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DNA - Genealem's Genetic Genealogy
Three DNA Tests for Genealogy, part 1 Overview
Over the course of the next few weeks, my posts will be a series on the new austosomal testing for genealogy. The first three parts in this series reviews some basic facts and clarifies the three types of testing for genealogy. The next section will explore the various...
The Southern California Genealogical Society (SCGS) held their Jamboree June 11-13, 2010 at the Marriott Hotel in Burbank. My understanding is that this is the third largest gathering of genealogists, behind NGS and FGS. That is prestigious! Attendance was estimated at 1700, the largest gathering for the...
FAMILY TREE DNA's SUMMER SALE!
Today Family Tree DNA announced their summer sale.Here is a wonderful time to get your friends and family tested from the oldest, most reliable, customer-service-oriented DNA company existing. Family Tree DNA has the largest database for genealogy testing and was the first company to offer DNA testing to the...
Blood of the Isles - DVD Press Release
DVD RELEASE OUT ON 12 MARCH 2010 WINNER OF 2010 IRISH FILM AND TELEVISION AWARDSBEST DOCUMENTARY SERIES'Blood of the Irish'by Crossing the Line FilmsCrossing The Line Films are delighted to announce the release of the IFTA winning documentary series 'Blood of the Irish', a 2 hour documentary that seeks the...
Who Do You Think You Are 2010 in London
WDYTYA 2010Who Do You Think You Are (WDYTYA) 2010, the world’s largest genealogy conference, was a wonderful success. Like last year, the line at the door started early and stretched for several blocks. But the crowds were definitely larger every day, and the traffic was much heavier on Sunday...
My 23andMe Success Stories #2 & #3
I have successfully found common ancestors for two more of my 23andMe cousins. (See a previous blog for the first cousin found.) I am quite surprised to find my DNA still has enough of my ancestors genes from the 1600s to find matches!As far as the actual markers...
PC Genealogy Software
In case you missed it (because the RootsMagic News screen is disabled), an update to RootsMagic was released on July 10th. This brings the version number of this leading PC genealogy software to 4.0.4.0. The update includes some new features and some fixes. New Added a feature to fix broken media / image...
Legacy Family Tree Updated to 7.0.0.100
The folks at Millenia released an update to their PC genealogy software, Legacy Family Tree last week. This one adds fields to prepare the software for upcoming integration with FamilySearch. There's a GEDCOM export change that you can use to prevent British Quarter dates from being converted to date ranges. A new...
Family Tree Maker 2009 Service Pack 1 Bug Fix Release
The Generations Network Released a bug fix update to their PC genealogy software Family Tree Maker 2009. This update fixes issues reported in service pack 1. The fixes identified in the update are: Task category creation and use in Person view. Calendars fail to display when showing February 29th. Memory usage...
Family Historian 4 Officially Released Today
While Calico Pie actually made it available for purchase at the end of April, they officially annouced version 4 today. Some of the interface has been completely rewritten to make it easier to use. New features in version 4 include: A new hub component window called the Focus Window, with views...
Here’s a Quick Way to See Relationships in Legacy Family Tree
It's often helpful, when viewing the data in our genealogy software, to see at a glance what relationship one person has to another. In this video: Viewing Relationships in the Legacy Family Tree Family View, I show you how, click-by-click, to display the relationships of the people on the Legacy...
Adding a Spouse in Family Tree Maker 2009
Adding a spouse to a person's record in your genealogy software is a very common task. In this video: Adding a Spouse in PC Genealogy Software Family Tree Maker 2009, I show you click-by-click, how it's done. This includes three ways to begin the process of adding a spouse,...
The Genealogue
Like Thomas MacEntee, I think a GeneaBloggers' Code of Conduct is long overdue. From now on, any blogger wishing to appear in my Genealogy Blog Finder must adhere to the following guidelines:Follow best genealogical practices at all times. Or else learn to fake it like the rest of us.Hateful language...
