Breaking Down A Brick Wall

I decided yesterday that since it was Sunday and I had time I was going to work on some genealogy. I didn't start out looking to break down a brick wall, I went into my grandson Alex's genealogy to see which of his ancestors lived in Willington, CT. He is buying his first home and it is in the town of Willington. I thought it was a happy coincidence. 

I found that ancestors who lived there and then found the brick wall. Her name was Elizabeth Barber. She married William Vinton on Nov 29, 1849, in East Windsor, CT. I have tried every way I can think of to find her parents up until now, I have had no luck. Today, I went to the Barbour collection on Ancestry and looked at the town of East Windsor. I looked at all the Barbers and three of them I noticed stated that they were of East Windsor. One of them was Anson Barber. I thought maybe it would be easier to follow a male than a female. 

By searching Anson I found that he was mentioned in a North American Family Histories 1500-2000. It listed him as the son of Chauncey Barber and Elizabeth Sadd. Of course, I had no reason to suspect that Anson and Elizabeth were siblings. With the name Chauncey Barber, I went searching again and found A Will and Probate record from 1868. I went looking at the records. He named Anson as his executor and there among the bequests was one for his daughter, Elizabeth A. Vinton. 

Chauncy Barber House East Windsor CT

Trying to find the parents of females can be quite a challenge. Not everyone has a will but it is one of the best ways to discover the identity of these mysterious females. This discovery led to many more and back to the founders of Windsor CT. 

If you have brick walls, and I know you do, walk away for a while and then come back with fresh ideas. If I hadn't decided to follow Anson, I would have never discovered Elizabeth and all of her amazing ancestors. 

It helps to consider all the possibilities and to think outside the box. You don't want to go down a rabbit hole but sometimes it leads to an amazing discovery. 

Website review: FreeReg.org.uk

Free Reg is one of the best websites I have ever found for looking up information on ancestors from England. It is a volunteer project that is taking the church registers and digitalizing them. You can volunteer to help them. Of course, as with all things of this type, there are some really bad interpretations of names. It would be ideal if each parish was transcribed by someone who was aware of the family names to be found in that parish. But this isn't a perfect world. Not all parishes have been done, not by a long shot but if you get lucky, a parish that your family lived in for hundreds of years may be present. 

You can search in a variety of different ways, you just need to play with the site for a bit. I was very happy with all the information I could find. Some things still haven't turned up but I am optimistic that as time goes on and more parishes get entered, more and more information will turn up. You can also print out the information you find. 

All in all, this is an excellent research tool and I highly recommend that you give Free Reg.org.uk

Book Review: Pioneers of Massachusetts 1620-1650 by Charles Henry Pope

This book was copyrighted in 1900 by Charles Henry Pope. It has become one of my favorite genealogy books. If you are looking for biographical information, this is not the right book for you but if you want to make a connection between your ancestor and perhaps their father, this book can be very valuable. 

Some pioneers in this book will have lots of information, others will have one line and others won't be mentioned at all which is very frustrating. 

The book is alphabetic by surname. So if you are looking for a common name like Smith, it may include pages (7) of Smiths and with a name like John, 17 separate entries. This can be very confusing, it certainly helps if you know what town your ancestor lived in, by looking at the names of the children perhaps listed in a will, you may be able to narrow down the possible candidates. 

Here is a sample of what you may find. 

Gowing, Gowen 
Robert, Dedham a manservant, adm chh. (5)1639; propr. Dec 23, 1640. Rem. to Wenham before 1651. He m. 31 (8)1644 Elizabeth Brock: ch. John b. 13 (9) 1645, Elizabeth bap (2) 1647, Hannah Bapt 21 (12) 1648/49.

Robert, Wenham, petitioned the Gen Court 23 May 1650.

You will need to familiarize yourself with all the common abbreviations that are used on these listings. 

Keep in mind that these dates are given in the old style, what that means is the first day of the year is March 25 instead of January 1. So if a date is listed as the first month it is April, not January. 

