VGS News & Events: 22 July 2018 through 28 July 2018

Getting ready for the July FTM SIG Meeting

Coming Events:

Tuesday: July 24, 2018

Midwest SIG Meeting

2:00 PM in the Clearwater Room of the Sea Breeze Recreation Center

Wednesday: July 25, 2018

Brick Wall SIG Meeting

8:30 AM in the Atlanta Room in the Savannah Center

Wednesday: July 25, 2018

General Monthly Meeting

10:00 AM in the Atlanta Room in the Savannah Center

Topic: "How Research Plans Can Up Your Genealogical Game"

Presentor: VGS VP Annette Burke Lyttle

Gen News and Announcements:

Citrus County Genealogical Society Meeting August 14

The Citrus County Genealogical Society will meet August 14 at 10 AM at the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints, 3474 W. Southern St., Lecanto. The program will consist of the following discussion groups: New England records, records from the 1800s, DNA testing, immigration and naturalization, overcoming brick walls. Attendees can circulate between the groups. Guests are welcome to attend. For information call Mary Ann Machonkin at 352-382-5515 or go to www.citrusgenealogy.com

Castle Garden: Immigration Before Ellis Island:

FamilySearch
"Did your immigrant ancestors land at Castle Garden or Ellis Island? Or did they arrive in New York before those facilities existed? The answer matters because it determines where you should look for them in records."
Continue reading...

5 Things You NEED to Know Before You Visit a Cemetery this Summer:

Family History Daily
"Summer is the season of travel and while we are wandering the world many of us are also planning a visit to a cemetery or two.
If you’re going to try and find a burial site, no matter its age or location, you’ll want to take a few very important things into consideration before you head out."
Continue reading...

The 4 Best Free or Low-Cost Cloud Storage Solutions for Backing Up Your Genealogy Files:

Family History Daily
"No matter what stage your genealogy research is in there is one crucial thing that all family historians should get in the habit of doing, and that is backing up everything you do. Why? Because every day genealogists lose years of research to a computer failure."
Continue reading...

8 Sources to Fill the 1890 Census Gap:

Amy Johnson Crow
"The federal census forms the foundation of much of our genealogy research in the United States. But there is a gaping hole between 1880 and 1900 due to the loss of the 1890 census. However, there are sources we can use to fill that 1890 census gap."
Continue reading...

British Isles Descendants Will Love These New Records Online:

Genealogy Gems
"Millions of British Isles descendants—whether still living in England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales or dispersed to the United States, Canada, Australia or New Zealand, may find their ancestors in these new online records that include medieval maps, BMD and immigration records, name changes and even medical records for British troops in WWI."
Continue reading...

Where are we with social networking?

Genealogy's Star:
"What is happening in the world of blogs? What is happening on Facebook? What about Google+? And what about Twitter and Pinterest and Instagram? Not to mention, what is going on in the hundreds of other social networking websites. Last, of all, what does this have to do with genealogy?"
Continue reading...

Technology:

What’s the Best Antivirus for Windows 10? (Is Windows Defender Good Enough?)

How-to-Geek
"Windows 10 won’t hassle you to install an antivirus like Windows 7 did. Since Windows 8, Windows now includes a built-in free antivirus called Windows Defender. But is it really the best for protecting your PC–or even just good enough?"
Continue reading...

Don’t Fall For the New CryptoBlackmail Scam: Here’s How to Protect Yourself:

How-to-Geek
"Here’s how a CryptoBlackmail scam starts: A criminal contacts you over email or snail mail and insists they have evidence you cheated on your wife, there’s an assassin after you, or there’s a webcam video of you watching pornography.
To make the problem go away, the criminal asks for a few thousand dollars in Bitcoin or another cryptocurrency."
Continue reading...

Education:

Creating New Genealogists: The Secret

Ancestral Findings
"As genealogists, we want our children and grandchildren to be as interested in it as we are so they will preserve, protect, and continue the work we’ve done. But, how do we instill this interest in them?"
Listen now... 7.23 minutes

Webinars:

An Overview of Important Historical Record Collections:

Legacy Family Tree Webinars
"In this webinar, we will highlight new MyHeritage record collections. You will learn everything there is to know about the collections from the information they include to how to best leverage the records in your own family history research."
Tuesday, July 31, 2018 at 2:00 p.m.
Presenter: MyHeritage Webinars
Learn more or Register for this webinar...

Jewish Genealogy for the Non-Jew: History, Migration, DNA

Legacy Family Tree Webinars
"Most people do not know who they are more than a few generations back. Some do know, others suspect, but for the majority of genealogists, it is a surprise when they discover Jewish ancestors. Many of these initial discoveries come from having done a DNA test. What resources are available to those who wish to pursue research in this "new" field? What are the essentials that will help researchers understand their ancestors? What historical events have led to migrations and distance from Jewish ancestry? We will discuss history, migration, essential clues (customs, food, terminology, languages), and much more."
Wednesday, August 1, 2018 at 2:00 p.m.
Presenter: Schelly Talalay Dardashti
Learn more or Register for this webinar...

Legacy 9 Unlocked (part 5): Adding an Obituary

Legacy Family Tree Webinars
"In this class, “Adding an Obituary,” you will learn the six steps of adding an obituary to Legacy."
Friday, August 3, 2018 at 2:00 p.m.
Presenter: Geoff Rasmussen
Learn more or Register for this webinar...
Note: The concepts learned will apply to any genealogy software.

VGS News & Events: 19 November 2017 through 25 November 2017

There are no meetings or events this coming week. 

Have a Very Happy Thanksgiving Day.

VGS Live Webinar:

VGS
On December 4th at 8 p.m. Eastern (7 p.m. Central, 6 p.m. Mountain, 5 p.m. Pacific) we'll have Blaine Bettinger, the Genetic Genealogist, presenting "Introduction to DNA." Blaine is also going to be one of our speakers on the 2019 VGS genealogy cruise, so if you’re not familiar with him, this is a great way to become so. The webinar will be open to everyone who is a member of VGS, but you do have to register using this link:

"In addition to learning about Y-DNA and mtDNA, we’ll learn about the newest tool available to genealogists, autosomal DNA.  Genealogists can use these tools together with traditional research to explore their ancient ancestry, find genetic relatives, and break through brick walls."

