VGS Latest News & Tips: 28 July 2017

Gen News:

Enhancing Collaboration and Roles on DNA Results:

Ancestry
"As the AncestryDNA service has grown, we are increasingly hearing about families taking DNA tests together. Family members want easier and more powerful ways to collaborate with each other to make discoveries in their family story, all while still maintaining control and privacy of their own information. We recently made some changes that allow for better and more varied roles in managing, collaborating, and viewing DNA results—as well as a change to how DNA kits are activated to increase personal control. In this post, we’d like to share more details on these improvements and hopefully answer some of the questions you may have."
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Buried at an Asylum, the ‘Unspoken, Untold History’ of the South:

The NY Times
"For thousands of patients, a stay at a state asylum in Mississippi ended in unmarked graves."
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Our Daily Blog Goes Weekly:

The Editor
Recently I conducted a poll to gather information about continuing our blog in the current format on a daily basis. Being an all volunteer organization, it requires a lot of time and research to continue a blog in a daily format. Also our blog was not as popular as we had hoped when it began in January of 2015.
Some survey results...
We had 76 people respond to the survey. Of those 76 responses...
87% said that they have learn great things from the blog and that it should continue.
83% responded that a weekly blog post would work for them.
Therefore, effective tomorrow, Saturday July 29th will be our first weekly post. For those who receive it by email you will continue receiving it in that format. For those who go to our website, you will find it exactly in the same place on our website.
Thank you to all who support the VGS Blog.

Tech:

Are Other People Allowed to Use My Tweets?

How-to-Geek
"As long as you haven’t made your Twitter account private, every thought you broadcast can be seen by anyone in the world. However, any words or photos you Tweet, as long as they are original, are yours and, except in specific circumstances, can’t be used without your permission. So what can other people do with your Tweets? Can anyone take your Tweet and publish it on their website?
Continue reading...

What’s New in Windows 10’s Fall Creators Update, Arriving September 2017:

How-to-Geek
"Windows 10’s Fall Creators Update, codenamed Redstone 3, will be released in September 2017. Here are all the new features you’ll see in the latest version of Windows."
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Education:

How to Find Your Ancestor’s Entry Into America:

Ancestral Findings
"Passenger and immigration records contain a wealth of information on your immigrant ancestors. Here's how to find those records and what you might discover in them.
Listen now...  5.34 minutes

VGS Latest News and Tips: May 26, 2017

Gen News:

DNA in Northampton – Synchronicity and Sculptures:

DNAeXplained"A cousin I discovered through DNA testing, Lisa, decided to embark an on adventure in England, but little did she know what an adventure it would be."
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Organize Your Digital Files: Tips From Genealogy Guy Drew Smith:

Amy Johnson Crow
"Quick — where is the image that you downloaded of your great-grandfather's will? How about the photo of your grandmother that you scanned or the GEDCOM that your cousin sent to you? Organizing digital files is a necessary task, but it can also be frustrating."
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Bowing Out: Ancestry Insider

Genealogy's Star
"Another one of the pillars of the genealogical blogging community is bowing out. The Ancestry Insider, for an unstated reason other than the time commitment involved, is saying goodbye."
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Tech:

How to Make Windows Troubleshoot Your PC’s Problems for You:

How-to-Geek
"Windows includes a variety of “troubleshooters” designed to quickly diagnose and automatically solve various computer problems. Troubleshooters can’t fix everything, but they’re a great place to start if you encounter a problem with your computer."
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10 Quick Ways to Speed Up a Slow Mac:

How-to-Geek
"Macs can perform slowly, too. If your Mac seems to be running slower than it should, the variety of tips here should help you identify and fix the problem. As with a Windows PC, there are many reasons a Mac might be slow."
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Education:

What Are County History Books and How Can They Help With Your Genealogy?

Ancestral Findings
"County history books are usually useful genealogical resources. Here is what you need to know about county history books and where to find them, as well as what information you may find in them."
Listen now... 4.18 minutes

VGS Latest News & Tips: 24 June 2016

Joe Biden Visits County Mayo in Ireland:
Ancestry
"The Vice President woke up in Dublin this morning, and began his day with a bilateral meeting with President Michael Higgins — during which they discussed topics ranging from women’s rights, reconciliation in Northern Ireland, and the vote in the United Kingdom on its membership in the European Union."
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Biden’s Ties to The Blewitts of County Mayo:

Ancestry

"Joe Biden recently visited the town of Ballina in County Mayo, Ireland – the former home of his great-great-great grandfather Edward Blewitt and his wife, Mary."

