...
Genea-blogger John Newmark (who writes the excellent TransylvanianDutch blog) started a Monday blog theme many months ago called Amanuensis Monday. What does "amanuensis" mean? John offers this definition:
"A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another."
The subject today is the will of George Reed (1627-1706) of Woburn in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. He was the son of William Reed and Mabel Kendall. George married (1) Elizabeth Jennison (1637-1665) in 1652, and they had eight children: Elizabeth Reed (1653-1718); twins Reed (1654-1654); Samuel Reed (1656-1709); Abigail Reed (1658-????); George Reed (1660-1756); William Reed (1662-1718) and Sarah Reed (1665-1703). George married (2) Hannah Rockwell (1642-1724) in 1665, and they had five children: Hannah Reed (1670-1727); John Reed (1672-1733); Mary Reed (1674-1703); Timothy Reed (1678-1736); Thomas Reed (1682-1736).
George Reed of Woburn died testate in 1706. His will is in Middlesex County Probate Records, Packet #18,494 (original papers filed in packet, accessed on FHL Microfilm 0,421,499). It was written on 21 January 1697/8, and proved on 8 April 1706. The transcribed will reads:
"In the name of god, Amen. I George Read Senr of Woobourne in the County of Middl-x in his Maj-s province of the Massatusets Bay in New-England yeoman, am at this time by the providence of god Weak of body, but through gods Goodness I am of sound understanding and perfect memory, and knowing it to be a Christian duty for a man to sett his hous in order, I do therfore make and publish this instrument my last will and testament, and first I give my soule to god that gave it to me, and my body to the Earth to be decently buryed, in hopes of A Glorious Resurection to life again, thro ye Death and Merits of Christ Jesus my lord and only Saviour, and as to that question of temporall Estate, that god of his bounty hath bestowed upon me I do give and bequeath as followeth,
"Impr-s my Will is that first all my just debts be fully pay-d and my funeral charges defray-d out of my personall Estate, before any devision be made.
"2:ly my Will is and I do hereby give and bequeath unto my loveing and beloved wife Hannah ye one halfe of my dwelling hous namely ye East Enfdfrom botom to top, and the one halfe of my barne - namely ye East End thereof, and halfe my out housing, with ye one halfe of ye lands belonging to my homested, both orchards fields hopyards pasters and mowing land, as also halfe my Woodlands, and halfe my medows at great Rock medow, namely which End she pleaseth ye halfe of all my housing and lands are to be set out to her my sd wife quantity for quallety, and she shall enjoy it to Improve for her own use benefitt and behoofe, so long as she Remains my Widow, also my will is and I do hereby give unto my said wife he sole use and improvement of the one halfe of my personall Estate, both within doors and without, all for and dureing her Naturall life, only I do give unto my said wife the sume of fifteene pounds to her and her heirs for ever, and I do give my sd wife the use of the more of my estate because of her great Care she hath of me in my sickness and lamness yt god is pleased to exercze me with, and also I do Injoyne her to take care and bring up my Grandchild Hannah elson, until she be of years to take care of her selfe.
"3:ly my Will is and I do hereby give unto my loveing and dutifull son John Read the other halfe of my homested both dwellinghous barne and out housing, halfe ye medows, hopground plowland pasterland and orchard in present possession, halfe my medow at great Rock medow and halfe my Woodland all in present possession, acording as I have given it to him in a deed of gift, and all the other halfe of my housing and lands left in my wives possession as abovsd, I do hereby give the same unto my sd son John Read, after his mother leavs them, they to remaine to him his heirs and assignes for ever, he the said John Read paying out such legasies as I shall herein after appoint him to pay, also I do give him my lott at Hodges hole five acres and on quarter more or less to him his heires and assignes for ever.
"4:ly my Will is and I do hereby give unto my son Timothy Read my great lott in both parts thereof, it being layd out in two parts by ye Records and plott thereof my appear also I give him my lott near ye Wymans asjoyning to Shawshin path five acres and a quarter more or less, all this to be preserved for him without stripp or wast and delivered to him by my Exec-r when he coms of age to be to him his heirs and assignespayd him within four years after his his mothers decease.
"5:ly my will is and I do hereby give unto my son Thomas Read all my land in Hungrey-plaine field, be it Eighteene acres more or less, and one lott at Maple medow plaine five acres and a quarter more or less, to be kept for him while he is of age without stripp or wast, and then delivered to him by my Ecec-r herein after Named, also I do give him four pounds more to be payd him by my Exec-rs within five years after his Mothers decease.
"6:ly my will is and I do hereby give unto my daughter Mary Johnson, the sume of fifteene pounds, most part of which is payd her alredy upon Marriage, and fetherbed and furniture and a cow and som other things to ye values of twelve pounds the Rest of the fifteene pounds being three pounds I do hereby order my Exec-r to pay her within two years after her mothers decease.
"7:ly I do hereby give unto my daughter Hannah Elson four pounds to be payd her within one yeare after her Mothers decease, she haveing had about ten pounds alredy.
"8:ly my Will is and I do hereby give unto my daughter Elizabeth Fisk five pounds to be paid her within one yeare after my decease I haveing given her about ten pounds alredy.
"9:ly my will is and I do hereby give unto my daughter Sarah Robason five pounds to be payd her within two years after my decease, I haveing given her about ten pounds alredy, so that I do intend in this my will to make all my daughters Equall giveing them fifteene pounds appeice.
"10:ly with Reference to my three Eldest sons, they have been gon from me a long time, and I have done for them Considerabley alredy, and particularly Samuell Read my Eldest son he was put out to a trade when he was young and that I do account one suffissient portion, beside which I formerly gave him in shop, in tools cattel and work, above twenty pounds more and as a further testimoney that I take notice of him as my eldest son, I do give him ten pounds more, all to him and his heirs for ever.
"11:ly to George Read my second son I have given him in land cattel and other things, above thirty pounds alredy, which is more than I can give to the Rest proportionablye, and as a Remembrance of my love I do give him five shillings more.
"12:ly to William Read my third son I have given him about twenty pounds alredy of land cattel and other things, in which there is about nine acres of land that I gave him at boggimedow field that he is to Enjoye without molestation to him and his heirs for ever, also I do give him ten pounds more to be payd him by my Exec-r within three years after my wives decease, all the legasies afore mentioned in this my Will I do apoint my Exec-r faithfuly to pay both for time and to the same persons to whome I have bequeathed them Either in money or in other Specie aprized as money yt is in land or cattels at money price, and lastly I do nominate and appoint and hereby constitute my loveing wife Hannah Read to be Executrix, and my son John Read Executer of this my Will, both of them joynt in the power of Executership (while they both live) and after the decease of either of them, ye surviver of them shall have the whole power of Executership, and if there be any lands or other Estate of mine that I have not herein disposed of, my will is and I do hereby give it unto my aforenamed son John Read one of my Executers. Dated January ye twenty-one Anno Domini 1697/8, annoqe Br. Rr: Guillem 3d Anglice &:c nono. Signed sealed and published by George Read Sen-r to be his last will and testament In the presence of us: with one word Raced out in the Eighth article before the Signing and Sealing (ye word (him) and ye word (lott) enterlined before sealing). In the presence of us,
Samuel blogget
Timothy Walker
James Converse ........................................................ George Read Senr"
John Read and Thomas Read, husbandmen of Woburn, posted a bond of 200 pounds to the Court on 1 April 1706. Son and executor, John Read, and the widow, Hannah Read, agreed to take upon themselves the burden and charge of the last will and testament of George Read Senr late of Woburn. The will was accepted by the Court at Cambridge on 8 April 1706.
The probate packet does not include an inventory, account or distribution of the estate.
George Reed had children by two wives, and he mentioned all ten of his living children in this will. Researchers will appreciate the married surnames of the daughters - often this is the only indication of the correct married surname for daughters with relatively common maiden names. Have I mentioned that I love probate records?
My own ancestry is through his son, George Reed (1660-1756) from his first marriage.
Monday, August 29, 2011
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Serendipity strikes again...and genealogy fun ensues
...
One of the little pleasures in my genealogy life, when I'm tired of blogging and organizing papers and want some genealogy fun, is I go to Find-a-Grave, search for a surname in my database, and see what there is available. I think that Find-a-Grave is a site that will never stop giving me information about my ancestral families. Of course, I then add the information to my genealogy database for a birth date, death date, burial location, relationships, etc., including the source and some source detail. These searches are often pretty random, I go off on tangents and find all kinds of good stuff. From small bits of information are sourced databases made!