Latest 2019 Cruise Information:

VGS
Download the revised Cruise Information Packet HERE...

Seminar Reminder:

VGS
December 15th will be here before we know it and that's the date when non-members can register to attend our all-day seminar in February.
Register now before all seats are gone.
Download a Seminar Information Packet HERE...

Gen News & Announcements:

Help Preserve the Legacy of our Nation’s Heroes, While We Still Can:

Ancestry
"If you know any veterans who served in the war, add their memories to our collection and help us celebrate the people whose heroism made history. Help us record the story of WWII, as told by the people who lived it."
Continue reading...

Concepts – DNA Recombination and Crossovers:

DNAeXplained
"What is a crossover anyway, and why do I, as a genetic genealogist, care?"
Continue reading...

5 Tips for Using the Meyers Gazetteer:

Lisa Louise Cook
"The Meyers Gazetteer is a comprehensive, indexed map to every place name in the Second German Empire (1871-1918). It’s based on the 1912 book commonly known as “Meyers Orts” or the Meyers Gazetteer:"
Continue reading...

Five Great Records about Your Military Ancestor:

FamilySearch

"You can use various repositories, collections, and websites spanning many conflicts to find your soldier-ancestor. From the Revolution to World War II and later conflicts, chances are you had a family member who served."

Continue reading...

What’s New: Map Your Ancestors:

FamilySearch

"I grew up hearing stories about my ancestors. As I learned the details of their lives, I wondered what it would be like to get a glimpse of their world. The Family Tree app recently added a feature that, in some cases, can help that become a reality by allowing you to map key events in your ancestors’ lives directly in the app."

Continue reading...

The Best Historic Cemeteries to Visit Around the World:

NTHP
"Loren Rhoads doesn’t find cemeteries depressing or spooky. Like many preservationists, she loves the contemplative feeling she gets amid the quiet beauty of a historic graveyard. In 2011, she began documenting her cemetery visits on her blog, Cemetery Travel."
Continue reading...

Technology:

16 Finder Shortcuts Every Mac User Should Know:

How-to-Geek
"The Finder seems pretty basic, but there are all kinds of things hidden just below the surface. Whether you want to cut and paste files or jump to a particular folder, it’s all about knowing the right keyboard shortcuts."
Continue reading...

What Does CCleaner Do, and Should You Use It?

How-to-Geek
"These days, it seems like every Windows user has heard about CCleaner. It’s widely recommended, online and offline—but this week, it acted as a piggyback for malware. The real question we should be asking is: do you really need CCleaner in the first place?"
Continue reading...

Education:

Leif Eriksson the Famous Viking Explorer:

Ancestral Findings
"Leif Eriksson was the first known European to set foot in North America, approximately 500 years before Columbus. Join me on today’s episode of the Ancestral Findings Podcast and I’ll talk about this Viking's fascinating story."
Listen now... 6.27 minutes

Webinars:

Research in Federal Records: Some Assembly Required:

Legacy Family Tree Webinars
"Federal records offer genealogical gold with both direct references to our ancestors and rich contextual background information. But it can be daunting to explore record groups that are not readily available online. The wide array of tools includes paper finding aids, preliminary inventories, online indexes, web guides, and published articles, as well as the National Archives Catalog. Malissa will offer a framework and several case studies that highlight the integration of multiple research tools."
Tuesday, November 21, 2017 at 8:00 p.m.
Presenter: Malissa Ruffner, JD, CG
Learn more or Register for this webinar...

VGS Latest News and Tips: 30 June 2017

Gen News:

It’s Here! RootsMagic releases Ancestry Features...

RootsMagic
"Last year, we announced we were working with Ancestry® to integrate Ancestry Hints® and Ancestry’s records and online trees with our software. After months of development and the feedback of thousands of testers, we’re pleased to announce the release of RootsMagic 7.5, a free update to RootsMagic 7 that adds two amazing new features: TreeShare™ for Ancestry and the addition of Ancestry Hints to RootsMagic’s WebHints™ feature."
Continue reading...

The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum Needs Your Help Researching Old Newspapers:

Family History Daily
"History Unfolded provides a detailed explanation of the project on their website, as well as a very helpful resource for locating newspaper archives near you."
Continue reading...

Foreign Research:

HighpointResearch

"Foreign research is not as difficult as you might think — in fact, using some of the tools we describe below, it’s actually a lot of fun.  However, it can take some initial effort as you get yourself up-to-speed on using the records that are available for the country you’re interested in."

Continue reading...

Tech:

How to Follow a Twitter Feed in Your RSS Reader:

How-to-Geek
"RSS readers are a great way to keep on top of the news. Unfortunately, a lot of sites have moved away from RSS and towards just publishing all their articles on a Twitter stream. This isn’t so good if you want to make sure you keep up to date with a particular site; anything they post will get buried in your timeline with a million other Tweets. What you can do, however, is convert their Twitter feed to an RSS feed. Here’s how."
Continue reading...

Fragmentation Isn’t Android’s Fault, It’s the Manufacturers’:

How-to-Geek
"It’s 2017, and I still see people criticizing Android for “fragmentation”. This gives Android in general a bad name, and I want to make the facts clear: this isn’t Google or Android’s fault. It’s the fault of your manufacturer."
Continue reading...

Education:

Tax Records: More Information Than You Think:

Ancestral Findings
"Have you started using tax records to research the lives of your ancestors? If not, you should. Tax records offer a lot of information you never imagined."
Listen now...  6.43 minutes

VGS Latest News and Tips: 27 June 2017

Reminders:

Tomorrow: June 28, 2017

Brick Wall SIG Meeting

8:30 AM in the Atlanta Room in the Savannah Center

Tomorrow: June 28, 2017

General Monthly Meeting (Summer Series)

10:00 AM in the Atlanta Room in the Savannah Center

Topic: "Panel Discussion from Member Questions"
More info...

