Saturday, March 2, 2013

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - Social Media Genealogy Meme


Calling all Genea-Musings Fans: 
 It's Saturday Night again - 
time for some more Genealogy Fun!!



Here is your assignment if you choose to play along (cue the Mission Impossible music, please!): 


1)  Go to Jill Ball's Geniaus blog post describing A Small Social Media Geneameme.  Note the 8 questions. 

2)  Answer one, two, some or all of the questions in your own blog post, in comments to this post, in comments to Jill's post, in a Facebook Status post, or a Google+ Stream post.

Here's mine:

1. Tell us about your favourite social media tool and why you like it.

It's not difficult to pick a favorite from blogging, tweeting, Facebooking, GooglePlusing, and more.  I favor BLOGGING - I like it because I can cast out cousin bait, get help and advice from my readers, can educate and help my readers, can highlight my genealogical society activities, and provide my experience and opinions on genealogy websites, software and databases.  The blog is searched by the major search engines, so people can find me.    


2. How do you use social media to further your genealogy career or business?

I don't have a business, and my so-called career consists of speaking, teaching, and writing about my genealogical interests.  Almost everything I do on social media is used to promote my genealogical activities.  When I publish a blog post, I tweet on Twitter, which appears automatically on Facebook.  I copy the tweet and post it on Google+.


3. What advice would you give the cruiser who said “I must be living under a rock” and is not sure about coming out from under it? (This came from my Social Media presentation)

You know, about 80% of the genealogists that I deal with in my local genealogical societies and when I speak have no clue about social media.  They are missing out on so much.  I would say to the cruiser "if you want to know what is happening in genealogy outside of your local activities, you need to at least read some blogs and access the free educational material at FamilySearch, Ancestry, Legacy Family Tree, and other sites."

4. What aspect of Social Media makes you grit your teeth?


The over-the-top, thoughtless, name-calling, political posts on Facebook.  

5. How does social media assist with your CGD (continuing genealogical development)?

It keeps me involved - I try to stay up-to-date on technology, software, webinars, standard practices, conferences, etc.  


6. How do you fit social media time into your busy day?

I try to limit my Facebook time to two visits for no more than 30 minutes a day.  Twitter is limited to 10 minutes a day.  Google+ is limited to no more than 20 minutes a day (unless I watch a Hangout).  I use Google Reader to read over 1400 blogs (most of them genealogy), and try to read once and not again.  Blog reading takes 30 to 60 minutes a day.  


Blogging usually takes 1 to 3 hours a day, depending on how many posts I do.  I schedule some posts ahead of time when I know I will be away from the computer.

The balance of my genealogy day (typically 8 to 10 hours total) I try to devote to doing online research, working in my genealogy database (adding content and sources, answering email, doing genealogy society work, and working on my articles and/or presentations.

7. Do you have a story of how social media enabled you to connect with a long lost relation or fellow  researcher?

There are too many to count!  I've recently connected to three Dill descendants who are first cousins, who found me independent of the others by searching for their great-grandfather, whom I highlighted in a blog post.  The mother of two of the cousins was one of my mother's best friends.  I have been able to provide them with a genealogy report on their Dill ancestry, including two Mayflower passengers.  

8. You have a minute to share a piece of advice about genealogy and social media. Go for it.


Use social media to network with family and friends, but don't let it rule your life.  I subscribe to Geoff's adage - "Life is short, do genealogy first" when it comes to social media, and don't get wrapped up in personal life dramas, TV shows or politics.

The URL for this post is:

Copyright (c) 2013, Randall J. Seaver.

Surname Saturday - COLE (England > Massachusetts)


It's Surname Saturday, and I'm "counting down" my Ancestral Name List each week.  

I am in the 7th great-grandmothers, up to number 567: Ruth COLE (1651-1735). [Note: the 7th great-grandfathers have been covered in earlier posts].

My ancestral line back through two American generations of this COLE family line 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)

8. Frank Walton Seaver (1852-1922)
9. Hattie Louise Hildreth (1857-1920)

16. Isaac Seaver (1823-1901)
17. Lucretia Townsend Smith (1827-1884)

34.  Alpheus B. Smith (1802-1840)
35.  Elizabeth Horton Dill (1791-1869)


70.  Thomas Dill (1755-1830)
71.  Hannah Horton (1761-1797)

140.  Thomas Dill (1708-1761)
141.  Mehitable Brown (1714-1758)


282.  Samuel Brown (1686-1739)
283.  Ruth Young (1688-1768)


566.  John Young, born 16 November 1649 in Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States; died about 1718 in probably Eastham, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States.  He was the son of 1132. John Young and 1133. Abigail Howland.  He married before 1671 in Eastham, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States.
567.  Ruth Cole, born 15 April 1651 in Eastham, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States; died after 20 November 1735 in Eastham, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States.  

