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

Coming Events:

The Following Meetings Canceled this Week

Technology SIG Meeting Canceled

Midwest SIG Meeting Canceled

Family History Expo Canceled

Wednesday: March 25, 2020
Online Virtual Expo Replaces Canceled Family History Expo

9:30 am to 3:45 pm

Right from the convenience of your home...

• You can register for as many of the presentations as you wish, but you need to register individually for each one that you want to attend.
• You will receive an email with and “join” button for each presentation you’re registered for.
• There will be door prizes after some of the presentations.
• You must be registered for that presentation to win.
• Many presenters will be offering discount codes for their products during their presentations. You will need to attend the presentations to receive the discount codes.
• Cost: FREE!

9:30 - 10:00 a.m. - "Your DNA Guide: Plans for Finding Answers in Your DNA" with Diahan Southard

Registraton: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/8723372828216983309

10:15 to 10:45 a.m. - "5 Steps to Tackling Your Photos- Indentification and Organization" with Maureen Taylor
Registration: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/3969024076574102541

11:00 to 11:30 a.m. -  "Finding the Right German Place!" with Jim Beidler 

Registration: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/8163626851679122957
 

11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. - "2020 Trends for Displaying Your Family History" with Janet Hovorka

Registration: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/7446572647043630605

 
12:15 to 1:00 p.m. - Lunch

1:00 to 1:30 p.m. -  "You CAN Read the Old German Handwriting: Exclusive Peek at the Fun-Filled Online Course" with Katherine Schober
Registration:  https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/8889936745197318413

01:45 to 2:15 p.m. - "Create Your Story" with Rick Voight

Registration: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/7356235672193992461

02:30 to 3:00 p.m. - "What's New in Family Tree Maker" with Mark Olsen 

Registration: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/1949942495977570317

03:15 to 3:45 p.m. - "Visiting Georgia--Find Your Ancestors!" with Karen Molohon

Registration: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/2858439267194991117

Gen News and Announcements:

NOTICE: Temporary Family History Library Closure:

FamilySearch
"Out of concern for the health and safety of our guests, volunteers, and staff, the Family History Library in Salt Lake City will temporarily close starting at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 13, 2020 until further notice. This closure is to support preventive efforts to control the spread of COVID-19."
Continue reading...

Opportunity Knocking:

The Legal Genealogist
"All of the events where The Legal Genealogist was to speak have been cancelled into early May, and it’s almost certain that there will be more cancellations ahead.
Which means…
All of a sudden there’s time on my hands." And your hands too!
Continue reading...

A Reading List to Stay at Home With:

Kitty Cooper
"Since you are all carefully practicing social distancing in order to do your part to slow this pandemic, I put together some DNA focused reading recommendations. I am very grateful to my kindle app which makes it easy to get books."
Continue reading...

620 Free Online School Record Collections from the Mid West States:

The Ancestor Hunt
"Those can be found on the Yearbooks Page. I'm talking about actual school records, such as enrollment, attendance, and grade reports for example. These are interesting source documents because they might record the students age, birth date and location, and possibly their parents names."
Continue reading...

5 Things You Need to Know About Researching UK Ancestors:

Family History Daily

"When we ponder exploring jolly old Great Britain and Northern Ireland with its pastures of green, sprinkled with ancient castles and quaint village cottages, it may seem like a research slam-dunk for any seasoned genealogist. Why not? Their history goes back for hundreds upon hundreds of years. Plus, their native language is English, right?"

Continue reading...

Technology:

What’s New in Windows 10’s 20H1 Update, Arriving Spring 2020:

How-To Geek
"Microsoft is already working on Windows 10’s 20H1 update. Expected sometime around May 2020, this is Windows 10 version 2004. It’s much bigger than Windows 10’s November 2019 update but still feels like a collection of useful improvements."
Continue reading...

Education:

Alternate Sources for Death Records:

Ancestry 5 Minute Find
"What do you do when you can't find your ancestor's death record? There are other records that can help. Amy Johnson Crow shows several examples of alternate sources for civil death registrations."
Watch now...

