivalent thereunto, and to ye full value thereof, to be paid by my Executr. The one half part thereof when he Shall come to be of ye age of Twenty one years, The other half within Two years following - in full of his part of my Estate.
"Item. I give unto my Son Benjamin a Tract of Land in Sd Weston adjoining to that wheron I now dwell, being at the Northerly end of it, being the whole breadth of the Farm, coming Southerly as farr as ye North Side of ye orchard, that being the Southrn Bounds in a Strait Line parallel to ye Squadron Line, which is the Northrly bounds containing by Estimatn Thirty acres be the same more or less. Desiring that he may live under his Mother's care & with his brother Jonas 'till he shall come of age. And then to have the possession and improvemt of Sd Land, with all the Comoditys, priviledges & appurtenances thereof to him & his Heirs for Ever, in full of his portion.
"Item. I give & bequeath unto my son Jonas, my Mansion House & homestl & Buildings, and all my Lands in Weston, or Sudbury or elsewhere, and all the remaindr or remaindr of my Estate both real & personal which is not heretofore disposed of & willed. Oblidging him that he takes the Charge & Dutiful care of his Mother, if she continue my widow during her Life, and to give her a Decent Interrmt. Also I constitute & appoint him my Sd Son together with my Dear Wife, Joint Executrs of this my Last will & Testamt. I humbly commend All of ye sd Children to the mercy & Blessing of ye good God, desiring them to be prudent & faithful in the improvemt of what they shall enjoy.
"I have confirmed this my Last Will & Testamt hereby revoking other wills, this Tenth Dau of August In the year of our Ld one Thousd Seven hundrd & twenty one.
"Signed, Sealed & declared to be the Last Will & Testamt of Sd Benjn Allen.
.............................................................................. his
............................................................... Benjamn B Allen (seal)
............................................................................. mark"
The witnesses were Joseph Allen, Samll Robbins and Mary Dean (by mark).
On 28 August 1721, the widow Frances Allen stated that she was content with the will, and signed by mark.
My ancestral line is through the eldest son, Thomas Allen, who is named in the will. He married Sarah Grande in 1711 in Sudbury, and resided there.
"A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another."
The subject today is the probate file of Benjamin Allen (1662-1721) of Weston, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. He married Frances Rice (1671-????), daughter of Thomas and Mary (King) Rice, in about 1690. They had six children: Thomas Allen (1691-1777); Grace Allen (1696-1730); Jonas Allen (1699-1789); Zebadiah Allen (1702-1777); Frances Allen (1704-1753); Benjamin Allen (1709-1768).
The probate records for Benjamin Allen of Weston are in Middlesex County Probate Packet 302 (image copies of original papers accessed on FHL US/CAN Microfilm 0,386,001). His will was written on 10 August 1721, and proved on 29 August 1721. The will reads (transcribed by Randy Seaver, with paragraphs added for readability):
"In the Name of GOD, Amen. I Benjamin Allen of Weston in the County of Middlesex in the Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England, yeoman, being infirm in Body but of sound & disposing mind - Do make & ordain this my Last Will & Testmt. First I comit my Soul to Christ hoping for pardon acceptce & Eternal Life only thro' him, And my body to to decently buried at ye Discretion of my Executr hereafter named. And as to the Temporal Estate which God has given me, I dispose of it in manner following.
"Imprimus, That my Debts & Funerl Charges be paid.
"Item. I will & bequeath unto my well beloved wife Frances Allen, Her Comfortable Support & maintenance out of my Estate during her widowhood and that She dwell with my son Jonas, having the Liberty of a Room in my Dwelling House. As also the Movables within Doors, Bedding, Pewtr & Brass, to be for her use & benefit & at her disposall. I also give her the sum of Four pounds due from Brother Elisha Rice of Sudbury. And in case of her marriage, or if she shall not incline to dwell within my Sd Son, that then she shall receive one third part of ye income of my Estate during her naturl life.
"Item. I give unto my son Thomas Allen Five Shill: He having already Rec'd a Deed of Gift of Lands in Sudbury in full of his portion.
"Item. I give & bequeath unto my Daughter Frances the Sum of Thirty pounds in Currt. money or Bills of Credit or Movables or Chattels at ye value thereof to be paid by my Executr, upon her marriage, or within Two years after my Decease. As also the Liberty of Houseroom convenient while she continues Single. Ye Sum, to be paid in full of her portion.
"Item. I give unto my Daughter Grace Harrington The Sum of Twelve pounds to be ye Complement or Full of her portion, with wht she has already receivd to be paid by my Executr within three years after my Decease, or to her Heirs.
"Item. I will & bequeath unto my son Zebadiah The Sum of one hundred pounds in Province Bills of Credit or movables or other Estate which shall be equivalent thereunto, and to ye full value thereof, to be paid by my Executr. The one half part thereof when he Shall come to be of ye age of Twenty one years, The other half within Two years following - in full of his part of my Estate.
"Item. I give unto my Son Benjamin a Tract of Land in Sd Weston adjoining to that wheron I now dwell, being at the Northerly end of it, being the whole breadth of the Farm, coming Southerly as farr as ye North Side of ye orchard, that being the Southrn Bounds in a Strait Line parallel to ye Squadron Line, which is the Northrly bounds containing by Estimatn Thirty acres be the same more or less. Desiring that he may live under his Mother's care & with his brother Jonas 'till he shall come of age. And then to have the possession and improvemt of Sd Land, with all the Comoditys, priviledges & appurtenances thereof to him & his Heirs for Ever, in full of his portion.
"Item. I give & bequeath unto my son Jonas, my Mansion House & homestl & Buildings, and all my Lands in Weston, or Sudbury or elsewhere, and all the remaindr or remaindr of my Estate both real & personal which is not heretofore disposed of & willed. Oblidging him that he takes the Charge & Dutiful care of his Mother, if she continue my widow during her Life, and to give her a Decent Interrmt. Also I constitute & appoint him my Sd Son together with my Dear Wife, Joint Executrs of this my Last will & Testamt. I humbly commend All of ye sd Children to the mercy & Blessing of ye good God, desiring them to be prudent & faithful in the improvemt of what they shall enjoy.
"I have confirmed this my Last Will & Testamt hereby revoking other wills, this Tenth Dau of August In the year of our Ld one Thousd Seven hundrd & twenty one.
"Signed, Sealed & declared to be the Last Will & Testamt of Sd Benjn Allen.
.............................................................................. his
............................................................... Benjamn B Allen (seal)
............................................................................. mark"
The witnesses were Joseph Allen, Samll Robbins and Mary Dean (by mark).
On 28 August 1721, the widow Frances Allen stated that she was content with the will, and signed by mark.
My ancestral line is through the eldest son, Thomas Allen, who is named in the will. He married Sarah Grande in 1711 in Sudbury, and resided there.
Labels: Amanuensis Monday, My genealogy research, Probate Records
Sunday, February 6, 2011
A Seaver Driven from North Carolina in 1860
My fellow Seaver research colleague, Margaret Jenks, uncovered this newspaper article about one of the men named Seaver in the Historical Newspapers collection on Ancestry.com. She sent me this transcription:
The Progressive Age, Coshocton, Ohio, Wednesday March 7, 1860, Volume 7, Number 20.
THE “IRREPRESSIBLE CONFLICT’ SOUTH – ANOTHER MECHANIC DRIVEN FROM NORTH CAROLINA
A year ago last May, Mr. Perley Seaver, of Oxford, Mass, who has formerly worked for W. A. Wheeler, Samuel Flagg, and others of this city, and P. B. Tyler, of Springfield, went to ----,North Carolina, to conduct a steam saw mill. He was a good quiet, religious man, always engaged in his work, and not interfering in other’s business. By his industry and economy he had bought a house and was snugly settle there – as he thought for life.
As there was no preaching or other religious exercise in place, Mr. Seaver was wont to call his neighbors together on the Sabbath to read the Bible and hear a sermon. It was soon rumored in the little village, although the rumor was unknown to him, “that Seaver preached Abolition sermons,” and on Saturday night, Christmas Eve, he was waited on a little after one o’clock, rather early on Sunday morning that was, by a large delegation of neighbors. At first he refused them admittance, but as they gave their names as some of the most respectable persons of the neighborhood, and threatened to break in the door, he struck a light, and admitted them. [Christmas was on Sunday in 1859.]
They demanded his books and papers, and he showed them. They then asked him for his private letters, and they ransacked all his correspondence with his family. They then asked him how many Negroes had ever attended his religious meetings. He told them five. They told Mr. Seaver they did not consider him a safe man to live there, and he must leave. He offered to go on Monday morning if they would by his property. This they refused, but told him that he might have twenty days to sell out, but that during that time no Negroes must be seen on his premises.
Mr. Seaver found it impossible to sell his property, and therefore came off within the twenty days with his wages. He has now returned, forced away from his property and business – because he had read the Bible on Sundays, in a room where Negroes were sometimes present.
