ancestry
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Scenes of Old New York City
Nov 26
Finding any old photographs is of great assistance to historians and those researching their family background. With so many people having lived at one time or another in the many boroughs of New York, the online collection of vintage photos offers a wonderful treasure chest to explore. The site, Photographic Views of New York City, 1870s - 1970...
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A ‘Blacksheep’ Pilgrim – Continued
Nov 25
The continued story of Pilgrim - John Billington. John Billington and his family were on the Mayflower and came to Plymouth in 1620. They all survived the first harsh winter of 1620-1621. They celebrated their first harvest with a feast which would eventually be known as ‘Thanksgiving.’ By 1622, John Billington expressed his dissatisfac...
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A ‘Blacksheep’ Pilgrim or the First American Individualist?
Nov 24
People generally have the notion that the Pilgrims of the Plymouth Colony in the 1620s were a very docile, proper group of people, just seeking a new homeland to worship as they saw fit. Yet, that original group of 102 passengers on the tiny Mayflower ship of 1620 was quite diverse. The following is about one family who stood out from the rest at...
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How to Search for Pilgrim Ancestors
Nov 22
You would think the place to start researching for any ancestral Pilgrims would be with each of the surviving Pilgrims and work toward the present time. Only that is the very hard way since there can be so many descendants. If a Pilgrim couple had nine children and each of those children had five or more children the numbers very quickly add up. ...
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A Source for Family History Books
Nov 18
You are working hard to gather facts, stories and information on your ancestors. You hope you might eventually put the photos, information and documents you have located into a book about your family over the decades. However, did you think maybe someone, another one or generations before you, may have already done that very process? That is w...
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‘Characters in a Drama’
Nov 12
In a recent article and book written by Mark Whitaker, CNN’s managing editor, he covers about his own search for his family’s history. He compared his family members, like all other individuals from anyone’s family, as ‘characters in a drama.’ Learning there is truly a distinctive element in every family story; Mark stated that all ...
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Need Some Help – Use a Video Tutor
Nov 8
Everyone needs some instruction when either learning a new skill, activity or trying to advance their knowledge. In doing your own family history; learning how and what are the best methods is also very important. There are numerous books, online sites and classes where genealogical skills can be perfected. Most of the local genealogical soci...
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A Family’s Unknown Tale from a Document
Nov 2
Never think there is by no means nothing new that can be learned about our ancestors, they can literally be full of surprises. Bits and pieces about events can spring toward in the most unusual places. With the 21st century Internet technology, finding some of those previously unknown occurrences can become easier. A recent example was an 8 ½...
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Additional Civil War Records from FamilySearch
Oct 31
So many family researchers have ancestors who were part of the American Civil War (1861-1865) that we are always looking for new and additional resources to help confirm or provide new information about those soldiers who served. The FamilySearch web site had just added recently many new records, free to the public. There are now millions of new ...
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Transcripts of Letters & Photos from Canadians
Oct 29
Wouldn’t it be great to come across a letter written by a great grandfather that no one in the family had any idea existed? That is a possibility with the online site titled Canadian Letters and Images Project. Through the donation of family members, researchers and even strangers who have come across orphan letters and photos, the project lea...