Best of the Genea-Blogs - Week of 3 to 9 December 2023

 Scores of genealogy and family history bloggers write hundreds of posts every week about their research, their families, and their interests. I appreciate each one of them and their efforts.

My criteria for "Best of ..." are pretty simple - I pick posts that advance knowledge about genealogy and family history, address current genealogy issues, provide personal family history, are funny or are poignant. I don't list posts destined for most daily blog prompts or meme submissions (but I do include summaries of them), or my own posts.

Here are my picks for great reads from the genealogy blogs for this past week: 

*  Discover 10 Substitutes for Vital Records in Pennsylvania by Denys Allen on PA Ancestors.

*  The Best Family Tree Websites Compared: Where to Build Your Tree by Rick Crume on Family Tree Magazine.*

*  4 Keys to Italian Genealogy by DiAnn Iamarino Ohana on Fortify Your Family Tree.

*  Consensus by Jim Bartlett on Segment-ology.

*  Best (Free & Paid) Family Tree Chart Makers Compared [Mac, Windows, Mobile] on Treemily.

*  From Mystery to History: The Power of Adding Details to Your Photo Collection by Gena Philibert-Ortega on Legacy News.

*  23andMe Concludes Their Investigation – 6.9 Million Customers’ Data Exposed by Roberta Estes on DNAeXplained - Genetic Genealogy.

*  Researching Your Scandinavian Ancestors Part 4: Identifying the correct Rasmus Gudmundsson by Torhild Shirley on Family Locket.

*  Shaped by the Times in Which we Live by Jacqi Stevens on A Family Tapestry.

*  Friday’s Family History Finds – Hiatus This Week by Linda Stufflebean on Empty Branches on the Family Tree.

*  My First-Hand Experience and Top 10 Tips for Researching at NARA by Dana Leeds on Dana Leeds.

*  Can AI Establish Relationship from Indirect Sources Only? by Lori Samuelson on GenealogyAtHeart.com. 

*  Introducing BanyanDNA! by Leah Larkin on The DNA Geek.

Here are pick posts by other geneabloggers this week:

*   Friday Fossicking 8th Dec 2023 by Crissoulli on That Moment In Time.

*  This Week's Creme de la  Creme - December 9, 2023 by Gail Dever on Genealogy a la Carte.

Readers are encouraged to go to the blogs listed above and  read their articles, and add the blogs to your Favorites, Feedly, another RSS feed, or email if you like what you read. Please make a comment to them also - all bloggers appreciate feedback on what they write.

Did I miss a great genealogy blog post? Tell me! I currently am reading posts from over 900 genealogy bloggers using Feedly, but I still miss quite a few it seems.

Read past Best of the Genea-Blogs posts here.

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The URL for this post is:  

Copyright (c) 2023, Randall J. Seaver

Please 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.  

My Favorite Christmas Songs

 In years past (starting in about 2006 in Jasia's Carnival of Genealogy), the Geneabloggers had a Christmas Advent Calendar and one day of the calendar we would talk about our favorite Christmas carols and songs.

Mine haven't changed that much:

1)  When I was a boy, we sang the traditional carols at school - Joy to the World, O Little Town of Bethlehem, Silent Night, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, Away in a Manger, Deck the Halls, The First Noel, Oh Come All Ye Faithful come to mind. So, as a child, I knew the tunes and the first stanza of each. 

These came in handy on Christmas Eve when we stayed at my grandparents house - she would come into the bedroom (no doubt my parents and grandfather were putting stuff together in the garage or living room) and we would sing together for quite a while before going to bed hoping that sugar plums would dance in our heads (a sugar plum? I'm sure I hoped for dreams of toys and fun things). I don't remember my parents singing Christmas carols, or popular Christmas songs, in the home.

2)  After I was married and the girls came along, our house was filled with Christmas carols because they were always practicing for the King's Kids performances in church. We would often sing some carols and popular songs just before bed with them.

As a parent, we went several times with our kids as part of the church couples group. We usually got a list of shut-in families from the church office and would go around singing to them. For years, there was a yearly Christmas Carol event on a Sunday before Christmas.  I usually sang without much gusto but with a smile, being Mr. J-Sharp.

3)  I think my favorite traditional Christmas carols are "Silent Night." "Hark the Herald, Angels Sing," and "Joy to the World." 

Of the newer carols, I love "Angels We Have Heard on High."

4)  Other favorite songs (all link to a YouTube video):

* The Christmas Song - a really old beautiful song

*  Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree - an older rock song

*  All I Want For Christmas Is You - a newer rock song

*  Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer  - a funny song

*  Christmas Eve in San Diego - a home town song! (thanks, EC Karen)

5)  Here is a YouTube video of the Top 20 Christmas songs for 2024:

This was a special hour for me - listening to and watching Christmas songs - from reverent to funny.  Now I'm in the mood!  Amazon, here I come!  Only 16 more days to go!

What do you look forward to hearing this holiday season?

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The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2023/12/memories-of-christmas-songs.html

Copyright (c) 2020, 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 -- Christmas Weather

 Calling all Genea-Musings Fans: 

 It's Saturday Night again - 

Time for some more Genealogy Fun!!