His employer is also from Oxford, and has a large and valuable property there. There are very strong rumors of attempting to drive him off. But having a large amount of Yankee pluck, says that before he is driven North, he shall either go to his heaven or – elsewhere. [Worcester Transcript, 17th.]
My thanks to Margaret for finding this, transcribing it and sharing it with me. It will go into Perley's file in my genealogy software database. She has found several more articles and bits of information on Perley Seaver.
Perley Seaver was born 4 October 1813 in Monson, Massachusetts, son of John and Susanna (Trumbull) Seaver. He married Julia Maria Field on 21 April 1834 in Millbury, Massachusetts. She was born 5 May 1814 in Sharon, Massachusetts, the daughter of John and Julia (Titus) Field. Perley died 7 October 1876 in Bartonsville, North Carolina.
If any readers are descendants of John and Susanna (Trumbull) Seaver, I would love to hear from you, especially if you have any insight into the parentage of John Seaver (1778-1841). We Seaver researchers have no original source information about John Seaver's parentage yet.
Labels: Ancestry.com, Oldtime newspapers, Seaver Research
Best of the Genea-Blogs - 30 January to 5 February 2011
Hundreds of genealogy and family history bloggers write thousands of posts every week about their research, their families, and their interests. I appreciate each one of them and their efforts.
My criteria for "Best of ..." are pretty simple - I pick posts that advance knowledge about genealogy and family history, address current genealogy issues, provide personal family history, are funny or are poignant. I don't list posts destined for the genealogy carnivals, or other meme submissions (but I do include summaries of them), or my own posts.
Here are my picks for great reads from the genealogy blogs for this past week:
* US Federal Penitentiary Case Files by Kathleen Brandt on the a3genealogy blog. NARA has some really interesting records on federal prisoners - any of them your family members?
* Assumptions Can Be So VERY Wrong! by Karen on the AncesTree Sprite blog. Wisdom and good examples of 20th century research assumptions.
* "I Need Help With My Family History! Where Should I Turn?" by Marian Pierre-Louis on the Roots and Rambles blog. Marian summarizes the options for paid and random act research after ExpertConnect.
* My Two Cents – Genealogy and Privacy Restrictions by Banai Feldstein on The Ginger Jewish Genealogy Blog. Banai asks good questions about vital records access.
* Free Databases on Ancestry.com by the writer of The Ancestry Insider blog. Mr. AI finds all 260 of the FREE databases on Ancestry.com and lists them. Great job!
* Remembering Past Homes by Polly Kimmitt on the Pollyblog blog. Polly shares the homes she's lived in along with her autobiography. A great-great-grandchild will love reading this in 100 years.
* Organize Photos Like an Archivist: Level of Description by Sally Kitchens on The Practical Archivist blog. Sally will be offering a free PDF on the topic - this is the first installment.
* Are Virtual Presentations now Mainstream? by Pat Richley-Erickson on the DearMYRTLE's Genealogy Blog. Ol' MYRT describes the hows, whys and wherefores of making virtual presentations to groups large and small.
* Carnival of Genealogy, 102nd Edition by Jasia on the Creative Gene blog. There were 19 entries in this monthly carnival on the topic of The 4th Annual iGene Awards! This is the award show for genealogy bloggers.
* Life Before Genealogy - And How It Shapes Our Genealogy Paths Now by Leslie Albrecht Huber on The Journey Takers blog. Leslie asks an interesting question - respond to her plea about life before, and outside of, genealogy. C'mon, there's life outside of genealogy? Who knew?
* Anna's Story - Family life and later years by the writer of the Nolichucky Roots blog. This biography is so well done, with pictures. The story touched me - this woman had many struggles and hardships in her life, and persevered.
* First Friday Folder: John Richardson & Isabella Shaw by MHD on the GreatGreats blog. I was intrigued by this post - it's a great idea to help a researcher reconnect with their data. Thanks, MHD! I shudder to think what I might find if I do this!
Several other genea-bloggers wrote weekly pick posts this week, including:
* Friday Newsletter and Follow News: 4 February 2011 by Greta Koehl on the Greta's Genealogy Bog blog.
* Follow Friday: Around the Blogosphere - February 4 by Susan Petersen on the Long Lost Relatives.net blog.
I encourage you to go to the blogs listed above and read their articles, and add their blog to your Favorites, Google Reader, RSS feed or email if you like what you read. Please make a comment to them also - all bloggers appreciate feedback on what they write.
Did I miss a great genealogy blog post? Tell me! I am currently reading posts from over 810 genealogy bloggers using Google Reader, but I still miss quite a few it seems.
Read past Best of the Genea-Blogs posts here.
My criteria for "Best of ..." are pretty simple - I pick posts that advance knowledge about genealogy and family history, address current genealogy issues, provide personal family history, are funny or are poignant. I don't list posts destined for the genealogy carnivals, or other meme submissions (but I do include summaries of them), or my own posts.
Here are my picks for great reads from the genealogy blogs for this past week:
* US Federal Penitentiary Case Files by Kathleen Brandt on the a3genealogy blog. NARA has some really interesting records on federal prisoners - any of them your family members?
* Assumptions Can Be So VERY Wrong! by Karen on the AncesTree Sprite blog. Wisdom and good examples of 20th century research assumptions.
* "I Need Help With My Family History! Where Should I Turn?" by Marian Pierre-Louis on the Roots and Rambles blog. Marian summarizes the options for paid and random act research after ExpertConnect.
* My Two Cents – Genealogy and Privacy Restrictions by Banai Feldstein on The Ginger Jewish Genealogy Blog. Banai asks good questions about vital records access.
* Free Databases on Ancestry.com by the writer of The Ancestry Insider blog. Mr. AI finds all 260 of the FREE databases on Ancestry.com and lists them. Great job!
* Remembering Past Homes by Polly Kimmitt on the Pollyblog blog. Polly shares the homes she's lived in along with her autobiography. A great-great-grandchild will love reading this in 100 years.
* Organize Photos Like an Archivist: Level of Description by Sally Kitchens on The Practical Archivist blog. Sally will be offering a free PDF on the topic - this is the first installment.
* Are Virtual Presentations now Mainstream? by Pat Richley-Erickson on the DearMYRTLE's Genealogy Blog. Ol' MYRT describes the hows, whys and wherefores of making virtual presentations to groups large and small.
* Carnival of Genealogy, 102nd Edition by Jasia on the Creative Gene blog. There were 19 entries in this monthly carnival on the topic of The 4th Annual iGene Awards! This is the award show for genealogy bloggers.
* Life Before Genealogy - And How It Shapes Our Genealogy Paths Now by Leslie Albrecht Huber on The Journey Takers blog. Leslie asks an interesting question - respond to her plea about life before, and outside of, genealogy. C'mon, there's life outside of genealogy? Who knew?
* Anna's Story - Family life and later years by the writer of the Nolichucky Roots blog. This biography is so well done, with pictures. The story touched me - this woman had many struggles and hardships in her life, and persevered.
* First Friday Folder: John Richardson & Isabella Shaw by MHD on the GreatGreats blog. I was intrigued by this post - it's a great idea to help a researcher reconnect with their data. Thanks, MHD! I shudder to think what I might find if I do this!
Several other genea-bloggers wrote weekly pick posts this week, including:
* Friday Newsletter and Follow News: 4 February 2011 by Greta Koehl on the Greta's Genealogy Bog blog.
* Follow Friday: Around the Blogosphere - February 4 by Susan Petersen on the Long Lost Relatives.net blog.
I encourage you to go to the blogs listed above and read their articles, and add their blog to your Favorites, Google Reader, RSS feed or email if you like what you read. Please make a comment to them also - all bloggers appreciate feedback on what they write.
Did I miss a great genealogy blog post? Tell me! I am currently reading posts from over 810 genealogy bloggers using Google Reader, but I still miss quite a few it seems.
Read past Best of the Genea-Blogs posts here.
Labels: BestofGeneaBlogs, genealogy blogs
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - the Super Bowl
It's Saturday Night - time for more Genealogy Fun!!! It's also Super Bowl Weekend in America - the whole country (well, almost) will watch the game between the Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday afternoon at 6:30 p.m. EST (3:30 :PST).
Your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to:
1) What is your favorite National Football League team? [For those that are not American football fans, but fan of another sports team, substitute your favorite team] Why are you a fa n of this team? How long have you been a fan of your favorite team?
2) What is the genealogy of your favorite team? When did it start playing, what leagues has it played in?
3) Have you worked for the team in any capacity, or attended games? What is your best memory of your favorite team's history?
4) Predict the score of the Packers-Steelers game on Sunday.
5) Tell us in a blog post of your own, in a comment to this blog post, or in a status or comment on Facebook.
Here's mine:
1) My favorite NFL team is the San Diego Chargers. This is logical, because I was born and raised in San Diego and have never left. The Chargers first season in San Diego was 1961, They just played their 50th season in San Diego.