Webinars:

Using Fold3.com to Your Advantage

Legacy Family Tree
"With every subscription service, there are nuances. What is free? What will you have to pay for? How can I best use this tool, efficiently, but effectively? Where are their mistakes? How can I find what I need, even when I cannot seem to find it? Come learn my tricks about Fold3.com."
Wednesday, March 25, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern
Presenter: Craig R. Scott, MA, CG, FUGA
Learn more or Register for this event...

VGS News & Events: 20 August 2017 - 26 August 2017

Reminders:

Wednesday: August 23, 2017

Brick Wall SIG Meeting

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

Wednesday: August 23, 2017

General Monthly Meeting

10:00 AM in the Atlanta Room in the Savannah Center
Our First Live Webinar...
Guest Speaker: Mary Roddy
Presentation: “Family Browse.”
FamilySearch.org has millions of images on its website, many of which are unindexed and not searchable.  But if you know how to get into the catalog and browse around, you can find images of birth and death certificates, naturalization papers, deeds, wills, estate inventories, and more.  And FamilySearch is adding more and more such images every month.  To take advantage of this ever-increasing bounty, it’s important to know how to find these types of records. 
Note: If you are attending this meeting in person, you do not need to do anything. If you want to attend this meeting by webinar you must register to attend.
Register HERE...

Gen News:

New Website: FreeCEN

FreeCen
"The aim of FreeCEN is to provide free Internet searches of the 19th century UK census returns.
FreeCEN is a part of the Free UK Genealogy Charity and a companion to FreeBMD (which is a database of the General Register Office (GRO) birth, marriage and death indexes from 1837) and FreeREG (which is a database of baptism, marriage and burial entries in church registers, some from 1538, and other relevant sources)."
Visit Website HERE...

Using FamilySearch Apps to Record Oral Histories:

FamilySearch

"The most complete family histories draw on a wide variety of resources. Documents and records provide important basic facts, while photos paint a fuller, more in-depth picture of ancestors. Oral histories add another invaluable layer with stories, personalities, and details that bring your ancestors to life. And with FamilySearch’s Family Tree and Memories apps, making audio recordings part of your family history has never been easier."

Continue reading...

Family.me Creates an Interactive Family Tree with Living Relatives:

FamilySearch
"I have a love/hate relationship with social media. I’m grateful to see what’s going on with family and friends, but I could do without public posts, personal rants, and self-serving selfies. This is why I am excited that Family.me, a new app that has partnered with FamilySearch, has created a private social network specifically for families. While it is not a messaging center, you can connect with your family’s photos and get to know living relatives and your ancestors at the same time."
Continue reading...

New Historic Records on FamilySearch: Week of July 31, 2017:

FamilySearch
"This week, millions of records from the Netherlands, Argentina, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, and Paraguay, are now available! Search these new free records and new US records from California, Idaho, South Dakota, and Utah at FamilySearch"
Continue reading...

The Shoes:

DNAeXplained
"During my recent overseas adventure, I visited both Nuremburg, Germany and Budapest, Hungary, among other locations. These two cities, especially in combination, were intensely moving."
Continue reading...

Tech:

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 antivirus called Windows Defender (which used to be available separately as Microsoft Security Essentials). But is it really the best for protecting your PC–or even just good enough?"
Continue reading...

Education:

How to Conduct a Neighborhood Study, and Why You Should:

Ancestral Findings
"Do you have a mysterious ancestor? Doing a neighborhood study may provide you with the answers you need. On today’s episode of the Ancestral Findings Podcast, I'll show you how to do one and why you should."
Listen now... 5.45 minutes

Upcoming Webinars:

How to do Mexican Research and Be Successful:

Legacy Family Tree Webinars
"This class is for anyone interested in doing Mexican genealogical research, and wants to find what they are looking for. We will cover the availability of resources, research strategies, and where to find help.
Wednesday, August 23, 2017 at 2:00 p.m.
Presenter: Jonathan Walker
Learn more or Register for this webinar...

VGS Latest News and Tips: May 19, 2017

Reminders:

Today: May 19, 2017

Scandinavian Genealogy SIG Meeting

10:00 AM in the Clearwater Room Sea Breeze Recreation Center
Topic: This meeting will be an "Open Discussion" session so bring lots of questions.  Mike Garvin will be the coordinator for this meeting.

