Saturday, August 31, 2013

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - Do Jill Ball's Bloggers GeneaMeme

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) Read Jill Ball's post The Bloggers GeneaMeme on her Geniaus blog.


2)  Copy the questions into your own blog post, or into a word processing document, and answer the questions.

3)  Write your own blog post with the questions and answers.  Be sure to share a link to your blog post with Jill and as a comment on this post.

Here's mine:

1)  What are the titles and URLs of your genealogy blog/s?

*  Genea-Musings (www.geneamusings.com)
*  The Geneaholic (www.geneaholic.com)
*  South San Diego County Graveyard Rabbit (http://ssdcgraveyardrabbit.blogspot.com)
*  Chula Vista Genealogy Cafe (http://cvgencafe.blogspot.com)

2)  Do you have a wonderful "Cousin Bait" blog story? A link to a previous blog post might answer this question. 

See my blog series The Whittle Research Compendium

3)  Why did you start blogging? Is there someone who inspired you to start blogging?

Because I wanted to, had the time to do it, and it didn't require much computer programming knowledge using Blogger.  I think Chris Dunham (www.genealogue.com) and Ken Aitken (Genealogy Education blog) inspired me.

4)  How did you decide on your blog/s title/s?

*  Genea-Musings started off as "Randy's Musings" in April 2006.  I had a shower inspiration in May and turned it into Genea-Musings as a genealogy blog.
*  The Geneaholic is obvious, isn't it?  Actually, a lady in South Carolina had the URL and gave it to me when she didn't want to pay for it any more.
*  SSDC Graveyard Rabbit - I started this at Terry Thornton's suggestion, and concentrated on graveyards in the southern part of San Diego County.
*  Chula Vista Genealogy Cafe is the blog of the Chula Vista Genealogical Society; I was President of CVGS at the time and it seemed like a good blog name.

5)  Do you ever blog from mobile devices? What are they?

I never blog from mobile devices other than my laptop.  I do have an iPhone 4 and a Samsung Galaxy tablet but I can't type well on them.

6)  How do you let others know when you have published a new post?

The RSS feed on the blogs sends the blog post content to RSS readers.  I have set up Facebook to automatically put a status for the blog after it's posted.  I usually put something on Twitter after each post, and have set up Facebook to take the tweet and post it on Facebook.  I copy the tweet and put it on Google+ in my stream.  I don't have a page on Facebook or Google+.

7)  How long have you been blogging?

Since April 2006 for Genea-Musings, since 2007 for the others.

8)  What widgets or elements do you consider essential on a genealogy blog? 

Comments, Subscribe to, Follow by Email, About Me, Labels, and Blog Archives are essential, I think.

9)  What is the purpose of your blog/s? Who is your intended audience?

The purpose of each blog is in the description of the blog.  Genea-Musings intended audience is genealogy researchers, Geneaholic audience is folks interested in what I do every day in genealogy, Genealogy Cafe audience is CVGS members and San Diego area researchers.

10)  Which of your posts are you particularly proud of?

With over 7,000 posts, it's difficult to keep track.  Read my Genea-Musings Best Posts page!

11)  How do you keep up with your blog reading?

I was using Google Reader before its demise in June.  Now I use the free version of Feedly - it works well so far; I have almost 1500 blogs on the list.

12)  What platform do you use for publishing your blog/s?

I use Google's Blogger for all of them.  

13)  What new features would you like to see in your blogging software?

I don't have any suggestions - I'm usually happy with what Blogger comes up with.  

14)  Which of your posts has been the most popular with readers?

My current Top 5, according to Blogger Stats, are:

*  16966 hits:  1940 Census Enumeration District Maps Online at NARA Website
*  14852 hits:  Merry Christmas to All! 
*  9927 hits:  World records for number of children
*  5507 hits:  Genealogy Presentations on SlideShare.net
*  3787 hits: "The Chart Chick's Quick Insider's Guide to Salt Lake City" book is out!
*  22346 hits:  MyHeritage Record Matches Keep Delivering News!

15)  Are you a sole blogger or do you contribute to a shared blog?

I'm a sole blogger on all but the Chula Vista Genealogy Cafe, but Gary hasn't contributed much.

16)  How do you compose your blog posts?

I usually compose my blogs right in the Blogger website using their editor and tools.  I often copy and paste from a previously written document, or from the notes in my genealogy software.  I like to use different colors and bolding for specific functions - I use purple for quoted material, red to highlight important things.  I try to use a graphic in each blog post to draw interest on social media.  I try to run spell-check before I post.  I usually do a Preview to see how it looks before I post (in the Blogger editor, copied material often has a different font type or line spacing and needs to be corrected).  I schedule some posts to publish at a specific day and time, which permits me to publish content even when I'm not near a computer.

