Genealogy News Bytes - 23 June 2017

Some of the genealogy news items across my desktop the last three days include:

1)  Record Databases

*  Findmypast Announces 5 Days of FREE Access to British and Irish Records

*   New Records Available To Search This Findmypast Friday, 23 June 2017

*  Nova Scotia Archives digitizes another year of birth, marriage and death records (Hat tip: Gail Dever)

*  Cathedral of the Holy Cross (Boston, Mass.) Records, 1789-1900 Now Searchable on American Ancestors.



2)  Education Opportunities

*  Family Tree Webinars:  Understanding Family Migration by J. Mark Lowe

*  Family Tree Webinars:  Virtual Family Reunions: Super Easy, Super Fun by DearMYRTLE and Russ Worthington (free through 27 June 2017)

*  Family Tree Webinars:  Beating the Bushes: Using the GPS to Find Jacob Bush's Father by Elissa Scalise Powell, CG, CGL (free through 27 June 2017)

*  MyHeritage Helps Fox & Friends Presenter Discover Her Roots

*  Bernice Bennett's BlogTalkRadio show: My Free People of Color and Those Classified as Melungeon - Gigi Best-Richardson

*  DearMYRTLE's Hangout on Air: Japanese Family History Research - 21 June 2017

3)  Genealogy Bargains

*  Thomas MacEntee's Genealogy Bargains for Friday 23 June 2017

*  Peter Calvers biweekly Lost Cousins newsletter (UK/Ireland research) is FREE to read

4)  Neat Stuff

*  Genealogy Resource List from James Tanner's Genealogy Star blog.

*  The Shared cM Project - Version 2.0 by Blaine Bettinger

*  Entire History of the World in One Chart in Washington Post

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The URL for this post is:  http://www.geneamusings.com/2017/06/genealogy-news-bytes-23-june-2017.html

Copyright (c) 2017, Randall J. Seaver

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

New Records Available To Search This Findmypast Friday, 23 June 2017

I received this information from Findmypast today:

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New Records Available To Search This Findmypast Friday

There are over 512,000 records available to search this Findmypast Friday, including:

Norfolk Marriage Bonds 1557-1915 Browse

Browse 444 volumes of marriage bonds from four ecclesiastical courts in their entirety. This collection contains over 147,000 records kept by the courts of the Archdeaconry of Norfolk, the Archdeaconry of Norwich, the Dean & Chapter of Norwich and the Diocese of Norwich Consistory Court. A marriage bond demonstrates an intention to be married by license.

Most marriage bonds follow the same set format. However, later records, particularly those produced after the 19th century, do tend to add more detail such as age and marital status. The details found in each record may vary depending on the court, the age of the record, and the physical condition of the register although most will include the couples’ name, residences, date of bond and the groom's signature.

Norfolk Poor Law Union Records 1796-1900 Image Browse

Consisting of over 55 volumes of Poor Law records covering 20 unions across the county, our Norfolk Poor Law Union records allow you to discover names, family relationships, residences, event dates, children's ages, and birth and death dates. The collection contains a wide variety of different record types including births & baptisms, relief lists, admission & discharge books, rate books, report books, minute books and more.

Poor law records pertain to those created and held by a parish vestry (local government's administrative body) or union in the course of caring for the poor in a given parish. The records detail how funds were collected, shared, and protected for the aid of the parish's destitute and struggling, as well as details relating to the poor and to those paying the poor rate, which would help in the aid of the parish's poor. This system had a long history in England, with the first poor law coming into effect in 1601.

Norfolk Non-Conformist Records 1613-1901 Image Browse

Browse through more than 7,000 records to find out whether your ancestor was a member of a non-conformist church in Norfolk. The collection consist of 11 registers covering various denominations including Methodist, Quaker, and Baptist in the parishes of Attleborough, Aylsham, Kenninghall, Norwich, Tasburgh, Walsingham, and Wymondham.