I finished my two Source Lists (see How do I catch up to 13 years of genealogy sloth?) on Saturday afternoon, and after dinner and watching the baseball game (I completely forgot about the Chargers game!), I came back to the computer and wanted some genea-fun, so I went to Find-a-Grave and entered "Seaver" in the search field.
Whoa, 1,321 matches. Okay, that will take more than one hour to do. At the top of the list are two entries without given names, but they do have birth and death dates, and are in Colusa County, California. Okay...I recalled that I have a Seaver family in Colusa County back in the 1800s, but I need their given names. I couldn't find a way to do that in RootsMagic, although I tried. I could go to Ancestry.com and search the 1880 census for Seavers in Colusa County but I'll just skip it for now.
I moved on to the next entries on the Find-a-Grave list, and happily entered data from many towns in Worcester County, Massachusetts (only 59 matches). I was having fun!
After an hour or so, I checked Facebook and saw I had a message from genea-blogger Craig Manson (who write the excellent Geneablogie blog). Craig's message said:
"Randy, I spent today roaming around Sutter and Colusa Counties north of Sacramento. Came across the name "Seaver" in two cemeteries in Colusa. Are these some of your people?
"In the Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery:
Josephine T. Seaver 30 May 1918-19 July 1996
Emma Ruth Seaver 7 June 1981-24 November 1989
"Mother" Seaver 4 June 1834-10 June 1903
"Father" Seaver 30 July 1826-7 October 1887
"In the publicly owned Colusa Cemetery:
William Seaver 22 October 1884-25 November 1884
George Seavers (with "s" on end--in same plot as William above)
Also in same plot:
Eliza J. Sorrels 20 January 1862-25 January 1948
Newton G. Sorrels 8 September 1869-30 November 1932 [with inscription "Camp #136 WOW" beneath dates]"
Lookee there - Craig found "Mother" and "Father": Seaver too, along with several other Seaver folks. That gave me several good leads - I quickly looked in my database for Eliza J. Seaver born in 1862 and found her, the daughter of Charles and Annie (--?--) Seaver. The birth date I had for Charles Seaver matched exactly the Find-a-Grave date, so he is "Father" Seaver and Annie, his wife, must be "Mother" Seaver. Cool - now I have death dates and burial places for them. Plus I now know Eliza's death date, burial place and her husband's name and dates and burial location. What a gold mine! Looking on the California Death Index, 1940-1997, on Rootsweb, I found several death records also for this family, and one of them indicates that "Timothy" was Annie's maiden surname, a second says "Timoney" and a third says "Timony." I checked Ancestry.com in the 1860 census and didn't see a likely candidate for Annie in California (Charles was born in MA, but is a single man in Colusa County, California. in the 1860 census, and their first child was born in January 1862).
However, I still don't know who the parents or spouses of Josephine T. Seaver (1918-1996) and Emma Ruth Seaver (1981-1989), or William Seaver (1884-1884) are. I don't know George Seavers death date, only his burial place (he is alive in the 1880 census).
That was so much fun, I decided to mine the California Death Indexes for Seaver deaths (and birth dates, and perhaps mother's maiden names) on the Rootsweb database (only 166 of them). I went county by county and found quite a few that I didn't have in my database, or that I had not sourced previously.
It was a very productive three hours, and I had a lot of genealogy fun thanks to Craig Manson and Ancestry and Find-a-Grave. Now, if I could only remember where I left off in Find-a-Grave...oh well, I'll just go search a random name and go from there! I'm sure to find something.
I think this fits into my Forrest Gump Principle of Genealogy Research, don't you? Even my genea-blogging colleagues are giving me "boxes of chocolates." It wasn't quite genea-gasmic, though.
One of the little pleasures in my genealogy life, when I'm tired of blogging and organizing papers and want some genealogy fun, is I go to Find-a-Grave, search for a surname in my database, and see what there is available. I think that Find-a-Grave is a site that will never stop giving me information about my ancestral families. Of course, I then add the information to my genealogy database for a birth date, death date, burial location, relationships, etc., including the source and some source detail. These searches are often pretty random, I go off on tangents and find all kinds of good stuff. From small bits of information are sourced databases made!
I finished my two Source Lists (see How do I catch up to 13 years of genealogy sloth?) on Saturday afternoon, and after dinner and watching the baseball game (I completely forgot about the Chargers game!), I came back to the computer and wanted some genea-fun, so I went to Find-a-Grave and entered "Seaver" in the search field.
Whoa, 1,321 matches. Okay, that will take more than one hour to do. At the top of the list are two entries without given names, but they do have birth and death dates, and are in Colusa County, California. Okay...I recalled that I have a Seaver family in Colusa County back in the 1800s, but I need their given names. I couldn't find a way to do that in RootsMagic, although I tried. I could go to Ancestry.com and search the 1880 census for Seavers in Colusa County but I'll just skip it for now.
I moved on to the next entries on the Find-a-Grave list, and happily entered data from many towns in Worcester County, Massachusetts (only 59 matches). I was having fun!
After an hour or so, I checked Facebook and saw I had a message from genea-blogger Craig Manson (who write the excellent Geneablogie blog). Craig's message said:
"Randy, I spent today roaming around Sutter and Colusa Counties north of Sacramento. Came across the name "Seaver" in two cemeteries in Colusa. Are these some of your people?
"In the Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery:
Josephine T. Seaver 30 May 1918-19 July 1996
Emma Ruth Seaver 7 June 1981-24 November 1989
"Mother" Seaver 4 June 1834-10 June 1903
"Father" Seaver 30 July 1826-7 October 1887
"In the publicly owned Colusa Cemetery:
William Seaver 22 October 1884-25 November 1884
George Seavers (with "s" on end--in same plot as William above)
Also in same plot:
Eliza J. Sorrels 20 January 1862-25 January 1948
Newton G. Sorrels 8 September 1869-30 November 1932 [with inscription "Camp #136 WOW" beneath dates]"
Lookee there - Craig found "Mother" and "Father": Seaver too, along with several other Seaver folks. That gave me several good leads - I quickly looked in my database for Eliza J. Seaver born in 1862 and found her, the daughter of Charles and Annie (--?--) Seaver. The birth date I had for Charles Seaver matched exactly the Find-a-Grave date, so he is "Father" Seaver and Annie, his wife, must be "Mother" Seaver. Cool - now I have death dates and burial places for them. Plus I now know Eliza's death date, burial place and her husband's name and dates and burial location. What a gold mine! Looking on the California Death Index, 1940-1997, on Rootsweb, I found several death records also for this family, and one of them indicates that "Timothy" was Annie's maiden surname, a second says "Timoney" and a third says "Timony." I checked Ancestry.com in the 1860 census and didn't see a likely candidate for Annie in California (Charles was born in MA, but is a single man in Colusa County, California. in the 1860 census, and their first child was born in January 1862).
However, I still don't know who the parents or spouses of Josephine T. Seaver (1918-1996) and Emma Ruth Seaver (1981-1989), or William Seaver (1884-1884) are. I don't know George Seavers death date, only his burial place (he is alive in the 1880 census).
That was so much fun, I decided to mine the California Death Indexes for Seaver deaths (and birth dates, and perhaps mother's maiden names) on the Rootsweb database (only 166 of them). I went county by county and found quite a few that I didn't have in my database, or that I had not sourced previously.
It was a very productive three hours, and I had a lot of genealogy fun thanks to Craig Manson and Ancestry and Find-a-Grave. Now, if I could only remember where I left off in Find-a-Grave...oh well, I'll just go search a random name and go from there! I'm sure to find something.
I think this fits into my Forrest Gump Principle of Genealogy Research, don't you? Even my genea-blogging colleagues are giving me "boxes of chocolates." It wasn't quite genea-gasmic, though.
Best of the Genealogy Blogs - Week of 21-27 August 2011
...
Hundreds of genealogy and family history bloggers write thousands 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 the genealogy carnivals, or other 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:
* Google News Archive and Footnote.com: A Strange Week or Sign of Things to Come? by Megan Smolenyak on her Huffington Post blog. Megan comments on Geni.com, the Footnote name change, and the Google News Archive access change.
