Saturday Night Genealogy Fun -- Your Very Best Genealogy Finds in 2023

 Calling all Genea-Musings Fans: 

 It's Saturday Night again - 

Time for some more Genealogy Fun!!

Come on, everybody, join in and accept the mission and execute it with precision. 

1)  Ellen Thompson-Jennings posted an interesting question last week in Best Genealogy Find of 2023.

2)  What was your very best genealogy finds in 2023?  Elusive ancestors?  Hard-to-find records?  Family photographs?  Family stories?  Family artifacts?  New cousins?  What else?

3) Tell us about one or more of them in your own blog post, in a comment on this post, or in a Facebook Status  post.  Please leave a link on this post if you write your own post.

Here's mine:

Elusive ancestor(s):  I found a number of ancestors of my 2nd great-grandparents James and Hannah (Rich) Richman in the Wiltshire church records and added their families to my RootsMagic family tree and my Ancestry Member Tree with source citations.

Hard-to-find records:  I enjoyed mining the four Wiltshire, England, Church of England record collections for my ancestors and relatives in Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812; Marriages and Banns, 1754-1916; Births and Baptisms, 1813-1922; and Deaths and Burials, 1813-1922.  I posted many of these in my Treasure Chest Thursday blog posts.

Family photographs:  While using the MyHeritage Reimagine mobile app on my iPhone to scan and separate photo album pages that have sat in my closet, bookcases and piles for decades, I found many photographs that I did not recall seeing before.  I scanned, enhanced, colorized,  tagged and captioned over 500 photographs and added them to my MyHeritage Photo collection and desktop computer file folders.  Some appeared in my Wordless Wednesday blog posts.

Family stories:  I found the paper copies of the family letters my Seaver aunts and uncle wrote about their family life, then digitized and OCRed them using a Scanner app on my iPhone.  Then I added the pages to a text document, edited the pages one at a time, and saved them to my desktop computer file folders.  Also, I had digital copies of our family Christmas letters from 1992 to 2023, so I made a text document for those and saved it to my file folders.  

Family artifacts:  I found several family artifacts when we emptied the closet in the genealogy cave.  My mother's childhood art portfolio, my father's bowling scrapbook, my grandfather's rental receipts, a beautiful fan from the 1800s, and my own school report cards.

New cousins:  These are mainly from DNA matches.  Several of them made contact with me, and I helped one of them identify his biological parents as a result of the DNA match and his birth mother's surname.  

Those are the Best Genealogy Finds I found (or found again) in 2023!

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The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2024/01/saturday-night-genealogy-fun-your-very.html

Copyright (c) 2024, 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 Record Collections - Week of 30 December 2023 to 5 January 2024

  I am keeping track of the new and updated historical record collections at FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/list) every week.

As of 5 January 2024, there are 3,264 historical record collections on FamilySearch (an increase of 3 from last week):

The new and updated collections this week from FamilySearch are:

--- Collections Added ---

*  Delaware, U.S. District and Circuit Court Naturalization Records, 1817-1936 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000142); 31,655 indexed records with 22,526 record images, ADDED 02-Jan-2024

*  Montana, Polson, Tribal Obituaries, 1870-1995 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000124); 40,296 indexed records with 4,158 record images, ADDED 02-Jan-2024

--- Collections Updated ---

Argentina, Catamarca, Civil Registration, 1888-2000 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4328763); 154,050 indexed records with 153,677 record images (was 150,584 records with 150,061 images), UPDATED 05-Jan-2024
Argentina, Chaco, Civil Registration, 1889-1946 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4450393); 119,956 indexed records with 119,492 record images (was 119,919 records with 119,455 images), UPDATED 04-Jan-2024
Argentina, Córdoba, Catholic Church Records, 1557-1974 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1974182); 1,019,284 indexed records with 419,985 record images (was 1,013,722 records with 419,985 images), UPDATED 05-Jan-2024
Australia, Victoria, Wills, Probate and Administration Files, 1841-1926 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2207846); 246,685 indexed records with 3,998,555 record images (was 237,915 records with 3,998,555 images), UPDATED 30-Dec-2023
Belgium, Brabant, Civil Registration, 1582-1950 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1482191); 79,672 indexed records with 6,411,594 record images (was 78,872 records with 6,411,594 images), UPDATED 05-Jan-2024

Belgium, Namur, Civil Registration, 1800-1912 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2138511); 689,472 indexed records with 372,768 record images (was 686,459 records with 372,768 images), UPDATED 05-Jan-2024
Bolivia Catholic Church Records, 1566-1996 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1922463); 9,384,597 indexed records with 1,649,601 record images (was 9,382,474 records with 1,649,601 images), UPDATED 05-Jan-2024
Brazil, Alagoas, Church Records, 1802-2016 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2820768); 1,207,956 indexed records with 181,978 record images (was 1,206,227 records with 181,669 images), UPDATED 05-Jan-2024
Brazil, Mato Grosso, Civil Registration, 1845-2013 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2001286); Index only (827 records), no images (was 824 records with 0 images), UPDATED 05-Jan-2024
Brazil, Minas Gerais, Civil Registration, 1879-1949 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3479702); 903,010 indexed records with 375,651 record images (was 901,334 records with 375,020 images), UPDATED 05-Jan-2024

