Thursday, January 25, 2024

Treasure Chest Thursday -- 1850 Birth and Baptism Record of Torger Sjursen (1850-1933) in Voss, Hordaland, Norway

 This week's Thursday treasure is the 1850 Birth (Fodte) and Baptism (Dobte) record for Torger Sjursen in the Voss, Norway church records:


The birth and baptism record is #122, the 5th entry down this page.  Here is the left-hand page of the image above



I can figure out the information for the left-hand side of the big image, but not the right-hand side.  Here is what the left-hand side says (I think, in English, with help from the Image Index on the record page):

*  Entry No. 122
*  Birth Date Reported:  26 March 1850
*  Date of Baptism:  9 June 1850
*  Child's Full Name:  Torger
*  Child Born In/Out of Wedlock:  ????
*  Parents Full Name:  Siur Torgersen  Britha Ardatter

*  Marital Status:  ???? [unmarried?]
*  Place of Residence:  Mølster

I didn't know what the column headings say, nor the word before the father's name.  The right-hand side of the image probably names the sponsors of the child.  The FamilySearch Research Wiki Norwegian Handwriting page helps but is  not exactly what I see.   

I had forgotten that Martin Roe of Norway had commented on an earlier post and offered a translation of the birth and baptism record in https://martinroe.com/blog/Cheatsheet1820.pdf, which I used for the itemized list above.  The right-hand page indicates the Witness's names, and by whom the child was baptized if at home.  Apparently he was.  

The source citation for this record is:


 "Norway Church Books, 1815-1930", FamilySearch, (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHK-93PP-BKSQ), "Norway Religious Books, 1849-1863," Voss parish, 1850, image 22 of 239, Torger, son of Sjur Torgersen and Brita Ardatter, born 26 March 1850, baptized 9 June 1850.

Torger Sjursen (1850-1933) was born 26 March 1850 and baptized 9 June 1850 in Voss parish, Hordaland Norway, the first child and son of Sjur Torgersen (1804-1889) and Brita Olsdatter (1818-1895) of Mølster farm, who married 21 June 1850 in Voss parish.  Note that Torger Sjursen was born three months before his parents marriage.  

The record transcription on FamilySearch indicates that the mother's name is Britha Ardatter, but the marriage record (see here) says Britha Olsdatter.

The Sjur Torgersen family migrated to Dane County, Wisconsin in 1856.  They eventually adopted the surname Leland in the 1870s.  Torger Sjursen Leland married Anna Ellingsdatter Natvig (1853-1911) on 30 May 1876 in Deerfield, Dane County, Wisconsin, and Torger died in San Francisco, California.  They had ten children.

Torger Sjursen Leland and Anna Ellingsdatter Natvig are my wife Linda's great-grandparents through their son Severt Oliver Leland (1878-1940) who married Amelia Anna Brocke in 1904 in Helena, Montana.

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The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2024/01/treasure-chest-thursday-1850-birth-and.html

Copyright (c) 2024, Randall J. Seaver

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

Wednesday, January 24, 2024

Second Look at EmulateMe: Creating My Father's Avatar and Audio/Video Chats

 I wrote about making my own avatar and participating in Video and audio chats in First Look at EmulateMe: Creating an AI Avatar and Short Audios/Videos last week.  The post had quite a few views, but very little interaction with readers in blog comments and on Facebook.  

One of the neat things that EmulateMe can do is use a profile on FamilySearch Family Tree to respond to chat questions about a person's life.  EmulateMe also can provide different male and female voices for avatars for which the user does not have a voice sample.

My father, Frederick Walton Seaver, Jr. (1911-1983) is deceased, and I have plenty of photographs, a life story, but no voice sample.  So I used one of the available voice samples, a full-face photograph and the life story to create an Emulation for him.   

The first question I asked my father was:  "Fred, tell me about your family life."

The answer is in the text screen below:

I saved this as a video to my computer so I could show you the answer:


I asked another question:  "Tell me the highlights of your life."

I saved this as an Audio WAV file and embedded it below.  Press the Play button on the screen below:

A "Free" user, with the link to Chat with the avatar, has a limited number of "credits" - 5 text credits, 3 audio credits and 1 video credit.  Each text credit question, with an answer, costs one credit, but audio and video credits depend on the length of the emulation.  