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6 Great Reasons Why You Should Start a Genealogy Research Blog:
Crestleaf
"If you’re new to researching your family’s history it probably goes without saying that you were inspired to do so by something you saw online. Whether an ad on Facebook for an online family tree website prompted you to click, you discovered vintage family photos pinned to a Pinterest board, or you simply stumbled upon this genealogy blog, the Internet has likely fueled your decision to take on this newly discovered pastime."
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The Scotch-Irish in America:
FindMyPast
"Are you proud to be Scotch-Irish? You should be!
The Scotch-Irish are one of the most fascinating groups that Americans have descended from - they're some of the original American immigrants and their culture has had a huge impact on America."
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Rediscovered WWI Tunnels Provide Eerie Window Into History:
The Telegraph
"An amateur explorer has discovered hundreds of drawings by US soldiers etched into the walls of a vast tunnel network built in northern France by allied forces in World War 1 to provide shelter from German bombardment."
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Why Google Reader Died: 4 Alternatives to RSS Readers:
How-to-Geek
"Google Reader will be dead soon, but it has been dying for a long time. A declining user base, lack of innovation, and lack of mass appeal doomed it. People are using other types of services to stay up-to-date with their favorite websites."
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This Day In History: 24 June
1497: Explorer John Cabot lands in North America in present-day Canada.
1664: The colony of New Jersey, named after the Isle of Jersey, is founded.
1953: John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Bouvier announce their engagement.
1842 Birthday: Ambrose Bierce, American writer and satirist (The Friend’s Delight, The Devil’s Dictionary).

State Timelines:
Even though it is hard to tell what made people move or disappear, these are just a few possibilities.
Maine:
1691: United with Massachusetts, only Wells, York, Kittery and Appledore were still inhabited.
1702-1713: Queen Anne's War
1718: Georgetown and Falmouth incorporated.

VGS Latest News & Tips: 26 January 2016

Tomorrow: Wednesday: January 27, 2016

Brick Wall SIG Meeting

8:30 AM in the Atlanta Room in the Savannah Center
Tomorrow: Wednesday: January 27, 2016

Informational meeting for the Mid-Atlantic States SIG
8:30 AM in the Atlanta Room in the Savannah Center

Tomorrow: Wednesday: January 27, 2016

General Monthly Meeting

Guest Speaker: Debra Fleming "Using FamilySearch.org"
10:00 AM in the Atlanta Room in the Savannah Center

Are You aware That Ancestry.com Has Community Guidelines?
Ancestry
"The Ancestry community, we’ll do our best to ensure the comments here are in line with the Ancestry mission of helping everyone discover, preserve and share their family history."
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Ancestry Releases Transparency Report, Updated Privacy Statement and Guide for Law Enforcement:
Ancestry
"We are releasing the first Ancestry Transparency Report, which covers law enforcement requests to Ancestry sites for member data in 2015. As we continue to make our members’ privacy a priority, our intent in issuing this report is to help explain to our members and the public the types of law enforcement requests Ancestry and its family of companies received, how we responded, and the nature of the investigations that sparked those requests. "
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How Can Blogging Help Your Family History?
Legacy Family Tree
"Learn how blogging about your family history can enhance your overall experience in genealogy, no matter what level of involvement in the field you decide to take."
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Your Passwords Are Terrible, and It’s Time to Do Something About It:
How-to-Geek
"A new year is upon us, and millions of us are still using absolutely awful passwords. It doesn’t have to be that way. You’re going to make this year the year of excellent passwords and we’re going to show you how."
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Kuwait Set To Enforce DNA Testing Law On All – Officials Reassure Tests Won’t Be Used To Determine Genealogy:
Kuwait News
"The DNA testing law that will go into effect this year is aimed at creating an integrated security database and does not include genealogical implications or affects personal freedoms and privacy."
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The Family Tree Polish, Czech, and Slovak Genealogy Guide:
How to Trace Your Family Tree in Eastern Europe
By Lisa A. Alzo
"Discover your Eastern European ancestors and trace their stories from American shores back to the old country. This in-depth guide will walk you step-by-step through the exciting—and challenging—journey of finding your Polish, Czech, or Slovak roots."
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This Day In History: 26 January
1875: Pinkerton agents, hunting Jesse James, kill his 18-year-old half-brother and seriously injure his mother with a bomb.
1924: Petrograd is renamed Leningrad.
1943: The first OSS (Office of Strategic Services) agent parachutes behind Japanese lines in Burma.
1880 Birthday: Douglas MacArthur, U.S. general in World War I, World War II and Korea.