Ménage à Trois in a Test Tube Revisited
I first wrote about scientists producing human embryos with the DNA of three people in 2008. The new issue of Nature has an article on the researchers' progress.The British team carrying out the study used fertilized eggs donated by couples undergoing fertility treatment, and which were unsuitable for in vitro...
Genealogy: Another Reason for Your Family to Hate You
Not only is genealogy a worthless pursuit, it can lead to family discord.Illegitimate children, hidden affairs, troubled finances and deceit all await those determined to piece together their family's past, found Dr Anne-Marie Kramer of Warwick University.When she interviewed more than 220 people across the country who had looked into...
Every Family Has a Story, And Yours Probably Sucks
The Times has another of those "genealogists are (and should be) only interested in famous ancestors" articles, this time by Sathnam Sanghera.Genealogists also have a habit of remarking that “every family has a story”. But it’s not necessarily a story worth telling. Given the huge number of worthless family stories...
They Were Practically War Buddies
Chris Staats finds five degrees of separation between himself and George Washington. I think I can beat him.I knew my great-aunt Gladys (died when I was 25), who knew her grandfather Lemuel Dunham (died when she was 10), who knew his grandfather Moses Dunham (died when he was 15). Moses...
It's a genealogist's worst nightmare: 800,000+ burials and only one marked grave.Most New Yorkers don’t even know it’s there. Hart Island, near the popular summer spot City Island, is one of the world’s largest cemeteries, and the U.S.’s largest potter’s field, where the indigent and unidentifiable have been buried en...
Creative Gene
Memories of Summers Past: The Ice Cream Man
When I think of summer, I think of ice cream. Not that I only eat ice cream in the summer mind you, but in my mind it goes hand in hand with hot summer days and nights. Thinking back to summers when I was a kid, the "ice cream man"...
Carnival of Genealogy, 94th Edition
Welcome to the June 4, 2010 edition of the Carnival of Genealogy. The topic for this edition is: the changing roles of women. We all know that women's roles have changed over the centuries but have you stopped to think about how and when women's roles have changed within your...
Yesterday I took a drive through the old neighborhood. The one I grew up in, in Dearborn, Michigan. I don't go back there as much as I used to when my mom was still alive and living there. I still have a brother living in the city but I didn't...
Email, Vulnerable Family Information
I just read an interesting article on Lorine McGinnis Schulze's blog Olive Tree Genealogy. In the article, Can You Teach an Old Genealogist New Tricks?, Lorine writes about a problem she's having with identifying photos shared with her by family members because the email with the identifying information didn't get...
The Changing Roles of Women in the Lipa and Mizera Families
To honor the mothers on my family tree, I'm taking this opportunity to look back at their roles in the societies in which they lived. It is only in looking back, in historical context, that it becomes apparent just how far we ladies have come. We wear many different hats...
I'm pleased to share with you the good news that Creative Gene has been named to the MyHeritage.com Top 100 Genealogy Sites list. I'm tickled to be listed among so many terrific bloggers! My thanks to MyHeritage.com for choosing to include Creative Gene on their list. Dziękuję bardzo!...
Randy Seaver's Blogs
SEAVER - SEVER - SEVIER Surname Genealogy and Family History
This blog provides information about the genealogy and family history of persons with the surname SEAVER(S) and variants such as SEVER(S), SEVIER, SEVERE, etc....
South San Diego County Graveyard Rabbit
This blog will provide information about cemeteries and graveyards in South San Diego County in California. South County is defined, arbitrarily by me, as south of Interstate 8 which is about 20 miles north of the US-Mexico border. This blog is a proud member of the Association of Graveyard Rabbits!...
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Genealogy and family research are an obsession for me. Yea, verily, I am a Geneaholic!...
This is a personal life blog - I will post family pictures as I get them, and make comments on current events and San Diego sports. I will also post "good" jokes and trivia quizzes occasionally. Go Chargers! Go Padres!...
Genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2010....