(Photo courtesy of footnoteMaven)

Come on, everybody, join in and accept the mission and execute it with precision. Here's your chance to sit on Genea-Santa's lap (virtually) and tell him about your Christmas weather experiences:

1)  What Christmas-time weather have you experienced?  Does it snow at Christmas-time where you live?  What are the likely temperatures at Christmas time??

2) Tell us about 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:

We have experienced warm and sunny, mild and cloudy, cool and rainy, but not cold and snowy in San Diego at Christmas time. 

The short answer to the second question is "Yes -- on television - on the weather report, the national news and the football games. Not outside our window ever."

Our weather in San Diego at sea level on Christmas Day is typically partly cloudy, with a high in the low 60's and a low in the high 40's. We have had sunny and warm (highs in the 80s) Christmas Days before, and have had rain all day on occasion. We don't usually have real cold (for us - temps in the 30s) weather in December - it usually happens in January. The record low temperature in San Diego is 25 F, which happened in 1923 - the water froze in the fountain at the downtown Plaza. The temperatures on the coast are always warmer than inland - if you go 10 miles inland, the low temps are always 5 to 10 degrees colder than the San Diego city temperature. 

The Laguna, Cuyamaca and Palomar Mountains to our east and north (all are over 6,000 feet high) get snow occasionally, even at Christmas time. The TV stations always show folks parked on the sides of the roads, sliding down hills and throwing snowballs. Every 5 years or so, we get a snow fall down to 2,000 feet elevation but rarely at sea level.

It has snowed several times in my lifetime in San Diego. At sea level. In January 1949, it snowed while I was walking to school (I was in kindergarten and it made a big impression on me). In December 1967, it snowed on my way to work. This time, the snow stuck for most of the day in the suburbs, and many San Diego kids (including the 25 year-old Randy) had a lot of fun. It snowed again in late December 1987 in San Diego, but we were on the way home from San Francisco and missed it. In every case, it snows at sea level early in the morning when a fast-moving cold front follows a clear and cold night.

In all the years that we went to San Francisco at Christmas time, it never snowed on us there, much to my disappointment. In 1987, it did snow on us at King City (south of Salinas) on Highway 101 and we stopped and had a wonderful snow ball fight in the McDonald's parking lot. In 1985, we went to Yosemite after visiting San Francisco, and stayed several nights in that icy wonderland. We marveled at the frozen ponds, the waterfalls shedding ice, and had a glorious day sledding and snowballing at Glacier Point, a ski resort.

I have been in snow on occasion on trips to Portland in 1968, Boston in 1968, Cincinnati in the 1990's, Topeka in 1987 and 1996, Salt Lake City in 2011 and 2018 (?), and Palm Springs (really on Mt. San Jacinto) in the 2005 to 2015 time frame. Each time, I am filled with wonder. Others (the natives) laugh at me - my lack of preparation (no hat, no gloves, no boots), my giddiness, my sliding on ice (unaware of the dangers). For me, snow is really special - a treat.

Our daughters lived in areas that have snow occasionally, but we weren't there at Christmas time when it snowed. At least my grandchildren will have some memories of playing in the snow as children. We traveled to their homes at Christmas time every other year and hoped we might get lucky and really have a fun snow time with the little ones.

As a kid, I was very jealous that we did not have snow, at least on occasion, just so I could enjoy what other kids all over the country enjoyed. We didn't even have snow clothes, and still don't. We got Flexible Flyers (sleds with wheels) for Christmas, not snow sleds. When there was snow in the mountains, my folks never took us because of the crowds. I did go several times with the church youth group when I was 10 to 12 years old - it was cool! Wet. Cold. Fun.

We don't have snow tires, or tire chains, or ice scrapers in the San Diego coastal area. We try to avoid driving where it is snowy and icy. We didn't take the kids to the snow when they were young because of our lack of proper equipment. The kids did go with their youth group several times, so they weren't totally deprived.

These days, I look forward to the absolutely clear days that follow a storm that dumps snow on the mountains. We can see Mount Cuyamaca (an Indian name, pronounced "kwee-ah-mack-ah") from all over San Diego County, and it occasionally has a snow mantle down to 4,000 feet. It is majestic and beautiful.

And I yearn for one more snowfall in my backyard before I leave this mortal coil.  I'll take photos and write a blog post about it!

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The URL for this post is:  

Copyright (c) 2023, 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 2 to 8 December 2023

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

As of 8 December 2023, there are 3,257 historical record collections on FamilySearch (an increase of 4 from last week):

The new and updated collections this week from FamilySearch are:

--- Collections Added ---

*  Palestine, Ottoman Census and Population Registers, 1876-1917 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4496121); 11,561 indexed records with 44,766 record images, ADDED 08-Dec-2023

*  Russia, Tobolsk, Church Books, 1722-1930 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4496122); 342,784 indexed records with 75,017 record images, ADDED 06-Dec-2023

*  Russia, Tomsk, Church Books, 1752-1918 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4450389); 1,241,703 indexed records with 257,222 record images, ADDED 06-Dec-2023