Gen News:

Recently Launched Indexing Projects On FamilySearch: May 2017:

FamilySearch
"FamilySearch has published its May 2017 list of historic record collections available for online indexing (see table below). If you are waiting for "that record" that may have the potential to break down your genealogical brick wall, it may be waiting to be indexed. Indexing is what makes historical records easily searchable online for free at FamilySearch."
Continue reading...

Add Personality Assessments To Your Story:

Storied Genealogy
"Any time I have an opportunity to discover more about myself I’m all over it. So it’s no surprise that I like personality assessments. A lot.
Personality assessments are objective and are great at cutting through the defenses, justifications and excuses to show the real you."
Continue reading...

Searching The UK Protestation Returns Of 1641/1642:

Family Tree Tips
"The UK Protestation Returns of 1641/1642 are the closest thing that we have to a census. If you are lucky enough to have traced your ancestry back to this time and you know the exact parish that they lived in, then it could be worth taking a look at these records to see if their names appear in them."
Continue reading...

Tech:

What Are “Shared Experiences” on Windows 10?

How-to-Geek
"Microsoft’s “Shared Experiences” allow you to start a task on one device and finish it on another, or easily set up a remote control or other companion app on a smartphone."
Continue reading...

What Does the D-Shaped Icon Next to My USB-C Port Mean?

How-to-Geek

"Most of the time, it is pretty simple to figure out what the various ports and the printed symbols next to them on our computers are for, but every so often, some new or different symbol pops up. With that in mind, today’s SuperUser Q&A post has the answer to a curious reader’s question."
Continue reading...

Education:

8 Things New Genealogists Waste Money On

Ancestral Findings
"Today on the Ancestral Findings Podcast . . . Are you a beginning genealogist? Be sure you don't waste your money on these eight common things that often turn into money pits for newcomers to the hobby."
Listen now... 4.53 minutes

VGS Reminders: 20 - 24 February 2017

Wednesday's New to Genealogy SIG Meeting

Reminders:

Tuesday: February 21, 2017

Italian Genealogy SIG Meeting

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

Wednesday: February 22, 2017

Annual All-Day Seminar

9:00 AM at the La Hacienda Recreation Center

Doors Open at 8:15 a.m.

This event is sold out and you must have a reservation to attend.

Note: There is no regular monthly meeting in February and there is no Brick Wall SIG meeting prior to the seminar.
If you have registered to attend the annual seminar and you are unable to attend, contact the seminar registrar so a person on the waiting list can take your place.

Registration Is Open:
Members should have received an email on Thursday about Crista Cowan and Ancestry.com returning to The Villages. Check your mail and if you haven't already registered do so now before all sessions are full.

Gen News:

Over 282,000 individuals added to our Parish Record Collection:

The Genealogist
"We have added over 282,000 individuals to our extensive Parish Record collection. With records from Essex, Cumberland and Norfolk, making it easier to find your ancestors' baptisms, marriages and burials in these fully searchable records covering ancient parishes. Some of the records go back as far as 1672."
Continue reading...

FREE Access Weekend:

Ancestry
“Discover your British roots for FREE. This weekend only, ancestry.com is giving you free access to more than 1 billion UK records. Access to the records in the featured collections will be free from February 17, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. ET to February 20, 2017 at 11:59 p.m. ET.
Search now...

Add 80,000 Genealogy Books to Your Book Collection:

Genealogy Gopher's
Digital images of original published works by various authors are available right now and most is free of charge. Search for your ancestor's now.
Search your ancestor now...

Tech:

What Are Instagram’s “Stories”, and How Do I Use Them?

How-to-Geek
"Instagram has taken a leaf out of Snapchat’s book and added a disappearing Story feature. Now, as well as posting normal images to Instagram, users can share what’s happening in the moment. Any image posted to a Story stays live for just 24 hours. After that, it’s gone."
Continue reading...

