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

Happy 2022!   While the new year seems to be off to a bit of a shaky start, with Covid numbers once again rising across the country, I am determined to be optimistic and of course cautious.   Yes, I am sad and frustrated that the virus and my inability to travel has been a challenge to my research. But I don't feel like I have right to complain too much.  My friends and family have remained healthy and we are all vaxed and boosted to keep each other safe. My library co-workers have remained vigilant while dealing with the public while we still work in very close quarters.  Since life has continued this year to present us with lemons, I have chosen to make lemonade.  I may not have been able to travel and accomplish some long anticipated on the ground research, I have research, studied and continued to learn.   The opportunity to participate in classes and webinars is abundant! While I do occasionally feel the "zoom fatigue" many have talked a...

  In honor of Veteran's Day this episode of What's Your Story is devoted to researching the Veteran's in our families.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUFAb4WWHas

  Lois Powell and I have completed another episode of our What's Your Story podcast.  This month's topic is Genealogy Websites and Resources that researchers can utilize for free.  Let us know if you have a favorite resource that you like to use.   Listen to our podcast here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyBKp79zoKA

  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

 Lois Powell and I are back with a new podcast episode, all about one of my favorite record sets, the census!   The census records are a valuable tool for genealogists. Give our podcast a listen here!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8PcS3HUPYs