Saturday, March 26, 2016

Will I See You in Las Vegas at CCNGS Seminar on 2 April 2016?

Linda and I will be in Las Vegas next weekend.  I will be giving four presentations at the Clark County Nevada Genealogical Society (CCNGS) annual seminar on Saturday, 2 April 2016 from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the UNLV Stan Fulton Building (801 E. Flamingo Road, Las Vegas NV 89154).


The four talks will be:

*  9:15 a.m.:  Probate Records - My Favorite Record Tupe!

*  10:30 a.m.:  FamilySearch - The Very Best FREE Genealogy Website!

*  12:40 p.m.:  Genealogy is Fun! Seriously!

*  1:55 p.m.:  Genealogy and Cloud Computing

I hope to see many Genea-Musings readers at this event.  If you're in attendance, please be sure to say hello and introduce yourself.  I hope to interest many more to read the blog via email, on an RSS reader, or on the website.

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The URL for this post is:  

Copyright (c) 2016, Randall J. Seaver

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post.  Share it on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ or Pinterest using the icons below.  Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.


Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - Ancestral Birthplace Chart

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) My friend and colleague J. Paul Hawthorne started this on Facebook, and many geneabloggers have already done it.


2)  The challenge is to create a five or six generation ancestor chart that shows your ancestor's birthplaces.  You can download Paul's sample chart (an Excel spreadsheet) available at :  http://bit.ly/1RjfZEZ.  Pat Richley-Erickson created another spreadsheet (5 or 6 generations), available at:   http://bit.ly/5n6GenBirth.

3)  These are spreadsheets (use Microsoft Excel or OpenOffice or Google Sheets or similar), so you will have to enter text in the cells and then use the background and font color features to make it correct and look colorful.  You could make your own in some other program also. 

4)  Use your genealogy program to figure out which state or country your ancestors came from, then enter the data into the correct cell.  Make an image of your spreadsheet - I used the Windows Snipping Tool, and saved the image as a .jpg file.  You could make a screen capture of your spreadsheet and save it as an image also.

5)  Share your Ancestral birthplace Chart with the genealogy world on your own blog post or on Facebook or on Google+.

Here's mine - a six generation chart:



2)  Here's my wife's 5-generation chart:



These charts could be embellished with birth years, or counties, or both.  A chart could be made for where your ancestors died or for occupations.  Be creative!


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Copyright (c) 2016, Randall J. Seaver


Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post.  Share it on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ or Pinterest using the icons below.  Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.


Surname Saturday -- LNU (England to colonial Massachusetts)

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


I am in the 8th great-grandmothers and I'm up to Ancestor #1265, who is Elizabeth LNU (1635-????) 
[Note: the earlier great-grandmothers and 8th great-grandfathers have been covered in earlier posts].

My ancestral line back through one generations of this LNU 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)


18.  Edward Hildreth (1831-1899)
19.  Sophia Newton (1834-1923)

38.  Thomas J. Newton (1800-????)
39.  Sophia Buck (1797-1882)

78.  Isaac Buck (1757-1846)
79.  Martha Phillips (1757-1820)

158.  John Phillips (1722-????)
159.  Hannah Brown (1725?-1770?)

316.  Ebenezer Phillips (1695-1746)
317.  Mary Smith (1698-1746?)

632.  Andrew Phillips (1661-1717)
633.  Sarah Smith (1661-????)

1264.  Andrew Phillips, born about 1630 in England; died in Charlestown, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States.  He married before 1657 in probably Charlestown, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States.
1265.  Elizabeth LNU, born about 1635 in probably England; died in Charlestown, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States.

Children of Andrew Phillips and Elizabeth are:
i. Elizabeth Phillips, born May 1657 in probably Charlestown, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States.
ii. Ephraim Phillips, born 31 March 1659 in Charlestown, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States.

iii. Andrew Phillips, born about 1661 in probably Charlestown, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States; died 10 December 1717 in Charlestown, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States; married Sarah Smith 11 November 1683 in Charlestown, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States.

I have no idea what Elizabeth (--?--) Phillips parentage is.  Some Ancestry Member Trees say that Andrew Phillips wife was Jane Cookworthy.  Does anyone have an authoritative source?  


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Copyright (c) 2016, Randall J. Seaver

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post.  Share it on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ or Pinterest using the icons below.  Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.


Friday, March 25, 2016

CVGS Program Meeting on Wednesday, 30 March Features Toni Perrone

WEDNESDAY, March 30th GENERAL MEETING
from 12 noon to 2 p.m.

