One of the problems I know some of our members are having is with the size of the font in our GW Chat Room. Unfortunately, we cannot enlarge the font size because it is an application that Ning, the platform we use, provides us and it cannot be changed. We are looking into other options for a new Chat Room.One idea that may work for you when searching any site on the internet, including our Chat Room, is a computer mouse that Chat Host, Jayne McCormick told me about.You can check it out at http:
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Staring at page after page of scanned census records from 1851 (Canada) for hours has got me a little punchy, I guess. I just found the Partridge family in Elgin county - scanned down a few more lines and there was...the Brady bunch!
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Posted by James Tanner on August 21, 2009 at 8:56am
The comments to my last post on geographic naming raise a number of issues. The two main questions deal with changes in political subdivisions over time and the need to identify the location of local records. In the western states, where I live, there is not really much of a challenge, but in the eastern states and, of course, in Europe, place names may have change dozens of times. These changes are really an opportunity to become familiar with local history.Read more...Read more…
I'm a big fan of FamilySearchIndexing. Looks like they're getting ready to revolutionize research for Swedish researchers. I wonder what the differences are between their project, described below, and the subscription-based Genline. At any rate, these projects make me wish I had more Swedish ancestors....... a few minutes later ...I do have Swedish ancestry - lots more than I thought I had. Using Legacy's Search tool (click on image) I found that I have 332 individuals who were born in Sweden -
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Posted by James Tanner on August 20, 2009 at 8:24am
Since my last post on the subject, The Association of Graveyard Rabbits has had many editions of their Carnival. The topic for this month's edition is "favorite photo." Take a moment to check out some of the links, they may give you a new perspective on the importance of graveyards to genealogy. Upcoming Carnival topics include:Read more...Read more…
Would anyone have any information on a Wolkoski or Wollcoski or was suppose to live in Dubbo New South Australia around 1880 - 1910.Also, Any information on a Mona Desma Beaton or Norman Thomas Ford would be really helpful. They were married. Mona from Dubbo, Norman from Yarrawonga.Many thanks.Leonie
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Visit the Conference News Blog to see today's Press Release about StoryCorps and your opportunity to have your story be recorded for posterity. www.fgsconferenceblog.org The spots are limited so be sure to make your reservation right away.
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PGSA is announcing their31st Annual Conference“UNRAVELING THE MYSTERIES”Friday, September 18th andSaturday, September 19th, 2009Marriott Schaumburg50 North Martingale RoadSchaumburg, IL 60173847-240-0100For further information please go to their website at www.PGSA.org
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What do you do with genealogical information you find on the Internet? Do you quickly download and add the information to your family file? If you've ever been tempted, read on....The Internet is booming with user-contributed lineage-linked databases. These databases are often the first place researchers look, and for good reason. Before performing original research, we should find out if someone else has already published information on the family. But what should we do with the information we
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Posted by James Tanner on August 19, 2009 at 8:40am
One feature of the New FamilySearch program is the introduction of the Standard Finder, a utility for looking up and regularizing place names around the world. There is a problem with using this, or any other geographic look-up function, due to changes in jurisdictions over time. Many of the current lineage linked database programs also include a link to a geographic database. Relying on this function may create change an accurate characterization of the locality, to its modern equivalent.Read mRead more…
I found some great software used to set up a genealogy website. It's pretty easy to use (at least for me). I've seen what other people have done and haven't been too impressed. This one has great functionality. I've put two trees out there, one on my mother's side and one on my father's side. Right now I'm letting anyone search it. Hopefully someone will contact me who's seen it. It does have higher security that you can control.It's called The Next Generation. So if you'd like, go out there and
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There are so many groups now and that is a good thing, but as I stated in my previous blog, you just can not check out every one of them.If I were new to GenealogyWise, after I set up my page with the surnames I am researching, etc, I would go to the groups main page. Then I would start researching all the surnames on my list. You will see in the results, not only the group which is about that surname, but the other groups where a comment has been left about that surname.I would also search the
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Posted by Lynda Jones on August 18, 2009 at 9:00am
I have been researching the history of the Threlkeld family, who lived in Kirkoswald, Cumberland, England. My great great grandmother was Elizabeth Threlkeld and she married William Fleming in around 1847 ( it is understood that they eloped). The Threlkelds were a large family and I believe that some of them emigrated to the USA but I have been unable to trace them from there. The history of this family goes back a long way - to Humphrey de Threlkeld in the 1300s
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Posted by James Tanner on August 18, 2009 at 7:33am
My brother and I have both taught at the college level for years. After dealing with so many students, one fact is more than apparent to both of us; most students' knowledge of history is abysmally poor. History, as such, is no longer taught in many high schools or grade schools. Now, the children have classes in "social studies." Which is a euphemism for whatever popular social activist philosophy is current at the time.Read moreRead more…
I have just created the Blogging For Ancestors blogring and I invite all who blog about genealogy and family history, including tips and tools and how-to-dos, to join this ring of people like me who enjoy and have a thirst for knowledge and sharing of our roots and family stories.See you there!
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I have had so much luck within the past week finding lost realitives that I had hit brick walls on through help from friends on Genealogy Wise. This is such a great place to hangout... Thanks everyone for your help and expertise.
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For some time now I have been using Statcounter(http://www.statcounter.com/) to track statistics for my own blog www.hillmansofelgin.blogspot.com. Its free and easy to insert into the blog by following instructions.Some of the statistics are useful when deciding what to put into the blog. Some are just for fun. For example, I find that people use Google96.87%,Yahoo!21.53%,Google Blog Search10.76%,AOL UK10.76% ,Bing10.76%, and MSN10.76% as their search engines.The country of origin are 43%Canada,
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The conference begins in only 15 days in Little Rock, Arkansas.The last day to register online is Wednesday, August 26th. After that you can register at the conference beginning at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 1st. at the Statehouse Convention Center. To register online click here.The Conference News Blog is carrying many important posts these days. Check it out here.
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Currently working on additions to the Fenton family of Crimble Hall. Focus on descendants of Colonel James Fenton, son John and his 2nd wife Hannah (Owston). Colonel James came to the U.S. in 1880 and settled in Plymouth Co., Iowa. He was married to his cousin Frances Emily (Owston), daughter of William. His brother Robert, who accompanied him to the U.S. was married to Eliza Radcliffe and lived in Gage Co., Nebraska before removing to Colorado where he died in 1909.Colonel James Fenton died in
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