* Genealogy Highlight of the Week by Susan LeBlanc on the Gopher Genealogy blog. Susan meets a cousin and shares her family history with her.
* My Genealogy "Job Description" by the writer of the Nuts from the Family Tree blog. Since her mom has done the genealogy, she is checking it for accuracy and completeness. Good job description. We all should have one.
* My Thoughts after Teaching at BYU Education Week by the writer of the Memoir Mentor blog. Here is a teacher's perspective on writing life histories.
* Tracking the Tract by Michael John Neill on the Rootdig.com blog. Michael describes how he follows land transactions in the records.
* Insider Ketchup for 23 August 2011 by the writer of The Ancestry Insider blog. Mr. AI summarizes the recent news as it pertains to Ancestry and FamilySearch in his own inimitable way.
* In Which We Debate The Value of Great Big Trees Online by guest author Chris Whitten on Kerry Scott's Clue Wagon blog. Chris makes the case well, and sells WikiTree as a collaborative interlinked online tree site in the process.
* Sears Catalogue of Genealogists by Genea Pop-Pop on the Stardust 'n' Roots blog. Bart classifies genealogists into nine categories. A brilliant and witty post. Hmm, what am I?
* Free Databases Found at fold3.com by Leland Meitzler on the Genealogy Blog. Leland helpfully created a list of the free databases at fold3.com (formerly Footnote.com).
* A New FamilySearch Database Causes Me Genealogical Grief and Questioning by Chris Staats on the Staats Place blog. Chris has mixed emotions about looking at an online database. Understandable.
* IntelliShare: An Alternative to Great Big Trees Online by JL on the JLog blog. JL describes a feature in Legacy Family Tree that can synchronize shared Legacy trees.
* Land Terms Greek No More and Looking at a Deed by Susan Farrell Bankhead on Susan's Genealogy Blog. Here is an excellent, concise list of terms used in land records.
* Analyzing Brick Walls -- a genealogical myth or reality? by James Tanner on the Genealogy's Star blog. James discusses terminology here - are brick walls something you can overcome? What are the ones you cannot overcome called?
* Q&A Recap with Geni CEO Noah Tutak by Thomas MacEntee on the Geneabloggers blog. Thomas provides Noah's answers to Thomas's questions during the radio show.
* When Did They Die? by Valerie Craft on the Begin with Craft blog. Valerie provides a great list of resources to find a death date when there is no vital record.
* Evidence by Judy Wilkenfeld on the Provenance blog. Wow. Powerful. Now they know.
* These Ancestors Cannot Be Displayed by Michael John Neill on the Rootdig.com blog. This is the funniest genea-blog post of the week, I think.
* The New England Geneablogger Bash by Heather Wilkinson Rojo on the Nutfield Genealogy blog. Heather hosted this even on the eve of Hurricane Irene and shares some pictures of geneabloggers.
Several genea-bloggers wrote weekly pick posts and news summary posts this week, including:
* Monday Morning Mentions by Lynn Palermo on The Armchair Genealogist blog.
* Links, 8.22.11 by Liz Haigney Lynch on The Ancestral Archaeologist blog.
* Monday's Link Roundup by Dan Curtis on the Dan Curits ~ Professional Person Historian blog.
* Ruth's Recommendations by Ruth Blair on The Passionate Genealogist blog.
* Genealogy Round Up, August 25 by Megan Smolenyak on the Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak Roots World blog.
* Follow Friday: This Week’s Favorite Finds by Jen on the Climbing the Family Tree blog.
* Follow Friday Gems - 08-26-11 by Deb Ruth on the Adventures in Genealogy blog.
* Genealogy News Corral, August 22-26 by Diane Haddad on the Genealogy Insider blog
.
* Best Bytes for week of August 26, 2011 by Elizabeth O'Neal on the Little Bytes of Life blog.
* Week In Review by John Newmark on the TransylvanianDutch blog.
I encourage readers to go to the blogs listed above and read their articles, and add their blogs to your Favorites, Google Reader, 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 am currently reading posts from over 1030 genealogy bloggers using Google Reader, but I still miss quite a few it seems.
Read past Best of the Genea-Blogs posts here.
Hundreds of genealogy and family history bloggers write thousands 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 the genealogy carnivals, or other 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:
* Google News Archive and Footnote.com: A Strange Week or Sign of Things to Come? by Megan Smolenyak on her Huffington Post blog. Megan comments on Geni.com, the Footnote name change, and the Google News Archive access change.
* Genealogy Highlight of the Week by Susan LeBlanc on the Gopher Genealogy blog. Susan meets a cousin and shares her family history with her.
* My Genealogy "Job Description" by the writer of the Nuts from the Family Tree blog. Since her mom has done the genealogy, she is checking it for accuracy and completeness. Good job description. We all should have one.
* My Thoughts after Teaching at BYU Education Week by the writer of the Memoir Mentor blog. Here is a teacher's perspective on writing life histories.
* Tracking the Tract by Michael John Neill on the Rootdig.com blog. Michael describes how he follows land transactions in the records.
* Insider Ketchup for 23 August 2011 by the writer of The Ancestry Insider blog. Mr. AI summarizes the recent news as it pertains to Ancestry and FamilySearch in his own inimitable way.
* In Which We Debate The Value of Great Big Trees Online by guest author Chris Whitten on Kerry Scott's Clue Wagon blog. Chris makes the case well, and sells WikiTree as a collaborative interlinked online tree site in the process.
* Sears Catalogue of Genealogists by Genea Pop-Pop on the Stardust 'n' Roots blog. Bart classifies genealogists into nine categories. A brilliant and witty post. Hmm, what am I?
* Free Databases Found at fold3.com by Leland Meitzler on the Genealogy Blog. Leland helpfully created a list of the free databases at fold3.com (formerly Footnote.com).
* A New FamilySearch Database Causes Me Genealogical Grief and Questioning by Chris Staats on the Staats Place blog. Chris has mixed emotions about looking at an online database. Understandable.
* IntelliShare: An Alternative to Great Big Trees Online by JL on the JLog blog. JL describes a feature in Legacy Family Tree that can synchronize shared Legacy trees.
* Land Terms Greek No More and Looking at a Deed by Susan Farrell Bankhead on Susan's Genealogy Blog. Here is an excellent, concise list of terms used in land records.
* Analyzing Brick Walls -- a genealogical myth or reality? by James Tanner on the Genealogy's Star blog. James discusses terminology here - are brick walls something you can overcome? What are the ones you cannot overcome called?
* Q&A Recap with Geni CEO Noah Tutak by Thomas MacEntee on the Geneabloggers blog. Thomas provides Noah's answers to Thomas's questions during the radio show.
* When Did They Die? by Valerie Craft on the Begin with Craft blog. Valerie provides a great list of resources to find a death date when there is no vital record.
* Evidence by Judy Wilkenfeld on the Provenance blog. Wow. Powerful. Now they know.
* These Ancestors Cannot Be Displayed by Michael John Neill on the Rootdig.com blog. This is the funniest genea-blog post of the week, I think.
* The New England Geneablogger Bash by Heather Wilkinson Rojo on the Nutfield Genealogy blog. Heather hosted this even on the eve of Hurricane Irene and shares some pictures of geneabloggers.
Several genea-bloggers wrote weekly pick posts and news summary posts this week, including:
* Monday Morning Mentions by Lynn Palermo on The Armchair Genealogist blog.
* Links, 8.22.11 by Liz Haigney Lynch on The Ancestral Archaeologist blog.
* Monday's Link Roundup by Dan Curtis on the Dan Curits ~ Professional Person Historian blog.
* Ruth's Recommendations by Ruth Blair on The Passionate Genealogist blog.
* Genealogy Round Up, August 25 by Megan Smolenyak on the Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak Roots World blog.
* Follow Friday: This Week’s Favorite Finds by Jen on the Climbing the Family Tree blog.
* Follow Friday Gems - 08-26-11 by Deb Ruth on the Adventures in Genealogy blog.
* Genealogy News Corral, August 22-26 by Diane Haddad on the Genealogy Insider blog
.
* Best Bytes for week of August 26, 2011 by Elizabeth O'Neal on the Little Bytes of Life blog.
* Week In Review by John Newmark on the TransylvanianDutch blog.
