Old Letters for DNA Testing

Living DNA announced at RootsTech that they were able to locate someone’s father through the DNA off a postage stamp. I was standing in line at the Living DNA booth to purchase a DNA kit from them, and all around me was the talk of postage stamp DNA. The discussions were basically about what letters and from whom did they have in their possession. Now, these old letters have taken on a new purpose.

Adoptee Anthea had been abandoned under a blackberry bush when she was about nine months old. Her hands were tied so she could not move. A family heard her cries, and she was rescued and adopted by a very loving family. When Anthea was older, she found out her story and went in search of her biological family. DNA testing found four brothers who were candidates for who Anthea’s biological father could be. Two of the brothers showed that they were first cousins, so that left the other two brothers as potential matches. A cousin had saved letters from those last two brothers, and it was the salvia from these stamps that provided the DNA to prove which one was Anthea’s father. An incredible story, but it opens a whole new way of identifying our family members.

Denise May Levenick’s blog, theFamilyCurator.com, has an article “How to Preserve and Test Old Letters for Grandma’s DNA.” Denise interviewed David Nicholson, Managing Director at Living DNA, and he stated that the ability to test postage stamps for DNA would be available by the end of 2018 at the cost of $1,000 - $2,500. Living DNA will test both the stamp and the flap that was licked.

David Nicholson’s advice on how to save these old letters is:

1. Look for family letters where the flap and seal are intact. Multiple samples are best. If the letters are stored in a bundle, the ones in the middle are usually in better shape.

2. Wear white cotton gloves when handling these letters to avoid further contamination.

3. Keep the letters stored in acid-free folders and boxes in moderate conditions. Avoid plastic. Metal file drawers or archival boxes are best.
If you have any keepsake letters from your relatives, you may want to hold on to them. They may hold the secret to your past. How to preserve letters for DNA testing is great information and thank you, Denise, at theFamilyCurator.com for sharing.

Clues in the U.S. Census Records

Census records are a great way to search for your ancestors. They are easy to search and readily available. If you’re are just searching for families and residency in these census records, then you may be missing the clues that will help you break your brick walls.

The 1840 census is two pages wide. On the right-hand page, there is a column for Pensioners for Revolutionary or Military Services, and the column next to that is for the person’s age. The 1840 census is a “name of household only” census, but the Penson information is for anyone living in that household.

The1850-1870 Censuses have Agriculture and Manufacturer's schedules besides the Federal Census. If your ancestor is listed as a farmer or manufactures something, check out these schedules at Ancestry and FamilySearch.

The 1850 census asks if you were married that year.

1870 census asks if your mother or father were of foreign birth. Great for finding children of immigrant ancestors.

The 1880 census asks questions on lines 16-20 about disabilities. If there are check marks in these disability boxes, be sure and look at the Special Schedule of Defective, Dependent, and Delinquent Classes.

In the 1900 census you will find years in current marriage, month and year of birth, mother of how many children and how many are still living. Naturalization status, year of immigration, and how many years lived in the US.

On the right-hand side of the1910 Census is a question about Civil War Service. The question asked is "Whether a survivor of the Union or Confederate Army or Navy?" The abbreviations used in this column for UA for Union Army; UN for Union Navy; CA for Confederate Army; and CN for Confederate Navy.

The 1920 census asks the year of naturalization.

In the 1930 census, you will find the age at first marriage and if you are a military veteran, which war.

The1940 Census has an X in a circle by the name of the informant of the census information. If it was Harry, the border, then the information may have errors in it. The informant information is a nice heads-up to the accuracy of the information.

There is so much more information available. Be sure and look at the headings of each census year, and you may find the answers that help you find your ancestors.

U. S. Census Records Class Handout FamilySearch

A Personal History Based on Photos

A personal history could be one of the greatest legacies that you can leave your descendants. If you want it to be accurate, then it is best that you write it yourself. If you leave it up to others, all they have is their memories, and they may not be correct. A fantastic way to start writing your personal history is to gather your photos you have collected from your life. These photos will be the foundation of your stories.

There is a story behind each photo. Your descendants will not know that story unless you write about it. It would be sad if your experiences you enjoyed throughout your life became lost even though a photo showed a snapshot of what was going on.

For instance, a gentleman was in World War II, and he had a photo of himself beside a plane. This is a great photo, but the rest of the story is untold. This gentleman had just returned from a major battle where most of his friends had not made it back. What a challenging time in his life, yet you would not know this just by looking at a photo. This experience is also an opportunity for him to share with his descendants how he got through this challenge and went on with life.

Forget about Chronology. You can write your history is any order you want. Sometimes it is best to start with something exciting that will catch your readers attention. Many times, one photo will spark a memory that you have in another photo.