Olga's Daughter
<—Sydney Comes to London Mammie (Becky’s) Diary We have moved to a smaller house in Tremaine Road and, in the end, I was quite pleased to leave Mission House. The memories are haunting me. I saw this article about Sydney in the paper and thought I’d save it. It’s rather...
<—Life as a Servant Olga’s Diary (Continued) Dear Diary Sydney: I got a letter from home. It had been sent to St Giles who forwarded to Miss Franklin who forwarded to Sister Pateman and eventually I got it. It was from Sydney saying he was coming to England on a...
<—Colonel & Mrs Hurt Olga’s Diary (Continued) Dear Diary News from Home: I received a letter with a Christmas card in it today. It was such a surprise when Mrs Hurt handed it to me. It had been on a long journey. Matron, at St Giles, had forwarded it to the Refuge. Miss Franks...
<—Life in a Wartime Nursery : Wimbledon Olga’s Diary (Continued) Dear Diary Sister Warner sent me to Massey’s Employment Agency in Baker Street, London, to apply for a live-in cook/housekeeper position so that I can have Marie with me. The reception room was very big with four cubicles down one side of the...
Life in a Wartime Nursery : Wimbledon, London
<—Marie Olga’s Diary (Continued) Dear Diary The baby room is painted in pretty pale colours, yellow, pink and blue with pictures of bunny rabbits, kittens and puppies stuck on the walls. There are ten cots in a row, each one containing a precious baby, and now the sisters have put another cot at...
<—Home is a Refuge for Friendless Girls Olga’s Diary (Continued) Dear Diary Marie: So many people were in the labour room of St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, three medical students watching as part of their training, two nurses, Sister and a doctor. After eighteen painful hours it was it was nearly over. “One good...
Rush Reunion Benedicta, Maine
Registration Extended for Rush Reunion 2010
As we are approaching the celebration of our heritage and come together as one Aug. 21, 2010 the registration has been extended. We would love to see each of you and see Benedicta come alive once again. It is this time that we are able to honor John...
Registration for Rush Reunion Ends Soon
Happy Easter to you all,As we spend this day with our loved ones please don't forget to register for the Rush Reunion 2010. The deadline is fast approaching and many have not confirmed yet. Please let's see Benedicta come alive once again.See you this summer.Safe TravelsMichelle...
I just wanted to let you know that we were ranked in The Top 100 Genealogy Blogs....
Register Now for Rush Reunion 2010
Please all as this reunion is fast approaching please don't forget to register at www.rushreunionbenedicta.com as this is a catered event and May 1st 2010 is the deadline. We would like to see Benedicta come alive once again. Please join us and make it the biggest yet. ...
Please Register Now for the Rush Reunion 2010
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Register Now for Rush Reunion 2010
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Donna’s Genealogy Blog
Strategies for Starting Your Family History: Ancestry.com
Ancestry.com has one of the largest groups of databases online for genealogical research. Accessible by individual subscription, or through Ancestry Library Edition at a local library, these databases can help jumpstart your research by searching a large number of records, and in many cases, linking you to an image of...
Strategies for Starting Your Family History: CyndisList.com
For genealogists and family historians, Cyndi is one of those people who only needs a single name (but in case you’re interested, her last name is Howells). In 1995, Cyndi began to keep a list of bookmarks to genealogical sites. As the list grew she lacked the ability...
Strategies for Starting Your Family History: USGenWeb.com
I want to continue to discuss free websites that you should find helpful in your genealogical research. I’ve mentioned a number of times the importance of location in your research. The USGenWeb Project is a excellent source of information on locations in the United States. This is...
Strategies for Starting Your Family History: FamilySearch.org
One of the first sites you may want to use is FamilySearch.org. This is the site for the LDS Church, or the Mormons. You might think that this site won’t be of any value to you if your ancestors weren’t Mormon...wrong! Mormons have a very strong belief...