This collection comprises registers of baptisms, marriages, and burials, as well as membership lists and meeting minutes. The detail found in each register will differ depending on the church and when the register was created.

Virginia, Winchester, Evening Star Obituaries 1899-1909

Explore over 5,000 obituaries printed in the Winchester Evening Star and uncover a variety of fascinating biographical details relating to your ancestor such as their occupation, parents' names, surviving relatives' names, and specific time and cause of death.

The Evening Star ran from 1899 to 1914 and was a daily paper (excluding Sundays). The paper started as The Star in 1896 and was succeeded by the Winchester Evening Star, which ran from 1914 to 1980. The paper currently runs today as The Winchester Star. While the paper is printed in Winchester, Virginia, it covers the Shenandoah Valley area.

Scotland, Post Office Directories

Over 180,000 new records have been added to our collection of Scottish Post Office Directories. The new additions cover Aberdeenshire, Ayrshire, Bute, Midlothian, Forfarshire, Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, Perth and Inverness-shire.

The post directories in this collection may focus on a particular town or district or you can find national postal directories. The majority of post directories comprise a description of the place, along with lists of people by occupation. For example, you will find lists of magistrates, Councillors, sheriffs, police officers, and merchants.

Scotland Monumental Inscriptions Index

Over 32,000 new additions covering burial grounds in Berwickshire and East Lothian have been added to the Scotland Monumental Inscriptions Index. These records will allow you to discover your ancestor's maiden name, birth year, death year, the location of their burial.

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Disclosure:  I have a complimentary Findmypast.com subscription, courtesy of Findmypast.  That does not affect my objectivity in discussing and evaluating their product.

The URL for this post is:  http://www.geneamusings.com/2017/06/new-records-available-to-search-this_23.html

Copyright (c) 2017, Randall J. Seaver

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

52 Ancestors - Week 180: #259 Experience (Willis) Read (1707-1787) of Sudbury, Massachusetts

Experience (Willis) Read (1707-1787)  is #259 on my Ahnentafel List, my 6th great-grandmother, who married #258  Isaac Read (1704-1780)  in 1730, in Sudbury, Massachusetts.

I am descended through:

*  their daughter, #129 Sarah Read (1736-1809) who married #128 Norman Seaver (1734-1787)  in 1755.

*  their son, #64 Benjamin Seaver (1757-1816) who married #65 Martha Whitney (1763-1832) in 1783.

*  their son #32 Benjamin Seaver (1791-1825) who married #33 Abigail Gates (1797-1867) in 1817.

*  their son #16 Isaac Seaver (1823-1901) who married #17 Lucretia Townsend Smith (1828-1884) in 1851.

*  their son #8 Frank Walton Seaver (1852-1922) who married #9 Hattie Louisa Hildreth (1857-1920) in 1874.

*  their son #4 Frederick Walton Seaver (1876-1942) who married #5 Alma Bessie richmond (1882-1962) in 1900.

*  their son #2 Frederick Walton Seaver (1911-1983) who married #3 Betty Virginia Carringer (1919-2002) in 1942.

*  their son #1 Randall Jeffrey Seaver (1943-living)

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

*  Name:                          Experience Willis[1–4]   

*  Alternate Name:          Experience Read[5–10]

*  Sex:                             Female   

*  Father:                         Samuel Willis (1675-1758)   

*  Mother:                       Susannah Gleason (1675-1756)   

  

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

  

*  Birth:                          about 1707, Sudbury, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States[1]   

*  Baptism:                    10 April 1709 (about age 2), Sudbury, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States[2]   

*  Membership:             December 1730 (about age 23), First Sudbury Church, Sudbury, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States[5]   

*  Membership:             5 August 1753 (about age 46), First Sudbury Church, Sudbury, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States[6]   

*  Membership:             17 November 1772 (about age 65), First Sudbury Church, Sudbury, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States[7]   

*  Distribution:             14 May 1780 (about age 73), will of Isaac Seaver written; Sudbury, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States[8]   

