Adding Amos Underhill's Land Deeds to RootsMagic 6

In Using New York Land Records, 1630-1975, on FamilySearch (posted 10 December 2012), I found two deeds for Amos Underhill (1772-1865) in Erie County, New York.

I wanted to add the information for these two deeds to my RootsMagic 6 database.  Here are the steps that I took:

1)  The "Edit Person" screen for Amos Underhill looks like this (I've already added the two Events for "Deeds" and created the Sources for them):

Note that I have already added the two Deed Events (before I decided to do this post!) and also created a Source Citation for each Event (the green checks in the Source column denote them).

2)  The Source Citation screen for the first Deed Event uses the "Digital Archive" source template model, and the "Edit source" screen is shown below:

The Footnote created by the source template, with my input into the Master Source and Source Details fields is:

"New York, Land Records, 1630-1975," Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org : accessed 10 December 2012), digital image of clerk's copy, "Erie County, N.Y. Deeds, 1836, Volume 36-37," Volume 36, Page 175 (image 91), Amos Underhill to Loren Phillips, 19 February 1836; from FHL US/CAN Microfilm 590026, original records at Erie County, N.Y. courthouse, Buffalo, N.Y.

I chose the Source Quality as Original source (a record copy of the original deed), Primary Information (or is it Secondary, since it's a clerk's copy recorded several years later from the original deed?) and Direct Evidence (of the land transaction).

3)  I recalled that I had created a short To-Do list for Amos Underhill, so I edited that list for the Deeds ("ToDo" is a button on the "Edit Person" screen):

In the "ToDo" list, the item said "Search Grantee and Grantor deed indexes for Amos and Mary Underhill, then find and obtain deeds."  I marked this as "Complete" and clicked the button in the "Edit Task" screen to add the task to the Research Log for Amos Underhill.

4)  The "Research Log" (Lists > Research Manager) for Underhill Family Research was opened:

The Erie County Deeds entry in the Research Log was edited and saved:

The Erie County NY Deeds entry for the Research Log results said:


Found no references for Deeds of Amos Underhill in the Grantee index.  Found 3 references for Deeds of Amos Underhill in the Grantor Deed index:

*  Volume 36, page 175:  Amos Underhill to Loren Phillips, dated 19 February 1836.  Found it, and saved the image to Amos Underhill file folder.
*  Volume 196, Page 239, Amos Underhill to Deloss Underhill, dated 25 Match 1856.  Did not find this deed for some reason.
*  Volume 207, page 62: Amos Underhill to Delos Underhill, dated 3 April 1860.  Found it, saved the image to Amos Underhill file folder.


Note that I added the URL for the specific record collection to the Repository field.

5)  After naming the two Deeds using my naming convention (the 1836 deed file name was:
AmosUnderhill-1836-LandRecord-Grantor-LorenPhillips-ErieNY-V36P175-image91.jpg) and put it in the Amos Underhill + Mary Metcalf file folder in my Ancestor Files file folder, I went back to the "Edit Person" screen in RootsMagic and added the image to Amos Underhill, added a caption, and tagged the 1836 Deed in the "Media Properties" screen:

6)  I also added a Web Tag to Amos Underhill and the Source citation, using the "Web Tag" button on the menu line.  here's the "Edit Web Tag" window:

I added the citation name, picked the specific citation, named the record, and copied the URL for the specific image on FamilySearch (I hope they don't change this!): https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-32808-7683-52?cc=2078654&wc=M9M4-LWY:910325794

6)  All that's left to do now is to abstract or transcribe the two deed records into my Notes.  I will probably put the transcriptions into the Notes for the Person (on "Edit Person" window), although I could add it to the Note for the Deed Event (on "Edit Person" window with Event highlighted), and/or to the "Detail Text" field of the Source Citation (Source button > Edit > Detail Text).

As you can see, RootsMagic 6 offers a number of ways that a researcher can add meaningful information for a Person and Event(s), to the point that paper records are superfluous (as long as there is a digital image of them, and they are accessible to the researcher and his/her colleagues).

It would be interesting to see how other genealogy software programs perform all of these tasks.  I may try to do them in Legacy Family Tree 7.5 and in Family Tree Maker 2012 in future posts.

I'm still learning to do all of this in RootsMagic.  What steps did I miss or do poorly in the list above?  What else would you have done?