2) The Los Angeles Chargers were charter members of the American Football League (AFL) started in 1959, with hotel heir Barron Hilton (son of Barron Hilton) as the majority owner. AFL play started in 1960, and the team moved to San Diego before the 1961 season. The AFL-NFL merger was consummated in 1966, and the Chargers joined the National Football League in 1970. San Diego was in the 1995 Super Bowl at Miami after the 1994 season, but lost to the San Francisco 49ers. San Diego has hosted three Super Bowls - the last one in 2003. There is more history in the Wikipedia article here.
3) My first job in the summer of 1963 was working for the San Diego Chargers at their training camp. I wrote about it in My first real job. I attended Charger games from 1961 through 1973 with my brother, my friends, and my wife. Since then, we've watched it on TV.
My best memory is of the 1963 season, when my brother and I attended the AFL Championship game at Balboa Stadium in San Diego. The Chargers beat the Boston Patriots 51-10. That is the only league championship that the Chargers have won.
4) My prediction for the 2011 game: Steelers 27, Packers 23.
5) Done!
Your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to:
1) What is your favorite National Football League team? [For those that are not American football fans, but fan of another sports team, substitute your favorite team] Why are you a fa n of this team? How long have you been a fan of your favorite team?
2) What is the genealogy of your favorite team? When did it start playing, what leagues has it played in?
3) Have you worked for the team in any capacity, or attended games? What is your best memory of your favorite team's history?
4) Predict the score of the Packers-Steelers game on Sunday.
5) Tell us in a blog post of your own, in a comment to this blog post, or in a status or comment on Facebook.
Here's mine:
1) My favorite NFL team is the San Diego Chargers. This is logical, because I was born and raised in San Diego and have never left. The Chargers first season in San Diego was 1961, They just played their 50th season in San Diego.
2) The Los Angeles Chargers were charter members of the American Football League (AFL) started in 1959, with hotel heir Barron Hilton (son of Barron Hilton) as the majority owner. AFL play started in 1960, and the team moved to San Diego before the 1961 season. The AFL-NFL merger was consummated in 1966, and the Chargers joined the National Football League in 1970. San Diego was in the 1995 Super Bowl at Miami after the 1994 season, but lost to the San Francisco 49ers. San Diego has hosted three Super Bowls - the last one in 2003. There is more history in the Wikipedia article here.
3) My first job in the summer of 1963 was working for the San Diego Chargers at their training camp. I wrote about it in My first real job. I attended Charger games from 1961 through 1973 with my brother, my friends, and my wife. Since then, we've watched it on TV.
My best memory is of the 1963 season, when my brother and I attended the AFL Championship game at Balboa Stadium in San Diego. The Chargers beat the Boston Patriots 51-10. That is the only league championship that the Chargers have won.
4) My prediction for the 2011 game: Steelers 27, Packers 23.
5) Done!
Surname Saturday - SOULE (England > Massachusetts)
It's Surname Saturday, and I'm "counting down" my Ancestral Name List each week. I am up to number 179, who is Martha SOULE (1743-1828), one of my 5th-great-grandmothers. [Note: The 5th great-grandfathers have been covered in earlier posts]
My ancestral line back through five generations of SOULE families is:
1. Randall J. Seaver
2. Frederick Walton Seaver (1911-1983)
3. Betty Virginia Carringer (1919-2002)
4. Frederick Walton Seaver (1876-1942)
5. Alma Bessie Richmond (1882-1962)
10. Thomas Richmond (1848-1917)
11. Julia White (1848-1912)
22. Henry Arnold White (1824-1885)
23. Amy Frances Oatley (1826-before 1870)
44. Jonathan White (1806-1850)
45. Miranda Wade (1804-1850)
88. Humphrey White (1758-1814)
89. Sybil Kirby (1764-1848)
178. David Kirby, born 16 Aug 1740 in Dartmouth, Bristol, Massachusetts, United States; died before 01 May 1832 in Westport, Bristol, Massachusetts, United States. He was the son of 356. Ichabod Kirby and 357. Rachel Allen. He married 21 Apr 1763 in Tiverton, Newport, Rhode Island, United States.
179. Martha Soule, born 01 Oct 1743 in Dartmouth, Bristol, Massachusetts, United States; died 26 May 1828 in Dartmouth, Bristol, Massachusetts, United States.
Children of David Kirby and Martha Soule are: Sybil Kirby (1764-1848); Ichabod Kirby (1782-????).
358. Benjamin Soule, born 18 Nov 1719 in Dartmouth, Bristol, Massachusetts, United States; died 31 Jan 1803 in Westport, Bristol, Massachusetts, United States. He married about 1742 in probably Dartmouth, Bristol, Massachusetts, United States.
359. Meribah Waite, born 20 Jul 1720 in Dartmouth, Bristol, Massachusetts, United States; died 03 Feb 1803 in Westport, Bristol, Massachusetts, United States. She was the daughter of 718. Thomas Waite and 719. Mary Tripp.
Children of Benjamin Soule and Meribah Waite are: Martha Soule (1743-1828); Patience Soule (1745-1780).
716. Jacob Soule, born about 1687 in Dartmouth, Bristol, Massachusetts, United States; died about Feb 1747 in Dartmouth, Bristol, Massachusetts, United States. He married 22 Jan 1710 in Dartmouth, Bristol, Massachusetts, United States.
717. Rebecca Gifford, born 1689 in Dartmouth, Bristol, Massachusetts, United States; died before 1747 in Dartmouth, Bristol, Massachusetts, United States. She was the daughter of 1434. Robert Gifford and 1435. Sarah Wing.
Children of Jacob Soule and Rebecca Gifford are: Joseph Soule (1711-1793); Elizabeth Soule (1712-1781); Oliver Soule (1714-1715); Rebecca Soule (1715-1747); Nathaniel Soule (1718-1769); Benjamin Soule (1719-1803); Rosamond Soule (1723-1801); Stephen Soule (1727-1789).
1432. Nathaniel Soule, born about 1637 in Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States; died before 12 Oct 1699 in Dartmouth, Bristol, Massachusetts, United States. He married before 1681 in probably Dartmouth, Bristol, Massachusetts, United States.
1433. Rose Thorn, died before May 1708 in probably Dartmouth, Bristol, Massachusetts, United States.
Children of Nathaniel Soule and Rose Thorn are: Nathaniel Soule (1682-1766); Sylvanus Soule (1683-1754); Mary Soule (1684-1783); Susannah Soule (1686-1733); Sarah Soule (1687-????); Jacob Soule (1687-1747); Myles Soule (1690-1720).
2864. George Soule, born Abt. 1593 in England; died before 22 Jan 1679 in Duxbury, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States. He married before 1626 in probably Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States.
2865. Mary Bucket, born in England; died Dec 1676 in Duxbury, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States.
Children of George Soule and Mary Bucket are: Zachariah Soule (1627-1663); John Soule (1632-1707); Nathaniel Soule (1637-1699); George Soule (1639-1704); Susanna Soule (1642-1684); Mary Soule (1644-1720); Elizabeth Soule (1645-1700); Patience Soule (1648-1706); Benjamin Soule (1651-1676).
The authoritative work on the first five generations of the Soule family is the book Mayflower Families Through Five Generations, Volume 3, edited by Anne Borden Harding, published by the General Society of Mayflower Descendants, 1980.
George Soule is, of course, one of the passengers on the Mayflower in 1620 that landed in Plymouth.
Labels: My genealogy research, Richmond/White Research, Surname Saturday
Friday, February 4, 2011
Book Review: Genealogy at a Glance: "How-To" Series
The Genealogical Publishing Company in Baltimore has released several "Genealogy at a Glance: How To" laminated research guides in the last month or so. They include:
1) French-Canadian Genealogy Research, by Denise R. Larson
2. Scottish Genealogy Research, by David Dobson
3. Irish Genealogy Research, by Brian Mitchell
Each of these research guides has four laminated pages on one 11" x 17" paper (folded). They are designed to give the user the basic elements of genealogy research in the allotted space. They provide an overview of the facts a researcher needs to know in order to begin and proceed successfully with research in the subject.
The French-Canadian "Genealogy at a Glance" folder has these subjects:
* Contents list
* Quick Facts about Canada and French-Canadians
* French Canada history
* Unlocking French-Canadian Family History - Surnames, Quebec, Acadia, Huguenots
* Civil and Church Records
* Census Returns
* Emigration and Naturalization
* Major Record Repositories in Canada
* Other Online Resources
The Scottish "Genealogy at a Glance" folder has these subjects:
* Contents list
* Quick Facts about Scotland and Scottish emigrants
* Scottish Emigration Background
* Unlocking Scottish History - Surnames, Paleography
* Basic Genealogical Sources - Old Parish Registers, Post-1854 Statutory Registration of Births, Marriages and Deaths; Census Returns from 1841 to 1901.
* Supplementary Record Sources
* Major Online Resources
I don't have the Irish "Genealogy at a Glance" folder, but it probably has contents similar in form to the Scottish booklet.
