VGS News & Events: November 22 through November 28, 2020

Learn more about the seminar here... 

Coming Events:

Monday, November 23

Technology SIG Meeting Canceled  (Technology SIG)

Gene Clark, coordinator

Tuesday, November 24

Midwest SIG Meeting  (Midwest SIG)

2:00 pm

Online Zoom Meeting

Dona Black & Laurie Sarauer, coordinators

Topic: “Researching Your Midwestern Collateral Family Lines” with Dona Black Weber

 

SIG members will receive an email.

Contact the coordinator, through their SIG web page, for the link to this meeting.

Gen News and Announcements:

RootsTech Connect 2021 Announces First of Keynote Speakers:

FamilySearch

"RootsTech Connect 2021—the world’s largest family celebration event—announced its first wave of keynote speakers hailing from Australia, Italy, Mexico, and the United States.

RootsTech Connect, February 25–27, 2021, is a free online conference to discover, share, and celebrate family and heritage connections."

Continue reading...

FindMyPast On Sale:

FindMyPast

"Explore the largest collection of British and Irish records online."

Learn more...

A Beginner's Guide to Searching for Records on FindMyPass

FindMyPast

"Getting started with Findmypast's records is easy. Our billions of individual records are divided into nine broad categories. Here's a summary of what you can expect to find in each and how they'll help your family research. "

Continue reading...

2020’s Hardest Decision

The Legal Genealogist

"Sigh — it has taken a major catastrophe — this crazy pandemic — to ensure that none of us will be outside of our immediate families (our “pods” in today’s parlance) for the holidays in 2020. "

Continue reading...

Mixtiles and MyHeritage Photos Opening

Genealogy's Star

" MyHeritage.com has recently entered into a partnership with Mixtiles.com, the photo wall-art company. You can order prints directly from Mixtiles from your photos on your family tree on the MyHeritage website. "

Continue reading...

The Worry about DNA privacy and GEDmatch

Kitty Cooper

"Many of my matches at ancestry.com are afraid to upload their raw data to GEDmatch because of their fears about DNA privacy. Here is what I want to say to all of them. "

Continue reading...

Technology:

Holiday 2020: The Best Portable Battery Packs

How-to Geek

"No one likes a dead battery, so a portable battery is an excellent tech gift for everyone on your list. But one thing that will be different from person to person is what type of battery they need, so we found battery packs that cover everyone’s needs to fill out your shopping list this holiday season. "

Continue reading...

Education:

Famous Civil War Battlefields:

Ancestral Findings

"So, if you’re planning on trekking to one of the famous Civil War battlefields across the country, which ones should be on the top of your list?"

Listen now...  6.22 minutes

Webinars:

MyHeritage Mobile App: All New Features From 2020

Legacy Family Tree

"The MyHeritage Mobile App makes building your family tree easier and more portable than ever. Learn about the new features MyHeritage added to the app that enhance your genealogy research on the go."

Tuesday, November 24, 2020, 2:00pm Eastern

Presenter: Daniel Horowitz

Learn more or Register for this event...

VGS News & Events: August 9 through August 15, 2020

Practice Social-Distancing

Due to Covid-19, no Rec Center meetings until further notice. Some SIG's are having virtual meetings. Be on the lookout for emails announcing the meetings and how to connect to them.  That list is very fluid. Check the "Coming Events" section of the website as event news becomes available:

Coming Events:

Thursday, August 6 Eastern European Genealogy SIG Meeting 1:00 pm to 2:50 pm Online Webinar Carol Myers & Marie Musialek, coordinators Please register to attend at: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8644895187639547149 After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. Friday, August 14 Genetic Genealogy SIG Meeting 10:00 am Online Zoom Meeting Sherry Bean and Diann LaRosa, coordinators Topic: "Lucidcharts" Contact the coordinator for login information

Gen News and Announcements:

News Flash: Ancestry.com Sold to Blackstone in a $4.7 Billion Deal

Bloomburg

"Ancestry.com first went public in 2009, raising $100 million. It was taken private in 2012 in a $1.6 billion buyout led by private equity firm Permira, and on at least two occasions since has considered going public again, though it never got the valuation it was seeking."

Continue reading...

New Free Historical Records on FamilySearch: Week of 3 August 2020

FamilySearch

"FamilySearch added 6.5 million records this week for France, Nord Parish and Civil Registrations, 1524-1893, the 1851 Canada Census, New York Passenger Lists 1897-1902, and New Jersey Naturalization records 1905-1944. Collections were also expanded for Brazil, England, Germany, Peru, S. Africa, Venezuela, and the US (Obituaries, civil, and church records for CA, HI, IL, MS, NC, NJ, PA, TX, UT, VA, and WA)."

Search now...

Ancestry® Launches AncestryHealth®, Powered by Next Generation Sequencing (NGS)

Ancestry.com

"Now with Next Generation Sequencing(NGS), NGS looks at thousands more places in your DNA at once, compared to other genetic testing technologies that only look for a small number of them."

Continue reading..

My Thoughts on the Changes at Ancestry:

Kitty Cooper

"The changes to my messages on Ancestry are more of a problem for me than the upcoming changes to small matches."

