VGS Latest News & Tips: 18 October 2016

Today: October 18, 2016

Italian Genealogy SIG Meeting

1:00 PM in the Atlanta Room in the Savannah Center
Topic: Back to Basics - Census and Helpful Tips

Tomorrow: October 19, 2016

Mid-Atlantic States SIG Meeting

9:30 AM in the Defender Room at the Lake Miona Recreation Center
Topic: Virginia Genealogy Research

Tomorrow: October 19, 2016

New to Genealogy SIG Meeting

2:30 PM in the Chateaugay Room at the Chatham Recreation Center
Topic: Choosing & Using Genealogy Software

The Great Plague of London, 1665:
Contagion
"The Great Plague of London in 1665 was the last in a long series of plague epidemics that first began in London in June 1499. The Great Plague killed between 75,000 and 100,000 of London’s rapidly expanding population of about 460,000."
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Online Presentation: Researching the History of a House:
NEHGS
"Ever wonder about the history of your home? Join NEHGS Senior Researcher Meaghan E. H. Siekman to learn how research strategies, available records, and physical evidence combine to reconstruct the past of a structure and its inhabitants. What you discover about your home and its previous occupants may surprise you!"

Thursday, October 20, 3:00-4:00 p.m. EDT
Presented by Meaghan E. H. Siekman
Online--watch from home!
Cost: Free
Register HERE...

How To Use UK Records To Start Your Family History Research:
Ancestry
"Want to research your family history with Ancestry but not quite sure where to start? We explore the best UK records for helping you branch out your family tree. "
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Rounding Up Your Family's Black Sheep:
Ancestry
"Sometimes they went to jail. Sometimes they went to sea. Sometimes they just went their own way. Wherever they went, your black sheep ancestors didn’t follow the herd. That’s what makes their stories so compelling. Whether you’ve spent years tracking your family’s prodigal sons and daughters or are just starting out, you’re bound to find some new stones to turn or records to scour in our tips for finding your black sheep ancestors. (We’ve updated them with our latest prison records databases—just in case.)"
Download guide...

Roots Magic 30th Birthday Contest:
Roots Magic
"It's our 30th birthday, but you're getting the presents! Whether you've been a part of the RootsMagic family for 30 years or 30 minutes, we want to hear your story! Tell us about the time you "first felt the magic"- that is, the moment you fell in love with our software. Just fill out this entry form by Monday, October 31, 2016."
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Why You Shouldn’t Use “Anti-Spying” Tools for Windows 10:
How-to-Geek
"Since Windows 10’s release and the privacy controversy that followed, many “anti-spying” apps have sprung up. They promise to keep Windows 10 from tracking you–but often, they can cause more problems than they solve."
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This Day In History: 18 October
1648: The “shoemakers of Boston”–the first labor organization in what would become the United States–is authorized by the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
1867: The Alaska territory is formally transferred to the U.S. from Russian control.
1883: The weather station at the top of Ben Nevis, Scotland, the highest mountain in Britain, is declared open. Weather stations were set up on the tops of mountains all over Europe and the Eastern United States in order to gather information for the new weather forecasts.
1926 Birthday: Chuck Berry, rock ‘n’ roll performer.

State Timelines:
Even though it is hard to tell what made people move or disappear, these are just a few possibilities.
Georgia:
1742: Spanish troops attempted to oust British settlers in the Battle of Blood Marsh
1750: Ban on slavery lifted
1752: Georgia made Crown Colony