Brazil, Paraná, Civil Registration, 1852-1996 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2016194); 3,143,218 indexed records with 1,689,031 record images (was 3,137,148 records with 1,689,031 images), UPDATED 05-Jan-2024
Brazil, Pará, Civil Registration, 1815-1995 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4473609); 240,466 indexed records with 72,998 record images (was 239,067 records with 72,511 images), UPDATED 05-Jan-2024
Brazil, Rio Grande do Sul, Civil Registration, 1860-2006 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3741255); 1,721,488 indexed records with 878,039 record images (was 1,721,467 records with 875,223 images), UPDATED 04-Jan-2024
Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, Civil Registration, 1829-2012 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1582573); 6,912,002 indexed records with 5,100,470 record images (was 6,910,760 records with 5,100,470 images), UPDATED 05-Jan-2024
Brazil, Santa Catarina, Civil Registration, 1850-1999 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2016197); 758,304 indexed records with 1,037,638 record images (was 756,723 records with 1,037,638 images), UPDATED 05-Jan-2024

Brazil, Sergipe, Catholic Church Records, 1785-1994 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2177298); 1,274,904 indexed records with 273,847 record images (was 1,272,553 records with 273,847 images), UPDATED 05-Jan-2024
Chile, Catholic Church Records, 1633-2015 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3405096); 8,178,449 indexed records with 1,032,485 record images (was 8,166,027 records with 1,030,731 images), UPDATED 05-Jan-2024
Colombia, Catholic Church Records, 1576-2018 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1726975); 26,393,186 indexed records with 12,659,776 record images (was 26,342,297 records with 12,659,776 images), UPDATED 05-Jan-2024
Costa Rica, Catholic Church Records, 1595-1992 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1460016); 4,338,449 indexed records with 962,203 record images (was 4,338,392 records with 962,203 images), UPDATED 05-Jan-2024
Croatia, Church Books, 1516-1994 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2040054); 2,994,816 indexed records with 1,421,761 record images (was 2,994,490 records with 1,421,761 images), UPDATED 03-Jan-2024

Democratic Republic of the Congo, National Identity Cards, 1884-2019 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000100); 5,934,216 indexed records with 5,948,980 record images (was 5,866,218 records with 5,948,980 images), UPDATED 04-Jan-2024
Dominican Republic Civil Registration, 1801-2010 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1619814); 2,564,156 indexed records with 3,416,801 record images (was 2,554,851 records with 3,416,801 images), UPDATED 04-Jan-2024
Dominican Republic, Catholic Church Records, 1590-1975 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1918910); 2,288,055 indexed records with 238,265 record images (was 2,288,051 records with 238,265 images), UPDATED 02-Jan-2024
Find A Grave Index (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2221801); 237,267,495 indexed records with 237,267,495 record images (was 236,515,367 records with 236,515,367 images), UPDATED 04-Jan-2024
France, Calvados, Census, 1876 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4279948); 66,267 indexed records with 4,882 record images (was 66,267 records with 2,683 images), UPDATED 04-Jan-2024

Germany, North Rhine-Westphalia, Wuppertal, Civil Registration, 1810-1930 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000010); 89,958 indexed records with 88,224 record images (was 87,507 records with 85,826 images), UPDATED 05-Jan-2024
Gibraltar, Church Records, 1697-1991 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4453925); 54,168 indexed records with 5,290 record images (was 53,875 records with 5,235 images), UPDATED 05-Jan-2024
Guatemala, Chiquimula, Civil Registration, 1877-2008 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2790265); 451,930 indexed records with 353,570 record images (was 451,781 records with 353,421 images), UPDATED 05-Jan-2024
Guatemala, Guatemala, Civil Registration, 1877-2006 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2075150); 4,589,887 indexed records with 1,486 record images (was 4,589,783 records with 1,486 images), UPDATED 04-Jan-2024
Guatemala, Huehuetenango, Civil Registration, 1877-1994 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2451045); 997,826 indexed records with 17,993 record images (was 997,648 records with 17,993 images), UPDATED 05-Jan-2024

Guatemala, Izabal, Civil Registration, 1877-1994 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2443319); 420,129 indexed records with 9,848 record images (was 420,050 records with 9,848 images), UPDATED 05-Jan-2024
Haiti, Archdiocese of Port-au-Prince, Catholic Church Records, 1866-2017 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4279947); 83,031 indexed records with 15,658 record images (was 81,389 records with 11,205 images), UPDATED 05-Jan-2024
Hawaii, Hawaii State Archives, Probate Packet Records, 1814-1917 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3463463); 36,288 indexed records with 22,946 record images (was 35,403 records with 34,164 images), UPDATED 29-Dec-2023
Hawaii, Registrar of Bureau of Conveyances, Deed Records, 1846-1900 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3478266); 41,720 indexed records with 26,848 record images (was 41,267 records with 24,493 images), UPDATED 29-Dec-2023
India, Catholic Church Records, 1751-2014 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4491581); 12,426,300 indexed records with 70,081 record images (was 11,164,250 records with 70,081 images), UPDATED 29-Dec-2023