Continue reading...

Why a Data Breach at a Genealogy Site Has Privacy Experts Worried:

NY Times

"Nearly two-thirds of GEDmatch’s users opt out of helping law enforcement. For a brief window this month, that didn’t matter."

Continue reading...

Technology:

How to Make Text Bigger or Smaller in Google Chrome:

How-to Geek
"If you’re having trouble comfortably reading text that is either too small or too big on a website in Google Chrome, there’s a quick way to change text size without diving into Settings. Here’s how."
Continue reading...

Education:

How to Organize Your Digital Genealogy 

Ancestral Findings

"Your digital genealogy needs to be organized just as much as your physical genealogical documents and photos do." 

Listen now... 4.30 minutes

Webinars:

Working with Different Family Tree Views on MyHeritage:

Legacy Family Tree
"The bigger your family tree grows, the more unwieldy it can be. MyHeritage offers several different family tree views to help you navigate your tree effectively. In this webinar, you'll the advantages of each and how to use them."
Tuesday, August 11, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern
Presenter: Daniel Horowitz
Learn more or Register for this event...

Dissecting a Civil War Pension Packet-Union and Confederate:

Legacy Family Tree
"Have you identified a Union or Confederate Civil War soldier in your ancestry? Lucky you. These records are the most accessible of all military records. We will discuss the history of these records, who was included and excluded, and the changes in the law. Civil War Pension records contain a wealth of information. We will compare two pension packets, Confederate and Union--and how to acquire, use them and the stories they tell."
Wednesday, August 12, 2020 at 8:00 p.m. Eastern
Presenter: Jill Morelli, CG
Learn more or Register for this event...

VGS News & Events: February 23 through February 29, 2020

20th Annual Seminar - 19 Feb 2020

Coming Events:

Monday: February 24, 2020

Technology SIG Meeting:

10:00 AM in the Destin Room at the Sea Breeze Recreation Center
Topic: "Charting Companion"

Tuesday: February 25, 2020

Midwest SIG Meeting:

2:00 PM in the Clearwater Room at the Sea Breeze Recreation Center
Topic: “How Research Plans Can Up Your Genealogical Game” – Annette Burke Lyttle

Gen News and Announcements:

FamilySearch New Tool Unlocks Data in Digital Record Images:

FamilySearch
"Most likely the family history breakthroughs you need to connect to elusive ancestors hiding somewhere in billions of free, unindexed digital record images at FamilySearch.org, are now a simple search away."
Continue reading...

New Free Historical Records on FamilySearch: Week of 18 February 2020

FamilySearch
"Search 8 million new free, historical records at FamilySearch this week from Canada, the Philippines, and Switzerland. More from England, Ecuador, El Salvador, the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Chile, Nova Scotia, Peru, Spain, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Venezuela, Wales, American Samoa, and the United States (AL, AZ, CA, CO, DE, HI, ID, IL, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MN, MT, NH, NJ, NY, NC, ND, OH, OR, PA, SC, SD, TX, UT, VA, WV). "
Search now...

The Shifting Landscape of Genetic Genealogy:

Amy Johnson Crow
"There was a time when DNA kits flew off of shelves and people lined up by the hundreds to purchase them on sale at genealogy events. Not anymore. Why are sales slowing down?"
Continue reading...

Our Path Forward:

Ancestry.com
"Looking ahead, interest in Family History remains strong and we’re continuing to grow and invest in breakthrough solutions to help people understand their heritage and put people on the path to improved health and wellness."
Continue reading...

Family History Library 2019 Highlights and What’s Ahead for 2020:

FamilySearch
"The library was a hub of activity during 2019, and 2020 will be no different. Below, we look back on major events and achievements of 2019 and take a look at what is ahead for the library in 2020."
Continue reading...

Please Help Get More Kits Opted In:

Kitty Cooper
"I was heartbroken to learn that only about 200,000 of the more than a million kits at GEDmatch have opted in to helping law enforcement (LE). This means that most of the cases that were solved before the opt in requirement went into effect last year could not be solved today."
Continue reading...

Technology:

How to Set a Password Expiration Date in Windows 10:

How-To Geek
"To maintain your cyber security, it’s a good idea to change your computer’s password every once in a while. Windows 10 makes this easier because you can set a password expiration date."
Continue reading...

Education:

How to Use Muster Rolls in Your Genealogy Research:

Ancestral Findings
"Have you ever used muster rolls in your genealogical research? If you are like most people, you have at least one ancestor who served in the military or war. If they served prior to WWI, muster rolls can be an excellent source of genealogical information. Join me today on the Ancestral Findings Podcast and we’ll see what you will find in them."
Listen now... 8.03 minutes

Webinars:

Working with DNA segments on MyHeritage:

Legacy Family Tree
"Learn how the MyHeritage DNA test analyzes your DNA."
Wednesday, February 19, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern
Presenter: MyHeritage Webinars
Learn more or Register for this webinar...

