Saturday, July 31, 2021

Webtember: All Genealogy, All September Long - 30 FREE Classes!

 I received this information from Daniel Horowitz of MyHeritage recently;

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Do you know about Legacy's new initiative, "Webtember: All Genealogy. All September Long?"

We are sponsoring this fun (and FREE!) online genealogy conference which takes place on Fridays throughout the month of September. There will be 30 live and pre-recorded webinars in all. People can join live for all four Fridays or just one, and if you can't, we've got you covered! Enjoy the recordings at your convenience - they'll be free to view through the end of the month.



Take your genealogy skills to the next level with this FREE online genealogy conference, held each Friday in September 2021.

Register here to attend the live classes. Pre-recorded classes will appear below beginning September 03.

Here's the flyer. Print for yourself and share with your genealogy society, followers, and friends.

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Disclosure: I receive a complimentary subscription to MyHeritage, and gave received other material consideration in past years. I uploaded my autosomal DNA raw data to their DNA product. This does not affect my objective analysis of MyHeritage products.

The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2021/07/webtember-all-genealogy-all-september.html

Copyright (c) 2021, 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, or Pinterest using the icons below. Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun -- Tell Us About a Favorite Aunt or Uncle

 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):


1)  Most people have aunts and uncles in their life, the siblings of their parents, and in some cases, great-aunts or uncles, the siblings of their grandparents.  Who are/were our favorite aunts and/or uncles?


2)  Tell us in your own blog post, in a comment to this blog post, or on Facebook.  Be sure to leave a comment with a link to your blog post on this post.

Here's mine:

My mother had no siblings, and my maternal grandparents had no siblings, so this is all about the Seaver side of my family tree.

My father, Fred Seaver, had five siblings who lived to adulthood, and I met each of them at least once.  His younger brother, Ed, was a lively and fun guy who was the life of the party and loved to talk about family.  I first met Uncle Ed in 1966 when I went to Massachusetts for my work, and Aunt Gerry took me to Leominster for a party commemorating Ed and Janet's son Peter's return from Viet Nam.  He and Janet visited San Diego in about 1972, and it was so much fun to see and hear Fred and Ed kibitz and kid each other.  They talked on the phone many times, but my father never went back to Massachusetts.  Then my father died in 1983.  We visited Ed and Janet in Leominster, Massachusetts in the summer of 1982 and had a wonderful time seeing aunts, uncles and cousins.  Ed sat down with me for two hours and talked about his life, the Massachusetts Seaver families, and his philosophy of life.  I captured it on audio tape and have transcribed it.  My brother Scott and I went to Ed and Janet's 50th wedding anniversary party in Leominster in 1990, and revisited many of our relatives. Ed lived until 2004, spending his last 20 years in Sun Lakes, Arizona in a retirement community, and we visited there occasionally.   Ed was my only uncle, but he was my favorite uncle!

Fred's youngest sister was Geraldine Seaver whom I visited twice in the 1960s on business trips, and after she married Jim Remley in 1970 she and Jim came to San Diego several times to see my parents and us.  Gerry and Jim moved to Florida and then to Maine and died in 2007.  On the 1982 trip to New England, we visited Gerry and Jim on Lake Cobbosseccontee in Maine at their summer cabin, and our girls (ages 8 and 5) had a wonderful time hiking in the woods, digging for worms, fishing in the lake, swimming, and much more.  Gerry was a music teacher, and had lived with her mother until she died in 1962.  As the "maiden aunt" in the Seaver family before her marriage, she knew everything there was to know about our Seaver family, including all 11 of her nieces and nephews and their families, and also the Richmond family, her maternal grandparents.  So she was a fount of family history and lore.  After the 1990 anniversary party for Ed and Janet, Gerry made four audio tapes for me describing her life, the lives of her family members, and much more.  I have transcribed them but have not published them.  Gerry left her family photos and photograph albums to me, and I have digitized most of the photos and used some of them in my Wordless Wednesday posts.  Geraldine (Seaver) Remley (1917-2007) was my favorite aunt!

Ed and Gerry encouraged me and helped me with my genealogy and family history research, and were amazed and thrilled by what I was able to find out about our Pilgrim, colonial and Revolutionary War ancestors.  
 
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The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2021/07/saturday-night-genealogy-fun-tell-us.html

Copyright (c) 2021, 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, or Pinterest using the icons below.  Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.

Added and Updated FamilySearch.org Record Collections - Week of 24 to 30 July 2021

  I am trying to keep up with the new and updated record collections at FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/list) every week.

As of 30 July 2021, there are 3,000 historical record collections on FamilySearch (an increase of from last week):

The new and updated collections this week from FamilySearch are:

--- Collections Added   ---

*  United Kingdom, British Royal Navy Ships’ Musters, 1739-1861 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4231104); 280,357 indexed records with 280,357 record images, ADDED 27-Jul-2021
*  Peru, Huancavelica, Civil Registration, 1915-2003 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4320413); 8,901 indexed records with 8,901 record images, ADDED 30-Jul-2021

--- Collections Updated ---

Brazil, Bahia, Civil Registration, 1877-1976 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3694028); 186,848 indexed records with 177,834 record images (was 167,351 records with 158,383 images), UPDATED 30-Jul-2021
Spain, Diocese of Albacete, Catholic Church Records, 1504-1979 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1431011); 1,710,323 indexed records with 603,285 record images (was 1,710,323 records with 603,285 images), UPDATED 30-Jul-2021
England, Middlesex Parish Registers, 1539-1988 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3734475); 2,812,632 indexed records with 188,966 record images (was 2,718,802 records with 183,496 images), UPDATED 30-Jul-2021
Belgium, Namur, Civil Registration, 1800-1912 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2138511); 323,757 indexed records with 372,768 record images (was 323,753 records with 372,768 images), UPDATED 28-Jul-2021
Brazil, Minas Gerais, Civil Registration, 1879-1949 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3479702); 538,124 indexed records with 229,055 record images (was 534,148 records with 227,664 images), UPDATED 30-Jul-2021