*  Death:                       26 August 1787 (about age 80), Sudbury, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United State[9–10]   

   

3)  SHARED EVENTS (with source citations as indicated in brackets):

  

*  Spouse 1:                  Isaac Read (1704-1780)   

* Marriage:                  11 February 1729/30 (about age 23), Sudbury, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States[2–3]   

*  Child 1:                    Isaac Read (1730-1759)   

*  Child 2:                    Jacob Read (1732-1797)   

*  Child 3:                    Experience Read (1734-    )   

*  Child 4:                    Sarah Read (1736-1809)   

*  Child 5:                    Samuel Read (1738-    )   

*  Child 6:                    Mary Read (1740-1831)   

*  Child 7:                    Ruth Read (1743-1812)   

*  Child 8:                    Samuel Read (1745-1780)   

*  Child 9:                    Lois Read (1747-1814)   

*  Child 10:                  Eunice Read (1749-    )   

*  Child 11:                  Asahel Read (1753-1775)   

  

4)  NOTES (with source citations as indicated in brackets):   

Experience Willis was born in about 1707 in Sudbury, Massachusetts[1], the second child of Samuel Willis and his second wife, Susannah Gleason, and was baptized on 10 April 1709[2].  The article, "Willis Family of Sudbury, Massachusetts" by McTeer and Waters provides the estimated birth date and a baptism date of 10 April 1709 (extracted from the "Sudbury, Massachusetts, 1st Church Parish" record book which is available in manuscript form at the New England Historic Genealogical Society in Boston and on FHL US/CAN Microfilm at the Family History Library).  

Undoubtedly, Experience was named after her father's first wife, Experience Newell (1677-1703) whom he married in Roxbury in 1700.  

Experience Willis married Isaac Read on 11 February 1729/30 in Sudbury; record is in the Sudbury town records and the published Vital Records book[3-4].  Isaac and Experience (Willis) Read had eleven children between 1731 and 1753.

Isaac and Experience Read are on the list of Sudbury church members who owned the covenant after the separation of the church, dated December 1730[5].  Several of their children were subsequently baptized in the church.  Isaac and Experience Read are also on the list of Sudbury church members on the west side of the river on 5 August 1753[6].

Many of Isaac's Read's descendants are listed in the record book of Jacob Bigelow, the minister at the Sudbury Church from 1772 until about 1816.  Isaac Read and his wife Experience were listed as members of the First Church of Sudbury at the start of Jacob Bigelow's ministry there on 17 November 1772[7].

At the start of the Revolutionary War, Asahel Read, youngest son of Isaac and Experience Read, was one of two Sudbury men killed on 19 April 1775 at Lexington.  His body was brought to Sudbury, and probably was buried at Sudbury Centre.

Isaac Read died and was buried on 28 May 1780 in the Sudbury church yard.  Isaac Read of Sudbury wrote his will on 15 May 1780, and it was proved on 14 June 1780[8].  He named his wife Experience and bequeathed all indoor moveables to her, except for the clock which he bequeathed to son Jacob Read after his wife's decease.  

The death of "Mrs. Read, consort of Isaac, age 80" was reported in Jacob Bigelow's Record Book as 26 August 1787 in Sudbury[8-10].  Her burial location is not known, but was probably in the Sudbury Church yard with her husband.

There is no known probate record for Experience (Willis) Read.

5)  SOURCES

 

1 . Francis (David) McTeer and Frederick C. Waters,  "Willis Family of Sudbury, Massachusetts," New England Historic Genealogical Register, Vol. 114, No. 1 ((January 1960), pages 20-42 , page 32, Experience Willis sketch, birth entry.

2. Francis (David) McTeer and Frederick C. Waters,  "Willis Family of Sudbury, Massachusetts," New England Historic Genealogical Register, Vol. 114, No. 1 ((January 1960), pages 20-42 , page 32, Experience Willis sketch, baptism entry.