It appears to me that these booklets are designed for the North American researcher who is not an expert in the subject - there's information about doing research in Canada and the USA, and information about the home countries once the researcher gets the ancestral line back to the home country. A researcher with research expertise in the subjects would rely on quality published books about the country of interest.
For someone like me that teaches and talks about genealogy a bit, they are invaluable because I can pull them out and provide some guidance to my student or colleague interested in the subject.
The beauty of these "Genealogy at a Glance" folders is that they are very light and portable in a briefcase or laptop case. They are similar to the Quicksheets, created by Elizabeth Shown Mills, which are fixtures in my research case.
These four-page laminated booklets cost $7.95 each. You can order them through http://www.genealogical.com/ - use the links above for each "Genealogy at a Glance" folder.
Disclosure: Genealogical.com contacted me recently and asked me to provide a review of the French-Canadian and Scottish "Genealogy at a Glance" folders. They mailed me a review copy for my personal use as remuneration for this review. I threw in the comments about the Irish folder.
1) French-Canadian Genealogy Research, by Denise R. Larson
2. Scottish Genealogy Research, by David Dobson
3. Irish Genealogy Research, by Brian Mitchell
Each of these research guides has four laminated pages on one 11" x 17" paper (folded). They are designed to give the user the basic elements of genealogy research in the allotted space. They provide an overview of the facts a researcher needs to know in order to begin and proceed successfully with research in the subject.
The French-Canadian "Genealogy at a Glance" folder has these subjects:
* Contents list
* Quick Facts about Canada and French-Canadians
* French Canada history
* Unlocking French-Canadian Family History - Surnames, Quebec, Acadia, Huguenots
* Civil and Church Records
* Census Returns
* Emigration and Naturalization
* Major Record Repositories in Canada
* Other Online Resources
The Scottish "Genealogy at a Glance" folder has these subjects:
* Contents list
* Quick Facts about Scotland and Scottish emigrants
* Scottish Emigration Background
* Unlocking Scottish History - Surnames, Paleography
* Basic Genealogical Sources - Old Parish Registers, Post-1854 Statutory Registration of Births, Marriages and Deaths; Census Returns from 1841 to 1901.
* Supplementary Record Sources
* Major Online Resources
I don't have the Irish "Genealogy at a Glance" folder, but it probably has contents similar in form to the Scottish booklet.
It appears to me that these booklets are designed for the North American researcher who is not an expert in the subject - there's information about doing research in Canada and the USA, and information about the home countries once the researcher gets the ancestral line back to the home country. A researcher with research expertise in the subjects would rely on quality published books about the country of interest.
For someone like me that teaches and talks about genealogy a bit, they are invaluable because I can pull them out and provide some guidance to my student or colleague interested in the subject.
The beauty of these "Genealogy at a Glance" folders is that they are very light and portable in a briefcase or laptop case. They are similar to the Quicksheets, created by Elizabeth Shown Mills, which are fixtures in my research case.
These four-page laminated booklets cost $7.95 each. You can order them through http://www.genealogical.com/ - use the links above for each "Genealogy at a Glance" folder.
Disclosure: Genealogical.com contacted me recently and asked me to provide a review of the French-Canadian and Scottish "Genealogy at a Glance" folders. They mailed me a review copy for my personal use as remuneration for this review. I threw in the comments about the Irish folder.
Labels: book reviews, Canada Resources, genealogy education, genealogy resources, Online resources, Research techniques, Research tips, UK/Ireland Resources
How did the RootsMagic 4 Source Citations Look in Legacy Family Tree 7?
Continuing the Seaver Source Citation Saga for at least one more day (grin - I have nothing else to blog about, it seems)...
After seeing what the GEDCOM file created by RootsMagic 4 for the Isaac Seaver Birth Fact in RootsMagic 4 (see Peeking at RootsMagic 4 Source Citations in a GEDCOM File - Post 1), I imported the small GEDCOM file into Legacy Family Tree 7 to see how that program handled the Free-form Source citations and the RM4 Template Source citations.
The Legacy screen showing the Free-form Source for the Birth Fact is here:
The Source citations created for this Fact are:
Footnote/Endnote Citation:
Systematic History Fund, Vital Records of Westminster, Massachusetts, to the End of the Year 1849 (Worcester, Mass.: F.P. Rice, 1908), Page 83.
Subsequent Citation:
Systematic History Fund, Vital Records of Westminster, Massachusetts, to the End of the Year 1849 (Worcester, Mass.: F.P. Rice, 1908), Page 83.
Bibliography:
Systematic History Fund, Vital Records of Westminster, Massachusetts, to the End of the Year 1849 (Worcester, Mass.: F.P. Rice, 1908).
The Legacy Screen for the RM4 Template Source for the Birth Fact is here:
The Source citations created for this Fact are:
Footnote/Endnote Citation:
Systematic History Fund, [i]Vital Records of Westminster, Massachusetts, to the end of year 1849[i] (Worcester, Mass.: F.P. Rice, 1908), Page 83.
Subsequent Citation:
Systematic History Fund, [i]Vital Records of Westminster, Massachusetts, to the end of year 1849[i] (Worcester, Mass.: F.P. Rice, 1908), Page 83.
Bibliography:
Systematic History Fund, [i]Vital Records of Westminster, Massachusetts, to the end of year 1849[i] (Worcester, Mass.: F.P. Rice, 1908).
As you can see, the [i] (see the Update at the bottom - the indicator is actually the braces < > around the "i") indicator that was in the GEDCOM file created by RootsMagic is in this citation. Legacy has an option to italicize the source title and if I check that, then the Source screen looks like this:
The Source citation with the "italicize the title" option on is:
Footnote/Endnote Citation:
Systematic History Fund, [i]Vital Records of Westminster, Massachusetts, to the end of year 1849[i]> (Worcester, Mass.: F.P. Rice, 1908), Page 83.
Subsequent Citation:
Systematic History Fund, [i]Vital Records of Westminster, Massachusetts, to the end of year 1849[i] (Worcester, Mass.: F.P. Rice, 1908), Page 83.
Bibliography:
Systematic History Fund, [i]Vital Records of Westminster, Massachusetts, to the end of year 1849[i] (Worcester, Mass.: F.P. Rice, 1908)..
Oops. It italicized the entire Source - Author, Title and Publication information, not just the Title. And it didn't recognize the [i] indicator.
As shown above, the Legacy Family Tree 7 import of the GEDCOM created by RootsMagic 4 seems to lose all formatting of the citation. There is no difference between the Footnote/Endnote citation and the Subsequent Citation. The Bibliography citation drops the Source Detail, as it should.
At least the process of doing a RootsMagic 4 GEDCOM export and then importing it into Legacy Family Tree 7 doesn't mangle the resulting source citation. That is encouraging! That wasn't the case with Family Tree Maker 2011.
Here's the GEDCOM file code for the two Birth sources (the second one has the italicize option on) created by Legacy Family Tree 7 from the small Isaac Seaver file noted above:
You can easily see that all of the Source information from this GEDCOM output came through using only the TITLe tag for the source. The Italicize option in the second citation is denoted in the GEDCOM code by the 1 _PAREN Y and 1 _ITALIC Y tags in the code.
My guess is that all of the special GEDCOM coding created by RootsMagic 4 was lost in the import of the file into Legacy Family Tree. That was the case also in the import of the FTM2011 GEDCOM into Legacy Family Tree 7, and the import of the Legacy Family Tree 7 GEDCOM into RootsMagic 4.
The conclusion that I seem to be driving toward is this:
Using the Evidence! Explained source templates in all of the software programs I've worked with (FTM 16, FTM 2011, Legacy Family Tree 7, RootsMagic 4) results in source citations that work fine in the program they are created in, but any special formatting is lost when they go through a GEDCOM export/import process.
Therefore, I should use the Source Templates as guidelines to create Free-form source citations so they, at least, don't get mangled badly when I export them to another software program or to an online family tree.
Obviously, there are other software programs that may be able to read the special Source citation coding created by FTM 2011, LFT7 and RM4 - I've heard that The Master Genealogist can read coding from several other programs, but I'm not using TMG yet.
Now - there is a project called the Build a BetterGEDCOM with a group of knowledgeable people (developers, programmers, users) trying to improve the GEDCOM standard. One of the major problems identified early in this project was that Source Citations are one of the major problems, because the genealogy software developers have created their own GEDCOM tags when exporting their EE quality citations. The EE quality citations transfer when the import is to the same program, but they don't work well when exporting to another program.
I have some thoughts on how the Build a BetterGEDCOM folks could craft a solution that would work across all software programs, but the software program developers, and the online family tree developers, would have to sign on to using a revised standard. I want to share my thoughts with the BGB folks first, however, and the programmers there may have better ideas on how to do it.
UPDATED: I continue to have formatting problems in Blogger when I copy and paste the source citations out of the software programs. Please bear with me as I fix them (if possible). I figured it out - I replaced the italicize indicator that is in braces (< > - next to M and ? on keyboard) with the [ ] brackets in the citations.