Peru, Catholic Church Records, 1603-1992 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1877097); 4,152,434 indexed records with 4,192,353 record images (was 4,150,238 records with 4,192,353 images), UPDATED 26-Jul-2021
Argentina, Corrientes, Catholic Church Records, 1734-1977 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1974183); 117,270 indexed records with 207,943 record images (was 66,291 records with 207,943 images), UPDATED 30-Jul-2021
Argentina, Córdoba, Catholic Church Records, 1557-1974 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1974182); 927,187 indexed records with 419,985 record images (was 911,909 records with 419,985 images), UPDATED 30-Jul-2021
Argentina, Chubut, Catholic Church Records, 1884-1974 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1974181); Browse 2,874 Images only, no index (was 0 records with 2,874 images), UPDATED 30-Jul-2021
Argentina, Chaco, Catholic Church Records, 1882-1955 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1974180); 8,327 indexed records with 10,100 record images (was 2,556 records with 10,100 images), UPDATED 28-Jul-2021

Argentina, Jujuy, Catholic Church Records, 1662-1975 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1974186); 17,641 indexed records with 69,981 record images (was 5 records with 69,981 images), UPDATED 30-Jul-2021
Argentina, Entre Ríos, Catholic Church Records, 1764-1983 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1974185); 582,609 indexed records with 235,772 record images (was 574,536 records with 235,772 images), UPDATED 30-Jul-2021
Argentina, Capital Federal, Catholic Church Records, 1737-1977 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1974184); 820,916 indexed records with 998,148 record images (was 814,712 records with 998,148 images), UPDATED 30-Jul-2021
Utah, County Marriages, 1871-1941 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1803977); 463,430 indexed records with 124,465 record images (was 463,035 records with 124,465 images), UPDATED 26-Jul-2021
Chile, Catholic Church Records, 1710-1928 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3405096); 2,707,620 indexed records with 344,797 record images (was 2,702,318 records with 344,006 images), UPDATED 26-Jul-2021

Argentina, La Rioja, Catholic Church Records, 1714-1970 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1974188); 41,366 indexed records with 74,259 record images (was 26,304 records with 74,259 images), UPDATED 30-Jul-2021
El Salvador Catholic Church Records, 1655-1977 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1919582); 1,179,334 indexed records with 592,191 record images (was 1,144,405 records with 592,191 images), UPDATED 30-Jul-2021
Kiribati, Vital Records, 1890-1991 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3756784); 16,611 indexed records with 5,605 record images (was 10,659 records with 1,354 images), UPDATED 29-Jul-2021
Spain, Catholic Church Records, 1307-1985 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1784529); 108,155 indexed records with 3,008,340 record images (was 75,560 records with 3,008,340 images), UPDATED 30-Jul-2021
United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, 1980-2014 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2333694); 30,047,337 indexed records with 46,885,461 record images (was 30,047,337 records with 46,885,461 images), UPDATED 30-Jul-2021

South Africa, Dutch Reformed Church Registers (Cape Town Archives), 1660-1970 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1478678); 528,665 indexed records with 45,728 record images (was 524,642 records with 45,728 images), UPDATED 30-Jul-2021
England, Hertfordshire, Marriage Bonds, 1682-1837 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4149578); 9,011 indexed records with 8,998 record images (was 9,003 records with 8,990 images), UPDATED 26-Jul-2021
England, Lincolnshire, Marriage Bonds and Allegations, 1574-1885 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4149576); 73,426 indexed records with 14,780 record images (was 73,322 records with 14,676 images), UPDATED 30-Jul-2021
England, Lancashire, Marriage Bonds and Allegations, 1746-1799 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4149574); 32,564 indexed records with 32,547 record images (was 28,443 records with 28,427 images), UPDATED 30-Jul-2021
Vanuatu, Vital Records, 1900-2001 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3734433); 146,864 indexed records with 145,248 record images (was 130,075 records with 128,467 images), UPDATED 30-Jul-2021

Samoa, Vital Records, 1846-1996 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4016424); 16,472 indexed records with 62,785 record images (was 16,472 records with 58,277 images), UPDATED 30-Jul-2021
Germany, Saxony, Church Book Indexes, 1500-1900 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2399108); 117,497 indexed records with 66,302 record images (was 113,400 records with 62,598 images), UPDATED 28-Jul-2021
England, Gloucestershire Non-Conformist Church Records, 1642-1996 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3648679); 134,462 indexed records with 49,590 record images (was 134,442 records with 49,587 images), UPDATED 28-Jul-2021
Panama, Catholic Church Records, 1707-1973 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1913397); 885,496 indexed records with 240,799 record images (was 872,218 records with 240,799 images), UPDATED 29-Jul-2021
Hawaii, Registrar of Bureau of Conveyances, Deed Records, 1846-1900 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3478266); 3,012 indexed records with 1,940 record images (was 1,567 records with 351 images), UPDATED 29-Jul-2021
Liberia Census, 2008 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2527274); 2,589,341 indexed records with 505,395 record images (was 1,769,328 records with 349,087 images), UPDATED 29-Jul-2021

