Jan 21
Nearly an 800 to 1000 years ago in England, most people simply used one name, not a given or names and a surname. Today we find a surname even made up of a person's father and mother's surname. However, back in olde England with much lower population, people managed with one name. Generally, the name was based on a person's occupation. So what wer...
Jan 20
It has been recently confirmed through careful research of the exact location back in 1692 where a number of local Salem citizens were sentenced as witches (males and females), some hung and others sent to prison. Their trials were held in February 1692 and the hangings done in the summer months. The hanging site, known as Proctor’s Ledge, is a...
Jan 20
Genealogy conferences are great because they give people the opportunity to network with other genealogists who live far away from them. The other reason why people enjoy conferences is because it is possible to learn a lot from the speakers. RootsTech 2016 has an exciting lineup of Keynote speakers. There are three Keynote speakers scheduled ...
Jan 19
It is said that everyone has at least one other people on earth who looks like them. Figures have even stated as high as 7 people at any given time can look like you. That same idea with people who lived decades ago. What makes it even more strange, is that this look-a-like is not related to you. Has it happened to you? A stranger stops you and ...
Jan 19
The USS Oklahoma was sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. A total of 429 men died when the ship capsized. The remains were recovered in 1943, but identification proved to be impossible at the time. Today, there is an effort being made to re-examine the bones and identify the those who sank on the USS Oklahoma. The USS Oklahoma as on ...
Jan 18
Genealogists who are trying to learn more about ancestors who were slaves run into difficulties not faced by other genealogists. It isn't likely that vital records, such as birth certificates or marriage licenses, exist. It turns out that probate records may hold some information about your ancestors who were slaves. Probate records are document...
Jan 17
Seeing photos of the places our ancestors lived, worked and spent their lives is always fascinating. Additional photos taken during the 1930s for New York City are now available online with the New York Public Library Digital Collections. These are some wonderful black and white photos of all types of places, businesses and streets. If you ha...
Jan 15
You need the little 'tricks of the trade' in using the search engine 'Google' to have the greatest chance at success. So here are a few pointers to try. To search multiple dates at one time without having to enter them individually, use this method. This is hugely helpful if you are looking for birth, marriage or death records (or any date based...
Jan 15
Today, January 15th is the unofficial recognition of people wearing hats. It is not done as much as once, when it was the only acceptable thing to do for men and women. Of course, there are many reasons over the decades our ancestors wore hats. Hats may be worn for safety and protection, religious reasons, ceremonial reasons, warmth or fashion...
Jan 14
FamilySearch, one of the most popular genealogy websites, frequently adds new resources and tools that its users can utilize. One of the more recent additions is a Memories Gallery. It was designed to enhance how genealogists add, organize, and view pictures and other artifacts from their family tree. FamilySearch, as you may know, is provided a...
Jan 13
Using newspapers is very valuable resource in doing family history. Using Trove (National Library of Australia), will assist those who had ancestors living, visiting or working in Australia. However, just like all newspapers, they also carried news events / happenings in other countries. So any unusual or special events in the United States or Engl...
Jan 13
Genealogists use a wide variety of online resources for the purpose of doing research on their ancestors. Everything from popular genealogy websites to a common Google search can be utilized in the hopes of finding results. It's not easy to search social media for specific information. The NCSU Libraries are going to change that by developing a Soc...
Jan 12
Genealogists take DNA tests for two reasons. One is because the results could reveal relatives that they were unaware of. The other reason has to do with health. Some DNA tests can reveal whether or not a person has genes that might increase the risk for certain diseases. However, there is a limitation on DNA test kits for Americans – one that is...
Jan 11
There are many different types of social media sources that can assist in your family history research -- Facebook, Message Boards and also Twitter. Here are some fantastic genealogy-related Twitter accounts you can follow for additional help and motivation. FamilyTree.com Follow our advice blog, tips on genealogy, and tips for building...
Jan 11
Ancestry.com upset a lot of genealogists when it announced, on December 8, 2015, that it would stop selling Family Tree Maker as of December 31, 2015. It can be difficult and frustrating when things change, especially with little notice. Here are some tips for coping without Ancestry.com's Family Tree Maker. Look at the Facts One way to cope ...