(Not So) Wordless Wednesday - Post 253: Abbie Ardell "Della" Smith of Concordia, Kansas

I'm posting family photographs from my collection on Wednesdays, but they aren't Wordless Wednesday posts like others do - I am incapable of having a wordless post.

Here is a photograph from the Seaver/Carringer family photograph collection passed to me by my mother in the 1988 to 2002 time period:

This is a photograph of Abbie Ardell "Della" Smith of Concordia, Cloud County, Kansas taken in about 1884.  She was about age 22 at the time of this photo if it was 1884.  Her parents were Devier J. and Abbie (Vaux) Smith, who moved the family in 1885 to McCook, Red Willow County, Nebraska.  Della married Henry Austin Carringer on 11 September 1887 in Wano, Cheyenne County, Kansas and came to San Diego on their honeymoon and never left.

Abbie Ardell "Della" (Smith) Carringer (1862-1944) is my great-grandmother through her son Lyle L. Carringer (1891-1976) and her granddaughter, Betty Virginia (Carringer) Seaver (1919-2002) to me.

I need to show this photograph to a photo detective to see if they can narrow the time frame down better for me based on the clothing style, hairstyle, or the setting.  

The URL for this post is:  http://www.geneamusings.com/2013/04/not-so-wordless-wednesday-post-253.html

Copyright (c) 2013, Randall J. Seaver

Great Charts at TreeSeek - UPDATED (oops, still uses new.FamilySearch data)

One of the reasons I want to add my data to the FamilySearch Family Tree is to be able to create the absolutely beautiful family tree fan chart that can be created on the TreeSeek website (https://www.treeseek.com/index.php).

How did I get there?

1)  The TreeSeek home page looks like this:

There are a number of different charts that can be created based on the information in the FamilySearch Family Tree [see Update at bottom - still uses new.FamilySearch data]. To be clear, a user has to have a FamilySearch registered account (they are free) and have a presence in the FamilySearch Family Tree.

2)  I wanted to create the 9-generation Fan Chart, so I signed on to FamilySearch from within TreeSeek and clicked on the "My Trees" link:

TreeSeek can use data from either FamilySearch or Geni./com.  I chose to Create my chart from data in FamilySearch.

3)  I clicked on the "Create Tree" link, and had to make sure that I was identified.  It asked:

It had my FSFT ID correct, so I clicked on "Create data set."

4)  The system took awhile to create the tree chart.  Before I saw it, this screen appeared:

5)  I clicked on the "Create Tree" button, and the 9-Generation Family Tree Fan Chart was created and saved on my computer as a PDF file.  I opened it and saw:

The file is only 528 kb in size.  Even so, I can Zoom in on areas of the Tree:

And another area:

There are other options on the home page after the tree is created - a 4-generation Fan Chart, a 9-generation pedigree chart, a 10-generation pedigree chart, and a number of word clouds.

here is the 9-generation Pedigree Chart:

And the Surname Cloud:

I do wish that there was more information on the Fan Chart and the Pedigree Chart.  Life span dates (e.g., 1911-1983) would great, at least out to the sixth or seventh generation.  

Those are all pretty nice.  Did I mention that I especially like the Fan Chart?  However, there are errors (in  my humble opinion, based on my extensive research and that of others) in the FamilySearch Family Tree that I need to fix before I get a really big Fan Chart made using a printing service.

The URL for this post is:  http://www.geneamusings.com/2013/04/great-charts-at-treeseek-uses.html

Copyright (c) 2013, Randall J. Seaver

Updated 24 April:  David Samuelsen, in a comment on Google+ concerning this blog post, noted that TreeSeek seems to be accessing old new.FamilySearch tree data rather than the new FamilySearch Family Tree.  I wondered why some of the entries on the Fan Chart did not include what I have updated over the past year - look at my Seaver line on the chart!  It is possible that they are using a relatively old version of new.FamilySearch to create the charts.

I still love the chart layout and colors...and will be on the lookout for when TreeSeek starts using the updated FS Family Tree data.

Ancestry.com Home Page Changes and Wild Card Search Frustrations

I noticed a week or so ago that Ancestry.com has changed their home page - I can no longer search the record collections using the Advanced Search form or exact matches.