VGS News & Events: 5 January through 11 January, 2020

Coming Events:

Monday: January 6, 2020
Jewish Genealogy SIG Meeting:
10:00 AM in the MacArthur Room at the Eisenhower Recreation Center

Monday: January 6, 2020
Roots Magic SIG Meeting:
2:30 PM in the New Smyrna Room at the Recreation Center

Monday: January 6, 2020
Evening Webinar:
7:00 PM Online
"Researching Your Confederate Ancestor"

Our guest speaker is: Craig Roberts Scott, MA, CG, FUGA

Tuesday: January 7, 2020

Adoption & Mystery KIN SIG Meeting

9:00 AM in the Tea Room at the Colony Recreation Center

Note new meeting location...

Wednesday: January  8, 2020

Irish Genealogy SIG Meeting

10:00 AM in the Osceola Room at the Chula Vista Recreation Center

Wednesday: January 8, 2020

New to Genealogy SIG Meeting

2:30 PM in the Neptune Beach Room at the Sea Breeze Recreation Center

Thursday: January 9, 2020

German Genealogy SIG Meeting

9:30 AM in the Reliance Room at the Late Miona Recreation Center
Topic: "German Migration and Textile Industry Formation in 19^th Century Łódź"  

Friday: January 10, 2020

All Genetic Genealogy SIG Meetings Canceled until further notice. 

Saturday: January 11, 2020

African American SIG Meeting

2:30 PM in the Jasmine Room at the Hibiscus Recreation Center

Note new meeting date & location...

Gen News and Announcements:

New Free Historical Records on FamilySearch: Week of 16 December 2019

FamilySearch
"This week, FamilySearch.org added new, free, historical records from American Samoa, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, England, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Puerto Rico, and the United States, including AL, GA, HI, LA, OH, SC, TN, TX, and VA. Over 1 million records were added from Peru's Civil Registration (1805-2001.)"
Search now...

5 Tips for Gathering Family Stories:

Amy Johnson Crow
"Family stories are an integral part of our family history. Without stories, our ancestors are just names on paper. Looking ahead, if we don’t record our own stories, we will end up the same way. Here are 5 easy tips for gathering your family stories (and how to get better stories out of the people you talk with)."
Continue reading...

When There’s a Surprise in DNA Results:

Amy Johnson Crow
"DNA has led to incredible discoveries. The news and social media are filled with stories of adoptees finding biological family members and siblings being reunited after decades apart. But there’s another kind of discovery that isn’t talked about as often—surprises in the DNA results."
Continue reading...

Important Changes at GEDmatch:

Kitty Cooper
"If you have not logged into GEDmatch recently, please do so and either accept the new terms and conditions or don’t. Unless you are clearly USA based*, your kits will not be visible to your relatives any more unless you accept. I have linked to numerous other blogs at the end of this article to help you make your choice. I recommend reading either the one from Roberta Estes (below) or EU users, the one from Debbie Kennett. Both look carefully at the new terms and conditions which are not very different from before."
Continue reading...

GEDmatch Acquired by Verogen

DNAeXplained
"GEDmatch needs modernization and Verogen has committed to breathe new life into GedMatch which provides tools not available elsewhere and much loved by many genealogists."
Continue reading...

Technology:

How to Download Files Using Safari on Your iPhone or iPad:

How-to Geek
"In your work or personal life, you’ll sometimes need to download a file on your iPhone or iPad. Using the new feature introduced in iOS 13 and iPadOS 13, you can now do this directly in Safari. No third-party app needed!"
Continue reading...

Education:

What are Railroad Records?

Ancestral Findings
"Did your ancestor work for the railroad? If so, you'll want to explore railroad records to find out more about them on today’s episode of the Ancestral Findings Podcast."
Listen now... 5.40 minutes

Webinars:

Mistakes I Have Made: Confessions of a Repentant Genealogist

Legacy Family Tree
"Let's face it. We all make mistakes when we are doing something new. True confessions: as a beginning and not-so-beginning genealogist, I made them all. Still do if I am not careful. “Mistakes I Have Made: Confessions of a Repentant Genealogist” shares examples of the most common genealogy errors with examples from my own experiences. Learn what NOT to do and how to avoid making these mistakes with your research."
Wednesday, January 8, 2019 at 8:00 p.m. Eastern
Presenter: Cheri Hudson Passey
Learn more or Register for this webinar...

VGS News & Events: 17 November through 23 November, 2019

Coming Events:

Monday: November 18, 2019

Italian Genealogy SIG Meeting

1:00 PM in the Atlanta Room in the Savannah Center

Tuesday: November 19, 2019

Family Tree Maker Users SIG Meeting

1:00 PM in the Patriot Room at the Mulberry Grove Recreation Center
Topic: "I'm afraid to Upgrade!" + Your Questions Answered"

Wednesday: November 20, 2019

Brick Wall SIG Meeting

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

Wednesday: November 20, 2019

General Monthly Meeting

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

Topic: "Can a Complex Research Problem be Solved Solely Online?"

Wednesday: November 20, 2019

Afternoon Workshop

1:30 PM in the Atlanta Room in the Savannah Center
Topic: "Inferential Genealogy: Deducing Ancestors' Identities Indirectly"

Limited to 100 Members...
Register to attend this workshop in-person HERE...