After seeing what the GEDCOM file created by RootsMagic 4 for the Isaac Seaver Birth Fact in RootsMagic 4 (see Peeking at RootsMagic 4 Source Citations in a GEDCOM File - Post 1), I imported the small GEDCOM file into Legacy Family Tree 7 to see how that program handled the Free-form Source citations and the RM4 Template Source citations.
The Legacy screen showing the Free-form Source for the Birth Fact is here:
The Source citations created for this Fact are:
Footnote/Endnote Citation:
Systematic History Fund, Vital Records of Westminster, Massachusetts, to the End of the Year 1849 (Worcester, Mass.: F.P. Rice, 1908), Page 83.
Subsequent Citation:
Systematic History Fund, Vital Records of Westminster, Massachusetts, to the End of the Year 1849 (Worcester, Mass.: F.P. Rice, 1908), Page 83.
Bibliography:
Systematic History Fund, Vital Records of Westminster, Massachusetts, to the End of the Year 1849 (Worcester, Mass.: F.P. Rice, 1908).
The Legacy Screen for the RM4 Template Source for the Birth Fact is here:
The Source citations created for this Fact are:
Footnote/Endnote Citation:
Systematic History Fund, [i]Vital Records of Westminster, Massachusetts, to the end of year 1849[i] (Worcester, Mass.: F.P. Rice, 1908), Page 83.
Subsequent Citation:
Systematic History Fund, [i]Vital Records of Westminster, Massachusetts, to the end of year 1849[i] (Worcester, Mass.: F.P. Rice, 1908), Page 83.
Bibliography:
Systematic History Fund, [i]Vital Records of Westminster, Massachusetts, to the end of year 1849[i] (Worcester, Mass.: F.P. Rice, 1908).
As you can see, the [i] (see the Update at the bottom - the indicator is actually the braces < > around the "i") indicator that was in the GEDCOM file created by RootsMagic is in this citation. Legacy has an option to italicize the source title and if I check that, then the Source screen looks like this:
The Source citation with the "italicize the title" option on is:
Footnote/Endnote Citation:
Systematic History Fund, [i]Vital Records of Westminster, Massachusetts, to the end of year 1849[i]> (Worcester, Mass.: F.P. Rice, 1908), Page 83.
Subsequent Citation:
Systematic History Fund, [i]Vital Records of Westminster, Massachusetts, to the end of year 1849[i] (Worcester, Mass.: F.P. Rice, 1908), Page 83.
Bibliography:
Systematic History Fund, [i]Vital Records of Westminster, Massachusetts, to the end of year 1849[i] (Worcester, Mass.: F.P. Rice, 1908)..
Oops. It italicized the entire Source - Author, Title and Publication information, not just the Title. And it didn't recognize the [i] indicator.
As shown above, the Legacy Family Tree 7 import of the GEDCOM created by RootsMagic 4 seems to lose all formatting of the citation. There is no difference between the Footnote/Endnote citation and the Subsequent Citation. The Bibliography citation drops the Source Detail, as it should.
At least the process of doing a RootsMagic 4 GEDCOM export and then importing it into Legacy Family Tree 7 doesn't mangle the resulting source citation. That is encouraging! That wasn't the case with Family Tree Maker 2011.
Here's the GEDCOM file code for the two Birth sources (the second one has the italicize option on) created by Legacy Family Tree 7 from the small Isaac Seaver file noted above:
0 @S8@ SOUR
1 ABBR Systematic History Fund, Vital Records of Westminster, Massachusetts, to the End of the Year 1849
1 TITL Systematic History Fund, Vital Records of Westminster, Mass
2 CONC achusetts, to the End of the Year 1849 (Worcester, Mass.: F
2 CONC .P. Rice, 1908)
1 REPO @R5@1 _PAREN Y
0 @S10@ SOUR
1 ABBR Westminster VRs
1 TITL Systematic History Fund, <i>Vital Records of Westminster, M
2 CONC assachusetts, to the end of year 1849</i> (Worcester, Mass.
2 CONC : F.P. Rice, 1908).
1 _ITALIC Y
1 _PAREN YYou can easily see that all of the Source information from this GEDCOM output came through using only the TITLe tag for the source. The Italicize option in the second citation is denoted in the GEDCOM code by the 1 _PAREN Y and 1 _ITALIC Y tags in the code.
My guess is that all of the special GEDCOM coding created by RootsMagic 4 was lost in the import of the file into Legacy Family Tree. That was the case also in the import of the FTM2011 GEDCOM into Legacy Family Tree 7, and the import of the Legacy Family Tree 7 GEDCOM into RootsMagic 4.
The conclusion that I seem to be driving toward is this:
Using the Evidence! Explained source templates in all of the software programs I've worked with (FTM 16, FTM 2011, Legacy Family Tree 7, RootsMagic 4) results in source citations that work fine in the program they are created in, but any special formatting is lost when they go through a GEDCOM export/import process.
Therefore, I should use the Source Templates as guidelines to create Free-form source citations so they, at least, don't get mangled badly when I export them to another software program or to an online family tree.
Obviously, there are other software programs that may be able to read the special Source citation coding created by FTM 2011, LFT7 and RM4 - I've heard that The Master Genealogist can read coding from several other programs, but I'm not using TMG yet.
Now - there is a project called the Build a BetterGEDCOM with a group of knowledgeable people (developers, programmers, users) trying to improve the GEDCOM standard. One of the major problems identified early in this project was that Source Citations are one of the major problems, because the genealogy software developers have created their own GEDCOM tags when exporting their EE quality citations. The EE quality citations transfer when the import is to the same program, but they don't work well when exporting to another program.
I have some thoughts on how the Build a BetterGEDCOM folks could craft a solution that would work across all software programs, but the software program developers, and the online family tree developers, would have to sign on to using a revised standard. I want to share my thoughts with the BGB folks first, however, and the programmers there may have better ideas on how to do it.
UPDATED: I continue to have formatting problems in Blogger when I copy and paste the source citations out of the software programs. Please bear with me as I fix them (if possible). I figured it out - I replaced the italicize indicator that is in braces (< > - next to M and ? on keyboard) with the [ ] brackets in the citations.
Labels: GEDCOM, genealogy software, Legacy Family Tree, RootsMagic, Source Citation
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Genealogy Freelancers Welcomes ExpertConnect Providers
I received this press release from Deborah Irwin at GenealogyFreelancers today.
In response to the recent announcement that Ancestry.com would be ending their Expert Connect service, Genealogy Freelancers has been welcoming many of those providers affected by the move to transition into their existing similar service.
Grand Rapids, MI (PRWEB) February 3, 2011
In response to the recent announcement that Ancestry.com would be ending their Expert Connect service, Genealogy Freelancers has been welcoming many of those providers affected by the move to transition into their existing similar service.
Genealogy Freelancers has been established since 2008 and, because of their comparable platform of projects for bid, the shift has proved an easy one for the transitioning providers from Expert Connect as they are accustomed to the premise and workings of this type of system.
The founders of Genealogy Freelancers who all have a background in the genealogy profession, maintain that their reasons for starting their service was to provide an easy and friendly method for the client and provider of genealogy services to connect to one another. When asked how the recent influx of EC providers would affect business operations Elaine Bostwick, Chief of Operations had this to say: “It’s been an unexpected week for everyone, but this is a service that we’ve been involved in for three years now and although the week has been a little unusual our site has always been geared for this service and no matter what takes place around us, our core goal of being able to help both sides will remain the same”. In response to the question of challenges for the providers making the change to GF, Ms. Bostwick says “There are some differences to our system, but on the whole the basic premise is one that the transitioning providers and the clients can recognize and use quickly. There will also be some changes as suggestions come in since it’s been our experience that the users know best what works for them and we take those suggestions seriously.”
Genealogy Freelancers has a large pool of international genealogy Specialists who are able to provide their services from a simple lookup to a full, custom research project. In addition to these services there are those providers who specialize in document translations, village and/or cemetery photography, publishing and related categories. These providers live throughout the world and are able to perform their specialties within the countries necessary to complete the posted project. Profiles of genealogy researchers and other family history experts showcase an array of expertise through education and/or verified memberships to genealogical related international associations, societies and organizations. This feature was created in order to assist the client with the Specialist selection process.
The system is a three-step process that starts when the client posts their project. Once this step has taken place, the Specialists that are a match to the specific categories and locations necessary for service are notified. If the project is one that is of interest then the Specialist will make an appropriate offer. The final step is the selection of the Specialist that is the best fit to the particular case. At that point, the client, along with their genealogy professional embark on a journey to uncover the past and build a family tree or simply add a few new branches.
Irbo Inc., owners of Genealogy Freelancers, continues to provide a welcoming platform that benefits those in search of their personal family history as well as for quality experts who are capable of providing assistance. For more information, visit the website at http://www.genealogyfreelancers.com.