--- Collections Updated ---

Argentina, Catamarca, Civil Registration, 1888-2000 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4328763); 144,550 indexed records with 144,325 record images (was 143,593 records with 142,880 images), UPDATED 08-Dec-2023
Argentina, Chaco, Civil Registration, 1889-1946 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4450393); 108,779 indexed records with 108,341 record images (was 106,217 records with 105,796 images), UPDATED 08-Dec-2023
Argentina, Entre Ríos, Catholic Church Records, 1764-1983 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1974185); 671,066 indexed records with 235,772 record images (was 671,014 records with 235,772 images), UPDATED 08-Dec-2023
Argentina, Jujuy, Catholic Church Records, 1662-1975 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1974186); 195,945 indexed records with 69,981 record images (was 195,928 records with 69,981 images), UPDATED 04-Dec-2023
Argentina, Neuquén, Catholic Church Records, 1883-1977 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1974191); 33,770 indexed records with 11,873 record images (was 33,742 records with 11,873 images), UPDATED 06-Dec-2023

Aruba, Civil Registration, 1823-2004 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4285043); 505,728 indexed records with 140,999 record images (was 172,196 records with 40,707 images), UPDATED 08-Dec-2023
Belgium, Antwerp, Civil Registration, 1588-1953 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2138481); 942,938 indexed records with 3,208,709 record images (was 936,123 records with 3,208,709 images), UPDATED 07-Dec-2023
Belgium, Brabant, Civil Registration, 1582-1950 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1482191); 75,782 indexed records with 6,411,594 record images (was 74,925 records with 6,411,594 images), UPDATED 08-Dec-2023
Belgium, Namur, Civil Registration, 1800-1912 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2138511); 676,482 indexed records with 372,768 record images (was 673,226 records with 372,768 images), UPDATED 08-Dec-2023
Bolivia Catholic Church Records, 1566-1996 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1922463); 9,376,854 indexed records with 1,649,601 record images (was 9,374,919 records with 1,649,601 images), UPDATED 08-Dec-2023

Brazil, Alagoas, Church Records, 1802-2016 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2820768); 1,200,414 indexed records with 180,365 record images (was 1,199,139 records with 179,955 images), UPDATED 08-Dec-2023
Brazil, Mato Grosso, Civil Registration, 1845-2013 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2001286); Index only (817 records), no images (was 817 records with 0 images), UPDATED 08-Dec-2023
Brazil, Minas Gerais, Civil Registration, 1879-1949 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3479702); 894,265 indexed records with 372,565 record images (was 892,694 records with 371,846 images), UPDATED 08-Dec-2023
Brazil, Paraná, Civil Registration, 1852-1996 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2016194); 3,118,581 indexed records with 1,689,031 record images (was 3,115,285 records with 1,689,031 images), UPDATED 08-Dec-2023
Brazil, Pará, Civil Registration, 1815-1995 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4473609); 231,903 indexed records with 70,352 record images (was 221,407 records with 67,446 images), UPDATED 08-Dec-2023

Brazil, Rio Grande do Sul, Civil Registration, 1860-2006 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3741255); 1,720,287 indexed records with 877,520 record images (was 1,719,779 records with 874,492 images), UPDATED 08-Dec-2023
Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, Civil Registration, 1829-2012 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1582573); 6,907,007 indexed records with 5,100,470 record images (was 6,906,609 records with 5,100,470 images), UPDATED 08-Dec-2023
Brazil, Santa Catarina, Civil Registration, 1850-1999 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2016197); 755,194 indexed records with 1,037,638 record images (was 754,891 records with 1,037,638 images), UPDATED 08-Dec-2023
Brazil, Sergipe, Catholic Church Records, 1785-1994 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2177298); 1,260,231 indexed records with 273,847 record images (was 1,257,755 records with 273,847 images), UPDATED 08-Dec-2023
Chile, Catholic Church Records, 1633-2015 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3405096); 8,130,606 indexed records with 1,025,781 record images (was 8,119,458 records with 1,024,706 images), UPDATED 08-Dec-2023

Colombia, Catholic Church Records, 1576-2018 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1726975); 26,419,890 indexed records with 12,659,776 record images (was 26,409,728 records with 12,659,776 images), UPDATED 08-Dec-2023
Colombia, Civil Registration, 1553-2021 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4469480); 799,885 indexed records with 853,944 record images (was 799,405 records with 853,639 images), UPDATED 07-Dec-2023
Colombia, Costa, Church Records, 1778-2018 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4469405); 104,910 indexed records with 42,773 record images (was 104,883 records with 42,769 images), UPDATED 04-Dec-2023
Costa Rica, Catholic Church Records, 1595-1992 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1460016); 4,335,883 indexed records with 962,203 record images (was 4,334,688 records with 962,203 images), UPDATED 08-Dec-2023
Croatia, Church Books, 1516-1994 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2040054); 2,993,727 indexed records with 1,421,761 record images (was 2,993,727 records with 1,421,761 images), UPDATED 08-Dec-2023

Czech Republic, Church Books, 1552-1981 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1804263); 13,156,427 indexed records with 4,668,489 record images (was 12,306,596 records with 4,668,489 images), UPDATED 02-Dec-2023
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Census, 1984 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3288450); 1,970,160 indexed records with 587,093 record images (was 1,875,946 records with 585,786 images), UPDATED 05-Dec-2023
Democratic Republic of the Congo, National Identity Cards, 1884-2019 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000100); 4,725,235 indexed records with 4,739,991 record images (was 622,385 records with 622,382 images), UPDATED 08-Dec-2023
Dominican Republic, Catholic Church Records, 1590-1975 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1918910); 2,286,290 indexed records with 238,265 record images (was 2,285,851 records with 238,265 images), UPDATED 08-Dec-2023
Ecuador, Catholic Church Records, 1565-2011 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1923402); 6,149,912 indexed records with 1,454,787 record images (was 6,149,902 records with 1,454,787 images), UPDATED 02-Dec-2023