VGS Latest News & Tips: 8 January 2016

Today: Friday, January 8, 2016:

Genetic Genealogy SIG Meeting

10:00 AM in the Rhett Butler Room at the Savannah Center

War of 1812 Pension Record

The Battle of New Orleans: January 8, 1815
Fold 3
"On the morning of January 8, 1815, British forces attacked American positions outside of New Orleans, Louisiana, resulting in a bloody defeat for the British in the last major battle of the War of 1812."
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How to Start Your Own Family Genealogy Blog?
I'm often asked this question by members at one of our many VGS meetings. I don't know if they really want to do undertake this task or just testing me to see what I know. In my mind there are several ways to do this but I can't explain my thoughts in a minute or two. I think the best way to answer this question is to show you an example of a very interesting blog someone else has created.
It's called iwiKiwi:
View: A Kiwi in search of her Irish, English and Scottish Tribes

Why Do People Contribute to Find A Grave?
where2look4ancestors
"If you’ve followed my blog for any length of time, you may already know I’m a Find A Grave contributor.
In fact, last year my love of cemeteries and headstone photography upstaged my family history research! I believe Find A Grave plays an important role in the preservation of history, art and architecture. And the people laid to rest under each headstone should not be forgotten."
Continue reading...

U.S., School Yearbooks, 1880-2012:
Ancestry
"Find out what your relatives were really like in high school and college with our newly-expanded Yearbooks collection. With 51,000 yearbooks and more than 7 million photos, it’s a treasure trove of fascinating family details."
You must be a subscriber to view this collection.
View Collection

Tombstones: They Come In All Shapes And Sizes
FindaGrave
Every once and a while I come across something in findagrave.com that is a little different from what you usually see in grave memorials. I wish I knew more about who designed or why this design was created.
Here is an example...

10 “Must-Do” Genealogy Projects for January:
Ancestry Findings
"The long, cold month of January is here, and with it, an excellent opportunity to do some new and interesting genealogy projects that are just perfect for this time of year. Just because it’s freezing and possibly snowy outside doesn’t mean you don’t have plenty of things to do with your genealogy research to keep you busy. In fact, some projects are more suited to January than any other month. Here are ten “must-do” genealogy projects for January."
Continue reading...

This Day In History: 8 January
1815: A rag-tag army under Andrew Jackson defeats the British on the fields of Chalmette in the Battle of New Orleans.
1892: A coal mine explosion kills 100 in McAlester, Oklahoma.
1908: A subway line opens linking the New York boroughs of Brooklyn and Manhattan.
1862 Birthday: Frank Nelson Doubleday, founder of Doubleday publishing house.

VGS Latest News & Tips: 13 November 2015

Today: Friday, November 13, 2015

Genetic Genealogy SIG Meeting

10:00 AM in the Rhett Butler Room at the Savannah Center

New On Family Search... North Carolina Estate Files, 1663-1979
FamilySearch
"Index and images of estate files from North Carolina counties. The originals were filmed at the North Carolina Department of Archives and History. The estate records contain loose papers relating to the settlement of estates including such matters as provision for heirs including minor children as well as distribution of funds, land and property, including slaves. This project was indexed in partnership with the North Carolina Genealogical Society and Library."
Search now...

New On Ancestry.com: Tulare County, California, Sheriff's Office and Jail Records, 1874-1963
Ancestry
"This collection includes various records from the sheriff's office in Tulare County, California. Among them are jail registers, registers of actions, descriptions of criminals, a coroner's register, cash books, records of meals, warrants of arrest, and other books. Photos are included for several of the books, and there are some wanted posters and newspaper clippings. Registers of prisoner descriptions (with photos) from the California state prisons at Folsom and San Quentin are included as well.:
Search now if you have a subscription...

How to Start a Family History Blog in 5 Simple Steps: The Ultimate Guide:
FamilyHistoryDaily
"Perhaps you’ve been doing research for months or years and you have a lot of wonderful information you’d like to share? Or maybe you just want a place to record your research progress and keep better track of what you’re working on? Why not start a blog to get organized, share your research with family, or bring it to fellow researchers across the world?"
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How a Man’s Unborn Twin Fathered His Child:
Time
"An unusual case illustrates how promiscuous DNA can be. It turns out we have a lot of DNA that isn’t our own.  Paternity tests are well known for producing some unexpected surprises, but the case involving a Washington man presents a new head-scratcher."
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This Day In History: 13 November

1835: Texans officially proclaim independence from Mexico, and calls itself the Lone Star Republic, after its flag, until its admission to the Union in 1845.
1851: The London-to-Paris telegraph begins operation.
1878: New Mexico Governor Lew Wallace offers amnesty to many participants of the Lincoln County War, but not to gunfighter Billy the Kid.
1850 Birthday: Robert Louis Stevenson, Scottish novelist and poet (Treasure Island, Kidnapped).