I encourage readers to go to the blogs listed above and read their articles, and add their blogs to your Favorites, Google Reader, 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 am currently reading posts from over 1030 genealogy bloggers using Google Reader, but I still miss quite a few it seems.
Read past Best of the Genea-Blogs posts here.
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Saturday Night Genealogy Fun (SNGF) - Who is your genealogy model?
...
Good evening, Genea-philes! It's another Saturday Night ... and time for more Genealogy Fun!! Come and ponder and write and play!
Your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to:
1) Visit Bart Brenner's (GeneaPopPop) Stardust 'n' Roots blog and read his post Sears Catalogue of Genealogists. I love Bart's thumbnail descriptions of nine models of genealogists. Thank you, Bart, for the inspiration to use this for SNGF.
2) Determine which model (or models) of researcher you are, based on his categories.
3) Tell us which model(s) you are in your own blog post, in a comment to this post, in a status in Facebook or in a Stream post in Google Plus.
4) Extra credit: Bart asked if readers have another model to offer for genealogists - if you do, please write about it!
Here's mine:
I had a hard time choosing just one...so I went down the list to write about each one:
1) Albert Einstein model (the academician): "Yes" in the sense of speaking, teaching and writing (blogging), "no" in the sense of stopping research and publishing a book.
2) Marian the Librarian model (the archivist): Not really...I used to hang out at the library more often but my "inner Albert" and "Ambrose" took over.
3) Indiana Jones model (the archaeologist): Not really. I don't have many artifacts and don't really hunt for them.
4) Margaret Mead model (the cultural anthropologist): Not really. I use information like this when I can find it, but it's not my main focus.
5) Frank Buck model (the hunter and tamer): "Yes" in the sense of loving the hunt, whether in repositories or on the Internet, 'no" the sense of "never taming it." Hmmm...maybe my genealogy piles betray me here!
6) Amelia Earhart model (the test pilot): "Yes" in the sense of trying out new things and trying to see the "big picture," but "no" for the notion of not wanting to get bogged down in data. I'm bogged down...in genea-quicksand, I fear.
7) Ambrose Monk model (the hoarder): "Yea verily", I fear that this describes me pretty well! When did Bart sneak into my genea-cave? I'm not really as bad as Ambrose, honest!
8) Cinderella model (the fairy princess): Not really me...I love the family stories, and try to prove them, but I don't obsess on them. Frankly, I don't recall most of the stories if they aren't written down!
9) Steve Jobs model (the technogeek): I wish! Bart lists ten items here, and I only have some memory sticks, a laptop computer, a desktop computer with five genealogy programs, and two free cloud storage accounts. I feel so obsolete!
Extra credit:
10) Elizabeth Shown Mills model The professional): S/he is considered a god(dess) of genealogy researching, writing, editing, publishing, and presenting. Extremely competent, confident, articulate, disciplined, creative, knowledgeable, friendly, supportive and helpful. S/he earns a living doing it, seems to know everybody and everything, and contributes her energy and knowledge to many endeavors: I wish! I try to exhibit many of these model characteristics, but lack time and energy to do genealogy 48 hours a day!
In summary, it looks like I'm a combination of Ambrose, Albert, Amelia, Frank and Steve with a dream of becoming Elizabeth. Maybe in my next lifetime!
My guess is that many of those who play SNGF this week will be a combination of several of these models. It will be interesting to get to know my readers/colleagues a little better!
Good evening, Genea-philes! It's another Saturday Night ... and time for more Genealogy Fun!! Come and ponder and write and play!
Your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to:
1) Visit Bart Brenner's (GeneaPopPop) Stardust 'n' Roots blog and read his post Sears Catalogue of Genealogists. I love Bart's thumbnail descriptions of nine models of genealogists. Thank you, Bart, for the inspiration to use this for SNGF.
2) Determine which model (or models) of researcher you are, based on his categories.
3) Tell us which model(s) you are in your own blog post, in a comment to this post, in a status in Facebook or in a Stream post in Google Plus.
4) Extra credit: Bart asked if readers have another model to offer for genealogists - if you do, please write about it!
Here's mine:
I had a hard time choosing just one...so I went down the list to write about each one:
1) Albert Einstein model (the academician): "Yes" in the sense of speaking, teaching and writing (blogging), "no" in the sense of stopping research and publishing a book.
2) Marian the Librarian model (the archivist): Not really...I used to hang out at the library more often but my "inner Albert" and "Ambrose" took over.
3) Indiana Jones model (the archaeologist): Not really. I don't have many artifacts and don't really hunt for them.
4) Margaret Mead model (the cultural anthropologist): Not really. I use information like this when I can find it, but it's not my main focus.
5) Frank Buck model (the hunter and tamer): "Yes" in the sense of loving the hunt, whether in repositories or on the Internet, 'no" the sense of "never taming it." Hmmm...maybe my genealogy piles betray me here!
6) Amelia Earhart model (the test pilot): "Yes" in the sense of trying out new things and trying to see the "big picture," but "no" for the notion of not wanting to get bogged down in data. I'm bogged down...in genea-quicksand, I fear.
7) Ambrose Monk model (the hoarder): "Yea verily", I fear that this describes me pretty well! When did Bart sneak into my genea-cave? I'm not really as bad as Ambrose, honest!
8) Cinderella model (the fairy princess): Not really me...I love the family stories, and try to prove them, but I don't obsess on them. Frankly, I don't recall most of the stories if they aren't written down!
9) Steve Jobs model (the technogeek): I wish! Bart lists ten items here, and I only have some memory sticks, a laptop computer, a desktop computer with five genealogy programs, and two free cloud storage accounts. I feel so obsolete!
Extra credit:
10) Elizabeth Shown Mills model The professional): S/he is considered a god(dess) of genealogy researching, writing, editing, publishing, and presenting. Extremely competent, confident, articulate, disciplined, creative, knowledgeable, friendly, supportive and helpful. S/he earns a living doing it, seems to know everybody and everything, and contributes her energy and knowledge to many endeavors: I wish! I try to exhibit many of these model characteristics, but lack time and energy to do genealogy 48 hours a day!
In summary, it looks like I'm a combination of Ambrose, Albert, Amelia, Frank and Steve with a dream of becoming Elizabeth. Maybe in my next lifetime!
My guess is that many of those who play SNGF this week will be a combination of several of these models. It will be interesting to get to know my readers/colleagues a little better!
Wow. Tears. Never again.
...
Have you read Judy Wilkenfeld's Provenance blog post today - it's simply titled Evidence.
It's tragic. It happened. Judy's search for answers is amazing. And courageous.
Have you read Judy Wilkenfeld's Provenance blog post today - it's simply titled Evidence.
It's tragic. It happened. Judy's search for answers is amazing. And courageous.
Surname Saturday - ALLEN (England > Massachusetts)
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It's Surname Saturday, and I'm "counting down" my Ancestral Name List each week. I am up to number 269, who is Sarah ALLEN (1717-1796), one of my 6th-great-grandparents. [Note: The 6th great-grandfathers have been covered in earlier posts]
My ancestral line back through five generations of ALLEN families is:
1. Randall J. Seaver
2. Frederick Walton Seaver (1911-1983)
3. Betty Virginia Carringer (1919-2002)
4. Frederick Walton Seaver (1876-1942)
5. Alma Bessie Richmond (1882-1962)
8. Frank Walton Seaver (1852-1922)
9. Hattie Louise Hildreth (1857-1920)
16. Isaac Seaver (1823-1901)
17. Lucretia Townsend Smith (1827-1884)
32. Benjamin Seaver (1791-1825)
33. Abigail Gates (1797-1869)
66. Nathan Gates (1767-1830)
67. Abigail Knowlton (1774-1855)
134. Jeremiah Knowlton (1745->1783)
135. Abigail Pierce (1750-1776)
268. Jeremiah Knowlton, born before 02 August 1713 in Ipswich, Essex, Massachusetts, United States; died 1752 in Concord, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States. He was the son of 536. Nathaniel Knowlton and 537. Mary Bennett. He married 24 July 1735 in Sudbury, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States.
269. Sarah Allen, born 04 May 1717 in Sudbury, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States; died 10 May 1796 in Concord, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States.