India, Madras Diocese Protestant Church Records, 1743-1990 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2174941); 491,783 indexed records with 39,904 record images (was 339,847 records with 39,904 images), UPDATED 03-Jan-2024
Ireland, Catholic Parish Registers, 1740-1900 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2820100); 5,287,560 indexed records with 181,637 record images (was 5,211,036 records with 186,060 images), UPDATED 05-Jan-2024
Italy, Sassari, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1803-1942 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4464417); 51,587 indexed records with 17,921 record images (was 51,465 records with 17,889 images), UPDATED 02-Jan-2024
Italy, Treviso, Treviso, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1871-1941 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1947831); 10,471 indexed records with 427,232 record images (was 9,805 records with 427,232 images), UPDATED 05-Jan-2024
Italy, Venezia, Venezia, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1871-1930 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2043809); 38,112 indexed records with 628,744 record images (was 36,622 records with 628,744 images), UPDATED 05-Jan-2024

Mexico, Michoacán, Catholic Church Records, 1555-1996 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1883388); 5,786,535 indexed records with 5,283,986 record images (was 5,783,003 records with 5,283,986 images), UPDATED 05-Jan-2024
Mexico, Puebla, Catholic Church Records, 1545-1977 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1837906); 8,988,613 indexed records with 6,124,553 record images (was 8,982,628 records with 6,124,553 images), UPDATED 05-Jan-2024
Mexico, Querétaro, Catholic Church Records, 1590-1970 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1881200); 3,037,126 indexed records with 1,380,077 record images (was 3,036,461 records with 1,380,077 images), UPDATED 04-Jan-2024
New York, U.S. District and Circuit Court Naturalization Records, 1824-1991 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2060123); 4,121,143 indexed records with 2,187,206 record images (was 4,121,143 records with 2,187,206 images), UPDATED 30-Dec-2023
North Carolina, County Marriages, 1762-1979 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1726957); 7,848,025 indexed records with 1,509,652 record images (was 7,844,965 records with 1,509,652 images), UPDATED 05-Jan-2024

Norway, Probate Index Cards, 1640-1903 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1661306); Index only (612,880 records), no images (was 609,805 records with 0 images), UPDATED 01-Jan-2024
Ohio, Stillbirths, 1918-1953 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000024); 175,087 indexed records with 174,908 record images (was 167,241 records with 167,064 images), UPDATED 05-Jan-2024
Palau, Church Records, 1921-1940 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4491580); 3,451 indexed records with 277 record images (was 3,351 records with 269 images), UPDATED 02-Jan-2024
Palestine, Nablus, Population Registers, 1881-1917 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4117456); 103,532 indexed records with 2,387 record images (was 103,533 records with 2,387 images), UPDATED 01-Jan-2024
Paraguay, Civil Registration, 1842-2012 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000049); 4,713 indexed records with 5,834 record images (was 4,540 records with 5,577 images), UPDATED 05-Jan-2024

Peru, Catholic Church Records, 1603-1992 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1877097); 21,017,803 indexed records with 4,192,353 record images (was 21,008,983 records with 4,192,353 images), UPDATED 05-Jan-2024
Portugal, Setúbal, Catholic Church Records, 1555-1911 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1935451); 1,089,844 indexed records with 829,309 record images (was 1,089,475 records with 829,309 images), UPDATED 05-Jan-2024
Puerto Rico, Catholic Church Records, 1645-1969 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1807092); 3,319,921 indexed records with 191,547 record images (was 3,319,919 records with 191,547 images), UPDATED 03-Jan-2024
Russia, Lutheran Church Book Duplicates, 1833-1885 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1469151); 372,003 indexed records with 128,317 record images (was 368,884 records with 128,317 images), UPDATED 05-Jan-2024
Russia, Tobolsk, Church Books, 1722-1930 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4496122); 14,570,327 indexed records with 660,143 record images (was 14,522,621 records with 660,143 images), UPDATED 29-Dec-2023

Russia, Tver Church Books, 1722-1918 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1921824); 16,349,128 indexed records with 3,278,129 record images (was 16,136,313 records with 3,278,129 images), UPDATED 30-Dec-2023
Russia, Tver Confession Lists, 1728-1913 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1929531); 544,957 indexed records with 954,651 record images (was 538,782 records with 954,651 images), UPDATED 02-Jan-2024
South Africa, Western Cape, Deceased Estate Files, 1951-1958 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4319131); 461,548 indexed records with 343,228 record images (was 444,494 records with 342,842 images), UPDATED 05-Jan-2024
Sweden, Stockholm City Archives, Index to Church Records, 1546-1927 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2057674); 1,203,813 indexed records with 78,576 record images (was 1,202,270 records with 78,487 images), UPDATED 04-Jan-2024
Sweden, Örebro Church Records, 1613-1918; index 1635-1860 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1647578); 825,666 indexed records with 647,469 record images (was 825,418 records with 647,469 images), UPDATED 30-Dec-2023