3. Francis (David) McTeer and Frederick C. Waters,  "Willis Family of Sudbury, Massachusetts," New England Historic Genealogical Register, Vol. 114, No. 1 ((January 1960), pages 20-42 , page 32, Experience Willis sketch, marriage entry.

4. Vital Records of Sudbury, Massachusetts to the year 1850 (Boston, Mass. : New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1903), Marriages, page 256, Isaac Reed and Experiance Willis entry.

5. First Parish Church (Sudbury, Mass.), Church Records, 1704-1956, Sudbury, Massachusetts, Family History Library, on FHL US/CAN Film 0,185,464, page 45, Isaac and Experience Read entries.

6. First Parish Church (Sudbury, Mass.), Church Records, 1704-1956, Sudbury, Massachusetts, Family History Library, on FHL US/CAN Film 0,185,464, pages 27-28, Isaac and Experience Read entries.

7. Jacob Bigelow, The Record Book of Jacob Bigelow, 1772-1800, Family History Library (on FHL US/CAN Microfilm 0,185,462), frame 29, Isaac Reed membership entry.

8. "Probate Records 1648-1924 (Middlesex County, Massachusetts),"  886 FHL US/CAN Microfilms, Probate Packet 18,507, Isaac Read of Sudbury, on FHL Microfilm 0,421,500.

9. Jacob Bigelow, The Record Book of Jacob Bigelow, 1772-1800, frame 13 of 46, Deaths, "Mrs. Read, consort of Isaac age 80" entry.

10. Francis (David) McTeer and Frederick C. Waters,  "Willis Family of Sudbury, Massachusetts," New England Historic Genealogical Register, Vol. 114, No. 1 ((January 1960), pages 20-42 , page 32, Experience Willis sketch, death entry.

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NOTE:  Amy Johnson Crow suggested a weekly blog theme of "52 Ancestors" in her blog post Challenge:  52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks on the No Story Too Small blog.  I have extended this theme in 2017 to 208 Ancestors in 208 Weeks.

The URL for this post is:  http://www.geneamusings.com/2017/06/52-ancestors-week-180-259-experience.html

Copyright (c) 2017, Randall J. Seaver

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

Seavers in the News -- Mrs. Charles Seaver 1929 Obituary

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

This week's entry is from the Courier and Freeman newspaper from Potsdam, New York dated 18 September 1929:

The transcription of this obituary is:

"Mrs. Charles Seaver

"Mrs. Charles Seaver died Sept. 5th at the home of her son, Percy Hart at Allens Falls.  She was stricken last June while visiting a niece in Potsdam hospital.  She was brought to her sons, where she was tenderly cared for until her death.  The funeral was the following Sunday, Rev. Mr. Morrow of Canton officiating.  Interment was in Southville cemetery.

"Elizabeth Covey was born Sept. 22nd, 1858 in the town of Stockholm.  She was the daughter of the late Ransome and Ruth Covey.  She spent nearly her whole life in Parishville.  She was twice married, in early life to Ira Hart and to them two children were born, William, who died seven years ago and Percy with whom she spent her last days.  Mrs. Seaver was a typical home lover and being of a kinly, affectionate nature she made many friends, who were always welcome in her home.  Besides her husband and son she leaves two brothers, three grandchildren and three great grand children."

The source citation for this article is:

"Mrs. Charles Seaver," Courier and Freeman [Potsdam, N.Y.], 18 September 1929, page 12, Elizabeth (Covey) (Hart) Seaver obituary; NYS Historic Newspapers (http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/ : accessed 22 June 2017).

This article was found in the absolutely wonderful NYS Historic Newspapers online database by searching for the terms [seaver died] within 5 words of each other.  I had 340 results with that search and have added a number of birth dates, death dates, spouse's maiden names, and more from working on about ten of the results in an hour.

I had to look at the U.S. Census records for Charles Seaver in St. Lawrence County, New York to identify Elizabeth's husband.  He was Charles J. Seaver (1849-????), son of Samuel and Philena (Powers) Seaver.  Charles and Elizabeth are in the 1900, 1910 and 1920 census records.  The 1900 census indicates that they were married in about 1882.