France, Haute-Garonne, Toulouse, Church Records, 1539-1793 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2363045); 606,190 indexed records with 95,073 record images (was 606,035 records with 95,073 images), UPDATED 01-Dec-2023
French Polynesia, Civil Registration, 1780-1999 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2549721); 79,603 indexed records with 186,372 record images (was 79,313 records with 139,065 images), UPDATED 04-Dec-2023
Germany, North Rhine-Westphalia, Wuppertal, Civil Registration, 1810-1930 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000010); 83,370 indexed records with 81,794 record images (was 81,524 records with 79,977 images), UPDATED 08-Dec-2023
Gibraltar, Church Records, 1697-1991 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4453925); 50,914 indexed records with 4,891 record images (was 50,271 records with 4,829 images), UPDATED 08-Dec-2023
Guatemala, Chiquimula, Civil Registration, 1877-2008 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2790265); 450,900 indexed records with 352,731 record images (was 450,059 records with 352,294 images), UPDATED 08-Dec-2023

Guatemala, Guatemala, Civil Registration, 1877-2006 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2075150); 4,578,693 indexed records with 1,486 record images (was 4,578,420 records with 1,486 images), UPDATED 07-Dec-2023
Guatemala, Huehuetenango, Civil Registration, 1877-1994 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2451045); 996,933 indexed records with 17,993 record images (was 996,693 records with 17,993 images), UPDATED 07-Dec-2023
Guatemala, Izabal, Civil Registration, 1877-1994 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2443319); 419,670 indexed records with 9,848 record images (was 419,613 records with 9,848 images), UPDATED 07-Dec-2023
Haiti, Archdiocese of Port-au-Prince, Catholic Church Records, 1866-2017 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4279947); 75,963 indexed records with 9,744 record images (was 74,704 records with 14,599 images), UPDATED 08-Dec-2023
Iceland Church Census, 1744-1965 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2697871); 1,856,040 indexed records with 48,161 record images (was 1,855,372 records with 46,649 images), UPDATED 06-Dec-2023

Ireland, Catholic Parish Registers, 1740-1900 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2820100); 4,997,879 indexed records with 174,209 record images (was 4,916,671 records with 157,960 images), UPDATED 08-Dec-2023
Italy, Sassari, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1803-1942 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4464417); 50,962 indexed records with 17,731 record images (was 50,824 records with 17,672 images), UPDATED 08-Dec-2023
Italy, Treviso, Treviso, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1871-1941 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1947831); 7,864 indexed records with 427,232 record images (was 7,619 records with 427,232 images), UPDATED 08-Dec-2023
Italy, Venezia, Venezia, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1871-1930 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2043809); 33,675 indexed records with 628,744 record images (was 32,197 records with 628,744 images), UPDATED 08-Dec-2023
Luxembourg Census Records, 1843-1900 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2037957); 3,929,635 indexed records with 1,115,931 record images (was 3,936,859 records with 1,115,931 images), UPDATED 01-Dec-2023

Mexico, Michoacán, Catholic Church Records, 1555-1996 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1883388); 5,769,512 indexed records with 5,283,986 record images (was 5,764,939 records with 5,283,986 images), UPDATED 08-Dec-2023
Mexico, Puebla, Catholic Church Records, 1545-1977 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1837906); 8,978,723 indexed records with 6,124,553 record images (was 8,977,695 records with 6,124,553 images), UPDATED 08-Dec-2023
Mexico, Querétaro, Catholic Church Records, 1590-1970 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1881200); 3,034,129 indexed records with 1,380,077 record images (was 3,033,955 records with 1,380,077 images), UPDATED 07-Dec-2023
New York, U.S. District and Circuit Court Naturalization Records, 1824-1991 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2060123); 4,023,952 indexed records with 2,187,206 record images (was 3,769,280 records with 2,187,206 images), UPDATED 02-Dec-2023
Norway, Probate Index Cards, 1640-1903 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1661306); Index only (604,508 records), no images (was 601,963 records with 0 images), UPDATED 01-Dec-2023

Ohio, Stillbirths, 1918-1953 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000024); 162,486 indexed records with 162,312 record images (was 160,849 records with 160,680 images), UPDATED 08-Dec-2023
Paraguay, Civil Registration, 1842-2012 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000049); 3,770 indexed records with 4,678 record images (was 3,361 records with 4,182 images), UPDATED 08-Dec-2023
Pennsylvania, Western District, Naturalizations, 1820-1930 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000034); 423,123 indexed records with 332,767 record images (was 367,231 records with 268,257 images), UPDATED 02-Dec-2023
Peru, Catholic Church Records, 1603-1992 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1877097); 20,977,426 indexed records with 4,192,353 record images (was 20,964,542 records with 4,192,353 images), UPDATED 08-Dec-2023
Portugal, Setúbal, Catholic Church Records, 1555-1911 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1935451); 1,088,576 indexed records with 829,309 record images (was 1,088,228 records with 829,309 images), UPDATED 08-Dec-2023