17)  Do you have any blogs that are not genealogy related? If you wish please share their titles and URLs.

*  Randy's Busy Life (http://randysbusylife.blogspot.com).  It started out as an opinion, sports, science, and humor blog, and has morphed into a humor blog because I'm too busy with genealogy.

18)  Have you listed your blog/s at Geneabloggers?

Yes!

19)  Which resources have helped you with your blogging?

*  Websites with online record collections and family trees.  E.g., Ancestry, FamilySearch, Rootsweb, GenealogyBank, etc.
*  Other genealogy bloggers who create material that I include in curated posts.
*  My readers who make suggestions, send in questions via comments or emails.
*  My genealogy society colleagues.

20)  What advice would you give to a new Genea-blogger?

*  Blogging is about writing.  It will help improve your writing skills.  Practice a lot.  
*  Find topics that interest you.  It may be your own research.  It may be opinion pieces.  It may be curation (collecting information in one post).  Use the GeneaBlogger daily themes to add content.
*  Set goals for your blogging.  Use a blogging calendar to schedule posts.
*  You start out with an audience of one - you!  To get more readers, join GeneaBloggers, and use social media to promote your posts and your blog.  Read and comment on other genealogy blogs.  If your material is unique and worthwhile, you will gain readers quickly.
*  You own what you write.   You can edit your blog posts - do so when you have typographical or content errors.  You can delete your posts, or make them private, but the original version of your blog post may exist on the Internet.
*  Be aware of copyright issues of others (don't copy protected information from other people) and yourself (watch out for those who might copy your material).  Understand "fair-use" and always attribute information found on or copied from another source.
*  Don't slander or libel anybody or any company - think twice before you write when you are angry.  Look up those definitions!
*  Be aware of the Spam problems on blog comments.  Experiment with open commenting, spam filters, comment verification, and comment moderation.  Pick the one that you're most comfortable with.  (I use comment verification).
*  Have fun.  Get to know your genea-blogging colleagues.  The very best part of genea-blogging is the community - corresponding with them in email or on social media, and meeting them at seminars, conferences, cruises, etc.  It's like we're all cousins because we have a common interest.  The welcoming and support within this community is amazing - there is lots of room for more genea-bloggers!

21)  Final thoughts:

To further my own genealogy research, and to help others in their research, is why I blog.  I spend 8 to 12 hours almost every day doing something related to genealogy, and blogging is one of them.  

Whew - that took me an hour to write...I hope that many genea-bloggers will write about their genea-blogging experiences and practices.

The URL for this post is:  http://www.geneamusings.com/2013/08/saturday-night-genealogy-fun-do-jill.html

Copyright (c) 2013, Randall J. Seaver

Surname Saturday - POTTER (England > colonial New England)

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


I am in the 7th great-grandmothers and I'm up to Ancestor #713, who is Rebecca POTTER (1681-1773) 
[Note: the earlier great-grandmothers and 7th great-grandfathers have been covered in earlier posts].

My ancestral line back through three American generations of this POTTER family line is:

1.  Randall J. Seaver (1943-living)

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 (1848-1913)

22.  Henry Arnold White (1824-1885)
23.  Amy Frances Oatley (1826-1864)

44.  Jonathan White (1806-1850)
45.  Miranda Wade (1804-1850)

88.  Humphrey White (1758-1814)
89.  Sybil Kirby (1764-1848)


178.  David Kirby (1740-1832)
179.  Martha Soule (1743-1828)

356.  Ichabod Kirby (1710-1794)
357.  Rachel Allen (1708-????)

712.  Robert Kirby, born 10 March 1673 in Dartmouth, Bristol, Massachusetts, United States; died before 10 March 1757 in Dartmouth, Bristol, Massachusetts, United States.  He was the son of 1424. Richard Kirby and 1425. Patience Gifford.  He married before 1701 in probably Dartmouth, Bristol, Massachusetts, United States.
713.  Rebecca Potter, born about 1681 in Dartmouth, Bristol, Massachusetts, United States; died 10 October 1773 in Dartmouth, Bristol, Massachusetts, United States.  

Children of Robert Kirby and Rebecca Potter are:
*  Patience Kirby (1700-1740), married 1722 John Lawton (1692-1753)
*  Nathaniel Kirby (1708-1748), married 1731 Abigail Russell (1712-????)
*  Ichabod Kirby (1710-1794), married 1733 Rachel Allen (1708-????)
*  Recompence Kirby (1712-1771), married 1736 Rebecca Cornell (1718-????)
*  Silas Kirby (1714-1785), married 1742 Elizabeth Russell.
*  Robert Kirby (1717-1802), married 1744 Abigail Allen.