Children of John Young and Ruth Cole are:  Mercy Young (1671-????); Benjamin Young (1673-1734); Jonathan Young (1675-1755); Israel Young (1683-????); Ruth Young (1688-1768); Barnabas Young (1690-1772); Jane Young (1692-????); Abigail Young (1694-1781).

1134.  Daniel Cole, born about 1614 in Southwark, Surrey, England; died 20 December 1694 in Eastham, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States.  He married before 1644 in Yarmouth, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States.
1135.  Ruth Chandler, born Aabout 1625 in Leiden, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands; died 15 December 1694 in Eastham, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States.  She was the daughter of 2270. Edmund Chandler and 2270. Anne.

Children of Daniel Cole and Ruth Chandler are:  John Cole (1644-1725); Timothy Cole (1646-1695); Hepsibah Cole (1649-1712); Ruth Cole (1651-1735); Israel Cole (1653-1724); James Cole (1655-1724); Mary Cole (1659-1734); William Cole (1663-1737); Hester Cole (1665-????); Daniel Cole (1666-1736);Thomas Cole (1669-1735).

Most of the above information was obtained from online family trees entered into my database a long time ago.  Reviewing Martin Hollick's book, New Englanders in the 1600s, I see that there are some useful resources for the Daniel Cole family, including:

*  Susan E. Roser, Friends of the Pilgrims Series, Volume 2: Daniel Cole of Eastham, Massachusetts (Milton, Ont., the author, 2010)

*  Dorothy Brewer Erikson, Descendants of Thomas Brewer Connecticut to Maine 1682-1996 with Allied Families (Boston: NEHGS, 1996), pages 335-340

The URL for this post is:

copyright (c) 2013, Randall J. Seaver

Friday, March 1, 2013

Review: Legacy QuickGuide on Researching Your Loyalist Ancestors

Legacy Family Tree has commissioned a series of four-page booklets on various aspects of genealogical research.  Each laminated guide contains four pages of valuable information covering a variety of genealogy research topics. Legacy QuickGuides are written by genealogists and family historians who are experts in the subject areas.  These QuickGuides are oriented towards the online researcher - there are several pages of website links on selected subjects for the specific topic covered by the QuickGuide.

You can see the list of available Legacy QuickGuides at http://www.legacyfamilytreestore.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=71.  They are available as laminated four-page folders ($7.95 each) or as downloadable PDF files ($2.95 each).

The Legacy QuickGuide for Researching Your Loyalist Ancestors was written by Kathryn Lake Hogan.



The Introduction to this QuickGuide says:

"After the American Revolutionary War, those who remained loyal to Britain and King George III were known as Loyalists. In 1789, the Governor-General of British North America, Lord Dorchester, granted those who adhered to the Unity of the Empire, all their children and their descendants the use of the capitals U.E. after their name. Many American and Canadian genealogists have Loyalist ancestors which can be difficult to find. The Researching Your Loyalist Ancestors Legacy QuickGuide™ contains useful information to get you started including the best places to find key record groups and research strategies to implement."

The subjects included in the Researching Your Loyalist Ancestors  QuickGuide include:

*  Selected Key Dates
*  Who is a Loyalist?
*  Strategy

*  United Empire Loyalist Lists
*  Black Loyalists
*  First Nations/Aboriginal Loyalists
*  Lower Canada Loyalists
*  Upper Canada Loyalists
*  Maritime Loyalists
*  Military Records
*  Ship Passenger Lists

*  Land and Property Records
*  Maps
*  Court Records and Claims
*  Archives and Libraries
*  Organizations
*  Toolkit

*  Terminology
*  Further Reading

For the second and third page subjects, the items listed are website titles with links to the websites.  In some cases, there are shortened URLs for websites with long eddresses.

This Legacy QuickGuide is very useful for beginners and seasoned researchers alike.  The information about the different Loyalist websites, the organizations list, and the toolkit are very helpful, and the links to online resources will be useful. 
I am sure that I will use this QuickGuide to help me find records of my Loyalist ancestors in New Brunswick and Ontario.