Gen News:

Were Your Ancestors American Pioneers? Here’s How to Track Them Down Online:

Family History Daily
"From Conestoga wagons on long, dusty trails to pioneers struggling for success on a homestead in Oregon – America’s westward expansion in the latter part of the 1800’s has long held promise for genealogists."
Continue reading...

Easy To Miss Info On Certain Censuses:

familytree.com
"A few of the different US Federal Censuses that started back in 1790 do have a few very interesting questions that could provide previously unknown information on your ancestors."
Continue reading...

Family History Microfilm Discontinuation:

FamilySearch
"On September 1, 2017, FamilySearch will discontinue its microfilm distribution services. (The last day to order microfilm will be on August 31, 2017.)
The change is the result of significant progress made in FamilySearch’s microfilm digitization efforts and the obsolescence of microfilm technology."
Continue reading...

Latest Update of Family Tree Maker 2017

Software MacKiev
"Our beta test results are in and while they are still being analyzed, it’s already clear that the new build is safe and ready for current test drivers who’d like to do more than just kick the tires."
Continue reading...
Editor's Note:  I have the latest build of FTM2017 running on two computers using a family tree file that is in the cloud; it is working very nicely. I am also able to sync to ancestry.com without any issues. I still recommend that you sync manually.

Tech:

How to Use Multiple Monitors to Be More Productive:

How-to-Geek
"Many people swear by multiple monitors, whether they’re computer geeks or just people who need to be productive. Why use just one monitor when you can use two or more and see more at once?"
Continue reading...
Editor's Comment: I use two 24" monitors for my genealogy research. It makes my research so much easier and quicker. This works even if you are using a laptop as your primary computer.

What the Labels On Your TV’s HDMI Ports Mean (and When It Matters):

How-to-Geek
"An HDMI port is just an HDMI port, right? Except if you peer closely at the back of your HDTV and other HDMI-capable home theater components, you’ll notice quite a few tiny labels that indicate not all ports are equal. What do those labels mean, and does it matter which port you use?"
Continue reading...

Education:

Online Resources for Researching Your Scottish Ancestors:

Ancestral Findings
"Are you looking for your Scottish ancestors and don't know where to start? Here are six websites with plenty of information on Scottish genealogy for you."
Listen now...  6.58 minutes

VGS Latest News and Tips: 23 June 2017

Gen News:

Wrong Is usually Wrong, So Let's Get It Right? Is This Possible?

Genealogy's Star
"Technology sometimes advances in ways that are not particularly comfortable. The MyHeritage.com Tree Consistency Checker is one of those "advancements." Obviously, the information I have in my "family tree" on MyHeritage.com reflects the information I also have in other online family trees including the FamilySearch.org Family Tree. However, with FamilySearch.org, the errors are reported by little red icons and you have to actually be looking for them to see any."
Continue reading...

FREE Access To British & Irish records Between 22-26 June:

FindMyPast
Free HERE...

9 Interesting Facts About Cemeteries and Headstones:

Genealogy with Valerie
“Why does that one have a tree on it?”
“Do all Cemeteries have grass like this?”
“How come that one is completely covered with cement?”
Continue reading...

Genealogy Website Ancestry.com Files For Confidential IPO:

Reuters
"Genealogy website Ancestry.com Inc on Monday said it had confidentially submitted a draft registration statement on a proposed initial public offering (IPO) to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission."
Continue reading...

Registration Deadline for 2017 International Germanic Genealogy Conference is July 1, 2017

Dates: July 28 - 30, 2017
Location: Minneapolis Marriott Northwest
7025 Northland Drive North
Brooklyn Park, MN 55428
Download Registration Brochure
Conference Website...

Tech:

Is Your iPad Obsolete and Outdated? 

Lifewire
"Did you know about half of the iPads out in the world are obsolete? And most of the people with an obsolete iPad don't even know it because they still work quite well. That's the great "mistake" of Apple's iPad. It works so well, people don't even realize when it might be time to upgrade."
Continue reading...

How to Encrypt Your Mac’s Time Machine Backup:

How-to-Geek
"You encrypt your Mac’s system drive like you should: if your computer is stolen, your data is safe from prying eyes. But on your desk, right next to your Mac, is a carbon copy of everything on your hard drive: your Time Machine backup. Wouldn’t anyone who grabbed that drive have access to all the same information?"
Continue reading...

Education:

Why Oral Histories Are So Crucial to Good Genealogy, Part 2

Ancestral Findings
"Oral histories are a crucial part of genealogical research. Interviewing older relatives can reveal a wealth of previously unknown information. Here's why."
Listen now...  6.59 minutes

VGS Latest News & Tips: 28 April 2017

Gen News:

NJ Resource Spotlight: Burial Cards for Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Newark, N.J.

DiscoverURHistory
"Have you ever traveled the Garden State Parkway in Essex County, New Jersey? If so, you may recall passing through a rather large cemetery. Headstones appear on both the north and south sides of the Parkway."
Continue reading...

How to Order the SS-5 Form in 10 Easy Steps:

GenealogyLab
"Have you ever wondered how to move another generation back in your family tree?  Have you tried obtaining your ancestor’s SS-5 Form application?  The social security number was created in 1936 to help track how much money people were making.  If the ancestor you are trying to move past was alive and working during this time period, odds are they applied for a social security number by completing the SS-5 application.  You can find a great deal of first-hand information off of your ancestor’s SS-5 application—like their parent’s actual names!"
Continue reading...

Notes on “Getting the Most Out of Historical Records at FamilySearch.org”

Peter's Family History Notes
"Given at the AGS Conference in Edmonton on 22 April 2017."
Continue reading...

Tech:

How to Delete a Facebook Post?

How-to-Geek
"Facebook, as a social network, is a bit crazy. You’re interacting with hundreds of people at the same time; your main connection being that you’ve probably met them at least once. Unless you have your page locked down, everyone from your “psychic” aunt to your high school buddies are free to weigh in on everything you say."
Continue reading...