Here is the Home Page I copied on about 12 April 2013 (from my 14 April 2013 presentation to the Pommern Special Interest Group):

It shows the Advanced Search fields with the "Match all terms exactly" box checked.

Here is the current Home Page copied today:

The Search Box is different from before - it only has fields for First & Middle Names, Last Name, Locality, and an Estimated Birth Year.

I put First Name = "isaac" and Last Name = "seaver" into the search fields and clicked the "Search" button:

Over 335,000 matches were found for my search parameters.  The "Searching for" column shows that my search with those names was not Exact.

When I clicked the "Show Advanced" link on the Home Page, it took me to the "Search" tab and the Advanced Search form (with my previous settings from my last search):

I put First name = "isaac" and Last name = "seaver" into the search form (Note:  I had to enter them again - why weren't they filled in?  That's dumb!).  The form had "restrict to exact" as the filter under the first and last name fields.

With those settings, I clicked on "Search" and there were 494 matches:

Note that I had to click three times from the Home Page to get the results I wanted.  Two weeks ago, it was one click - just the "Search" button.  That's frustrating to me.

I need to train myself to go directly to the "Search" tab when I open the Ancestry program - that gets it down to two clicks to get the results I want.  I could put the "Search" tab URL (http://search.ancestry.com/search/) into my Chrome browser bookmark bar also and get it down to one click, but I like to see the "New and Updated Databases" every day.

I complained months ago about the problems with doing a Global Search with wild cards in names. I tried again today and the results were the same.  From the "Search" tab, I entered First name = "isa*" and Last name = "sea*" and saw the "Too many matches with the wildcard search" screen:

That is very frustrating to me, even for names that are fairly uncommon.

 I just did a global search for First name = "joh*" and Last name = "smi*" - it worked and gave me 2,935,466 matches!  It didn't work with "mar* smi*".  Are there more "isa* sea*" persons in the databases than "joh* smi*" persons?  I sincerely doubt it!  This is not random - it happens every time I search for "isa* sea*", but not for "isa* sev*" or "isa* sea*r".

This is another of my frustrations with Ancestry searches.  They cost me time...I've learned to expect the frustration and usually search with a full name now, or I select from the database links on my Home Page or in the Card Catalog.

For the record, I have a Dell computer, running Windows 7, and using the Google Chrome browser.

I just did the "isa* sea*" search on my Windows 7 laptop using Internet Explorer 10 browser and received 30,122 matches.  Is this problem related to the browser somehow?

Is anyone else getting these results?  Can you get results with "joh* smi*" and no results with "isa* sea*" or "mar* smi*"?

The URL for this post is:  http://www.geneamusings.com/2013/04/ancestrycom-home-page-changes-and-wild.html

Copyright (c) 2013, Randall J. Seaver

SCGS Genealogy Jamboree Early Bird Registration Deadline is 30 April

Are you going to the 44th Annual Southern California Genealogical Society Genealogy Jamboree at the Los Angeles Marriott Burbank Airport (2500 Hollywood Way, Burbank) from June 7th to 9th, 2013?  If so, have you registered yet?  The Early Bird registration deadline is next Tuesday, 30 April.

Conference registration can be made on the SCGS Genealogy Jamboree website. Early Bird registration for the full conference is $115 for SCGS members, and $135 for non-members.  Registration includes both a CD and printed version of the Syllabus.

SCGS has added a "Family History and DNA: Genetic Genealogy in 2013" event on Thursday, 6 June for a separate price - $175 for SCGS members and $195 for non-members.

We're only six weeks away from this event!  Register now so that you don't miss out on the education and fun at Genealogy Jamboree.

The URL for this post is:  http://www.geneamusings.com/2013/04/scgs-genealogy-jamboree-early-bird.html

copyright (c) 2013, Randall J. Seaver

Tombstone Tuesday - Kurt Sax (1922-2012), Rest in Peace

Linda and I attended the "unveiling" of the gravestone of our dear neighbor, Kurt Sax (1922-2012) on Sunday last.

 The gravestone is in the Home of Peace Cemetery in San Diego (on Imperial Avenue, just across the fence from Mount Hope Cemetery).