The laminated version of this QuickGuide is very handy for researchers going to repositories or society meetings - it is light and easy to carry in a briefcase or computer case.  I much prefer the PDF version because I can save it to my computer (and laptop, tablet, and smart phone using Dropbox or another cloud service) and have it available in digital format for instantaneous usage by clicking the links provided rather than typing the links into my web browser. 

Order your copy of the  
Researching Your Loyalist Ancestors  QuickGuide (PDF or printed laminated folder) at the Legacy Family Tree Store.

Disclosure:  I was provided a complimentary copy of the PDF version of this Legacy QuickGuide on the condition that I provide a timely review of each QuickGuide provided.  Look for more in the near future!

The URL for this post is:  

Copyright (c) 2013, Randall J. Seaver

Follow-Up Friday - Helpful and Useful Reader Comments

It's Follow-Up Friday, time for displaying helpful and useful reader comments, and my response to them.

1)  On Top Ten Characteristics of a Good Genealogist (26 February 2013):

*  Cary Bright offered:  "Two things - Memberships in Genealogical Organizations and though implied in #9, networking with like minded family researchers/genealogists"

*  Greta Koehl commented:  "Able to combine logical and intuitive thinking to the best effect. Plus one that is sort of a restatement of patient and persistent - not easily discouraged."

*  Linda Huesca Tully noted:  "A creative thinker - able to step back in time and see things in their historical context or through the eyes of an ancestor; able to "think outside the box" when up against a brick wall."

*  Margie suggested:  "Being able to communicate, in person or via the written word, whether with people from whom you are trying to obtain information or being able to explain what you have found to someone unfamiliar with or new to genealogical research.

"And, having good analytical skills. Being able to find and assemble data is one thing, being able to decipher what is good or how this data leads to more data or the answer to the research question is another skill entirely. (sort of a restatement of what Greta says...)"


*  Bob Howey said:  "The best genealogists I know have a strong sense of historical and local context - they understand the community and what daily life and work was like. They also solve the most difficult puzzles knowing they need to go beyond the individual ancestor being studied to look at the web of family and community relationships. This is a perspective I do not have, but those I regard most highly do. I suppose this is really an integration of many of the other 9 characteristics you've identified. That integration takes the skills to a higher level."

*  Bonnie noted:  "Doing their OWN work (versus 'copying'), even if they've come across other, reputable research, still checking the sources. Everyone makes mistakes. Rechecking your own facts and data and admitting if/when you've erred and correcting it."

My comments:  All of those are excellent suggestions.  Thank you to all of you for suggesting them.  I guess we could go for the Top 15 or Top 20, eh?  If I had to choose one of them for #10, I think I would add Bob Howey's suggestion.  

2)  On Canadian Census Records on FamilySearch (28 February 2013):

*  Liz (paperquilter) offered:  "There are images for Canadian census records on the Library and Archives Canada website, for 1851, 1871, 1881, 1891, 1901, 1911 and the Prairie Province extra censuses for 1906 and 1916. An index for 1911 was added this week, in partnership with Ancestry. There are many other very useful Canadian databases available from this same page: 
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/lac-bac/search-recherche/anc.php?Language=eng

"Another site with connection to the original images is http://automatedgenealogy.com, with indexes to 1901, 1906, 1911 and 1851. 

"I know these won't link directly to your tree on FamilySearch, but you can save and upload them, can't you?  Good luck with your Canadian ancestors!"


*  Celia Lewis noted:  "I wondered why on earth you were using FamilySearch instead of either Library & Archives Canada or Automated Genealogy for Canadian Census images... Lovely images to dig around in."

*  Elizabeth Lapointe commented:  "I use Ancestry.ca, then Library and Archives Canada, and then FamilySearch - in that order!  In Canada Census Records, you have to use all three to make sure that you have done a complete searching process. And you can add in AutomatedGenealogy as a fourth source.

"On average, it does take longer to do Canadian genealogy, than it does in other countries. There is so much to check, although you can usually find what you are looking for, if you have patience."

My response:  Thank you, Liz, Celia and elizabeth, for the update on the Canadian sites with census images.  You're right, I can save the images and upload them using the TreeConnect feature on the FamilySearch Family Tree, and can attach them to Persons and Events in my database.  I knew they were there...but was thinking I wanted FamilySearch data for the FSFT.

