NARA "Virtual" Conference

[caption id="attachment_1158" align="alignnone" width="231"] VIRTUAL GENEALOGY FAIR 2013
ONLINE ACCESS - FREE[/caption]

Rather than spending a small fortune, taking two to three days away from home, spending on hotels, meals, rental cars....

The NARA (National Archives and Records Administration) is holding its first EVER on-line seminar or webinar. It's a 2-day conference where we can learn the fine points of using the vast on-line resources of the NARA. This is an area where I have difficulty because of the depth and breadth of the data that is available.

This FREE conference will run all day on September 3rd and September 4th. As a live conference would work, it looks as though you only have to be on-line with the conference for the sessions where you have interest. Here's a link to the details:

WASHINGTON DC, GENEALOGY FAIR

My calendar is pretty full for those 2 days, but I'm going to try to participate in as many sessions as I can.

Let me know if you attend and your thoughts about this type of conference.

Excellent Article on Organizing E-mail

Small things sometimes amuse me. For example, I've never titled a post where each word begins with a vowel. I think this comes from all the genealogy work I've been doing lately...and certainly from the BU course that I finished a couple off months ago. Attention to detail. I try not to let anything get past me. The problem is that most of what doesn't get past me isn't worth taking note of anyway, the title of this post for example!

But there's a link to an article in the Deseret News, Slat Lake City, Utah that I spotted and you should find interesting:

Genealogy: How to organize and manage your genealogy email

I hope you find it useful and interesting! I certainly did...

Necronyms

How can one family have 3 daughters all of whom are named "Prudence"? Obviously, someone made a mistake. Well, probably not! The practice of necronyms was common in days of old. A necronym is the name of someone who has died. Using it often is a sign of respect.
If a daughter was born and named "Prudence", for example, but didn't survive, a subsequent daughter may be named after her for a variety of reasons. Perhaps the parents used the name to honor an ancestor of their own and continued to use the name even if the first born with that name had died. Finding 2 children with the same name in a family is more common than you think. Even 3 is unusual but obviously more rare. IT is common in some cultures but taboo in others.

(The practice of necronyms should not be confused with the manner in which George Foreman ("Big George") named hi five sons George....that's another story.)

But when you find a necronym, it may go like this: You find the birth year of a child of say, 2 years of age in a census but then in the next census 10 years later, find "her" again at age 4 rather than 12. Usually, with a little digging, you'll find that the first child had died and the parents used the same name for another child. It provides a pretty good clue that there are more children than what a census record may show. A related problem would be if a child was born the year after one census and died the year before the next, you may never realize that the child had ever existed!

Time to check church records for christenings!

Quick Tip - Look Around the Neighborhood

This came up in a class I was leading the other day. It's just one of those things that you might do automatically, you just never think to share as a research strategy. I'm not talking about drinking too much coffee or falling asleep at the keyboard!

Here's the tip: If you've found a relative on a census record and especially if that relative lived in a relatively small town, take the time to look at 2 or 3 pages before and 2 or 3 pages after the page where you've found your research subject. You'll be surprised how many people you'll find who are either definitely or at least probably related to your family. I can't tell you how many times I found the families of the "Head of Household" or families carrying the maiden name of the "Wife"! It could give you a number of leads to put on your "To-Do" list, your Research Plan.

I'm NOT recommending what we refer to as "Pin Ball Genealogy". I want you to stay focused on the reason you came to that page in the first place! Don't stray! But it won't hurt to make some research notes to follow AFTER you've found what you were looking for in the first place.

Step ONE: Have a specific reason to be researching today
Step TWO: If it's a relevant census record you've found, take a look around the neighborhood
Step THREE: STAY FOCUSED! If you find something interesting, interesting enough to tempt you to stray, create some research notes/plans to come back to AFTER you've solve the purpose at hand.

[caption id="attachment_1146" align="alignnone" width="216"] My 4th GGrandmother is here, Tabitha Robertson (pick a spelling!) in her daughter's household. Rochelle, Holt and Cantrell are all related. And this is just one page![/caption]

David or Daniel??