How to Secure Your Facebook Account:

How-to-Geek
"If you’ve been using Facebook for a few years, then you know your account contains a veritable treasure trove of information that thieves would just love to mine. It may go without saying, but firmly securing your Facebook account is going to go a long way towards protecting you from exposing a big chunk of your personal life to unsavory elements."
Continue reading...

Education:

FamilySearch Indexing: How It Works Records:

YouTube
"This animated video gives a light-hearted, volunteer-level explanation of how indexing with FamilySearch works and why it is important for family history research."
Continue reading...

Legacy Family Tree Webinars:
LFT

"Weaving DNA Test Results into a Proof Argument:"
"This lecture illustrates how to integrate each element of the Genealogical Proof Standard in a proof argument that relies heavily on autosomal DNA test results to answer a relationship research question. "
8:00 p.m. February 21, 2017
Register HERE...

"Finding Missing Persons With DNA Testing:"
"Do you have an adoption in your line, or are you adopted yourself? Do you have an ancestor who just refuses to be found? DNA testing can be a very powerful tool to help fill in the blanks in your family tree."
2:00 p.m. February 22, 2017
Register HERE...
Note: This is the same day as our annual seminar. You can watch a replay of this webinar for a limited time after its broadcast.

VGS Latest News & Tips: 22 December 2016

Our Annual All-Day Seminar is Sold Out!

Wow! Our annual seminar in February is sold out!!!  This is by far the quickest we have sold all available tickets.  We currently are accepting a limited number of waiting list registrations and there are some names already on that list. For more information about the seminar or the waiting list, contact the seminar registrar HERE

A Guide To Manchester & Lancashire Genealogical Research:

Family Tree Tips
"A lot of my personal research has been around the Manchester and Lancashire area. So I’ve used a lot of sources in my research, these “Extra” resources used along with the usual suspects (Ancestry, FamilySearch etc.) can yield some very colourful results."
Continue reading...

Help Make the FamilySearch Blog Better:

FamilySearch
"To make it easier for you to find these resources, we are reorganizing and simplifying our blog categories. Can you help us?"
Continue reading... 

New Historic Records On FamilySearch: Week of December 12, 2016:

FamilySearch
"Major additions have been made to record collections in Ireland as well as the Find A Grave index. New indexed records were also added to the Freedmen's Bureau collection."
Continue reading... 

How to Replace 5 Major Yahoo Services and then Delete your Yahoo Account:

Privacy Blog
"This is a follow-up to yesterday’s article of Hackers Breach a Billion Yahoo Accounts at https://goo.gl/BgVMPZ. If you have had enough with Yahoo’s multiple security problems, you might want to take action now. Ian Paul has written a guide to replacing Yahoo’s major services with alternative options, then deleting your Yahoo account."
Continue reading...

How to See Other Devices Logged in to Your Google Account:

How-to-Geek
"Feel like you forgot to log out of Gmail on your friend’s computer? Google makes it easy to see all the devices—laptop, phone, tablet, and otherwise—logged into your Google account. You can view both a list of IP addresses that have accessed it, and a list of devices that have actively used your account in the last 28 days."
Continue reading...

This Day In History: 22 December

1807: Congress passes the Embargo Act, which halts all trading completely. It is hoped that the act will keep the United States out of the European Wars.
1829: The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad opens the first passenger railway line.
1918: The last of the food restrictions, enforced because of the shortages during World War I, are lifted.
1921 Birthday: Hawkshaw Hawkins (Harold Hawkins), country singer; he died along with country stars Patsy Cline and Cowboy Copas when the small plane that was carrying them crashed in 1963.

State Timelines:

Even though it is hard to tell what made people move or disappear, these are just a few possibilities.
Missouri:
1860: Pony Express began in St. Joseph
1874: Eads Bridge across the Mississippi River at St. Louis opened
1904: St. Louis hosted World's Fair & first Olympic games

VGS Latest News & Tips: 21 December 2016

Why You Shouldn’t Be Fooled In To Thinking Everyone Has A Family Coat-Of-Arms Or Crest:

Family Tree Tips
"The majority of people, when they first get in to Genealogy or Family History often (And me included) want to find out their “Family Crest” or “Coat-of-Arms”. If you google your last name followed by one of the two you’ll find countless sites which all want to sell you merchandise with “your” particular crest on."
Continue reading...