Disclosure: I am not a customer or provider of Genealogy Freelancers and have received no remuneration for posting this press release. I do think that they can provide a valuable service for customers and an opportunity for genealogy providers.
In response to the recent announcement that Ancestry.com would be ending their Expert Connect service, Genealogy Freelancers has been welcoming many of those providers affected by the move to transition into their existing similar service.
Grand Rapids, MI (PRWEB) February 3, 2011
In response to the recent announcement that Ancestry.com would be ending their Expert Connect service, Genealogy Freelancers has been welcoming many of those providers affected by the move to transition into their existing similar service.
Genealogy Freelancers has been established since 2008 and, because of their comparable platform of projects for bid, the shift has proved an easy one for the transitioning providers from Expert Connect as they are accustomed to the premise and workings of this type of system.
The founders of Genealogy Freelancers who all have a background in the genealogy profession, maintain that their reasons for starting their service was to provide an easy and friendly method for the client and provider of genealogy services to connect to one another. When asked how the recent influx of EC providers would affect business operations Elaine Bostwick, Chief of Operations had this to say: “It’s been an unexpected week for everyone, but this is a service that we’ve been involved in for three years now and although the week has been a little unusual our site has always been geared for this service and no matter what takes place around us, our core goal of being able to help both sides will remain the same”. In response to the question of challenges for the providers making the change to GF, Ms. Bostwick says “There are some differences to our system, but on the whole the basic premise is one that the transitioning providers and the clients can recognize and use quickly. There will also be some changes as suggestions come in since it’s been our experience that the users know best what works for them and we take those suggestions seriously.”
Genealogy Freelancers has a large pool of international genealogy Specialists who are able to provide their services from a simple lookup to a full, custom research project. In addition to these services there are those providers who specialize in document translations, village and/or cemetery photography, publishing and related categories. These providers live throughout the world and are able to perform their specialties within the countries necessary to complete the posted project. Profiles of genealogy researchers and other family history experts showcase an array of expertise through education and/or verified memberships to genealogical related international associations, societies and organizations. This feature was created in order to assist the client with the Specialist selection process.
The system is a three-step process that starts when the client posts their project. Once this step has taken place, the Specialists that are a match to the specific categories and locations necessary for service are notified. If the project is one that is of interest then the Specialist will make an appropriate offer. The final step is the selection of the Specialist that is the best fit to the particular case. At that point, the client, along with their genealogy professional embark on a journey to uncover the past and build a family tree or simply add a few new branches.
Irbo Inc., owners of Genealogy Freelancers, continues to provide a welcoming platform that benefits those in search of their personal family history as well as for quality experts who are capable of providing assistance. For more information, visit the website at http://www.genealogyfreelancers.com.
Disclosure: I am not a customer or provider of Genealogy Freelancers and have received no remuneration for posting this press release. I do think that they can provide a valuable service for customers and an opportunity for genealogy providers.
Labels: Genealogy Industry, genealogy resources
New or Updated FamilySearch Historical Data Collections
I last listed the new or updated collections on the FamilySearch website on 7 January, when there were 519 collections on the list. Since then, these Historical Record Collections have been added or updated to make a total of 541 collections:
England, Bristol Parish Registers, 1538-1900 (last updated 3 Feb 2011, 581,648 records, index only)
United States, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942 (last updated 3 Feb 2011, 2,821,572 record images and index)
Texas, Comanche County Records, 1858-1955 (last updated 31 Jan 2011, browse images only)
Virginia, Freedmen's Bureau Letters, 1865-1872 (last updated 31 Jan 2011, 834,423 record images and index)
England and Wales Census, 1881 (last updated 28 Jan 2011, 10,711,675 records, index only)
England, Warwickshire Parish Registers, 1538-1900 (last updated 28 Jan 2011, 658,553 records, index only)
Italy, Civil Registration, 1806-1940 (last updated 28 Jan 2011, browse images only)
Ontario Deaths,1869-1937 and Overseas Deaths, 1939-1947 (last updated 28 Jan 2011, 2,050,112 records, index only)
Quebec Census, 1861 (last updated 28 Jan 2011, 1,094,774 records, index only)
New York, County Marriages, 1908-1935 (last updated 26 Jan 2011, 157,260 record images and index)
Iowa State Census, 1885 (last updated 25 Jan 2011, 503,573 records, index only)
Minnesota State Census, 1905 (last updated 25 Jan 2011, 1,973,884 record images and index)
South Dakota State Census, 1935 (last updated 25 Jan 2011, 673,322 record images and index)
Venezuela, Civil Registration (last updated 25 Jan 2011, browse images only)
Wisconsin Deaths and Burials, 1835-1968 (last updated 25 Jan 2011, 454,484 records, index only)
Massachusetts Deaths, 1841-1915 (last updated 24 Jan 2011, 2,744,355 record images and index)
Brazil, Catholic Church Records (last updated 21 Jan 2011, browse images only)
England, Cheshire, Marriage Bonds and Allegations, 1606-1900 (last updated 21 Jan 2011, 451,783 records, index only)
North Carolina Deaths, 1906-1930 (last updated 21 Jan 2011, 615,657 record images and index)
Tennessee, Death Records, 1914-1955 (last updated 21 Jan 2011, 1,276,298 record images and index)
Wisconsin State Census, 1885 (last updated 21 Jan 2011, 407,138 records, index only)
Wisconsin State Census, 1895 (last updated 21 Jan 2011, 494,911 records, index only)
Canada Census Mortality Schedules, 1871 (last updated 20 Jan 2011, 45,371 records, index only)
New Jersey State Census, 1885 (last updated 20 Jan 2011, 305,188 records, index only)
Ohio, Cuyahoga County Probate Files, 1813-1900 (last updated 20 Jan 2011, browse images only)
United States Census, 1930 (last updated 20 Jan 2011, 8,521,754 records, index only)
England, Norfolk Bishop's Transcripts, 1685-1941 (last updated 19 Jan 2011, browse images only)
England, Norfolk Poor Law Union Records, 1796-1900 (last updated 19 Jan 2011, browse images only)
England, Norfolk Archdeacon's Transcripts, 1600-1812 (last updated 18 Jan 2011, browse images only)
England, Norfolk Marriage Bonds, 1557-1915 (last updated 18 Jan 2011, browse images only)
England, Norfolk Monumental Inscriptions, 1600-1900's (last updated 18 Jan 2011, browse images only)
England, Norfolk Non-conformist Records, 1613-1901 (last updated 18 Jan 2011, browse images only)
England, Norfolk Register of Electors, 1844-1952 (last updated 18 Jan 2011, browse images only)
Delaware Death Records, 1855-1955 (last updated 14 Jan 2011, 209,962 record, images and index)
Italy, Napoli Province Municipal Records, 1809-1936 (last updated 14 Jan 2011, 55,136 records, images and index)
Ontario Marriages, 1869-1927 (last updated 14 Jan 2011, 363,464 records, index only)
Quebec Notarial Records, 1800-1900 (last updated 14 Jan 2011, browse images only)
Rhode Island, State Census, 1935 (last updated 14 Jan 2011 693,472 record images and index)
Switzerland, Church Book Extracts, 1550-1875 (last updated 14 Jan 2011, browse images only)
Denmark Burials, 1640-1917 (last updated 10 Jan 2011, 655,703 records, index only)
There are 41 items on the list above, but only 22 were added databases since 7 January. I still wish that FamilySearch would also indicate which databases are newly "Added" rather than just "Added or Updated" and what the completion percentage is of those that are updated.
All FamilySearch Historical Record Collections can be accessed at https://www.familysearch.org/s/collection/list. You can see which collections were recently added or updated by clicking on the "Last Updated" link.