How to Optimize Google Chrome for Maximum Privacy?

How-to-Geek
"Chrome includes quite a few features that send data to Google’s servers. We don’t recommend you disable all these features, as they do useful things. But, if you’re concerned about the data Chrome sends to Google, we’ll explain what all the various settings do so you can make your own decisions."
Continue reading...

Education:

Joining a Surname Study: Where to Find Them and What You Can Get Out of Them:

Ancestral Findings
"Have you heard of surname studies? These most basic of genealogical study groups can actually yield a lot of good information, especially in the age of DNA. Join me today on the Ancestral Findings Podcast and I'll show you where to find them can how to use them."
Listen now... 7:54 minutes

VGS Latest News & Tips: 26 April 2017

Reminders:

Today: April 26, 2017

Brick Wall SIG Meeting

8:30 AM in the Atlanta Room in the Savannah Center

Today: April 26, 2017

General Monthly Meeting

10:00 AM in the Atlanta Room in the Savannah Center

Presentation: Dennis Michael Drummond "So, You Think You Want to Write a Book"

Gen News:

Highgate Cemetery Reveals All 160,000 Burial Records For First Time:

Evening Standard
"The mysteries of those who lie beneath the graves of Highgate Cemetery could finally be solved as the entire catalogue of burial records goes public for the first time."
Continue reading...

Three Tips for a Better Narrative:

Storied Genealogy
"Your genealogy database is more than just names and dates; they were real, living people and they have a story to tell. Digging to find their stories is always harder than researching dates but the reward is so much better. You will begin to see a picture of who that ancestor was, what their personality was like and you will get to know them as a person."
Continue reading...

You’ve Never Seen Ireland Like This Before!

Ancestry
"For 11 days in late October, about 25 lucky travelers will have the opportunity to work their way through Ireland with a professional genealogist who has dedicated his life to understanding the country’s history."
Continue reading...

Tech:

How to Make Your Web Browser Stop Asking You to Save Passwords?

How-to-Geek
"Browsers want to be helpful, so they always offer to save your passwords when you sign into websites. If you use a separate password manager like LastPass or 1Password—or if you just want to store your passwords in your own brain—you can make your browser stop asking you to save passwords."
Continue reading...

How to See (and Remove) Devices Linked to Your Apple ID on Your iPhone:

How-to-Geek
"Thanks to a new feature in iOS 10.3, you can now see (and remove) every device connected to your Apple account right from your iPhone."
Continue reading...

Education:

The History of Diaries: Did Your Ancestor Keep One?

Ancestral Findings
"Did your ancestor keep a diary? You may find a treasure trove of genealogical information in it if they did. Here's a history of diaries in America and how to find out if your ancestors kept them."
Listen now... 5:30 minutes

VGS Latest News & Tips: 24 April 2017

Reminders:

Today: April 24, 2017

Technology SIG Meeting:

10:00 AM in the Destin Room at the Sea Breeze Recreation Center

Presentation: "Basic Photo Repair Using Photoshop and Photoshop Elements"

Gen News:

Trusted Sources: Why Museums And Libraries Are More Relevant Than Ever:

Smithsonian Insider
"More and more, the trustworthiness of information is based on the perceived trustworthiness of the source. Since our founding, this nation has consistently placed that trust in its museums and libraries. Even today, libraries and museums are considered honest purveyors of information and places for conversation on issues of local and national significance."
Continue reading...

How Clues in Your Old Family Photos Can Keep You Out of Trouble:

Photo Detective
"It's time for another installment of Mikael Hammerman's mystery photo, which shows a mother and a daughter—and just might shed light on his family legend about a young mother who ran away with her employer to America."
Continue reading...

Green Students Help Preserve Historical Cemetery:

Akron.com
"To better understand this historical place and the people buried there, University of Akron Professor Timothy Matney teamed up with 38 Green High School science students April 8-9 to survey the ancient cemetery, utilizing modern technology to gain further knowledge of the site."
Continue reading...

Tech:

How to Enable Night Shift in macOS to Reduce Eyestrain?

How-to-Geek
"Night Shift is a new feature introduced in macOS Sierra 10.12.4, and you might already be familiar with it if you’re an iOS user. Here’s how to enable it and set it up on your Mac."
Continue reading...

How to Optimize Mozilla Firefox for Maximum Privacy?

How-to-Geek
"Like other modern browsers, Firefox includes a few features that send your data over the Internet. Firefox contacts Mozilla, Yahoo, and Google’s servers by default. We don’t recommend you disable all these features, as they do useful things. But we’ll explain what the various options are so you can make informed decisions."
Continue reading...

Education:

How to Make Your Written Family History More Exciting:

Ancestral Findings
"How can we make our written family history more exciting? In today’s episode of the Ancestral Findings Podcast, I’ll show you how to inject some fascinating readability into your family history that will make it more appealing to a wide audience."
Listen now... 4:28 minutes

VGS Latest News & Tips: 20 April 2017

Reminders:
Today: April 20, 2017

New England Genealogy SIG Meeting

Noon in the New Smyrna Room at the Sea Breeze Recreation Center

Tomorrow: April 21, 2017

Scandinavian Genealogy SIG Meeting

10:00 AM in the Clearwater Room Sea Breeze Recreation Center

Gen News:

Family Tree DNA Sale:

FTDNA
"Our DNA tests can help you find family, break through brick walls and trace your lineage through time. We are the only company with a comprehensive testing suite that can take you on this journey."
Limited time sale... FamilyFinder Test is only $59.00
Continue reading...

Avoiding 5 Common Mistakes of Beginning Genealogists:

Olive Tree Genealogy
"If you’re looking for ways to improve your research skills, it’s always best to take a personal inventory of your research practices and habits. Following are five common errors that many beginners and hobbyists make which, if eliminated could save time and increase accuracy immensely."
Continue reading...