3)  On Source Citation for World War I Draft Registration Card (27 February 2013):

*  Colleen G. Brown Pasquale asked:  "What about those of us who do not have RootsMagic? I have Family Tree Maker."

My response:  You should use the source template feature in Family Tree Maker.  I will try to remember to do an example next week on my blog.  Thanks for the blog fodder idea!


*  Dan Stone suggested:  "There are some fantastic maps, including old plat maps for a wide variety of locations, at historicmapworks.com"

My response:  Yes, there are.  I will add that to my list!  Thanks, Dan.


*  Amy Coffin commented:  "Great photo, Randy. Is there ever a time when Linda isn't tan? She always looks like she just came back from a beach vacation when I see her at conferences. Like you, I burn, too."

My comment:  I don't know where that comes from genetically - her ancestry is essentially 1/4 Norwegian, 1/4 German, and 1/2 British Isles.  Maybe the 1/8 Irish?  She swims almost every day, but rarely in the sun it seems.  

6)  On SNGF Genealogy OCD Posts Compendium (17 February 2013):

*  tn5rr2012 said:  "I always said that my idea of heaven would be arriving at the pearly gates and all my ancestors are waiting for me to tell me what I got right and how WRONG I was about other things, then we would all sit around a table and I would hear first hand accounts of their lives and what it really was like to be them and live when they did."

My comment:  An interesting concept of heaven...a bunch of ancestors you don't know show up without any evidence and give you verbal heat for not finding the records they didn't leave behind!

7)  Thank you to all of my readers that take the time to comment on my blog posts - does anyone defeat the Captcha the first time every time?  Remember, patience and persistence is one of the 10 characteristics in everyone's list!


Copyright (c) 2013, Randall J. Seaver

Thursday, February 28, 2013

Canadian Census Records on FamilySearch

Since I don't have a World subscription on Ancestry.com, I have to use other websites to find online records for my Canadian families.  There are several websites with Canadian census record images and indexes, but I also want to attach records to the families in the FamilySearch Family Tree.

Therefore, I want to understand what Canadian census records are available on FamilySearch.org, and use them, if possible.

1)  Here is a screen shot of the Canada record collections available on FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/list, put "Canada" in search field):


There are Canada Census records for 1851, 1871, 1881, 1891, 1901, 1906, and 1916, plus Lower Canada Census for 1825, 1831 and 1842, and Upper Canada Census for 1842.

I want to find my Kemp relatives in each of the census years that they may be in.

2)  Starting with 1851, here is the record for Abram Kemp, born in about 1830, residing in Ameliasburgh, Prince Edward County, Canada West:


This census has limited information (name, gender, age, birthplace, province, county, district, district number, sub-district, page number, line number) indexed.  As you can see, the only way to relate this information to a family is to use the place name to narrow the search for the surname, and then to use the page number and line number to find all of the family.  That doesn't work for family members with another surname (in-laws, married siblings,  aunts, uncles, cousins, etc.).

3)  There is no 1861 Census available yet on FamilySearch.

4)  In the 1871 census, I found my Kemp family in Windham township, Norfolk County, Ontario.  Here is the place search I made that found six family members:


And clicking on the name, James Kemp, revealed this record summary for him:



This census has name, gender, age, birthplace, marital status, nationality, religion, place, page number, line number, household number, family number indexed. There are three family members listed, but they are on lines 15, 19 and 20.  The other family members, on lines 16, 17 and 18, are not shown on the family list shown above for some unknown reason.  They have record summary pages, but don't have a family listing.  I have the census page image, and it is a family of 6 all on one page.  I found very few family groups when I looked on other records.

4)  In the 1881 census, the James Kemp family resided in Middleton, Norfolk County, Ontario (I had to search for "Norfolk County" and not for "Middleton" or just "Norfolk"):


This Canada census has more information indexed (name, gender, age, birthplace, origin, religion, place, district number, sub-district number, page number, house number, family number), and includes a family list that appears complete.

5)  In the 1891 Census, the James Kemp family resided in Middleton, Norfolk North District, Ontario (I had to search for "Norfolk North" and not for "Middleton"):



The items indexed in the 1891 census are few (name, gender, age, birthplace, marital status, religion, and location). There is no family group listed - the user will have to search for a specific place, but there are no page numbers, family numbers or line numbers available to help define family members in this census.