Today was a great day---weather-wise, anyway!  I spent the better part of the day at the Connecticut State Archives on some client work.  They're trying to establish the parents of one of their ancestors.  Truthfully, it's a contract farmed out to me because I live close to Connecticut and getting to the Archives isn't a big deal.  The problem arises with the background they supplied.  The target is David whose father is allegedly also David.  The mother "might be" Lydia.  Miles of microfilm later, I realized that "David" is often read "Daniel" and vice versa.  Back to the index.  I pulled the proper drawer of the Barbour collection and there he was...."Daniel" married Lydia, not "David".  OK, they were married in 1766.  My client supplied data stated that the target David was born in 1767.  Makes sense, I figured.  The first child is born anytime while the rest take 9 months, right?

Back to the drawing board (microfilm reader) and the search resumed.  After scrolling through 12 rolls of microfilm covering approximately 60 years of the vital records of 3 colonial towns turned up exactly....nothing!   Apparently, Daniel was never born...or at least not in Connecticut....nor was his alleged son David.  The only concrete evidence we have of David is his grave marker: "Died 1853 aged 86".  Well, I shouldn't say that exactly.  I did find 3 children born to him and "his wife".  But not on the microfilm, just in the Barbour card file.  At least I confirmed a little more of the sketchy data from the client.

So, back to Connecticut, but not tomorrow or Thursday for that matter.  Lots more records to review.  I spent too much time on the Vital Records due to the name defugalty.  Now there's probate, land and church records.

By the way, vital records in this time period and area include birth, marriage, death and earmarks!

I'll keep you posted!

Lest We Forget - May 31, 1913

This is for the last day of May, 1913.  I suppose I could've added it to yesterday's blog so as to finish up the month i one shot!!  At any rate, here it is!  They're still troubled with the jam and 4 of them went out to try to break it up.  I could use some help "translating" the 4th line!

Lest We Forget - May 31, 2919

Weather fine but a little cold this morning.

We went to Bridge East of here to brake jam of dead fall.

Archie, Aubin, Dave and I all got went to itn--- came in about 10 30 and went out this afternoon to wash out and pulled a few logs out and cam came in about five ocl Brough was out with us

We took the pile driver out after supper and worked till 9 30 got 13 hr for today for the last of the month

[caption id="attachment_1139" align="aligncenter" width="232"] Breaking up a log jam of dead fall - Last day of the month - Got 13 hours in![/caption]

Lest We Forget - May 29, 29 & 30, 1913

Lest We Forget - Wednesday, May 28, 1913

Weather clear and warm first morning we were late going to work. Bob slept in the morning till 7 30 we went west to bridge to put a cap on the piles we drove last night

We finish about 11 30 took all tools to car

After noon we all worked on pile driver repairing

finish just at 6 ocl tonight

[caption id="attachment_1133" align="aligncenter" width="234"] Full day of work in warm weather[/caption]

 

Thursday, May 29, 1913

Weather fine and warm

We did not work this morning only gathered up the tools stayed in car all morning

After dinner I took a walk do to the water falls at 40 BC

Jackson got word of a wash out down at mile 38 BC

When I came back to the car at 2 30 ocl the gang was gone

I had to walk about three miles to work

we came back for supper and went down again after supper and worked till 10 ocl

the cook gave us a lunch when we came back

[caption id="attachment_1134" align="aligncenter" width="229"] 40 BC? 38 BC? Are these mile markers?[/caption]

 

Friday, May 30, 1913

Weather dark a cloudy and cold

We went back to the wash out and about 1/2 mile we put in a culvert then went down further to the big wash out

Worked till about 3 30 it rained from about 1 30 till we had to quite [sic] at three thirty

Coming in we met w nuns and gave them a ride about a mile

They came in a had supper with the gang then we had to make a little donation after supper

[caption id="attachment_1135" align="aligncenter" width="238"] NUNS???[/caption]

 

 

 

 

Wish I had time to post daily!!