Strategies for Starting Your Family History: Online Resources
For people starting their family history today, the Internet has some amazing resources. Most people think of using the Internet to search for names and in fact, there are numerous sites on which to do this. But I’d like you to think of the Internet as “A Great...
Strategies for Starting Your Family History: Census Records
After Vital Records, one of the most common resources used by genealogists is census records. When I began my research, the census records were only available on microfilm and I had to depend on soundex or printed indexes that only listed the head of the family. Today all...
AnceStories: The Stories of My Ancestors
26 Million New Names Added for Costa Rica, France, Hungary, Mexico, Spain, and the U.S.
Twenty-nine new collections were updated or added this week at FamilySearch.org—with 26 million names and 1.5 million digital images!The international collections continue to expand with exciting new additions for Costa Rica, France, Hungary, Mexico, and Spain. In addition, nine more indexes were added to the U.S. 1910 Federal Census collection—that...
An announcement from the National Genealogical Society:Young people with an interest in the history of their family, in search of a summer project, seeking to satisfy a school assignment or club project will want to see the videos of Thomas Adams, the 2009 winner of the National Genealogical Society Rubincam...
© Miriam Robbins Midkiff, 2010(click photo to enlarge)...
The June 2010 Scanfest will take place here at AnceStories next Sunday, June 27th, from 11 AM to 2 PM, Pacific Daylight Time.What is Scanfest? It's a time when geneabloggers, family historians, and family archivists meet online here at this...
Another Overflow Hotel Option for FGS in Knoxville
Here's another press release I received from the Federation of Genealogical Societies:We have 20 rooms available Tuesday, August 17-Sunday, August 22 only at the Four Points by Sheraton Knoxville Cumberland House. It is near the convention center and is a very nice hotel. The rate is $115/night. ...
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Itawamba History Review: The Itawamba Historical Society
The recent dry weather with clear skies and beautiful sunshine has been a welcome addition to Itawamba County after the wettest October ever recorded. Sunday was the perfect time for a walk in the woods as the Autumn leaves in Itawamba County are at their peak now painting the hills...
The Columbus Decorative Arts Preservation Forum and Antiques Show and Sale will be held November 5-8 in Columbus, Mississippi. On the Tombigbee River, downriver from Itawamba County, Columbus is known for its many antebellum structures. Events at the forum and antiques show include:Gala Preview Opening: Thursday, November 5 from 7...
National Day of Listening is November 27
StoryCorps, the most ambitious oral history project ever undertaken, has announced the second annual National Day of Listening, to take place on November 27,2009. The National Day of Listening is an effort to encourage all Americans to honor a friend, a loved one, or a member of their community by...
Yesterday afternoon I couldn't resist photographing the giant sugar maple tree on Fulton's West Main Street just off the town square. Not long after the Cotswold cottage style home was built during the late 1930's on the site of an old antebellum home lot, this tree was planted and for...
A sign of the colder season coming, this flock of geese was seen headed south over Itawamba County along the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway last week. ...
Ancestry Magazine Added to Google Books
Google is an excellent resource for the historian and genealogist and the company is always introducing exciting new features. I am an avid user of Google Books and Google Scholar.This past January I wrote about Google Books adding magazines to its offerings. In December of 2008 Google announced an...
Genealogy Simple & Fun
Poll: Just 31 percent know census is required by law
Very interesting article, I had no idea that census was required by law...I'm glad it is!The article at mytwocensus talks about the survey that Pew Research Center took about the United States Census. Did you know that only 31 percent of the population new that filling out the census form...
MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR
See you in the NEW YEAR!...
HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY THANKSGIVING!...
Genealogy Simple & Fun has to be put on hold!
As you can see I haven't posted in a while. The time seems to fly by with well intentions of keeping up with this blog but time just doesn't permit me to do that so I have to put this genealogy blog on hold. Genealogy is my passion and will...
After catching up on emails and find the surprise about the award, I have finally have time to let all of you in on what has been happening around my house. Last weekend we moved our daughter up to Florence, Alabama to attend the University of North Alabama. This is...
