Showing posts with label Church Records. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Church Records. Show all posts

Saturday, September 5, 2020

VGS News & Events: September 6 through September 12, 2020

For the foreseeable future, The Villages Genealogical Society will continue to conduct virtual monthly general meetings using our GoToWebinar facilities and they will be recorded. Special Interest Groups may use our GoToWebinar facilities if they are available. All SIG's also have access to Zoom Video Communications for their meetings.  The most accurate list of up coming meetings can be found on our website under "Coming Events."

Zoom access information will not be posted on our website for security reasons. Contact the SIG coordinator directly for Zoom meeting access information. Contact information can be found on their SIG web page.

Coming Events:
Monday, September 7
Italian Genealogy SIG Meeting
1:00 pm
Online Zoom Meeting
Mary Frances Gerace, Coordinator
Contact the coordinator, through their SIG web page, for the link to this meeting. 

Monday, September 7
RootsMagic Special Interest Group Meeting
2:30 pm
Online Zoom Meeting
Val Harris & George Zitterell Co-Coordinators
Leading the discussion:  Ken Macomber "Using Narrative Reports in RootsMagic  7"
To attend, contact Val Harris (vharriskokomo66@yahoo.com) and request the Zoom Meeting log-on instructions.

Tuesday, September 8
Preserving Family History SIG Meeting
Online Webinar
Nancy Schultz and Sharol Lewin, Coordinators
Topic: "Get Organized to Write Your Family Story" Guest Speaker: Annette Burke Lyttle

Wednesday, September 9
New to Genealogy SIG Meeting
2:30 pm
Online Zoom Meeting
Carol LaSalle, Coordinator
For Members with less than 2 years of genealogy experience.
Contact the coordinator, through their SIG web page, for the link to this meeting.  

Thursday, September 10
German Genealogy SIG Meeting  (German SIG)
9:30 am
Zoom Meeting
Dianne Fedderson & Steven Buhrow, coordinators
Contact the coordinator, through their SIG web page, for the link to this meeting. 

Friday, September 11
Genetic Genealogy SIG Meeting
10:00 am
Zoom Meeting
Sherry Bean and Diann LaRosa, coordinators
Topic: "DNA Painter"
Contact the coordinator, through their SIG web page, for the link to this meeting. 

Saturday, September 12
African American SIG Monthly Meeting
Online Zoom Meeting
Carol LaSalle, Coordinator
Contact the coordinator, through their SIG web page, for the link to this meeting. 

Gen News and Announcements:

Finding Your Ancestors in United States Church Records:

FamilySearch
"If you’re hitting a brick wall with your United States ancestors, consider looking for them in church or synagogue records. Many people affiliated with a religious institution, even if they didn’t attend regularly. Churches often recorded the names of members and those who were married or eulogized by the clergy or who participated in church rites."

FamilySearch Announces RootsTech Connect 2021: A Free Global Virtual Event

FamilySearch
"FamilySearch is thrilled to announce that the RootsTech 2021 conference previously planned for February 3–6, 2021, in Salt Lake City, Utah, will now be held on February 25–27, 2021, as a free, virtual event online. RootsTech Connect 2021 will enable attendees to participate from around the world and will feature inspiring keynote speakers, dozens of classes in multiple languages, and a virtual marketplace. Reserve your place today at RootsTech.org."

Our Commitment to Preserving the Memory of the Holocaust:

Ancestry
"As we commemorate the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II, fewer than 400,000 Holocaust survivors are still alive, and by 2030, there could be fewer than 100,000. We are at a critical time, where the impact and memory of the Holocaust is in danger of being lost."

Ancestry and the Longest Segment:

Kitty Cooper
"Ancestry now shows the longest segment on a DNA match’s profile page which could be very useful to help decide which matches to pursue and which ones to ignore."

When is a Brick Wall not a Brick Wall?

Genealogy's Star
 "In this post, I am going to try to identify the type of situations that cannot be classified as "brick walls" for a variety of reasons. Unfortunately, there is no consistent and universally accepted definition for what is and what is not a brick wall."