The URL for this post is:  http://www.geneamusings.com/2012/12/adding-amos-underhills-land-deeds-to.html

Copyright (c) 2012, Randall J. Seaver

Tuesday's Tip - Listen to Genealogy Gems Podcasts

This week's Tuesday's Tip is:  Be sure to listen to Lisa Louise Cooke's Genealogy Gems Podcast (http://lisalouisecooke.com/podcasts/) on a regular basis.

Lisa's Genealogy Gems Podcasts will pass a major milestone this month - the 1 millionth download of the monthly show.  If you are looking for an informative and fun podcast, which can be played on computers, smart phones, music players, and tablets, check out the Genealogy Gems Podcast (http://lisalouisecooke.com/podcasts/)

Lisa  passed this infographic to me today:

Lisa also sent this press release:

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

Genealogy Gems Podcast Reaches 1 Million Download Milestone

Press Contact: V. L. Thomas, Genealogy Gems
Email: genealogygemspodcast@gmail.com

(SAN FRANCISCO, California) – December 11, 2012 – Sometime over the first busy holiday weekend in December 2012, The Genealogy Gems Podcast reached an incredible milestone: 1 Million Episode Downloads!

In early 2007 when the first episode was published by Lisa Louise Cooke, podcasting was in its infancy, having just come into being in mid-2005. “It was like being part of a new Wild West of technology,” says Cooke, a genealogist since the age of about 10. “For the first time anyone with an interesting idea, a computer, and a willingness to work long hours could produce a worldwide ‘radio’ show. The day I listened to a podcast for the first time, I knew this medium was what I had been waiting for to reach genealogists.”

Apparently a lot of other folks were also anxiously waiting for Cooke’s discovery. From long time genealogists to dabbling family history newbies, they flocked to the free podcast available through Apple’s iTunes Store and the Genealogy Gems website (www.genealogygems.com). Over the next five years they listened in to soak up genealogy research strategies, expert interviews, tips on harnessing the power of technology in their research, and creative ideas for sharing their findings.

“There’s a lot of noise out there online that can be overwhelming,” says Cooke. “My goal has always been to spend my time sifting through all of that information, and chiseling out the gems – the items that are really worthwhile – so that my listeners can have faster and greater success . Ultimately the genealogy gems I provide on the show lead to my listener’s genealogy gems: their precious ancestors!”

What started as a single podcast episode has turned into a multi-media genealogy publishing company. Genealogy Gems now encompasses offerings, many that are free, that accommodate every learning style: audio, video, articles, books, dvds, toolbar, live classes, and online webinars. The Genealogy Gems mobile app (available in the iTunes App Store, and an Android version through Amazon) gives genealogists the flexibility to hit the road and take it all with them.

“I speak at events across the U.S. and internationally,” says Cooke, who will be a featured speaker at Who Do You Think You Are? Live in London for the third consecutive year in February 2013, “but not everyone can get out to a genealogy conference. It’s critical to me that we meet people where they are, and that’s what the Genealogy Gems website, YouTube channel, app, and toolbar are all about. The fact that the podcast has now been downloaded 1 million times confirms that that we are accomplishing that goal.”

Fun Facts about Genealogy Gems:

The Genealogy Gems Podcast launch date: March 1, 2007

Number of free episodes published: 146

Number of countries downloading: 126

Top 10 Listening cities in the U.S.:
Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Salt Lake City, Washington DC, Dallas , Chicago, Seattle, Boston, Phoenix.

Genealogy Gems App publish date: 2009

Podcast rating in iTunes: 5 Stars (including 53 written reviews)

Recognition:101 Best Websites List by Family Tree Magazine
Named one of the top 10 apps by App Advice’s “iPad Apps for Hobbyists” (http://appadvice.com/applists/show/ipad-apps-for-hobbyists)

Other podcasts produced by Lisa Louise Cooke: Family History – Genealogy Made Easy, The Family Tree Magazine Podcast

Number of views of the Genealogy Gems YouTube Channel: 191,000 and counting (www.youtube.com/genealogygems)

Celebrities featured on the podcast include: Lisa Kudrow (Friends, Who Do You Think You Are?),
Henry Louis Gates (Oprah’s Roots)
Tim Russell (Prairie Home Companion)
Darby Hinton (Daniel Boone)
Kathy Lennon (The Lennon Sisters)
Ali Selim (Sweet Land)
Tukufu Zuberi (History Detectives)
Linda Chavez (Fox News, Finding Your Roots)

---------------------------------

I enjoy listening to Lisa's podcasts.  I look forward to seeing her at conferences.  She is such an upbeat person, and is one of the nicest persons you will meet in genealogy.  Lisa interviewed me at the SCGS Jamboree in 2009 (I was a virgin interviewee at the time...) - the segment is on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJ3dmx97XRg

The URL for this post is:  http://www.geneamusings.com/2012/12/tuesdays-tip-listen-to-genealogy-gems.html

Dear Randy: What are Your 100 Favorite Genealogy Blogs?

