where i live in Ireland the LDs have a huge data base of birth marriage and death als have very useful census records and other means of tracing relativesall data freely available to anyone who asksa wonderful service which i use often
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Posted by James Tanner on October 4, 2009 at 7:00am
In past posts, I have been discussing some of my impressions of the New FamilySearch program. Admittedly, New FamilySearch has a limited number of users, only those members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS) that have registered and can register. At the present time, the last few English speaking Temple Districts are being scheduled for access.Read more about duplication of effort in New Family Search...Read more…
Posted by James Tanner on October 4, 2009 at 6:10am
Through the efforts of FamilySearch and Brigham Young University, both the Family History Archives and Record Search continue to increase their collections and online holdings at a steady pace. These records, which can be viewed for free online, include many items not available anywhere else except the participating libraries. Record Search continues to make available records from around the world that have been entirely unavailable previously without ordering the microfilms from the Salt Lake F
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Posted by James Tanner on October 3, 2009 at 8:45pm
In the last posts, I began a discussion of some of the issues associated with the introduction of New FamilySearch. The interface for the program is deceptively simple. It is only through clicking on links at the bottom of the screens to show combined individuals, that you can begin to appreciate the complexity of the data being represented. For each name shown on the screen at any given time, there may be many hundreds of combined files of the same individual lurking beneath the simple looking
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Its been pointed out lately that only 5-10% of all genealogical records are available online, at best. This is so true, and reinforces the idea that genealogists need to get off their computers, and head to the courthouses, the cemeteries and to Aunt Mable's house for a history lesson. Those are valuable and generally really fun things to do anyway, but can be time, energy, and finance consuming. So the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is working to bring all those records to your own
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Today officially marks the first day of “Family History Month.” In 2003 the United States Senate officially recognized October as National Family History Month, a time “to encourage family history research, education, and the sharing of knowledge.”President George W. Bush, in signing a Proclamation in support of Family History Month in 2003, said, “Lessons in family lineage are often lessons in courage, endurance, and love. While tracing our roots can be challenging, the rewards can be great – a
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Posted by James Tanner on October 2, 2009 at 5:44am
A new version of the Google Toolbar makes advanced in-page translation available at the click of a mouse. To quote Google, "The Translate feature automatically detects if the language of a webpage you're on is different from your default language settingRead more...Read more…
Posted by James Tanner on October 2, 2009 at 5:11am
When and attorney is getting ready to go to trial, one of the many things that has to be explained to a client is the standard or level of proof necessary to prove the case. In the U.S. there are basically three levels; a preponderance of the evidence, clear and convincing and beyond a reasonable doubt. For a simplified discussion see Burden of proof in Wikipedia. If a legal case is tried to a jury, the jury is specifically instructed by the Judge as to the standard of proof through written stat
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A few years ago when Microsoft released Windows Vista, I was pretty quick to install the upgrade. I just like new software. But I was also pretty quick to uninstall it and moved back to Windows XP. However, those who have worked with pre-release editions of the new Windows 7 have reported that Microsoft's newest operating system upgrade, due to be released to the public on October 22, 2009, should be much smoother.Click here to continue reading about the new features and get the link to the Wind
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I am stumped. I am a descendent of an orphan train rider and would like to persue the biological line of my grandmother who was the orphan train rider. She was born in NYC in 1913 to the above couple (Rose Kelly used the last name of Scott on the birth certificate) as a legitimate birth. This Rose even had another child prior to the one given up. However, they could not care for her supposedly and relinquished her to the NewYork Foundling Hospital. I have all of that documentation. I've been to