Switzerland, Fribourg, Census, 1850 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2142776); 80,174 indexed records with 2,968 record images (was 80,174 records with 2,968 images), UPDATED 04-Jan-2024
Texas, Hidalgo County, Marriage Records, 1875-2021 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000017); 130,386 indexed records with 142,586 record images (was 126,212 records with 135,847 images), UPDATED 05-Jan-2024
United States, New York Land Records, 1630-1975 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2078654); 65,325,110 indexed records with 8,129,310 record images (was 61,325,058 records with 8,129,310 images), UPDATED 29-Dec-2023
Uruguay Civil Registration, 1879-1930 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1837849); Index only (1,114,153 records), no images (was 1,108,744 records with 0 images), UPDATED 05-Jan-2024
Venezuela Civil Registration, 1873-2003 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1823609); 1,085,118 indexed records with 586,312 record images (was 1,082,231 records with 586,312 images), UPDATED 05-Jan-2024

Venezuela, Archdiocese of Caracas, Catholic Church Records, 1638-2020 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4465438); 193,267 indexed records with 71,482 record images (was 191,570 records with 70,614 images), UPDATED 05-Jan-2024
Virginia, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Birth Records, 1853-1896 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000046); 1,946,053 indexed records with 42,439 record images (was 1,945,804 records with 42,433 images), UPDATED 01-Jan-2024
Zimbabwe, Diocese of Mutare, Catholic Church Records, 1898-2022 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000105); 7,559 indexed records with 17,582 record images (was 4,711 records with 14,842 images), UPDATED 05-Jan-2024

--- Collections with new images ---

England, Lancashire Non-Conformist Church Records, 1647-1996 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3656808); 1,436,324 indexed records with 107,907 record images (was 1,436,324 records with 106,491 images), last updated 30-Dec-2022
France, Calvados, Census, 1856 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4279960); 56,521 indexed records with 2,916 record images (was 56,521 records with 2,055 images), last updated 07-Sep-2022
France, Haute-Garonne, Census, 1896 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000057); 59,804 indexed records with 1,039 record images (was 59,804 records with 388 images), last updated 30-Nov-2023
French Polynesia, Civil Registration, 1780-1999 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2549721); 80,241 indexed records with 192,452 record images (was 80,241 records with 188,944 images), last updated 29-Dec-2023
Idaho, Military Discharge Records, ca.1917 - ca.1960 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4114267); 1,386 indexed records with 750 record images (was 1,386 records with 733 images), last updated 19-Apr-2021

Kentucky, Livingston County, School Census Enumeration (Colored and White), 1898-1913 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3491880); 115,029 indexed records with 1,690 record images (was 115,029 records with 333 images), last updated 02-Jun-2020

--- Collections with images removed ---

Finland, Tax Lists, 1809-1915 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2704794); 962,656 indexed 

records with 16,133 record images (was 962,656 records with 16,137 images), last updated 25-Dec-2023
France, Hautes-Alpes, Census, 1856 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2820771); 260,627 indexed records with 2,968 record images (was 260,627 records with 5,174 images), last updated 23-Aug-2022
Norway Census, 1900 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3744863); 2,260,720 indexed records with 390,961 record images (was 2,260,720 records with 390,969 images), last updated 15-Jun-2021
Puerto Rico, San Juan, Cemetery Records, 1888-1988 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4376727); 125,461 indexed records with 31,722 record images (was 125,461 records with 49,641 images), last updated 27-Dec-2023
United States, California, San Francisco, Records of Chinese Laborers Returning to the US, 1882-1888 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3233819); 51,646 indexed records with 2,282 record images (was 51,646 records with 5,862 images), last updated 28-Dec-2023

West Virginia, Military Discharge Records, 1866-1990 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4166146); 36,505 indexed records with 6,423 record images (was 36,505 records with 8,654 images), last updated 11-Dec-2023

--- Collections with new records ---

Czech Republic, Church Books, 1552-1981 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1804263); 19,255,214 indexed records with 4,668,489 record images (was 19,191,270 records with 4,668,489 images), last updated 29-Dec-2023
England, Lancashire, Parish Registers 1538-1910 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1465701); Index only (1,207,650 records), no images (was 1,188,827 records with 0 images), last updated 31-Mar-2021

--- Collections with records removed ---

Illinois, Cook County Birth Registers, 1871-1915 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1463129); Index only (962,514 records), no images (was 962,515 records with 0 images), last updated 05-May-2010
United States Public Records, 1970-2009 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2199956); Index only (875,610,065 records), no images (was 875,610,068 records with 0 images), last updated 19-Aug-2020

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My friend and SDGS colleague, Marshall, has come up with a way to determine which collections are ADDED, DELETED or UPDATED, and to alphabetize the entries in each category. Thanks to Marshall for helping me out here!

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/2024/01/added-and-updated-familysearch-record.html

Copyright (c) 2024 Randall J. Seaver

Note that all comments are moderated, so they may not be posted immediately.