Puerto Rico, Catholic Church Records, 1645-1969 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1807092); 3,319,793 indexed records with 191,547 record images (was 3,317,176 records with 191,547 images), UPDATED 08-Dec-2023
Russia, Lutheran Church Book Duplicates, 1833-1885 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1469151); 358,017 indexed records with 128,317 record images (was 355,225 records with 128,317 images), UPDATED 08-Dec-2023
Russia, Tver Church Books, 1722-1918 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1921824); 16,012,703 indexed records with 3,278,129 record images (was 15,116,079 records with 3,278,129 images), UPDATED 05-Dec-2023
South Africa, Cape Province, Civil Records, 1840-1972 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1779109); 3,134,582 indexed records with 2,216,270 record images (was 3,133,648 records with 2,216,270 images), UPDATED 08-Dec-2023
South Africa, Western Cape, Deceased Estate Files, 1951-1958 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4319131); 422,047 indexed records with 342,622 record images (was 421,961 records with 342,621 images), UPDATED 08-Dec-2023

Sweden, Stockholm City Archives, Index to Church Records, 1546-1927 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2057674); 1,201,274 indexed records with 69,656 record images (was 1,200,126 records with 56,682 images), UPDATED 02-Dec-2023
Ukraine, Western Ukraine Catholic Church Book Duplicates, 1600-1937 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1910265); 309,941 indexed records with 942,391 record images (was 309,932 records with 942,391 images), UPDATED 04-Dec-2023
Uruguay Civil Registration, 1879-1930 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1837849); Index only (1,086,973 records), no images (was 1,080,975 records with 0 images), UPDATED 08-Dec-2023
Venezuela Civil Registration, 1873-2003 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1823609); 1,077,016 indexed records with 586,312 record images (was 1,074,779 records with 586,312 images), UPDATED 08-Dec-2023
Venezuela, Archdiocese of Caracas, Catholic Church Records, 1638-2020 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4465438); 182,261 indexed records with 68,645 record images (was 179,206 records with 68,201 images), UPDATED 08-Dec-2023

Virginia, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Birth Records, 1853-1896 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000046); 1,939,899 indexed records with 42,268 record images (was 1,938,307 records with 42,222 images), UPDATED 07-Dec-2023
Zimbabwe, Diocese of Mutare, Catholic Church Records, 1898-2022 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000105); 91 indexed records with 4,295 record images (was 48 records with 4,019 images), UPDATED 08-Dec-2023

--- Collections with images removed ---

Martinique, Civil Registration Records, 1809-1874 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4316501); 324 indexed records with 47 record images (was 320 records with 88 images), last updated 01-Dec-2023

--- Collections with records removed ---

Haiti, Civil Registration, 1794-2012 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1482819); 20,925,834 indexed records with 31,609 record images (was 20,925,837 records with 31,609 images), last updated 15-Mar-2023
United States Public Records, 1970-2009 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2199956); Index only (875,610,082 records), no images (was 875,610,087 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/2023/12/added-and-updated-familysearch-record_01931459682.html

Copyright (c) 2023 Randall J. Seaver

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Added and Updated Ancestry.com Record Collections - Week of 2 to 8 December 2023

 The following genealogy record collections were listed on the Recently Added and Updated Collections on Ancestry.com during the period from 2 to 8 December 2023: 

The ADDED and Updated collections include:

*  Geneanet Community Trees Index; indexed records without record images, Updated 12/08/2023

*  Ukraine, Registration Cards of the Jewish Residents of Stanisławów (USHMM); indexed records without record images, ADDED 12/06/2023

*  Poland, Records from Jewish Councils, 1936-1942 (USHMM); indexed records without record images, ADDED 12/06/2023

*  Pińsk, Poland, Jewish Council Employment Records, 1942 (USHMM); indexed records without record images, ADDED 12/06/2023

*  Brussels, Belgium Birth, Marriage, and Death Records, 1539-1910; indexed records without record images, ADDED 12/06/2023

*  Kentucky, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1783-1965; indexed records with record images, Updated 12/06/2023

*  Queensland, Australia, Military Pensions, 1872-1919; indexed records without record images, ADDED 12/05/2023

*  Sweden, Household Clerical Surveys, 1880-1896; indexed records with record images, Updated 12/04/2023

*  Queensland, Australia, Naturalisation Index, 1851-1908; indexed records without record images, Updated 12/04/2023

*  Queensland, Australia, Army Reservists Indexes, 1909-1920; indexed records without record images, ADDED 12/04/2023

*  Queensland, Australia, Property Indexes, 1819-1919; indexed records without record images, Updated 12/04/2023

*  Queensland, Australia, Hospital Indexes,1830-1919; indexed records without record images, Updated 12/04/2023

*  Queensland, Australia, Civil Servant Indexes, 1866-1867; indexed records without record images, Updated 12/04/2023

*  West Flanders, Belgium, Birth, Marriage, Death Records, 1509-1920; indexed records without record images, ADDED 12/04/2023

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

By my count, there were 7 NEW record collections ADDED this past week, per the list above.  There are now 33,385 collections available as of 8 December, an INCREASE of 7 from last week.  

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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/2023/12/added-and-updated-ancestrycom-record_01335898463.html

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52 Relatives -- Harry Clifton Seaver (1885-1951) 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 am starting 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 part of the lives of my ancestors.  I will post the sketches on my Ancestry Member Tree and in the FamilySearch Family Tree. 