I wondered when Charles J. Seaver died, so I used the Hints on the Ancestry census records to find the Find A Grave memorial for him, which indicated he died 5 December 1941 in Winthrop, N.Y., and provided an obituary transcription from the same newspaper dated 10 December 1941; however, I cannot find it on this newspaper website!  Perhaps I'm using the wrong search terms, although I used several phrases from the obituary posted on Find A Grave.  Strange.

I learned a lot from this obituary, and other research, and "filled in some blanks" in my family tree database.  For example:

*  Elizabeth's maiden name and parents names
*  Her birth date and place
*  Her death date and place
*  Her first husband's name and names of her two children
*  Her husband's name and approximate marriage date (from census records)
*  Her burial place and husband's burial place (from Find A Grave)
*  Her husband's birth date and death date and place (from Find A Grave)

I highly recommend this NYS Historic Newspapers database - it's FREE to use, it's relatively easy to search, they highlight the search terms which makes it easy to zoom in on the article.

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The URL for this post is:  http://www.geneamusings.com/2017/06/seavers-in-news-mrs-charles-seaver-1929.html

Copyright (c) 2017, Randall J. Seaver

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

Findmypast Announces 5 Days of FREE Access to British and Irish Records

I received this information from Findmypast this morning:

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FINDMYPAST ANNOUNCES FIVE DAYS OF FREE ACCESS TO BRITISH & IRISH RECORDS

From Thursday 22nd June until Monday June 26th 2017, British & Irish records available on Findmypast will be free to search and explore

London, UK, 22nd June 2017

Leading family history website, Findmypast, has just announced that their unrivalled collection of British and Irish records will be free to access for the next five days. Between 04:00 EDT 22nd June and 18:59 EDT, June 26th 2017, more than 1.1 billion records ranging from censuses and parish registers to military service records will be completely free to search and explore. 

By providing free access to such a wide array of records, Findmypast aims to encourage genealogists to experience the very best of everything Findmypast has to offer. Researchers will also be provided with daily getting started guides, expert insights and useful how-to blogs over the course of the free access period, as well as a free downloadable eBook entitled “your must have guide to finding your British & Irish ancestors”.

An open “ask the experts” question and answer session will also be broadcast live on Facebook at 10 a.m. EDT on Monday (June 26th). Findmypast specialists in search techniques, military records, UK family history and everything in-between will be on hand to answer any questions researchers may have, whether they’re just getting started or need help overcoming a brick wall. This will then be followed by a free webinar entitled “20 Unmissable Resources for Tracing Your British and Irish Ancestors” at 11 a.m. EDT, Wednesday July 5th.

For the duration of the free access period, all visitors to Findmypast will be able to access all of the following resources for free;

• The largest collection of UK Parish Registers anywhere online
• The largest online collection of Irish family history records in the world
• The largest collection of British Military service records and the only collection to cover all three service branches (Army, Navy & Air Force)
• The largest collection of British WW1 records & over 2.7 million Foreign Office Prisoner of War records covering both World Wars
• The largest online collection of England & Wales Crime, Prisons & Punishment records
• Over 13 million Roman Catholic Sacramental Registers covering Ireland, Scotland, England and the US

Findmypast is home to millions of British & Irish records you won’t find anywhere else online and is the only family history website committed to releasing new records every single week.

NOTE:  Free access to records included in this promotion lasts from 04:00 EDT on Thursday, June 22 2017 until 18:59 EDT on Monday, June 26 2017. To access free records during this promotion, you will need to be registered and signed in to the Site. Not all records on Findmypast are included in this promotion.

The following records are not available during this promotion: the UK Electoral Registers (2002-2013), the UK Companies House Directors (2002-2013), the 1939 Register, our Newspapers and Periodicals, and all non-Britain & Ireland records.