On Best of the Genea-Blogs - 25 November to 1 December 2012 (dated 2 December 2012), reader The Acadian Genealogist asked:

"Following 1300 blogs is a LOT! How do you manage it? Can you share your top 100 (for example) with your readers? 

"I know that at least for myself (and probably for most of your readers), I'm always on the lookout for some good reading (genealogically speaking). Are you willing to share some of your favourites?"

Dear Laura,

To the first question:  I "collect" genealogy blogs from the Geneabloggers "New Genealogy blogs" lists, and from links I see on other bloggers posts.  Then I add the new ones each week (I try, but fail some weeks) to my Google Reader.  So there are now over 1300 on my list.  Not all of them are active, but I haven't taken the time to remove those that are inactive.  I typically read about 100 to 120 each morning, and then several times during the day I'll read the new ones.  It ends up being 250 to 300 each day (and they're not all genealogy blogs).  It keeps me informed, and it's an efficient way to read blogs.  If I'm away from home, I try to read them on my smart phone so that I can use my at home time wisely.  

To the second question:  The short answer is NO, because I will leave several hundred genealogy bloggers off the list and they will be disappointed and upset.  I have many of my favorites on the blog roll at the bottom of the right sidebar on this blog - but I don't update that list very often so some of my favorites may not be there yet.

How about 16 "Don't miss these!" blogs?  These have been fairly constant over time -  the ones with seeming staying power and excellent content that I always read carefully (in alphabetical order by first name):

*  Anonymous: The Ancestry Insider

*  Caroline Marshall Pointer:  BloggingGenealogy.com

*  CeCe Moore:  Your Genetic Genealogist

*  DearMYRTLE's Genealogy Blog

*  Dick Eastman:  Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter

*  FamilySearch: Blog (many topics, many authors)

*  Harold Henderson: Midwestern Microhistory: A Genealogy Blog

*  James Tanner:  Genealogy's Star

*  Judy Russell: The Legal Genealogist

*  Lee Drew:  Family History with the LineageKeeper

*  Lorine McGinnis Schulze:  Olive Tree Genealogy Blog

*  Marian Pierre-Louis:  Marian's Roots and Rambles

*  Michael Hait:  Planting the Seeds: Genealogy as a Profession

*  Michael John Neill:  Rootdig.com

*  Michael Leclerc:  Mocavo Genealogy Blog

*  Michele Simmons Lewis:  Ancestoring's Ask a Genealogist

There are, of course, many other genealogy blogs that have excellent content but have infrequent posts.  the content and frequency of many blogs changes over time as genealogy bloggers become active and/or lapse into inactivity, or go dormant.  There are at least another 16 that I would put on this list if they posted material several times a week.

My list from one year ago would look different because some writers have quit blogging and are using social media for most of their content.  Or life has intervened - family, work, activities, interests, health, etc.  We all do what we have to do, and hopefully, find time to do what we want to do.  

As they say - "Each to his own - your mileage may vary."  My interest may not correspond to the interests of Laura or any other reader.  We are all different.  Blog on, geneabloggers!

Family Tree Magazine has listed "favorite geneablogs" over the years.  The 2011 Family Tree 40 bloggers are listed at http://www.familytreemagazine.com/article/40-best-genealogy-blogs-2011 (note that several bloggers are not listed because they helped select the Top 40).  The 2010 Fab Forty are listed at http://familytreemagazine.com/article/fab-forty.  International genealogy blogs were highlgihted in 2012 in http://www.familytreemagazine.com/article/learning-from-international-genealogy-blogs.

Who are your "Don't miss these!" genealogy bloggers?  Tell us in your own blog post, or in a comment to this post.  Laura, and I, want to know!

The URL for this post is:  http://www.geneamusings.com/2012/12/dear-randy-what-are-your-100-favorite.html

Copyright (c) 2012, Randall J. Seaver

Using New York Land Records, 1630-1975, on FamilySearch

I noticed that the New York Land Records, 1630-1975, were on the New and Updated list of FamilySearch record collections today.  This collection has over 8 million images of deed indexes and land deeds for 60 New York Counties (I didn't check to see which counties are missing).