This has become my go-to book for early Massachusetts ancestors. Not that it is error free, it is not to be considered a primary source even though primary sources were used in its creation. Having said that, it has broken down a few brick walls for me and it was well worth the $29.95 price tag. 

I purchased it online at the New England Historical Genealogical Society along with several other books of a similar type. They offer a great selection of books and I have to be very careful about looking on their website since I can spend a small fortune. 

Website review: Find My Past

I am a firm believer in spending as little money as possible to find the information you need to expand your family history. I don't like to be forced to pay a monthly fee to get that information. Having said that, if you don't want to chase down your English roots the way I did by actually going to the source in England, Find My Past is a great option. 

I do not have a subscription at the moment but after doing a few quick searches on their site I felt as if it would be a very good idea to have one. I searched for a couple of ancestors who are dead ends for me in England and got results that I could tell by the limited information given to me, would be helpful. To actually see the documents I would need to pay or work really hard during the 14 day trial period. 

If you have ancestors in England or Ireland, it is worth your while to at least take a look and do a free search to see if they have records that would be of help. You can find parish records, census, newspaper and more. Some of the records they have are exclusive to them which is what makes Find My Past so appealing. 

The search results will make you want to buy a subscription. For $14.95 a month or $129 a year you can have access to the basic information that they have, parish records, census, and emigration records. If you want more, such as newspapers, military, wills and institutional records you will need to go for the Ultimate subscription which costs $19.95 a month or $179 a year.  Only you know which makes more sense to you but I think it is certainly worth at least a one-month membership to see if you can find some of the information you are looking for. 

I used Find My Past myself for free searching and was able to see a lot of excellent information and if you are willing to accept just the year and not see the original documents, you can get plenty of free info. 

NERGC Update

If you plan to attend the NERGC Conference in Manchester NewHampshire April 3-6 you have one more day to get the early bird rate which will save you $30. Early Bird registration ends on February 28th. 

See you there!!

Conference website

Planning a visit to the National Archives

Many records are not available on the local level. An in-person visit to the National Archives may be what you need to do. While the main branch is located in Washington, D.C. there are other branches which may be more convenient.  

National Archive Branches are located in

• Washington, DC
• College Park, MD
  Atlanta, GA
• Boston, MA
• Chicago, IL
• Denver, CO
• Fort Worth, TX
• Kansas City, MO
• New York City, NY
• Philadelphia, PA
• Riverside, CA
• St. Louis, MO
• San Francisco, CA
• Seattle, WA

Not every branch will have all records, it is important that you check before you visit what records are available at each branch. You can use the National Archives Catalog to determine where the records you want are located. Also check the times when the archives are open, each branch has different hours. 

When you arrive at the branch you plan to visit you will need to fill out call slips so that the records you want to view can be pulled. Arrive as early in the day as possible and try to avoid the weekends. I speak from experience when I say, if you are driving any distance you should probably plan on an overnight visit. Getting and working with the records is likely to take longer than you anticipate. You don't want to rush through things and if you are like me, one visit won't even be enough. 

I did my research and even though the archives in Pittsfield was closer and much easier to get to, I had to go to the one in Waltham, Ma. (Boston). I was wanting to look for naturalization records and ship records and these were in Waltham. 

Staff is available for questions and are very helpful at least in Waltham they are. I now need to go another route to look for my father-in-law's naturalization and it will not be at Waltham since he wasn't a resident of Connecticut in those days. 

What types of records can you hope to find?

Military service records, naturalization records, immigration records, ship manifests, passenger lists, land records, court records, fugitive slave records and a whole lot more. 

NERGC 2019

Registration has now opened for the 2019 NERGC in Manchester, New Hampshire April 3-6.  If you haven't made your hotel reservation yet, the Doubletree Hotel is filling up fast and you may have to use the Hilton Garden Inn. Some of the tracks have a limited number of spaces so if you have very specific things you are looking for, it is imperative that you register as quickly as possible. 