The video emulation of my father above cost 3 credits (for 33 seconds of emulation), but the audio emulation above cost me 6 credits (74 seconds of emulation). A video emulation would have cost me 6 credits also.

You can read questions and answers about EmulateMe in the FAQs on the home page -   https://www.emulateme.ai/faqs.

I am told that EmulateMe will have a demonstration booth and display at RootsTech 2024 (29 February to 2 March - register at www.rootstech.org).  They are also in the Innovation and Tech Forum.  I look forward to virtually visiting (FREE!) their Exhibit Hall booth, and to hear about their reception with the genealogy community.  

What do you think?  Is this something that you would consider doing so you can pass on your image and voice and memories to your friends and family?  

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DISCLOSURE:  I have been using free credits offered me by EmulateMe in order to learn about their product and to demonstrate how to use it.  I have not subscribed to EmulateMe yet but I am considering it. 

Copyright (c) 2024, Randall J. Seaver

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

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

Genealogy Education Bytes - Week of 18 to 24 January 2024

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


1) Upcoming Conferences, Institutes and Seminars

* Conference Keeper Calendar







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

* Conference Keeper Calendar

*  FamilySearch Library Classes and Webinars 

*  Family Tree Webinars - Friday, 26 January, 11 a.m.:  Finding Fathers: Tracking Males Who “Disappeared” or “Just Showed Up” by Elizabeth Shown Mills.

*  Family Tree Webinars - Wednesday, 31 January, 11 a.m.:  Genealogy Institutes: A Deep Dive Into Dynamic Education by Cyndi Ingle.

3) Recent Podcasts/Radio Shows:

*  Research Like a Pro:  RLP 289: Exploring New Tools at Living DNA


4) Recent YouTube Videos:









*  FamilySearch:  RootsTech Around the World

*  Genealogy Bargains:  Winter is LONG .... Genealogy Helps!

*  Genealogy Quick Start:  Neighbors: Burials & Land (Jerry Smith, CG)

*  Genealogy TV:   Guide to FamilySearch



*  Legacy Tree Genealogists:  What It's Really Like To Find Your Birth Father
*  Legacy Tree Genealogists:  Legacy Tree Genealogists: Celebrating 20 Years!



*  Professional Genealogist Reacts:  DNA Test Uncovers Life Changing Secret

*  The Formidable Genealogist:  Finding a Place of Birth | Formidable Genealogy


*  Your DNA Guide:  DNA Defined: XDNA

5) Did you miss the last post in this series - Genealogy Education Bytes -  11 to 17 January 2024?

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The URL for this post is:  
https://www.geneamusings.com/2024/01/genealogy-education-bytes-week-of-18-to.html

Copyright (c) 2024, Randall J. Seaver

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

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

Randy and the Swan at a Pond in San Diego in 1946 -- Post 804 of (Not So) Wordless Wednesday

  I can't help it, I can't do a wordless post! This is one of my favorite photographs: 

This is a photograph of me at age 2 or 3, perhaps in the spring or summer of 1946.  My guess is that this pond, with the swan in the photograph, is in Balboa Park in San Diego but I don't know for sure.  I think my grandfather took this photograph perhaps on an outing to give my parents a break.  

I colorized a black and white photo using the MyHeritage tools. 

This photograph is all part of my family history.  

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Copyright (c) 2024, Randall J. Seaver

I moderate all comments and they may not appear immediately - please write only one comment.

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

Tuesday, January 23, 2024

Genealogy News Bytes - Week of 17 to 23 January 2024

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


1)  News Articles:








2)  DNA Research Stories

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Copyright (c) 2024, Randall J. Seaver

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

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

Seavers in the News -- Obituary of Mrs. Marjorie Seaver (1934-1960) in San Diego, California

 Here is this week's edition of "Seavers in the News" - a weekly feature from the historical newspapers about persons with the surname Seaver that are interesting, useful, mysterious, fun, macabre, or add information to my family tree database.

This week's entry is from The San Diego [Calif.] Union newspaper dated 4 August 1960, page A21:

The transcription of the article is:

"Mrs. Albert Seaver

"Rosary for Mrs. Marjorie Seaver, 25, who died Saturday in an automobile accident, will be recited at 7 p.m. today at El Cajon Mortuary.  Requiem mass will be at 8 a.m. tomorrow at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Lakeside.  Interment will be in Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery.