As you go through your photos, let your mind wander back to the good old days. What was life like in those days? Did you have lots of chores or were they carefree? You don’t have to let the photo limit what you tell. Share the feelings and the memories that come from viewing these photos.

Don’t stress about Grammar and spelling. Memories are the goal, and the aim is not perfection. You can even handwrite your story. What a terrific opportunity for you to allow children, grandchildren, or even youth in your neighborhood provide a service for you if you need help with writing your story on a computer. Whichever way you want to put your story together, on the computer or handwritten, make sure you don’t delay your greatest gift.

Pinterest

Genealogy research can take us to some of the most interesting sites. It is amazing how something used for craft ideas, recipes, and many other ways is also a great resource for genealogists. Pinterest is a free social media site that allows you to bookmark favorite websites and organize them onto “boards.”

If you do not already have an account on Pinterest, go to ww.pinterest.com and sign-up. Fill out the information, and you are ready to start “pinning!” Pinterest has a great search engine, and you can search genealogical subjects that interest you. You can create “boards” of different genealogical information and then start searching for “pins” to add to your boards. Once you find something you would like to save, you click save, and it will ask you what board you would like it saved to. Just as simple as that.

Some board ideas are:

Maps. There are lots of maps from all over the world on Pinterest. I created a search in the search bar for “genealogy maps.” Here is a list of just a few maps that came up. “5 Types of Maps Every Genealogist Should Know,” “Historical Maps of the United States,” “Map Your Family Surname,” “Map your Ancestors and bring Genealogy to Life,” “Map of the United States in 1700,” and more than I could count.

Genealogy Research Helps. “Tips for Researching German Genealogy,” “Irish Genealogy,” “5 Fabulous Tip for using Ancestry.com,” “Useful Smartphone Apps for Genealogy Research,” “Genealogy Classes – Genealogy.com,” and again the list goes on and on.

Genealogy Organization. “The FamilyRoots Organizer Color-Coding System,” “Tips: 23 Secrets to Organize Your Genealogy,” “What You Need to Know to Organize Your Genealogy,” “9 Habits of Highly Organized Genealogists,” “The Genealogist’s Organization Cheatsheet,” “How to use Pinterest for Genealogy and Family History,” are some great examples.

Census Records. “The Secret Hiding on the 1840 U.S. Census,” “Irish Census Records,” “How to Calculate Birth Dates from Census Records,” “Clues in Census Records, 1790-1840,” “State-By-State Census Chart,” “Census Forms,” “How to Find a Missing Person on Census records,” and page after page of census information.

The list of boards can go on forever. The number of “pins” you can add to these boards is enormous. It’s great that there is a website with so much information and you are in control of what and how you save it. The ultimate information and organization tool in one stop.

FamilySearch Wiki

Genealogical research can be daunting at best. Are there any resources out there that will make it easier? The answer is yes! FamilySearch Wiki (familysearch.org/wiki/en) is a jewel in the genealogical community as an aid to researchers seasoned and novice alike.

Oh no! You discovered your great-grandfather is from New York state. You know nothing about New York research. Never fear! FamilySearch Wiki will guide and tutor you through your research.

For example, you will find on the New York state wiki research page step-by-step research strategies, interactive maps that link to the county level and the information available there. It has information on where to locate vital records concerning the area you are researching and what state census records are available.

FamilySearch Wiki has 87,802 articles to aid you in your research. The Wiki suggests that when you research their website that you use keywords and not phrases. “New York” is a good example. The Wiki also suggests that you start with broad localities and then click to smaller ones. You would start by searching with the keyword “New York” and go to the New York article and then click on the county or record level.

The Wiki has a great article found on their homepage for those new to research. It takes you through the steps you need to know so that you can do your family history research. It takes you through the research cycle explaining each step of the way. The Wiki also has the blank forms you need to record your information on. There are ideas on how to organize your records. It shows you how to view and search records. The article also teaches you how narrow your research down so that it is not so overwhelming. It has everything a novice needs to know.

This website is ever changing as more information is added. Contributors are great at explaining the idiosyncrasies of researching the locations of their expertise such as record losses, boundary changes, or even information about records found in unusual places. There are letter writing guides to help you if you need to write to repositories in a foreign language. Handwriting guides also help if you are looking at old handwriting or foreign alphabets.

The information available on FamilySearch wiki is vast. Take a look and see if there is information that will aid you in your search for your ancestors.

A Local Treasure

Washington County is rich in pioneer history. The pioneers who settled here are a unique group called to the Cotton Mission. Fortunately, Washington County is also rich in the preservation of their history. There is a local treasure that many overlook, the Pioneer Museum, owned and run by the Daughters of Utah Pioneers.