For more information visit; http://www.findmypast.com/british-and-irish-family-history/

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Disclosure:  I have a complimentary Findmypast.com subscription, courtesy of Findmypast.  That does not affect my objectivity in discussing and evaluating their product.

The URL for this post is:  http://www.geneamusings.com/2017/06/findmypast-announces-5-days-of-free.html

Copyright (c) 2017, Randall J. Seaver

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

1787 Death of Experience (Willis) Read of Sudbury, Mass. - Post #370 of Treasure Chest Thursday

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

The treasure today is the  1787 death record of Experience (Willis) Read in Sudbury, Massachusetts: 

The snippet with the death record is on the left-hand page of the image in the second column:

The transcription of the death record:

"[1787]  [Aug.t] (26 Mrs. Read Consort of Isaac aged 80)"

The source citation of this record is:

Jacob Bigelow, The Record Book of Jacob Bigelow, 1772-1800, Family History Library (on FHL US/CAN Microfilm 0,185,462), frame 13, "Mrs. Read, consort of Isaac age 80" entry.

Jacob Bigelow was called to the Sudbury, Massachusetts church in 1772.  He started a record book of members, births, marriages and deaths in 1772, and continued it until about 1814.  This record book was microfilmed by the Family History Library (US/CAN Microfilm 0,185,462) and I reviewed it many years ago and extracted information from it.  In 2015, I made photos of all 46 frames of the microfilm images to verify my previous work and provide record copies.  I think that this minister's  record is the only extant record of the death of Experience (Willis) Read - there are no other death records for her in the any Massachusetts vital record books or Massachusetts town record books.  

Experience (Willis) Read was born in about 1709 to Samuel and Susanna (Gleason) Willis in Sudbury, Mass., although there are no apparent birth records.  She married Isaac Read (1704-1780) in 1730 in Sudbury, Mass.  No other wife named "Experience" has been found married to an Isaac Read.  At the time of her death in 1787, she would have been about 78 years old - the record says "80" but that may be an estimate.  

Experience (Willis) Read is my 6th great-grandmother, through her daughter Sarah (Read) Seaver (1736-1809) who married Norman Seaver (1734-1787) in 1755 in Sudbury, Mass.

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The URL for this post is:  http://www.geneamusings.com/2017/06/1787-death-of-experience-willis-read-of.html

Copyright (c) 2017, Randall J. Seaver

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

Looks Like There Is Family Tree Maker 2017 Progress

Here is the latest from the Family Tree Maker User group page on Facebook concerning the release of Family Tree Maker 2017 genealogy software (see https://support.mackiev.com/498640-RELEASE-OF-FTM-2017):

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FTM 2017 - UPDATE - JUNE 21

READY TO MOVE ON UP
We have been testing a new build series over the the past five days, and the results have been well beyond our expectations, in syncing, performance, and stability. We’ve met our goal of handling even the largest trees — which is why it has been nicknamed the “all trees” build. And according to our beta testers and engineers, if we had a build like this back on March 31st, we would have released it. It’s that good.

TEST DRIVE 2.0 STARTS THIS WEEKEND!
Our new “all trees” build will make it’s debut this weekend as part of Test Drive 2.0, an improved "getting started” program in which users take FTM 2017 for a spin, and two days later we do a diagnostic test to see how the ride has gone. If everything checks out OK, they just get to keep on using FTM 2017. If not, we can provide whatever attention is needed to help get everyone off to a good start.

YOU’VE GOT A TICKET TO RIDE
Because the experience of using the new "all-trees” edition is so superior, we have decided to move all test drivers over to it — and not restore syncing in build 207 as we had originally planned. The new build will be first offered to all current test drivers (who are currently using build 207, released on April 20th), and then to everyone else who are eligible to drive — either because they pre-purchased a copy of FTM 2017 or are getting one for free.

COMING DOWN THE HOME STRETCH
After Test Drive 2.0 gets started this weekend, we’ll monitor the "all-trees" build for 2-3 weeks, and assuming all goes well, by July 15th we expect to be ready to officially declare FTM 2017 released and start producing discs and USB drives. And since the “all trees” build is suitable for all trees, as previously announced our pre-order discount sale will end when Test Drive 2.0 begins. The price is still $29.95 for a download until then.