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 Ancestry.com Record Collections - Week of 30 December 2023 to 5 January 2024

 The following genealogy record collections were listed on the Recently Added and Updated Collections on Ancestry.com during the period from 30 December 2023 to 5 January 2024:

NOTE:  The "Recently Added and Updated Collections on Ancestry" page above for "All Countries" did not show the updated United States collections above.  It also did not show 4 other updated collections found on the "Date Updated" list of the Card Catalog.

The ADDED and Updated collections include:

*  The Boston Jewish Advocate Index to Obituary Notices, 1905-2007; indexed records without record images, Updated 01/04/2024

*  U.S., Presbyterian Church Records, 1701-1970; indexed records with record images, Updated 01/04/2024

*  The Philadelphia Jewish Exponent Obituary Index, 1887-2006; indexed records without record images, Updated 01/04/2024

*  The Cleveland Jewish News Obituary Index, 1964-2007; indexed records without record images, Updated 01/04/2024

*  Poland, Warsaw Death Notices from "Nasz Przeglad," 1923 & 1937-1938; indexed records without record images, Updated 01/04/2024

*  Hungary, Jewish Marriage Records from Various Counties, 1800-1914; indexed records without record images, Updated 01/04/2024

*  Poland, Homeowners Lists from Warsaw and Praga, 1852, 1864 and 1869-1870; indexed records without record images, Updated 01/04/2024

*  JewishGen Yizkor Book Master Name Index; indexed records without record images, Updated 01/04/2024

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

NOTE:  The last four collections listed above were not on the "All Countries" list but were on the "Date Updated" list on the Card Catalog page.

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

By my count, there was 0 NEW record collections ADDED this past week, per the list above.  There are now 33,394 collections available as of 5 January, a DECREASE of 1 from two weeks ago.  

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

Disclosure: I receive 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/2024/01/added-and-updated-ancestrycom-record.html

Copyright (c) 2024, Randall J. Seaver

Please note that all Comments are moderated so they may not appear immediately.  

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 Relatives: Clarence Edward Hildreth (1874-1878) of Leominster, Massachusetts

 I have posted over 500 genealogical sketches of  my ancestors back through the 7th great-grandparents - see the list in 52 Ancestors Biographies.  

I started a new weekly series called "52 Relatives" to document the lives of siblings of my ancestors with relatively short sketches with events and source citations.  They deserve a sketch also - they were integral parts of the lives of my ancestral families.  I will post the sketches on my Ancestry Member Tree and in the FamilySearch Family Tree. 

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

Clarence Edward Hildreth[1,3] was born on 24 May 1874 in Leominster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States, the second child and only son of Edward and Sophia (Newton) Hildreth.[1] He died of accidental poisoning on 21 February 1878 at the age of 3 in Leominster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States.[2-3] He was buried after 21 February 1878 at Evergreen Cemetery in Leominster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States.[3]

I can't imagine the pain that his parents, and his 16 year old sister, felt when this precious little boy died.  

SOURCES:

1. "Massachusetts Vital Records, 1841-1915," indexed database and digital images,  New England Historic Genealogical Society, American Ancestors (https://www.AmericanAncestors.org), Births:  Volume 261, Page 333, 1874, Leominster, Clarence Edward Hildrith entry, 24 May 1874.

2. "Massachusetts Vital Records, 1841-1915," New England Historic Genealogical Society, American Ancestors, Deaths: Volume 303, Page 345, 1878, Leominster, Clarence E. Hildreth entry, 21 February 1878.

3. Find A Grave, indexed database and digital image,  (https://www.findagrave.com), Evergreen Cemetery, Leominster, Mass. Clarence Edward Hildreth (1874-1878) memorial #139229484.

NOTE:  Clarence Edward Hildreth (1874-1878) is my great-granduncle.

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The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2024/01/52-relatives-clarence-edward-hildreth.html

Copyright (c) 2024, Randall J. Seaver

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Findmypast Friday: Browse New British Army Records From Surrey to South Wales

I received this information from Findmypast today:

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With a total of 22,608 new records added, there are so many heroic stories to discover this Findmypast Friday.

This week, immerse yourself in the lives of your military ancestors like never before. We've added over 22,000 new British Army records to our collection, with new additions spanning across England and Wales. We also added a brand new newspaper title, as well as a million free-to-view pages.

From photo albums to attestations, read on for a full rundown of this week's fascinating new additions.

British Army, Coldstream Guards 1800-1981

This week's biggest update comes to our Coldstream Guards collection, to which we've added 17,896 photo album records and 497 attestations. Founded in 1650, the Coldstream Guards is one of the British Army's oldest regiments. It has historically been responsible for the protection of the Royal family, and is thus is also considered to be one of the army's most prestigious regiments.

British Army, London Regiment, Surrey Battalions 1914-1940

This week's second addition consists of 3,517 British Army records from London's Surrey Battalions, between 1914 and 1940. Though this brand new set doesn't stretch until the end of World War 2, it covers the outbreak of the First World War, the interwar period, and a year of the second major global conflict. It may just be able to provide some much-needed insight into the stories of your wartime ancestors.

British Army Service Records, South Wales Borderers

This week's last military addition takes the form of 698 new transcriptions from South Wales, added to our British Army Service Records set. They document the military service of men from the South Wales Borderers line infantry regiment, which was founded in the late 17th century.