I went hunting for listings for my Samuel Vaux and Amos Underhill in Erie county, New York.  I didn't find any listings in either the Grantee or Grantor indexes for Samuel Vaux, but I did find three index entries for Amos Underhill.  The index entries provided a Liber number and a Page number, so I then went into the Deed books and easily found the recorded deeds.

Here was the process I used:

1)  I clicked on the "Browse through 8,129,310 images link on the record collection screen above:

2)  On the list of Counties above, I clicked on the Erie County link:

There are three sets of records on the long list above - the Deed Indexes, the Deed Records, and Mortgage records.  I scrolled down to find the "Deed index - grantor 1860-1874 vol. 2, 1860-1874" book and then found the "U" pages (by guess and guess again) and scrolled through them.

3)  I found an entry for Amos Underhill on image 480 (of 564):

The index record above tells me that Amos Underhill (grantor) granted land to Delos Underhill (grantee) on 3 April 1860, which is in Liber 207, page 62.

4)  I went back to the index and found the Deed book containing Volume 207 ("Deeds, 1857-1864, vol. 206-207") and found the page easily on image 348 (of 530):

I used the "Save" link in the left-hand popup menu and saved this page image to my computer files.   I added the To-Do item, created previously, to my Research Log in RootsMagic, and updated the Research Log to include what I searched, what I found, and what I saved.  I need to add the Event for this Deed to Amos Underhill, then source it, and add the image, and tag it to the Event.  I can transcribe the Deed in the Detail Text of the Source Citation.  I'll write about that process in another post.

I managed to do this in less than an hour, including writing this blog post.  In my pajamas (at 11 a.m. in the morning).

The lessons learned here are:

1)  There is a wealth of New York Deed records in this record collection that can benefit almost every researcher with New York ancestry.  

2)  Pajamas Genealogy is becoming a reality!  Any time of day or week - for many of the FamilySearch Library microfilms, we don't have to order the microfilms and go to the local FamilySearch Center to read them, print them, save them in digital form, etc.  

3)  Every genealogy researcher needs to learn how to browse through FamilySearch record collections efficiently - using available indexes and then finding the actual records, whether they are deeds, probates, town records, vital records, etc.  

Does anyone else have New York ancestors that might have deeds hiding in this record collection?  Tell me about your successes!

The URL for this post is:  http://www.geneamusings.com/2012/12/using-new-york-land-records-1630-1975.html

Copyright (c) 2012, Randall J. Seaver

Amanuensis Monday - Revolutionary War Pension File of Martin Carringer: Post 2 - Affidavit

Genea-blogger John Newmark (who writes the excellent TransylvanianDutch blog) started his own Monday blog theme several years 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 a document from the Revolutionary War Pension File of Martin Carringer (1758-1835) of Mercer County, Pennsylvania (accessed on and copied from www.Fold3.com):

The transcription (handwritten portions in italics):

DEPARTMENT OF WAR

Regulations for the Officers and Soldiers of the Revolutionary War who acquired a right to Land from the United States, but have not received it.

By an Act of Congress, of the 16th September, 1776, it is provided, that the Officers and Soldiers who engaged for, and continued to serve, during the War, or until discharged by Congress, shall receive land in proportion to their rank.

N.B. Those who engaged for three years, or for any other period than during the war, are not entitled to land from the United States.

The following declaration must be filled up and sworn to by the claimant:

State of Pennsylvania
County of Mercer

I, Martin Carringer aged sixty seven years years, do, upon oath, testify and declare, that, in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy six I enlisted for the term of "during the war," and served in the regiment No. Eight (8) under the command of Colonel Broadhead of the Pennsylvania line; and that I continued in the service aforesaid until the close of the war, when I was regularly discharged from the said Eighth regiment, commanded by Colonel Broadhead.

I further declare that I have never received a warrant for Bounty Land promised to me on the part of the United States; nor have I ever assigned or transferred my claim in any manner whatsoever; therefore,

Know all men by these presents, that I, Martin Carringer aforesaid, do hereby constitute and appoint the Hon. William Marks to be my true and lawful attorney, for me and in my name to demand and received from the Secretary of War of the United States, a warrant for the quantity of Land due to me as aforesaid; and my said attorney is hereby fully authorized and empowered to constitute and appoint one or more substitutes or attorneys under him, for the special purpose above expressed.