WOW! I got a surprise today. Opened my email and received a very surprising award: "Top 100 Blogs" award from The Daily Reviewer. What a nice honor to see that my genealogy blog has been recognized. It's always a good feeling when you are just a normal person blogging, not...
About.com Genealogy
New Irish Church Records Online - FREE!
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Additional Chelsea Pensioners' Service Records Available Online
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New Jersey Launches Civil War Vouchers Database
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Granny's Genealogy
Funeral Card Friday – Edith Fellows
I am sharing funeral cards on Friday, following a Facebook meme which you an see here. This folder is from the services for Edith Elaine (Watson) Fellows, wife of Loren. Edith was born 8 December 1923, and married Loren W. Fellows on 23 August 1942. They were the parents of twelve...
My great-grandparents on my mother’s side lived in Hoosick Falls, Rensselaer County, New York for some portion of their married life, and are buried there. They appear on the 1880 census in Chatham, and in 1900 in Hoosick Falls, so they arrived in Hoosick Falls sometime between those dates. They...
Treasure Chest Thursday — Aunt Jane’s Treasures
When you wish to know or understand someone, it is helpful to consider what they think is important. When my Aunt Jane passed to a better place on 5 February 2002, I was called upon to clean out her apartment. There were other things I did, but cleaning...
I received a comment on on on my cemetery posts recently. The writer wondered about the burial of Elzabeth Longstreet. Elizabeth or Elisabeth Laurence, was the wife of Henry Longstreet; they were the parents Harmon Henry Longstreet, second husband of Papa’s ancestor, Susie Melissa Burdick. Her...
Treasure Chest Thursday – Aunt Bertha’s Tray
I have had this hammered aluminum tray for a number of years. Aunt Jane, my Dad’s sister gave it to me, along with a story. Aunt Jane said that Bertha went to some classes and made the tray. That is an interesting story, I wish I knew if it...
Last week when I was out in New York, I enjoyed a dinner meeting of the Troy Irish Genealogy Society. Why, you ask, would I traipse off to a meeting, when I am not a member, and do not know a soul? It comes down to the TIGS website....
The Genetic Genealogist
American Society of Human Genetics Publishes Updated Genetic Ancestry Testing Statement
Today at noon, the American Society of Human Genetics lifted an embargo on “Inferring Genetic Ancestry: Opportunities, Challenges, and Implications (pdf),” which will be published in the May 14th issue of the American Journal of Human Genetics. This paper is a follow-up to a 2008 paper called the “ASHG Ancestry Testing...
In honor of mother’s day, I’m reposting a portion of an entry from March 16, 2009 (“Visualizing Your Genetic Genealogy“). It also follows a SNGF from Randy at Genea-Musings called “Matrilineal Line.” In my genealogical research, I have sometimes found myself missing the trees by focusing on the forest. I think...
The following is a press release from GeneTree: New GeneTree Services Enable Users to Make Sense of Genetic, Genealogy Information New GeneTree Products and Services Focus on Making Genetic, Family History Information Comprehensible and Meaningful to Users As a wholly owned subsidiary of Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation, GeneTree is able to Leverage the...
Personal Genomics and Genetic Genealogy Tidbits
Daniel MacArthur at Genetic Future writes “Willful ignorance is not an effective argument against personal genomics,” which is a criticism of an embarrassingly bad op-ed by Camilla Long in the Times (U.K.) entitled “When DNA means do not ask.” In the article Long mentions several types of genetic testing...
Faces of America and Genetic Genealogy Testing
Randy Seaver at Genea-Musings (“I’m Puzzled by DNA Claims on ‘Faces of America’”) writes about the fourth and last episode of “Faces of America,” a PBS documentary series investigating the ancestry of several famous people in America. This fourth episode included several different types of genetic genealogy to examine the...
