My thanks to Boston Fun Facts for this image! ( www.bostonfunfacts.com )
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Welcome to New England Research
This picture may help you understand the Massachusetts sense of humor. I can assure that the amount of snow shown in this picture is very representative of what it looks like in my neighborhood, right now.
My thanks to Boston Fun Facts for this image! ( www.bostonfunfacts.com )
My thanks to Boston Fun Facts for this image! ( www.bostonfunfacts.com )
United States Rail Road Retirement Board (RRB) Records
Did your relative or genealogy brickwall work for the railroad? If so we may be able to locate their retirement benefits records. The process is a little convoluted, but it requires checking with the US RRB to see if the have the records (full-time employees after 1936). The RRB provides retirement benefits much like Social Security does.
RRB files that have been inactive for more that seven years have been transferred to the National Archives & Records Administration (NARA). Unfortunately, you have to check with the RRB first so they can look up the file number, and then check with NARA.
All in all it is a bit of a process but the possible genealogy information these records may contain could be worth the trouble.
A recent file I pulled included marriage and birth records as well as other information that was unknown to my client and led us to research in a somewhat different direction.
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Webinar Reminder "Finding Your Ancestors in New England" 9pm (Eastern) 21 March 2013
Webinar Announcement - "Finding Your Ancestors in New England"
I signed up for this webinar yesterday! Finding records in New England can be difficult at best and this webinar promises to help us with these!
From +Rootsonomy in Salt Lake City.
We would like to invite your to this Thursday's webinar entitled, "Finding Your Ancestors in New England".
Date: Thursday, March 21
Time: 6:00 PM Pacific / 9 PM Eastern
Length: 1.5 hours (1 hour presentation followed by Q&A)
Genealogical research in the six New England states may seem easier than in many other regions in the United States: "These people killed themselves to make sure there was a paper trail." However, the many records available can also make genealogical research in these states quite challenging. It can take a lot of hunting to locate all the specific records. This webinar covers some of the peculiarities of genealogical research in New England and shows several of the most useful places to search.
Our expert for this webinar is David B. Appleton. David has been researching and teaching family history for over 30 years. His on-going passion for New England research has taken him across the U.S. to participate in and speak at genealogical conferences and to genealogy societies. He is a long-time member of the Genealogical Speakers Guild and active member of three lineage societies (Society of Mayflower Descendants, Blaisdell Family National Association, and Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War) all based on his New England ancestry. He has written several books and numerous articles. For more information, see: http://www.appletonstudios.com
There is a $5 charge to attend this webinar payable via PayPal to Rootsonomy@gmail.com or by clickinghttp://goo.gl/gBDoF.
Register at: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8252593778405447424
We are still working on our first survey requesting your feedback and suggestions. We want to make sure you are receiving the absolute best training possible and welcome any and all comments.
Thank you. We look forward to having you join us for this Thursday's webinar.
Jim Heddell
From +Rootsonomy in Salt Lake City.
We would like to invite your to this Thursday's webinar entitled, "Finding Your Ancestors in New England".
Date: Thursday, March 21
Time: 6:00 PM Pacific / 9 PM Eastern
Length: 1.5 hours (1 hour presentation followed by Q&A)
Genealogical research in the six New England states may seem easier than in many other regions in the United States: "These people killed themselves to make sure there was a paper trail." However, the many records available can also make genealogical research in these states quite challenging. It can take a lot of hunting to locate all the specific records. This webinar covers some of the peculiarities of genealogical research in New England and shows several of the most useful places to search.
Our expert for this webinar is David B. Appleton. David has been researching and teaching family history for over 30 years. His on-going passion for New England research has taken him across the U.S. to participate in and speak at genealogical conferences and to genealogy societies. He is a long-time member of the Genealogical Speakers Guild and active member of three lineage societies (Society of Mayflower Descendants, Blaisdell Family National Association, and Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War) all based on his New England ancestry. He has written several books and numerous articles. For more information, see: http://www.appletonstudios.com
There is a $5 charge to attend this webinar payable via PayPal to Rootsonomy@gmail.com or by clickinghttp://goo.gl/gBDoF.
Register at: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8252593778405447424
We are still working on our first survey requesting your feedback and suggestions. We want to make sure you are receiving the absolute best training possible and welcome any and all comments.
Thank you. We look forward to having you join us for this Thursday's webinar.
Jim Heddell
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Roots Tech 2013 and the Genlighten Brochure
Someday... I would love to attend rootstech. Anyone that knows me, knows I am a techie. I always have been all they way "back in the day" in Ohio when my cousin Danny Zix and I used to fool around with old radios. As a matter of fact, you may not know that I hold Amateur Radio License KA1TTG. I told you I was a techie.