Attest ..................................................... Martin Carringer [signature]
Thomas Templeton

I, William Amberson aged seventy five years, do, upon oath, declare that I have long been acquainted with Martin Carringer who has subscribed the above declaration in my presence, and well know that he is the identical person he therein represents himself to be; and further, I know, or do believe, that he did perform the military service therein stated.

Attest ..................................................... Wm Amberson [signature]
Thomas Templeton

Before me, Thomas Templeton personally appeared the above named Martin Carringer subscriber to the foregoing declaration, and in my presence acknowledged the power of attorney thereto subjoined, to be his free act and deed; and, likewise, personally appeared William Amberson who hath subscribed the above certificate of identity, both to me well known to be men of respectability and truth, and made solemn oath to the truth of the deposition by them respectively submitted, this nineteenth day of October 18 27.

........................................................ Thomas Templeton [signature]
........................................................ Justice of the Peace

In testimony that the abovewritten Thomas Templeton was a magistrate authorized to administer oaths, and take acknowledgments &c, in the State of Pennsylvania at the above date, and that his name there subscribed appears to me to be his usual signature, I have hereunto affixed the county seal, and subscribed my name and quality, at Mercer this nineteenth day of October 18 27.

....................................................... Wm S Rankin  C. Clerk, &c.

While the handwritten entries are in the handwriting of the Justice of the Peace, the signature of Martin Carringer is in his own hand.  

I'm not sure that I would recognize that in a document that did not have his name clearly written!

The URL for this post is:  http://www.geneamusings.com/2012/12/amanuensis-monday-revolutionary-war_10.html

Copyright (c) 2012, Randall J. Seaver

Best of the Genea-Blogs - 2 to 8 December 2012

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:

*  Anatomy of a Social Security Number by Jim Heddell on the Rootsonomy blog.  What do those three numbers mean?  Jim tells us!

*  Copyright and the Lost Letters by Judy G. Russell on The Legal Genealogist blog.  Judy discusses a common problem that family historians and archivists face with found treasures.

*  Chasing Descendants and Finding Family History by Denise Levenick on The Family Curator blog.  Denise shares her Thanksgiving vacation in England making family history, unplugged from the online world.

*  The Book of Life: A Journey Through My Family History with Prezi by Lee R. Drew on the Family History With the Lineagekeeper blog.  Lee highlights a family history presentation put together by Joshua Klingenstein.

*  Anatomy of a Death Certificate (or ... More Confessions of an Intermediate Genealogy Noob) by Jenny Lanctot on the Are My Roots Showing? blog.  Jenny analyzes two death certificates, drawing further research targets from each.

*  7 Genealogy-Related Things to Add to Your Holiday Wish List by Julie Cahill Tarr on the GenBlog blog.  Julie made her list for all of us to consider...great list, I think!

*  23andMe's New Ancestry Painting - First Look! by CeCe Moore on the Your Genetic Genealogist blog.  CeCe looks at the improved genetic ancestry analysis tools offered by 23andMe for autosomal DNA testing.

*  Tracing the Trails of Your Ancestors Using Land Records by Bill Dollarhide on Leland Meitzler's GenealogyBlog.  Bill shows how to use land records to help you research your family history - an excellent example!

*  Five Tips for Searching FamilySearch Databases by Shelley Bishop on the A Sense Of Family blog.  Shelley has great suggestions here - watch as she finds her prize.

*  Bravery: Found in the Depth of Our Youth by Jen Baldwin on the Ancestral Breezes blog.  Jen reviews things she's read or heard this week - an interesting and deep piece.

These genea-bloggers wrote weekly pick posts and news summary posts this week: 

*  Monday Morning Mentions by Lynn Palemro on The Armchair Genealogist blog.

*  Monday Recap for December 3, 2012 by Amanda on the Geni Blog.

*  Genealogy News Corral, Dec. 3-7 by Beth on the Genealogy Insider blog.

*  Follow Friday - Favorites by Heather Kuhn Roelker on the Leaves for Trees blog.

*  Follow Friday - Fab Finds for December 7, 2012 by Jana Last on Jana's Genealogy and Family History Blog.

*  From the Blogs, December 7 by Michael Leclerc on the Mocavo Genealogy blog.

*  Friday Finds - 12/07/12 by Julie Cahill Tarr on the GenBlog blog.