At Chula Vista Civic Center Branch Library (365 F Street) in Auditorium

“The Land of Hansel and Gretel: Genealogical Resources for Hessen” 

with Toni Perrone

     Toni's presentation will cover the genealogical resources in archives, books, microfilm and online databases, for the Hessen region of present-day Germany. 


    Toni Perrone is a founding member of the Immigrant Genealogical Society, the Immigrant Library in Los Angeles, CA, and the Temecula Valley Genealogical Society.  She is the present day Chair of the German Interest Group in Temecula. Toni serves as President of the Pommern Interest Group at the Immigrant Library and on the Board of Directors of the Immigrant Genealogical Society.  She volunteers at the Family History Center in Murietta and has for many years. She has been a speaker to various genealogical societies since 1981. 

     Toni has a background of 33 years of research in  German and Italian ancestry, has received numerous awards from genealogical groups, has published articles in genealogical publications, two books on family lines and is currently working on a third. 

All program meetings of the Chula Vista Genealogical Society are free to attend.  Guests are welcome.  There are refreshments before and after the meeting in the back of the Auditorium.  Attendees should not take food or drink to their seats.



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Copyright (c) 2016, Randall J. Seaver

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post.  Share it on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ or Pinterest using the icons below.  Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.


52 Ancestors - Week 117: #140 Thomas Dill (1708-1761)

Amy Johnson Crow suggested a weekly blog theme of "52 Ancestors" in her blog post Challenge:  52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks on the No Story Too Small blog.  I am extending this theme in 2016 to 156 Ancestors in 156 Weeks. Here is my ancestor biography for week #117:

Thomas Dill (1708-1761) is #140 on my Ahnentafel list, my 5th great-grandfather who married #141 Mehitable Brown (1714-1758) in 1733.


I am descended through:

*  their son #70 Thomas Dill
(1755-1836), who married 
#71 Hannah Horton (1761-1797) in 1782. 
*  their daughter, #35 Elizabeth Horton Dill (1791-1869) who married #34 Alpheus B. Smith (1802-1840) in 1826.
*  their daughter, #17 Lucretia Townsend Smith (1828-1884), who married #16 Isaac Seaver (1823-1901) in 1852.
*  their son, #8 Frank Walton Seaver (1852-1922), who married #9 Hattie Louise Hildreth (1847-1920) in 1874. 
*  their son, #4 Frederick Walton Seaver (1876-1942), who married Alma Bessie Richmond (1882-1962) in 1900.
* their son, #2 Frederick Walton Seaver (1911-1983), who married #3 Betty Virginia Carringer (1919-2002) in 1942.
*  their son, #1 Randall J. Seaver (1943-....)

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1)  PERSON (with source citations as indicated in brackets):


 *  Name:                        Thomas Dill[1–9]    
*   Sex:                           Male   

*  Father:                       Thomas Dill (1681-1717)   
*  Mother:                     Mary Peirce (1682-1713)   
  
2)  INDIVIDUAL EVENTS (with source citations as indicated in brackets):
  
*  Birth:                         19 December 1708, Medford, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States[1–2]
*  Deed:                         30 January 1733/4 (age 25), bought one half of house, land, pump and barn in Medford from Stephen Hall for 180 pounds; Medford, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States[5]   
*  Deed:                        9 May 1746 (age 37), sold one half of house, land, pump and barn in Medford to John Giles for 280 pounds; Medford, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States[8]   
*  Death:                      before 17 March 1761 (before age 52), Eastham, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States[7]   
*  Probate:                   17 March 1761 (age 52), Letter of administration; Eastham, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States[7]   
  
3)  SHARED EVENTS (with source citations as indicated in brackets):
  
*  Spouse 1:                  Mehitable Brown (1714-1758)   
*  Marriage Intentions: 2 June 1733 (age 24), Eastham, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States[9]  
*  Marriage:                  17 July 1733 (age 24), Eastham, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States[3–4]    

*  Child 1:                    Thomas Dill (1734-1737)   
*  Child 2:                    Samuel Dill (1736-1766)   
*  Child 3:                    Thomas Dill (1737-    )   
*  Child 4:                    Aaron Dill (1739-    )   
*  Child 5:                    James Dill (1741-1816)   
*  Child 6:                    Moses Dill (1751-1771)   
*  Child 7:                    Betty Dill (1753-    )   
*  Child 8:                    Thomas Dill (1755-1836)   

*  Spouse 2:                  Mary Baker (1703-    )   
*  Marriage Intentions: 28 January 1758 (age 49), Eastham, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States[6]   
*  Marriage:                  after 28 January 1758 (after age 49), Eastham, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States[6]   
  