These transcriptions cover the 1890s and the year 1915. During this time, the regiment was involved in active service across the world, from the Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902) to the First World War in 1914. If your ancestor fought with the South Wales Borderers during this time, their name may just appear within this collection.

Discover new pages from Bromley to Buxton

We've kicked the new year off with a bang, adding a brand new title - the Coleraine Times - to our newspaper collection, in addition to a million new free-to-view pages.

New titles:

• Coleraine Times, 1990-1999

Updated titles:

• Bromley Journal and West Kent Herald, 1886
• Buxton Advertiser, 1988, 1991
• Cork Daily Herald, 1868
• Dundee Weekly News, 1880, 1882
• Liverpool Daily Post, 1997
• Musselburgh News, 1988
• Northampton Herald, 1844
• Portadown Times, 1998
• Stornoway Gazette and West Coast Advertiser, 1986-1987
• Wharfedale & Airedale Observer, 1912
• Worthing Herald, 1979, 1982

New free-to-view pages:

• Aberdare Times, 1889, 1892
• Aberdeen Press and Journal, 1798-1900
• American Settler, 1880-1892
• Ayrshire Weekly News and Galloway Press, 1879-1891
• Boston Gazette, 1861
• Bradford Observer, 1834-1875
• Brechin Herald, 1890-1892
• Brecknock Beacon, 1883-1896
• Bright’s Intelligencer and Arrival List, 1860
• British Yachtsman, 1894
• Brondesbury, Cricklewood & Willesden Green Advertiser, 1892
• Brunswick or True Blue, 1821
• Colonies and India, 1875-1898
• Comet for Hornsey, Crouch End and Highgate, 1889
• Course of the Exchange, 1825-1900
• Daily News (London), 1846-1900
• Derby Exchange Gazette, 1861
• Derby Mercury, 1800-1900
• Dublin Hospital Gazette, 1856-1862
• Dudley Guardian, Tipton, Oldbury & West Bromwich Journal and District Advertiser, 1874-1875
• East Kent Times, 1859, 1861-1864
• East Suffolk Mercury and Lowestoft Weekly News, 1858-1859
• East Wind, 1875-1876
• Eastern Star, 1853
• Eastleigh Weekly News, 1895-1900
• English Mail, 1859-1860
• Evening Times (London), 1852
• Evening Times 1825, 1825-1826
• Faversham Gazette, and Whitstable, Sittingbourne, & Milton Journal, 1855-1857
• Financial Standard, 1891
• Finsbury Free Press, 1868-1869
• Freeman’s Journal, 1820-1900
• Glasgow Property Circular and West of Scotland Weekly Advertiser, 1879-1891
• Gloucester Mercury, 1861-1884
• Govan Chronicle, 1864-1884
• Grantown Supplement, 1894-1900
• Haddingtonshire Advertiser and East-Lothian Advertiser, 1881-1888
• Hampshire Advertiser, 1831-1832, 1834-1849, 1851-1852, 1854-1863, 1865, 1867-1895, 1897
• Hampshire Telegraph, 1802-1878, 1880-1900
• Hartlepool Free Press and General Advertiser, 1860
• Hebrew Observer, 1853-1854
• Holmes’ Brewing Trade Gazette, 1878-1886
• Holt’s Weekly Chronicle, 1837-1855
• Illustrated Times 1853, 1853-1854
• Ipswich Journal, 1800-1828, 1830, 1833-1896, 1898, 1900
• Isle of Man Times, 1869, 1872, 1874-1895, 1897-1900
• Isle of Wight Observer, 1852-1870, 1873-1876, 1878-1895, 1898-1900
• Labour Pioneer (Cardiff), 1900
• Leeward Islands Gazette, 1893
• Leith Herald, 1879-1891
• Liberty, 1894-1896
• Little Times, 1867
• Lloyd’s Weekly Newspaper, 1842-1900
• London & Provincial News and General Advertiser, 1861-1867
• London and Liverpool Advertiser, 1847
• London and Scottish Review, 1875
• London Life, 1879
• London Mirror, 1871-1876
• London News Letter and Price Current, 1859-1865
• London Weekly Investigator, 1855-1857
• Luton Weekly Recorder, 1855-1857, 1859
• McPhun’s Australian News, 1853-1855
• National Observer, 1888-1897
• North Wales Chronicle, 1827-1900
• Northman and Northern Counties Advertiser, 1880-1886, 1890
• Nottinghamshire Guardian, 1849-1871, 1873-1887, 1889, 1892-1896, 1898-1900
• Oxford Journal, 1800-1895, 1898-1900
• Preston Chronicle, 1831-1885, 1887, 1889-1893
• Radnorshire Standard, 1898-1900
• Reynolds’s Newspaper, 1850-1900
• Scottish Border Record, 1881-1892
• Seren Cymru, 1851, 1856-1860, 1875, 1877-1884, 1889, 1892-1893, 1895
• The Era, 1838-1900
• The Star, 1869-1877, 1879-1891, 1893-1897, 1900
• Weekly Free Press and Aberdeen Herald, 1876, 1879-1888, 1890-1892
• Wrexham Advertiser, 1854-1857
• Y Genedl Gymreig, 1877-1900
• Y Goleuad, 1869-1900

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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.