Uruguay Civil Registration, 1879-1930 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1837849); Index only (290,610 records), no images (was 289,424 records with 0 images), UPDATED 30-Jul-2021
England, Northumberland Non-Conformist Church Records, 1613-1920 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3648677); 156,627 indexed records with 18,126 record images (was 153,244 records with 17,413 images), UPDATED 30-Jul-2021
South Africa, KwaZulu Natal, Vital Records, 1868-1976 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3511741); 421,582 indexed records with 407,703 record images (was 412,805 records with 399,297 images), UPDATED 30-Jul-2021
Papua New Guinea, Vital Records, 1867-2000 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2114430); 233,063 indexed records with 202,218 record images (was 177,302 records with 148,125 images), UPDATED 30-Jul-2021
Sierra Leone, Civil Births and Deaths, 1802-2016 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3245338); 310,867 indexed records with 145,360 record images (was 306,576 records with 141,075 images), UPDATED 28-Jul-2021

Austria, Carinthia, Gurk Diocese, Catholic Church Records, 1527-1986 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2718009); 218,159 indexed records with 48,860 record images (was 213,240 records with 33,937 images), UPDATED 26-Jul-2021
Netherlands, Noord-Holland, Civil Registration, 1811-1950 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2020117); 1,640,316 indexed records with 6,635,049 record images (was 1,619,833 records with 6,635,049 images), UPDATED 29-Jul-2021
Spain, Diocese of Cartagena, Catholic Church Records, 1503-1969 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2345225); 517,863 indexed records with 22,034 record images (was 517,863 records with 22,034 images), UPDATED 30-Jul-2021
France, Eure-et-Loir, Census, 1856 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3465170); 35,517 indexed records with 5,536 record images (was 35,517 records with 5,536 images), UPDATED 27-Jul-2021
Argentina, Misiones, Catholic Church Records, 1874-1975 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1974190); 25,209 indexed records with 9,155 record images (was 11,896 records with 9,155 images), UPDATED 30-Jul-2021

Argentina, Neuquén, Catholic Church Records, 1883-1977 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1974191); 13,358 indexed records with 11,873 record images (was 10,919 records with 11,873 images), UPDATED 30-Jul-2021
Argentina, Río Negro, Catholic Church Records, 1880-1977 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1974192); 1,722 indexed records with 15,221 record images (was 0 records with 15,221 images), UPDATED 29-Jul-2021
Argentina, San Juan, Catholic Church Records, 1655-1975 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1974194); 39,910 indexed records with 83,087 record images (was 16,051 records with 83,087 images), UPDATED 30-Jul-2021
Argentina, Santiago del Estero, Catholic Church Records, 1581-1961 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1974197); 24,614 indexed records with 102,368 record images (was 24,452 records with 102,368 images), UPDATED 30-Jul-2021
France, Saône-et-Loire, Parish and Civil Registration, 1530-1892 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2840171); 7,219,973 indexed records with 1,970,572 record images (was 7,219,679 records with 1,922,057 images), UPDATED 30-Jul-2021

Argentina, Buenos Aires, Catholic Church Records, 1635-1981 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1972912); 2,185,862 indexed records with 978,396 record images (was 2,128,189 records with 978,396 images), UPDATED 28-Jul-2021
Brazil, Paraná, Civil Registration, 1852-1996 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2016194); 1,900,500 indexed records with 1,689,031 record images (was 1,886,607 records with 1,689,031 images), UPDATED 29-Jul-2021
Brazil, Santa Catarina, Civil Registration, 1850-1999 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2016197); 467,911 indexed records with 1,038,133 record images (was 467,395 records with 1,038,133 images), UPDATED 30-Jul-2021
Mississippi, Voter Registration, 1871-1967 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3308840); 314,533 indexed records with 5,273 record images (was 314,508 records with 5,272 images), UPDATED 29-Jul-2021
Netherlands, Bibliothèque Wallonne, Card Indexes, ca. 1500-1858 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2134301); 6,466 indexed records with 1,033,852 record images (was 6,463 records with 1,033,852 images), UPDATED 30-Jul-2021

England, Essex Non-Conformist Church Records, 1613-1971 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3584542); 171,747 indexed records with 17,463 record images (was 164,227 records with 17,009 images), UPDATED 30-Jul-2021
Georgia, Tax Digests, 1787-1900 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4130006); 1,295,994 indexed records with 63,819 record images (was 1,284,843 records with 58,156 images), UPDATED 28-Jul-2021
Argentina, Catamarca, Catholic Church Records, 1724-1971 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1974178); 11,931 indexed records with 102,718 record images (was 11,931 records with 102,718 images), UPDATED 30-Jul-2021
South Africa, Reformed Church Records, 1856-1988 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1918294); Browse 40,337 Images only, no index (was 0 records with 40,337 images), UPDATED 30-Jul-2021
England, Devon, Parish Registers, 1538-1912 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1804330); 1,039,231 indexed records with 153,166 record images (was 1,039,231 records with 153,166 images), UPDATED 28-Jul-2021

Zambia, Archdiocese of Lusaka, Church Records, 1950-2015 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3736255); 277,368 indexed records with 22,857 record images (was 265,906 records with 22,024 images), UPDATED 30-Jul-2021
South Africa, Cape Province, Civil Records, 1840-1972 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1779109); 3,065,819 indexed records with 2,216,270 record images (was 3,065,146 records with 2,216,270 images), UPDATED 30-Jul-2021