A Western Legend Is Born: First Pony Express Ride:

GenealogyBank
"The dazzling promise made, and kept, by the Pony Express was to deliver mail between St. Joseph, Missouri, and San Francisco, California, covering the 1,900 miles in ten days."
Continue reading...

Tech:

Six Hidden Instagram Features That Make Photo Sharing Easier:

How-to-Geek
"As smartphone apps get more and more features, things start to get buried behind taps, menus, swipes and other hard to find spots. Instagram is no exception. While it started out as a simple filters app, it’s now grown into a decent image editor and social network. So let’s look at a few of Instagram’s slightly more hidden features."
Continue reading...

Basic Computer Security: How to Protect Yourself from Viruses, Hackers, and Thieves:

How-to-Geek
"People often think of computer security as something technical and complicated. And when you get into the nitty-gritty, it can be—but the most important stuff is actually very simple. Here are the basic, important things you should do to make yourself safer online."
Continue reading...

Education:

Tracing Your New Jersey Ancestors: Online and Offline Resources:

Ancestral Findings
"Do you have New Jersey ancestry and are looking for sources to start researching your family tree in the Garden State? There are a lot of resources you can use, both free and paid, to find those New Jersey ancestors. Because it is one of the original 13 colonies, records for the state go back for centuries."
Listen now... 7.41 minutes

VGS Latest News & Tips: 2 December 2016

Today: December 2, 2016

British Genealogy SIG Meeting

9:30 AM in the Courageous Room at the Lake Miona Recreation Center
Topic: "Using the FamilySearch WIKI for research for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland."

Upcoming FREE Webinar!

Legacy Family Tree
"Becoming a Genealogy Detective"
December 7, 2016

Free Webinar

Read more and/or Register...

Scout Honored For Restoring Neglected Historic Cemetery:

delmarva now
"A long-neglected cemetery tucked behind the Arby’s fast food restaurant at Route 50 and Ward Street in Salisbury now has an improbable new champion: a ninth-grader named Ben Smith."
Continue reading...

Pembroke Castle Study Uncovers Possible Henry VII Birthplace:

BBC
"Aerial photographs from 2013 gave glimpses of what lay beneath the surface, with parch marks revealing possible buildings."
Continue reading...

Afro-Asiatic and Eurasian Backflow:

Unz Review
"If you follow Y genealogy you know that the distribution of R1ba2 exhibits a peculiar pattern. R1b is the most common haplgroup in Western Eurasia, and shares a deep common ancestry with R1a. It seems to have risen to high frequencies in Europe only during the Bronze Age, though has been found in earlier periods."
Continue reading...

Serving with Lincoln: Finding Your Ancestor’s Indian War Military Service in Pension Files:

FamilySearch
"On the morning of February 11, 1861, the president-elect and future commander-in-chief, Abraham Lincoln, left Springfield for his journey to Washington DC. States in the South had already begun to secede from the Union, and the possibility of war loomed large on the horizon. Lincoln had captained a company of local militia during the Black Hawk Indian War, and now he would lead a nation."
Continue reading...

World's Oldest Living Person Celebrates 117th Birthday:

Chicago Tribune
"Italy's Emma Morano, the world's oldest living person, marked her 117th birthday Tuesday, blowing out all the candles on her cake."
Continue reading...

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

How-to-Geek
"The Windows 10 Creators Update–also known as Redstone 2–is due to hit PCs in Spring 2017. Like other updates to Windows 10, it’s free, and includes a host of new features."
Continue reading...

This Day In History: 2 December

1823: President James Monroe proclaims the principles known as the Monroe Doctrine, “that the American continents, by the free and independent condition which they have assumed and maintained, are henceforth not to be considered as subjects for future colonization by European powers.”
1867: People wait in mile-long lines to hear Charles Dickens give his first reading in New York City.
1921: The first successful helium dirigible, C-7, makes a test flight in Portsmouth, Va.
1906: Peter Carl Goldmark, engineer, developed the first commercial color television and the long-playing phonograph record.

State Timelines:

Even though it is hard to tell what made people move or disappear, these are just a few possibilities.
Louisiana:
1862: Salt mine discovered at Avery Island and New Orleans captured by Union forces
1893: 2000 die in Hurricane at Cheniere Island
1901: Oil discovered near Jenning

VGS Latest News & Tips: 26 Aug 2016

Online Photo Collections That Can Help Tell Your Family’s Story:
FamilySearch
"They say a photo is worth a thousand words—and this principle certainly holds true for family history research. Documents can give you specific dates and details about your ancestors, but a photo—of the events your ancestors experienced, the places they lived,  or perhaps even the actual people—can provide insights impossible to glean from words alone. But how do you find these invaluable photos? A growing number are now online, just a click away if you know where to look for them. Here are a few places to start."
Continue reading...

Rhode Island Cemetery Makes Grave Error By Burying Two Mn In The WRONG Plot:
Daily Mail
"The problem started in October, when a 65-year-old man was placed in the wrong family plot at Pocasset Hill Cemetery in Tiverton. No one noticed until March..."
Continue reading...

Remembering Camp Douglas:
Judy G. Russell, The Legal Genealogist
"Chicago genealogist Tony Burroughs posted on Facebook this past week that he had signed a Change.org petition to urge that Camp Douglas be placed on the National Register of Historic Places."
Continue reading...

Artist Embroiders Black And White Photographs To Adorn The Past:
Visual News
"The past doesn’t always shine whole, as much as you struggle to hold onto memories like keepsakes. You remember bits, you recall pieces, but the alluring scene of a bygone moment plays with a flickering fade. But the key ingredient of an instant stays, sometimes even brighter than you think. In artist Satoru Aoyama‘s embroidered photographs, history lingers with labor and art practically shimmering."
Continue reading...

Your Computer Doesn’t Care If You Lose Everything: Back It Up Right Now:
How-to-Geek
"The thing about catastrophic data loss is that it’s difficult to picture it happening to you…until it does. You’ve probably rolled your eyes at a hundred articles just like this, and assumed you’d be okay, or you’ll get to it eventually. Before you scroll past this one too, give me a chance to explain why you should, back up your photos, documents, and creative work right this minute— and how to do it the right way."
Continue reading...