Kurt died last May and the tradition in his Jewish community (which I was not aware of) is to unveil the gravestone approximately one year after the death.

Kurt and his wife were the oldest remaining residents on our cul-de-sac in Chula Vista, and are dear people.  We are friends with their daughters, and have shared their lives for over 38 years.  Kurt's wife is still living, and we see her often.  Their life stories are fascinating - Kurt was born in Austria and his wife in Czechoslovakia, just across the border from each other.  They survived World War II, although his wife's family was interned for some time.  They came to America in 1949 (I found their passenger list record several years ago on Ancestry.com, and gave them a printout) and eventually settled in San Diego, where they raised their children.  Kurt was a stockbroker at E.F. Hutton for many years.  He was just a sweet man - very happy, friendly, funny, gentle, and considerate.

The rocks placed on the gravestone are another tradition.  We received a heart shaped rock for our presence at the unveiling.  After a short service at the gravesite, the group journeyed to Temple Beth Sholom in Chula Vista for a reception in Kurt's honor, with all of his favorite goodies - nonpareils, lemon cake, chocolate cake, KitKats, etc., along with finger foods and vegetables.  I talked about genealogy with one of the son-in-laws for awhile.

We enjoyed ourselves, and remember Kurt Sax - a wonderful man.  Rest in peace, my friend.

The URL for this post is:  http://www.geneamusings.com/2013/04/tombstone-tuesday-kurt-sax-1922-2012.html

Copyright (c) 2013, Randall J. Seaver

FamilySearch Improves Record Sourcing and Linking

As part of the FamilySearch Redesign, they have significantly improved the record sourcing function in the Historical Record Collections.  Here is an example:

I was looking for my great-grandfather's birth record in the Massachusetts, Births, 1841-1915 record collection.  I entered First Names = "frank" and Last Names = "seaver" in the search fields on the collection page and got results:

My target is the first one on the list, Frank Walton Seaver.  I clicked on his name, which showed me the record summary for him:

The format of the record summary has changed.  There is a "Sources" box on the right of the screen above with links to "Add to My Source Box" and "Go To My Source Box."  This refers to the "Source box" feature in the FamilySearch Family Tree, and is how a user links a record in a historical collection to a person in the Family Tree.

There are also links in the box below the "Sources" box for:

*  "View image" - clicking this takes the user to the record image
*  "Save image" - saves the record image
*  "Search collection" - takes the user back to the specific record collection (this is new and a very useful link!)
*  "About this collection" - takes the user to the FamilySearch Research Wiki article for this collection (another very useful link!)

Down at the bottom of the screen is the Source Citation that will be included in the Source Box:

"Massachusetts, Births, 1841-1915," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FXCH-S6T : accessed 22 Apr 2013), Frank Walton Seaver, 1852.

Note that the source citation is not in Evidence! Explained format*, and contains the link to the record summary rather than to the image.  Doing the source citation in this manner does provide a link to the record image if one is available, and saves bandwidth for FamilySearch in the Family Tree since the link is to a record summary which can be opened to see the record image (when one is available).

*  Edited:  I received this note from Elizabeth Shown Mills on Facebook, who gently corrected me:  "Actually, the citation IS in Evidence Style, considering that FS is citing its own database entry rather than the actual document. If FS were citing the actual document, then--yes--that would require a different citation."  My thanks to Elizabeth.  

I clicked on the "Add to My Source Box" link and the site told me:

I clicked "OK" and then clicked on the "Go To My Source Box" link and saw:

The record summary that I added was added to my "Home" Source Box file.  I need to add it to my file for Frank Walton Seaver and then Tag it to his Birth Event.  I showed how to do something similar in the FamilySearch Family Tree in Finding the Best Way to Attach Sources to Persons in FamilySearch Family Tree.

For record collections that do not have an image available, the record summary is similar.  Here is a death record for Juliett Bryant from another record collection:

The "Sources" box is the same, but there is no link to "View Image" or to "Save Image."

I really like this layout and process - FamilySearch has made the sourcing of record summaries and the saving of record images very easy to perform with this modification.