How to Store Print Photographs So They Last for Generations:

Wirecutter
"In the age of boundless digital photograph storage, it can feel a bit old fashioned to worry about maintaining a print photograph collection. But experts we spoke with from the Smithsonian Institution Archives and National Geographic agree: A print photograph can serve as a crucial backup to your digital collection and act as a way to interact with history, both for this generation and for those to come."

Technology:

What’s New in Chrome 85, Available Now:

How-to Geek
"Chrome 85 arrived on the stable channel Aug. 25, 2020. The latest version of Chrome promises to speed up page loads on your computer and take advantage of more RAM on Android phones."

Education:

Quick Genealogy Tip: Genealogical Proof Standard

"In this quick genealogy tip I discuss the Genealogical Proof Standard, a system to measure the plausibility of a genealogical conclusion. Another way to see it is the standard to judge proof of a genealogical conclusion."
Listen now... 6.16 minutes

Webinars:

New Historical Records Available on MyHeritage:

Legacy Family Tree
"MyHeritage is constantly adding new historical records to SuperSearch™. Learn about the latest additions to the collection and the value they can add to your family history research."
Tuesday, September 8, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern
Presenter: Dana Drutman

Cyndi's List in Practice:

Legacy Family Tree
"Sometimes overwhelming to beginners and sometimes underused by veterans, Cyndi's List is a research tool that is robust with resources helpful in everyone's research. Using specific examples for beginners, as well as more advanced researchers, we will explore the site and point out how to make the most of the categories and the links found within."
Wednesday, September 9, 2020 at 8:00 p.m. Eastern
Presenter: Cyndi Ingle

Saturday, February 10, 2018

VGS News & Events: 11 February 2018 through 17 February 2018

Coming Events:
Monday: February 12, 2018
Family Tree Maker Users SIG Meeting
1:00 PM in the Patriot Room at the Mulberry Grove Recreation Center
Topic: "Tidbits, Sourcing and Your 5 Generation Chart"
Tuesday: February 13, 2018
Adoption & Mystery KIN SIG Meeting
9:30 AM at the Coordinators Home
Contact the Coordinator for Location & Directions HERE...
Tuesday: February 13, 2018
Preserving Family History SIG Meeting
2:30 PM in the Destin Room at the Sea Breeze Recreation Center
Topic: "Chasing Uncle William through the Wilds of Cyberspace"
Presenter: Annette Burke Lyttle, Vice-President of the VGS
Wednesday: February 14, 2018
Irish Genealogy SIG Meeting
10:00 AM in the Osceola Room at the Chula Vista Recreation Center
Wednesday: February 14, 2018
New to Genealogy SIG Meeting
2:30 PM in the Neptune Beach Room at the Sea Breeze Recreation Center
Topic: "Getting Started & 100 years Freedom to Slavery"
Thursday: February 15, 2018
New England Genealogy SIG Meeting
Noon in the New Smyrna Room at the Sea Breeze Recreation Center
Friday: February 16, 2018
Scandinavian Genealogy SIG Meeting
10:00 AM in the Clearwater Room Sea Breeze Recreation Center

Wednesday: February 28, 2018
Our All-Day Annual Seminar
Guest Speaker is John Colletta, Ph.D.
Don't wait for the last minute to register. Registration closes February 23rd.
Download a Registration Packet HERE...

Gen News and Announcements:

Finding Your Family in U.S. Marriage Records:

FamilySearch
"One of the most basic and most important records you can locate about your family is a marriage record. Marriage records join two families together, often providing crucial details and verifying family connections."
Continue reading...

Finding Elusive Records on FamilySearch:

FamilySearch
"If a basic search on FamilySearch.org is the only approach you use to find your ancestors, you might be missing out on a lot of potential discoveries. The records you can find by performing basic searches represent only a small portion of what’s available on FamilySearch."
Continue reading...

New Historic Records on FamilySearch: Week of February 1, 2018:

FamilySearch
"Find your Mexican ancestors on FamilySearch with over 63 million new Mexico historic records  published this week. There are also new collection additions for Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Czech Republic, England, France, Italy, Lesotho, Luxembourg, Maryland, New Jersey, Peru, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, the United States, and Utah."
Search now...