And yes, I have already registered.  Follow the link and register and I look forward to seeing you there. 

Meeting With DNA Cousins

While I was in Ireland last month I met up with a DNA cousin whom I matched on Family Tree DNA. I am not usually the one who contacts people but in this case, I did. David Malloy is my second cousin once removed. My grandmother and his great-grandmother are sisters. We exchanged a few emails and when he found out that I was visiting Ireland, he made reservations to come to Dublin and stay while I was there.

We met in the Den Bar at the Landsdowne Hotel. Did I recognize him at first sight? No, not really. I did look at him as he stood at the bar but since we hadn't exchanged pictures I didn't immediately recognize him. Luckily he came over to our table which had me jumping to my feet and into his arms.

We were immediately chatting away like we had always known each other. I have found this to be a common reaction. We know right away we have two things in common, ancestors and the love of genealogy. I have met quite a few of my cousins who I didn't know I had over the years and it has been the same every time.

We had some really interesting information that I didn't have and I have my knowledge of using DNA to nail down relationships.

We met again the next day for breakfast and then spent 5 hours figuring things out. We found that we have a lot in common and it is obvious that we share lots of DNA. I am not suggesting that it will always work out this well, but in my experience it has. Be sure to meet in a public place and if possible not alone. 

I wish I had asked our friends to take a picture of us together but we were so busy talking that it never occurred to me. 

My Genealogy Road Trip to Cape Ann Massachusetts

I have been on many genealogy trips. For me, coming to Cape Ann was a journey of discovery. I have early New England ancestors who were residents in the area at about the time of the infamous Salem witch trials. That, of course, made me very curious. I had one ancestor who had died in Gloucester in 1728 but I had no idea where he was buried.

The Cape Anne Museum, in addition to some wonderful exhibits, has a genealogy library that is the ideal place to start any research into ancestors in the area. I checked in on Friday morning and began my quest to find out where Michael Webber was buried.

Staff is available to send you in the right direction and let you know what is available. Lots of people were searching that morning so it took me a while to get the help I needed. I was given the cemetery registers for all of the cemeteries in Gloucester. It was a painstaking search that yielded nothing. I was quite defeated. The death record was no help as it only said that he died not where he was buried.

I was looking through a book about the area when I came across a section about my ancestor Michael’s son of the same name and his wife. A minister was named who had visited their home. I mentioned it to one of the librarians and she immediately responded: "he is the minister from the First Parish". It seems inadvertently I had stumbled upon the information that I needed. As members of First Parish, they would have been buried in the First Parish Cemetery. Since they were not listed in that cemetery, they are unlikely to have a stone.

I immediately asked about the location of the cemetery and got a rather vague answer. Later that day, at the Sargent House Museum, the director looked it up for me and printed a map that showed me where it was. Even with that information, I was not able to find it on my first attempt.

I refused to leave town without finding it so returned to the street, driving very slowly and there it was. It is off the road, there is a small sign but the cemetery is completely overgrown. A few gravestones standing in a field of hay. Too bad because this is a very historic place and many of the early settlers of Gloucester are no doubt buried here.

Another piece of information I acquired at the Cape Anne Museum was the location of my ancestor's land. It seems he was quite well off and had a large holding in an area that is quite amazing today.

As I visited the Fisherman’s Memorial on the waterfront, I realized that I had a relative on the memorial. Michael Webber's grandson lost his life and is memorialized here. I really loved my visit to Gloucester and I feel very connected to the area.  

Before you head off on your own genealogy road trip be sure that you have done the necessary research not only about the dates and places but about the possible sources of information in the area. 

Ancestry Updates Your DNA Results

When I logged into Ancestry this past week and looked at my DNA results I saw that I had the option to look at and then accept updated results. I was naturally curious and couldn't wait to see what my new results said. It was not shocking but it was certainly much more in keeping with what I have always personally thought my DNA results should look like.