The URL for this post is:  http://www.geneamusings.com/2013/04/familysearch-improves-record-sourcing.html

Copyright (c) 2013, Randall J. Seaver
  

Free WikiTree Worldwide Family Tree Reaches 5 Million Profiles

I received this press release today from Elyse Doerflinger of WikiTree:

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

WikiTree Reaches Five Million Profiles

Important Milestone for Feature-Rich, Free Family Tree Website

April 22, 2013: WikiTree, a community of genealogists and family historians committed to growing a 100% free worldwide family tree, announces its latest achievement: Five million profiles created by WikiTree members.

According to Thomas MacEntee, genealogy educator and author, “The ability to reach 5 million profiles is something to shout about, especially since WikiTree intentionally takes a ‘slow growth’ approach. What does this mean? Well, instead of having users ‘dump’ profiles filled with dubious content, WikiTree encourages well-researched profiles from its users.”

WikiTree discourages bulk additions such as large GEDCOM imports. Community members are encouraged to merge all duplicates and collaborate on the same ancestor profiles. Therefore, while five million may not compare to some family tree websites, WikiTree profiles are continually improving, not just growing in number.

Innovative Features Encourage Participation

What makes WikiTree attractive to those who want to preserve their family history research and share it with friends, family and other genealogists? Many new features have been added to the WikiTree platform that provide a user-friendly way to track genealogy research and allow for richer collaboration. Features include:

• Advanced Privacy Controls
• Genealogy Alert Features
• Free GEDCOM Comparisons
• “Cousin Bait” Toolkits
• Genealogist-to-Genealogist Q&A
• Embeddable Family Trees

Genealogists and serious family historians are invited to visit the community and discover the benefits of WikiTree for themselves. WikiTree – Growing the World’s Family Tree.

About WikiTree

Growing since 2008, WikiTree.com is a 100% free shared family tree website that balances privacy and collaboration. Community members privately collaborate with close family members on modern family history and publicly collaborate with other genealogists on deep ancestry. Since all the private and public profiles are connected on the same system this process is helping to grow a single, worldwide family tree that will eventually connect us all and thereby make it free and easy for anyone to discover their roots. See http://www.WikiTree.com.

CVGS Meeting on Wednesday, 24 April: Randy Seaver Presents "Searching Ancestry.com Effectively"

 WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24th  GENERAL MEETING
from 12 noon to 2 p.m.

Randy Seaver– “Searching Ancestry.com Effectively”

At Chula Vista Civic Center Branch Library (365 F Street in Chula Vista) Auditorium

Ancestry.com has many wonderful features--a lavish buffet where it is hard to choose what to use and how to use it. Randy will discuss the effective use of such features as the "new" search algorithms, basic or advanced search forms, exact or ranked matches, full names or wild cards, specific or all databases, restricted or whole collection, browsing collections, and site navigation.

Randy Seaver is a native San Diegan. His ancestry is mainly colonial New England and Upper Atlantic, with some colonial German, French and Dutch forebears, and several 19th-century English immigrants. He has been pursuing his elusive ancestors since 1988, and has been online since 1992.

Randy is a former President of the Chula Vista Genealogical Society, and is currently the Newsletter Editor and Research Chair. He speaks to Southern California societies, libraries and groups, and teaches "Beginning Computer Genealogy" adult classes at OASIS. He is a member of NGS, NEHGS, SCGS, SDGS, CGSSD and CVGS. Randy blogs daily about genealogy subjects at Genea-Musings (www.geneamusings.com) and the Chula Vista Genealogy Cafe (http://CVGenCafe.blogspot.com). 

There will be a short business meeting before the presentation, led by CVGS President Virginia Taylor.

The URL for this post is:  http://www.geneamusings.com/2013/04/cvgs-meeting-on-wednesday-24-april.html

copyright (c) 2013, Randall J. Seaver

Amanuensis Monday - Probate Records of Nathaniel Potter (1637-1704) of Dartmouth, Mass.