The 5 Best At-Home DNA Kits For Learning About Your Family History:

BEST
"Putting in the research to find the best at-home DNA test takes a lot of work — so we did it for you. We've included top picks for the best standard autosomal test, along with the best Y-DNA, maternal, and paternal add-on tests."
Continue reading...

MyHeritage Has Done It Again:

Shop the Hound
"MyHeritage has made some additions to the DNA side of their business that has the genealogy community talking. A couple of weeks ago I told you about how they’d improved their matching algorithms but they haven’t stopped there."
Continue reading...

How to Find Your Ancestor’s Church:

Amy Johnson Crow
"Church records can fill in the gaps caused by non-existent vital records. Even when we do have civil vital records, church records often contain different pieces of information. They can be invaluable to our genealogy research. But to get into these records, it helps to know what church your ancestor attended. Here's how you can find your ancestor's church."
Continue reading...

5 Things You Need to Know About DNA Testing for Genealogy:

Amy Johnson Crow
"DNA is an incredible tool for our genealogy and it's more accessible than ever before. But before you mail off your spit or convince a relative to send theirs, there are some things you need to know about DNA testing for genealogy."
Continue reading...

Technology:

How to Use All of Windows 10’s Backup and Recovery Tools:

How-to-Geek
"Windows 10 includes several different types of backup and recovery tools. And we’re going to take a look at all of them."
Continue reading...

How to Reset Your iPhone or iPad, Even if it Won’t Boot:

How-to-Geek
"You can easily reset your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to factory default settings. If you’re experiencing problems — even if it won’t boot — you can reinstall the entire iOS operating system."
Continue reading...

Education:

Five Important Time-Saving Tips for Getting Your Genealogy Research Done:

Ancestral Findings
"Is your genealogy research time limited due to other commitments? You need to make the most out of every research moment you have. Join me today and I’ll show you how."
Listen now...  8:05 minutes

Webinars:

Have Nordic Ancestors? Count Yourself Lucky - Nordic Records are Amazing:

Legacy Family Tree Webinars
"An overview of available records in the Nordic countries (Norway, Sweden, Denmark, & Finland) will be presented."
Wednesday, February 13, 2018 at 2:00 p.m.
Presenter: MyHeritage Webinars
Learn more or Register for this webinar...

Friday, January 27, 2017

VGS Latest News & Tips: 27 January 2017

Gen News:

DNA Matching Enhanced with New Features:

MyHeritage
"DNA Matching is one of the main features of the MyHeritage DNA kit. It is also still available for free for users who have tested with other DNA services.
We’ve just added several useful new features to DNA Matching, to make it easier for you to find and connect with relatives based on shared DNA. Here are the new features:"
Continue reading...

Genealogy Group To Build Nation’s First Archive Here:

Boston Herald
"The Boston Archdiocese is partnering with the New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS)to create the nation’s first extensive database of church records to help people trace family histories."

Making Choices & Personal History:

Verissima Productions
"As both a psychotherapist and a Personal Historian I've discovered ways in which what I learn in one discipline facilitates my work in the other. Here is a recent example which has helped me understand the sometimes lengthy process involved in someone deciding to do a personal history."

Tech:

How to Log Out of Your Netflix Account on Every Device That’s Using It:

How-to-Geek
"If you’ve ever logged into your Netflix account on another person’s device, or left it logged in on a device you no longer use, you know how annoying it can be—especially if someone else is watching shows on your account and kicking you off. Here’s how to log out of all Netflix sessions with one simple button."
Continue reading...

How to Pick Up Reading Where You Left Off in a PDF File:

How-to-Geek
"By default, when you open PDF files in most PDF readers, they open to the beginning of the file, even if you were on a different page the last time you had the file open.
That’s very inconvenient if you want (or need) to close the PDF reader when you’re not done reading the PDF file. What if you need to reboot or shut down your PC? We’ll show you how to set up the best PDF readers in Windows to open PDF files to where you left off."
Continue reading...