--- Collections with new images ---

Australia, South Australia, Immigrants Ship Papers, 1849-1940 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2613135); 578,819 indexed records with 23,080 record images (was 578,819 records with 23,079 images), last updated 18-Feb-2021
Paraguay, Military Records, 1870-1965 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2506770); 80,632 indexed records with 79,588 record images (was 80,632 records with 78,596 images), last updated 24-Jun-2021
Louisiana, Orleans and St. Tammany Parish, Voter Registration Records, 1867-1905 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3326775); 2,602,013 indexed records with 916,974 record images (was 2,602,013 records with 901,829 images), last updated 29-Jun-2021

--- Collections with images removed ---

Uruguay, Passenger Lists, 1888-1980 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2691993); 3,641,119 indexed records with 154,400 record images (was 3,641,119 records with 157,673 images), last updated 19-Nov-2020
Ohio, WWI Index and Return Cards, 1916-1920 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3039663); 100,669 indexed records with 100,348 record images (was 100,669 records with 100,361 images), last updated 07-May-2020
Germany, Rhineland, Diocese of Trier, Catholic Church Records, 1704-1957 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2790268); 2,967,130 indexed records with 289,809 record images (was 2,967,130 records with 302,413 images), last updated 03-Nov-2020
Canadian Headstones (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2290953); 2,982,451 indexed records with 2,643,617 record images (was 2,982,451 records with 2,982,451 images), last updated 21-May-2019

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My friend and SDGS colleague, Marshall, provides this list to me from a program he wrote that compares the current FamilySearch record collections list to the previous week's list.

In order to select a specific record collection on FamilySearch, go to   https://familysearch.org/search/collection/list and use the "Filter by collection name" feature in the upper left-hand corner and use keywords (e.g. "church england") to find collections with those keywords.

Each one of the collections listed above has a Research Wiki page (use the "Learn more" link). It would be very useful if the Wiki page for each collection listed the dates for when the collection was added as a new collection and the dates for major updates also.

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The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2021/07/added-and-updated-familysearchorg_01384206654.html

Copyright (c) 2021, 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, or Pinterest using the icons below. Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.

Friday, July 30, 2021

Added and Updated Ancestry.com Record Collections - Week of 24 to 30 July 2021

 The following record collections were listed on the Recently Added and Updated List on Ancestry.com during the period from  24 to 30 July 2021:

The ADDED and Updated record collections are:

UK and Ireland, Outward Passenger Lists, 1890-1960; indexed records with record images, Updated 7/29/2021

Norway, Church Records, 1812-1938; indexed records with record images, Updated 7/28/2021

Massachusetts, U.S., Boston Archdiocese Roman Catholic Sacramental Records, 1789-1920; indexed records without record images, Updated 7/28/2021

New Hampshire, U.S., Pardons, 1934-1937; indexed records without record images, ADDED    7/26/2021

U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999; indexed records without record images, Updated 7/26/2021

New York, New York, U.S., Riverside Church Records, 1841-1945; indexed records with record images, Updated 7/26/2021

New Hampshire, U.S., Court Rosters, 1800-1961; indexed records with record images, ADDED    7/26/2021

Canada, Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999; indexed records without record images, Updated 7/26/2021

New Hampshire, U.S., Government Petitions, 1700-1826; indexed records with record images, ADDED 7/26/2021

                          ==========================================

The complete Ancestry.com Card Catalog is at   http://search.ancestry.com/search/CardCatalog.aspx.  

By my count, there were 3 NEW collections ADDED this past week, per the list above.  There are now 33,038 collections available as of 230 July, an increase of  3 from last week.   

                       ==============================================

Disclosure: I have a complimentary all-access subscription from Ancestry.com, for which I am thankful. Ancestry.com has provided material considerations for travel expenses to meetings, and has hosted events and meals that I have attended in Salt Lake City, in past years.

The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2021/07/added-and-updated-ancestrycom-record_30.html

Copyright (c) 2021, 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, or Pinterest using the icons below. Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.

Findmypast Friday: Findmypast Publishes 10.7 Million New Scottish Records

 I received this from Findmypast this morning:

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Explore four centuries of Scottish baptisms, marriages and burials

Findmypast publish 10.7 million new records to create the largest collection of Scottish family history records available online

  • Explore your Scottish heritage with millions of new records, comprehensively transcribed and fully searchable online for the first time
  • Published on Findmypast thanks to the work of hundreds of passionate volunteers at local family history societies across Scotland
  • New records span 450 years of Scottish history and cover every parish in the country
  • Contains the vital details of Scots from all walks of life, including some of Scotland's most influential sons and daughters, from fathers of nations to inventors and innovators, forgotten figures and much more
Leading UK family history website, Findmypast, has today announced the publication of a vast new online collection of “Old Parish Registers” in collaboration with local archives and organizations across Scotland.

Dating back to 1561 and spanning 450 years of Scottish history, the new collection contains more than 10.7 million historical documents chronicling baptisms, marriages, burials and more. This vast new online resource will allow family historians across the globe to uncover rare details of their ancestor’s lives and the stories behind major life events.

When combined with Findmypast’s existing collection of Scottish records and historical newspapers, today’s release firmly establishes Findmypast as the home of the largest collection of Scottish family history records available anywhere online, enabling users to explore their Scottish family tree in greater depth and detail than ever before.

This groundbreaking new resource is the result of Findmypast’s close collaboration with local family history societies, archives and volunteers from across the country. It brings together a wide variety of important historical records, many of which were previously inaccessible to public and are now fully searchable in new ways for the first time.