The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2024/01/findmypast-friday-browse-new-british.html

Copyright (c) 2024, Randall J. Seaver

Note that all comments are moderated, and may not appear immediately.

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.

Randy's Cousins -- 5th Cousin 3x Removed Author Laura Elizabeth (Ingalls) Wilder (1867-1957) - a Noted Author

This week's famous cousin is Laura Elizabeth (Ingalls) Wilder (1867-1957). the author.  Here is the FamilySearch Family Tree Brief Life History biography:

When Laura Elizabeth Ingalls was born on 7 February 1867, in Pepin, Pepin, Wisconsin, United States, her father, Charles Phillip Ingalls, was 31 and her mother, Caroline Lake Quiner, was 27. She married Almanzo James Wilder on 25 August 1885, in De Smet Township, Kingsbury, Dakota Territory, United States. They were the parents of at least 1 son and 1 daughter. She lived in De Smet, Kingsbury, Dakota Territory, United States in 1880 and Pleasant Valley Township, Wright, Missouri, United States for about 30 years. She died on 10 February 1957, in Mansfield, Wright, Missouri, United States, at the age of 90, and was buried in Mansfield Cemetery, Pleasant Valley Township, Wright, Missouri, United States.

Her Wikipedia entry is here. She was an American writer. The Little House on the Prairie series of children's books, published between 1932 and 1943, were based on her childhood in a settler and pioneer family.

The FamilySearch Family Tree indicates that I am her 5th cousin three times removed. Here is the closest relationship path:

My most recent common ancestors with cousin Laura Elizabeth (Ingalls) Wilder are my 7th great-grandparents Ezekiel Worthen (1672-1755) and  Abigail Carter (1685-1752).

My grandkids will be thrilled, I think.  I am!  My mother would have been too.

Are you related to Laura Elizabeth (Ingalls) Wilder?  Check it out on FamilySearch Family Tree by clicking the "View Relationship" link at the top of the page.  Note that you have to be a profile connected to the FamilySearch Family Tree in order for this to work.

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The URL for this post is:  

Copyright (c) 2024, Randall J. Seaver

Note that all comments are moderated, and may not appear immediately.

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.

Treasure Chest Thursday -- 1851 England and Wales Census Entry for John Rich Household in Hilperton, Wiltshire

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

The treasure today is the 1851 census entry for the John Rich household in Hilperton, Wiltshire:

The 1851 census record for the John Rich family is the 2nd family entry down the page:

The transcription of this record is in the Parish of Hilperton, Village of Hilperton:

No. of Householder Schedule:  92

Name of Street, Place or Road, and Name or Number of House:  Hilperton

*  Name:  John Rich; Relation:  Head; Condition: Mar[ried]; Age:  58; Occupation:  Broad loom weaver; Where born:  [Wilts], Hilperton.

*  Name:  Rebecca [Rich]; Relation:  Wife; Condition: Mar[ried]; Age:  63; Occupation:  [none];  Where born:  [Wilts], Hilperton.

*  Name:  William [Rich]; Relation:  Son; Condition: U[nmarried]; Age:  21; Occupation:  Weaver;  Where born:  [Wilts], Hilperton.

*  Name:  Samuel [Rich]; Relation:  Son; Condition: U[nmarried]; Age:  18; Occupation:  Indian rubber worker;  Where born:  [Wilts], Hilperton.

*  Name:  William Dum???; Relation: Lodger; Condition: U[nmarried]; Age:  21; Occupation:  Ag Lab; Where born:  [Wilts], Hilperton.

The source citation for this record is:

1851 England and Wales Census, Wiltshire, Hilperton [parish], District 257, Folio 255 recto, page 22, household 92, John Rich household; digital image, FindMyPast.com (https://www.findmypast.com : accessed 28 July 2012), citing The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey, Public Record Office HO 107/1840.

This is a family entry in the Hilperton, Wiltshire 1851 census.  It is an Original Source with Secondary Information and Indirect Evidence of the names, ages, relationships, occupations and birthplace of the family members. 

John Rich (1790-1868) was baptized 14 November 1790 in Trowbridge, Wiltshire, the son of William and Betty (Noad) Rich.  Rebecca (Hill) Rich (1790-1862) was baptized 25 April 1790 in Hilperton, Wiltshire, the daughter of John and Ann (Warren) Hill.  They married 14 February 1815 in Hilperton.

   

John and Rebecca (Hill) Rich are my 3rd great-grandparents; they had 11 children, including my 2nd great-grandmother Hannah Rich (1824-1911) who married James Richman (1821-1912) in 1844 in Hilperton, Wiltshire. 

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The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2024/01/treasure-chest-thursday-1851-england.html

Copyright (c) 2024, 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.

MyHeritage 2023 Genealogy Highlights

 Daniel Heritage of MyHeritage provided this information today:

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That’s a wrap on 2023, and what a year it was for us at MyHeritage! 