This museum was built in 1938 through the generous donation of Hortense McQuarrie Odlum. It became apparent that the treasures left behind by the Pioneers were being thrown away and discarded because descendants did not know what to do with them. The museum was built to save these treasures and preserve the history of the area. The museum houses artifacts and pictures of the pioneers who settled here.

Each artifact in the museum has a story behind it, and there are hundreds of pieces on display. There are laminated cards that you can take with you as you tour the museum to learn the history behind the highlighted artifact. Some of the relics include handmade linens with delicate embroidery, clothing made from silk that was grown from silkworms and spun into silk thread or made from the cotton grown here and beautiful china from all over the world brought by the pioneers. A personal favorite is a mustache cup used by men who had mustaches to keep them clean. Artifacts are from the pioneers’ everyday lives. Irons, ice cream makers, butter churns, shoes, clothes, dentists drill, and even pictures made from hair the pioneers collected from their loved ones are just some of the don’t miss relics.

The pictures of the local settlers adorn the walls. You may even find pictures of your own family. Histories are also available to read after which you can locate the picture of the person you just read about on the wall. These activities help make the pioneers more personal to you. There is also scavenger hunts available especially for children (or adults) to locate certain artifacts listed.

The Pioneer Museum is a wonderful place to take your children and grandchildren to appreciate the rich history of this area. The museum is free to the public, but donations are appreciated. The museum, located at 145 North 100 East in St. George, is open every day, except Wednesday and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The museum has a great website dupstgeorge.org with more information.

Land Ownership (Plat) Maps

Beyond knowing the place where your ancestor lived, a good working knowledge of each location can be important when it comes to knowing what records are available and where you can find them. Of the several types of maps, land ownership (plat) maps are a favorite among genealogists.

What sets land ownership (plat) maps apart from most other maps is that they list property owners’ names. Neighbors were often relatives or became relatives through marriage. It’s a terrific way to locate families living in the same location.





I found a land ownership map for Bristol/ Bridgewater, New Hampshire. I was able to locate my Great Grandfather’s family farm. This Great Grandfather moved out west and then went back to New Hampshire to visit his family. He left a detailed journal of his travels and who he visited. Through the land ownership map, found at davidrumsey.com, I was able to track exactly where he went and locate the relatives that lived in that area.

Another land ownership map I found at davidrumsey.com showed an area that had just been settled by the pilgrims. Through the names listed on the map, I was able to locate six direct line ancestors living in that area. This information helped in locating records of births, marriages, and deaths of these direct line ancestors and their children.




Probate records of my 3rd great-grandfather listed his address in Newburyport, Massachusetts. When I Googled “plat maps Newburyport Massachusetts,” I found several maps located in google images. One particular plat map was from 1851. A few years after the death of this grandfather but worth searching. On this map, I found his wife was still living at the address listed in the probate records. I then turned to Google Earth and looked at the address. I was able to determine that the house listed at that address is the same house that my 3rd great-grandfather lived in. The house is still standing and converted into a restaurant.




Land ownership or plat maps are a great resource for genealogical research. Ancestry, FamilySearch, davidrumsey.com, Library of Congress, are a few of the many internet sites that have land ownership (plat) maps. Using Google to find the plat maps for your location is a fantastic way to search through the many sites and find what is available.

Musings from RootsTech 2018

RootsTech has just ended. The hot topic? DNA. RootsTech lasted four days with three of those days sponsored by DNA testing companies.

David Nicholson and Hannah Morden, the cofounders of Living DNA, based out of England, stated that the goal of their company is the put together a “Genetic Family Tree.” They highlighted a lady abandoned at youth and did not know who her parents were. This lady had some letters that she believed belonged to her birth father. Living DNA took the DNA found on the stamps on the envelopes of those letters, and through DNA matching was able to find her birth father.

Aaron Godfrey a spokesman for MyHeritage, based out of Israel, mentioned that there is a shift in the genealogical community to genetic genealogy. Godfrey highlighted his address by announcing a Pro bono initiative, DNAQuest.org, to help adoptees find their families. MyHeritage will be giving away 15,000 DNA test kits to those who qualify, and they also have a professional advisory board that specializes in helping adoptees find their families.

Ken Chahine stated that through Ancestry’s DNA testing, you can determine the migration patterns and the place where your ancestors originated. Those with slave ancestors find this helpful as it pinpoints the place in Africa their ancestors originated. There are seven million people with their DNA in Ancestry’s database, and they have 140 million common ancestors, and these ancestors have been broken down to being from 350 global regions. Chahine predicted that soon they would be able to determine which port your ancestor immigrated to and give you a sketch of your ancestor’s appearance.