Education:

How to Find Pre-1850 Ancestors:

Crista Cowan: Ancestry
"Join Ancestry's own barefoot genealogist, Crista Cowan, as she shows you the answer to this week's question: How do I find my ancestors before 1850?"
Watch video... 14.51 minutes

Monday, November 28, 2016

VGS Latest News & Tips: 28 November 2016

Today: November 28, 2016
Technology SIG Meeting:
10:00 AM in the Destin Room at the Sea Breeze Recreation Center
Topic: "Auditing Your Genealogy Data" also "An Overview of Scanners"

Save 30% on AncestryDNA:

Ancestry
This offer ends tonight at 11:59 p.m.
$69.00

Continue reading...

New Historic Records on FamilySearch: Week of November 21, 2016:

FamilySearch
"Maybe one of your ancestors is in one of the newly published 1916 Denmark census records, civil registrations from Hungary, Sweden church records, Ohio death, South Carolina birth, or Wyoming obituary records. Search these free records and more at  FamilySearch.org"
Continue reading...

5 More Reasons to Attend RootsTech 2017:

FamilySearch
"RootsTech 2017 is just around the corner. With more than 30,000 people expected to make the trek to Salt Lake City and the Salt Palace Convention Center, RootsTech has quickly grown to become one of the largest and most recognizable genealogy conferences in the world."
Continue reading...

Do You Have Your Great-Great-Great-Grandfather’s Nose?

FamilySearch
"DNA gave you the gift of your mother’s eyes or your father’s hair, your grandmother’s freckles or your grandfather’s nose. It’s fun and sometimes easy to see strong family traits connect the generations."
Continue reading...

English Parish Records: How to Access, Use, and Interpret Them:

FamilySearch
"Presented by Paul Milner Genealogy Vital records can be difficult to find, but the parish registers of England are excellent resources providing information on baptisms, marriages, and burials. They have remarkably good coverage because by law, everyone except Quakers and Jews was required to be married in the Church of England regardless of religious affiliation."
Continue reading...

How to Add Custom Text Shortcuts to iOS:

How-to-Geek
"Typing the same text over and over–email addresses, phone numbers, and so on–can get old. If you find yourself saying the same stuff repeatedly on your iPhone, there’s an easier way. By adding text shortcuts to the system, you can type full sentences with just a few letters."
Continue reading...

This Day In History: 28 November

1868: Mt. Etna in Sicily violently erupts.
1919: Lady Astor is elected the first woman in Parliament.
1925: The forerunner of the Grand Ole Opry, called the WSM Barn Dance, opens in Nashville, Tennessee.
1907 Birthday: Alberto Moravia, Italian novelist (The Conformist, Conjugal Love).

State Timelines:

Even though it is hard to tell what made people move or disappear, these are just a few possibilities.
Louisiana:
1699: French & French Canadian Catholics migrated into area
1718: New Orleans settled by French Acadians
1751: Missionaries introduced sugar cane

Wednesday, March 9, 2016

VGS Latest News & Tips: 9 March 2016

Today: Wednesday: March 9, 2016
Irish Genealogy SIG Meeting
10:00 AM in the Osceola Room at the Chula Vista Recreation Center
Tomorrow: Thursday: March 10, 2016
German Genealogy SIG Meeting
9:30 AM in the Reliance Room at the Late Miona Recreation Center

New Ancestry Record Collections:
Ancestry
1. New Jersey, United Methodist Church Records, 1800-1970
This collection includes baptism, marriage, burial, and membership records from churches in the Greater New Jersey United Methodist Church Commission on Archives and History.
TOTAL RECORDS: 721,232   View this collection

2. Indiana, United Methodist Church Records, 1837-1970
You’ll find baptisms, marriages, burials, memberships, and lists of clergy in these United Methodist Church registers from Indiana.
TOTAL RECORDS: 434,135   View this collection

5 Tips for Finding Women’s Obituaries:
Any Johnson Crow
"Obituaries can be rich in genealogical details. However, finding them for our female ancestors can be tricky, especially if you’re searching in digitized newspapers. Here are 5 tips to help you find women’s obituaries."
Continue reading...

Stepping off into the Fire Swamp of the Data in the FamilySearch Family Tree:
A users view point of FamilySearch Family Tree
"I give credit to The Princess Bride (Goldman, William. The Princess Bride: S. Morgenstern's Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure : the "Good Parts" Version Abridged. New York: Ballantine Pub. Group, 1998.) for the allusion to the Fire Swamp. But that is exactly how I feel when I step off into the unreal world of the higher reaches of the FamilySearch.org Family Tree. Here is a glimpse of the tangled mess I find on just one of my lines."
Continue reading...