OK,...maybe it's more discipline than time, but I've been busy...really!!  I just wrapped up 3 separate classes and in about 3 weeks 2 more get started.  In the meantime, I've been reading many posts from many other bloggers (who apparently have the time AND the discipline to post daily!) and I have dozens of more tips and tricks and a bit of news.

First, for those of you who are looking for family tree software, keep an eye out for a FREE version of Family Tree Maker.  I've been using Family Tree Maker since before Adam was evicted.  And I upgraded whenever an upgrade was available.  The good news is that the new software is FREE....  Most companies who market genealogy software have a pay version and a stripped down free-but-you-can-upgrade-later-for-a-fee version.  That's never been the case with Family Tree Maker, which happens to be owned by Ancestry.com.

The bad, or at least the not so very good news, is that you have to speak German or Swedish.  Huh???  That's because in its first iteration, it's only available in German and Swedish for now.   That's actually good news, because the Germans and the Swedes will hopefully help Ancestry get most of the bugs worked out before it's opened up the the galactically bigger English speaking audience, who, I'm sure, will overwhelm the demand.  It's certainly better to have a few hundred issues with a few thousand customers (who will be converted to paying customers) than a few thousand issues with a hundred thousand customers and risk losing their future business.

Next, if you've never been able to find the record of Aunt Molly's third marriage, don't give up.  Keep in mind that all the purveyors of on-line genealogical documents are adding digitized images at a furious pace.  On any given day, I'll get an e-mail that says "So-and-So.com has added 3.5 million records" or whatever.  In other words, Aunt Molly might show up with a little perseverance AND good research notes.  PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE keep track of where you've already looked.  When you get negative evidence (when it's not there) you can keep that in mind when you go and take another shot at the records.  Just because it wasn't there the last time doesn't necessarily mean it won't be there the next time.

Have we talked about spelling and how it doesn't count?  I think so.  But it bears repeating.  The message here is "Be creative!" I've demonstrated this a gazillion times.  Just because Grandma said that's the way her father spelled the name, don't believe her!  Two reasons, at least.  Great Grandpa may not have been a world class spelling bee champion.  Witness my own grandfather's eloquently written diary that I've been posting "Lest We Forget".  I think my grandfather forgot!  And second, especially with census records, the enumerators wrote what they heard.  'Nuff said!

Web sites.  I've put together a list of about 30 or 40 web sites that are pretty handy.  Rather than listing them here, send me an e-mail at dave@oldbones.info and I'll attach the Word document to an reply.  There's the standard ancestry.com and so forth but a few interesting ones focusing on Canadian, Italian, Polish, Swedish and Irish ancestry as well as military sites, immigration and a blog or two.

For those of you that wouldn't mind traveling to Ludlow, Mass and contributing to a fund raiser, I'll be at the First Church in Ludlow for the 4th or 5th series on "Introduction to Genealogy and Family Research".  Usually, I give my series of presentations and have a few pass-outs but since this involves some cash, I offer to do 3 or 4 hours of personal research for the participants.  AND you get a certificate!  It's $49 per attendee or $79 for a couple.  Details at Old Bones Genealogy.

One more: The Gardens at Wilbraham in Wilbraham, Mass is sponsoring me to give a 2 hour lecture on genealogy on Grandparent's Day, Sunday, September 8th at 1 in the afternoon.  I'll have to get you the details if you're interested.  It's free but I think there's a sign up list.

OK, I've rambled along enough.  I'll try to get a few more days of "Lest We Forget" up tonight or tomorrow.

 

NGS Series on DNA Basics - All 4 Parts by Roberta Estes

Roberta Estes posted this in her blog "DNAeXplained - Genetic Genealogy".  Here's the link: NGS Series on DNA Basics - All 4 Parts

("NGS" stands for "National Genealogical Society")

If you're inclined to read up on DNA...as I am... you'd be well advised to FOLLOW her blog.  She's a first class scientist who can speak to "us" at a level where we can understand most of what she's tryiing to explain.  I've been following for a while and I notice that she's very good at responding to questions and comments.

