- Juliana Smith
I recently had to take my cats to the vet. Anyone familiar with cats knows that they hate going to the vet, and mine are certainly no exception. When I scheduled the visit, I must have had a mental lapse because I scheduled it at a time when I was home alone. Being a long-time cat owner I should know better. With just one cat you have the element of surprise and it's fairly easy to get them into the pet carrier, but once you capture one, the other one wises up real quick and is off and running.
Pearl was easy. She is a bit of a glutton so all I had to do was set out a little food. Creed was a little more suspicious and as soon as he saw me pick up Pearl, he was gone. He took me on a run of the house from the basement upstairs through the living room and up more stairs to the bedrooms. I dove for him as he went for my daughter's bed and was rewarded with a huge bruise from her bed as he fled. (I swear I heard him laugh as he jumped over me on his way back to the basement!) I got quite a workout before finally catching him. Who needs a stair stepping exercise machine? Just come to my house on vet day.
When the family is home it's a little easier. Yesterday when we had to give them flea meds, we spread out, staking out the usual escape paths and managed to catch both cats without sustaining any injuries.
It's a wonderful thing when the family works together and it can work in our family history research as well. No, I don't mean shanghaiing the family into helping file that pile of papers that is slowly taking over my desk again, or searching the Manhattan census page by page for my elusive Kelly ancestors. Like Creed, they'd catch on quickly and be off hiding under the bed too. Since today begins Women's History Month, today's column will focus on locating female ancestors--with a little help from family, of course...
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September 14, 2007
Finding Female Ancestors Is a Family Affair
Late Night Therapy—Genealogy Style
- Juliana Smith
Lately, I have often found myself pacing the house in the wee hours. I know I'm not alone. I look out my windows at two, three, or four o'clock in the morning, and I see other lights on, or the flicker of the TV screen in windows up and down the street. I'm guessing there may be a few of you friends out there too, who have spent a night or two tossing and turning in the past month or so, and I'm guessing that some of you may have discovered what I have discovered— genealogy therapy. Yes, instead of counting sheep, I'm counting ancestors.
On those nights when I am sleepless, instead of lying there with horrible images and fears keep creeping into my thoughts, I fight them with the mysteries of the past. Sometimes, if it's not too bad, I just lay in bed and try to think of a new angle to attempt in my searches. (The danger here being that if I actually do think of one, I usually get up to pursue it if possible!) For the nights when I can muster some self-control and stay in bed, I have a little notepad and pen on the headboard to jot down notes so that I can remember them in the morning. Unfortunately, deciphering them can be a challenge come morning!
There are those nights though, when you just know that sleep is not going to come, and I have found that the only thing that helps in these instances is to get up and do something. Since cleaning house typically involves making unnecessary noise that could waken my husband and daughter, I usually opt for some quiet time on the computer or with my family history files. (Hear that? It's the sound of dust bunnies rejoicing!)
What kind of genealogy research can be done in the middle of the night? I'm guessing most of you already know the answer to that one, but today I thought I'd share some of my favorite middle-of-the-night tips.
Read More of This Article - Click Here.
Lately, I have often found myself pacing the house in the wee hours. I know I'm not alone. I look out my windows at two, three, or four o'clock in the morning, and I see other lights on, or the flicker of the TV screen in windows up and down the street. I'm guessing there may be a few of you friends out there too, who have spent a night or two tossing and turning in the past month or so, and I'm guessing that some of you may have discovered what I have discovered— genealogy therapy. Yes, instead of counting sheep, I'm counting ancestors.
On those nights when I am sleepless, instead of lying there with horrible images and fears keep creeping into my thoughts, I fight them with the mysteries of the past. Sometimes, if it's not too bad, I just lay in bed and try to think of a new angle to attempt in my searches. (The danger here being that if I actually do think of one, I usually get up to pursue it if possible!) For the nights when I can muster some self-control and stay in bed, I have a little notepad and pen on the headboard to jot down notes so that I can remember them in the morning. Unfortunately, deciphering them can be a challenge come morning!
There are those nights though, when you just know that sleep is not going to come, and I have found that the only thing that helps in these instances is to get up and do something. Since cleaning house typically involves making unnecessary noise that could waken my husband and daughter, I usually opt for some quiet time on the computer or with my family history files. (Hear that? It's the sound of dust bunnies rejoicing!)