"Mrs. Seaver, of 9622 Hume Rd., Santee, lived in San Diego County a year and a half.  She was born in Washington.

"She is survived by her husband, Albert; a son, Daryl Ray; her parents, and a brother."

The source citation is:

"Mrs. Albert Seaver," The San Diego [Calif.] Union newspaper, Thursday, 4 August 1960, page A21, column 23 Marjorie Seaver obituary,   GenealogyBank (https://www.genealogybank.com : accessed 22 January 2024).

This obituary provides the name, age, husband's name, child's name, death day, death place, cause of death, burial place, and church services, but not birth date or place, occupation, education, work experience, parents or siblings names.

Marjorie Alberta Daniels (1934-1960) was born 6 October 1934 in Washington, the daughter of John Stanley and Evelyn Delores (Legge) Daniels.  She died 30 July 1960 in San Diego County, and was buried in Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego.  She married Alfred James Seaver (1928-2003) on 19 October 1956 in Clark County, Nevada.  He was born 29 June 2928 in Croghan, New York, the son of Alfred James and Elizabeth Jane (Travis) Seaver; he died 8 January 2003  in San Diego county, and is buried with Marjorie in Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery.  They had one child:

*  Daryl Ray Seaver (1953-2002), married 1982 Melody (Traver) Owings (1956-????).

Note that Marjorie's husband's name is ALFRED, not ALBERT as in the obituary.  The newspaper was wrong.  Note also that the son, Daryl Ray Seaver, was born in 1953, three years before Alfred and Marjorie were married;  Alfred may have had another spouse.

I am not a cousin of Alfred James Seaver (1928-2003) because he was born in Quebec, Canada to the elder Alfred James and Elizabeth Jane (Travis) Seaver.  I do not know the parents of the senior Alfred James Seaver.

There are over 10,000 Seaver "stories" in my family tree - and this is one of them.   Life happens, accidentally and intentionally, and sometimes a person has a fairly light obituary.  I am glad that I can honor Marjorie Alberta (Daniels)  Seaver today.  

You never know when a descendant or relative will find this blog post and learn something about their ancestors or relatives, or will provide more information about them to me.

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Disclosure:  I have a paid subscription to GenealogyBank and have used it extensively to find articles about my ancestral and one-name families.

The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2024/01/seavers-in-news-obituary-of-mrs.html

Copyright (c) 2024, Randall J. Seaver

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

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

Monday, January 22, 2024

Genealogy Pot-Pourri - Week Ending 21 January 2024

 Here are the highlights of my family history and genealogy related activities over the past week.  

1)  Hosted and moderated the Chula Vista Genealogical Society DNA Interest Group meeting on Zoom on Wednesday with 22 in attendance.  I reported on AncestryDNA Plus, BanyanDNA, GeneaNet DNA, the I4GG conference, RootsTech 2024 DNA classes, the Ancestry DNA Match Table at WikiTree, and helping my cousin Cheryl with her matches. 

2)  Attended the CVGS Education meeting in-person on Tuesday, and discussed what can be found on DNA websites for an hour.

3)  Attended virtually the San Diego Genealogical Society British Isles Group meeting on Saturday.  Colin Whitney presented information on Findmypast.

4)  Wrote a genealogical sketch for my granduncle Everett Glenn Richmond (1875-1917) of Connecticut and Massachusetts for my 52 Relatives theme series.

5)  Transcribed the 1864 Will of Joseph W. Seaver (1793-1864) of Walworth County, Wisconsin for the Amanuensis Monday theme.  

6)  Continued testing and wrote a blog post about the new EmulateMe AI avatar-based video, audio and conversation website - First Look at EmulateMe: Creating an AI Avatar and Short Audios/Videos.

7)  Did a fairly deep dive into Wiltshire parish records and probate records trying to solidify the Marshman ancestry.  Copied search results into a spreadsheet and sorted by name and by parish to help me find my potential families. 

8)  AncestryDNA now has 44,868 DNA matches (up 92 from 14 January) for me today, with one new ThruLines.  I added Notes to 5 new Matches.    MyHeritageDNA now has 12,060 DNA matches (up 9 from 14 January) for me, with no new  Theories.  Reviewed the new DNA matches on AncestryDNA, MyHeritageDNA, FamilyTreeDNA and 23andMe.  