WATCH THIS SPACE - AND YOUR MAILBOX
We will first be sending out an email in the next couple of days to all test drivers to let them know about the start of Test Drive 2.0 and how they can participate. And we’ll also send out an all-mailing-list newsletter to catch all FTM users up on the latest happenings. If you are in a hurry to sync and can’t wait until this weekend, you may consider becoming a beta tester (you can apply at www.familytreemaker.com).

A LONG AND WINDING ROAD
We are happier than you can possibly imagine to have reached this milestone. And so grateful for the wholehearted support we've received from almost every corner of the FTM community. Thank you for cheering us on. For letting us know you had our back. For offering to bake us cookies. And for sharing the stories of your lives - we’ve been honored to listen. Hope you’ll find it has been worth the wait.

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My comment:  This is definitely good news for all of the long-suffering FTM users waiting for this release first promised at the end of December 2016 and then at the end of March 2017.  Stuff happens in computer programs, and especially between two companies (in this case Ancestry.com and Family Tree Maker) that have different ideas on how things should work.  

So it looks like Test Drivers of the new version will be synching their Ancestry trees over the coming weekend and thereafter, and that non-test drivers can expect to synch by 15 July.  

One very important thing:  The $29.95 price for a download goes away by the coming weekend.

Disclosure:  I have paid for every version of Family Tree Maker since 1998 or so, and have paid for FTM 2017 as well.  I hope that this release is successful and all of the customers are happy with it.

The URL for this post is:  http://www.geneamusings.com/2017/06/looks-like-there-is-family-tree-maker.html

Copyright (c) 2017, Randall J. Seaver

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

Free Webinars from APG on Washington, DC, Research

I received this information from Annette Burke Lyttle of the Association of Professional Genealogists recently:

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Free Webinars from APG on Washington, DC, Research

Join us for a series of four webinars on research in Washington, DC, in preparation for the 2017 APG Professional Management Conference. These webinars are free and open to the public for live viewing. They will also be recorded and made available to APG members for later viewing.

The first is "A Genealogist's Tour of the Nation's Capital" with Shannon Combs-Bennett on Thursday, 22 June 2017, at 8 p.m. Eastern.

For those who only get to research in Washington, D.C. on occasion (or only once!) the task of getting here and then knowing where to research may feel overwhelming. This lecture will highlight some of the more unusual and unique repositories available to you within The District as well as within a short drive into Maryland or Virginia. Even better learn the secrets to getting around, local lingo, and clues to easily using public transportation.

Shannon Combs-Bennett writes and lectures on a variety of topics from genetics to methodology. Based in Northern Virginia, Shannon is a staff genealogist for the Colonial Dames 17th Century. She is the author of A Genealogist's Guide to the Washington DC Area as well as two other books. Shannon holds a BS in Biology and has completed the BU program, ProGen, and the American Records Certificate from NIGS. Currently she is studying Genealogical, Paleographic, and Heraldic studies from the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow.
Registration Link:  https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1283300877046400513

Mark your calendars for the other pre-PMC webinars:

Thursday, 20 July 2017 at 8 p.m. Eastern
"The DAR Library: Resources for Genealogists"
Darryn Lickliter, Director, DAR Library

Tuesday, 22 August 2017 at 8 p.m. Eastern
"NARA Nuggets: Genealogy in the Archives"
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG, CGL

Monday, 18 September 2017 at 8 p.m. Eastern
"Introduction to Researching at the Library of Congress"
 Angela Packer McGhie, CG

The 2017 APG Professional Management Conference will be held 29 September through 1 October at the DoubleTree Crystal City in Arlington, Virginia. Registration information: https://www.apgen.org/conferences/index.html.