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Harry Clifton Seaver[1–3], the son of Frank Walton and Hattie Louisa (Hildreth) Seaver, was born on 31 Mar 1885 in Leominster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States.[4–6]

He appeared in the census on 1 Jun 1900 at 149 Lancaster Street (ED 1645) in Leominster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States.[7]  He was in the household of his parents, and age 15.

He appeared in the census on 1 Apr 1910 at 149 Lancaster Street (ED 1772) in Leominster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States.[8] Harry was in the household of his parents, age 24, male, white, single, and worked as a Laborer in a comb shop in Leominster, Worcester, Massachusetts.[9]

Harry Clifton Seaver registered for the World War I draft on 12 September 1918 in Leominster, Massachusetts[10]. He was age 33, born 31 March 1885, white, a native born US citizen. He resided at 149 Lancaster Street in Leominster MA, and was employed as a button worker at Harrington Mfg Co at 52 Mechanic St in Leominster MA. His nearest relative was Frank W. Seaver of the same home address. He was medium height, 5'4", medium build, grey eyes and dark hair.

He appeared in the census on 1 Jan 1920 at 149 Lancaster Street (ED 102) in Leominster, Worcester, Massachusetts.[11] Harry resided in his parent's household, was age 34, male, single, and worked as a Button turner in a button shop in Leominster, Worcester, Massachusetts.[12]

He appeared in the census on 1 Apr 1930 at 32 Monument Square in Leominster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States.[13]  Harry was white, male, married, born in Massachusetts, and worked as a poker in a comb shop.

In the 1940 U.S. Census, taken on 1 April 1940, Harry C. Seaver resided at 36 Monument Square in Leominster, Worcester, Massachusetts.  He was age 44, white, male, married, rented his residence, paying $12 per month.  He worked as a janitor in rooming apartments, working 52 weeks, and earning $1300.  He had completed the 8th grade.  

He registered for the military draft in 1942 in in Leominster, Worcester, Massachusetts.[14]  Harry Clifton Seaver resided at 14 Monument Square in Leominster, Worcester, Massachusetts.  He was employed at the Woods Estate at the same address.  Harry signed his name on the registration card.

In the 1950 United States census, taken on 1 April 1950, Harry Sever resided at 32 Mount Pleasant Avenue in Leominster, Worcester, Massachusetts.  He was age 65, white, male, widowed, and a roomer in the rooming house of Clarice Gilmartin.  He worked as a janitor in a printer business.

Harry died on 22 May 1951 at the age of 66 in Leominster, Worcester, Massachusetts.[15]

He was buried after 22 May 1951 at Evergreen Cemetery in Leominster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States.[15]

Harry Clifton Seaver and Rose Anna Noel[4,15–16] were married on 5 Nov 1923 in Nashua, Hillsborough, New Hampshire.[16]  

Rose Anna Noel[17], daughter of Napoleon Joseph Noel and Mary Lemoine, was born on 15 Apr 1896 in Nashua, Hillsborough, New Hampshire, United States.[18]  They had no children.

She appeared in the census on 1 Jan 1920 in Winchendon, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States.[19]

She appeared in the census on 1 Apr 1930 in Leominster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States.[20]

Rose died on 24 Apr 1948 at the age of 52 in Leominster, Worcester, Massachusetts.[17]  She was buried after 24 Apr 1948 at Evergreen Cemetery in Leominster, Worcester, Massachusetts.[17]

SOURCES:

1. "U.S. World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918," digital images, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com), Leominster, Massachusetts, Harry Clifton Seaver entry.

2. "U.S. World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942," online database, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com), citing National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington, D.C.; Microfilm Series M1965; Microfilm Roll 10, Harry Clifton Seaver entry.

3. "U.S. Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007," indexed database, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com), Harry Clifton Seaver (885-1951) entry.

4. "Massachusetts Vital Records, 1841-1915," indexed database and digital images, New England Historic Genealogical Society, American Ancestors (https://www.AmericanAncestors.org), Births: Volume 360, Page 330, Harry Clifton Seaver entry, 31 March 1885.

5. "U.S. World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918," digital images, Ancestry.com   (https://www.ancestry.com), Leominster, Massachusetts, Harry Clifton Seaver entry.

6. "U.S. Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007," indexed database, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com), Harry Clifton Seaver entry.

7. 1900 United States Federal Census, Worcester County, Massachusetts; Leominster: Enumeration District 1645, Sheet 16A, Dwelling #258, Family #377, Frank W. Seaver household; digital image, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com), citing National Archives Microfilm Publication T623, Roll 692.

8. 1910 United States Federal Census, Worcester County, Massachusetts, Leominster: Enumeration District 1772, Sheet 13B, dwelling #149, family #257, line 96-98, Sophia Hildreth household; digital image, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication T624, Roll 629.

9. 1910 United States Federal Census, Worcester County, Massachusetts, Leominster: Enumeration District 1772, Sheet 13B, dwelling #149, family #257, line 96-98, Sophia Hildreth household; online database, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication T624, Roll 629.

10. "U.S. World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918," digital images, Ancestry.com   (https://www.ancestry.com), Leominster, Massachusetts, Harry Clifton Seaver entry.