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 probate file of Nathaniel Potter (1637-1704) of Dartmouth, Bristol County, Massachusetts.  Nathaniel Potter married Elizabeth Stokes (1639-????) before 1664.  They had eleven children:

*  Stokes Potter (1664-1718)
*  John Potter (1666-1769)
*  Nathaniel Potter (1667-1736)
*  William Potter (1671-1720)
*  Benjamin Potter (1673-1709)
*  Mary Potter (1675-1752), married Samuel Wilbur (1664-1740)
*  Samuel Potter (1675-1748)
*  Ichabod Potter (1677-1755)
*  Rebecca Potter (1681-1773), married Robert Kirby (1673-1757)
*  Elizabeth Potter (1683-1713), married Benjamin Tripp (1678-1754)
*  Katherine Potter (1685-1763), married Thomas Cornell (1685-1763)

Nathaniel Potter died testate, having written his will on 18 October 1704, which was proved on 20 November 1704.  The will reads (transcribed from Bristol County (Massachusetts) Probate Records, Volume 2, Page 114, a probate court clerk's copy, accessed by Randy Seaver on FHL Microfilm 0,461,882):

"In the Name of God Amen the Eighteenth Day of October in the year of our Lord God (1704) I Nathaniel Potter of Dartmouth in the County of Bristoll Yeoman or Husbandman, being of perfect mind & Memory Thanks be given to God, Do make & ordain this my last will & Testament That is to say. Principally & first of all I give & Recomend my Soul into the hands of God that gave it.  And as touching such worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life I give Devise & dispose of the same in the following maner forme.

"Imp-s.  I give and bequeath to Elizabeth Potter my well beloved wife (whom I make my Executor with Stokes Potter my son / both of them together to fulfill this my last will) To my wife I give & bequeath all my Moveables, with her Liveing in the house all her life, Remaining in my name, and the third of my Estate, and to my other Executor my son Stokes Potter the halfe of my land, which is to say on the southward side of the Highway = Imprimis I give to my son John Potter the other halfe on the North side of the Highway with the house & Orchard.


"Imp-s.  I give to my son Nathaniel Potter one shilling.

"Imp-s.  I give to my son William Potter four 4 pounds after my decease.  Allso I give to my son Banja- Potter the sum of three pounds after my Decease.  Allso I give to my son Samuel Potter the sum of twelve pence 00=01=00.  Allso I give to my Daughter Mary Willbor the sum of two pounds or a Cow.  Allso I give to my Daughter Rebeckah Kerby the sum of two pounds or a cow.  Allso I give to my Daughter Elizabeth Potter the sum of three pounds after my Decease.  allsoe I give to my Daughter Katherine Potter the sum of four pounds when she is come of age.

"Item.  I give to my son Icabode Potter two acres of land upon the East side of the Brook out of the other lands which that I gave to Stokes and John take nottice that these three words that are Enterlined in the 14th line which are (Remaining in my name) & three words blotted in the 16 line were all done before signeing & sealeing.

"Imp-s. I desire my Loveing Friends James Tripp & Hugh Mosher to be my overseers to Advise my Executor in the performance of this my will

"Signed in presence of ....................................................... his mark
Stephen Wilcock ...................................................... Nathaniel  X  Potter (seal)
Thomas Lake ..................................................................... & seal
John Lake (his mark)"

"Thomas Lake & John Lake of Dartmouth personally Appearing before me Nathaniel Byfield Esq-r Judge of the Probate of wills &c for the County of Bristoll made Oath that they were present with Stephen Wilcocks as witnesses and did see Nathaniel Potter signe seale & Publish the within written as his last will and Testament and that to the best of their understanding he was of a sound mind and that then Stephen Willcocks with themselves did then set to their hands as witnesses: Bristoll Novb-r 20: 1704.
................................................................. Jur-t Coram  Natha-l Byfield"

The inventory of his estate was taken by Jonathan Davil, Thomas Lake and Phillip Tabor on 25 October 1704, and totaled 198 pounds, 12 shillings, 6 pence (Bristol County (Massachusetts) Probate Records, Volume 2, Page 115, on FHL Microfilm 0,461,882):

"Octob-r the 25th 1704

"A true Inventory taken of the lands and Estate of Nathanel Potter Lately deceased by we whose names are under written.