6)  In the 1901 census, I couldn't find my James Kemp.  Here is the record summary for another James Kemp:


This census has more indexed items, and does have the family members and more columns were indexed.

7)  As you probably noted, there are NO images of these 1851-1901 census records on FamilySearch, and the only years that have full family member lists are 1881 and 1901. To find the information for each family member in the family groups, the user has to click on each family member.

It's unfortunate that the volunteer indexing of these records were not as complete as they could be, and make searching so difficult, especially when you are trying to find all of the family members.  The ideal of course, is to have the images available (they're on FHL microfilm - why aren't they available?) and if that can't be done, then to have the family members listed on a person's record, similar to the 1881 and 1901 census records.

The URL for this page is:  http://www.geneamusings.com/2013/02/canadian-census-records-on-familysearch.html

Copyright (c) 2013, Randall J. Seaver

Treasure Chest Thursday - 1880 U.S. Census for Abigail A. Smith Family

It's Treasure Chest Thursday - time to look in my digital image files to see what treasures I can find for my family history and genealogy musings.

The treasure today is the 1880 U.S. Census record for one of my Smith great-great-grandparents and their family in Blue Rapids, Marshall County, Kansas (note I posted about some members of this same family last week in Treasure Chest Thursday - 1880 U.S. Census Record for D J Smith Family):


The Abigail A. Smith household entry is:


The extracted information for the household, enumerated on 8 June 1880, is:

*  Abagail A. Smith - white, female, age 36, married, Keeps house, born New York, father born England, mother born New York.
*  Della Smith - white, female, age 18, Daughter, single, at home, born Wisconsin, father born New York, mother born New York.
*  Mary A. Smith - white, female, age 14, Daughter, single, at home, born Wisconsin, father born New York, mother born New York.
*  Samuel Vaux - white, male, age 65, Father in law, married. Without occup., born England, father born England, mother born England
*  Mary A. Vaux - white, female, age 65, Mother, married, Without occup., born New York, father born Vermont, mother born New Hampshire
*  Orpha Woodward - white, female, age 17, Niece, single, At home, born Wisconsin, father born New York Vt., mother born New York.

The source citation for this record is:

1880 United States Federal Census, Marshall County, Kansas, Population Schedule, Blue Rapids township: Page 205C, dwelling #57, family #65, Abagail A. Smith household; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication T9, Roll 388.

The errors and omissions that I see in this record include:

*  Abigail (Vaux) Smith should be age 35 (born in October 1844), not 36.  
*  Della Smith's given name was Abbie Ardell Smith, but she went by Della. 
*  Samuel Vaux should be age 64 (born in January 1816).
*  Mary A. Vaux's father's birthplace should be New Hampshire, not Vermont.
*  Orpha Woodward was probably born in May 1864, so age 16, not age 17.

This census record provides so many clues that help me put families together.

*  Abigail (Vaux) Smith is the head of household here - is it because this is the home of Samuel and Mary Ann (Underhill) Vaux and they are unable to support themselves?  Samuel Vaux died in October 1880, and Mary Ann Vaux died in 1883.  
*  Abigail (Vaux) Smith is also enumerated with her husband and two of their children (Mary and David, but not Della) in Pottawatomie County, Kansas in the 1880 census (see Treasure Chest Thursday - 1880 U.S. Census Record for D J Smith Family). 
*   The relationships of Samuel and Mary A. Vaux as Father and Mother of Abigail supports the conclusion that Abigail is their daughter.  The only other information I have that supports that conclusion is Abigail's death certificate.
*  The relationship of Orpha Woodward as the Niece of Abigail smith supports the conclusion that she is the daughter of Mary Almeda (Vaux) Woodward (Abigail's oldest sister) and her husband, James G. Woodward (who apparently died before 1880).


Copyright (c) 2013, Randall J. Seaver

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Source Citation for World War I Draft Registration Card

A reader asked me in email:  "How would you create a source citation for a World War I Draft Registration card that I found on Ancestry.com?"