Current results:

Ireland and Scotland 49%
England, Wales and Northwestern Europe 31%
France  20%

Previous results:

Europe West 45%
Ireland 38%
Iberian Peninsula  11%
Great Britain 3%
Scandinavia 2%
Finland/Northwest Russia <1 %

Given the fact that my mother is half Irish and my father is half Irish, and the other halves are English and French, I think that the new results are much closer to reality. 

Alfred's has really changed he is now 100% Portuguese, guess what,  all 4 of his grandparents are Portuguese so this is not at all surprising and he is delighted that he is no longer Italian/Greek, English and Irish. He prefers to just be Portuguese. 

More Finds with DNA

When I did my husband's DNA it was a pretty big shock to us. This man who is 100 percent Portuguese was 34 percent Southern European (Italian Greek), 27 percent Iberian which is Portuguese, 24 percent Great Britain and some other things. But the 24 percent Great Britain was the most shocking. My grandmother is from England and I am only 4 percent Great Britain. 

We really had no idea where this came from. Al's father once told me that one of his sisters had blond hair and blue eyes which is pretty interesting. I have had contact with a DNA relative of Al's, their great-grandfathers are brothers, so they are 3rd cousins, I shot Danny off a message to ask him if he had any Great Britain in his DNA and he responded immediately, not one drop!!

I then contracted Trinda who is related to him on his mother's mother's side and asked her if she has any English. Not a drop but they do have Irish and Scottish, which Al also has.

Since their matches are on Al's mother's side, this tells me that Great Britain comes from his father's side. Now, of course, I still have no idea where and who but it at least is the first step in identifying this one aspect of his genealogy. 

DNA can tell us things about ourselves that we never knew. Al was quite stunned by all this, he identifies as Portuguese and finding out that his roots are more Italian and Greek than Portuguese has confused him, to say the least. What I will do with this information I can't tell you yet but hopefully something.  

Update: In the two years since I wrote this Ancestry has changed his DNA summary and he is now 100% Portuguese which is good news for him but I am 8% Welsh which has confused me. I think I will just wait and no doubt it will change again. 

New Genealogy Findings Using DNA Triangulation

DNA is fascinating, especially when used in conjunction with traditional genealogy techniques. When you look at all your matches, no matter which testing site you used, it can be a little intimidating. I have over 1,000 4th cousins. In some cases, it is pretty evident how we are related. Most of them have French Canadian names in their list of ancestors. 

But if they don't have names that you recognize but they are still a match, maybe even a pretty close one, what then?  If you had your DNA tested by Ancestry, you will need to move it over to another site and hopefully, the person you match will already be there or is willing to move theirs as well. Be prepared for the worst but hope for the best. 

Once you are on another site like My Heritage or Gedmatch, or Family Tree (there is a $19 charge to get the reports you will want) you can then isolate the chromosome that you match on. While knowing the chromosome in and of itself is not the answer, it can lead to an answer. 

It may take a few matches with the same Chromosome to identify which line you all have in common. This is triangulating. Of course, you will be counting on someone perhaps knowing more about the family than you do but it is very exciting when you realize that yes, that common match you have on your #4 or 12 or whatever chromosome belongs to the ........ family. 

I have identified a couple of families through this method and it is very exciting. Let me know if you have any luck with this method. 

Celtic Connection Conference: Pathways to our Past

Pathways to Our Past August 10 & 11 2018, at the Boston Marriott Newton, 2345 Commonwealth Ave., Auburndale, MA. An impressive slate of speakers from Ireland, Scotland, England, Canada and the U.S. will present lectures about irish, Scots-Irish, Scottish and Welsh genealogy, DNA, and culture. Learn about exciting new ways to discover and interpret your ancestral roots. Check out their website for details. 

This is an absolutely amazing conference Co-Hosted by The Irish Ancestral Research Association (TIARA) & The Irish Genealogical Society International (IGSI)and so tempting that I have already signed up to attend myself. If you have ancestors in Ireland, Scotland or Wales this will be a perfect fit for you. 