Thursday: April 18, 2019

New England Genealogy SIG Meeting

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

Our Live Monday Meeting on November 11 was a success.  The handout and video can be found online under "Members Only" > "Webinars & Meetings"

FSGS Fall Virtual Conference:

MASTER DNA-BASED DISCOVERY
BREAK DOWN BRICK WALLS
A one-of-a-kind opportunity! Learn from 5 top experts!
Join the Florida State Genealogical Society's Fall Virtual DNA Conference and advance your genealogy research skills without having to leave home.
All you need is an Internet connection and curiosity.
Ask the experts and put genetic genealogy to work for you!

December 7, 2019 - 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 
Learn more...

Gen News and Announcements:

Register for Our Annual Seminar:

VGS

Blaine Bettinger, Ph.D., J.D., is a professional genealogist specializing in DNA evidence. He is the author of the long-running blog The Genetic Genealogist, and frequently gives presentations and webinars to educate others about the use of DNA to explore their ancestry.  He will be our guest speaker for our Annual Seminar on February 19, 2020.

Download more details here...

Your Privacy is our Top Priority:

Ancestry
"Your privacy is important to us. That’s why we want to share our position on a recent event where a Florida judge issued a search warrant to allow law enforcement to search all of GEDmatch, an open data personal genomics database."
Continue reading...

Powered By Cutting-Edge Machine Learning Technology, Ancestry® Debuts the World’s Largest, Searchable Online Obituary Collection, Providing Members with Even More Details about the Ancestors Who Shaped Their Past:

Ancestry
"We are proud to announce the launch of our new Newspapers.com Obituary Collection, as well as an upgrade to our U.S. Obituary Collection, adding to what is now the world’s largest, searchable digital archive of over 262 million worldwide obituaries and death announcements, containing almost 1 billion searchable family members."
Continue reading...

Navigating Newspaper Research:

Legacy News
"You know newspaper research is important to your family history. It can uncover everything from vital record information to the casual mention of your ancestor's daily life. So go research newspapers! But, is it really that easy?"
Continue reading...

Correct Mistakes on the FamilySearch Family Tree:

FamilySearch
"Our goal at FamilySearch is not only to connect individual families, but to connect the human family. In order to accomplish that goal, we need everyone’s help. For this reason, FamilySearch Family Tree is a shared tree, which means that it is open for users to contribute what information they have."
Continue reading...

Don't Toss Old Photos:

We Have Kids
"All too often, the descendants just toss out those pictures that are unlabeled. That's really sad to see family history dumped in the trash. Don't let that happen in your family. Label your own photos.
Now, if these are inherited photos and not labeled, you have a bit of work ahead. Whatever you do, don't toss those photos."
Continue reading...

Technology:

Is Your Old Router Still Getting Security Updates? 

How-To Geek
"Security researchers from Fortinet recently discovered security holes in some D-Link routers. Many of these routers are still sold online, but D-Link no longer manufactures them and won’t patch them. So how do you tell if your router is still supported?"
Continue reading...

Education:

Resource Guide to Canadian Genealogy:

AncestralFindings
"Do you have Canadian ancestors you wish to research? Are you wondering where to start? On today’s episode, I’ll give you five of my favorite websites for doing Canadian genealogy online."
Listen Now... 8.25 minutes 

Webinars:

A la Karte: Borders, Maps and Gazetteers for German Genealogists

Legacy Family Tree
"The borders of German-speaking lands in Europe followed a non-linear pattern that is at first difficult to unpack. Learn about the gamut of on- and off-line tools to overcome this difficulty."
Wednesday, November 20, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern
Presenter: James M. Beidler
Learn more or Register for this webinar...

No Will? No Problem!

Legacy Family Tree
"Anything handled by a court of law is lengthy, and that is good for genealogical research. Documents containing information about a death date, relationships, personal and/or real property, and place of residence are common in intestate files. Learn about the court process from first petition to final discharge, and picture what home was like for an ancestor."
Friday, November 22, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern
Presenter: Sharon Monson
Learn more or Register for this webinar...

VGS News & Events: 9 June through 15 June 2019

Coming Events:

Monday: June 10, 2019
Finding WWII Ancestors in the Archives of the Air Force Historical Research Agency (Live Webinar)
7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Online Webinar
Our guest speaker will be: K B Barcomb

Registered to attend HERE...

Thursday: June 13, 2019

German Genealogy SIG Meeting

9:30 AM in the Reliance Room at the Late Miona Recreation Center
Topic: "Problem Solving, New Findings & Conquering Brick Walls"

Gen News and Announcements:

News: Facebook Live Genealogy Q&A:

NYG&B

"Join us on Thursday, June 13 at 3:00 pm ET for another New York Genealogy Q&A with D. Joshua Taylor, President of the NYG&B, and Susan R. Miller, the NYG&B's Director of Programs and Outreach.

We'll be answering as many of your submitted research questions as possible, and providing some great tips along the way.

Even if you don't have a question you want Josh or Sue's opinion on, join us and you'll certainly pick up a few valuable pointers about New York research.

Click here to sign up...

New Records on FamilySearch from May 2019

FamilySearch
"FamilySearch expanded its free online archives in May of 2019 with almost 14 million new indexed family history records from all over the world. Over 387,000 new digital images were added as well."
Continue reading...