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Some call it the Shelby County Weedpatch. The Illinois Nature Preserves Commission christened it the Margaret Guzy Pothole Wetlands Land and Water Reserve. The local Department of Natural Resources staff called it a surprise gift. But most people call it Guzy Prairie, in honor of the woman who donated this 159 acre wildlife sanctuary in 1991.Guzy Prairie exemplifies how diverse a prairie can be and how quickly cropland can be restored after years of row crop production. The site has become an in
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Today I went to a talk about cemeteries in San Diego County. Alas it was embarrassing to learn I have lived here for 35 + years this trip and to learn that as late as 1960's, Yes I was here then, that our city government and business people allowed people, groups and agencies to rip out head stones and destroy cemeteries. Keith's Resturant is on a cemetery, does anyone remember that. I think that the one missing in San Ysidro area is also paved over with free way or freeway interchange. A 95 yea
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William DIKES born 1835/6 Texas, father USA born via 1870 censusHere William in 1870 William is alive and dwelling with his family (although mispelt etc. )in 1870Name: William DikeEstimated Birth Year: abt 1837Age in 1870: 33Birthplace: TexasHome in 1870: Burnham, Ellis, TexasRace: WhiteGender: MaleValue of real estate: View imagePost Office: Cummins CreekHousehold Members: Name AgeWilliam Dike 33Ann Dike 26William Dike 11Jonathan Dike 8Lena Dike 5Charles Dike 4 again my great grandfatherWilliam
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Posted by James Tanner on September 30, 2009 at 6:03pm
Arizona is not exactly perceived to be in the forefront of places where people do genealogical research but the collections listed below are mind boggling extensive. Arizona is perceived as a place where people from the Midwest go to live and to retire. To the contrary, our heritage (I live in Arizona) actually dates back hundreds of years to Native American and Spanish roots. Historically, the population has been sparse, but recently, with the boom in sun belt living, the state capital, Phoenix
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Posted by Pam McCreary on September 30, 2009 at 3:19pm
Well, now that I have tracked down relatives I'm anxious to find out more. Only to run into another brick wall (my head hurts). I am looking for anything for Minnie Myrick (Myrack). Born in Texas December 19, 1879. She married Milas Lemay in Bowie County, Texas, June 1, 1894. She died in November, 1953. This would be my Great Grandmother on my mom's dad's side. I believe Minnie had a sister named Susie Ann or Susie Anna. I have tracked down census records for 1910, 1920 and 1930 for Minnie and a
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Yesterday Mayor Bill White and Dr. Rhea Brown Lawson, director of the Houston Public Library, launched the Houston Oral History Project (HOHP), a web-based archive that celebrates the many voices of Houston’s past.Last summer Mayor White commissioned 100 initial interviews through the Houston Public Library. Well known civic, political and business leaders as well as witnesses to the historical events that shaped Houston were invited to visit libraries throughout the city to record their own bri
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Posted by Michelina Hall on September 30, 2009 at 8:00am
We all love genealogy,this is why we are here. I too have done extensive research to find my ancestors and go as back in time as possible.I love genealogy so much that I decided to make it fun for my now still little children so that they would love it too.Then I realized that when you make genealogy something more visual than just a pedigree chart, you get interest from any kind of person.If you would like an idea of what I mean by "Creative Genealogy", you can give a look at this blog post:CreRead more…
The Philly conference was also attended by Schelly Talalay Dardashti (who writes the MyHeritage Genealogy Blog) and together we were able to welcome a new MyHeritage team member Laurence Harris as Genealogy Advisor for the UK.He was very helpful during my workshop and we three got together to exchange ideas, talk about the genealogy field and even managed a quick lunch out of the hotel in spite of the hectic conference schedule. Laurence will be working from London, where h
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Posted by James Tanner on September 30, 2009 at 4:46am
Donald Lines Jacobus, FASG (1887-1970) is generally recognized as the founder of the modern school of genealogy in the United States. See NGS Genealogy Hall of Fame Members. He is credited with "elevating genealogy to the high degree of scholarship it now occupies." There were, of course, other researchers who were influential in setting a more professional standard for family history, such as Gilbert Cope in Pennsylvania, Colonel Lemuel Chester and Henry F. Waters from New England. Read more: h
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