1426.  Nathaniel Potter, born 1637 in Portsmouth, Newport, Rhode Island, United States; died 20 October 1704 in Dartmouth, Bristol, Massachusetts, United States.  He married about 1664 in Portsmouth, Newport, Rhode Island, United States.
1427.  Elizabeth Stokes, born about 1639 in Portsmouth, Newport, Rhode Island, United States; died Aft. 20 November 1704 in probably Dartmouth, Bristol, Massachusetts, United States.

Children of Nathaniel Potter and Elizabeth Stokes are:
*  Stokes Potter (1664-1718), married 1702 Elizabeth Sherman (1670-1718)
*  John Potter (1666-1769), married 1688 Mary Tripp (1670-????)
*  Nathaniel Potter (1667-1736), married 1688 Joanna Wilbore (1668-1759)
*  William Potter (1671-1720), married 1706 Anne Durfee (1676-1731)
*  Benjamin Potter (1673-1709), married 1697 Mary --?-- (1677-????)
*  Mary Potter (1675-1752), married 1689 Samuel Wilbore (1664-1740)
*  Samuel Potter (1675-1748), married 1701 Mary Benton (1691-????)
*  Ichabod Potter (1677-1755), married (1) 1699 Margaret Helme (1679-1727), married (2) 1727 Eleanor Capron (1677-1735).
*  Rebecca Potter (1681-1773), married 1701 Robert Kirby (1673-1757)
*  Elizabeth Potter (1683-1713), married 1707 Benjamin Tripp (1678-1754)
*  Katherine Potter (1683-1763), married 1716 Thomas Cornell (1685-1763).

2852.  Nathaniel Potter, born about 1610 in England; died about 1644 in Portsmouth, Newport, Rhode Island, United States.  He married 13. Dorothy about 1635 in Portsmouth, Newport, Rhode Island, United States.
2853.  Dorothy, born 1617 in England; died 19 February 1696 in Portsmouth, Newport, Rhode Island, United States.

Children of Nathaniel Potter and Dorothy are:
*  Nathaniel Potter (1637-1704), married 1664 Elizabeth Stokes (1639-1704)
*  Ichabod Potter (1639-1676), married 1661 Martha Hazard (1641-1680).

Information about the Potter families was obtained from:

1)  Carl Boyer 3rd, Ancestral Lines, Third Edition (Santa Clarita, Calif.: the author, 1998).  

2)  Irene B. Wrigley, "Descendants of Ichabod-2 Potter (Nathaniel-1)," Rhode Island Genealogical Register, Volume 3, Number 3, January 1981, pages 208ff.  

3)  Alden G. Beaman, Ph.D., "A Line of Descent from Nathaniel Potter of Portsmouth," Rhode Island Genealogical Register, Volume 20, Number 1 (1999), pages 35-38.

The URL for this post is:

Copyright (c) 2013, Randall J. Seaver

Friday, August 30, 2013

Ancestry.com Adds California Marriage Index, 1949-1959 to their Collections

I was pleasantly surprised to see the California Marriage Index, 1949 to 1959, added to the Recently Added or Updated Collections list at Ancestry.com this morning.

The "About this collection" article says:

This index to marriage records from the state of California covers the years 1949–1959. Details in the index include:
  • groom’s name
  • bride’s name
  • bride and groom’s ages
  • marriage date
  • marriage county
  • state file number
The actual marriage record will contain even more details, such as residence, birth information, occupation, and parents’ names and birthplaces. To obtain copies of the entire record, the State of California Department of Health Services holds birth, marriage, death, and divorce records from July 1905. (For earlier records, write to the clerk of the county where the event was recorded.)

I always like to use my one-name-study surnames to get a quick look at a new database.  I entered "Seaver" as an exact last name in the search field:


I received 72 results (but half of them are the spouse's name because the marriage was entered twice - once for the groom and once for the bride):


I clicked on the first entry and saw the record summary:


The record summary includes:

*  Name
*  Gender
*  Estimated Birth Year (from age)
*  Age
*  Marriage Date
*  Marriage Place (only the County)
*  Spouse's Name
*  Spouse's Age

The record is an alphabetical listing for the year found in the search results:


The screen above is for 1952, and there are six entries for "Seaver."