This includes records that not only reveal vital information on Scottish ancestors, but also provide valuable insights into parish life, including;
  • Records of non-conformist churches including the Episcopal, Free Church, United Free Church and more, fully indexed and searchable for the very first time
  • Newly published 20th century records (current online collections stop at 1855) that provide vital details of more recent ancestors, allowing users to uncover the details of previous generations and trace their family tree back from there
  • Rare “Irregular Marriages” from Kirk Sessions (those not officially recorded by the parish registers and conducted without a ceremony)
  • Mortcloth rentals, records of deceased Scots who were too poor to afford a proper burial, having to the hire the cloth that was placed over their coffin, or where original records no longer survive
  • “Ringings of the burial bell”, records of those too poor to even afford a mortcloth rental so instead paid for a ringing of the church bell in their memory
Today’s announcement forms a cornerstone of what is now most comprehensive collection of online records for Scotland ever assembled, covering every parish in every corner of the country.

This revolutionary new resource is the result of a collaborative project between Findmypast and volunteers at 9 Scottish local and national family history societies, including:
  • The Scottish Genealogy Society
  • Fife Family History Society
  • The Highland Family History Society
  • Dumfries & Galloway Family History Society
  • Renfrewshire Family History Society
  • Lothians Family History Society
  • Lanarkshire Family History Society
  • Glasgow & West of Scotland Family History Society
  • West Lothian Family History Society
Names, dates, locations, the names of parent’s, spouses, children and other biographical details such as occupations, residences and more were transcribed and then digitally converted thanks to the hard work of hundreds of Scottish family historians.

Some of Scotland’s most renowned sons and daughters can be found within the collection, including fathers of nations, inventors and innovators, forgotten figures and much more.

Myko Clelland, Regional Licensing & Outreach Manager at Findmypast said; “We are honoured to work with such a large number of outstanding organisations to make Scottish family history accessible worldwide. This has enabled Findmypast to not only illuminate the lives of influential Scots who have played pivotal roles in history, but also tell the stories of ordinary and often overlooked people who, through centuries of effort, have shaped the world we now live in and are responsible for everything we know and love as Scotland today.”

Celebrated Scots

Notable individuals found within the collection including;


Founding Fathers:
  • Culloden Veteran and Revolutionary War Hero Hugh Mercer - a career soldier and physician, Mercer initially served with the Jacobite forces of Bonnie Prince Charlie, the British forces during the Seven Years' War, and later became a brigadier general in the American Continental Army and a close friend to George Washington. Mercer died as a result of his wounds received at the Battle of Princeton and became a fallen hero as well as a rallying symbol of the American Revolution. The records document his baptism at Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire on 17th Jan 1726.
  • American founding father and Presbyterian minister John Witherspoon, Witherspoon embraced the concepts of Scottish common-sense realism, and while president of the College of New Jersey (1768–1794; now Princeton University) became an influential figure in the development of the United States' national character. Witherspoon was a delegate from New Jersey to the Second Continental Congress and a signatory to the July 4, 1776, Declaration of Independence, the only active clergyman to sign the Declaration. The records capture his marriage to Elisabeth Montgomerie in Beith, Ayrshire on 14th Aug 1748
Cultural icons:
  • Novelist, essayist, poet and travel writer, Robert Lewis Balfour Stevenson - best known for works such as Treasure Island, the Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and Kidnapped, Stevenson was born and educated in Edinburgh and travelled extensively throughout his life, dying in Samoa in 1894 at the age of 44. A major celebrity in his lifetime, the popularity of Stevenson’s works has endured and in 2018 he was ranked, just behind Charles Dickens, as the 26th-most-translated author in the world. The record document is Edinburgh baptism in 1850.
  • Scotland’s national poet, Robert Burns - celebrated worldwide, he is the best known of the poets who have written in the Scots language and regarded as a pioneer of the Romantic movement. After his death in 1796 he became a great source of inspiration to the founders of both liberalism and socialism, and a cultural icon in Scotland and among the Scottish diaspora around the world. A native of Ayrshire, Burns can be found numerous times in the records including his 1759 Baptism, the 1785 baptism of his illegitimate daughter with Elizabeth Paton and his irregular marriage to Jean Armour in 1788.
Inventors & Innovators:
  • Titan of industry and celebrated philanthropist, Andrew Carnegie - Carnegie led the expansion of the American steel industry in the late 19th century and became one of the richest Americans in history. During the last 18 years of his life, he gave away $350 million (roughly $5.2 billion in 2020), roughly 90% of his fortune to various charities, foundations, and institutions with special emphasis on local libraries, world peace, education, and scientific research. Carnegie was born in Dunfermline in 1835 and emigrated to the United States with his parents in 1848 at age 12. Carnegie’s baptism and the marriage of his parents can both be found withing the collection.
  • Inventor of the first practical telephone and co-founded the American Telephone and Telegraph Company, Alexander Graham Bell – born in Edinburgh in 1847, Edison’s early experiments with hearing devices eventually led to him being awarded the first U.S. patent for the telephone, on March 7, 1876. Despite the world-changing impact of his creation, Bell viewed it as an intrusion on his real work as a scientist and refused to have a telephone in his study. Bell and his parents can be found in an 1847 baptism record 23 years before the family emigrated to North America.
Forgotten figures
  • Scipio Kennedy, a slave taken as a child from Guinea in West Africa and brought to Scotland in 1702. Purchased at the age of five or six by Captain Andrew Douglas of Mains, Scipio served as a slave under his daughter, Jean, the wife of Sir John Kennedy, 2nd Baronet of Culzean in Ayrshire. He was granted his freedom in 1725, but continued to work for the Kennedy family and was given land on the estate. In 1728, Scipio was recorded as having fathered a daughter, Elizabeth, “by fornication” with Margaret Gray. Scipio married Margaret later that year and baptism records reveal the couple had a further seven children, and is known to have descendants living today.
  • Early feminist, socialist, abolitionist and social reformer, Frances Wright – baptized in Dundee in 1795, wright became a US citizen in 1825 and founded the Nashoba Commune in Tennessee, a utopian community designed to prepare slaves for eventual emancipation. Throughout her life, Wright campaigned for universal education, the emancipation of slaves, birth control, equal rights, sexual freedom, rights for married women, and liberal divorce laws. She was also vocal in her opposition to both organized religion and capital punishment and her radical views were constantly attacked by the press and members of the clergy.
Today’s announcement marks just the latest step in Findmypast’s Scotland expansion. Since 2019, over 200 million new records from across the country have been added to their ever-expanding Scottish database, making Findmypast one of the best places online to research your Scottish family tree.