SCGS 2018 46th Annual Summer Workshop July 13-14

Judy G. Russell, JD, CG, CGL
The Legal Genealogist is coming to South Carolina!

If you have already heard her, you know you want to hear her again, and if you haven’t heard her, you need to be at the South Carolina Genealogy Society, INC.
46th Annual Summer Workshop
South Carolina Dept. of Archives and History
8301 Parklane Road, Columbia, S.C.

July 13-14, 2018

A genealogist with a law degree, Judy G. Russell is a lecturer; educator and writer who enjoys helping others understand a wide variety of genealogical issues, including the interplay between genealogy and the law. She has a bachelor’s degree in political science and journalism from George Washington University in Washington, D.C. and a law degree from Rutgers School of Law-Newark, and holds Certified Genealogist and Certified Genealogical Lecturer credentials from the Board for Certification of Genealogists where she serves as a member of the Board of Trustees. She is the coordinator of the Advanced Genealogical Methods and Evidence Analysis course at the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research at the University of Georgia. Judy is a Colorado native with roots deep in the American south on her mother’s side and entirely in Germany on her father’s side. Visit her website at www.legalgenealogist.com.

Judy will do 2 sessions each day!

2 Day Event

Total of 22 Sessions – 18 Speakers

Topics include: DNA, Law and Genealogy, Methodology, Native American, African American, CSI-Dixie, SC Records, and More

For the full schedule click here.

June events at Godfrey Library

June Events

June 2nd - Genealogy Club 9:30 a.m.- 10:30 a.m. at the library 

Using Family Tree Software Recording your family tree is impossible without some kind of software. It can be used to create family trees and reports and to keep documents organized and connected to the correct people. Godfrey Director Beth Mariotti and board member Laura Hobbs will demonstrate and provide information on Family Tree Maker and Roots Magic. Participants will have time after the presentation to research at the library. Please bring your laptop. Genealogy Club is free to Godfrey Premium Members or $10 a session. 

Get help from an expert, sessions held at the library June 2nd, 11 a.m. to noon June 5th, 15th, 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 

Whether you are just starting out or have hit a roadblock in research you’ve been conducting for a long time, we can help. Godfrey researchers will be available to consult on your research question and help you find resources and answers. For best results, bring your information with you. Bring your laptop to make the most out of this useful information. No pre-registration necessary. Free to Godfrey Members or $10 a session.

June 16th – Writing Group 9:30 a.m.- 11:00 a.m. at the library Write Your Family History Discuss methods and ideas for gathering information and writing a history your family will cherish. Learn from examples of printed and published material by others. Share passages of your own writing and get feedback. Members will each have a chance to discuss what they are working and/or ask for advice and help from the group. Discussion can be about the writing process as well as the nuts and bolts of creating a book. Participants will have time after the group to research at the library. Writing Group is free to Godfrey Premium Members or $10 a session.

Palatines to America Genealogy Conference

The Palatines to America German Genealogy Society will hold their 2018 National Conference on June 13-16 in the Adams Mark Hotel, Buffalo, NY. Titled "Willkommen to Buffalo - Gateway to a New Heimat (home)," the conference will feature a variety of nationally known speakers including John Philip Colletta, Ph.D. and Baerbel K. Johnson, AG.  

Check their website to register and for additional information. 

First Person: Jewish Stories, Jewish Lives: Searching for Jewish Heritage with Joseph Berger

Location: Center for Jewish History, 15 West 16th Street, New York, NY 10011

May 17, 2018  6:30 p.m.

Joseph Berger, a former New York Times reporter and author of Displaced Persons: Growing up American after the Holocaust, will share stories and photos from his fascinating journey to his parents' hometowns in Poland and offers tips for successful family searches abroad. Additionally, Mr. Berger, Jonathan Ornstein, Executive Director of the Krakow JCC, and Helise Lieberman, Director of the Taube Center for the Renewal of Jewish Life in Poland, will reflect on the current political climate in Poland and how it might impact a similar journey today.