The concluding keynote speaker at RootsTech 2018 was Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. Dr. Gates has a TV series, Finding Your Roots. He uses traditional genealogical research methods with genetics to help people find their ancestors. Dr. Gates stated that from his experience with using family history and genetics that he has found a way to bring people together and help people see their commonalities, rejoice in their difference and become united. Dr. Gates feels this is what our country needs to heal itself from the great division that is occurring. Dr. Gates feels so strong about this that he has created a curriculum for middle schoolers that will combine genealogy with DNA to help students find out who they are and what they have in common.

Reverend John Lathrop

There are ancestors who stand out from the others. These ancestors have volumes of information available about them that make them even more endearing. To many, one of these ancestors is the Reverend John Lathrop.

Reverend Lathrop was a minister for the Church of England and became disillusioned with the church. He later became involved in the First Independent Church in London. At this time a law was decreed that ministers in England had to sign an oath to the Church of England. He believed in the separation of Church and State and felt that the common people should be able to read the Bible for themselves. Reverend Lathrop would not sign this oath and subsequently was arrested and charged with sedition. The courts required that those accused of such acts were to testify against themselves and were denied rights granted to normal citizens. These proceedings were so intimidating that it was one of the events that caused the Great Migration to New England.

There were others who refused to sign this oath and they were sent to prison too. They were eventually set free but not Reverend Lathrop. He was deemed to be too dangerous and was not freed with the others. His wife died while he was in prison and his children were left homeless and forced to beg on the streets for food. Reverend Lathrop was eventually released, but he had to leave immediately for New England and never return.

Reverend Lathrop traveled to the New World on the ship “Griffin.” He brought his Bible along with him, and one evening he spilled hot candle wax on his Bible, and it burnt through several pages. Reverend Lathrop then repaired the holes and had filled in the missing text from memory. This Bible is displayed at the Sturgis Library in Barnstable, Massachusetts.


Lathrop and his congregation settled the town Barnstable in the state of Massachusetts. Lathrop was beloved by his congregation and was valiant in standing up for his values and convictions. An example to his descendants. Are you a descendant of Reverend Lathrop? Relativefinder.org will go through your FamilySearch file and let you know.

A few of the famous descendants of John Lathrop are:

• Presidents George H. W. and George W. Bush
• James A. Garfield
• Ulysses S. Grant
• Franklin D. Roosevelt
• Benedict Arnold
• Joseph and Hyrum Smith
• Wilford Woodruff
• Oliver Cowdery
• Parley P. and Orson Pratt

Online Learning with Webinars

With the age of technology, online learning has become all the rage. Online learning is education that you can receive at home, at your own time, and keeps you up-to-date on what is going in the genealogical community. Technology, availability of records, and research methods is increasing at warp speed, and this is one way to keep up and hone your skills. There are many avenues to online education, but this article will deal with the ever-popular webinars, more specifically Legacy Family Tree Webinars.

Legacy Family Tree webinars have on average eight webinars a week. These webinars are free and are free for up to a week from their original recording. This feature is nice because it allows you to watch the webinar at a more convenient time if the live broadcast does not work for you. Most of Legacy’s webinars are on Wednesdays at noon, making Wednesdays, “webinar Wednesdays.” They have now included recorded webinars on Friday’s making Friday “webinar Friday’s.” They also host the webinars for BCG (Board for Certified Genealogists). On average there are about two thousand people watching each webinar live from countries all over the world. The more popular webinars you need to sign-on early to be able to watch it live, or you will have to wait a few hours for the recording to become available.

Legacy has eighty-four webinars planned until the end of the year which according to Legacy’s website include “genealogy's leading educators on topics ranging from to Jamestown to England, from DNA to online privacy.” “Find Your Roots in German Farm Histories,” by Gail Blankenau, “Brick Wall Caused by Record Loss,” by Mary Hill, “Introduction to DNA Testing in Genealogy and Family History,” by Mike Mansfield, and “Formulating a DNA Testing Plan,” by Blaine Bettinger are just a few of the upcoming webinars for March.

For a subscription price of $49.95 per year, you can have unlimited access to 661+ webinars that you can watch when you want and as often as you want. This makes each webinar cost about eight cents per webinar! With each webinar, you will have access to class handouts that the presenters have prepared.

As quoted on the Family Tree Webinar website “Nowhere else - on land, at sea, or online - will you find genealogy courses as comprehensive, diverse, or as numerous as you will find at FamilyTreeWebinars.com.”