The solution for me is relatively easy, and I'll do it two ways:

1)  In RootsMagic 6, I used the source template for "Draft Registrations, Images."  The source template field entries for my grandfather's World War I Draft Registration card found on Ancestry.com looks like this:



The fields and their entries that I used are:

*  Master Source (input data in red):  World War I Draft Registrations (Ancestry, template)

**  Database Title:  U.S. World War War Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 [from the Ancestry database title]
** Format:  digital image
**  Creator/owner:  [left blank]
**  Website title:  Ancestry.com
** URL:  http://www.ancestry.com
** Title:  Selective Service System. World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. Washington, D.C. [from the Ancestry source information]
** Sub-title:  National Archives and Records Administration. M1509, 4,582 rolls [from the Ancestry source information]

*  Source Details (input data in blue):

**  Access type: [left blank, default = accessed]
** Access date:  9 October 2010 [the date I captured the image]
** Item of interest:  Worcester County, Massachusetts, Leominster City, Draft Board 14, Frederick Walton Seaver entry, dated 18 September 1918 [information specific to my grandfather's registration card]
** Film details: [left blank]
**  Annotation: [left blank]

The resulting source citation, in Footnote format, is:

"U.S. World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918," digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 9 October 2010), Worcester County, Massachusetts, Leominster City, Draft Board 14, Frederick Walton Seaver entry, dated 18 September 1918; citing Selective Service System. World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. M1509, 4,582 rolls.

2)  My preference is to create free-form source citations so that they transfer via a GEDCOM upload well to other programs or online trees), but I try to emulate the source templates as much as possible.  Here are the source citation fields for a free-form source format of a World War I Draft Registration card:


The resulting free-form source citation (Footnote format) is:

"U.S. World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918," digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com, : accessed 9 October 2010); Worcester County, Massachusetts, Leominster City, Draft Board 14, Frederick Walton Seaver entry, dated 18 September 1918.

The only little nit-picky issue in the free-form compared to the template citation is the comma after ancestry.com - did you notice that?  There seems to be no way to get rid of that (except to put the Ancestry URL in the "Page Number field also).

I put the information about the source of the source into the Source Comments section rather than in the source citation itself.

If you have the image visible on Ancestry.com, the time it takes to enter the information the first time is about two minutes (using copy/paste as much as possible); for a second citation using the same Master source, the time to input it is less than one minute.

So there you are, dear reader.  You can substitute the access date, county, city/town, draft board number, person's name and date registered for your own person by substituting your data in place of my data in the citations above.  Of course, if you found the information on a website other than Ancestry, you would substitute that information appropriately.

The URL for this post is: http://www.geneamusings.com/2013/02/source-citation-for-world-war-i-draft.html

Copyright (c) 2013, Randall J. Seaver

Revolutionary Voices: A Last Muster Film

I received this information from Maureen Taylor and Pam Pacelli:




At some point in our lives we have all studied the American Revolution.. For most of us it seems long ago and far away, but it doesn’t have to...
Ten years ago, I was presented with an old photograph and asked to analyze it. Suddenly, I realized that I was looking into the face of someone who was a young adult during the Revolutionary War! While it may seem surprising, many of our founding countrymen and women lived into the photographic age…and I discovered that more than 200 years later, I could look directly into their faces.
I was mesmerized. I wanted to find as many of these photos as possible. My ten year journey led me through databases, private collections, and museum holdings, into small towns and large urban areas. So far, I have located over 200 of these images. Some of them are profiled in my two volumes: The Last Muster: Images of the Revolution (Kent State University Press, 2009) and The Last Muster: Faces of the Revolution (in press, 2013).
Now I’m partnering with award-winning Verissima Productions of Cambridge, MA to bring the photos, and the stories behind them, to film. We’ll see soldiers, slaves, pacifists, and children and hear about their stories during a time when the colonists risked everything in a time of great uncertainty. Viewers will also go with me on my journey as the “photo detective”, searching for images and records, locating places where subjects lived, and interviewing descendants to create a correspondence between past and present. 
In order to  produce and distribute “Revolutionary Voices” we need to raise a total of $225,000. Together we already spent numerous in-kind hours in pre-production. We need this initial funding to get our project up and running. As with any film our biggest challenge is starting production. 
We are seeking $27,500 through your pledges to begin shooting.
“Revolutionary Voices” is not just the culmination of a professional project, but also a labor of love. Our passion is being able to share the stories of these extraordinary people. By becoming a backer of “Revolutionary Voices” you will help shine a new light on this on this vital, but sometimes remote, chapter of our American experience.
More information about this "KickStarter" campaign, and an opportunity to contribute to it, can be found at:  http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/lastmusterfilm/revolutionary-voices-a-last-muster-film
Maureen Taylor has a two-minute introductory video available at http://www.lastmusterfilm.com/video-announcement.html
There is a Revolutionary Voices: A Last Muster Film blog at http://www.lastmusterfilm.com/revolutionary-voices-blog.html with interesting posts.