The columns are:

*  Name of Groom (Last, First, Middle Initial)
*  Name of Bride (Last, First, Middle Initial)
*  County (number representing each county or major cities)
*  Ages of Groom, Bride
*  Marriage Date (Month, Day, Year)
*  Marriage Recording Date (Month, Year)
*  Local File Number (County, Number)
*  State File Number
*  ??? (x denotes the same marriage, but a second entry - for previously married females, I think)

So I have some data mining to do in the next week or so to "collect" marriages and write source citations for Seaver, Carringer, Auble, McKnew, Leland, Schaffner, and several other surnames.

This database increases Ancestry's coverage of California Marriages to the years 1949 to 1985.  I know that the state has earlier and later marriage records, but they are not available online in searchable databases.  I wish they were!

These particular records have been available on the VitalSearch-CA.com website, a subscription site, for many years.  The user had to search through the index pages for each year to find a marriage of interest.  The Ancestry.com searchable index makes a significant dataset searchable for California researchers.

The URL for this post is:  http://www.geneamusings.com/2013/08/ancestrycom-adds-california-marriage.html

copyright (c) 2013, Randall J. Seaver

Follow-Up Friday - Helpful and Interesting Reader Comments

It's Friday -time to Follow-Up on interesting and helpful reader comments on Genea-Musings posts submitted this past week:

1)  On It's Really Not That Easy! (posted 28 August 2013):

a)  Carmen Johnson said:  "That has always been my beef about the program. I've never had someone go find the document and bring it to me. I'm not sure I would really want to. They have missed out on the moment of discovery. I suspect that someone like Cindy Crawford will probably explore a bit more. She is intelligent. From what I saw on the Twitter account - she took her sisters and mother with her and they explored a lot of the places and such...but you don't see that on the program. You can take years of research and boil it down to a simple statement - but only someone who has done the work recognizes what goes on in the background. I have enjoyed the search sometimes more than the results."

b)  Mary Ellen Gorry offered:  "... it would be nice if the show did a special or behind the scenes snippets emphasizing all the work put in by the professionals before the celebrities get to each location - my cousin and I joke that we'd like to show up at some genealogy research repository and just be handed our scroll of our family tree without having to put in any of the work ourselves!"

c)  Dr. Bill (William L.) Smith commented:  "Your point is exactly why I wanted to share that 'it took 1000 hours of research' information with all my Facebook followers - that includes my blog readers - who need to 'get this point!'

"We know, it is important for them too, which I think is the point of social media. Everyone won't read it - or pay attention - or care. But with your post, my share, etc. etc. the word does get out... even sometimes to the people we hope get it! ;-)"  

d)  Wayne Shepheard noted:  "Isn't everyone related to Charlemagne?! That is a subject I find most annoying about public family trees. So many historians eventually find their way back to this particular monarch. If there is a familiar name in someone's pedigree it can be added in, linked to royalty and away we go! My other problem with Cindy's ancestors was that there was no confirmed link between the missing Thomas Trowbridge in Connecticut to the one who appeared back in Taunton, Somerset. Did someone find a passenger list for the 1600s on which he appeared on his way back to England? Unlikely!"

My comment:  I think that almost everyone with a significant European ancestry is a descendant of Charlemagne.  The problem is finding enough records to demonstrate the connection.  Proof is difficult because there is not enough evidence, and there are so many illegitimacies in the known royal and noble lines.  The Gary Boyd Roberts book provides 600 American immigrants with those lines and is the best starting point.  

e)  Shjody said:  "Hmm it looks like your blog ate my first comment (it was extremely long) so I guess I'll just sum it up what I wrote and say, I'm thoroughly enjoying your blog. I too am an aspiring blog writer but I'm still new to everything. Do you have any suggestions for novice blog writers? I'd certainly appreciate it.  My webpage; schody strychowe (ultramocny.pl)"

My comment:  I'm sorry that the blog ate your comment.  My advice for novice blog writers is simple:  Write.  A lot.  About what you find interesting and special.  Find a niche or interest.  Comment on other blogs and forums.  Promote your writing in social media.  Offer to write for other outlets (websites, newsletters, magazines, etc.)

f)  Doris Wheeler suggested:  "I have a chart like that... and it certainly has a 'WOW' factor. I think my chart covered 22 generations and I added an ellipsis to Charlemagne. Cost was $39 from Wholly Genes. If you have The Master Genealogist, just create the chart as a .vcf (very simple), then choose the Report option 'Chart Printing Service.' You can use as many colors as you like and customize it however much or little you choose. Love it! I give away family-specific versions as gifts. They really make a hit."