This Day In History: 26 August
1429: Joan of Arc makes a triumphant entry into Paris.
1920: The 19th Amendment to the Constitution is officially ratified, giving women the right to vote.
1957: Ford Motor Company reveals the Edsel, its latest luxury car.
1910 Birthday: Mother Teresa (Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu), missionary, Nobel Prize laureate for her work in the slums of Calcutta.

State Timelines:
Even though it is hard to tell what made people move or disappear, these are just a few possibilities.
Arizona:
1863: Territory of Arizona created
1879: Town of Tombstone founded
1881: First railroad crossed the territory

VGS Latest News & Tips: 25 Aug 2016

Why Learning Your Family’s Story Matters:
FamilySearch
"For many of us, the thrill of researching our ancestors comes from learning about their stories. Glimpses of what their everyday life looked like, the challenges they overcame, and the hopes and dreams they worked toward add color to otherwise black and white memories."
Continue reading...

Massive Flood Prompts West Virginia Town to Digitally Map Cemeteries:
Digital Communities
"(TNS) -- Clendenin, W. Va.'s ’s Koontz Cemetery has nearly 1,500 graves and is as old as the town itself. Just about everyone in the town has a relative buried there. The town owns and maintains that cemetery and Mary Osborne Cemetery, which has about 300 graves.
On June 23, when flash floods swept through the first floor of Clendenin’s town hall, records for both cemeteries were lost."
Continue reading...

Follow Your Family Using Census Records:
Ancestry Guide
"Census records are one of the best ways to discover details about your family — and how that family changed every 10 years. You’ll discover names, addresses, what people did for a living, even which ancestor fought in the Civil War or was first to arrive in America."
Download the Guide...

Actor Kills Wife in Love Triangle And Other Family Secrets in the Daily News:
Ancestry
"Decades ago, when I’d ask my mother questions about her grandmother’s brother, I’d get the same answer every time—Edward Forshay was an actor and his wife was a famous actress. Mom told me that Edward Forshay killed his wife, Edna, in a love triangle, but he was completely exonerated by the “unwritten law.”
Continue reading...

How to Use Your iPad as a Second Monitor for Your PC or Mac:
How-to-Geek
"Multiple monitors are awesome. With two screens side by side, you can more easily see all your windows at once, keeping you productive. Got an iPad? You can use it as a second display for your Mac or PC."
Continue reading...

This Day In History: 25 August
1765: In protest over the stamp tax, American colonists sack and burn the home of Massachusetts governor Thomas Hutchinson.
1830: The “Tom Thumb” steam locomotive runs its famous race with a horse-drawn car. The horse wins because the engine, which had been ahead, breaks down.
1940: The first parachute wedding ceremony is performed by Rev. Homer Tomlinson at the New York City World’s Fair for Arno Rudolphi and Ann Hayward. The minister, bride and groom, best man, maid of honor and four musicians were all suspended from parachutes.
1918 Birthday: Leonard Bernstein, conductor, composer and pianist.

State Timelines:
Even though it is hard to tell what made people move or disappear, these are just a few possibilities.
Arizona:

1857: First stagecoach
1862: Beginning of ten year war between the Apaches & settlers
1862-65: Yuma settled & names Arizona City

VGS Latest News & Tips: 23 Aug 2016

Tomorrow: - Wednesday, August 24:

Brick Wall SIG Meeting

8:30 AM in the Atlanta Room in the Savannah Center.

Tomorrow: - Wednesday, August 24:

Summer Workshop
10:00 AM in the Atlanta Room in the Savannah Center.

Avoiding Distractions in Our Genealogy:
Amy Johnson Crow
"When we’re researching our families, every ancestor we find presents us with the opportunity (and challenge!) of finding two more people: his or her parents. Add the siblings in and you have a whole bunch of people to research. Spice things up with a curiosity to learn new things and you have a recipe for spending a lot of time…. but not actually accomplishing very much. We fall down the Genealogy Rabbit Hole."
Continue reading...

Finding French Ancestors:
Legacy Family Tree Webinar

Register HERE to attend this FREE Online Webinar.

Genealogical Society Wants A Memorial To Honor Unmarked Graves:

3 News: Las Vegas
"Genealogy Society wants to honor Woodlawn Cemetery unnamed graves with a memorial"
Continue reading...

Desperately Seeking a Place:
Ancestry
"These pictures depict a timeless moment. Six people went on a sight seeing trip on a hazy summer day in the mid-1940s."
Solving the Riddle.
Continue reading...

How to Set Your Default Location for Windows 10 Apps:
How-to-Geek
"Windows 10 can find your device’s location in a variety of ways, often by examining nearby Wi-Fi networks. But this doesn’t always work well, especially on desktop PCs. That’s why Windows 10 offers a way to set a “default location” that is reported to apps if it can’t get a solid read on your location."
Continue reading...

This Day In History: 23 August
1775: King George III of England refuses the American colonies’ offer of peace and declares them in open rebellion.
1821: After 11 years of war, Spain grants Mexican independence as a constitutional monarchy.
1950: Up to 77,000 members of the U.S. Army Organized Reserve Corps are called involuntarily to active duty to fight the Korean War.
1926 Death: American film star Rudolph Valentino dies, causing world-wide hysteria and a number of suicides.

State Timelines:
Even though it is hard to tell what made people move or disappear, these are just a few possibilities.
Arizona:

1821: Mexico gained control
1821: American trappers & traders began to arrive
1832-36: Continuous general warfare with Apaches

VGS Reminders: 15 - 19 August, 2016

There Are No VGS Meetings Scheduled For This Week:

Volunteers Head For Cemeteries To Put Millions Of Gravestones Online:
Philly.com
"Every week, Euell Nielsen sets out on her mountain bike on what might strike some as a macabre mission. She pedals through the gates of a cemetery, selects a section of graves, takes out her camera, and snaps a picture of every tombstone she passes, row upon row upon row."
Continue reading...