See Historical Events Your Ancestors Lived Through and More:

FamilySearch
"A recently-released feature on FamilySearch.org helps you see historical events your relatives lived through. An additional update to the person page lets you toggle details on and off, giving you extra insight about who has added or changed information."
Continue reading...

Please Opt In at GEDmatch:

Kitty Cooper
"In these modern divisive times, even the genetic genealogy community has been torn into two camps. Is it modern nature to react with emotion rather than thought? With the “are you with us or them”? Is this what overuse of social media has done to us? I can see both sides of the issue. Some of you may wonder what I am even talking about …."
Continue reading...

Finders Keepers?

Genealogy's Star
"Did the pot hunters that raided the ancient abandoned cities of the native population of America own the things they acquired? Does this question have anything to do with genealogical research? Do you automatically "own" the information and documents you discover as a genealogical researcher (or genealogical pot hunter)?"
Continue reading...

How a Family Group Sheet Could Become Your Secret Research Weapon:

Family History Daily
"If you’re not sure what a family group sheet is, or you’ve never gotten around to using one in your genealogy research, you’re not alone. While the concept of a family group sheet is about as basic as it gets, not every family historian out there has had the chance to embrace this clever method of research and organization."
Continue reading...

Using Mortality Schedules: An Overlooked Source for Genealogy

Amy Johnson Crow
"The census forms the foundation of much of our genealogy research. But there is a section of it that is often overlooked. Here is how to use mortality schedules to find even more about your ancestors."
Continue reading...

Technology:

The Best Video Editing Software for Beginners

Review Geek
"Video editing isn’t an easy skill, even for the technically-inclined. It doesn’t help that the software to do it is generally expensive. If you’re hoping to get into video editing without spending a bundle, we have a few suggestions."
Continue reading...

Education:

How to Use Old Newspaper Advertisements to Research the Childhood Lives of Your Ancestors:

Ancestral Findings 250
"Did you know that old newspaper advertisements can tell you a wealth of information about what your ancestors’ childhoods were probably like, or what they may have been like as parents? This is valuable information you won’t find anywhere else. Join me today to find out what old advertisements can reveal."
Listen now... 7:43 minutes

Webinars:

MyHeritage Mobile App: New Features:

Legacy Family Tree
"Check out the new features and improvements to the MyHeritage mobile app."
Tuesday, June 11, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern
Presenter: MyHeritage Webinars
Learn more or Register for this webinar...

Tracking Your Digital Bread Crumbs: Bookmarks, Toolbars, Notes, and Other Applications:

Legacy Family Tree
"Clicking links means you can start off on a web site for one specific topic and end up dozens of web sites away on many different topics. It’s easy to get lost and lose focus on what you were trying to find in the first place. And with so many web sites to use in your research, how do you keep track of them all? How do you organize what you use regularly? How can you get back to a site at some point in the future? We have several ways to help you gain control of your digital bread crumbs."
Wednesday, June 12, 2019 at 8:00 p.m. Eastern
Presenter: Cyndi Ingle
Learn more or Register for this webinar...

VGS News & Events: 2 June through 8 June 2019

June 6th is the 75th Anniversary of D-Day

Coming Events:

Monday: June 3, 2019
Jewish Genealogy SIG Meeting:
10:00 AM in the MacArthur Room at the Eisenhower Recreation Center
Topic: "My Genealogical Journey" - three members will share their stories.

Tuesday: June 4, 2019

Adoption & Mystery KIN SIG Meeting

9:00 AM at the Lake Miona Recreation Center

Thursday: June 6, 2019

Eastern European Genealogy SIG Meeting:

1:00 PM in the Daytona Room at the Sea Breeze Recreation Center

Friday: June 7, 2019

Genetic Genealogy SIG Meeting

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

Note date change for this month...

Gen News and Announcements:

News: Have You Registered For The June 10 Live Webinar?

VGS

On Monday evening, at 7:00 p.m., our live webinar will feature K B Barcomb and her topic will be "Finding WWII Ancestors of the Air Force Historical Research Agency."

More details and information can be found on our website under "Coming Events"

Register here to attend line online...

How a Tiny Website Became the Police's Go-To Genealogy Database:

The Atlantic
"The site’s terms of service now explicitly tells users that “DNA obtained and authorized by law enforcement” can be uploaded to identify a perpetrator of a “violent crime.”"
Continue reading...

23andMe Is Updating Ancestry Results Without Telling Users:

The Ridge
"If you took a genetic ancestry test through a company like 23andMe, you may want to go back and give your results a second look."
Continue reading...

FamilySearch Celebrates 20 Years Online:

FamilySearch
"Twenty years ago, global nonprofit FamilySearch launched an innovative new website, a free internet genealogy service. Two decades later, FamilySearch is a leader in the rising tide of popular ancestry-related services online."
Continue reading...

Norway Ancestry Records:

FamilySearch
"Did you know that Norway is famous for keeping and protecting excellent records? If you have family history that extends back to Norway, you can likely trace your family lines for many generations using Norway ancestry records."
Continue reading...