My comment:  There are several chart services that will take your graphics file and create a beautiful chart for a price.  Or will take your GEDCOM file and create the chart and work with you on adding images or special effects.  Do you know which chart service TMG uses?

g)  Celia Lewis inquired:  "Since I'm also down from Thomas Trowbridge, I'd love to know about the research 'proving' the link to Taunton. Sigh. Is anyone posting that lovely research analysis/proof?? Could we ask nicely?? :) "

My comment:  From what I read, they do provide a complete research report to the celebrity.  In this case, it is probably the case of the person disappearing in one place for some reason (e.g., the death of his wife), and appearing soon after, as an adult, in England and getting quickly swept up into events.  I do hope that they will provide some sort of research report on the disappearance making the case.  What happened to the children would have been a more interesting story from a genealogical point of view, I think.

h)  Dan Stone commented:  "I think the episode, and your post, brings up a good discussion point of when is it time to call in a professional genealogist versus continuing to research by myself. While the research and discovery process is very thrilling, what if a professional genealogist was able to uncover something I had not (for whatever reason: not having access to the record online/locally, not being aware of where the record may be found, etc.), and this subsequently allowed me to break through a brick wall and/or get even further back on my line. Since one never knows how much time they have left, I strive to find the right balance between continuing the thrill of the hunt as contrasted with gaining as much knowledge as I can about a particular line of ancestors by calling in an expert. Cost of hiring a professional researcher also plays into this equation.

"While I think it is unlikely to happen, I also wish the show would profile interesting stories about non celebrities. Perhaps ask people who have uncovered interesting stories/connections in their research to submit leads to the show. They could then pick the most interesting of these to actually feature on the show periodically. I'm sure not all of the celebrities they've initially selected have turned out to have ancestors interesting enough to make the show, and I know there are plenty of non celebrities who have ancestors who are equally as compelling, or even more so."


My comment:  Great points, Dan.  While I've never asked a professional genealogist to do extensive research (past a lookup or a record pull), it can be the only option for people without the time or skills, or who cannot travel due to disabilities, and with the money to do the work.  1,000 hours is not cheap!

I think that they use celebrities for two reasons - the name recognition will draw viewers to the show, and the celebrities are, in the main, actors who can improvise from a general scripting, are emotive, and are comfortable with the camera.  You can see that some of the professionals they consult with are hesitant on camera.  

I also think you're right - there are probably some celebrities who have a rather boring ancestry and some where the ancestral trail goes cold in the immigrant generation - they just can't find ancestors in Europe, South America, Africa or Asia for an interesting story.  


a)  Silphium commented:  "From the top left hand corner of the section outlined in the top photo of this blog entry, trace your finger left along the road to the first set of buildings on the north side of the road. (Less than 1/4 mile.) That is the Owens Century Farm, purchased by my Great-Greatgrandfather Evan John Owens in 1874. It is still in my family and is an active farm.

"What were my odds of finding your post? Wow.  Should you need local knowledge, let me know. I'll be reading your archives.'


and:  "Second photo, Randy, Sorry. The purple section square."

My comment:  Thank you for commenting on this blog post.  Do you know if there are any local libraries or historical societies that have kept track of farm ownership?  Or have account books or "old-timer reminisces" books?  Your Owens farm was bought while my ancestors resided on their farm just down the road - your Evan Owens probably knew my Henry Carringer!  Please contact me via email at rjseaver@cox.net.  

To prospective bloggers - here is another example of  how writing a blog post on a family history item of interest to few people can turn into a potential information bonanza.  Having a local contact to share information with can be very useful.


a)  Michele Simmons Lewis asked:  "I sent a message to Ancestry via FB and asked them if the military records are being moved to the World subscription. It looks like it when you look at their comparison chart. I posted a screenshot with my question."

and got a response:  "I just got a response. Here it is:

"Hi Michele, Sorry for any confusion caused by this. With a U.S. Discovery subscription, you'll be able access U.S. military records. We'll pass your feedback along to the appropriate department."


My comment:  Good question, glad you got a response.  Right answer!

b)  Debi Austin asked:  "I already subscribe to ancestry on an annual basis. I wonder if there are any changes to that price?"

My comment:  I think you will pay the new increased price of $99 for 6 months or $198 for 12 months when you renew your subscription.  You may have to call Ancestry to get a one year subscription.  It never hurts to ask if they have any special deals when you call.

c)  Andrew Hatchett noted:  "Ancestry hasn't increased yearly rates in quite some time. As long as they remain below$365/yr I'll stay - after that it gets 'iffy.'"

d)  Christy commented:  "We can only hope that with the increase in price will come an improvement in the site. Lately, there have been man issues. (This is me trying to give them the benefit of the doubt.)"

e)  T said:  "OH, dear. This is not music to my ears. I have a hard time paying for it as it is.  I was considering not renewing anyway because every search I do for my family turns up the very documents that I already have on my tree and all the photos, too. There hasn't been anything new for several months. I'm stuck going backwards and ancestry doesn't even have the years or places I need. I'm also very annoyed that after paying for the subscription I still have to pay for a vital record to even see the details. I won't do it. My ancestor information is scarcer than hen's teeth and I've already spent too much money on people who aren't mine. 