England, Bristol Parish Registers, 1538-1900 (last updated 3 Feb 2011, 581,648 records, index only)
United States, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942 (last updated 3 Feb 2011, 2,821,572 record images and index)
Massachusetts Births, 1841-1915 (last updated 2 Feb 2011, 3,818,515 recod images and index)
Texas, Comanche County Records, 1858-1955 (last updated 31 Jan 2011, browse images only)
Virginia, Freedmen's Bureau Letters, 1865-1872 (last updated 31 Jan 2011, 834,423 record images and index)
England and Wales Census, 1881 (last updated 28 Jan 2011, 10,711,675 records, index only)
England, Warwickshire Parish Registers, 1538-1900 (last updated 28 Jan 2011, 658,553 records, index only)
Italy, Civil Registration, 1806-1940 (last updated 28 Jan 2011, browse images only)
Ontario Deaths,1869-1937 and Overseas Deaths, 1939-1947 (last updated 28 Jan 2011, 2,050,112 records, index only)
Quebec Census, 1861 (last updated 28 Jan 2011, 1,094,774 records, index only)
New York, County Marriages, 1908-1935 (last updated 26 Jan 2011, 157,260 record images and index)
Iowa State Census, 1885 (last updated 25 Jan 2011, 503,573 records, index only)
Minnesota State Census, 1905 (last updated 25 Jan 2011, 1,973,884 record images and index)
South Dakota State Census, 1935 (last updated 25 Jan 2011, 673,322 record images and index)
Venezuela, Civil Registration (last updated 25 Jan 2011, browse images only)
Wisconsin Deaths and Burials, 1835-1968 (last updated 25 Jan 2011, 454,484 records, index only)
Massachusetts Deaths, 1841-1915 (last updated 24 Jan 2011, 2,744,355 record images and index)
Brazil, Catholic Church Records (last updated 21 Jan 2011, browse images only)
England, Cheshire, Marriage Bonds and Allegations, 1606-1900 (last updated 21 Jan 2011, 451,783 records, index only)
North Carolina Deaths, 1906-1930 (last updated 21 Jan 2011, 615,657 record images and index)
Tennessee, Death Records, 1914-1955 (last updated 21 Jan 2011, 1,276,298 record images and index)
Wisconsin State Census, 1885 (last updated 21 Jan 2011, 407,138 records, index only)
Wisconsin State Census, 1895 (last updated 21 Jan 2011, 494,911 records, index only)
Canada Census Mortality Schedules, 1871 (last updated 20 Jan 2011, 45,371 records, index only)
New Jersey State Census, 1885 (last updated 20 Jan 2011, 305,188 records, index only)
Ohio, Cuyahoga County Probate Files, 1813-1900 (last updated 20 Jan 2011, browse images only)
United States Census, 1930 (last updated 20 Jan 2011, 8,521,754 records, index only)
England, Norfolk Bishop's Transcripts, 1685-1941 (last updated 19 Jan 2011, browse images only)
England, Norfolk Poor Law Union Records, 1796-1900 (last updated 19 Jan 2011, browse images only)
England, Norfolk Archdeacon's Transcripts, 1600-1812 (last updated 18 Jan 2011, browse images only)
England, Norfolk Marriage Bonds, 1557-1915 (last updated 18 Jan 2011, browse images only)
England, Norfolk Monumental Inscriptions, 1600-1900's (last updated 18 Jan 2011, browse images only)
England, Norfolk Non-conformist Records, 1613-1901 (last updated 18 Jan 2011, browse images only)
England, Norfolk Register of Electors, 1844-1952 (last updated 18 Jan 2011, browse images only)
Delaware Death Records, 1855-1955 (last updated 14 Jan 2011, 209,962 record, images and index)
Italy, Napoli Province Municipal Records, 1809-1936 (last updated 14 Jan 2011, 55,136 records, images and index)
Ontario Marriages, 1869-1927 (last updated 14 Jan 2011, 363,464 records, index only)
Quebec Notarial Records, 1800-1900 (last updated 14 Jan 2011, browse images only)
Rhode Island, State Census, 1935 (last updated 14 Jan 2011 693,472 record images and index)
Switzerland, Church Book Extracts, 1550-1875 (last updated 14 Jan 2011, browse images only)
Denmark Burials, 1640-1917 (last updated 10 Jan 2011, 655,703 records, index only)
There are 41 items on the list above, but only 22 were added databases since 7 January. I still wish that FamilySearch would also indicate which databases are newly "Added" rather than just "Added or Updated" and what the completion percentage is of those that are updated.
All FamilySearch Historical Record Collections can be accessed at https://www.familysearch.org/s/collection/list. You can see which collections were recently added or updated by clicking on the "Last Updated" link.
Labels: FamilySearch, Online resources
Book Review: Online State Resources for Genealogy
Michael Hait, a professional genealogist residing in Delaware, published an eBook in PDF format recently titled Online State Resources for Genealogists, which is available as an online download at his website, Hait Family Research, here.
The Introduction notes:
"Many researchers are unaware of the sheer volume and variety of records that have been brought online, at no cost, by government agencies and others active in individual towns, counties, and states. This book will provide a directory to sites that offer record images and indexes nationwide, including:
* state archives
* state libraries
* state health departments
* county clerks
* historical societies
* genealogical societies
* university libraries
* public libraries
* others"
It also notes that online indexes and databases provided by free (e.g., FamilySearch, Rootsweb) and subscription (e.g., Ancestry, Footnote, GenealogyBank) genealogy websites are not covered by the book.
In the book, each state has a chapter, and within that chapter are links to governmental, institutional, genealogical and historical society archives and libraries with online indexes and databases. In many cases, there are links to the different online collections available at the entity. For each database entry, there is an explanation, usually in the websites own words, about the content of the database.
An example entry from the Illinois section (I picked one that almost every researcher knows about):
"Illinois State Archives (http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/archives.html/"
and down the alphabetical list a bit:
" Illinois Statewide Death Index, Pre–1916 (http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/death.html) : ―The pre–1916 Illinois death index is an ongoing project coordinated by the Illinois State Archives. The sources for this index include original county clerks‘ death records, such as death registers and licenses. For each death, the index includes the name of the decedent, the date of the death, the name of the county where the death occurred, the place of death within the county, when possible; the age and sex of the decedent and a citation to the original record—volume and page number for death registers or certificate number for death certificates."
Some states have extensive listings, and some do not. For instance, Colorado has one repository listed on three pages, California has four repositories listed on two pages, while Illinois has six repositories listed on eleven pages, and Maryland has nine repositories listed on twenty pages. This is certainly due to the volume of records freely available in online indexes and document image databases. A reader can see which states have been proactive and diligent in providing online databases to their citizens and researchers.
The book includes websites that have both freely available databases and members-only access to other record databases, but the book does not include the members-only databases. An example is the Illinois State Genealogical Society. However, state and regional level institutions that do not have have any freely available state record indexes and document image databases - the New England Historic Genealogical Society in Boston comes to mind, are not included in the book.
The book does not include repositories that have online indexes for catalogs but no actual online data in index or document image form. For example, the California State Libraries (not listed in the book) at http://www.library.ca.gov/calhist/databases.html, has no actual data (transcriptions or images) at the library website - only a searchable catalog of books on the shelf at the library. A casual reader might assume that there is no State Library or that it has no web presence at all, when the reality is that there is no actual data available online.
Those are not really "complaints," they are statements of fact about the contents of the book. The Introduction notes that:
"Only the most useful resources for genealogy research, and contextual historical information, have been included in this guide."
One of the very best features of this book are the active hyperlinks in the text. The reader can click on the hyperlink, which is often very long, and go directly to the online database of interest.
The book is an excellent compilation of the state resources freely available in online databases with actual data - index information and/or document images. It will be very valuable to every researcher trying to perform a reasonably exhaustive search for their ancestral families. I know that I will use the resources in this book in my genealogical research. It will be a valuable addition to any American researcher's genealogical library.
The cost of this book is $15.00 for a PDF download from Lulu.com (http://www.lulu.com/product/ebook/online-state-resources-for-genealogy/14708408 ). Recognizing that the volume of online state resources is increasing regularly, the author will provide one complimentary updated revision at a future date (the buyer needs to contact him by email with some information).
Disclosure: Michael Hait contacted me last weekend asking if I would write a review of his book, and he provided me with a PDF copy of the book. I try very hard to write objective reviews of books for the benefit of my readers.
The Introduction notes:
"Many researchers are unaware of the sheer volume and variety of records that have been brought online, at no cost, by government agencies and others active in individual towns, counties, and states. This book will provide a directory to sites that offer record images and indexes nationwide, including:
* state archives
* state libraries
* state health departments
* county clerks
* historical societies
* genealogical societies
* university libraries
* public libraries
* others"
It also notes that online indexes and databases provided by free (e.g., FamilySearch, Rootsweb) and subscription (e.g., Ancestry, Footnote, GenealogyBank) genealogy websites are not covered by the book.
In the book, each state has a chapter, and within that chapter are links to governmental, institutional, genealogical and historical society archives and libraries with online indexes and databases. In many cases, there are links to the different online collections available at the entity. For each database entry, there is an explanation, usually in the websites own words, about the content of the database.
An example entry from the Illinois section (I picked one that almost every researcher knows about):
"Illinois State Archives (http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/archives.html/"
and down the alphabetical list a bit:
" Illinois Statewide Death Index, Pre–1916 (http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/death.html) : ―The pre–1916 Illinois death index is an ongoing project coordinated by the Illinois State Archives. The sources for this index include original county clerks‘ death records, such as death registers and licenses. For each death, the index includes the name of the decedent, the date of the death, the name of the county where the death occurred, the place of death within the county, when possible; the age and sex of the decedent and a citation to the original record—volume and page number for death registers or certificate number for death certificates."
Some states have extensive listings, and some do not. For instance, Colorado has one repository listed on three pages, California has four repositories listed on two pages, while Illinois has six repositories listed on eleven pages, and Maryland has nine repositories listed on twenty pages. This is certainly due to the volume of records freely available in online indexes and document image databases. A reader can see which states have been proactive and diligent in providing online databases to their citizens and researchers.