(Not So) Wordless Wednesday - Post 245: The Honeymooners Return

I'm posting family photographs from my collection on Wednesdays, but they aren't Wordless Wednesday posts like others do - I simply am incapable of having a wordless post.

Here is a photograph from the Seaver/Carringer family photograph collection passed to me by my mother in the 1988 to 2002 time period:




The people in this photograph are (from left to right):

*  Linda (Leland) Seaver - my bride
*  Randy Seaver - moi, age 26
*  Emily (Auble) Carringer (1899-1977) - my maternal grandmother
*  Lyle L. Carringer (1891-1976) - my maternal grandfather

The occasion is, I think, a family get-together after our honeymoon to Acapulco in March 1970, at my grandparents home on Point Loma in San Diego.  We look happy and tanned (well, Linda tans, I burn).  My grandparents were so happy that I had married Linda - they were really special to both of us.  

I just noticed that Linda has bare feet.  And Lyle is wearing a tie.  Not me... I have no idea what we're drinking - Emily always served Squirt, but I think Linda has a diet Coke (she always has a diet Coke!).

The photo was probably taken by my mother or father.  It was taken in the living room of the Carringer home, facing the southwest wall.  The red mark above Emily's head was on the photograph before I scanned it.

The URL for this post is:  http://www.geneamusings.com/2013/02/not-so-wordless-wednesday-post-245.html

Copyright (c) 2013, Randall J. Seaver

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Top Ten Characteristics of a Good Genealogist

Lorine McGinnis Schulze posted Top Ten Characteristics of a Good Genealogist on her Olive Tree Genealogy Blog last week, and it seemed like a good topic for someone (like me) with geneabloggers' block...so here are my ratings:


1.  Life-long learning - genealogy and family history requires continuous learning by the participants in order to be successful, in books, periodicals, websites, video, seminars, conferences.

2.  Organized information - has repository and online research skills, able to find information, save it in a logical location, and be able to find the items that were saved.  Uses charts and reports to stay organized.

3.  Knowledgeable - knows, or knows how to find out, the availability and limitations of home sources, repository sources, and online sources.

4.  Practices genealogical standards - knows Genealogical Proof Standard principles, cites sources, analyzes process and results, critically evaluates evidence, and reaches sound conclusions.

5.  Computer skills - able to work in genealogy software, navigate the Internet, use technology, and effectively search genealogy databases.

6.  Patience and persistence - understands record limitations and accessibility, follows projects to a logical conclusion

7.  Multi-tasking - can work on several projects in different stages of development at the same time.

8.  Willing to share - engages with other researchers in personal conversation, email or message board postings, social media, online family trees, and participates in society activities

9.  Passion for genealogy and family history - loves the challenge of the "hunt" and conveys that passion to family members, colleagues, readers, and clients

10.  Your turn - what have I missed?  Tell me in comments!

The URL for this post is:  http://www.geneamusings.com/2013/02/top-ten-characteristics-of-good.html

Copyright (c) 2013, Randall J. Seaver

Tuesday's Tip - Check Out Randy's Genealogy Links

This week's Tuesday's Tip is:  Check out my Randy's Genealogy Links (http://www.geneamusings.com/p/randys-genealogy-links.html) on the Genea-Musings blog.  

Yep, right up there at the top of Genea-Musings are links to several "Pages" for static articles.


It's right next to the "Home" link just below the red banner area.

Like many online genealogy researchers, I've been collecting my favorites, or bookmarks, links for years, and decided to create a page for the "best of the best."  They follow my research interests to some extent.

The original intent was to be able to find specific sites or topics with one click while in Genea-Musings rather than have to search through hundreds of bookmarks in my browser.

I have sections for:

*  Beginning Genealogy Tutorials
*  Online Data Portals
*  Vital Records Online
*  United States Census Records
*  United States Military Records

*  United States Immigration and Naturalization Records
*  Cemetery Records
*  Historical Newspapers
*  Surname and Locality Books
*  Message Boards and Mailing Lists

*  Historical Record Collections - United States
*  Maps
*  Online Family Trees
*  Canadian Genealogy

I know that I haven't gathered "every" great genealogy website here, so I'd like to ask my readers to make suggestions for specific sites for specific topics, and even for new topics.  I may have just overlooked a site, or misjudged a site's value.  I would love to have a UK/Ireland topic, for instance.