Tamsin Todd, CEO of Findmypast said: "Combining the largest collection of Scottish family history records available anywhere online with an expert customer service team based in Scotland and an active local community using our digital family history tools, Findmypast is the go-to website for anyone wanting to explore and share their Scottish heritage."

A selection of image to accompany this release can be accessed here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/17IeIxkJc2_XFeda-eDCwjI7RkBmcbrQ8?usp=sharing

To access Findmypast’s Scottish collection, please visit: https://www.findmypast.com/page/scottish-family-history-records

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Disclosure: I have a complimentary subscription to Findmypast, and have accepted meals and services from Findmypast, as a Findmypast Ambassador. This has not affected my objectivity relative to Findmypast and its products.


Copyright (c) 2021, 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, or Pinterest using the icons below. Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.

52 Ancestors - Week 391: #612 Joseph Grout (1649-1720) of Watertown, Massachusetts

Joseph Grout (1649-1720)   is #612 on my Ahnentafel List, my 7th great-grandfather, who married #613 Susanna Hagar (1653-1731) in 1681 in Watertown, Middlesex County,  Massachusetts Bay Colony.

I am descended through:

*  their son #306 Joseph Grout (1683-1758) married Mary Harrington (1693-1774) in 1717.
*  their daughter #153 Mehitable Grout (1726-1795) married #152 Moses Brigham (1723-1769) in 1749.
*  their son, #76 Phinehas Brigham (1755-1802) married #77 Lydia Batherick (1752-1795) in 1779.
*  their son #38 Lambert Brigham (1794-1834) married #39 Sophia Buck (1797-1882) in 1817.
*  their daughter #19 Sophia Newton (1834-1923) married #18 Edward Hildreth (1831-1899) in 1852.
*  their daughter #9 Hattie Louisa Hildreth (1857-1920) married  #8 Frank Walton Seaver (1852-1922) in 1874.
*  their son #4 Frederick Walton Seaver (1876-1942)  married #5 Alma Bessie Richmond (1882-1962) in 1900.
*  their son #2 Frederick Walton Seaver (1911-1983)  married #3 Betty Virginia Carringer (1919-2002)  in 1942.
*  their son #1 Randall Jeffrey Seaver (1943-living)

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

*  Name:                      Joseph Grout[1-5]


*  Sex:                         Male

*  Father:                    John Grout (1609-1697)
*  Mother:                   Sarah Busby (1619-1699)

2)  INDIVIDUAL EVENTS (with source citations as indicated in brackets):

*  Birth:                     24 July 1649, Sudbury, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States[1–3]

*  Distribution;         16 August 1697 (age 48), father's will proved; Charlestown, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States[4]

*  Death:                   before 4 November 1720 (before age 71), Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States[5]

*  Probate:               4 November 1720 (age 71), will proved; Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States[5]
   
3)  SHARED EVENTS (with source citations as indicated in brackets):

*  Spouse 1:             Susannah Hagar (1653-1731)
*  Marriage 1:          about 1681 (about age 32), Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States[1,6]

*  Child 1:                Susannah Grout (1681-1724)
*  Child 2:                Joseph Grout (1682-1758)
*  Child 3:                Mary Grout (1687-    )
*  Child 4:                Mehitabel Grout (1689-    )
   
4)  NOTES (with source citations as indicated in brackets):  

Joseph Grout was born 24 July 1649 in Sudbury, Massachusetts, the son of John and Sarah (Busby) Grout of Sudbury[1-3].  

Joseph married Susanna Hagar (1653-1731) in about 1681 in Watertown, Massachusetts at age 31[1,6].  She was the daughter of William and Mary (Bemis) Hagar of Watertown.  They had four children, all born and recorded in Watertown town records:

*  Susannah Grout (1681- after 1724), married 1710 Zachariah Smith (1687-1724).
*  Joseph Grout (1683-1758), married 1717 Mary Harrington (1693-1774).
*  Mary Grout (1687-????).
*  Mehitabel Grout (1689-????).

