Relics: Genealogy, family stories, history & other curiosities.

  On August 21, 1862 my three times great grandfather, Jacob Rose enlisted in the US Army to fight in the Civil War. He was 42 years old.  He was accompanied by his two oldest sons, James and John. Left at home was his wife Emeline, three months pregnant with my two times grandfather and ten other children.  I have learned some about Jacob's service and I am waiting for his pension file from the National Archive.  I am hoping the file will lead me to clues about Emeline.  More on her someday.  

  It's no secret that I am a huge fan of utilizing the FAN club to make connections between families in my research. Pun intended. The FAN Club, a term coined by genealogist Elizabeth Shown Mills, is researching  the friends, associates and neighbors of your research subject. Our ancestors often married the girl or boy next door or witnessed their marriages and christenings.  Here is one example from my family research.  Are Sarah Williams Scannell and Bathsheba (AKA Martha) Williams Cassidy sisters?  The FAN Club helps us discover many important clues that can reveal relationships and solve research riddles.  Leaving the port of Londonderry, Northern Ireland on the Caledonia, John (b. 1784) and Margaret Williams (b. 1789) arrived in New York on 15 June 1839.  Accompanying them are their six children:  James         born 1815           age 24 on arrival          ...

 Finding Females in your family tree can be a challenge! In this episode of our podcast, Lois and I share some ideas to help you find those ladies!   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlNL9cq_KKA