April Events at Godfrey Library Middletown, Conn.

 

Genealogy Club- Using Familysearch.org April 7th, 9:30 - 10:30    Family Search is a treasure trove of digitized original records from the U.S. and all over the world. Most can be viewed from home, but some are only accessible in a Family History Center like ours. Family Search also offers searchable databases and a vast amount of information on the resources available in particular geographic locations.       Family History Center Director Al Fiacre will provide information on what you can find in Familysearch.org and how you can use it to find other resources. Participants will have time after the presentation to research at the library. Genealogy Club is free to Godfrey Premium Members or $10 a session.  ********************************************************************************** Get Help from an Expert April 7th, 11 - noon April 3rd & 20th, 9:30 - 10:30        Whether you are just starting out or have hit a roadblock in research you've been conducting for a long time, we can help.   Godfrey researchers will be available to consult on your research question and help you find resources and answers. For best results, bring your information with you.   Bring your laptop to make the most out of this useful information.   No pre-registration necessary.  Free to members or $10 a session. *********************************************************************************** Write Your Family History April 21st, 9:30 - 11 Discuss methods and ideas for gathering information and writing a history your family will cherish. Learn from examples of printed and published material by others. Share passages of your own writing and get feedback. Members will each have a chance to discuss what they are working and/or ask for advice and help from the group. Discussion can be about the writing process as well as the nuts and bolts of creating a book.   Participants will have time after the presentation to research at the library. Genealogy Club is free to Godfrey Premium Members or $10 a session.

Godfrey Library March Events

Get help from an expert, session held at the library March 6th and 16th , 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 Research Your Irish Ancestors Our presenter, Kathy Gallagher has been researching her Irish family history for years, online and in Ireland. Kathy will provide information on what records are available and how you can access them. She will have detailed handouts and great stories. Come and see what you can find. Participants will have time after the presentation to research at the library. Please bring your laptop.'

Genealogy Club is free to Godfrey Premium Members or $10 a session. Whether you are just starting out or have hit a roadblock in research you’ve been conducting for a long time, we can help. Godfrey researchers will be available to consult on your research question and help you find resources and answers. For best results, bring your information with you. Bring your laptop to make the most out of this useful information. No pre-registration necessary. Free to Godfrey Members or $10 a session.

March 17th – Writing Group 9:30 a.m.- 11:00 a.m. at the library March 17th – Get to know Godfrey 1:30 p.m. at the library Write Your Family History Discuss methods and ideas for gathering information and writing a history your family will cherish. Learn from examples of printed and published material by others. Share passages of your own writing and get feedback. Members will each have a chance to discuss what they are working and/or ask for advice and help from the group. Discussion can be about the writing process as well as the nuts and bolts of creating a book. Participants will have time after the group to research at the library. Writing Group is free to Godfrey Premium Members or $10 a session.

Joint meeting with the Connecticut Society of Genealogists Godfrey and CSG are holding a joint meeting at Godfrey to highlight Godfreys many resources including our Family History Center and access to restricted images on Familysearch.org. Pre-register with CSG before March 14 by calling 860-569-0002.

February Events at Godfrey Library

Febuary 3rd - Genealogy Club 9:30 a.m.- 10:30 a.m. at the library 

Genealogy Show & Tell Stuck in a rut with your research? Looking for some new ideas to help you break through a brick wall? Come hear examples from Godfrey staff and members of resources and techniques we’ve used to make a find. Bring your own examples. Participants will have time after the presentation to research at the library. Genealogy Club is free to Godfrey Premium Members or $10 a session. 

February 6th, 16th & 17th– Get help from an expert 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. at the library 

Whether you are just starting out or have hit a roadblock in research you’ve been conducting for a long time, we can help. Godfrey researchers will be available to consult on your research question and help you find resources and answers. For best results, bring your information with you. Bring your laptop to make the most out of this useful information. No pre-registration necessary. Free to Godfrey Members or $10 a session.