What kind of genealogy research can be done in the middle of the night? I'm guessing most of you already know the answer to that one, but today I thought I'd share some of my favorite middle-of-the-night tips.
Read More of This Article - Click Here.
September 9, 2007
Were Your Ancestors Spenders or Just Window Shoppers?
from Mary Penner
President Calvin Coolidge said, "The chief business of the American people is business. They are profoundly concerned with producing, buying, selling, investing, and prospering in the world." That sentiment may be true, but Americans haven't cornered the market where business is concerned. Ever since cavemen scratched on walls with rocks, people throughout the world have bartered, traded, bought, and sold goods and services.
The good news for family history sleuths is this: where there are businesses, there are consumers, and where there are consumers, there are ancestors.
We tend to picture our hardworking and industrious ancestors living off the land, raising their own food, sewing their own clothes, and making their own soap and hand tools. Depending on the historical time frame, that's often true to some extent.
In 1820, 86 percent of the American population lived on a farm, and many of them probably did fend for themselves for food, clothing, and the odd household gadget. But, by 1900 that number had dropped to 36 percent. So, even though some of your ancestors may have been self- sufficient holdouts well into the twentieth century, most of them ventured into town occasionally leaving a trail of clues in one store after another.
Before computers, credit cards, and super-secret PIN numbers, some people relied on a name and a handshake to conduct business. Yet, to keep all the details tidy, most business owners kept handwritten ledgers or account books of their daily transactions. For example, businessman Henry O'Neill kept ledger books for his general store in Santa Fe. The two books still in existence cover the years 1854-59, listing customer names and what they purchased. You'll also find the date and how much the items cost.
If you find your ancestors listed in a general store ledger, you'll get an insider's glimpse into their habits and inclinations. While many of...
Read More - Click Here.
President Calvin Coolidge said, "The chief business of the American people is business. They are profoundly concerned with producing, buying, selling, investing, and prospering in the world." That sentiment may be true, but Americans haven't cornered the market where business is concerned. Ever since cavemen scratched on walls with rocks, people throughout the world have bartered, traded, bought, and sold goods and services.
The good news for family history sleuths is this: where there are businesses, there are consumers, and where there are consumers, there are ancestors.
We tend to picture our hardworking and industrious ancestors living off the land, raising their own food, sewing their own clothes, and making their own soap and hand tools. Depending on the historical time frame, that's often true to some extent.
In 1820, 86 percent of the American population lived on a farm, and many of them probably did fend for themselves for food, clothing, and the odd household gadget. But, by 1900 that number had dropped to 36 percent. So, even though some of your ancestors may have been self- sufficient holdouts well into the twentieth century, most of them ventured into town occasionally leaving a trail of clues in one store after another.
Before computers, credit cards, and super-secret PIN numbers, some people relied on a name and a handshake to conduct business. Yet, to keep all the details tidy, most business owners kept handwritten ledgers or account books of their daily transactions. For example, businessman Henry O'Neill kept ledger books for his general store in Santa Fe. The two books still in existence cover the years 1854-59, listing customer names and what they purchased. You'll also find the date and how much the items cost.
If you find your ancestors listed in a general store ledger, you'll get an insider's glimpse into their habits and inclinations. While many of...
Read More - Click Here.
Tips from the Pros: Tax Records
from George G. Morgan
Land and property records are among the most numerous of all documents in the U.S. and can provide genealogists with great information. Between censuses, tax rolls can confirm the presence of your land-owning ancestors at a particular place and time. The addition of an ancestor to the tax rolls indicates he or she arrived or purchased property in the area within the previous twelve to twenty-four months, while his or her disappearance from the rolls may indicate a property sale and/or a move from the area. In any event, tax records can point you toward other land and property records.
September 3, 2007
Celebrate Ancestral Occupations
On the first Monday in September, U.S. residents celebrate Labor Day. It is also celebrated in other countries on various days. To many it is just a day off work. But Labor Day was designated as a tribute to the social and economic achievements and contributions of workers. As with many things historical, there are differences about the origins. In honor of Labor Day, I urge you to investigate and celebrate your ancestral occupations.
Some Important U.S. Labor Day Milestones
Some Important U.S. Labor Day Milestones
- Before 1882: Parades honoring workers were held in cities around the world.
- 1882: First Labor Day parades are held in Providence, Rhode Island and New York City.
- 1887: Oregon is the first state to establish Labor Day as a holiday (first Saturday in June).
- 1887: Colorado. Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York observed Labor Day on the irst Monday in September.