4)  NOTES (with source citations as indicated in brackets):   


Thomas Dill was born 19 December 1708 in Medford, Massachusetts, the son of Thomas and Mary (Peirce) Dill.  He was the second of three children.  The Medford town record says[1]:

"Thomas Dill Son of Thomas Dill and Mary his wife borne the nintenth of December 1708"

His mother died in about 1715, and his father married, secondly, Mary Cheney of Cambridge, Massachusetts. His father, Thomas Dill, died in 1717 and Thomas likely lived with his stepmother until he came of age.  Mary (Cheney) Dill married James Tufts in 1729 when Thomas was 21 years old.  He may have resided in Charlestown for some period before and after 1729. 

Thomas Dill married Mehitable Brown, the daughter of Samuel and Ruth (Young) Brown,  in Eastham, Massachusetts on 17 July 1733.  The Eastham town record book says[3-4]:

"July 17: 1733 then Thomas Dill & Mehitable Brown were married by Mr Isaiah Lues."

The case for Thomas Dill of Eastham being the Thomas Dill from Medford is circumstantial but conclusive.  The marriage of Thomas Dill to Mehitable Brown appears in the Eastham records.  However, their first three children were recorded in Medford, and the next two were recorded in Eastham.  In addition, Thomas Dill bought land in Medford in 1733, and sold it in 1746.  

Thomas and Mehitable (Brown) Dill had five children recorded, and probably at least eight children.  Several died in infancy or childhood.  There birth are records in Medford for sons Thomas, Samuel and Thomas (again), and birth records in Eastham for sons Aaron and James, but there are no records in either place for Moses, Betty and Thomas (again).  Mehitable (Brown) Dill died in Eastham before 1758 when Thomas Dill married Mrs. Mary Higgins.  When Thomas died in 1761, guardians were assigned for Moses, Betty and Thomas, so they were all under age 18 at that time, and were likely younger.  Sons Samuel, James and Thomas married and resided in Eastham, Massachusetts.

On 30 January 1733, Stephen Hall of Medford, joiner, sold land in Medford to Thomas Dill, brickmaker of Charlestown, for 180 pounds money. The land was the Easterly end of a house, the Easterly part of the tract of land, and one half of the pump and one half of the barn. The whole lot of land measured 40 feet by 100 feet and was bounded southerly on the country road leading to Malden, westerly by land of Joseph Tomson and Jonathan Tomson, northerly by the houselots privilege, and easterly by Benjamin Webber and Jonathan Weber. The deed was recorded 4 April 1751[5].

On 9 May 1746, Thomas Dill formerly of Charlestown but now of Eastham, brickmaker, sold land in Medford to John Giles, cordwainer of Salem, for 280 pounds tenor. The land was the eastern moiety of a house, the easterly half the tract of land, and half of the pump. The whole lot of land measured 40 feet by 100 feet, was bounded southerly by the country road leading to Malden, westerly by land of Joseph Thompson and Jonathan Thompson, easterly on land of Benjamin Webber and Jonathan Webber. The deed was recorded 4 April 1751[8].

Thomas Dill married, secondly, Mary (Baker) Higgins in Eastham, Massachusetts after 28 January 1758, when their marriage intentions were recorded in the Eastham town records[6].  Mary (Baker) Higgins was born in about 1703, so she probably was too old to birth one or all of the three later children of Thomas Dill.  For these reasons, the mother of all the children listed are assumed to be the children of Mehitable Brown.

Thomas Dill of Eastham died before 17 March 1761, when a letter of administration for his estate was filed in the Barnstable County Probate Court[7].  There is no known gravestone or burial location for Thomas Dill.  

Unfortunately, the land records of Barnstable County were destroyed in about 1827, so there is no record of when Thomas Dill bought or sold land in Eastham in Barnstable County.

A letter of administration for the estate of Thomas Dill, yeoman, late of Eastham, was filed 17 March 1761 in Barnstable, with George Brown of Eastham as administrator[7].  

*  The inventory and account were filed 17 April 1764 and showed an estate of 120 pounds 7 shillings 9 pence, including one-third of a schooner.  

*  The probate court awarded the widow relict Mary Dill her one-third dower and appraised the remaining two thirds of the real estate at 20 pounds 9 shillings 4 pence.  