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The URL for this post is:  http://www.geneamusings.com/2017/06/free-webinars-from-apg-on-washington-dc.html

Copyright (c) 2017, Randall J. Seaver

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

Mount San Jacinto in January 2013 -- Post 469 for (Not So) Wordless Wednesday

Since it's so warm in much of the USA right now, I have some photos of winter in Southern California.

For several years, I gave presentations in Palm Desert to the Palm Desert Genealogy Club on the second Monday morning of January.  We always went the 155 miles on Sunday, got a motel room, hasd a nice dinner with an entertainer in Palm Springs, and, after the presentation and lunch with the nice folks at the Club, we took the tram up to the base on Mount San Jacinto.  It is about a 2,000 foot climb from the desert floor to the tram station, and then a 6,000 foot climb to the mountain base in a tram that skims along near the rocks and trees and snow (at times).  In the winter time, much of Mount San Jacinto is snow covered and there is hiking and sledding on the trails in the valley.

Here are some of our photos from January 2013 at the end of our mini-vacation:

1)  Looking down on Palm Springs:

2)  Looking to the south:

3)  The Lodge from the deck on the east side of the lodge:

4)  I have no clue what Linda is eating all bundled up (remember we're at 8,000 feet in the winter time - it's cold outside!):

More to come next week.

Do you feel cooler now?

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The URL for this post is:  http://www.geneamusings.com/2017/06/mount-san-jacinto-in-january-2013-post.html

Copyright (c) 2017, Randall J. Seaver

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

Genealogy News Bytes - 20 June 2017

Some of the genealogy news items across my desktop the last three days include:

1)  Record Databases

*  MyHeritage added the 1906 Canada Census (Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba) and Canada Phone and Address Listings recently.  See current list at https://www.myheritage.com/research/catalog?s=1742741&order_by=updated_date

*  Findmypast added Ontario, Rhode England and England databases - see "Fridays" list at  https://blog.findmypast.com/fridays/.

2)  Education Opportunities 

*  Family Tree Webinar:  "What Now? Your Next Steps with Autosomal DNA Testing" by Diahan Southard.  Free to view for a limited time.

*  Bonus Family Tree Webinar:  "Genetic Genealogy: Advanced" by Diahan Southard.  Free to view for a limited time.

*  FREE Webinar From FamilySearch, June 22, 2017 (3 p.m. MDT):  "The Blue and the Grey: Finding  US Civil War Records" by Marilyn Markham.  

*  FREE Webinar From SCGS: June 21, 2017 - "Annette Burke Lyttle: Turn Family History Facts into Stories You Can Share"

*  Free "Genealogy: Researching Your Family Tree" course at University of Strathclyde. [Hat tip Chris Paton]

*  Eric Wells' The Faces of NextGen LIVE! Devon Noel Lee video on YouTube.

*  DearMYRTLE's  Mondays With Myrt - 19 June 2017 video on YouTube.

*  In-Depth Genealogist's Interview With Archivist, Melissa Barker video on YouTube.

*  Maureen Taylor's "Ask Maureen" Episode 6 video.

*  Library and Archives Canada in 90 Seconds video on YouTube. [Hat tip Gail Dever]
*  Scott Fisher's Extreme Genes podcast/radio show:  Episode 196 – Fisher Visits With Actress Heather Lind from AMC’s TURN – Washington’s Spies

*  Drew Smith's podcast: Genealogy Connection #023 - Judy G. Russell, Researcher, Speaker, and Writer 

3)  Bargains

*  Thomas MacEntee's Genealogy Bargains for Tuesday 20 June 2017.

4)  Neat Stuff

*  Descendants of Alfred the Great, Royal Family Tree (849 to present) -- https://www.britroyals.com/royaltree.asp 

*  70 Maps That Explain America (from Vox) -- https://www.vox.com/2015/2/17/7917165/maps-that-explain-america

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The URL for this post is:  http://www.geneamusings.com/2017/06/genealogy-news-bytes-20-june-2017.html

Copyright (c) 2017, Randall J. Seaver

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