Take a look and let me know if there's something in there that was of particular interest to you!

Polish Genealogy/Research

Quick note!

Here's a link to the home page of Maciej Orzechowski who specializes in Polish genealogy: Polish Genealogy Research.  And here's the Facebook page: Polish Documents.

I have not communicated with him but he comes highly recommended.

Lest We Forget---May 25, 26 and 27, 1913

Back to my grandfather's diary.  In review, my grandfather was Clement Elexis Dickson, born in 1888 in Williamstown, Glengarry County, Ontario.  Williamstown is a small area outside of Cornwall.  Sometime in the early 1900's he went to work for the Grand Trunk Pacific Railroad.  I never spoke to him about it; he died when I was 2 1/2 years old.  I never talked to my grandmother about it; I wasn't aware of the diary until years after she died in 1962.  I was probably in my early teens when I "discovered" it.  One of my aunts described it to me as just something that grandpa kept with him when he worked on the railroad.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the diary.  Thus, my motivation to get the story it tells out there. It's certainly not a "page turner"; it's not "War and Peace" or any other classic.  It's just my grandfather's thoughts...that's it!

My original intent was to post the entries one day at a time as the year 2013 went by.  Well, the only thing that "went by" was the time!  I've fallen WAY behind!  But, here I am , trying to make good on my original effort.

OK...back to it!

Lest We Forget Sunday, May 25, 1913

[He mistakenly entered Sunday's entry on Monday and had to enter Monday's entry on Sunday.  That's why the dates are crossed out]

Weather fine and warm
This is washing day but Dick had no washing.
[-?-] and I played shorse [sic] shoes with Richie and Bob in the morning
we beat out 6 to 7.
Rill and Raynold went away this morning
Rill coming back but R is gone for good

[caption id="attachment_1019" align="aligncenter" width="232"] Washing day but no washing to wash![/caption]

Monday, May 26, 1913

Weather is cold with rain
Worked on bridge all morning tightening nuts nearly al morning just killing time.
Came in at noon to have supper and played shorse shoes till bed time.
A little rain after supper
We worked at the bridge east of here this after This after a big game of horse shoes
a while [-?-] Bobie and Stefan and I won 4 to 3

[caption id="attachment_1112" align="aligncenter" width="223"] Killing time[/caption]

Tuesday, May 27, 1913

Weather cold and a little rain in the morning
worked on bridge west all morning
Killing time in afternoon
the pile driver came up and we drove five piles and worked 2 hrs over time the first over time this year for we worked till 9 ock
night was very short

[caption id="attachment_1113" align="aligncenter" width="240"] The pile driver arrives![/caption]

 

 

Sources, information and evidence

Whether you're researching for fun or on a professional level, you will...I repeat...you will come to a point where you will have to review where you found this or that and how it should be categorized in order to determine how much credence you can place on a particular piece of information.  As professionals, we not only understand, but virtually live by whether a source is original or derivative, the information is primary or secondary and the evidence is direct, indirect or negative.  Now that's a lot for a casual family researcher to absorb, but the principles are sound and need to be understood.

First, you can spend some hard earned cash and take one of several courses in professional genealogical research techniques.  But I believe that a bit of common sense will help many people in their efforts to track down their ancestors.

Second, this doesn't necessarily need to be a stressful, heartburn inducing hobby or profession.

Let me explain about the principals mentioned earlier.  A "source" is simply where you found a certain bit of information.  Was it in a book at the library, a document at Ancestry.com or FamilySearch.org, a family bible....whatever.  The source is simply that which holds the information.  You need to judge the value of the source.  That's when we ask is it original or derivative.  A birth certificate is an original source because it starts with the mother and, these days, the doctor who delivered the baby.  If you get a letter/e-mail/tweet from your cousin to tell you that her sister had a baby on such and such a date, that communication is derivative.  After all, she may be wrong!  Imagine!  The accuracy of a derivative source can be  judged based on its distance in time and location from the original source.