*  James Dill, the oldest son living at the time was awarded the real estate, but was ordered to pay Benjamin Dill, the only son of Samuel Dill deceased (the eldest son of Thomas Dill), 9 pounds 3 pence, and to pay Moses Dill, a minor son of Thomas Dill deceased, 4 pounds 10 shillings 1-1/2 pence, to pay Thomas Dill, a minor son of Thomas Dill, 4 pounds 10 shillings 1-1/2 pence, and to pay Betty Dill, daughter of Thomas Dill, 4 pounds 10 shillings 1-1/2 pence. 

*  Guardians were appointed for the three minor children:  Ebenezer Atwood of Eastham was appointed guardian of Moses Dill.  Samuell Doane of Eastham was appointed guardian of Betty Dill.  Mary Dill of Eastham was appointed guardian of Thomas Dill.  

5)  SOURCES
 
1. Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988, digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com), Medford Town Records, 1657-1718, Volume 1, no page number, Thomas Dill birth entry, image 141 of 150.

2. Henry Ernest Woods, (Editor), Vital Records of Medford, Massachusetts, to the Year 1850 (Boston, Mass. : New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1907), Births, page 49, Thomas Dill entry.

3. "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1627-2001," digital images, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org :, Barnstable > Eastham-Orleans > Births, Marriages, Deaths, 1701-1796 > image 64 of 126, page 109, Thomas Dill and Mehitable Brown marriage entry .

4. The Mayflower Descendant (Boston, Mass. : General Society of Mayflower Descendants), Volume 17, Page 82, Marriage of Thomas Dill and Mehitable Brown.

5. "Massachusetts, Land Records, 1620-1986," digital images, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org :, accessed 19 March 2016), Middlesex County, Volume 49, Page 255, Stephen Hall to Thomas Dill, 30 January 1733, Recorded 4 April 1751.

6. Col. Leonard H. Smith, Jr. and Norma H. Smith, Vital Records of the Towns of Eastham and Orleans (Baltimore, Md. : Genealogical Publishing Company, 1993), page 129, Thomas Dill and Mrs. Mary Higgins marriage intentions entry.

7. "Massachusetts (Barnstable County), Probate records, 1686-1894," handwritten, Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah (51  rolls of FHL US/CAN Microfilm), citing original Barnstable County Registers, Thomas Dill probate records: Letter of Administration (10.81); Inventory and Account (13:24); Widow's Dower (12:278); Real Estate Appraisal (13.167); Distribution (13:168); Guardianship of Children (11:196, 11:197, 11.207).

8. "Massachusetts, Land Records, 1620-1986," digital images, FamilySearch, accessed 19 March 2016), Middlesex County, Volume 50, Pages 55-56 , Thomas Dill to John Giles, 9 May 1746, Recorded 4 April 1751.

9. Col. Leonard H. Smith, Jr. and Norma H. Smith, Vital Records of the Towns of Eastham and Orleans, page 145, Thomas Dill and Mehitable Brown marriage intentions entry.


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Copyright (c) 2016, Randall J. Seaver

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post.  Share it on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ or Pinterest using the icons below.  Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.


New Findmypast Records This Friday

I received this via email from Findmypast this morning:

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This week’s Findmypast Friday marks the release of over 11.3 million new records and newspaper articles including substantial updates to our collections of Billion Graves Cemetery Index records, NYG&B records, Irish Newspapers, and Royal Navy Seaman Records. A brand new collection of census fragments from 19th century London is also available to search.

Billion Graves Cemetery Index Updates

Over 3.2 million records have been added to our collection of Billion Graves Cemetery Index records including:

Over 2.8 million new additions to the United States Billion Graves Cemetery Index
Over 821,000 new additions to the Canada Billion Graves Cemetery Index
Over 272,000 new additions to the Australia Billion Graves Cemetery Index
Over 92,000 new additions to the England Billion Graves Cemetery Index
Over 29,000 new additions to the New Zealand Billion Graves Cemetery Index
Over 25,000 new additions to the Scotland Billion Graves Cemetery Index
Over 4,000 new additions to the Ireland Billion Graves Cemetery Index
Over 3,000 new additions to the Wales Billion Graves Cemetery Index

With over 12 million headstone records, BillionGraves is the largest resource for GPS-tagged headstone and burial records on the web, allowing you to locate exactly where your ancestor was buried. Findmypast’s partnership with BillionGraves aims to make available all the cemetery records held on their site for free.

Each entry includes transcript which includes a link to an image of the headstone with GPS details. The amount of information listed may vary, but most records will include a combination of the deceased’s name, birth date, death date, cemetery, city, county and image link. The indexes will be regularly updated throughout the year.