The book includes websites that have both freely available databases and members-only access to other record databases, but the book does not include the members-only databases. An example is the Illinois State Genealogical Society. However, state and regional level institutions that do not have have any freely available state record indexes and document image databases - the New England Historic Genealogical Society in Boston comes to mind, are not included in the book.
The book does not include repositories that have online indexes for catalogs but no actual online data in index or document image form. For example, the California State Libraries (not listed in the book) at http://www.library.ca.gov/calhist/databases.html, has no actual data (transcriptions or images) at the library website - only a searchable catalog of books on the shelf at the library. A casual reader might assume that there is no State Library or that it has no web presence at all, when the reality is that there is no actual data available online.
Those are not really "complaints," they are statements of fact about the contents of the book. The Introduction notes that:
"Only the most useful resources for genealogy research, and contextual historical information, have been included in this guide."
One of the very best features of this book are the active hyperlinks in the text. The reader can click on the hyperlink, which is often very long, and go directly to the online database of interest.
The book is an excellent compilation of the state resources freely available in online databases with actual data - index information and/or document images. It will be very valuable to every researcher trying to perform a reasonably exhaustive search for their ancestral families. I know that I will use the resources in this book in my genealogical research. It will be a valuable addition to any American researcher's genealogical library.
The cost of this book is $15.00 for a PDF download from Lulu.com (http://www.lulu.com/product/ebook/online-state-resources-for-genealogy/14708408 ). Recognizing that the volume of online state resources is increasing regularly, the author will provide one complimentary updated revision at a future date (the buyer needs to contact him by email with some information).
Disclosure: Michael Hait contacted me last weekend asking if I would write a review of his book, and he provided me with a PDF copy of the book. I try very hard to write objective reviews of books for the benefit of my readers.
Labels: book reviews, genealogy resources, Online resources, State Archives
Treasure Chest Thursday - Isaac Seaver's Civil War Pension Papers: Deposition (Part 2) of the Widow
It's Treasure Chest Thursday, time to share one of the documents or artifacts in my family history collection. In previous posts, I have displayed documents from the Civil War Pension File of Isaac Seaver, my second great-grandfather.
I received the complete Civil War Pension File for Isaac Seaver on 3 January - see my post My Christmas Present Came Today - Oh Boy! - and it has 81 pages in the file. Some of them have little or no information on them. I'm going to cherry-pick some pages for this and later Treasure Chest Thursday posts.
The "treasure" this week is the second part of the "Deposition" that supports the application of the widow, Alvina M. (Bradley) (Lewis) Seaver, taken on 23 December 1901 by Frank Shapleigh of the Bureau of Pensions.
The first part of the deposition was transcribed here. This second part deposition has three handwritten pages (written by the examiner and signed by the deponent). It is a continuation of the first deposition - it starts in the middle of a sentence:
The transcription of this second part of the deposition reads (filled in lines underlined, handwritten items italicized, tables spaced by periods):
[First page]
putting $1400 of the $1500
into same and $400
besides, drawn from the
Bank, - making the
place at 66 Mechanic St
stand me $3000 including
my interest willed by
soldier ($1200).
There are three tenements
in this house rented
as follows:
Basement per mo. $12.50
2 Floor [per mo.]... 15.00
3 Floor [per mo.].. 15.00
[Total} .............. $40.00
There is no other
income from this property.
The annual expenditure
are as follows:
[Second page]
Taxes ................. $69.46
Water Rent ............ 37.00
Insurance ............... 3.00
Repair (estimated) .. 60.00
...........................-----------
[Total] ............... $167.46
Rent per annum ... $486.00
Expenditures ........ 169.40
......................... ---------
Net income ......... $316.54
I do not get my
rent always. I have
lost about $30 since
May 1, 1901, by poor
tenants.
Since May 1, 1901, I
have expended for repairs
about $60 as follows.
Shingling roof and
building back porch ..... $50
Buying screens for
doors and windows ..... $10
(No receipted bills) .... $60
I have put the
place in an agents
hands to be sold as
I am unable to care
for it.
At time of soldier's
death - I had no
real estate except
my home place
at 7 Cedar St
and no interest in
any.
[Third page]
I now have money in
Savings Banks as follows:
Bank .............................Amt.....Rate.....Income
Fitchburg Savs................ $700 ... 5-1/2% .... 24.50
Worcester North.............. 700 ...... 4 ........ 28.00
Clinton Savs.................... 900 ...... 3-1/2 ... 31.50
Worc. Co. Inst. ................ 500 ...... 3-1/2 ... 17.50
Peoples Savs (Worc) ......... 500 ...... 3-1/2 ... 17.50
Worc. Mechanics .............. 500 ...... 4% ....... 20.00
Leominster Savs ...........993.22 ....... 4% ..... 39.72
...............................---------- ............... --------
.............................$ 4793.22 ............. $178.72
My Books except Leominster
Savings Bk (exhibited) are
in Safe Deposit Vaut)
I sold my household
Furniture and put money
in Leominster Bank as
above.
My total net income (yearly)
therefore is as follows:
From 66 Mechanic St. ..... $316.54
" Savings Bks $4793.22 ..... 178.72
" $100 Mortgage @ 5% ...... 50.00
................................ $ 545.26
...............[signed] Alvina M. Seaver
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 23 day of Dec
190 1 and I certify that the contents were fully made known to deponent before signing.
/s/ Frank Shapleigh, Special Examiner
This deposition gives a clear indication of the financial aspects of Alvina's life as a widow, continues the story of how she found income to live on, and a summary of her financial assets at the end of 1901. I found it fascinating. Alvina seems very clear-headed and logical in all of her financial transactions.
I received the complete Civil War Pension File for Isaac Seaver on 3 January - see my post My Christmas Present Came Today - Oh Boy! - and it has 81 pages in the file. Some of them have little or no information on them. I'm going to cherry-pick some pages for this and later Treasure Chest Thursday posts.
The "treasure" this week is the second part of the "Deposition" that supports the application of the widow, Alvina M. (Bradley) (Lewis) Seaver, taken on 23 December 1901 by Frank Shapleigh of the Bureau of Pensions.
The first part of the deposition was transcribed here. This second part deposition has three handwritten pages (written by the examiner and signed by the deponent). It is a continuation of the first deposition - it starts in the middle of a sentence:
[First page]
putting $1400 of the $1500
into same and $400
besides, drawn from the
Bank, - making the
place at 66 Mechanic St
stand me $3000 including
my interest willed by
soldier ($1200).
There are three tenements
in this house rented
as follows:
Basement per mo. $12.50
2 Floor [per mo.]... 15.00
3 Floor [per mo.].. 15.00
[Total} .............. $40.00
There is no other
income from this property.
The annual expenditure
are as follows:
[Second page]
Taxes ................. $69.46
Water Rent ............ 37.00
Insurance ............... 3.00
Repair (estimated) .. 60.00
...........................-----------
[Total] ............... $167.46
Rent per annum ... $486.00
Expenditures ........ 169.40
......................... ---------
Net income ......... $316.54
I do not get my
rent always. I have
lost about $30 since
May 1, 1901, by poor
tenants.
Since May 1, 1901, I
have expended for repairs
about $60 as follows.
Shingling roof and
building back porch ..... $50
Buying screens for
doors and windows ..... $10
(No receipted bills) .... $60
I have put the
place in an agents
hands to be sold as
I am unable to care
for it.
At time of soldier's
death - I had no
real estate except
my home place
at 7 Cedar St
and no interest in
any.
[Third page]
I now have money in
Savings Banks as follows:
Bank .............................Amt.....Rate.....Income
Fitchburg Savs................ $700 ... 5-1/2% .... 24.50
Worcester North.............. 700 ...... 4 ........ 28.00
Clinton Savs.................... 900 ...... 3-1/2 ... 31.50
Worc. Co. Inst. ................ 500 ...... 3-1/2 ... 17.50
Peoples Savs (Worc) ......... 500 ...... 3-1/2 ... 17.50
Worc. Mechanics .............. 500 ...... 4% ....... 20.00
Leominster Savs ...........993.22 ....... 4% ..... 39.72
...............................---------- ............... --------
.............................$ 4793.22 ............. $178.72
My Books except Leominster
Savings Bk (exhibited) are
in Safe Deposit Vaut)
I sold my household
Furniture and put money
in Leominster Bank as
above.
My total net income (yearly)
therefore is as follows:
From 66 Mechanic St. ..... $316.54
" Savings Bks $4793.22 ..... 178.72
" $100 Mortgage @ 5% ...... 50.00
................................ $ 545.26
...............[signed] Alvina M. Seaver
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 23 day of Dec
190 1 and I certify that the contents were fully made known to deponent before signing.
/s/ Frank Shapleigh, Special Examiner
This deposition gives a clear indication of the financial aspects of Alvina's life as a widow, continues the story of how she found income to live on, and a summary of her financial assets at the end of 1901. I found it fascinating. Alvina seems very clear-headed and logical in all of her financial transactions.
Labels: Military records, Seaver Research, Treasure Chest Thursday