*  Weekly Genealogy Picks: December 2-8 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 1300 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/2012/12/best-of-genea-blogs-2-to-8-december-2012.html

Copyright(c) 2012, Randall J. Seaver 

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - Cassmob's Christmas Genea-Meme

Calling all Genea-Musings Fans: 

 It's Saturday Night again - 

time for some more Genealogy Fun!!

Come on, everybody, join in and accept the mission and execute it with precision. Here's your chance to tell us all about your Christmas tales and memories.

Pauleen (Cassmob) who writes the Family history across the seas blog started a Christmas meme last week - see Deck the Halls - 2012 Christmas GeneaMeme.  So we will use that for SNGF this week:

1)  Copy and paste the meme questions into your blog or word processor, and then answer the questions.  You could use short statements, long paragraphs or provide a link to one of your earlier posts.

2)  Tell us about your meme answers in a blog post of your own, in a comment to this post, or on Facebook, Google+ or Twitter.

3)  Be sure to leave a comment on Cassmob's blog post about your entry in this Christmas 2012 Geneameme.

Here's mine (questions in green, answers in red):

THE 2012 CHRISTMAS GENEAMEME

1. Do you have any special Xmas traditions in your family?  Just shopping, gifts, Christmas dinner at my grandparents, and then my parents, and then my brothers homes.
2. Is church attendance an important part of your Christmas celebrations and do you go the evening before or on Xmas Day?  Not as a child growing up.  After marriage, we attended Christmas Eve services with candles lit around the outside cross.  I was a wise man for many years in the Christmas pageant at church - not a speaking part!
3. Did/do you or your children/grandchildren believe in Santa?  Of course we did!  right up until we found the "big" gifts in my grandparents garage when I was 12.  Our kids did, and our four grandchildren (ages 4 to 9) still do (I think, I hope)!  Now I am Santa...
4. Do you go carolling in your neighbourhood?  Not as a child or young adult.  Our church social group did this for a number of years when we were first married.  I hummed a lot to avoid embarrassing myself (my key is J Flat).
5. What’s your favourite Christmas music?  I love the traditional hymns and the more modern tunes.  One of my favorite memories is singing hymns on Christmas Eve with my grandmother.  
6. What’s your favourite Christmas carol?  Angels We Have Heard On High.  It lifts my spirit.
7. Do you have a special Xmas movie/book you like to watch/read?  I watch "A Christmas Story" every year it seems...not unlike when I was a boy.
8. Does your family do individual gifts, gifts for littlies only, Secret Santa (aka Kris Kringle)?  I exchange several gifts with my wife, usually one gift from us to our daughters and son-in-law, and several gifts from us to each of the grandchildren.
9. Is your main Christmas meal indoors or outdoors, at home or away?  It is always indoors (it is winter in the USA) and usually at one of my daughters homes.
10. What do you eat as your main course for the Christmas meal?  Always roast turkey, usually with stuffing, mashed potatoes and green beans or peas.  Then pie.
11. Do you have a special recipe you use for Xmas?  I don't - I just show up and eat.  Ho ho ho!
12. Does Christmas pudding feature on the Xmas menu? Is it your recipe or one you inherited?  We've never had Christmas pudding.
13. Do you have any other special Christmas foods? What are they?  Not really.
14. Do you give home-made food/craft for gifts at Christmas?  We used to be in a social group that would re-gift fruitcakes each year.
15. Do you return to your family for Xmas or vice versa?  We either host one or both daughters families or we go to one of them on Christmas Day and the other one before or after Christmas (since they live 400 miles apart, and we're 100 miles from the closest one).
16. Is your Christmas celebrated differently from your childhood ones? If yes, how does it differ?  Yes, we are much more religious than our parents were.
17. How do you celebrate Xmas with your friends? Lunch? Pre-Xmas outings? Drop-ins?  Sometimes we drop-in or host drop-ins, and my wife has lunch with other friends with a small gift exchange.
18. Do you decorate your house with lights? A little or a lot?  We used to string lights around the front edge of the house, but I don't go up on the roof any more...so no, we don't any longer.
19. Is your neighbourhood a “Xmas lights” tour venue?  It's a cul-de-sac, but there are some good light shows on the block.  Our city has several organized light tour blocks that attract drive-bys and walkers.
20. Does your family attend Carols by Candlelight singalongs/concerts? Where?  We used to, but now it's only the Christmas Eve service at church  (when we are in town) where we have candles around the outdoor cross and  sing Silent Night.
21. Have any of your Christmases been spent camping (unlikely for our northern-hemisphere friends)?  No...
22. Is Christmas spent at your home, with family or at a holiday venue?  Sometimes, sometimes and no.
23. Do you have snow for Christmas where you live?  San Diego is very temperate, so I've seen snow twice in my life at sea level.  Our mountains have snow every year, and occasionally at Christmas time.
24. Do you have a Christmas tree every year?  We used to, and do when we are hosting Christmas for the family.  However, we don't have a tree in most years that we travel to be with the daughters and grandkids.
25. Is your Christmas tree a live tree (potted/harvested) or an imitation?  Growing up, and it was always harvested.  During most of our married life, the tree was harvested, although we had a potted tree several years.  We have an imitation tree now but rarely put it up.
26. Do you have special Xmas tree decorations?  Linda insists that all of the decorations on our tree are angels...and we have hundreds of angels on flat space around the house.  
27. Which is more important to your family, Christmas or Thanksgiving?  Christmas.