2023 was a testament to how innovation and hard work are our driving forces, marked by groundbreaking advancements, heartwarming reunions, and a continued, unwavering commitment to connecting people with their heritage.

Check out our blog for a recap of everything we were up to in 2023.



I’ll take the opportunity to wish you a 2024 full of exciting discoveries, amazing breakthroughs, and wonderful moments of connection with your family and its history.

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Disclosure: I receive a complimentary subscription to MyHeritage, and have received other material consideration in past years. I uploaded my autosomal DNA raw data to their DNA product. I am a subscriber to Family Tree Webinars and love it. I was a paid subscriber to the Reimagine mobile app. This does not affect my objective analysis of MyHeritage products.

The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2024/01/myheritage-2023-genealogy-highlights.html

Copyright (c) 2024, Randall J. Seaver

Note that all comments are moderated, so they may not appear immediately.

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.

Genealogy Education Bytes - Week of 28 December 2023 to 3 January 2024

 Welcome to Genealogy Education Bytes, posted on Wednesday afternoon for the past week, where we try to highlight the most important genealogy and family history education items that came across our desktop since the last issue.

1) Upcoming Conferences, Institutes and Seminars

* Conference Keeper Calendar

*  SLIG 2024: The Family History Law Library ($$) - Virtual - 22-26 January 2024

*  2024 Institute for Genetic Genealogy (i4GG) Conference - 10-year Anniversary ($$) - In-person (San Diego, CA) and Online - 10-11 February 2024

*  4th Annual Arizona Genealogy Day - Saturday, February 24, 2024 (Free) - Virtual

*  RootsTech 2024 - In-Person ($$, Salt Lake City) and Online (Free) - 29 February - 2 March 2024.

*  “Rockin’ Around Your Family Tree” Ohio Genealogical Society Conference ($$) -  In-Person  (Kalahari Hotel and Resort, Sandusky, Ohio) - 10-13 April 2024.

*  2024 National Genealogical Society (NGS) Virtual Family History Conference ($$) - "Expanding Possibilities" - 16 to 18 May 2024 - Virtual

*  Ontario Genealogical Society Conference ($$) - 14 to 16 June 2024 - In-Person (Toronto, Ontario) 

2 ) Upcoming Seminars, Webinars and Online Classes (times are US Pacific):

* Conference Keeper Calendar

*  FamilySearch Library Classes and Webinars 

* RootsTech 2023 On-Demand Sessions

*  Family Tree Webinars - Friday, 5 January, 11 a.m.:  Irish ancestors – Top 5 websites you need to know about by Natalie Bodie.

*  Family Tree Webinars - Tuesday, 9 January, 11 a.m.:  The Latest Photo Feature from MyHeritage by Tal Ehrlichman.

*  Family Tree Webinars - Wednesday, 10 January, 5 p.m.: A military heritage: Finding your British army lineage in pre-20th century records by Cathie Sherwood.

3) Recent Podcasts/Radio Shows:

*  Ancestral Findings: AF-839: Lost Letters and Family Ties | Ancestral Findings Podcast

*  Ancestral Findings: AF-840: Whispers of the Past | Ancestral Findings Podcast

*  Ancestral Findings: AF-841: Christian F. Schilt: The Unsung Hero of Early Marine Aviation | Ancestral Findings Podcast

*  Research Like a Pro:  RLP 286: Scandinavian Research with Torhild Shirley Part 2

*  The Genealogy Guys Podcast:  #422

4) Recent YouTube Videos:

*  Aimee Cross - Genealogy Hints:  Some of my Favorite Videos You may have Missed

*  Ancestry:  Finding Your Roots | Season 10 Official Trailer | Ancestry®

*  Ancestry:  Alanis Morrisette's Family Amidst The Holocaust | Finding Your Roots | Ancestry®

*  Family Locket:  Genealogy Credentials - Accreditation vs. Certification

*  Genealogy TV:  Civil War Records with Brian Rhinehart 

*  Genealogy with Amy Johnson Crow:  Who Were the REAL Boys in the Boat? (and what happened after the Olympics)

*  Legacy Tree Genealogists:  What Are the Benefits of Genealogy Work?

*  Lisa Lisson:  Do You Have the RIGHT Ancestor?!

*  MyHeritage:  Introducing Color Coding for Family Trees

*  Storied_Social:  The Family Treehouse Episode #13 Devon Noel Lee

*  The Formidable Genealogist:  Adjusting Images on Ancestry | Formidable Genealogy

*  WikiTree:  Rhode Island Genealogical Society Takes the WikiTree Challenge 

*  WikiTree:  Ask Aleš: What Would You Like To Know About WikiTree Plus? w/host Greg Clarke (January 2024)

5) Did you miss the last post in this series - Genealogy Education Bytes -  21 to 27 December 2023?

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The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2024/01/genealogy-education-bytes-week-of-28.html

Copyright (c) 2024, Randall J. Seaver

Note that all comments are moderated and may not appear immediately. 

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 your comment on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest using the icons below. Or contact me by email at   randy.seaver@gmail.com.