9)  Occasionally matched RootsMagic 9 profiles to FamilySearch Family Tree.  I have matched 50,335 of my RootsMagic persons with FamilySearch Family Tree profiles (up 30).  

10) Used Web Hints and Record Matches from Ancestry, MyHeritage, Findmypast and FamilySearch to add content and source citations to my RootsMagic profiles. I now have 71,935 persons in my RootsMagic family tree (up 26), and 146,469 source citations (up 25).  Resolved 360 Ancestry Hints. TreeShared 107 new and updated profiles with my Ancestry tree.  My Ancestry Member Tree has Ancestry Record Hints with 14,570 to be resolved, but I work on them several times a week.  

11) Wrote 17 Genea-Musings blog posts last week (Sunday through Saturday), of which one was a press release. The most viewed post last week was 
First Look at EmulateMe: Creating an AI Avatar and Short Audios/Videos with over 282 views.  Genea-Musings had about 16,400 page views last week.  

12)  Real life:  This is week 202 since COVID restrictions started.   I visited Linda every day at the skilled nursing/memory care facility. Went grocery shopping on Monday and Friday.  Attended the Rohr Engineers luncheon on Thursday.  Walked several days on the block and talked to several neighbors.  Finished Faye Kellerman's book The Beast and started Tess Gerritsen's The Surgeon.  Watched the two SDSU Aztec basketball games (won one, lost one) and they are 15-4 on the season.  Watched NFL football on Saturday and Sunday.  It was a pretty quiet week!

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The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2024/01/amanuensis-monday-1864-will-of-joseph-w.html

Copyright (c) 2024, Randall J. Seaver

Please note that all comments are moderated and may not appear immediately. 

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

Amanuensis Monday -- 1864 Will of Joseph W. Seaver (1793-1864) of Walworth County, Wisconsin

 This week's document for transcription is the 1864 will of Joseph W. Seaver (1793-1864) in the Walworth County, Wisconsin probate case files.

*  Walworth County, Wisconsin Probate Court Records, Probate Case Files, Case 1479, 1864, image 528 of 1513:

*  Walworth County, Wisconsin Probate Court Records, Probate Case Files, Case 1479, 1864, image 528  of 1513:

The transcription of this document is:

I, Joseph W. Seaver of Darien Walworth County and
State of Wisconsin being of Sound Mind and
memory and mindful of the uncertainties of human
life do make publish and declare this my last
Will and testament in Manner following:

First after the payment of my just debts and
funeral expenses (excepting the encumbrance now
on my homestead) I give and bequeath to
my Sons Solon L. Seaver, H.E. Seaver and Joseph
Warren Seaver Jr. and to my daughters Jane
Reed wife of Ovid Reed and Adeline Carter
Wife of William Carter all of my personal
property to be equally divided between them
and their heirs share & share alike excepting my
household furniture.

Second I give devise and bequeath to my sons Solon
L. Seaver Horace E. Seaver and Joseph Warren
Seaver Jun. my homestead (being the east half
of the North east quarter of Section 33 in Township
2 North of Range fifteen (15) east - excepting two acres
out of the North East corner of said described 
Land which is owned by Leander Dodge in
The County of Walworth & State) subject to
an incumbrance of 1000$ due to Josiah Dodge
and on condition that my said Sons being
or come to be paid to my Granddauther
Lorette Seaver Daughter of my deceased Son
Vanness Seaver fifty dollars at the time
She the said Loritte Seaver shall become eighteen
years of age, providing she shall live to said
age of eighteen years.

Third I give and bequeath to my grandaughter
Loritte Seaver fifty dollars when she shall become
eighteen years of age according to the Second
provission of this my last will.

Fourth  I give and bequeath to my daughter Adeline Carter
and Jane Reed what household furniture ^such as Beds and bedding^ that
I now have that I had at the time of the
death of their mother.  The value of the
household furniture to be divided equally between my
three sons wifes.