Children of Jeremiah Knowlton and Sarah Allen are: John Knowlton (1736-????); Abigail Knowlton (1739-????); Nathaniel Knowlton (1741-????); Benjamin Knowlton (1743-????); Jeremiah Knowlton (1745->1783).
538. Thomas Allen, born 1690 in Sudbury, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States; died about 1777 in Sudbury, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States. He married 27 June 1711 in Sudbury, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States.
539. Sarah Grande, born about 1691 in Massachusetts, United States.
Children of Thomas Allen and Sarah Grande are: Thomas Allen (1713-????); Daniel Allen (1715-????); Sarah Allen (1717-1796).
1076. Benjamin Allen, born 30 January 1662 in Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts, United States; died 12 August 1721 in Weston, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States. He married before 1690 in probably Marlborough, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States.
1077. Frances Rice, born 03 February 1671 in Marlborough, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States; died Aft. 28 August 1721 in Lincoln, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States. She was the daughter of 2154. Thomas Rice and 2155. Mary King.
Children of Benjamin Allen and Frances Rice are: Thomas Allen (1690-1777); Grace Allen (1696-1730); Jonas Allen (1699-1789); Zebadiah Allen (1702-1777); Frances Allen (1704-1753); Benjamin Allen (1709-1768).
2152. John Allen, born about 1631 in England; died 01 December 1711 in Sudbury, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States. He married before 1654 in probably Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts, United States.
2153. Sarah, born about 1635; died 12 January 1702 in Sudbury, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States.
Children of John Allen and Sarah are: Deborah Allen (1655-????); John Allen (1656-1711); Samuel Allen (1658-1720); Joseph Allen (1660-1725); Benjamin Allen (1662-1721); Rebecca Allen (1664-????); Thomas Allen (1666-1689); Sarah Allen (1668-1702).
4304. Walter Allen, born about 1601 in England; died 08 July 1681 in Charlestown, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States. He married before 1631 in England.
4305. Rebecca, born about 1603 in England; died 06 August 1678 in Charlestown, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States.
Children of Walter Allen and Rebecca are: John Allen (1631-1711); Daniel Allen (1636-1694); Abigail Allen (1641-????); Benjamin Allen (1647-1678); Joseph Allen (1649-1721).
Walter Allen's biography and descendants are provided in the book:
Allen H. Bent, Walter Allen of Newbury, Mass., 1640 and Some of His Descendants (Boston:, David Clapp & Son, Printers, 1896).
In addition, many of the births, marriages and deaths are provided in the town vital records.
It's Surname Saturday, and I'm "counting down" my Ancestral Name List each week. I am up to number 269, who is Sarah ALLEN (1717-1796), one of my 6th-great-grandparents. [Note: The 6th great-grandfathers have been covered in earlier posts]
My ancestral line back through five generations of ALLEN families is:
1. Randall J. Seaver
2. Frederick Walton Seaver (1911-1983)
3. Betty Virginia Carringer (1919-2002)
4. Frederick Walton Seaver (1876-1942)
5. Alma Bessie Richmond (1882-1962)
8. Frank Walton Seaver (1852-1922)
9. Hattie Louise Hildreth (1857-1920)
16. Isaac Seaver (1823-1901)
17. Lucretia Townsend Smith (1827-1884)
32. Benjamin Seaver (1791-1825)
33. Abigail Gates (1797-1869)
66. Nathan Gates (1767-1830)
67. Abigail Knowlton (1774-1855)
134. Jeremiah Knowlton (1745->1783)
135. Abigail Pierce (1750-1776)
268. Jeremiah Knowlton, born before 02 August 1713 in Ipswich, Essex, Massachusetts, United States; died 1752 in Concord, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States. He was the son of 536. Nathaniel Knowlton and 537. Mary Bennett. He married 24 July 1735 in Sudbury, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States.
269. Sarah Allen, born 04 May 1717 in Sudbury, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States; died 10 May 1796 in Concord, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States.
Children of Jeremiah Knowlton and Sarah Allen are: John Knowlton (1736-????); Abigail Knowlton (1739-????); Nathaniel Knowlton (1741-????); Benjamin Knowlton (1743-????); Jeremiah Knowlton (1745->1783).
538. Thomas Allen, born 1690 in Sudbury, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States; died about 1777 in Sudbury, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States. He married 27 June 1711 in Sudbury, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States.
539. Sarah Grande, born about 1691 in Massachusetts, United States.
Children of Thomas Allen and Sarah Grande are: Thomas Allen (1713-????); Daniel Allen (1715-????); Sarah Allen (1717-1796).
1076. Benjamin Allen, born 30 January 1662 in Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts, United States; died 12 August 1721 in Weston, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States. He married before 1690 in probably Marlborough, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States.
1077. Frances Rice, born 03 February 1671 in Marlborough, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States; died Aft. 28 August 1721 in Lincoln, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States. She was the daughter of 2154. Thomas Rice and 2155. Mary King.
Children of Benjamin Allen and Frances Rice are: Thomas Allen (1690-1777); Grace Allen (1696-1730); Jonas Allen (1699-1789); Zebadiah Allen (1702-1777); Frances Allen (1704-1753); Benjamin Allen (1709-1768).
2152. John Allen, born about 1631 in England; died 01 December 1711 in Sudbury, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States. He married before 1654 in probably Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts, United States.
2153. Sarah, born about 1635; died 12 January 1702 in Sudbury, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States.
Children of John Allen and Sarah are: Deborah Allen (1655-????); John Allen (1656-1711); Samuel Allen (1658-1720); Joseph Allen (1660-1725); Benjamin Allen (1662-1721); Rebecca Allen (1664-????); Thomas Allen (1666-1689); Sarah Allen (1668-1702).
4304. Walter Allen, born about 1601 in England; died 08 July 1681 in Charlestown, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States. He married before 1631 in England.
4305. Rebecca, born about 1603 in England; died 06 August 1678 in Charlestown, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States.
Children of Walter Allen and Rebecca are: John Allen (1631-1711); Daniel Allen (1636-1694); Abigail Allen (1641-????); Benjamin Allen (1647-1678); Joseph Allen (1649-1721).
Walter Allen's biography and descendants are provided in the book:
Allen H. Bent, Walter Allen of Newbury, Mass., 1640 and Some of His Descendants (Boston:, David Clapp & Son, Printers, 1896).
In addition, many of the births, marriages and deaths are provided in the town vital records.
Friday, August 26, 2011
MyHeritage Hits 800 Million Profiles and Releases Family Graph API
...
I received this press release from MyHeritage today:
====================
NEW YORK, USA, LONDON, UK & TEL AVIV, Israel – August 17, 2011 - MyHeritage.com, the world’s largest online family network, today announced its continued rapid growth and the beta release of its new Family Graph API platform. The leading online destination for families to explore their family history, share special moments and keep in touch, MyHeritage.com is currently growing by more than one million registered users and 30 million profiles every month. To help families better leverage their connections and relationships across mobile and web, MyHeritage.com is making its Family Graph API platform available to developers at www.familygraph.com in beta, and is running a competition for the creation of the best family app.
The Family Graph API empowers developers big and small to develop a new generation of social apps and services on web and mobile, or enhance existing ones, to become family-aware - by taking advantage of the huge amount of information on family relationships on MyHeritage.com.
Families around the world have generated and uploaded approx. 20 million trees, 800 million profiles, and 125 million photos on MyHeritage.com. There are more than half a million birthday reminders sent every day and the site, available in 38 languages, is helping families discover new relatives and ancestors at rate of approx. 20 million new Smart Matches™ a month.
The Family Graph is a digital representation of this vast collection of information on family relationships - past and present. By enabling developers to securely access this Family Graph API, families will now be able to benefit from a richer and more personalized experience on the web and mobile.
Any website or mobile app can quickly become family-aware using the Family Graph API, subject to user consent. The complex mapping of family relationships makes the Family Graph API significantly more sophisticated than one dimensional mapping that may be found at other sites or networks.
To mark its beta release, MyHeritage.com is organizing a competition to run as of September 1 2011 for developers around the world to create the best family oriented app on its Family Graph API, offering a $10,000 prize for the winner - to be selected before the end of 2011.
For additional technical information on the API, including documentation and sample apps, to apply for free for access or to enter the best family app competition, interested parties should visit www.familygraph.com.
I received this press release from MyHeritage today:
====================
MyHeritage.com hits 800 million profiles and releases Family Graph API
New API platform helps developers make the web a friendlier place for families.