"Add this price increase to the $25 they want for FTM software update and it's totaling up to being real money. I think I'll stick to feeding horses as a hobby and wean myself off the genealogy."

My comment:  There are some public libraries, private libraries and FamilySearch Centers that provide free access to Ancestry.com.   If you know where those repositories are, collect al ist of things to search and go once in awhile.  FamilySearch has many records available for free, but they don't have all of the records that Ancestry has.  I could research forever using FamilySearch records, and they will add more and more over the coming years.  

f)  Thomas MacEntee wrote:  "I made an inquiry with my contacts at Ancestry.com about the price increase and here is the response: 'Ancestry.com continually tests it’s pricing, which is an ongoing, important strategy for any subscriber-based business. As our pricing evolves, we continue to focus on delivering our members the valuable family history resources they have the gained from our services, including access to billions of records, site and mobile features that make family history easier, development of proprietary technology to digitize and preserve historical records, and onsite training for every level of family historian.'"

My comment:  Just what I expect from a well-oiled public relations machine!  I made a comment in email to Thomas saying:  "They could have said '...our costs for content, technology and subscriber acquisition have increased significantly, and since we haven't increased our prices since 2004 for US subscribers, we need to raise our prices 25% in order to maintain our market position and provide valuable services and content to our customers.'

g)  Nancy Marty offered:  "My subscription was up for renewal in September when I received an email from ancestry.com in regard to it. I was given a "one time" special. $155.40 for the US version renewal and $199 for the US and World subscription. I grabbed it! Seems to me I've had this special some time in years past. It will be interesting to see what happens next year. I, too, was considering not renewing this year, but the special made it worth the while."

My comment:  Well played, Nancy.  Lucky, too!  Did you ask for the "one-time special" or did they offer it to you in the email?

h)  Dave L. opined:  "'No one likes price increases...' Very true, although I think we all realize that they're necessary from time to time. Many, though, would prefer to have smaller increases more frequently.

"What bothers me with this announcement is the way they're borrowing from the cable TV industry: showing a promotional rate, but not a word about what the 'then-current' rate will be after that first month (and this is only a month away; if they don't already know what that rate is going to be then they get an F grade as businessmen).

"Ancestry.com isn't alone, of course, but businesses need to remember that openness is the name of the game. If customers don't feel that you respect them -- and remember, they are the ONLY reason your business exists -- then they will go elsewhere."



My comment:  Good points, Dave.  My complaint is that their is no systematic price break for a renewing customer.  A 10% reduction if I renew before my subscription expires would be very welcome.  They are willing to offer a price break to new customers at times.  It should be easier for them to retain an existing, satisfied customer than try to find new customers using advertising to replace that existing customer who does not renew.

4)  That's enough for this week - the grandgirls are calling for me to play with them!  Thank you to my readers, and to those who defeat the dreaded Captcha trap for comments.  Well done!


Copyright (c) 2013, Randall J. Seaver

My Line of Descent from Charlemagne - 42 Generations!

I wasn't going to write this post...but Drew Smith challenged us over on Facebook to list our line from Charlemagne to me...so I did.

The list below from Charlemagne to Thomas Dudley was taken from the book Ancestral Roots of Sixty Colonists by Frederick L. Weis, published 1979.