VGS Latest News & Tips: 2 November 2015

26 Actually Useful Things You Can Do with Siri:
How-to-Geek
"Siri is best known as Apple’s so-called digital personal assistant available on iOS devices like iPhone and iPad. Some might think Siri is only good for looking stuff up, but it can actually do a great deal more. The thing about Siri is that can be hard to get used to, but once you do, it is incredibly useful.
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Keeping Tabs On Suffragettes: The Official Watchlist...
Ancestry.com
"To coincide with the recent nationwide release of the film ‘Suffragette’, the official watch list containing details of over 1,300 suffragette arrests has been published online by Ancestry, in association with The National Archives."
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Top Online Family Tree Builders You Just Have to Try:
Crestleaf
"Online family tree builders have become so popular in recent years, that a new web-based tool seems to sprout up every day! And with big benefits such as the ability to digitally preserve your family memories, back up your family stories and photos and even collaborate with family members all over the globe, it’s no surprise that their popularity continues to rise."
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6 Great Reasons Why You Should Start a Genealogy Research Blog:
Simple Tips to Begin Blogging Your Genealogy Research
Crestleaf
"If you’re new to researching your family’s history it probably goes without saying that you were inspired to do so by something you saw online. Whether an ad on Facebook for an online family tree website prompted you to click, you discovered vintage family photos pinned to a Pinterest board, or you simply stumbled upon this genealogy blog, the Internet has likely fueled your decision to take on this newly discovered pastime."
Continue reading...

Quick-Start Guide to Using Instagram for Family History Research:

Tips for Using Instagram to Share Your Family Story

Crestleaf

"Every family has a story. And preserving your family’s history has become even easier thanks to social networking sites like Facebook, Flickr and Instagram. If you’re looking for a great place to store your family photos. Instagram is becoming quite popular among family historians new and experienced due to its ease of use, interactive features and social sharing capabilities."

Continue reading...

This Day In History: November 2
1772: The first Committees of Correspondence are formed in Massachusetts under Samuel Adams.
1869: Sheriff Wild Bill Hickok loses his re-election bid in Ellis County, Kansas
1889: North Dakota is made the 39th state and South Dakota is made the 40th state.
1734 Birthday: Daniel Boone, American frontiersman and explorer.

VGS Latest News & Tips: 10 September 2015

Today: Thursday, September 10, 2015

German Genealogy SIG Meeting

9:30 AM in the Reliance Room at the Late Miona Recreation Center

Tomorrow: Friday, September 11, 1015

Genetic Genealogy SIG Meeting

10:00 AM in the Rhett Butler Room at the Savannah Center.

11 Tips and Tricks for Microsoft Edge on Windows 10:

How-to-Geek
"Windows 10 includes Microsoft Edge, which replaces Internet Explorer as the default browser. Edge’s interface has been rewritten from scratch, and it sheds Internet Explorer’s old interface and all that clutter. Expect more from Edge in the future as Microsoft continues adding features to their new browser."
Continue reading...

The ‘Secret’ Details in the 1940 Census You May Be Missing:
Family History Daily
"There is a critical element of this massive family history resource that often gets overlooked. Built into the 16th census of the USA was a brand new initiative — the collection of a statistical sample of information for the purpose of extrapolating demographic data for the entire US."
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Adding a Hyperlink to Your Media:
Legacy Family Tree 
This is the coolest new trick and I just learned it today.
Did you know that you can add a hyperlink to your media in Legacy 8?  I didn’t.
Continue reading...

This idea also gives me the opportunity to answer a member question on what could I give them for ideas on setting up a family history blog? Sometimes a picture or an example is easier to understand than me trying to explain it. The blog "Michigan Family Trails" is a wonderful example of a family history blog and should give you many ideas for content. View this blog...

The Surprising Irish Origins of Baltimore, Maryland:
Irish Central
"But did you know it has extensive Irish roots?
There are two theories as to how Baltimore, Maryland, which was founded in 1729, got its name – both with Irish links."
Continue reading...

This Day in History: September 10
1623: Lumber and furs are the first cargo to leave New Plymouth in North America for England.
1813: The nine-ship American flotilla under Oliver Hazard Perry wrests naval supremacy from the British on Lake Erie by capturing or destroying a force of six English vessels.
1912: J. Vedrines becomes the first pilot to break the 100 m.p.h. barrier.
1754 Birthday: William Bligh, British naval officer who was the victim of two mutinies, the most famous on the HMS Bounty which was taken over by Fletcher Christian.