DNA and Your Stories

Your ancestors’ DNA is part of your DNA. Your ancestors’ stories are a part of you.  The aim is to bring these stories to light through a tool called genetic genealogy. The evidence that genetic genealogy brings to the table is as important as census records, wills, etc.  Ancestry.com has some fun blogs on DNA that shows the stories that can be lurking in your DNA 

One blog, “9 Wild Things You Can Discover From a DNA Test,” found at blogs.ancestry.com lists some fun facts found through DNA tests.

1.     “You Could Find a 300-Year Old Ancestor Who Never Took a DNA Test.”  This story is about a woman who had a DNA match to a man from the 1700s born in the U.S.  She had never heard of him before, but with some research, she found out that he was her 4^th Great-grandfather.  She was from Honduras.  But there was that family story of her Great-grandfather being an American who was shot by his brother and buried in Honduras.  DNA proved that story to be true.

2.     “You Could Find out You’re Irish.”  Two out three Ancesty.com DNA test-takers find out they have some Irish DNA.

3.     “You Could Find out You’re Not as Irish as You Thought.” One sibling had Irish DNA, and the other did not.  We do not have the same ethnicity as our siblings.  We all have that sibling that resembles “mother’s side” of the family more than the rest.

4.     “You Could Find a New Sibling.”  We see stories in the news all the time now about adoptees finding their family through DNA testing.

5.     “…or Find a Parent.” The same as finding siblings.  There are frequent stories in the news of adoptees finding their parents.

6.     You Could Discover Where Some of Your African Ancestors Came From.” Or in my case, I found out that my mtDNA originated from a tribe in Northern Africa.  One DNA company put my African DNA at 6%.

7.     “You Could Find a Cousin You Didn’t Know – at Your Office.”

8.     “…or Find a Cousin Next Door.”

9.     “You Could Make a New Friend – or Lots of Them.”

There are several DNA testing companies; Ancestry.com, 23 and Me.com, MyHeritage.com, FamilyTree DNA.com, and Living DNA.com are the major companies. Take a DNA test and discover the stories lurking in your DNA.

The Luck of the Irish

There is more to genealogy than names and dates. Our ancestors lived rich lives and the more we understand their lives, the easier it is to research them. One rich tradition is the Irish wedding.

The Irish wedding was not just a fun festival but serious business. The parents arranged marriages with the family’s social position in mind. The eldest son and the eldest daughter were the important marriages in the family. The eldest son would inherit the farm, and the eldest daughter had the dowry. If the eldest daughter did not marry the eldest son, she would end up with a landless man with no way of support. The bride’s dowry was often taken and given to the husband’s eldest sister for her dowry. The lack of property left the rest of the children with nothing; they had to find their way in the world. Many migrated to towns for work or emigrated to other parts of the world for better opportunities. In researching Irish family, your ancestor's position in the family was important.

Irish weddings were full of celebration. The bride, if she were rich, would have a special wedding dress, but those of more modest means bought a more practical dress also used for special occasions. The wedding could not take place during Lent or Advent, so June was a popular month for weddings.

People would leave a Child of Prague statue outside the church on the eve of the of the wedding to ensure pleasant weather. The bride’s home held a wedding breakfast after church service to break the fast the was required to take Holy Communion. After the church service, the wedding procession making lots of noise would always take the longest route to the wedding breakfast at the bride’s parents’ home. Upon entering the home, the married couple would enter side by side because tradition says that the last one of the couple to enter the home would be the first to die.

After the wedding, the bride would take her dowry and go to her new home. Another custom is the breaking of bread over the bride’s head by her new mother-in-law to welcome her into the family. The married woman now was expected to keep her head covered with a shawl or scarf. These traditions bring our ancestors to life and endear them to our hearts.

Protecting and Preserving Your Genealogical Research After You Are Gone

A too familiar story:

Sue’s mother’s house was so hard to clean out after her passing. She was a genealogy buff, and her house was full of all kinds of paper. She had even converted one of her bedrooms into a genealogy room just to hold her genealogy junk.

Some of her books were ripped apart and the pages sold on eBay. Her collection of old bibles sold well on eBay too. Most of the paper items Sue put into the recycle bin. Her photos of gloomy old people were tossed out in the trash bin. Sue didn’t know why she kept so much clutter. Her house looks so much better now and Sue should be able to get top dollar when she sold it.

Is this your future? It could be if steps are not taken now to protect and preserve your research. You need to organize and label your important materials, so your family members know that they are important.

Step 1: Take an inventory of ALL your genealogy items.

Step 2: Label each item and attach a note on why that item is so important. It is very important that your photos are labeled. You may know who is who is the photo, but will your family member know? You will have research binders, stacks of paper, books, magazines, flash drives with your back-ups, audio recordings, just to name a few that will need labeling and information attached.