"Information" is primary, secondary or unknown based on the degree of involvement of the informant.  If you attended a wedding and told your friends about it the next day or 20 years from now, you are the primary informant.  You were there as a witness.  If, in later years, one of their children informs you that their parents anniversary is on such and such a date, odds are the kids weren't there and they are providing secondary information because they were told, at some point, what the anniversary date was and they reported it to you.

Evidence is either direct or indirect.  This has always been tricky for me to get my head around, but here goes.  In genealogy, building any report at whatever level...a complete family tree for multiple generations or a forensic genealogy report to establish descendants or simply who was John Smith's grandfather...each bit of data is in itself a research project.  You can only answer one question at a time as you move toward a conclusion and subsequently write a proof statement to support that conclusion.  Direct evidence is a single piece of data that answers, on its own merit, that single question.  Indirect evidence refers to a PIECE of evidence that may contribute to the answer but cannot, of itself, stand on its own as an answer.

Confused!  We spend HOURS studying these principals.  I'm currently reading the "latest" publication on mastering genealogical proof.  It's called "Mastering Genealogical Proof"!  It's by Dr. Thomas Jones who has an amazing reputation in this field.  I'm also a participant in a study group which takes place in Google+ "Hangout" that "meets" on Monday nights.  We discuss the individual chapters in the book and how the principles apply to the work we're currently involved in.

To sum this all up: A professional NEEDS to abide by these principles.  It's a matter of adhering to the Genealogical Proof Standards to which we commit ourselves as professionals.  For the casual or hobby researcher, they are still important as they act as a guideline to help understand the value of what you've found in your research.   After all, there are hundreds...there are thousands of discrepancies in the data we discover.  It's very handy to have a standard to measure that bit of data's value in our research!

Questions?  Feel free to ask them here or contact me at dave@oldbones.info.

Comments?  Please add your thought to the blog for everyone to benefit.

Blog, blog, blog...

Shame on me!! I've been away from the blog for a few too many days!  I've been teaching or lecturing or researching almost 24/7.  But I PROMISE....  I'll get some interesting "stuff" up later today or tomorrow.

I'll be offering the second week of a 4 week series here in Wilbraham this afternoon.  But I'll be back home about 6 or so.  I'll get some additional "Let We Forget" news and some interesting genealogy web links for you.

If you live in the area, First Church in Ludlow has allowed me to offer another fund raiser.  It's a 5 week course in family history research with one session per week beginning Sept 3rd.  Since there's a cost involved, everyone gets a few hours of personal family research which I compile into a small booklet to take with you.  The cost is $49 per person or $79 per couple.  You know how these work..."It's for a GOOD CAUSE!"

Also, I have more tips and tricks...

See you later!

Revolutionary Voices: A Last Muster Film

Please take a few minutes of your valuable time to watch the video at this link:

Revolutionary Voices: A Last Muster Film

It's a fascinating subject not only to genealogists, but to all Americans as well.  Yes, it's a plea for assistance, but it should come across to you, as it did me, a very worthwhile historical call.

Since I am a member of and the Treasurer for the Western Massachusetts Genealogical Society, I am very happy to say that we will be holding a virtual meeting with Maureen Taylor at our monthly meeting this February, 2014 in Agawam, MA.

Maureen Taylor is an internationally recognized expert on the intersection of history, genealogy, and photography. She has been featured in top media outlets, including The View, Better Homes & Gardens, the Boston Globe, Martha Stewart Living, MSNBC, New Morning (Hallmark Channel), Life Magazine, DIY: Scrapbooking, PBS Ancestors, Claritin’s Moment of Clarity, Creative Memories’ Lasting Moments, Dear Myrtle, and Satisfaction Magazine. Maureen is the author of a number of books and magazine articles, as well as a contributing editor at Family Tree Magazine.

Attendance at All WMGS meetings is open to the public.  Consider becoming a member at $20/year...you will be able to attend a total of 10 presentations throughout our season which runs from September through June.