1. CHARLEMAGNE, b. 747, d. 814, King of France 768-814, crowned Holy Roman Emperor 25 Dec 800, married ca. 771 HILDEGARDE.
2. PEPIN b. 773 d. 810, King of Italy 781-810.
3. BERNARD b 797, d 818, King of Italy 813-817, m. Cunigunde.
4. PEPIN b 817/8, d after 840, Count of Senlis, Peroune and St. Quentin.
5.  HERBERT I DE VERMANDOIS b ca 840, d 902, Count of Vermandois, Seigneur of Senlis, Peroune, and St. Quentin.
6.  HERBERT II, b 880-90, d ca 943, Count of Vermandois and Troyes, m. LIEGARDE dau of Robert I, Duke of France.
7.  ALBERT I, the Pious, b. ca 920 d 988, Count of Vermandois; m. GERBERGA OF                 LORRAINE, dau. of Giselbert, Duke of Lorraine.
8. HERBERT III, b. ca. 955, d ca. 1000, Count of Vermandois.
9. OTHO (Eudes or Otto) b. ca 1000, d 1045, Count of Vermandois.
10. HERBERT IV, b. ca. 1032, d. ca 1080, Count of Vermandois.
11. ADELAIDE DE VERMANDOIS, d. ca 1120, Countess of Vermandois, and Valois, m. HUGH MAGNUS, d. 1101, Duke of France and Burgundy, Marquis of Orleans, Count of Vermandois, Leader of the First Crusade.
12.  ISABEL DE VERMANDOIS d 1131, Countess of Leicester; m. 1096 Sir Robert de Beaumont, b. ca. 1049, d. 1118, Count of Meulan, companion of William the Conqueror at Hastings 1066, first Earl of Leicester.
13.  WALERAN DE BEAUMONT b. 1104, d. 1166, Count de Meulan, Earl of Worcester, m. ca 1141 Agnes d'Evreux.
14.  SIR ROBERT DE BEAUMONT d. 1207, Count de Meulan, m. 1165 Maud, dau. of REGINALD FITZ-ROY, Earl of Cornwall, base son of King Henry I.
15.  MAUD (Mabel) DE BEAUMONT living 1204, m. William de Vernon, b. 1155, d. 1217, fifth Earl of Devon.
16.  MARY DE VERNON, m. 1200 (1) Sir Peter de Proux of Changford, Devon; m.(2) SIR ROBERT DE COURTENAY d. 1242, Baron of Oakhampton.
17.  SIR JOHN DE COURTENAY, d. 1274, Baron of Oakhampton, m. Isabel de Vere, grandson of Robert de Vere, 3rd Earl of Oxford, Lord Chamberlain of England, Magna Charta Surety.
18.  SIR HUGH DE COURTENAY d. 1291, Baron of Oakhampton, m. Eleanor le Despenser, dau. of Hugh le Despenser, Justiciar of England.
19. ELEANOR DE COURTENAY, m. SIR HENRY DE GREY.
20. SIR RICHARD DE GREY b. 1281, d. 1334/5, m. Joan Fitz Payn.
21. JANE DE GREY, m. SIR WILLIAM DE HARCOURT, Knight, d. 1349.
22.  SIR THOMAS DE HARCOURT, Knight of Stanton-Harcourt, Oxford, and two others, d. ca. 1417, m. MAUD DE GREY.
23. SIR THOMAS DE HARCOURT, Knight of Stanton-Harcourt, Oxford, d. 1420, m. Jane Franceys.
24. SIR RICHARD HARCOURT, Knight, d. 1486 of Wytham, Berkshire, m. EDITH ST. CLAIR.
25. ALICE HARCOURT m. William Bessiles, of Bessiles-Leigh, Berkshire.
26. ELIZABETH BESSILES, m. Richard Fettiplace of E. Shelford, Berkshire.
27. ANNE FETTIPLACE b. 1498 d. 1568, m. Edward Purefoy.
28. MARY PUREFOY, m. Thomas Thorne of Yardley-Hastings, Northampton.
29. SUSANNA THORNE, bapt. 1560, m. Capt. Roger Dudley, d. 1585.
30.  GOVERNOR THOMAS DUDLEY, bapt. Yardley-Hastings, Northampton, 1576, d. Roxbury MA 1653, m. 1603 Dorothy Yorke.

My ancestral line from the immigrant, Thomas Dudley, is:

31.  ANNE DUDLEY, born about 1612 in England, married Simon Bradstreet about 1628 in England, and died 16 Sept 1672, age 60. They had children: Samuel, Simon, Dudley, John, Ann, Dorothy, Hannah and MERCY.
32.  MERCY BRADSTREET was born 1647 in Andover MA, married Nathaniel Wade 31 Oct 1672 in Andover MA, and died 5 Oct 1715 in Medford MA. They had children: Nathaniel, Simon, Susannah, Mercy, JONATHAN, Samuel, Anne and Dorothy.
33.  JONATHAN WADE was born 5 Mar 1681/2 in Medford MA, married Mary _____ before 1702, and died before 1720. Their children were Mercy, Jonathan, Nathan and NATHANIEL.
34.  NATHANIEL WADE was born 27 Jan 1708/9 in Charlestown MA, married Ruth Hawkins 26 June 1731 in Scituate RI, and died 13 May 1754 in Scituate RI. Children: SIMON, Dudley, Mary, Ruth, Deborah and John.
35.  SIMON WADE was born 11 Dec 1731 in Scituate RI, married Deborah Tracy before 1767. Their children were: Levi, SIMON, Nehemiah, Gideon, Ruth, Molly and Deborah.
36.  SIMON WADE was born 22 Nov 1767 in Foster RI, and was married before 1790 to Phebe Horton, they lived in Foster RI. Their children were James, Catharine, Sarah, Arnold, Olive, MIRANDA and Fenner.
37.  MIRANDA WADE was born 25 June 1804 in Foster RI, married Jonathan White before 1824, and died 27 Oct 1850 in Killingly CT. They had children HENRY, Albert and Harriet.
38.  HENRY ARNOLD WHITE was born about 1824 in Glocester RI, married Amy Oatley 30 June 1844 in Thompson CT, and died 1 August 1885 in Killingly CT. Their children were Ellen, JULIA, Emily, Henry and Frederick.
39.  JULIA  E. WHITE was born 8 September 1848 in Killingly CT, married Thomas Richmond on 20 June 1868 in Elmville CT, and died 4 October 1913 in Putnam CT. Their children were Annie, Frederic, Everett, Grace, Emily, Charles, ALMA BESSIE, Edwin and James.
40.  ALMA BESSIE RICHMOND was born 16 February 1882 in Killingly CT, married Freerick Walton Seaver on 21 June 1900 in Leominster MA, and died 29 June 1962 in Leominster MA.  Their children were Marion, Evelyn, Stanley, Ruth, FREDERICK WALTON, Edward and Geraldine.
41.  FREDERICK WALTON SEAVER was born 15 October 1911 in Leominster, MA, married Betty Virginia Carringer on 14 July 1942 in San Diego CA, and died 26 May 1983 in San Diego CA.  Their children were RANDALL JEFFREY, Stanley and Scott.
42.  RANDALL JEFFREY SEAVER was born 23 October 1943 in National City CA, married Linda Joan Leland on 21 March 1970 in Chula Vista CA.  They have two children and four grandchildren.

I guess I can get the 6-foot long scroll made now, eh?

Now, some readers may question the descent from Charlemagne to Thomas Dudley.  I just took this out of a book that is not held in high regard by some.  If there is a more authoritative work, with the line from Charlemagne to Thomas Dudley, I would appreciate knowing of it.  

I put this list together back in 1992 for the 16-page Seaver-Richmond Family Journal that I sent to about 20 family members (aunts, uncles, siblings, cousins).  They loved this kind of material.  It helped them understand why some people pursue family history research.  The same goes for researchers today - they are really happy if and when they find links to European royalty.  I admit that it gives me a thrill.  It also provides blog fodder.


Copyright (c) 2013, Randall J. Seaver

Thursday, August 29, 2013

A Forrest Gump Moment - Ancestry.com Immigration and Travel Collection Free Through 2 September

I received an email today from Ancestry.com saying that their Immigration and Travel Collection was accessible for FREE through Labor Day (2 September 2013).  You do need to be a registered user to access these records (but not a subscriber).

Since I don't have a World Explorer subscription, this is an opportunity to look for records in that collection that my U.S. subscription won't allow me to see.

I wanted to see if there were any more records for Alexander and Rachel Whittle.  I had found a record previously for their migration from England to Australia, in the form of an index card obviously taken from some sort of manifest; this was a derivative source record.

When I checked for the name Alex* Wh*t*l* (because I knew that names can be spelled differently - so I just used the consonants), I quickly found both Alexander and Rachell Whittell in the New South Wales, Australia, Assisted Immigrant Passenger Lists, 1828-1896 database:



Here is Rachael Whittell's entry, which also lists her daughter, Elizabeth (aged 9 months):



Another entry also appeared on the search results list, so I looked at that and saw a passenger list:



The Whittle family (spelled Whittle, not Whittell) are on the first three lines on the image above.

These three pages provide a bit more information about Alexander and Rachel (Morley) Whittle, and may be "original source documents rather than derivative documents.  The passenger list above even lists a "Bounty" of 19 pounds for each adult, and 38 pence (?) for a child.

Once again, my "Forrest Gump Principle of Genealogy Searching" applies - "Genealogy research is like a box of chocolates - you never know what you're going to find, but you have to look everywhere your 'genealogy gem' might be hiding."



I love it when good things, and major genealogy fun, happen!  Thank you, Ancestry!

The lesson learned here is:  When genealogy opportunity knocks, open that door.  Think of the possibilities for adding to your research knowledge when freely accessible databases become available, even for a limited time.

The URL for this post is:  http://www.geneamusings.com/2013/08/a-forrest-gump-moment-ancestrycom.html

Copyright (c) 2013), Randall J. Seaver