Kevin Davies, Ph.D., currently the Editor-in-Chief of Bio-IT World, recently wrote an article about Pathway Genomics in which he reviewed the company’s Health Test product (see “Pathway and Me: Consumer Genomics Firm Delivers First Results”): “Earlier this year, I submitted a saliva sample to Pathway to get a feel for how...
In My Life
Wordless Wednesday: Happy Birthday Mom
Shamlessly using Wordless Wednesday blog prompt to wish my Mom a happy birthday a day early with a photograph taken on her very first birthday a few years ago. I love you, Mom.Copyright (c) 2010 Cindy Bergeron Scherwinski...
Tombstone Tuesday: Forest View Sewing Circle
Located in the northeast corner of the Town of Peck cemetery in Langlade county, WI, this flower planter sits as a monument to the Forest View Sewing Circle. The group, like so many other rural traditions is becoming a thing of the past.The Town of Peck cemetery was formerly known as...
Follow Friday: Blind Pig & The Acorn
I am constantly amazed at the number of talented and creative bloggers - on my list of inspirational bloggers is Tipper Wilson Pressley, author of Blind Pig & the Acorn. Music, food, creative and well written stories about the rich heritage of Appalachia - did I mention Giveaways??...
Treasure Chest Thursday: Baaaa
My contribution for this Treasure Chest Thursday blogging prompt is as old as I am.Don't bother checking my Facebook page to see if I've inadvertently listed my year of birth ... I'll save you the trip: 1953At the time of my birth, my Dad was serving in the U.S. Navy,...
Almost Wordless Wednesday: The Jones Sisters
Sisters Alma Loretta Jones (left) and Agnes Josephine Jones, photograph taken probably in Winchester, Winnebago, WI, circa 1870sDaughters of James H. Jones (b. 1821 England) and Esther T. Clarke (b. 1828 NY). Alma Loretta born 14 April 1866 in Winchester, WI, she died on her 75th birthday, 14 April 1941...
Tombstone Tuesday: Margaretta Shankle Space
Margaretta Ann Space, otherwise known as Margaret Ann and as M.A. Space, was my second great grandmother.Born 17 April 1828, possibly in Union County, PA, she was the oldest known daughter of Jacob Shankle and Rachel Click.Margaretta married Zephaniah Allen Space on 19 Nov 1847 in Armstrong County, PA. The...
From Axer to Ziegler
Our house from across the street ~ want to buy it?? Jim trying to open Linda F’s gate ~ we finally went around to the garage where we had the garage door opener 1 PM in the afternoon ~ impress you?? Outdoor dining anyone? Not today. . . . . . . and...
Mother’s 90th Birthday Celebration, part two
With cards and supplies for Mother’s party shipped to California, it was time for us to follow them! We left Philly mid-morning on Sunday and arrived around 6PM in Ontario, California to a greeting via the pilot “welcoming Blaine’s father back home!” Yup, our son was on duty at the...
Mother’s 90th Birthday Celebration, part one
As many of you know, I tackled the challenge of planning a 90th Birthday Party for Mother, rather hesitantly. Mother lives in California; I live in Pennsylvania. How on earth could I possibly do this? I procrastinated, I hemmed and hawed around and I had no idea what I was...
Why I’ve Been a Fan of the Yankees
in 1955 the New York Yankees took a six week tour playing exhibition games in Hawaii, Guam and Japan. Any of my readers remember that? or ever heard of it? I have never forgotten it. I was 12 years old and lived on Guam. We looked forward to this game...
The word “Family” can be either all encompassing as in all your relatives that share the same surname and same set of ancestors, or it can mean the family unit which nurtured you, the people you shared a home with. I was born and raised overseas. My father was a Civil...
Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way . . .
The word “WILL,” as defined by Dictionary.com As a verb: to give or dispose of (property) by a will or testament, bequeath or devise. to influence by exerting power to wish, desire or like and as a noun: the act or process of using or asserting one’s choice; volition a legal declaration of a person’s wishes as...