Joseph's father, John Grout, died on 1697 in Sudbury, Massachusetts, and his will was proved on 1697 and is in Middlesex County, Massachusetts Probate Court estate file 9,951[4].  He bequeathed to son Joseph Grout: 
"I give to my Son Joseph Grout of Watertowne all my houseing Lands &meadows and rights w'ch to me did belong and appertaine in y'e Town of Watertowne, Excepting a Farm which I have near to Madup, only my Son Joseph Grout Shall pay unto my Son in Law Joseph Curtise the Sum of twelve pounds in Money within the Space of three years after my decease. My Will is y't if my Son Joseph Grout die without heirs male then y'e halfe of y'e s'd Land Shall return to y'e Grouts, the other halfe to his own Daughters, w'ch shall be his full portion To have & to Hold to him & his heirs forever. 
Joseph Grout died after 1 September 1720, at age 71, when he wrote his will, and before 4 November 1720 when his will was proved in Middlesex County Probate Court[5].  The transcription of his Will, which is in Middlesex County, Massachusetts Probate Court estate file 9,960, is:
In the name of god Amen.  I Joseph Grout of Watertown in the county of middlesex within his majesties provinc of the masachusets bay in new England husbandman, do make & declare this Instrument to be my last will & testament. first I Resign my soul into the mercyfull hands of almighty god my gloryous Creator, & my body I commit to the earth from whenc it was taken to be decently ^by^ my executor buried, hopeing for a blessed Resurrection.   And as for that portion of this worlds goods which god hath lent me I dispose thereof in manor as followeth:

(1) I give & bequeath to my loving wife Susanah Grout as her dower one one third part of my Estate both Real & personal to be posesed by her according to the direction of the law for settling Intestat Estas. or  comfortable maintenanc out of my estate dureing the term of her Remaining my widow, which she shall see cause to accept of.

(2)  I give & bequeath to my loveing daughter Susanah Smith in addision to what she has allredy received the sum of twenty pounds in money or goods within the space of Eight years affter my decease to be payd to her. I give & bequeath to my loving daughter mehittable Grout fifty pounds in mony or goods to be paid within Eight years affter my decace and I do hereby apoint and Impowr my dutyful son Joseph Grout to be my Executor to perform this my last will and testament.  And to enable him thereunto I hereby give & bequeath to him my whole estate Real & personal with the reversion of my wifes thirds.  In confirmation hereof I have hereunto put my hand & seal this first day of September one thousand seven hundred & twenty, & in the seventh year of his majesties Reign Georg by the grace of god over great britain &c King.

Signd seald & ownd                                                Joseph Grout     {seal}     
in the presence of us                                                    his g mark
Abraham Brown    }
Simon  S  Tainter   }    sworn 4 - 9 1720
Sam'll Gearfeild    }                      pd 17%
                                           will prov. admd
                                         Committed to the Ex'e
                                          bond 200'lb to pay
                                           debts & legasis
                                                 T F  J p
                                           Court day. Camb. 4 Nov'r
                                                 1720
Joseph Grout died after 1 September 1720 when he wrote and signed his will, and before 4 November 1720 when his will was proved in Middlesex Probate Court by his named executor[5].  Executor Joseph Grout and Samuel Gearfield posted 200 pounds bond on 4 November 1720 and the executor agreed to carry out his father's will."

This probate packet contains 3 separate papers:  the wrapper is the first image, the will is the second image, and the proof statement and bond are on the third image.  There is no inventory, distribution or account in the probate packet, since son Joseph Grout received all of the real and personal property after the widow's reversion, and was to pay his two sisters money or goods within eight years.

5.  SOURCES

1. Alicia Crane Williams (editor), Early New England Families Study Project, Volume 1 (Boston, Mass. : New England Historical and Genealogical Society, 2020), John Grout family sketch (8 pages).

2. Elizabeth E. Boice Jones (compiler), Captain John Grout of Watertown and Sudbury and some of his Descendants (Waterloo, Iowa : Henry Whittemore Grout, 1922), page 22, John Grout family sketch.

3. Vital Records of Sudbury, Massachusetts to the year 1850 (Boston, Mass. : New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1903), Births, page 61, Josepth Grout birth entry, 24 July 1649.

4. Middlesex County, Massachusetts, Probate case files, Volume: Middlesex Cases 00001-01999 and Estate File #9951 (14 images) John Grout of Sudbury estate, 1697; "Middlesex County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1648-1871," indexed database and digital images, New England Historical and Genealogical Society, American Ancestors (https://www.AmericanAncestors.org : accessed 30 May 2020); Digitized mages provided by FamilySearch.org from original records at Probate Registry, Cambridge, Mass..

5. Middlesex County, Massachusetts, Probate Packet #9960 (3 images) Joseph Grout of Watertown, 1720.

6. "New England Marriages to 1700," online database with digital images, AmericanAncestors.org (New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008), page 328, Joseph Grout and Susanna Hager entry, 1681.

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NOTE: In 2014, Amy Johnson Crow suggested a weekly blog theme of "52 Ancestors" in her blog post 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks on the No Story Too Small blog. I have extended this theme in 2021 for an eighth year to 416 Ancestors in 416 Weeks. The list of 52 Ancestors biographies from my great-grandparents to the 7th great-grandparents (in work) is in https://www.geneamusings.com/p/ancestor-biographies.html.

The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2021/07/52-ancestors-week-391-612-joseph-grout.html

Copyright (c) 2021, 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, or Pinterest using the icons below. Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.

Thursday, July 29, 2021

Seavers in the News - Byron D. Seaver Dies in 1954 in Sacramento, California

  It's time for another edition of "Seavers in the News" - a weekly feature from the historical newspapers about persons with the surname Seaver that are interesting, useful, mysterious, fun, macabre, or add information to my family tree database.