So rootstech is a genealogy techies heaven on earth. I really hope to go next year.
But, that's not why we are here. I do a lot of record pulls on the Genlighten website. Cyndy and Dean are really great folks and I have worked with some really great clients on Genlighten. Genlighten used my profile page on their brochure that they will be handing out at rootstech in Salt Lake City on March 21-23rd.
If you are looking for a really great place to find a genealogist that can help you find the records you need, then you should stop by Genlighten and have a look around. I'm sure you find someone with the expertise that can track down the records you need to solve your genealogy brick wall!
So rootstech is a genealogy techies heaven on earth. I really hope to go next year.
But, that's not why we are here. I do a lot of record pulls on the Genlighten website. Cyndy and Dean are really great folks and I have worked with some really great clients on Genlighten. Genlighten used my profile page on their brochure that they will be handing out at rootstech in Salt Lake City on March 21-23rd.
If you are looking for a really great place to find a genealogist that can help you find the records you need, then you should stop by Genlighten and have a look around. I'm sure you find someone with the expertise that can track down the records you need to solve your genealogy brick wall!
Maine Vital Records and the Maine CDC Genealogy Research Card
Maine has recently made some changes to the availability of their vital records. Vital records are records related to the birth, marriage and death (BMD) of a person. Maine has recently restricted all BMD vital records less than 100 years old.
You must be the person on the record, parents of the person or a direct descendant to receive a certified copy of a BMD record. Luckily, Genealogy Researchers who posses a Maine Genealogy Research Card, issued by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, Center for Disease Control can receive un-certified copies of all BMD records.
The records can be procured through different locations based on the time frame.
The Maine Department of Health and Human Services Office of Vital Records; located in Augusta has all BMD records from 1923 to present. They also have Divorce records from 1892 to present.
The Maine State Archives, also located in Augusta have all BMD records from 1892-1922.
Records for all dates may also be located at the local level as another option for procuring the records.
I posses a Maine CDC Genealogy Research Card and I would be happy to locate those BMD & D records for you in Maine.
For more information see my section on ordering Maine records.
You must be the person on the record, parents of the person or a direct descendant to receive a certified copy of a BMD record. Luckily, Genealogy Researchers who posses a Maine Genealogy Research Card, issued by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, Center for Disease Control can receive un-certified copies of all BMD records.
The records can be procured through different locations based on the time frame.
The Maine Department of Health and Human Services Office of Vital Records; located in Augusta has all BMD records from 1923 to present. They also have Divorce records from 1892 to present.
The Maine State Archives, also located in Augusta have all BMD records from 1892-1922.
Records for all dates may also be located at the local level as another option for procuring the records.
I posses a Maine CDC Genealogy Research Card and I would be happy to locate those BMD & D records for you in Maine.
For more information see my section on ordering Maine records.
Webinar Announcement - "Finding Your Ancestors in New England"
I just signed up for this webinar must! Finding records in New England can be difficult at best and this webinar promises to help us with these!
From +Rootsonomy in Salt Lake City.
We would like to invite your to this Thursday's webinar entitled, "Finding Your Ancestors in New England".
Date: Thursday, March 21
Time: 6:00 PM Pacific / 9 PM Eastern
Length: 1.5 hours (1 hour presentation followed by Q&A)
Genealogical research in the six New England states may seem easier than in many other regions in the United States: "These people killed themselves to make sure there was a paper trail." However, the many records available can also make genealogical research in these states quite challenging. It can take a lot of hunting to locate all the specific records. This webinar covers some of the peculiarities of genealogical research in New England and shows several of the most useful places to search.
Our expert for this webinar is David B. Appleton. David has been researching and teaching family history for over 30 years. His on-going passion for New England research has taken him across the U.S. to participate in and speak at genealogical conferences and to genealogy societies. He is a long-time member of the Genealogical Speakers Guild and active member of three lineage societies (Society of Mayflower Descendants, Blaisdell Family National Association, and Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War) all based on his New England ancestry. He has written several books and numerous articles. For more information, see: http://www.appletonstudios.com
There is a $5 charge to attend this webinar payable via PayPal to Rootsonomy@gmail.com or by clicking http://goo.gl/gBDoF.
Register at: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8252593778405447424
We are still working on our first survey requesting your feedback and suggestions. We want to make sure you are receiving the absolute best training possible and welcome any and all comments.
Thank you. We look forward to having you join us for this Thursday's webinar.
Jim Heddell
From +Rootsonomy in Salt Lake City.