Technology:

Everything New in Windows 10’s May 2019 Update, Available Now:

How-to-Geek
"Windows 10’s latest update is the May 2019 Update, which is version 1903 and was code-named 19H1 during development. It features a light theme, speed improvements, and lots of polish. There are no crazy new features like My People or Timeline. And it’s out now."
Continue reading...

Education:
How to Locate Hidden Genealogical Gems on FamilySearch.org
Ancestral Findings 239

"FamilySearch.org is the most popular free genealogy website online, and often one of the first ones new genealogists use. Their collection of records is impressive… it’s the largest in the world. However, billions of its billions of records are still not indexed. Today, I’ll talk about how to find some hidden gems on the website, even without the benefit of indexing."
Listen now... 7:55 minutes

Webinars:

They Really Didn't Swim! Finding Your Ancestors In New South Wales Colonial Shipping Records:

Legacy Family Tree
"Four groups of people sailed to Australia in the eighteen and nineteenth centuries: convicts, free passengers, soldiers and sailors. This seminar focuses on the free passengers, those who paid their passages or received free passages under systems like the Bounty Immigrant scheme."
Tuesday, June 4, 2019 at 10:00 p.m. Eastern
Presenter: Carol Baxter
Learn more or Register for this webinar...

Lessons in Jewish DNA: One Man's Successes and What He Learned On the Journey

Legacy Family Tree
"The hottest topic in genealogy in recent years has been genetics and many thousands of genealogists have ordered DNA tests. Most of those haven't a clue what to do with their results. The situation is more complicated among Jews, who have married "within the tribe" for hundreds of years, thus ensuring that everyone is related to everyone else, multiple times. Marrying within a closed community - "endogamy" – has barely been addressed by the non-Jewish genetic genealogy community."
Wednesday, June 5, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern
Presenter: Israel Pickholtz
Learn more or Register for this webinar...

Foundations of Scottish Genealogy 7 of 12: Using ScotlandsPlaces for People in Land and Tax Records

Legacy Family Tree
"Scotlands Places sounds like it is only about geography, right? In fact there is a great deal of information about people in this large, comprehensive and completely free-to-use resource. Tax and Land Records, Ordnance Survey Name Books, Reports, Publications and Burgh Records, Archaeological Records, Maps, Surveys, Plans, Drawings and Photographs and more."
Wednesday, June 7, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern
Presenter: Dr. Bruce Durie
Learn more or Register for this webinar...

VGS News & Events: 24 June 2018 through 30 June 2018

L-R: Pat Harchar & Peg Williams working on the Florida Pioneer Project
Learn more about the project HERE...

Coming Events:

Tuesday: January 23, 2018

Midwest SIG Meeting:

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

Wednesday: September 27, 2018

Brick Wall SIG Meeting

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

Wednesday: September 27, 2018

General Monthly Meeting

9:30 AM in the Atlanta Room in the Savannah Center (Note Time Change)

Presentation: "Filling Our Family Tree without Breaking the Bank"

A live webinar with Katherine R. Willson"

If you are unable to the meeting, you can view the webinar online .
You need to register to attend online...

Register HERE

The webinar will also be placed on our website for 90 days following the live presentation. You do not need to register if attending in person.

Gen News and Announcements:

Pioneer Scanning Project Update:

Pat Rand: Project Coordinator
Thanks to all of you who have continued to volunteer over the summer. There are so many who want to help that we still haven't been able to get everyone scheduled. It appears that we are probably over the half-way mark, as we are finished with the H-Ls and are working on M.

It's now 2 months into the project and we have done:517 applications this month, for a total of 1,05022,099 pages scanned, for a total of 37,500 (and remember, it is really DOUBLE that as each application is scanned twice).

The following volunteers have helped this month: Pat Adams, Bob Boerst, Mary Frances Gerace, Nancy Goodpasture, Barb Gunther, Pat Harchar, Cindy Hineman, Peg Hoskins, Bar Kelly, Scrib Kelly, Donna Koeppel, Carol Mrak, Al Paul, Mary Todd, Marge Watkins, Ruth Wible, and Bruce and Peg Williams.

We really appreciate all the help, and besides, it's been a lot of fun getting to know some of our members.

15 Ways to Solve Your Family History Mystery Once and for All:

Family History Daily
"This article is an excerpt from our online genealogy research course, The Genealogy Journey. The lesson here is part of an in-depth section on breaking down genealogical brick walls – which includes an additional 8 step, highly detailed strategy for solving even the toughest family mysteries."
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Summer Genealogy Inspiration:

The Occasional Genealogist
"Does summer have you avoiding or missing out on genealogy? It might be the weather or maybe it's your summer schedule. No matter the reason, summer can either be a great time to accomplish some genealogy or a genealogical waste-land (that you often don't even understand)."
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Courthouse Research Tips For Genealogists:

Lisa Louise Cooke
"Got a research trip coming up soon? These courthouse research tips for genealogists from The Archive Lady, Melissa Barker, will help you get organized before you hit the road. That way, you’ll be prepared to use your time well at your ancestor’s courthouse–to explore all those original records that may reveal your family history."
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Weigh In On DNA Standards:

The Legal Genealogist
"The Board for Certification of Genealogists (BCG) has made it clear that it intends to more fully incorporate genetic evidence into Genealogy Standards. A committee tasked with reviewing the issue has proposed new and amended standards, and the Board is inviting public comment on the proposals."
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Finding Records From the War to End All Wars: Thinking “Outside-The-Box”

Genealogists.com

"This article highlights some “thinking-outside-the-box” records (a vital component of successful genealogical research!) at these sites."