MyHeritage.com to run global competition for best family app
MyHeritage.com to run global competition for best family app
NEW YORK, USA, LONDON, UK & TEL AVIV, Israel – August 17, 2011 - MyHeritage.com, the world’s largest online family network, today announced its continued rapid growth and the beta release of its new Family Graph API platform. The leading online destination for families to explore their family history, share special moments and keep in touch, MyHeritage.com is currently growing by more than one million registered users and 30 million profiles every month. To help families better leverage their connections and relationships across mobile and web, MyHeritage.com is making its Family Graph API platform available to developers at www.familygraph.com in beta, and is running a competition for the creation of the best family app.
The Family Graph API empowers developers big and small to develop a new generation of social apps and services on web and mobile, or enhance existing ones, to become family-aware - by taking advantage of the huge amount of information on family relationships on MyHeritage.com.
The World’s Largest Family Network
Families around the world have generated and uploaded approx. 20 million trees, 800 million profiles, and 125 million photos on MyHeritage.com. There are more than half a million birthday reminders sent every day and the site, available in 38 languages, is helping families discover new relatives and ancestors at rate of approx. 20 million new Smart Matches™ a month.
Family Graph API
The Family Graph is a digital representation of this vast collection of information on family relationships - past and present. By enabling developers to securely access this Family Graph API, families will now be able to benefit from a richer and more personalized experience on the web and mobile.
Any website or mobile app can quickly become family-aware using the Family Graph API, subject to user consent. The complex mapping of family relationships makes the Family Graph API significantly more sophisticated than one dimensional mapping that may be found at other sites or networks.
A few examples of how developers can use the new API:
- E-commerce websites can obtain information about upcoming birthdays and anniversaries of close relatives, and offer quick purchase of personalized gifts or greeting cards for the current user.
- Photo sharing websites can enable their users to browse previously unseen photo albums of their close relatives.
- Social networks can use the Family Graph to provide their users with their family members as new connections.
- Family history websites can create data bridges between MyHeritage.com and other family history products, databases or websites, and provide users with valuable Smart Matches™ from MyHeritage.com.
- Mash-ups with other services can be formed to add new value for users. For example mobile apps can pull information from a family tree and show where family members reside on a map, and allow quick chat and photo sharing between them.
All user information is private and secure
All usage of any family data is subject to user consent. No access is possible to information outside one’s own family.
Competition for developers
To mark its beta release, MyHeritage.com is organizing a competition to run as of September 1 2011 for developers around the world to create the best family oriented app on its Family Graph API, offering a $10,000 prize for the winner - to be selected before the end of 2011.
To apply
For additional technical information on the API, including documentation and sample apps, to apply for free for access or to enter the best family app competition, interested parties should visit www.familygraph.com.
About MyHeritage.com:
MyHeritage.com is the most popular family network on the web. Millions of families around the world enjoy having a private and free place for their families to keep in touch and to showcase their roots. MyHeritage.com’s Smart Matching™ technology empowers users with an exciting and innovative way to find relatives and explore their family history. With all family information stored in a secure site, MyHeritage.com is the ideal place to share family photos, and celebrate and preserve special family moments. With 800 million profiles, more than 19 million family trees, and available in 38 languages, MyHeritage.com is uniting families worldwide. For more information visit www.myheritage.com.
GEDCOM, Software, Online Trees and Syncing
...
DearMYRTLE has an interesting blog post about the BetterGEDCOM effort that some interested persons participated in (I bowed out after awhile) - see BetterGEDCOM Update. She notes the history of GEDCOM development, the BetterGEDCOM history, and the trend toward synchronizing software.
My observations:
* Synchronization (to me) means making two different files the same - for example, an Ancestry Member Tree and a Family Tree Maker software file with identical data.
* Family Tree Maker 2012 has their new TreeSync feature in beta testing as we speak that should accomplish syncing between one Family Tree Maker file and one Ancestry Member Tree. The sync can be either automatic or manual (from within FTM 2012), and works both ways - to and from Family Tree Maker.
* MyHeritage has a sync feature in place between one Family Tree Builder 5.1 software file and their MyHeritage online tree. The sync works only from FTB to MyHeritage, not vice versa (I think).
* new FamilySearch Tree (nFST) syncs information, on a person-by-person and fact-by-fact basis, with several software programs, including RootsMagic, Legacy Family Tree, FamilyInsight and several others. The programs do not sync entire files to nFST, only specific persons and facts. The sync can go both ways - to and from nFST.
* AncestorSync is working on a sync program between software programs (AncestralQuest, Family Tree Maker, Legacy Family Tree, Mac Family Tree, Personal Ancestral File, RootsMagic, The Master Genealogist, GEDCOM) and online family trees (new FamilySearch, Geni.com, ourFamily*ology). My understanding is that AncestorSync reads the native format of the first file and creates a file in the native format of the second file. I've used a beta version of this to download a Geni.com file to GEDCOM or RootsMagic with success. The program is still in beta, and has not been updated recently (watch, they'll have a new one tonight!).
* The sync features that I've seen so far work fairly well for names, dates, places and images, but leave something to be desired for sources. I showed in The Seaver Source Citation Saga Compendium series that there are significant differences in how software programs and online trees handle source citations using GEDCOM. My conclusion was that the only rational way to transfer source citations between programs and online trees was to use "free-form" source citations in one SOURce tag, because of the way all of them put sources into GEDCOM files. Will AncestorSync (or a similar program) find all of the right information in one of the software program databases and put it in the right place in another program database or online tree? I don't know. I sincerely hope so. I think it will be difficult to do.
* Syncing is easiest done between isolated online trees (which are not interconnected with other submitter's contributions, so that I control my contributions to some extent) and my software program database. That's what the FTM 2012/Ancestry sync and the Family Tree Builder/MyHeritage sync functions do. The key is to have one software tree and one online tree.
* Syncing with an online interconnected family tree (like new FamilySearch Tree, Geni.com or WikiTree) seems like a more complicated problem. My "tree" on those sites are limited - I have only hundreds or thousands of profiles, while my database has over 41,000 persons. How can I sync my "fresh" data with those online trees? The new FamilySearch Tree does it one person and one fact at a time from within my software program, and it tells me what has been synced and what has not been synced.
These are all wonderful technology advances, but they are not yet optimum. I have the feeling that we are in the infancy of family tree synchronization. The solution that I want is:
* I use RootsMagic software for my family tree database - and I do all of my adding and editing of family tree information in RootsMagic in order to avoid duplication of effort. I create a GEDCOM file every month or so, and read that into Legacy Family Tree, Family Tree Builder and Family Tree Maker so that I can use their functions and help my colleagues and readers. In my ideal world, I want the other programs to update themselves (either manually or automatically) whenever I make a change in my "master" program. However, every time I rename a FTM or FTB file, I cannot sync it to an existing online family tree.
* I have family trees (complete or partial) on Ancestry.com, Geni.com, MyHeritage, WikiTree, WeRelate, Family Pursuit, GeneTree, GeneaNet, AppleTree, GenesReunited, FindMyPast, and others that I cannot recall off the top of my head. In my ideal world, I want all of these sites to update themselves (either manually or automatically) whenever I make a change in my "master" program or file - a "master" could be an online tree or a software program.
* I don't have time in my schedule to update all of my software databases and online trees manually to agree with my "master" family tree database, wherever it is. A solution is to have it automatically done from within the software or website. Genealogy software and online trees could have lists of file names of other software programs or other online trees the user wants to sync files with.
This may not be as important to many researchers as it is to me, because they may use only one software program and have one or two online trees. That would be manageable for most persons using GEDCOM, FTM's TreeSync, or a program like AncestorSync.
Updated: Tamura Jones commented that he described a similar system in AncestorSync Ultimate on his Modern Software Experience blog back on 30 May 2011.
DearMYRTLE has an interesting blog post about the BetterGEDCOM effort that some interested persons participated in (I bowed out after awhile) - see BetterGEDCOM Update. She notes the history of GEDCOM development, the BetterGEDCOM history, and the trend toward synchronizing software.
My observations:
* Synchronization (to me) means making two different files the same - for example, an Ancestry Member Tree and a Family Tree Maker software file with identical data.