Step 3: You may have online profiles and belong to several genealogy websites. Do you have your passwords and login information written down so that your family members may have access to these accounts?

Step 4: It is important that you scan your photos and histories you have collected and put them on FamilySearch. The FamilySearch Center has scanners and helpers available for you to do this.

Step 6: Identify a family successor to your work. Passing your work on before your death will allow you to assist them in what to do with all your information.

Don’t leave your descendants in the dark about what to do with your stuff, because a random pile of papers to them may be a treasure trove of research and information. Having a plan will help them, help you keep things organized now, and give you a sense of peace of what needs to be done.

The Family History Guide

The world is moving at such a fast pace that sometimes it feels hard to keep up, and the world of genealogy is no exception. It seems that just as you get FamilySearch figured out, a new feature is added or something has changed and keeping on top of these changes can be intimidating. Expanding your research to sites like Ancestry, MyHeritage, and Findmypast (available at FamilySearch Center) may seem like an even more daunting task. Thankfully we now have the Family History Guide (thefhguide.com) to help.

The FamilyHistoryGuide is a website focused on teaching you how to not only use FamilySearch but other genealogy sites. Its mission statement states that they want “to make everyone’s family history journey easier, more efficient, and more enjoyable.” This guide is helpful for novices and experts alike.

The guide has goals for learning with flexible choices, step by step instructions, videos, and articles, quick links to record searches to the various sites, project tracker sheets, etc. It is self-paced individual learning program which allows you to start from any place, and on any level. Beginners have great options for starting at the beginning and learning from the ground up, whereas more experienced genealogists choose specific subjects that interest them. If you are not quite computer proficient or could use a little brush-up, The FamilyHistoryGuide also has lessons on using your computer.

The structure of The FamilyHistoryGuide is broken up into projects based on which website you are using. After going through each project, you should have a good understanding of how each website works and how to best take advantage of their unique features. The Guide also has lessons outlines for those teaching groups and families and is a great resource for Temple and Family History Consultants. Another great feature is the inclusion of a tracking system that helps track your progress and the progress of those taught, making FamilyHistoryGuide a great “teach yourself system.”

FamilySearch states that “The Family History Guide is a website that represents a best-in-class learning environment for family history. Its scope is broad but its focus in narrow enough to help you achieve your goals, step by step.” The Family History Guide is a FamilySearch third-party website found in FamilySearch’s App Gallery. For both beginners and more advanced users, it has features that can help hold your hand through the different environments and can make your genealogy research easier and help you keep on top of the ever-changing environment.

Mayflower 2020

One of the most important ships in American history, the Mayflower set sail in September of 1820 from Plymouth, a port on the southern coast of England. The ship carried 102 passengers hoping to start a new life on the other side of the Atlantic. They landed at what is now Plymouth, Massachusetts. The first winter was harsh, and only 53 passengers survived. 

“Today, it is estimated that up to tens of millions of Americans have at least one ancestor who was among this group of early settlers. [Descendants of these Pilgrims have created societies to honor and remember them.]The following are the names of 31 adult Mayflower passengers currently known to have descendants: John Alden, Isaac Allerton, Mary (nee Norris) Allerton, John Billington, William Bradford, Love Brewster, William Brewster, Peter Brown, James Chilton, Francis Cooke, Edward Doty, Francis Eaton, Edward Fuller, Samuel Fuller, Stephen Hopkins, Elizabeth (nee Fisher) Hopkins, John Howland, Richard Moore, William Mullins, Degory Priest Thomas Rogers, Pricilla Alden (nee Mullins), Moses Fletcher, Henry Samson George Soule, Myles Standish, John Tilley, Joan (nee Hurst) Tilley, Richard Warren, William White, and Edward Winslow.” (The Mayflower Society)

The year 2020 will commemorate the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower’s voyage. Many of the Mayflower societies plan events to celebrate this anniversary. Not only are there Mayflower societies, but there are societies associated with the passengers that have known descendants of this historic voyage. These lineage societies allow membership only for persons after proving lineage to one of the above passengers.

AmericanAncestors.org (available at the FamilySearch Center) has created a new interactive website. (mayflower.americanancestors.org/) This website will be the world’s first online gathering of Mayflower descendants. The Harwich Mayflower Project is hoping to build a replica of the ship at Harwich, England to honor this anniversary.

If you are not sure whether you have a Mayflower ancestor, you can go to relativefinder.org to find out. Relative Finder, created at BYU, uses your information from FamilySearch to determine if you have Mayflower ancestors. According to Relative Finder, I am a descendant of three of the Mayflower passengers, information of which I was not aware until searching on the site. Armed with this new information I have a newfound interest and appreciation for the Mayflower and I can go to these societies and gather more information about my new found ancestors.