"One house and land at ...................................................................  102=00=00
more to a peice of meadow lyeing at the westernmost arm ............18=00=00
To two beds bedsteads and furniture ............................................   .08=18=00
To Brass ware ........................................................................................1=04=00
To Potts Kettles & other Iron ware .......................................................2=07=06
To Pueter Glass bottles and Earthen ware ...........................................1=01=06
To a Loome tablin & Cheese Press ..........................................................2=12=06
To a Cart & wheels and Plow tarbling .....................................................1=18=00
Axes a hoe & old Iron ..............................................................................0=13=00
English Corn and Indian Corn ................................................................8=10=00
Hay 3 Horse Kind at ........................................................................... .08=10=00
two Oxen 5 Cowes 3 yearlings one Calfe ......................................  018=03=00
To 19 Sheep 10 Swine .................................................................... 006=06=00
To time in a Prentice Girl .............................................................  002=10=00
To Tubbs Barley and other wooden ware ...................................  001=01=00
To four Spining wheels ................................................................. 000=17=00
To three Chests & Chaires ..........................................................  002=06=00
To yarn and wooll ........................................................................ 002=10=00
To a Sadle Bridle pannel and Pillion ...........................................  002=04=00
To Cheese Apples salt and beanes ..............................................  001=16=00
To wearing Cloathes and other small things ..............................  002=18=00
To Table Linin .............................................................................  002=10=00
.....................................................................................................-----------------
..................................................................................................... 198=12=06

Jonathan Davil
Thomas Lake
Phillip Tabor

"Bristoll ye Nov-b-r 20th 1704
"Before Nathaniel Byfield Esq-r Judge of Probate of wills &c within the County of Bristoll Appeared Elizabeth Potter & Stokes Potter Executors to the Last will and Testament of Nathaniel late of Dartmouth Deceased and made Oath that the above written is a true & just Inventory of the Estate left by the said Deceased to the best of their present Knowledge and that when they Know of any more they will Reveal it &c.
Jur-t coram Nathan-l Byfield"

The Account of the Executors was presented to the Court at Bristol on 5 April 1710, and was approved the same day.  The Account reads (transcribed from Bristol County (Massachusetts) Probate Records, Volume 2, Page 280, on FHL Microfilm 0,361,882):

"The Accompt of elizabeth Potter Executrix to the last will & Testament of Natha-l Potter late of Dartmouth within the County of Bristol Der-d April ye 5th 1710 to the Honorable Natha-l Byfield Esq-r Judge of probate of wills &c within said County.  May it please your Hon-r your Accompant hath Recovered no Debts to add to this accompt.

'THe Accomptant desireth allowance for these debts and Legacies payd out of the Estate as followeth.

Legacies payd
payd to Nicholas Howland ..............1=01=00               
To Mary Wilbore by Receipt ......02=00=00
payd to Amos Sheffield ................. 1=01=00               
To Benja- Potter as p- Receipt .... 03=00=00
To James Tripp ............................ 1=16=00               
To William Potter as p- Receipt ..  04=00=00
To Joseph anthony ......................  0=12=00               
To Robert Kerbee as by Receipt . 02=00=00
To Daniel Howland ......................  0=09=06               
To Benjamin Tripp ..................... 03=00=00
To John Allbro ............................  0=09=00                
To Samuel Potter ....................... 00=01=00
To Hugh Mosher .........................  1=00=00
To William Macumber .................  0=03=00
To Robert Fish ............................ 0=03=00
To Joseph Wanton ...................... 0=09=04
To Thomas Sales .......................  0=06=00
To Jonathan Devol ......................  0=06=00
To Thomas Rogers .....................  0=09=00
for Rates ......................................  2=12=00
To Captain Pope ........................  0=08=09
To Francis Allwayes ................... 0=03=00
................................................... --------------
...................................................... 25=09=07

"Elizabeth Potter personally appearing made oath to this acco-t of her Executorship of her husbands Estate in Complyance with his will which being examined with the voushers rendered therewith is approved off and allowed so farr & order to be of Record in Bristol this fifth day of April in ye 9th year of her Majesties Reign Annoqu Domini 1710. Byfield"

Nathaniel Potter named all eleven of his children in his will, plus his wife.  

I descend through the daughter, Rebecca Potter, who married Robert Kirby in about 1701, and their son, Ichabod Kirby (1710-1794).