* Family Tree Maker 2012 has their new TreeSync feature in beta testing as we speak that should accomplish syncing between one Family Tree Maker file and one Ancestry Member Tree. The sync can be either automatic or manual (from within FTM 2012), and works both ways - to and from Family Tree Maker.
* MyHeritage has a sync feature in place between one Family Tree Builder 5.1 software file and their MyHeritage online tree. The sync works only from FTB to MyHeritage, not vice versa (I think).
* new FamilySearch Tree (nFST) syncs information, on a person-by-person and fact-by-fact basis, with several software programs, including RootsMagic, Legacy Family Tree, FamilyInsight and several others. The programs do not sync entire files to nFST, only specific persons and facts. The sync can go both ways - to and from nFST.
* AncestorSync is working on a sync program between software programs (AncestralQuest, Family Tree Maker, Legacy Family Tree, Mac Family Tree, Personal Ancestral File, RootsMagic, The Master Genealogist, GEDCOM) and online family trees (new FamilySearch, Geni.com, ourFamily*ology). My understanding is that AncestorSync reads the native format of the first file and creates a file in the native format of the second file. I've used a beta version of this to download a Geni.com file to GEDCOM or RootsMagic with success. The program is still in beta, and has not been updated recently (watch, they'll have a new one tonight!).
* The sync features that I've seen so far work fairly well for names, dates, places and images, but leave something to be desired for sources. I showed in The Seaver Source Citation Saga Compendium series that there are significant differences in how software programs and online trees handle source citations using GEDCOM. My conclusion was that the only rational way to transfer source citations between programs and online trees was to use "free-form" source citations in one SOURce tag, because of the way all of them put sources into GEDCOM files. Will AncestorSync (or a similar program) find all of the right information in one of the software program databases and put it in the right place in another program database or online tree? I don't know. I sincerely hope so. I think it will be difficult to do.
* Syncing is easiest done between isolated online trees (which are not interconnected with other submitter's contributions, so that I control my contributions to some extent) and my software program database. That's what the FTM 2012/Ancestry sync and the Family Tree Builder/MyHeritage sync functions do. The key is to have one software tree and one online tree.
* Syncing with an online interconnected family tree (like new FamilySearch Tree, Geni.com or WikiTree) seems like a more complicated problem. My "tree" on those sites are limited - I have only hundreds or thousands of profiles, while my database has over 41,000 persons. How can I sync my "fresh" data with those online trees? The new FamilySearch Tree does it one person and one fact at a time from within my software program, and it tells me what has been synced and what has not been synced.
These are all wonderful technology advances, but they are not yet optimum. I have the feeling that we are in the infancy of family tree synchronization. The solution that I want is:
* I use RootsMagic software for my family tree database - and I do all of my adding and editing of family tree information in RootsMagic in order to avoid duplication of effort. I create a GEDCOM file every month or so, and read that into Legacy Family Tree, Family Tree Builder and Family Tree Maker so that I can use their functions and help my colleagues and readers. In my ideal world, I want the other programs to update themselves (either manually or automatically) whenever I make a change in my "master" program. However, every time I rename a FTM or FTB file, I cannot sync it to an existing online family tree.
* I have family trees (complete or partial) on Ancestry.com, Geni.com, MyHeritage, WikiTree, WeRelate, Family Pursuit, GeneTree, GeneaNet, AppleTree, GenesReunited, FindMyPast, and others that I cannot recall off the top of my head. In my ideal world, I want all of these sites to update themselves (either manually or automatically) whenever I make a change in my "master" program or file - a "master" could be an online tree or a software program.
* I don't have time in my schedule to update all of my software databases and online trees manually to agree with my "master" family tree database, wherever it is. A solution is to have it automatically done from within the software or website. Genealogy software and online trees could have lists of file names of other software programs or other online trees the user wants to sync files with.
This may not be as important to many researchers as it is to me, because they may use only one software program and have one or two online trees. That would be manageable for most persons using GEDCOM, FTM's TreeSync, or a program like AncestorSync.
Updated: Tamura Jones commented that he described a similar system in AncestorSync Ultimate on his Modern Software Experience blog back on 30 May 2011.
FGS 2011 Conference - my Friday, 9 September Selections
...
The Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) 2011 Conference, "Pathways to the Heartland," is September 7 to 10 in Springfield, Illinois. I'm looking forward to attending and being an Official Blogger.
The program schedule is at http://fgs.org/2011conference/program/index.php. I decided that I'd better think about the presentations I want to attend. Here's my list for Friday, 9 September:
* 8 a.m.: F-304: After Mustering Out: Researching Civil War Veterans -- Amy Johnson Crow. From veteran groups to soldiers home records, the post-war period has countless resources for us to explore. This lecture will examine many types of sources created by and about Civil War veterans.
* 9:30 a.m.: F-311: Navigating the 1890 Gap: Research with State Census Records--- Kris W. Rzepczynski. Given the near-total loss of the 1890 U.S. Census, state census records frequently serve as an effective substitute. This program will explore these underutilized resources, focusing primarily on the available schedules from across the United States from that time period.
* 11 a.m.: F-316: Wisconsin: History and Resources for Genealogists -- Rev. Dr. David McDonald. Anglo settlers came to Wisconsin in search of mineral wealth beginning in the 1820s. After 1850, a large influx of Norwegians and Germans, later followed by Belgians and Poles, made Wisconsin their home. An examination of repositories, records and their locations.
* 2 p.m.: F-333: Using "Correlation" to Reveal Facts that No Record States -- Thomas Jones. Attendees will learn how to compare and contrast information from related sources to reveal information, relationships, and identities that no single source specifies.
* 3:30 p.m.: F-342: Avoiding Pitfalls in New England Research -- Rhonda R. McClure. A look at various major record types for New England pointing out some of the idiosyncrasies that create pitfalls that researchers don't expect.
* 5 p.m.: F-350: Lessons from a Snoop: Collaterals and Associates -- Debra S. Mieszala. Crucial information on direct ancestors is often found by exploring collateral relatives, associates, and neighbors. Case studies present examples of invaluable finds.
* 6:30 p.m.: F-353: FGS 35th Anniversary Celebration -- Harold Holzer. An evening celebrating the Federation of Genealogical Societies' 35th Anniversary, featuring a look into the past and future of FGS, dinner, and "The Lincoln Family Album," by noted Lincoln scholar, Harold Holzer.
I'm sure that I'll wander through the Exhibit Hall several times during the day talking to vendors, providers and friends. I'll also camp out a bit at the Media Hub, where there will be Internet connections for Official bloggers, of which I am one.
Paula Stuart-Warren has been publicizing FGS Conference activities on the FGS Conference News Blog for several months. See that blog for more information. I was chagrined to learn in Miscellanous Conference Tips, Part 3 that attendees cannot use extension cords for their electronic in the meeting rooms. I guess I'll have to take notes the old-fashioned way. RootsMagic is sponsoring a CyberCafe where attendees can charge their devices, check email and the web, and print out syllabus pages (is there a charge?).
Disclosure: I am an Official Blogger for this FGS Conference, and have had my conference registration comped. One of my duties as an Official Blogger is to write stories leading up to and during the FGS Conference in order to publicize the event.
The Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) 2011 Conference, "Pathways to the Heartland," is September 7 to 10 in Springfield, Illinois. I'm looking forward to attending and being an Official Blogger.
The program schedule is at http://fgs.org/2011conference/program/index.php. I decided that I'd better think about the presentations I want to attend. Here's my list for Friday, 9 September:
* 8 a.m.: F-304: After Mustering Out: Researching Civil War Veterans -- Amy Johnson Crow. From veteran groups to soldiers home records, the post-war period has countless resources for us to explore. This lecture will examine many types of sources created by and about Civil War veterans.
* 9:30 a.m.: F-311: Navigating the 1890 Gap: Research with State Census Records--- Kris W. Rzepczynski. Given the near-total loss of the 1890 U.S. Census, state census records frequently serve as an effective substitute. This program will explore these underutilized resources, focusing primarily on the available schedules from across the United States from that time period.
* 11 a.m.: F-316: Wisconsin: History and Resources for Genealogists -- Rev. Dr. David McDonald. Anglo settlers came to Wisconsin in search of mineral wealth beginning in the 1820s. After 1850, a large influx of Norwegians and Germans, later followed by Belgians and Poles, made Wisconsin their home. An examination of repositories, records and their locations.