Find: WWII Underwater Demolition Teams:

Fold3
"Before there were the Navy SEALs, there were the Underwater Demolition Teams (UDTs) of World War II in the Pacific. UDTs were in charge of reconnaissance of the shoreline prior to an amphibious invasion. They would reconnoiter the lay of the beaches and offshore waters and be on the lookout for any natural or manmade obstructions that would hinder landing craft. They would then use explosives to demolish any obstacles"
Continue reading...

How To Access Canadian WW-2 Service Records:

Legacy Family Tree
"A few months ago I sent for the military records of my father's brother, Clarence E. McGinnis. I knew Uncle Clare had been in WW-2 as I have several photos of him in uniform. But I never knew where he served, what unit he was in, or what he did during the War."
Continue reading... 

Search Guide: UK Census Records:

FindMyPast
"If you've traced your ancestor overseas to the UK and are wondering what to do next, remember what you did when researching your American ancestors and use similar strategies to make progress with your ancestors overseas. Don't let the new location intimidate you. The best place to begin your search for your UK ancestors is with the UK census records."
Continue reading... 

How to Secure Your Google Account:

How-to-Geek
"Out of all your online accounts, there’s a good chance that Google holds most of your information. Think about it: if you use Gmail for email, Chrome for web browsing, and Android for your mobile OS, then you’re already using Google for almost everything you do."
Continue reading...

Citrus County Genealogical Society Meeting:

The Citrus County Genealogical Society will meet January 10 at 10:00 AM at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 3474 W. Southern St., Lecanto. The speaker, Annette Burke Lyttle, nationally known genealogy lecturer, will talk about “A Path to Your Next Research Steps: Using Timelines to Organize, Analyze and Evaluate Evidence.” So you’ve done all this research – now what? How do you figure out what you have and what to look for next? Learn how timelines enable you to organize your information, evaluate your evidence, analyze research results for accuracy, and identify next research steps. Guests are welcome to attend. For information call Mary Ann Machonkin at 382-5515 or go to www.citrusgenealogy.com

This Day In History: 21 December

1620: The Pilgrims land at or near Plymouth Rock.
1790: Samuel Slater opens the first cotton mill in the United States (in Rhode Island).
1862: The U.S. Congress authorizes the Medal of Honor to be awarded to Navy personnel who have distinguished themselves by their gallantry in action.
1911 Birthday: Josh Gibson, baseball player for the Negro Leagues, Home-Run King.

State Timelines:

Even though it is hard to tell what made people move or disappear, these are just a few possibilities.
Missouri:
1764: St. Louis founded
1803: Part of the Louisiana Purchase
1812: Missouri Territory organized
1833: Heavy German Immigration

VGS Latest News & Tips: 20 December 2016

Understanding What Is Meant By “Second Cousin Once Removed” And Similar Relationships:

Family Tree Tips
"A lot of people and myself included when they start researching don’t know the actual meaning of relationships like “Second Cousin Once Removed” or “Third Cousin Twice Removed” and only know the simple stuff like great grandfather, great great grandmother etc."
Continue reading...

AncestorSearch using Google Custom Search:

randymajors.com
"This tool helps you build a better Google search for finding web pages mentioning your ancestors. It returns a more focused set of search results by using advanced Google search techniques including exact phrases, forward and reverse name order, alternate name spellings, logical operators, and so on. Nothing magical, just a big time-saver!"
Continue reading...

The Genealogy Gems Podcast: Episode 198

Lisa Louise Cooke
"This episode’s got a bit of holiday sparkle! Lisa Louise Cooke welcomes Genealogy Gems Book Club author and Victorian lifestyle expert Sarah Chrisman to the show to talk about Victorian holiday traditions, some of which may still live on in your own life. Following that conversation, Lisa shares a fun description of Victorian-era scrapbooking: how it’s different than today’s scrapbooking hobby but also how it reminds her of modern social media."
Continue reading...