11. 1920 United States Federal Census, Worcester County, Massachusetts, Leominster; Supervisor District 3, Enumeration District 102, Sheet 5B, dwelling #68, family #132, lines 7-10, Frank W. Seaver household; digital image, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication T625, Roll 747.

12. 1920 United States Federal Census, Worcester County, Massachusetts, Leominster; Supervisor District 3, Enumeration District 102, Sheet 5B, dwelling #68, family #132, lines 7-10, Frank W. Seaver household; online database, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication T625, Roll 747.

13. 1930 United States Federal Census, Worcester County, Massachusetts, population schedule, Leominster, ED 222, Page 14B, Dwelling #186, Family #350, Harry C. Seaver household; indexed database and digital image, Ancestry.com ((https://www.ancestry.com : accessed 22 November 2014), citing National Archives Microfilm Publication T626, Roll 964.

14. "World War II Draft Registrations, 1942," Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com), Harry Clifton Seaver entry.

15. Find A Grave, indexed database and digital image, (https://www.findagrave.com), Evergreen Cemetery, Leominster, Mass., Harry Clifton Seaver (1885-1951) memorial #44596459.

16. “New Hampshire Marriage Records, 1637 to 1947,” indexed database, FamilySearch International (https://www.FamilySearch.org : 2009), Harry C. Seaver and Rose Hanks entry, 5 November 1923.

17. Find A Grave, Evergreen Cemetery (Leominster, Mass.), Rose Anna Noel Seaver (1896-1948) memorial #44596455 .

18. "New Hampshire Births and Christenings, 1714-1904," online database, FamilySearch International (https://familysearch.org), citing Birth Records, FHL microfilm 2,156,071; Index entries derived from digital copies of original and compiled records., Marie Rose Delima Noel entry, 15 April 1896.

19. 1920 United States Federal Census, Worcester County, Massachusetts, population schedule, Winchendon, ED 187, page 7A, dwelling #8, family #10, Napoleon Noel household; digital image, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed 22 November 2015); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication T625, Roll 749.

20. 1930 United States Federal Census, Worcester County, Massachusetts, population schedule, Leominster, ED 222, Page 14B, Dwelling #186, Family #350, Harry C. Seaver household; indexed database and digital image, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed 22 November 2014), citing National Archives Microfilm Publication T626, Roll 964.

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The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2023/12/52-relatives-harry-clifton-seaver-1885.html

Copyright (c) 2023, 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.   

Findmypast Friday: Northampton Roman Catholic Church Records

  I received this information from Findmypast today:

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Revel in all things Northampton this Findmypast Friday

This week, discover over 13,000 new records and an exciting new newspaper title.

We're in Northamptonshire this week, with updates to four of our existing Roman Catholic Parish sets and a brand new diocese added to the collection. But that's not all - we've also improved our Irish Roman Catholic marriages, meaning that 19,000 records are easier to search than ever.

We've also added an eagerly-awaited new newspaper title to our collection. Spanning 150 years of literary history, you can now explore the pages of The Bookseller on Findmypast.

England Roman Catholic Parish updates

We've expanded our collection of English Roman Catholic Parish records to include the diocese of Northampton in the East Midlands. If you've got Northamptonshire ancestors, their names may just be contained within this release.

To explore the 14 parishes included within this diocese, be sure to consult our updated parish list.

Baptisms

First up, we've added 9,383 Northampton baptisms, spanning from 1775 to 1913. There are both images and transcriptions available for these records - so be sure to consult the original record to ensure that you don't miss any key details.

Marriages

Next up, we've also added 1,288 marriage records for the Roman Catholic Northampton Diocese. These new additions cover from 1781 to 1913, meaning there is almost 150 years of history to explore.

Burials

Our third Northampton addition comes to our burial collection. We've added 1,547 new burials, which cover the diocese between 1834 and 1913. For the first time, you can search your Northamptonshire ancestor's name in the images and transcriptions within this set.

Confirmations

To round of this week's Northampton additions, we've also added 2,737 confirmation records from the diocese, spanning the years 1838 to 1913. You can explore these unique records within the wider Congregational Records set.

Welcoming The Bookseller to Findmypast

Calling all bookworms - this week, we've added a fascinating new title to our collection, providing you with an opportunity to get lost in the magic of the written word.

The Bookseller has been the 'Organ of the Book Trade' since its founding in 1858 - it is one of Britain's longest-running magazines and is the only title to report on the literary world weekly. In partnership with Stage Media Company, we're delighted to announce the addition of 150 years of The Bookseller to Findmypast.

Here's everything that we've added to our newspaper collection this Findmypast Friday:

New titles:

• The Bookseller, 1858-2000, 2002-2008

Updated titles:

• Ballymena Weekly Telegraph, 1894

You can see more details on these collections in   https://www.findmypast.co.uk/blog/new/northampton-roman-catholic-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.

The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2023/12/findmypast-friday-northampton-roman.html

Copyright (c) 2023, 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.

Using the AncestryDNA Match Table Maker Spreadsheet on WikiTree

I last wrote about Greg Clarke's "AncestryDNA Match Table Maker List" tool on 22 October 2022 - in Rabbit Holes With Randy - Updating My AncestryDNA Match Table List.  When I tried this again several months ago, I was unable to make it work and it fell off my "attention screen."  I don't know if it is worknig again through the Family Tree Fanatic's process.