The URL for this post is:  http://www.geneamusings.com/2013/04/amanuensis-monday-probate-records-of_22.html

Copyright (c) 2013, Randall J. Seaver

Best of the Genea-Blogs - 14 to 20 April 2013

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:

*  Online Family Trees - the Good, the Bad and the Ugly by Lorine McGinnis Schulze on the Olive Tree Genealogy Blog.  Lorine discusses this issue with some great examples.

*  A 10-Step Plan: Getting Sources & Citations Under Control by Lynn Palermo on The Armchair Genealogist blog.  Lynn has suggestions for those who need help with source citations.

*  Useful DNA Tests for Genealogy by Debbie Parker Wayne on the Deb's Delvings in Genealogy blog.  Deb highlights how DNA test results can aid the genealogy search.

*  Tuesday Tips: Time with Thomas MacEntee by Diane Weintraub on the Nuts From the Family Tree blog.  I missed Thomas's seminar in Carlsbad last week, but diane didn't!

*  The Bloggers Best Selections, Spring, 2013 by Diane Boumenot on the One Rhode Island Family blog.  Diane solicited "best of" blog posts on Facebook - this is the list.

*  New FamilySearch Site Design ~ A Left Turn? by Lee Drew on the FamilyHistory with the LineageKeeper blog.  Lee bemoans the hidign of a precious resource in the new FamilySearch site design.

*  CAFG Forensic Genealogy Institute - Day 1, Day 2, and Day 3 by Valerie Elkins on the Family Cherished blog.  Valerie sums up her experiences at this conference.

*  Forensic Genealogy Institute Recap - Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 by Amy Coffin on the We Tree Genealogy Blog.  Amy writes up her summary of the conference.

*  Thoughts on FamilySearch Redesign by Pat Richley-Erickson on the DearMYRTLE's Genealogy Blog.  Myrt shares her thoughts, and suggestions, on the new FamilySearch site design.

*  Day One NERGC 2013, Manchester NH, Day Two, Day Three, and Other Blog Posts From NERGC by Heather Rojo on the Nutfield Genealogy blog.

*  NERGC 2013: Day One, Day Two by Amanda Perrine on the Amanda's Athenaeum blog.

*  Thankful Thursday: NERGC 2013, NERGC 2013 -- Day Two  by Jim Sanders on the GenealogyBlog blog.

*  NERGC Day 1, Day 2 and Conference Summary by Carolyn L. Barkley on the GenealogyAndFamilyHistory.com blog.

*  Public Library, Not Public Domain by Judy G. Russell on The Legal Genealogist blog.  Judy discusses why public library holdings, like the new Digital Public Library of America website, are not in the public domain.

*  Killing the Goose by James Tanner on the Genealogy's Star blog.  James thinks that FamilySearch has changed course and is treating genealogists poorly.  Do you agree?

*  Evernote: Your Virtual Genealogy Assistant by Thomas MacEntee on the Archives Expert Articles Series.  Thomas describes how genealogists can use Evernote for their research and daily lives.

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

*  Monday Recap for April 15, 2013 by Amanda on the Geni Blog.

*  Follow Friday ~ Fab Finds for April 19, 2013 by Jana Last on Jana's Genealogy and Family History Blog.

*  Follow Friday: This Week's Favorite Finds by Jenn Woods on the Climbing My Family Tree blog.

*  Follow Friday - Favorites for April 19, 2013 by Heather Kuhn Roelker on the Leaves For Trees blog.

*  Genealogy News Corral, April 15-19 by Diane Haddad on the Genealogy Insider blog.

*  Friday Finds - 04/19/13 by Julie Cahill Tarr on the GenBlog blog.

*  Saturday Serendipity by John D. Tew on the Filiopietism Prism blog.

*  A Sunday Walk Around the Blogs by Dawn Watson on the Digging in the Roots blog.

Readers are encouraged 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 1350 genealogy bloggers using Google Reader, but I still miss quite a few it seems.

Read past Best of the Genea-Blogs posts here.

The URL for this post is:   http://www.geneamusings.com/2013/04/best-of-genea-blogs-14-to-20-april-2013_21.html

Copyright(c) 2012, Randall J. Seaver