This week's entry is from The Pomona [Calif.] Progress Bulletin newspaper dated 23 October 1954:

The transcription of the article is:

"Byron D. Seaver, Son of Pioneer Local Banker, Dies

"Byron D. Seaver, 69-year-old Los Angeles attorney who was the son of a pioneer Pomona banker and land developer passed away in his sleep last Wednesday in Sacramento where he had stopped overnight while on a trip.  His remains will arrive in Pomona tonight for graveside services in Pomona Cemetery Monday at 1:30 p.m. with the Rev. Ray Holder, rector of St. John's Episcopal Church Los Angeles, presiding.

"Altho Mr. Seaver had maintained a law practice in Los Angeles for the past 30 years, he always maintained his legal residence at the family home at 143 E. Holt Ave. in Pomona,  Mr. Seaver was born July 10, 1885, in Claremont, the son of he late Mr. and Mrs. Carlton Seaver, who came to Pomona in 1884.  His father, who was the first president of he First National Bank of Pomona, passed away in 1927.  His bother, who was one of the charter members of Pomona Ebell Club, passed away at 93 last January 3.

"Byron Seaver attended Pomona schools and was graduated from Pomona College in 1908.  He also was graduated from Harvard Law School.

" He leaves his widow, Mrs. Mary L. Seaver; a son, Richard Seaver of Los Angeles; three daughters, Mrs. Mary Lee Wade of San Jose; Mrs. Barbara Gardner of Bakersfield, Miss Joan Seaver of New York City; a brother, Frank R. Seaver of Los Angeles; and three sisters, Mrs. Georgia Seaver Thomas and Miss Marguerite Seaver, both of Los Angeles; and Miss Nila Seaver of Pomona.  There are nine grandchildren.  Todd Memorial Chapel is in charge of funeral arrangements."

The source citation is:

"Byron D. Seaver, Son of Pioneer Local Banker, Dies,The Pomona Progress Bulletin newspaper, Saturday, 23 October 1954, page 17, column 3, Byron D. Seaver obituary;  Newspapers.com   (https://www.newspapers.com : accessed 29 July 2021).

This obituary provides the name, birth date and place, death date and place, parents names, spouse's name, siblings names and children names, plus some information about occupation and associations.

Byron dick Seaver (1885-1954) was born 10 July 1885 in Pomona, California, the son of Carlton and Mary Estella (Samuels) Seaver.  He died 20 October 1954 in Sacramento, California.  He married 3 September 1921 Mary Louise Schmidt (1890-1974) on in Los Angeles, California.  They had four children:

*  Richard Carlton Seaver (1922-2007), married 1946 Sallie Suzanne Tiernan (1923-2004)
*  Mary Lee Seaver (1924-2011), married Jeptha Alan Wade (1922-2015).
*  Barbara Seaver (1925-1993), married 1950 John Howard Gardner (1923-2013).
*  Joan Seaver (1929-????), married 1960 John Tower McAllister (1909-1974).

I am a 4th cousin four times removed to Byron dick Seaver  Our common Seaver ancestor is my 7th great-grandfather Joseph Seaver (1672-1754) of Framingham, Massachusetts.

There are over 10,000 Seaver "stories" in my family tree - and this was one of them.   Life happens, accidentally and intentionally, and sometimes a person is the son of a famous person. I am glad that I can honor Byron Dick Seaver today.  

You never know when a descendant or relative will find this blog post and learn something about their ancestors or relatives, or will provide more information about them to me.

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Disclosure:  I have a complimentary subscription to Newspapers.com and have used it extensively to find articles about my ancestral and one-name families.


Copyright (c) 2021, 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,  or Pinterest using the icons below.  Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.

"Six Genealogy Webinars You Don't Want to Miss" in August at Kentucky Genealogical Society

  I received this information from the Kentucky Genealogical Society recently:

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The Kentucky Genealogical Society learned so much moving to the virtual seminar last year and given how well it went and the ongoing pandemic, we are offering a similar series this year.

This year's series includes six webinars chock full of genealogical insights and methodologies to help all levels of researchers.

The 2021 Kentucky Genealogical Society Seminar will be presented virtually throughout August 2021 using the GoToWebinar platform. 

All live webinars are being recorded and will be made available to participants for 30 days following the conclusion of the live webinar to view on-demand.

6 Webinars You Don't Want to Miss!
Presented by the Kentucky Genealogical Society

1. Finding Your Roots at the Library of Virginia with Ashley Ramey, 
Thursday, August 5, 7 P.M. EDT

2. Cemetery Crowdsourcing
Michael Cassara
Tuesday, August 10, 7 P.M. EDT

3. How to Reopen and Work a Genealogical Cold Case
Lisa Louise Cooke
Thursday August 12, 7 P.M. EDT

4. Descendants of Enslaved Communities Project at the University of Virginia
Dr. Shelley Murphy 
Thursday, August 19, 7 P.M. EDT

5. Putting Your Ancestors In Their Place: 10 Steps on a One-Place Study
Janet Few 
Monday, August 23, 2 P.M. EDT

6. My DNA Brought Me to the Forest, But Where Are the Trees
Sarah Cochran
Thursday, August 26, 7 P.M. EDT

Registration for the entire series of all six webinars is $30. Members can save $10 by using discount code MEMBER during registration. Non-members can join for $20 at www.kygs.org and save $10 off the series registration.

All live webinars are being recorded and will be made available to participants for 30 days following the conclusion of the live webinar to view on-demand. There are no refunds.


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Disclosure:  I am not a member of the Kentucky Genealogical Society but have posted this at the request of the society.  I will receive no remuneration or compensation for this blog post. 

The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2021/07/six-genealogy-webinars-you-dont-want-to.html

Copyright (c) 2021, Randall J. Seaver and KGS

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, or Pinterest using the icons below.  Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.