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The FREE DNA Tool You Need to Know: Gedmatch

The Occasional Genealogist
"Are you interested in genetic genealogy? That’s genealogy using DNA testing. There is a great free tool you need to make sure you’re using."
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Family Legends: Fact or Fiction

The Sunburned Penguin
"We all have them. Family stories told by our grandparents about their grandparents. Tales of heroism, derring-do or just black sheep. As genealogists, we want to investigate these stories to determine how much of the story is actually true. Let’s look at four family legend case studies!"
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Technology:

Apple Claims iOS 12 Will Speed Up Old Devices:

How-to-Geek
"Updates often slow down your iPhone, but Apple says this update will speed your phone up. iOS 12 will speed up everything from your app launches to your keyboard and camera."
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Siri is Getting Custom Voice Actions in iOS 12:

How-to-Geek
"Siri is about to get a lot more powerful. Custom voice commands for any app will allow you to say “Hey Siri, I lost my keys” to instantly launch an app that will help you find them."
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Education:

Irish Immigration Wave: The Emerald Isle Comes to America:

Ancestral Findings
"Millions of Irish immigrants came to America in the mid-19th century to escape the horrors of the potato famine. Here, they faced new struggles. Learn more now."
Listen now...  5.16 minutes

Webinars:

Lightroom or Photoshop? What should I use for my photo editing?

Legacy Family Tree Webinars
"Many people just don't understand what tools they have available to them when it comes to editing photos. Within Adobe's Creative Suite, there are two programs designed specifically with photographers in mind: Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Lightroom. At first glance, these two programs might appear redundant, as they're both made with the goal of editing photographs of all kinds. But the truth is,  each program is designed with a different purpose in mind, and each offers a distinct post-production photography workflow. My webinar will breakdown why you should choose one over the other and why both of them are important to know and use."
Wednesday, June 27, 2018 at 2:00 p.m.
Presenter: Jared Hodges
Learn more or Register for this webinar...

VGS News & Events: 29 April 2018 through 5 May 2018

A full house at the April General Meeting

Coming Events:

Tuesday: May 1, 2018

Adoption & Mystery KIN SIG Meeting

9:00 AM at the Lake Miona Recreation Center

Tuesday: May 1, 2018

Italian Genealogy SIG Meeting

1:00 PM in the Atlanta Room in the Savannah Center

Wednesday: May 2, 2018

French Canadian Genealogy SIG Meeting:

9:00 AM in the Julio Iglesias Room at the La Hacienda Recreation Center

Thursday: May 3, 2018

Eastern European Genealogy SIG Meeting:

1:00 PM in the Daytona Room at the Sea Breeze Recreation Center

Friday: May 4, 2018

British Genealogy SIG Meeting

9:30 AM in the Courageous Room at the Lake Miona Recreation Center

The VGS has been asked by the Florida State Genealogical Society to undertake the project of  digitizing Florida Pioneer applications.  We Need Your Help!

Click HERE to learn more...

Gen News and Announcements:

Exploring and Verifying Your Mayflower Lineage:

American Ancestors
"As the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower crossing approaches, many are eager to discover whether their ancestors were among the 50 passengers who left descendants. In this five-session course, you will hear from leading experts about the reasons for the crossing and the passengers' known English origins, how to verify your connection to the Mayflower, and how to apply to lineage societies, such as the General Society of Mayflower Descendants."
Wednesdays, May 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30, 2018, 6:00–7:30 PM EDT
Cost: $125
Learn more and/or register...

New Historical Records on FamilySearch: Week of April 16, 2018

FamilySearch
"Discover your ancestors on FamilySearch this week in almost 3.5 million records from Oklahoma, 1.5 million from Germany and more from Quebec, Italy, Lesotho, Ireland, Peru, Georgia, Texas, Costa Rica, and Poland."
Search now...

FamilySearch’s Strategy to Help Preserve the World's Archives:

FamilySearch
"From London to Berlin to St. Petersburg and everywhere in between, World War II rained death and destruction. Civil unrest is just one threat to genealogy records in archives worldwide."
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Seven fascinating facts about DNA: family history and DNA:

FamilySearch
"DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is your body’s blueprint. All living creatures possess DNA; the self-replicating material that makes up chromosomes and carries every last bit of our genetic present and past. Your DNA is the "Story of You" AND all of your ancestors; a story that is exclusive to you."
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GEDmatch Offers Completely Free DNA Reports and Cousin Matches: We’ll Show You How to Use It:

Family History Daily
"Some time ago, you decided that you wanted to know more about yourself and your family history beyond what the paper trail revealed, so you purchased a DNA kit. Like me, you likely had a number of questions answered and were faced with a surprise or two. If you’re the curious type (and you probably are because you’re reading this article!), you now have even more questions about your DNA results and genetic genealogy in general."
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How to Use Your Findmypast Family Tree: Advanced Features:

FindMyPast
"How to add details such as records, photos and facts to your ancestors' profiles to really bring your family tree to life"
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Five Transcription Tips For When You’re Just Stuck:

SK Translations
"here are some tried and true tricks of the trade for when you can’t read a word."
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Technology:

Microsoft Kills OneNote Desktop in Favor of the Microsoft Store Version:

How-to-Geek
"Microsoft is killing off the “desktop” version of OneNote, and recommends people use the Windows 10 version instead.
Confused? Well, Microsoft offers two different versions of Office, which extended to OneNote. There’s the “desktop” version, which came with Microsoft Office 2016 and was also available as a free download, and the “Windows 10” version, which you can get free in the Microsoft Store.
Continue reading...

Education:

What is PERSI and How Can You Use it to Improve Your Genealogy Research?

Ancestral Findings
"What is the PERSI index, and why should you be using it for genealogical research? On today’s episode of the Ancestral Findings Podcast, I’ll give you want you need to know about this valuable resource."
Listen now...  8.26 minutes

Webinars:

Special Appearance by the Founder and CEO of MyHeritage:

Legacy Family Tree Webinars
"Join us and the founder of one of genealogy’s most successful companies, Gilad Japhet, for an intimate view into his brainchild, MyHeritage."
Wednesday, May 2, 2018 at 2:00 p.m.
Presenter: Gilad Japhet
Learn more or Register for this webinar...

VGS Latest News & Tips: 11 October 2016

Today: October 11, 2016

Genealogy Writers SIG Meeting

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

Tomorrow: October 12, 2016

Irish Genealogy SIG Meeting
10:00 AM in the Osceola Room at the Chula Vista Recreation Center

Topic: New Irish Databases

The VGS Expo on the Air:

This Video is of an interview with VGS President Jim Lannin at The Villages Genealogy Expo, which was held at The Savannah Center on September 28, 2016. This story originally aired on The Villages Channel 2 on the Comcast Cable System, and was purchased from The Villages Daily Sun.

Watch video...  (1.49 minutes)

20th Annual Central Florida Family History Conference:

Saturday, November 12

9:00 am to 3:45 pm

Olympia High School. Orlando, FL

FEATURING Nationally Acclaimed LISA LOUISE COOKE from Dallas, Texas!

ADMISSION - $35.00 (Includes Conference Notebook with all handouts, schedule, map of the building, and much more! Students 18 and under are FREE!   

LUNCHEON - $10.00 (Panera Bread tasty fresh turkey or ham sandwich, pickle, chips, & chocolate chip cookie (or bring your own lunch) 

CD with ALL HANDOUTS for this conference plus for the last five years: $10.00

REGISTER NOW! www.familyhistoryconference.org  Seating is limited in the classrooms!

Exploring Historical London With The London Picture Map:

Ancestry
"As an ex-pat living in London, one thing I never tire of appreciating is London’s history. Coming from a young country in comparison to England, my head boggles with just how old this city is; what it’s been through, what it’s seen, how it’s changed and sometimes, how it hasn’t."
Continue reading...

400 Years Of Oxfordshire History:

Ancestry

"Over four million historic parish records have been digitised for the first time, offering insight into the history and people of the county of Oxfordshire. Published in conjunction with Oxfordshire Family History Society and the Oxfordshire History Centre, the Oxfordshire Parish Registers, 1538-1965 detail generations of baptisms, marriages and burials."

Continue reading...

3 Ways to Use GEDmatch in Your DNA Research:
Genealogy Insider
"You’ve spent money on a DNA test for yourself and possibly one or more relatives, but what do you do with those results once you've got them? How can you wring every bit of knowledge out of those results and get the most for your money? "
Continue reading...

The New York City Marriage Index For 1950-1995 Is Now Online:
NYC Marriage Index
"Welcome to the first searchable database of the 3,124,595 marriage licenses filed in New York City between 1950-1995. It's free, public, open data."
Search now...

How to Charge the iPhone 7 and Listen to Music at the Same Time:
How-to-Geek
"There has been much ado about Apple’s removal of the headphone jack in its latest version of the iPhone. That means you only have one port on the phone–so how do you charge and listen to music at the same time? We have some options for you."
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This Day In History: 11 October
1862: The Confederate Congress in Richmond passes a draft law allowing anyone owning 20 or more slaves to be exempt from military service. This law confirms many southerners opinion that they are in a ‘rich man’s war and a poor man’s fight.’
1877: Outlaw Wild Bill Longley, who killed at least a dozen men, is hanged, but it takes two tries; on the first try, the rope slipps and his knees drug the ground.
1950: The Federal Communications Commission authorizes the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) to begin commercial color TV broadcasts.
1884 Birthday: Eleanor Roosevelt, wife of President Franklin Roosevelt.

State Timelines:
Even though it is hard to tell what made people move or disappear, these are just a few possibilities.
Florida:
1752: Hurricane destroyed settlement on Santa Rose Island & settlers moved to Pensacola
1758: Gainesville settled by Spanish
1767: Immigrants from Italy & Greece settled New Smyrna
1817-18: First Seminole War