Fifth  I hereby nominate and appoint my Son Solon
L. Seaver the executor of this my last will and
testament.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand
and seal this 12'th day of July AD 1864.
                                                 Joseph W. Seaver     {seal}

The above instrument consisting of one sheet of paper was
signed published and declared by the testator
to be his last will and testament in the presence of
us who have signed our names at his request as
witnesses in his presence and in the presence of each other.
                                                L Dodge
                                                J.F. Lyon

The source citation for this will is:

Wisconsin, County Court (Walworth County), Probate Case Files No. 1440-1576, " Case 1479, images 526-531 of 1513, Joseph W. Seaver will, written 12 July 1864, filed 5 August 1864, proved 12 December 1864; "Wisconsin, U.S., Wills and Probates, 1800-1987," indexed records with digital images, Ancestry.com   (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed 13 January 2024; Original data is from Wisconsin County, District and Probate Courts filmed by FamilySearch.

This will is a Derivative Source (because it is a court clerk's badly handwritten record), Primary Information and Direct Evidence of the last will and testament of Joseph W. Seaver.

Joseph Warren Seaver (1793-1864) was born 22 July 1793 in Arlington, Washington County, Vermont, the son of  William and Mary (Everett) Sever.  He died 1 August 1864.  He married Mary E. Long (1793-1850) on 21 March 1821 in Genesee County, New York.  They had seven children:

*  DeWitt Clinton Seaver (1821-1875).
*  Adeline M. Seaver (1823-1900), married 1841 William Thurston Carter (1812-1896).
*  Van Ness Seaver (1825-1855), married 1849 Lucy Williams (1822-1853).
*  Jane Maria Seaver (1827-1895), married 1846 Ovid Reed (1820-1890).
*  Solon Long Seaver (1830-1901), married 1855 Amanda Alice Jones (1836-1912).
*  Horace Everett Seaver (1832-1897), married 1857 Orinda Caroline Lippitt (1833-1900).
*  Joseph Warren Seaver (1834-1909), married1855 Mary Elizabeth Rogers (1836-1912).

I am a 5th cousin 5 times removed to Joseph Warren Seaver (1793-1864), with the common Seaver ancestor being my 9th great-grandfather Robert Seaver (1608-1683).

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NOTE: Genea-blogger John Newmark (who writes the excellent TransylvanianDutch blog) started a Monday blog theme years ago called "Amanuensis Monday." John offers this definition for "amanuensis:"

"A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another."

Read other transcriptions of records of my ancestors at Amanuensis Monday Posts.

Copyright (c) 2024, Randall J. Seaver

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

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

Sunday, January 21, 2024

Best of the Genea-Blogs - Week of 14 to 20 January 2024

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

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

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

*  How To Accurately Interpret DNA Test Results by Paul Woodbury on Legacy Tree Genealogists. 

*  100 Years Ago: How Our Ancestors Lived in 1924 by Gena Philibert-Ortega on GenealogyBank Blog.

*  Potential Treasure Troves In User Submitted Media by Doris Kenney on A Tree With No Name.

*  Do You Cite Your Genealogy Sources? by Linda Stufflebean on Empty Branches on the Family Tree.

*  Mind Mapping for Genealogy by Julie Cahill Tarr on Genealogy In Action.

*  Not my 7th Great-Grandfather by Wayne Shepeard on Discover Genealogy.

*  Basics of Evidence Analysis, Part 3: Information by Alice Childs on GenealogyNow.

*  Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) For Genealogy (Part Two) by Ellen Thompson-Jennings on Hound on the Hunt.

*  Case Studies as Genealogy Learning Tools by Gena Philibert-Ortega on Legacy News.

*  Do Not Trust Ancestry Thru Lines by the writer of Untangled Family Roots.

*  AI and Translations by Lori Samuelson on GenealogyAtHeart.com.

*  There’s an AI for That: Transcribing Handwriting by Dr. Mac on A Week of Genealogy.

*  George Robert Twelves Hewes, A Last Survivor of the Boston Tea Party on the New England Historical Society blog.

Here are pick posts by other geneabloggers this week:

*  Friday's Family History Finds by Linda Stufflebean on Empty Branches on the Family Tree.

*  This Week's Creme de la  Creme - January 20, 2024 by Gail Dever on Genealogy a la Carte.

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

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

Read past Best of the Genea-Blogs posts here.

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The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2024/01/best-of-genea-blogs-week-of-14-to-20.html

Copyright (c) 2024, Randall J. Seaver

Please note that all comments are moderated and may not appear immediately. 

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