- 1894: Labor Day, the first Monday in September, becomes a U. S. federal holiday; Canada’s similar legislation followed a month later.
- What Was Your Ancestor's Occupation?
- Many of our ancestors changed jobs or held more than one job.
Is That Obituary Misleading?
from Michael John Neill
Many genealogists use obituaries as a part of their research. They can easily be a clue to additional records or sources, but must be used with care. It is important to remember that the information contained in an obituary can be incorrect, misleading, or incomplete. The confusion is compounded when an obituary contains all three errors.
The deceased might have been married three times, but only the last spouse is listed in the obituary. Children of the deceased may be named, but they may not have the same set of both parents and...
Read More - Click Here.
Many genealogists use obituaries as a part of their research. They can easily be a clue to additional records or sources, but must be used with care. It is important to remember that the information contained in an obituary can be incorrect, misleading, or incomplete. The confusion is compounded when an obituary contains all three errors.
The deceased might have been married three times, but only the last spouse is listed in the obituary. Children of the deceased may be named, but they may not have the same set of both parents and...
Read More - Click Here.
September 1, 2007
Ancestry of William Holden
William Holden was 20 when he was "discovered" while performing at the Pasadena Community Playhouse. During his career, he appeared in a number of films including Our Town, Sunset Boulevard and Stalag 17 for which he won an Academy Award. He will also be remembered for his wildlife preservation in Kenya. William Holden also had a special connection to one of our other featured celebrities, he and George Washington are third cousins nine times removed.
[ More Famous Trees ]
Making Certain I Have the Right Person
by Michael John Neill
I recently located testimony that appeared to have been given by my wife's ancestor in a Revolutionary War pension application. My excitement over the new discovery was tempered by the realization that I needed to make certain the person giving testimony was indeed my wife's ancestor. While it is certainly natural to be excited over new discoveries, it is important not jump to conclusions. Hasty research can lead to wasted time, money, and brick walls higher than the ones we originally had.
The 1847 Revolutionary War pension application for Katharine Blain in Delaware County, Ohio, contained testimony from a Katharine Wickiser. My wife's ancestor, Katharine Wickiser, also lived in Delaware County and both women were about the same age. But before I used the clues contained in the pension file to further my research, I needed to be reasonably certain the two women were the same person.
The first step was to review the chronology and family structure I had compiled for Katharine Wickiser and her husband Abraham. Comparing the information already located with the information in the pension testimony would help me in determining if the two Katharines were one and the same.
Chronologies are such an important tool that we'll briefly discuss some suggestions for compiling them. Read More - Click Here.
I recently located testimony that appeared to have been given by my wife's ancestor in a Revolutionary War pension application. My excitement over the new discovery was tempered by the realization that I needed to make certain the person giving testimony was indeed my wife's ancestor. While it is certainly natural to be excited over new discoveries, it is important not jump to conclusions. Hasty research can lead to wasted time, money, and brick walls higher than the ones we originally had.
The 1847 Revolutionary War pension application for Katharine Blain in Delaware County, Ohio, contained testimony from a Katharine Wickiser. My wife's ancestor, Katharine Wickiser, also lived in Delaware County and both women were about the same age. But before I used the clues contained in the pension file to further my research, I needed to be reasonably certain the two women were the same person.
The first step was to review the chronology and family structure I had compiled for Katharine Wickiser and her husband Abraham. Comparing the information already located with the information in the pension testimony would help me in determining if the two Katharines were one and the same.
Chronologies are such an important tool that we'll briefly discuss some suggestions for compiling them. Read More - Click Here.
Do You Have a Criminal Past?
Finding Your Ancestors in the Australian Convict Lists Transportation.
It sounds more like a method of time travel than a punishment. However, that is precisely the sentence that more than 160,000 so-called criminals from England, Ireland, and Scotland received in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries.
And what happened to you if you got transported? You packed your bags for a six-month sea voyage to Australia, where you were usually banished for seven years, but sometimes for five years, fourteen years, or even for life.
TRANSPORTATION AND WHAT COULD GET YOU TRANSPORTED
Transportation began as a method of punishment in England in the late 1700s. Originally, convicts were sent to America; however, after the American Revolution in 1776, prisoners were no longer sent there. Recently discovered Australia then became the new penal colony. The first prisoners—and first settlers—were sent there in 1788.
You could get transported for many Read More - Click Here.
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