The URL for this post is:  http://www.geneamusings.com/2012/12/saturday-night-genealogy-fun-cassmobs.html

copyright (c) 2012, Randall J. Seaver

Surname Saturday - CLARK (England > Massachusetts)

It's Surname Saturday, and I'm "counting down" my Ancestral Name List each week.  

I am in the 7th great-grandmothers, up to number 545: Sarah CLARK (1651-1704). [Note: the 7th great-grandfathers have been covered in earlier posts].

My ancestral line back through two American generations of this CLARK family 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)

34.  Alpheus B. Smith (1802-1840)
35.  Elizabeth Horton Dill (1791-1869)

68.  Aaron Smith (1765-1841)
69.  Mercy Plimpton (1772-1850)

136.  Moses Smith (1732-1806)
137.  Patience Hamant (1735-1780)

272.  Henry Smith (1680-1743)
273.  Ruth Barber (1696-????)

544.  Samuel Smith, born 13 August 1641 in Dedham, Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States; died 25 October 1691 in Medfield, Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States.  He was the son of 1088. Henry Smith and 1089. Elizabeth.  He married 22 February 1676/77 in Medfield, Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States.
545.  Sarah Clark, born 20 February 1650/51 in Dedham, Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States; died 20 May 1704 in Medfield, Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States.  

Children of Samuel Smith and Sarah Clark are:  Sarah Smith (1679-1769); Henry Smith (1680-1743); Daniel Smith (1682-1704); Nathaniel Smith (1684-1762); Abigail Smith (1686-1726); Mary Smith (1688-1774); Prudence Smith (1691-1785).

1090.  Joseph Clark, born before 11 April 1613 in Banham, Norfolk, England; died 06 January 1683/84 in Medfield, Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States.  He was the son of 2180. Thomas Clarke and 2181. Mary Canne.  He married 15 April 1640 in Banham, Norfolk, England.
1091.  Alice Fenn, born about 1619 in England; died 17 March 1709/10 in Medfield, Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States.

Children of Joseph Clark and Alice Fenn are:  Joseph Clark (1642-1702); Benjamin Clark (1644-1724); Ephraim Clark (1646-1699); Daniel Clark (1647-1676); Mary Clark (1649-1732); Sarah Clark (1651-1704); John Clark (1652-1720); Nathaniel Clark (1658-1733); Rebecca Clark (1660-1740).

The English ancestry of Joseph Clark was described in the article "The English Ancestry of Joseph Clark (1613-1683) of Dedham and Medfield, Massachusetts" by Christopher Gleason Clark, published in the New England Historic Genealogical Register, Volume 152, Number 1, Whole Number 605, January 1998.

The descendants of Joseph Clark are discussed in the book edited by William S. Tilden, History of the Town of Medfield, Massachusetts, 1650-1886 (Boston, Mass. : Geo. H. Ellis, 1887), and many of the vital records can be found in the published town vital records.

The URL for this post is:  http://www.geneamusings.com/2012/12/surname-saturday-clark-england.html

Copyright (c) 2012, Randall J. Seaver

Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories - Days 1 to 7

I posted my Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories posts every year since since 2007 (I think).  I also made up a bit of doggerel for each day.  Rather than post them again every day, I'm posting one week's worth of links (plus the doggerel), and my readers can pick and choose what they want to read.

Here is the first week of Christmas Memories (December 1 to 7):

*  Advent Calendar - December 1: The Christmas Tree

On the 24th Day of Christmas,
I'm supposed to talk about the Christmas Tree.

*  Advent Calendar - December 2: Holiday Foods

On the 23rd Day of Christmas,
My Angel Linda gives to me
Turkey, mashed potatoes, and peas.