The URL for this post is:  http://www.geneamusings.com/2013/02/tuesdays-tip-check-out-randys-genealogy.html

Copyright (c) 2013, Randall J. Seaver

Monday, February 25, 2013

Amanuensis Monday - 1853 Deed of Samuel Vaux to Robert Bartlett in Aurora, N.Y.

Genea-blogger John Newmark (who writes the excellent TransylvanianDutch blog) started his own 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 deed by Samuel Vaux selling land in Aurora, Erie County, New York to Robert Bartlett in 1853.




Here is my transcription of this entry (handwritten portions in italics) in Erie County, New York, Land Records 1850-1858, Liber 142, Page 21 (accessed in the "New York, Land Records, 1630-1975" collection on https://FamilySearch.org):

WARRANTY DEED                Aurora L 22

This Indenture, Made the Twenty first day of July  in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty three BETWEEN Samuel Vaux and Mary Ann his wife of the town of Aurora County of Erie and State of New York of the first part, and Robert Bartlett of the town of Sullivan County of Sullivan and State aforesaid of the second part, Witnesseth, That the said party of the first part, for and in consideration of the sum of Fifteen Hundred Dollars lawful money of the United States of America, to them in hand paid by the said party of the second part, the receipt whereof is hereby confessed and acknowledged, have granted, bargained, sold, remised, released, aliened, conveyed and confirmed, and by these presents does grant, bargain, sell, remise, release, alien, convey and confirm, unto the said party of the second part, and to his heirs and assigns forever, ALL that certain piece or parcel of LAND
Situate lying and being in the town of Aurora aforesaid County of Erie and State of New York.  Being fifty three acres of land all from the South West corner of Lot Number twenty two Known as the Sprague farm and being the same premises that were conveyed by Seth Sprague and wife to the said party of the first part and bounded North by land now owned and occupied by Gordon Pierson West by the highway, South by the highway and East by lands owned by Hezekiah Masten.

Together with all and singular the Tenements, Hereditaments and Appurtenances thereunto belonging, or in anywise appertaining, and the Reversion and Reversions, Remainders, Rents, Issues and Profits thereof, and all the Estate, Right, Title, Interest dower and right of dower, Property, Possession, Claim and Demand whatsoever, of the said party of the first part, either in Law or Equity, of, in and to the above bargained Premises, with the said Hereditaments and Appurtenances, TO HAVE AND TO HOLD, the said Premises as above described, with the Appurtenances, unto the said party of the second part, and to .... heirs and assigns forever.  AND the said Samuel Vaux for himself his heirs, executors and administrators, does covenant grant, bargain and agree, to and with the said party of the second part his heirs and assigns, that the above bargained Premises, in the quiet and peaceable possession of the said party of the second part his heirs and assigns, against all and every person or persons, lawfully claiming or to claim the whole or any part thereof he will forever Warrant and Defend.

In Witness Whereof, The party of the first part have hereunto set their hands and seals the day and year first above written.

Signed, Sealed and Delivered, in Presence of ............................... Samuel Vaux  L.S.
..................................................................................................... Mary Ann Vaux L.S.

STATE OF NEW YORK
Erie County.
On this 21st day of July 1853, before me, the subscriber, appeared Samuel Vaux and Mary Ann his wife, and acknowledged that they had severally executed the within instrument.
And the said Mary Ann on a private examination, apart from her husband, acknowledged that she executed the within instrument freely, and without any fear or compulsion of her husband.  And I further certify, that I know the person who made the said acknowledgement to be the individual described in, and who executed the withing instrument.
..................................................................... James C. Paul Justice of the Peace in & for Erie County

[in left margin]
Recorded, Examined and Compared with the Original Sept. 1 1855
at 11 o'clock A.M. ....................................... // and Clerk.

Samuel and Mary Ann Vaux are my third great-grandparents.  They moved to Dodge County, Wisconsin after selling this land in Erie County, New York.

The URL for this post is:  http://www.geneamusings.com/2013/02/amanuensis-monday-1853-deed-of-samuel.html

Copyright (c) 2013, Randall J. Seaver