We would like to invite your to this Thursday's webinar entitled, "Finding Your Ancestors in New England".
Date: Thursday, March 21
Time: 6:00 PM Pacific / 9 PM Eastern
Length: 1.5 hours (1 hour presentation followed by Q&A)
Genealogical research in the six New England states may seem easier than in many other regions in the United States: "These people killed themselves to make sure there was a paper trail." However, the many records available can also make genealogical research in these states quite challenging. It can take a lot of hunting to locate all the specific records. This webinar covers some of the peculiarities of genealogical research in New England and shows several of the most useful places to search.
Our expert for this webinar is David B. Appleton. David has been researching and teaching family history for over 30 years. His on-going passion for New England research has taken him across the U.S. to participate in and speak at genealogical conferences and to genealogy societies. He is a long-time member of the Genealogical Speakers Guild and active member of three lineage societies (Society of Mayflower Descendants, Blaisdell Family National Association, and Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War) all based on his New England ancestry. He has written several books and numerous articles. For more information, see: http://www.appletonstudios.com
There is a $5 charge to attend this webinar payable via PayPal to Rootsonomy@gmail.com or by clicking http://goo.gl/gBDoF.
Register at: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8252593778405447424
We are still working on our first survey requesting your feedback and suggestions. We want to make sure you are receiving the absolute best training possible and welcome any and all comments.
Thank you. We look forward to having you join us for this Thursday's webinar.
Jim Heddell
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Family History Library Look Ups; Using All Available Records!
One of the best ways to locate genealogy records is through the use microfilms from familysearch.org
Many genealogy records have been microfilmed and they are available for ordering from the Family Search website. These can be valuable because it allows you to research and locate a record that you might otherwise not be able to access.
For example I was researching a family in Michigan and I was trying to verify a birth year of the Great Grandmother in the family. "Betty" is listed in the 1930 and 1940 US Census as being 9 and 20 respectively. So we know she was born about 1921.
Preliminary research results in the SSDI determines their are two Betty's born in that county in Michigan. One Betty was born in 1920 and the other in 1921.
Here is the link to the Family Search Catalog - It will open in a new window.
I went to Family Search, clicked on "Catalog" and entered the search term of Michigan, Alcona (Alcona is the county) and then searched. I scrolled to the vital records and found that the birth records from 1869 - 1953 have been filmed from the county courthouse located in Harrisonville, Michigan.
If you will recall the Betty I am looking for was born in 1920 or 1921. Film 963959 would contain those years.
At that point I would order the correct film online from the website and then wait for it to be delivered to my local Family History Center. I would then go there when they are open and view the record and photograph it or whatever for recovering the correct image.
I have about a week to ten days to wait for delivery of the film. I have to pay $7.50 for a short term loan or $18.50 for a long term loan. I then have to take the time and gasoline to get to my local FHC which is 20 miles each way from my home. In this part of MA if I locate the record as soon as I view the film, then I am looking at about 2 hours of my time and maybe more if the weather or traffic isn't cooperating.
Plan B?
I have affiliated researchers in SLC at the FHL that will assist in doing lookups right from the film in the library.
Many genealogy records have been microfilmed and they are available for ordering from the Family Search website. These can be valuable because it allows you to research and locate a record that you might otherwise not be able to access.
For example I was researching a family in Michigan and I was trying to verify a birth year of the Great Grandmother in the family. "Betty" is listed in the 1930 and 1940 US Census as being 9 and 20 respectively. So we know she was born about 1921.
Preliminary research results in the SSDI determines their are two Betty's born in that county in Michigan. One Betty was born in 1920 and the other in 1921.
Here is the link to the Family Search Catalog - It will open in a new window.
I went to Family Search, clicked on "Catalog" and entered the search term of Michigan, Alcona (Alcona is the county) and then searched. I scrolled to the vital records and found that the birth records from 1869 - 1953 have been filmed from the county courthouse located in Harrisonville, Michigan.
If you will recall the Betty I am looking for was born in 1920 or 1921. Film 963959 would contain those years.
At that point I would order the correct film online from the website and then wait for it to be delivered to my local Family History Center. I would then go there when they are open and view the record and photograph it or whatever for recovering the correct image.
I have about a week to ten days to wait for delivery of the film. I have to pay $7.50 for a short term loan or $18.50 for a long term loan. I then have to take the time and gasoline to get to my local FHC which is 20 miles each way from my home. In this part of MA if I locate the record as soon as I view the film, then I am looking at about 2 hours of my time and maybe more if the weather or traffic isn't cooperating.
Plan B?
I have affiliated researchers in SLC at the FHL that will assist in doing lookups right from the film in the library.
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