How Refrigeration Changed the United States:

Ancestry
"Refrigeration and air conditioning are conveniences that we mostly take for granted in modern buildings and houses. At least I certainly do, after living on the Gulf Coast of Florida for the greater part of my life. Although my ancestors have lived in this sub-tropical environment since the early 1900s, I can’t imagine going through the summer without it."
Continue reading...

UK History:

Ancestry

" Don't let your UK history go undiscovered. Download our research guide and learn 3 tips on discovering your UK ancestors.

Download guide...

Android Guide: Keeping Your Device Secure:

How-to-Geek
"Whenever you walk out your front door with your phone, you carry with you the contents of your life. “Security” may seem like a boring topic, but your phone has all kinds of important, personal, and sensitive information on it—even if you think it doesn’t. When it’s so easy to lose your mobile device or have it stolen, you have to ask yourself: why take chances when protecting your data is so simple?"
Continue reading...

This Day In History: 20 December

1802: The United States buys the Louisiana territory from France.
1933: The German government announces 400,000 citizens are to be sterilized because of hereditary defects.
1938: First electronic television system is patented.
1914 Birthday: Harry F. Byrd Jr., first independent ever elected to US Senate by a majority of the popular vote (Virginia).

State Timelines:

Even though it is hard to tell what made people move or disappear, these are just a few possibilities.
Mississippi:
1825: Vicksburg incorporated
1898: Gulfport incorporated
1907: Boll weevil attached cotton crop
1917: Payne Field established in West Point to train Army Pilots

VGS Latest News & Tips: 18 October 2016

Today: October 18, 2016

Italian Genealogy SIG Meeting

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

Tomorrow: October 19, 2016

Mid-Atlantic States SIG Meeting

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

Tomorrow: October 19, 2016

New to Genealogy SIG Meeting

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

The Great Plague of London, 1665:
Contagion
"The Great Plague of London in 1665 was the last in a long series of plague epidemics that first began in London in June 1499. The Great Plague killed between 75,000 and 100,000 of London’s rapidly expanding population of about 460,000."
Continue reading...

Online Presentation: Researching the History of a House:
NEHGS
"Ever wonder about the history of your home? Join NEHGS Senior Researcher Meaghan E. H. Siekman to learn how research strategies, available records, and physical evidence combine to reconstruct the past of a structure and its inhabitants. What you discover about your home and its previous occupants may surprise you!"

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

How To Use UK Records To Start Your Family History Research:
Ancestry
"Want to research your family history with Ancestry but not quite sure where to start? We explore the best UK records for helping you branch out your family tree. "
Continue reading...

Rounding Up Your Family's Black Sheep:
Ancestry
"Sometimes they went to jail. Sometimes they went to sea. Sometimes they just went their own way. Wherever they went, your black sheep ancestors didn’t follow the herd. That’s what makes their stories so compelling. Whether you’ve spent years tracking your family’s prodigal sons and daughters or are just starting out, you’re bound to find some new stones to turn or records to scour in our tips for finding your black sheep ancestors. (We’ve updated them with our latest prison records databases—just in case.)"
Download guide...

Roots Magic 30th Birthday Contest:
Roots Magic
"It's our 30th birthday, but you're getting the presents! Whether you've been a part of the RootsMagic family for 30 years or 30 minutes, we want to hear your story! Tell us about the time you "first felt the magic"- that is, the moment you fell in love with our software. Just fill out this entry form by Monday, October 31, 2016."
Continue reading...

Why You Shouldn’t Use “Anti-Spying” Tools for Windows 10:
How-to-Geek
"Since Windows 10’s release and the privacy controversy that followed, many “anti-spying” apps have sprung up. They promise to keep Windows 10 from tracking you–but often, they can cause more problems than they solve."
Continue reading...

This Day In History: 18 October
1648: The “shoemakers of Boston”–the first labor organization in what would become the United States–is authorized by the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
1867: The Alaska territory is formally transferred to the U.S. from Russian control.
1883: The weather station at the top of Ben Nevis, Scotland, the highest mountain in Britain, is declared open. Weather stations were set up on the tops of mountains all over Europe and the Eastern United States in order to gather information for the new weather forecasts.
1926 Birthday: Chuck Berry, rock ‘n’ roll performer.

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