New York Researcher

A new issue of the New York Researcher, The New York Genealogical and Biographical Society’s (NYG&B) quarterly review, is now available to browse and search. The New York Researcher, formerly the NYG&B Newsletter, has been published by the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society (NYG&B) since 1970. The colourful quarterly review features instructive articles on genealogical research techniques and New York resources, profiles of repositories and genealogical societies across New York State, program announcements, website news, and book reviews.

New York State Religious Records 1716-1914

Over 5,000 transcription images have been added to our collection of New York State Religious Records 1716-1914. The New York Genealogical and Biographical Society transcribed and published religious records of baptisms, marriages, and deaths from dozens of New York State churches of various denominations. These records include images of the transcripts of the original baptism, marriage, and death registers kept by various New York churches. The amount of information listed in each record can vary depending on type. Most will include a combination of names, dates of baptisms, marriages, or deaths, parents’ and witnesses’ names, church name and denomination and lists of church members.

Irish Newspaper Update

Three brand new titles, from counties Antrim and Down, have been added to our collection of historic Irish newspapers – Larne Times, Newry Reporter and Newry Telegraph. These local publications, covering life in the busy Northern Irish market towns from 1829 all the way up to 1955, could reveal fascinating details about your ancestors and their local community.

7 existing titles have been given extra articles and date coverage including over 2.1 million new articles have been added to Northern Whig and over 400,000 additional articles have joined both Derry Journal and Dublin Daily Express. The date range of the complete Irish newspaper collection now covers 247 years of Irish history from 1708 all the way up to 1955.

London, Westminster Marylebone Census 1821 & 1831

London, Westminster Marylebone Census 1821 & 1831 contains over 22,000 census results covering Marylebone in the City of Westminster. Each record consists of a transcript and an image of the original document. Transcripts will list your ancestors name, address, parish and the year the record was taken. Images can contain a variety of additional details. These early nineteenth century census records did not record the same amount of information that we are familiar with in more recent censuses but the details that were recorded can reveal a lot about your ancestor’s home. You can discover your ancestor’s field of employment and how many servants were employed in the home.

British Royal Navy Seamen 1899-1924

Over 20,000 records have been added to our collection of British Royal Navy Seamen records. The records will reveal details of your ancestor’s career such as when they served and on what ship. This can help you to determine what engagements or naval battles they took part in. Most will also include a physical description listing their height, eye and hair colour, and any distinguishable such as scars or tattoos. Your ancestor’s character during service is recorded and, if they were killed or died during service, most records will include a cause of death.

Each record contains an image and transcript of a Royal Navy Seaman’s service record from The National Archives ADM188 series.

Don’t forget to regularly check our dedicated Findmypast Friday page to keep up to date with all the latest additions.

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The URL for this post is:  http://www.geneamusings.com/2016/03/new-findmypast-records-this-friday.html


Copyright (c) 2016, Randall J. Seaver

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post.  Share it on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ or Pinterest using the icons below.  Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.


Thursday, March 24, 2016

My Ancestry Survey Responses

One of my morning emails today was from Ancestry.com that said:

"As a valued Ancestry customer, your feedback is very important to us. Your opinions are essential to helping us understand and improve your experience with Ancestry. 

"Please take a minute to answer just a few questions about the Ancestry website."


I love surveys, so I figured this will be 8 or 10 questions, but I have all morning and I'll give Ancestry my valued opinion.

Well it was only two screens and three questions:

Screen 1)  

Q:  "How likely is it that you would recommend Ancestry to a friend or colleague?  1 = Not at all likely, 10 = Extremely likely."

A:  I selected 9, because I think that Ancestry.com is them ost useful of all of the genealogy websites I use.

Screen 2)

Q:  What is it about your experience with Ancestry that makes you most likely to recommend us to a friend or colleague?"

A:  Quality and quantity of record databases and family trees. [I should have added: Hints and Suggested Records, Ancestry DNA matches, and frequent addition of new databases.]

Q:  What one thing could we do to improve your experience using Ancestry?

A:  Add a chromosome browser to AncestryDNA. [I should have added: an ability to compare my chromosomes with those of my matches. I also should have added:  Rank Family Tree matches by number of non-tree source citations and attached records.]

So what would you have answered?  How valuable is Ancestry.com to you, and do you recommend it to your colleagues?  What are the very best features of Ancestry.com for you?  What would you like to see Ancestry.com improve?

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The URL for this post is:   http://www.geneamusings.com/2016/03/my-ancestry-survey-responses.html

Copyright (c) 2016, Randall J. Seaver

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post.  Share it on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ or Pinterest using the icons below.  Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.