 1)  I watched the San Diego Genealogical Society DNA Special Interest Group meeting last Saturday. The meeting featured presentations of "DNA AutoClustering" methods by Colin Whitney and "A New Tool for Analyzing Ancestry DNA Data" by David Nowotnik.  David shared a link with the group for the Greg Clarke tool on WikiTree that is simpler than the earlier tool.  

2)  A user can access the WikiTree version at https://www.wikitree.com/g2g/1362851/ancestry-dna-match-table-maker-spreadsheet.  

This tool enables the user to select and copy their AncestryDNA Match list (there may be a line limit - I don't know) and paste it into the Google Sheets spreadsheet and see a list of their DNA matches, and manipulate the list as desired as a spreadsheet.  It works best on the Google Chrome browser, according to Greg Clarke. 

3)  By clicking the "Google Spreadsheet" link on the screen above, the Google Sheets spreadsheet opens and the user can read the directions to select, copy and paste the AncestryDNA  information:

There are three sheets on this spreadsheet - "Instructions," "Raw Data" and "WhatsNew."  The user needs to make a copy of the spreadsheet and store it in their own Google Drive account.  You click on the "File" menu and then "Make A Copy."  

By clicking "Make a copy" I now have the spreadsheet in my own Google Drive account and can work with it.  

4)  For this exercise, I used the "Common Ancestors" selection on my AncestryDNA Match list.  Ancestry presents only some of the matches, starting with the highest cM values.  The user can add more matches by going to the "End" of the list on the page, and more will matches appear.   I have over 500 "Common Ancestor" matches, so this takes some time.

Having read the instructions, the user can go to the "Raw Data" sheet of the spreadsheet and note that after selecting and copying the AncestryDNA Match list from their AncestryDNA account, the user can paste all of that information into Cell A6 of the "Raw Data" sheet.  With a lot of lines, it may take several seconds to populate the spreadsheet with the macros (this is how the "magic" occurs) embedded into the spreadsheet.  

Columns A through S on the spreadsheet are used to populate the rest of the columns.  The useful columns are T through AE.  The screen above shows column T which is where the results of all of the above starts.

5)  Here is the top of my AncestryDNA Match list in the spreadsheet showing columns T through AE (note that I reduced the width of some columns for privacy purposes):

The columns shown are:

* T - Category
* U - Name
* V - Manager
* W - Relationship
* X - Which side?
* Y - DNA Amount
* Z - cM
* AA - % shared
* AB - Tree
* AC - People in Rree
* AD - Found?
* AE - Note

6)  I use this AncestryDNA Match Table Make spreadsheet for several reasons:

a) To see which matches I have that I don't have a Note for.  I can click on the link for "Common Ancestors" for a specific match line and go to the AncestryDNA match on AncestryDNA and write a Note.

b)  To see which matches I don't have a "Relationship" for.  I can click on the link for "Common Ancestors" for a specific match line and go to the AncestryDNA match on AncestryDNA and identify a known relationship.

c)  To see how many matches I have for a category - e.g., for "Common Ancestors" or "Matches above 15 cM."  

d)  To see how many matches I have that are Wrong.  I add "XX" or "XXX" or "Wrong" to the Notes for those Matches that I think have a faulty ThruLine (usually because the Common Ancestor is wrong, or when a relationship in a ThruLine obviously has a wrong date, place, etc.).

e)  To document my AncestryDNA matches at a specific time, since AncestryDNA constantly adds or eliminates DNA matches.

f)  Other reasons - what do you use it for?

As an example of c) above, I can see that on the screen above, my matches start on line 3 of the spreadsheet.  By going to the end of the data on the spreadsheet, I can see that my last match is on line 585.  So there are 583 "Common Ancestors" matches on my spreadsheet saved on 5 December 2023.  Here is a view of the last lines of the spreadsheet:

Note that there are four extra lines at the bottom of the screen above.  For some reason, there are four lines on this spreadsheet that have the words "Filter shared matches" in the AE - Notes column.  The Notes for all successive matches are displaced one line down.  If the "Filter shared matches" are in the Notes at Row 200, the Note for the Row 200 Match are shown on Row 201, and so on.  So the Note shown on Row 589 is for Row 585.  I will try to correct this in the spreadsheet so the Note for a Row is in the correct Row.

6)  I also search for "XX" and "wrong" in my Notes using the Windows "Find" feature.  I found 37 Matches have been judged "Wrong" by me over the years.  I should go back and evaluate those in case the DNA Match, or the Ancestry BIG Tree has changed the faulty relationship.

7)  The user can Rename this DNA Match Table file using "File > Rename."

8)  Lastly, the user can save this DNA Match Table to their desktop or laptop computer files so as to perform additional work with it.  The user can save the file using "File > Download" in *.xlsx, *.ods, *.pdf, *.html, *.csv, or *.tsv format.

My thanks to Greg Clarke for creating this Google Sheets method to track AncestryDNA Matches and to David Nowotnik for "finding" the WikiTree page to use it.   This is a relatively simple tool to perform a very useful procedure.  I can make my AncestryDNA Match table within 10 minutes of starting to do it.

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The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2023/12/using-ancestrydna-match-table-maker.html

Copyright (c) 2023, 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.