Using Facebook for Genealogy

A secret to genealogical research is to know where to find the resources that you need. It is even better to find resources in one place. Facebook seems like an uncommon place to find genealogical information, but it is rich in resources and a valuable tool for every genealogist's toolbox.

Previously researchers would leave messages on message boards hoping someone would answer them and the answer if it does come, may not come for several years. Now if you are researching a particular surname, chances are there is a Facebook page for that surname. You have to request to join these groups, but it will be those interested in that surname. Someone may have Bible records or personal journals that may have the answer you need. You may have several generations from a particular little village. Chances are there is a Facebook page for those researching ancestors from that town also. It is a fantastic way to gather not only information but pictures and other tidbits that may not be available elsewhere.

Katherine R Wilson compiled a 337-page list of Facebook groups related to genealogy. She has it available for a free download on her socialmediagenealogy.com website. She updated her list in November 2017, and it has over 11,700 links. Wow! She has collected Facebook groups related to every US state and most countries. There are groups of lineage societies and even groups for those interested in the various wars.

FamilySearch Wiki has an article on how to use Facebook for genealogy. FamilySearch calls their group's research communities. FamilySearch has sixty-nine communities and three ethnic research communities. These help you to connect with others researching the same areas. This same article gives suggestions on how to write posts the get the best responses. You can also private message members of your group if you have a personal question just for them.





I belong to several Facebook groups: Genealogy Do-Over, SLCC Certification Prep Alumni, The Organized Genealogist, Evernote Genealogists, Legacy User Group, Technology for Genealogy and various family surname groups that have been great for organizing family reunions. I plan to go through Wilson’s list of Facebook groups and add more groups to my collection. Groups that I hope will help me know my ancestors better and maybe I can break through those pesky brick walls.

Genealogy Do Over

Take a closer look at the research documented in your software database, FamilySearch Family Tree, and your online trees. Do you have dates and places without sources, poorly documented research, broken links to websites that no longer exist, and other problems? Put aside past research and start with a blank canvas in which you will verify and source all data entered into your tree and START OVER.

Thomas MacEntee of High-Definition Genealogy has issued a challenge for the third year in a row, and that is a “Genealogy Do-Over.” MacEntee put together a guide “The Genealogy Do-Over Workbook” that is free to download for Amazon Prime members. He created the Facebook group, Genealogy Do-Over, for those who have questions and need help. He has his own Genealogy Do-Over YouTube channel with tutorial videos. MacEntee recommends that you read the “27 Golden Rules of Genealogy,” by Alona Tester before you start. Those that have participated in previous Do-Overs have found that their genealogy skills have improved, they have learned the latest in technology, and more.

There are some who have chosen not to do their do-overs as MacEntee has promoted, but they are doing modified versions of the “Do-Over.” Some are working on cleaning up the data on their FamilySearch tree starting with their first four generations. FamilySearch is particular about how you enter the dates and places and getting your dates and places in right format can increase the record hints that you will get. They are checking to make sure there are sources for the birth, marriage, and death data. They are linking census records available during this ancestor’s lifetime.

I have done several “Do-Overs” on various lines in the past. From these “Do-Overs,” I have found that entire lines have been wrong because a researcher had linked a husband with the wrong spouse. Another line had the children lined with the wrong parents. I have found children that were previously unknown to exist. If I hadn’t done a reset on a line that I was researching, I would never have found these problems or children. I also learned research skills that have helped me as I research other lines. A “Do-Over is a big undertaking and can seem overwhelming, but the results will be well worth the work. Your family tree will be clean and accurate. Good luck and happy “Do-Over.”

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks

Back in 2014, Amy Johnson Crow issued a challenge to write a story a week about our ancestors. The 52 ancestors in 52 weeks is a great challenge and a fantastic way to get to know more ancestors. It is a wonderful project that will result in the perfect Christmas gift for next year. (nostorytoosmall.com/52-ancestors-in-52-weeks/)

These stories do not have to be lengthy. Some ancestors may only have a few sentences while others may take over 20 pages. Amy states on her blog that it can just be a photograph, a census record, or something that catches your eye about the particular ancestor that you have chosen. Amy also mentions that it is alright to miss a week and you can easily catch up during the next week. The goal is to have 52 ancestors at the end of 52 weeks and how you achieve that is what works best for you. Many have taken this challenge and just by Googling “52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks” you can find many examples of this challenge.

Amy updated her original post in 2015 to include prompts to help give us ideas of ancestors to include. (nostorytoosmall.com/posts/announcing-52-ancestors-in-52-weeks-2015-edition/) Here are Amy’s suggestions for January. Go to the above link to get the rest of the months. Doesn’t this sound like fun?