Before They Were Stars, They Were Students:
Ancestry
"Glamor belongs to Hollywood’s Golden Age. But we all had our awkward phase, right? We’ll let you be the judge with this sampler of pre-fame photos from the Ancestry U.S., School Yearbooks, 1880-2012 collection."
Continue reading...

Census: Australian Bureau Of Statistics Says Website Attacked By Overseas Hackers:
ABC News
"The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) says it believes a series of hacking attacks which led to the census website being shut down last night were part of a deliberate attempt to sabotage the national survey."
Continue reading...

How to Share Notes and Notebooks in Microsoft OneNote 2016:
How-to-Geek
"Microsoft OneNote 2016 is a great free note-taking tool, not just for yourself, but also if you want to collaborate on notes and projects with others, such as colleagues or family members. We’ll show you a few different ways you can share your OneNote notebooks."
Continue reading...

This Day In History: 13 August
1889: The first coin-operated telephone is patented by William Gray.
1948: During the Berlin Airlift, the weather over Berlin becomes so stormy that American planes have their most difficult day landing supplies. They deem it ‘Black Friday.’
1961: Construction begins on Berlin Wall during the night.
1910 Death: British nurse Florence Nightingale, famous for her care of British soldiers during the Crimean War, dies.

State Timelines:
Even though it is hard to tell what made people move or disappear, these are just a few possibilities.
Oregon:
1909: Portland to Seattle railroad completed
1915: Delles-Celilo Canal opened
1936: Los Angeles sent 125 policemen to Arizona & Oregon borders to keep "Undesirables" out of California

VGS Reminders 11-15 July, 2016

Exhibit from the 2010 VGS Family History Expo

Register to Reserve a Table for the 2016 VGS Family History Expo:
Have you considered displaying some of your research, history, artifacts, books or charts at the upcoming Family History Expo? Start to prepare now! The event will be held on Wednesday, September 28, 2016 from 11:30 to 3:30 p.m. in the Scarlett O’Hara Theater at the Savannah Regional Recreation Center. If you want to participate, you need to reserve a table. Download a  table reservation form...

Monday: July 11, 2016

Family Tree Maker Uses SIG Meeting

1:00 PM in the Patriot Room at the Mulberry Grove Recreation Center

Tuesday: July 12, 2016

Genealogy Writers SIG Meeting: (Our newest SIG)

Organizational Meeting

2:30 PM in the Churchill Downs Room at Pimlico Recreation Center

Thursday: July 14, 2016

German Genealogy SIG Meeting

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

Two Ways to Get Involved in Cemetery Crowdsourcing:
FamilySearch
"Participating in cemetery crowdsourcing may seem overwhelming; there are millions of graves and only one you. However, with everyone taking part in a small way, a major work can be accomplished."
Continue reading...

Special Savings on NEHGS Publications via GeneaBloggers:
"We’re pleased to announce a special affiliation with the New England Historic Genealogical Society and its website AmericanAncestors.org . . . with our exclusive promo code, you can enjoy savings on select publications each month!"
Continue reading...

Facebook Privacy:
Ask Leo
"As I’ve said before, one way privacy issues happen is through people’s own actions. Over-sharing on social media is the most common example."
Continue reading...

How Can I Keep Data on My Laptop Secure?
Ask Leo
"I know how you feel. I also have sensitive information on my laptop that I would prefer not to fall into the wrong hands. I can handle losing the laptop, but thinking about the data in the wrong hands … well … that would be bad."
Continue reading...

This Day In History: 9 July
1850: U.S. President Zachary Taylor dies in office at the age of 65. He is succeeded by Millard Fillmore.
1900: The Commonwealth of Australia is established by an act of British Parliament, uniting the separate colonies under a federal government.
1942: Anne Frank and her family go into hiding in the attic above her father’s office in an Amsterdam warehouse.
1819 Birthday: Elias Howe, inventor of the sewing machine.

State Timelines:
Even though it is hard to tell what made people move or disappear, these are just a few possibilities.
Indiana:
1925: More tornadoes hit southwestern Indiana
1932: One-third of workforce is unemployed
1946: Major strike at General Motors plant in Anderson

VGS Latest News & Tips: 28 June 2016

Ireland Says Slán to U.S. Vice President Joe Biden:
Ancestry
"On his sixth and final day in Ireland, the Vice President attended a lunch hosted by Taoiseach Enda Kenny at Dublin’s Farmleigh House — the official Irish State guest home."
Continue reading...

Vice President Biden Answers Your Family History Questions:

Ancestry

"When the Vice President announced he was heading to the Emerald Isle to walk in the footsteps of some of his Irish ancestors, we put a call out for questions relating to his family history, noting he would be responding to several of them during the trip. His answers are noted in italic."

Continue reading...

Cemetery Crowdsourcing: A Guide to What It Is and Its Benefits:
FamilySearch
"Finding an excuse to stroll quietly through cemeteries, observing the final resting place of people once vibrant with life, and enjoying the silence of dew drops drying off of memorial stones just got easier."
Continue reading...

DPLA and FamilySearch Partner to Expand Access to Digitized Historic Books Online:
FamilySearch
"In concert with the American Library Association national conference in Orlando, Florida, this week, the Digital Public Library of America (DPLA) and FamilySearch International, the largest genealogy organization in the world, have signed an agreement that will expand access to FamilySearch.org’s growing free digital historical book collection to DPLA’s broad audience of users including genealogists, researchers, family historians, students, and more."
Continue reading...

News For Those Interested In Indiana Genealogy:
IGS
"From School for the Deaf students to coal miners to prisoners to Odd Fellows -- there's a little bit for everyone in the newest databases on the IGS website."
Let's see what's new...

How to Rearrange or Hide the Extension Buttons on the Chrome Toolbar:
How-to-Geek
"Some Google Chrome extensions add a button to the right side of the toolbar, which usually provides access to the extension’s main features. These buttons are added in the order the extensions were installed, and that order may not be to your liking."
Continue reading...