What’s the Best Way to Back Up My Computer?

How-to-Geek
"Everyone loses data at some point in their lives. Your computer’s hard drive could fail tomorrow, ransomware could hold your files hostage, or a software bug could delete your important files. If you’re not regularly backing up your computer, you could lose those files forever."
Continue reading...

Use CloudConvert to Convert a File from One Format to Another:
Dick Eastman eogn.com
"Here is a web site you probably should bookmark: https://cloudconvert.com. You probably won’t need to use it often but when you do have a need it can be a lifesaver. Best of all, it is a free service if you only want to convert a few files. However, if you want to convert dozens of files, there is a modest charge."
Continue reading...

This Day In History: 9 March

1788: Connecticut becomes the 5th state.
1820: Congress passes the Land Act, paving the way for westward expansion.
1841: The rebel slaves who seized a Spanish slave ship, the Amistad, in 1839 are freed by the Supreme Court despite Spanish demands for extradition.
1824 Birthday: Leland Stanford, railroad builder, founder of Stanford University.



Friday, October 9, 2015

VGS Latest News & Tips: 9 October 2015

19th Annual Central Florida Family History Conference:
November 7, 2015: 9:00 am to 3:45 pm
Olympia High School, Orlando, Florida
Admission is $20.00 and includes the Conference Notebook. A Panera Bread lunch is available for $10.00. Register now as seating is limited. Register HERE.

A state of the art bus will be available from The Villages for $20.00 per person. Members may also arrange their own car pool.   Hear more about the conference HERE.
Lectures to choose from...



Bus Information:
A state-of-the-art bus will pick up conference goers about 7am on Saturday, Nov. 7 at the Wal-mart on Rt.27. It will also stop in Leesburg at the Palm Plaza shopping center (in front of Publix).

Return trip will start at 5pm. Cost is only $20 round trip. Send check made out to Karen Jorgensen, and mail to Karen Jorgensen, PO Box 1713, Windermere, FL 34786. No refunds. Your seat is not reserved until your check is received! Only 58 seats available so hurry! It will be fun! Call Karen at 407-299-5882 if you have questions!
Download: Conference Flyer

Editor's Note: I have attended this conference several times and it is one of the best annual seminars in Florida every year.

3 Great Reasons Why Every Genealogist Should Use Flickr:
Crestleaf
"The popular photo and video hosting website, Flickr, is a tool that has been added to my “genealogy toolbox.” It has a wealth of possibilities for the genealogist. (Did I mention Flickr is free?!)"
Continue reading...

Missouri Digital Collections:
"More than 9 million records can be accessed through Missouri Digital Heritage, including the collections of the Missouri State Archives, the Missouri State Library and other institutions from across the state." Hint: Click on "Quick Links" on their menu bar.
Start your research...

Top 9 Family Heirlooms:
MyHeritage
"Family heirlooms are artifacts that provide comfort and a sense of connection to our heritage. They illustrate our family histories and provide memories of our loved ones."
Continue reading...

Genealogy: Researching Church Records:
Barry Elwell
"Church registers are often the only way to determine birth, marriage, and death dates in the years before states started to keep vital records. They are a valuable substitute when vital records do not exist. Most churches keep their own records, but libraries usually have a number of books, copies of church records, a few manuscript volumes of original records, and microfilmed church records."
Continue reading...

Your Family Story Could Be The Best Thing On Television:
Ancestry.com
We heard some amazing customer stories for our recent TV campaign. And we'd love to hear yours, too.
Make a simple, short video sharing how you used Ancestry and AncestryDNA together to find your family history and you could star in our upcoming TV commercial. Deadline is October 13, 2015.
Continue reading...

This Day In History: 9 October
1781: Americans begin shelling the British surrounded at Yorktown.
1825: The first Norwegian immigrants to America arrive on the sloop Restaurationen.
1888: The Washington Monument, designed by Robert Mills, opens to the public.
1940 Birthday: John Lennon, musician, singer, songwriter; one of the Beatles ("Imagine," "Give Peace a Chance").