* 2 p.m.: F-333: Using "Correlation" to Reveal Facts that No Record States -- Thomas Jones. Attendees will learn how to compare and contrast information from related sources to reveal information, relationships, and identities that no single source specifies.
* 3:30 p.m.: F-342: Avoiding Pitfalls in New England Research -- Rhonda R. McClure. A look at various major record types for New England pointing out some of the idiosyncrasies that create pitfalls that researchers don't expect.
* 5 p.m.: F-350: Lessons from a Snoop: Collaterals and Associates -- Debra S. Mieszala. Crucial information on direct ancestors is often found by exploring collateral relatives, associates, and neighbors. Case studies present examples of invaluable finds.
* 6:30 p.m.: F-353: FGS 35th Anniversary Celebration -- Harold Holzer. An evening celebrating the Federation of Genealogical Societies' 35th Anniversary, featuring a look into the past and future of FGS, dinner, and "The Lincoln Family Album," by noted Lincoln scholar, Harold Holzer.
I'm sure that I'll wander through the Exhibit Hall several times during the day talking to vendors, providers and friends. I'll also camp out a bit at the Media Hub, where there will be Internet connections for Official bloggers, of which I am one.
Paula Stuart-Warren has been publicizing FGS Conference activities on the FGS Conference News Blog for several months. See that blog for more information. I was chagrined to learn in Miscellanous Conference Tips, Part 3 that attendees cannot use extension cords for their electronic in the meeting rooms. I guess I'll have to take notes the old-fashioned way. RootsMagic is sponsoring a CyberCafe where attendees can charge their devices, check email and the web, and print out syllabus pages (is there a charge?).
Disclosure: I am an Official Blogger for this FGS Conference, and have had my conference registration comped. One of my duties as an Official Blogger is to write stories leading up to and during the FGS Conference in order to publicize the event.
Follow Friday - Weekend Genealogy Fun
...
Here are my recommendations for Genealogy Fun this weekend:
1) Listen to Geneabloggers Radio tonight (Friday night, 10 p.m. ET, 9 p.m. CT, 8 p.m. MT and 7 p.m. PT) hosted by Thomas MacEntee. This week's topic is "Genealogy Back to School Special." The special guests discussing educational programs for genealogists and family historians. Our special guests will include:
* Louise St. Denis of the National Institute of Genealogical Studies;
* Angela McGhie of the ProGenealogy Study Group;
* Patricia Walls Stamm, CG℠, CGL℠ of the National Genealogical Society Home Study Course.
2) Listen to the FGS Radio - My Society show on Saturday (2 p.m. ET, 1 p.m. CT, 12 noon MT, 11 a.m. PT) hosted by Thomas MacEntee this week. The topic is "Websites for Genealogy Societies." The special guests are:
* Tom Ryder, founder of EasyNetSites in Tampa, Florida. Tom will be discussing how societies can use the EasyNetSites platform to create a dynamic and affordable website for their organization.
* Amy Johnson Crow CG℠ as our FGS 2011 Conference Speaker of the Week about upcoming presentations at the conference in Springfield, Illinois this September.
3) Check out the recent Webinars on:
* "Newspapers for Genealogists: Using GenealogyBank.com to document every day of your ancestors' lives" with Tom Kemp.
* "Google+ the Next Big Thing" with Paul Allen, Dan Lynch and Mark Olson (free until 25 August from Legacy Family Tree).
* "Organizng for Success" with Karen Clifford (available free indefinitely from Legacy Family Tree)
* "The Power of DNA in Unlocking Family Relationships," with Ugo Perugo (available indefinitely from Legacy Family Tree)
* "Leveraging the Power of "We": a Watershed Event in Discovering Where to Find Your Ancestors (Research Wiki, Research Courses, and FamilySearch Forums)," with Michael Ritchey (available from Legacy Family Tree).
* RootsMagic Webinars (all free) available at http://www.rootsmagic.com/Webinars/
* National Genealogical Society (NGS) Videos (free to view) at http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/cs/videos_online
* Thomas MacEntee's Explorinar on Easy Website Creation (free to view).
4) Respond to my Saturday Night Genealogy Fun challenge, posted on www.geneamusings.com soon after 12 noon Pacific time (that's 1900 GMT for those who understand time zones).
5) Go to a local genealogical society program, or go to a library or repository with genealogical resources. I'm going to stay home and work on preparing for my trip to the FGS Conferenc, research at the Allen county Public Library, and visiting Wisconsin to explore ancestral homes and do research at repositories.
6) Add material (names, dates, places, notes, images, sources, etc.) to your genealogy software program. I collected 127 pages three weeks ago at Carlsbad Library, and have been slowly adding that to my database.
7) Spend time with your family doing fun things. I did this last weekend.
8) Attend Scanfest on Sunday, 28 August at 11 a.m. PT (2 p.m. ET, 1800 GMT) on Miriam Robbins Ancestories blog. Scan your photos and documents and chat with others doing the same. i'll be there!
Whatever you decide, please tell us about your genealogy endeavors on a social network or in a blog post. You never know when your experiences may stimulate or encourage others to do useful genealogy work.
Here are my recommendations for Genealogy Fun this weekend:
1) Listen to Geneabloggers Radio tonight (Friday night, 10 p.m. ET, 9 p.m. CT, 8 p.m. MT and 7 p.m. PT) hosted by Thomas MacEntee. This week's topic is "Genealogy Back to School Special." The special guests discussing educational programs for genealogists and family historians. Our special guests will include:
* Louise St. Denis of the National Institute of Genealogical Studies;
* Angela McGhie of the ProGenealogy Study Group;
* Patricia Walls Stamm, CG℠, CGL℠ of the National Genealogical Society Home Study Course.
2) Listen to the FGS Radio - My Society show on Saturday (2 p.m. ET, 1 p.m. CT, 12 noon MT, 11 a.m. PT) hosted by Thomas MacEntee this week. The topic is "Websites for Genealogy Societies." The special guests are:
* Tom Ryder, founder of EasyNetSites in Tampa, Florida. Tom will be discussing how societies can use the EasyNetSites platform to create a dynamic and affordable website for their organization.
* Amy Johnson Crow CG℠ as our FGS 2011 Conference Speaker of the Week about upcoming presentations at the conference in Springfield, Illinois this September.
3) Check out the recent Webinars on:
* "Newspapers for Genealogists: Using GenealogyBank.com to document every day of your ancestors' lives" with Tom Kemp.
* "Google+ the Next Big Thing" with Paul Allen, Dan Lynch and Mark Olson (free until 25 August from Legacy Family Tree).
* "Organizng for Success" with Karen Clifford (available free indefinitely from Legacy Family Tree)
* "The Power of DNA in Unlocking Family Relationships," with Ugo Perugo (available indefinitely from Legacy Family Tree)
* "Leveraging the Power of "We": a Watershed Event in Discovering Where to Find Your Ancestors (Research Wiki, Research Courses, and FamilySearch Forums)," with Michael Ritchey (available from Legacy Family Tree).
* RootsMagic Webinars (all free) available at http://www.rootsmagic.com/Webinars/
* National Genealogical Society (NGS) Videos (free to view) at http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/cs/videos_online
* Thomas MacEntee's Explorinar on Easy Website Creation (free to view).
4) Respond to my Saturday Night Genealogy Fun challenge, posted on www.geneamusings.com soon after 12 noon Pacific time (that's 1900 GMT for those who understand time zones).
5) Go to a local genealogical society program, or go to a library or repository with genealogical resources. I'm going to stay home and work on preparing for my trip to the FGS Conferenc, research at the Allen county Public Library, and visiting Wisconsin to explore ancestral homes and do research at repositories.
6) Add material (names, dates, places, notes, images, sources, etc.) to your genealogy software program. I collected 127 pages three weeks ago at Carlsbad Library, and have been slowly adding that to my database.
7) Spend time with your family doing fun things. I did this last weekend.
8) Attend Scanfest on Sunday, 28 August at 11 a.m. PT (2 p.m. ET, 1800 GMT) on Miriam Robbins Ancestories blog. Scan your photos and documents and chat with others doing the same. i'll be there!
Whatever you decide, please tell us about your genealogy endeavors on a social network or in a blog post. You never know when your experiences may stimulate or encourage others to do useful genealogy work.
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