This Day In History: June 28
1778: Mary “Molly Pitcher” Hays McCauley, wife of an American artilleryman, carries water to the soldiers during the Battle of Monmouth.
1874: The Freedmen’s Bank, created to assist former slaves in the United States, closes. Customers of the bank lose $3 million.
1884: Congress declares Labor Day a legal holiday.
1902 Birthday: Richard Rodgers, American composer.

State Timelines:
Even though it is hard to tell what made people move or disappear, these are just a few possibilities.
Illinois:
1773: Land company purchased most of southern Illinois.
1774: Quebec annexed Illinois
1778: George Rogers Clark claimed Kalkaska & Cahokla for America.

VGS Latest News & Tips: 2 June 2016

New Online Collection of Civil War Records Released in Observance of Memorial Day:
FamilySearch
"In conjunction with Memorial Day, FamilySearch.org announced today significant updates to its free Civil War historic record collections online. The new FamilySearch.org/civil-war landing page provides a quick overview of the vast array of historic records and aids for those researching casualties and veterans of the Civil War. Collections include: Collections include: Union and Confederate pension, prisoner of war, cemetery, National Soldier Home, and census records."
Continue reading...

The Perfect Family History Cemetery Kit:
MyCanvas
"If you’re an avid family historian, chances are you’ve wandered around a graveyard more than once searching for ancestors. Regardless of whether you are an old pro, or a beginner, you’ll find there are several handy tools to have with you when visiting a graveyard to archive history. In your family history cemetery kit, Be sure to include…"
Continue reading...

Googling History: The AHR Explores Implications of Using Digital Sources for Historians:
AHA Today
"The April issue of the American Historical Review inaugurates a new listing of digital primary sources. This feature serves as a preliminary guide to freely accessible online collections that will grow with each issue. We encourage readers to use this form to submit their own favorite digital primary-source archival collections for listing in future issues. As Lara Putnam argues in her article “The Transnational and the Text-Searchable: Digitized Sources and the Shadows They Cast” in the same issue, historians should be more aware of the implications of using these kinds of sources for the stories we tell about the past."
Continue reading...

According to the experts: Reasons To Keep Multiple Trees Online
FindMyPast
"Where do you store your family tree? On your computer? On the internet? In a binder?
The savviest genealogists will us a blended approach, storing portions or copies of their trees in multiple locations."
Continue reading...

How to Recover an Unsaved Microsoft Office File:
How-to-Geek
"You’ve just closed an Office document and accidentally clicked Don’t Save. Or maybe Word crashed or your laptop lost power before you remembered to save what you were working on. We’ve all felt that pain, but all is not necessarily lost. By default, Office applications automatically save temporary backup copies of your documents as you work and there’s a good chance you can recover them."
Continue reading...

This Day In History: 2 June
1537: Pope Paul III bans the enslavement of Indians in the New World.
1793: Maximilien Robespierre, a member of France’s Committee on Public Safety, initiates the “Reign of Terror.”
1883: The first baseball game under electric lights is played in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
1731 Birthday: Martha Dandridge, the first First Lady of the United States. Widow of Daniel Park Custis, she married George Washington in 1759.

State Timelines:
Even though it is hard to tell what made people move or disappear, these are just a few possibilities.
Michigan
1763: Detroit under siege for 135 days
1803: Became part of the Indiana territory
1805: Detroit destroyed by fire

VGS Latest News & Tips: 20 April 2016

Today: Wednesday: April 20, 2016

Mid-Atlantic States SIG Meeting

9:30 AM in the Jasmine Room at the Hibiscus Recreation Center

Today: Wednesday: April 20, 2016

New to Genealogy SIG Meeting

2:30 PM in the Chateaugay Room at the Chatham Recreation Center

Tomorrow: Thursday: April 21, 2016

New England Genealogy SIG Meeting

Noon in the New Smyrna Room at the Sea Breeze Recreation Center

Watch Geoff Live: DNA 
Free webinar by Geoff Rasmussen and Diahan Southard now online for limited time...
"Geoff finally did it! He took his first step into the world of DNA and had his two maternal grandparents tested (autosomal tests from AncestryDNA). He recently received the testing results and has waited to explore them – for the first time – in front of a LIVE webinar audience.
Geoff's comment: Thanks to Diahan Southard and to all of YOU for being there with me as DNA testing really came through for my genealogy brick wall!"
Continue reading...
View the Webinar...

Gravestone Photos Versus Transcriptions:
Vita Brevis
"I am working on an article for Mayflower Descendant on the Young family of Windham, Connecticut, which has descents from Mayflower passengers John Howland and Richard Warren. Several descendants are buried in Windham Center Cemetery, which has led to a few interesting scenarios in terms of finding information from gravestones. I’ll describe three below..."
Continue reading...

Who Do You Think You Are? Recap with Katey Sagal: The Present Past:
Ancestry
"On Who Do You Think You Are? family history isn’t always an unfamiliar story slumbering in a distant past. It’s often a search for close family lost in a painful present."
Continue reading...

How to Transfer a Family Tree to FamilySearch:
TheFamilyLocket
"Have you created your whole family tree in Ancestry.com or another system and now you want to try using FamilySearch.org? How do you move your tree over to FamilySearch.org? There are two ways – one without a GEDCOM file and one with."
Continue reading...

I shipped my spit to AncestryDNA to see how much I could learn from my genes — and found out my family history is more complex than I thought:
Business Insider
Continue reading...

What’s New on FamilySearch? — March 2016
FamilySearch
"Each month, FamilySearch publishes a list of new changes and updates to the FamilySearch.org website. This list includes changes to Family Tree as well as other parts of FamilySearch.org."
Continue reading...

This Day In History: 20 April
1770: Captain Cook discovers Australia.
1836: The Territory of Wisconsin is created.
1841: Edgar Allen Poe’s first detective story is published.
1893 Birthday: Harold Lloyd, film comedian.