Week 1, Fresh start — Seems appropriate for the beginning of the year. What ancestor had a fresh start? What ancestor has been so confusing to research that you’d like to have a fresh start?

Week 2, King — January 8 is Elvis’ birthday. January 15 is the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. Do either of these “Kings” remind you of an ancestor? Or, taken another way, do you have a connection to royalty? Did you ancestor flee from an oppressive king?

Week 3, Tough woman — Who is a tough, strong woman in your family tree? Or what woman has been tough to research?

Week 4, Closest to your birthday

Week 5, Plowing through —What ancestor had a lot of struggles to plow through? Or take it more literally - It’s up to you.

At the end of the 52 weeks, you will have a nice book that you can give for Christmas. Sharon Simms has an example of a book she did found at blurb.ca/books/5911561-52-ancestors-in-52-weeks. Be sure and post your stories on FamilySearch for all to enjoy too.

RootsTech

Need a fun get-away where you can learn, laugh, and meet new people? We are fortunate to have just the escape up the freeway from St. George in Salt Lake City. RootsTech 2018, sponsored by FamilySearch, is just around the corner and is a delightful experience.

This year RootsTech will be held Wednesday, February 28 through Saturday, March 3. There are still early bird tickets available at this writing to purchase at rootstech.org. You can purchase tickets for one day or the whole four days, whatever works best with your schedule.

Last year around 26,000 people attended, and there will be at least that many or more this year. It is held at the Salt Lake Convention Center and easily accessible through Trax. Many nearby hotels offer discounts to RootsTech attendees.

On the RootsTech website, you can look at the schedule of classes beforehand, and there are over 200 classes available for all interests and skill levels. RootsTech has divided up the classes into categories so it will be easy to find the classes that fit your needs.

Each day, Thursday through Saturday starts off with a keynote speaker. These speakers have been excellent in the past and are a fantastic way to get the energy flowing for the rest of the day. Thursday’s keynote is Brandon Stanton, Friday’s is Scott Hamilton, and Henry Louis Gates, Jr. will finish off the keynotes on Saturday. Thursday evening will celebrate the Greatest Generation with 1940s music and dance and the closing evening event Saturday will celebrate Latin America.

On Saturday there is also Family Discovery Day sponsored by the LDS church. Family Discovery Day runs alongside the regular RootsTech schedule. The keynote speakers for this event will be LDS leader Dallin H. Oaks and his wife. Family Discovery Day also has classes after their keynote speakers including special training for Temple and Family History Consultants.

Can’t make RootsTech? Well, there is good news. RootsTech’s keynote speakers and select classes are streamed live online to your computer each day. You will have to log onto Rootstech.org and follow the instructions to watch. Even more good news. Family Discovery Day will be streamed live online too. You will have to go to LDS.org to get that streaming.





RootsTech - a place where genealogists go to mingle with like-minded people and have a great time expanding their knowledge and skills. Check out Rootstech.org to learn more.

Christmas Past

Emily Smith Stewart, a daughter of President George Albert Smith, recorded her memories of what Christmas was like growing up in the Smith household. She tells that her fireplace was so big that Santa Claus could actually step out of it. Her Christmas trees were so tall that they touched the ceiling. The family home had long banisters that were two stories long, and she could ride down them without stopping until she got to the bottom floor. Her memory of her first Christmas toy was a doll with real hair.

Christmas was a special time at her home. Their money had to stretch because they gave many presents to those in need. Their gifts were usually holiday food given to those who were usually forgotten, and the children helped with the delivery of these presents.

Christmas Eve was when they had their big holiday festivities, and they hung huge stockings to hold their presents. After they hung their stockings, they left food of milk, bread, and mince pie for Santa. Christmas morning, they were not allowed to go downstairs to see what Santa brought until they had cleaned up and dressed for the day.

Emily tells of the Christmas were her father was very ill and they had a lot of expenses. Her mother had the choice of Christmas like they always had or pay her tithing. Her mother decided to pay her tithing, and on the way home from the tithing office a neighbor handed her a check as he knew the family was struggling. When her mother got home and looked at the check, it was for the exact amount that she had paid in tithing. Her mother was able to provide her family with the Christmas she wanted and informed the children that this was their tithing Christmas.

Emily’s family is lucky to have this memory. Emily not only shared her happy memories of Christmas but the struggles too and the lessons learned from the hard times. Not only did Emily learn from these experiences but because she shared them, her family can learn too. Research conducted by psychologists of Emory University concluded that children who know their family stories tend to do better when faced with challenges, have greater self-worth, and show fewer signs of depression or anxiety. Christmas is a great time to start sharing these family stories starting with memories of your Christmas past.