*  Advent Calendar - December 3: Christmas Tree Ornaments

On the twenty-second day of Christmas,
My super-wifey says to me
It's time to decorate the beautiful Tree!

*  Advent Calendar - December 4: Christmas Cards

On the 21st day of Christmas,
my true friends sent to me
Christmas Cards from their family.

*  Advent Calendar - December 5: Outdoor Decorations

On the 20th day of Christmas,
My neighbors gave me a treat,
they lighted up the whole darn street!

*  Advent Calendar - December 6: Santa Claus

On the 19th day of Christmas,
I have many happy memories 
of visiting and being Santa Claus.

*  Advent Calendar - December 7: Holiday Parties

On the 18th day of Christmas,
my relatives acted hearty
at a family Christmas party.

The URL for this post is: http://www.geneamusings.com/2012/12/advent-calendar-of-christmas-memories_7.html

Copyright (c) 2012, Randall J. Seaver

Ancestry Member Tree Hints and Images

I uploaded a new private Ancestry Member Tree today, with just five generations of ancestral families (15 families, 188 persons, including spouses).  I wanted to get a clear picture of just how many Hints that Ancestry.com finds within one day of uploading.

After just 5 hours, here is the Pedigree View of the Tree:

There are green shaky leaves for every person on the tree (even the other children, and their spouses, in the ancestral families).  Here are the number of Hints for each person:

1.  Randall Jeffrey Seaver - 2
2.  Frederick Walton Seaver - 41
3.  Betty Virginia Carringer - 21
4.  Frederick Walton Seaver - 57
5.  Alma Bessie Richmond - 42
6.  Lyle Lawrence Carringer - 23
7.  Emily Kemp Auble - 12
8.  Frank Walton Seaver - 42
9.  Hattie Louise Hildreth - 39
10.  Thomas Richmond - 21
11.  Julia White - 20
12.  Henry Austin Carringer - 22
13.  Abbie Ardell (Della) Smith - 22
14.  Charles Auble - 9
15.  Georgianna Kemp - 10
16.  Isaac Seaver III - 60
17.  Lucretia Townsend Smith - 30
18.  Edward Hildreth - 18
19.  Sophia Newton - 29
20.  James Richman/Richmond - 26
21.  Hannah Rich - 13
22.  Henry Arnold White - 4
23.  Amy Frances Oatley - 3
24.  David Jackson Carringer - 28
25.  Rebecca Spangler - 21
26.  Devier James Lamphear Smith - 37
27.  Abbie A. Vaux - 13
28.  David Auble - 8
29.  Sarah Knapp - 4
30.  James Abram Kemp - 5
31.  Mary Jane Sovereen - 5

There are 687 Hints for those 31 persons.  The range is from 2 to 60.

For each person, I ran the mouse over the name and the number of Hints showed up - as for Isaac Seaver below:

Isaac Seaver had the most Hints - 60!  Here is the top of the page of Hints for him:

The 60 Hints include (* denotes actual records that could be attached to Events):

1  Ancestry Family Trees (10 Public Member Trees)
1  1900 US Census Record*
1  American Civil War Soldiers Record*
1  1880 US Census Record*
1 Web-Massachusetts Find A Grave Record*
1 Massachusetts Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 - Birth*
1 1850 US Census Record*
1 1860 US Census Record*
1 1870 US Census Record*
51 Public Member Photos - all of them from my two other public Ancestry Member Trees (I attached images of census, vital, gravestone and other records to Isaac in those two trees)

So there were 8 actual historical records that could have been attached to Isaac Seaver if I wanted to do that.  Some of the 51 Public Member Photos included those 8 records.

I may go through all of the persons and see how many actual records are identified, and how many are correct for the persons in my tree.

One of the benefits of doing this exercise was that I could see which persons in the tree (top image) did not have thumbnail pictures of the persons.  I have one for most of these persons.  I had not added some thumbnails to the database, and for some I had not made the thumbnail photo the top image in the Media collection.  So I was able to add some thumbnails so that the next time I upload a file to an Ancestry Member Tree, the thumbnail images will show on the Pedigree chart.

I think that it is amazing that, as soon as this tree was uploaded, via a Sync in Family Tree Maker 2012, the green shaky leaves started appearing immediately.

The URL for this post is:  http://www.geneamusings.com/2012/12/ancestry-member-tree-hints-and-images.html

Copyright (c) 2012, Randall J. Seaver