Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Genealogy Class #2

Tonight was the second genealogy class, finishing up where we started on Monday. Yay! The totality of this class was by-far the best class I've taught so far, and for a year of classes, 1-2 a week, that says something! Hooray!

The second class seems like it would be easier, but never quite so much. Especially because, in theory, you leave a good portion of the first of the class to questions about the previous class, a recap on what we covered, and what experiences/challenges came up when the 'students' went home to play on their own.
In my class, no one apparently went home and played. So.... the Q & A portion of the class was about 3 minutes, instead of my allotted 30min. Hmph.

So, in following the ideas that we covered on Monday - the bigger databases, Ancestry, LDS, and Rootsweb, I thought we'd first need to backup and start with some simple searches on Google, and move from there. The class ended up looking like this:

- Google. How to search on Google. Use Quotations! The fun of Google Books, and just basically outlining what information you'd find in a basic Google search (like people's personal websites, archived information... what "archived" means)

- Forums. Both Rootsweb and GenForums. These have been invaluable to me, and hopefully a great place to start for people who don't have a lot of information yet. Seems like with the examples I showed tonight (from my own family and family searches from the class), there isn't a lot of activity on the GenForums any longer. Is there somewhere better? Rootsweb still seems to have a lot of action.

- The GenWeb. I'd always found TWO helpful aspects to the Genweb - county "lookups" and the search engine for the archives. While the archive search is still AMAZING and something EVERYONE needs to have bookmarked, all the counties we looked at (four), none had volunteer "lookups" any longer. Is the GenWeb losing some oomph in that way?

- Gravesites. We covered Find a Grave and Interment. Find a Grave seems to have greatly expanded, now offering (not consistent, mind you, but still) obituaries and family group links. WOW! Someone is really on it with this site. Interment is helpful, but Find A Grave definitely stole the show.

- A quick look back at PAF software and how to create a gedcom file, exporting.

And that was a wrap. Whew! I think I overwhelmed them. I would've been overwhelmed if I was just starting out. It was a lot of websites. And we finished 1/2hr early. But... I got great feedback from the class - that they really enjoyed it, learned a lot.

So... YAY! I want to teach more! I want to start a, once a week, Genealogy Group!! I want to be a GenWeb volunteer again (I was for years when I was NC, going to the library and printing off old newspapers from the 1800s and then transcribing and uploading). I want to join more groups. Lawd. I'd never work. And I'd never make any money to afford me time to do all that I want to do.

The class said was that they could tell I was passionate about genealogy research. It definitely came across. I hope that's a good thing :-)

Monday, September 27, 2010

Genealogy Class #1

Tonight was my first genealogy class.. that I'm teaching! Whoo-hoo!
So, not my standard blog, but definitely something worthy of reporting on. I am not a genealogist, do not promote myself as such, disclaimer disclaimer, blah blah blah. But I am an educator. I teach computer classes and had interest from my 'students' on a genealogy class. "hmmm... I could probably do that!"

It's an answer. "Sure!"
I've been doing this for 17years, sure, I can help teach others on where to start.

Except...
Where do you start?

It's been a long time since I was a beginner. I've had to channel that newbie researcher in me, that's talking to family members and having everything hand-written, maybe in a binder, maybe not even there yet :-)
And certainly assuming that when I started, I wasn't tech savvy... that I teach Intro to Computers classes mainly and my 'students' are Seniors, Of course you have to start at the beginning of what a "database" means. Not just your own database, but at the very beginning of "The Internet" lesson - a website is a site within itself, housing it's own data. It only has the data submitted to that site. So no one site will have everything you need. You will need to research multiple sites.

Once I wrapped my head around this idea as a starter for a lesson plan, day 1 ended up something like this:

- Background on genealogy, period. Lots of handouts on family group sheets, individual record sheets, research logs, etc. All the things you need before you even start researching, so you have the proper tools to write down your information (a bit more than that steno pad you've been carting around for a while).

- Starting your family tree. Online tree (and what options there are) vs. your own software (and how to pick which software to use). I, of course, promote Personal Ancestral File because it's EASY and FREE -- two words that are key for seniors (and myself, cause, hey, it's what I use. I dig EASY and FREE!)

-
A lesson on Family Trees... how to input information

- Finally, the internet... a lengthy discussion on what you can even hope to find (on the internet, or at a Clerk of Court); how internet sites work, and what is Free and what is for Cost.

- Today we covered Ancestry first. Because it's what everyone knows because Ancestry has now flooded our televisions with creative and flattering marketing campaigns.
- LDS - which everyone loved more, which is typical. Because (i forget), when you're starting out, you're not looking for source data so much, you're just trying to FIND people, and file submissions are the easiest places to start. Plus, they have submitter information, so you can contact your 'cousin' - which is totally what you want to do!!
- And Rootsweb

We covered my surname because LOOPS is a great example for searching because you don't get 10,000 results. And finally was able to spend the last 20 minutes of class looking up 'students' names, through LDS and Rootsweb (Ancestry forgotten at this point).

A Great Class!!! 100% successful (despite the technological failures of working for the City, which were horribly embarrassing and left me looking completely incompetent for 20 minutes). But once that was over, people were excited, actually wanted to go home and play, and were so happy that we had another day to do more.

YAY!!!!

Wednesday should cover something like, adding more to your database (notes & sources), exporting GedCom's and why you would even do that, looking at reports. And of course, more websites like FindAGrave, the world of the GenWeb, and how to just run Google lookups. I realize the latter will confuse people. There's a lot of lessons involved in exploring Google, like using quotation marks, etc. But it's a necessity. Google is awesome and shouldn't be ignored. If you have any ideas for Wednesday, let me know! I'll keep you posted on the lesson plan.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Notes vs. "Actual Text"

I'm curious... I pose this as a question..

What do YOU do with your database, on Notes vs. Actual Text?

Right now, I'm running through Census files. Previously, I'd put the information in the Notes section (this is when I was young and a newbie). I'm now putting everything in the "Actual Text" of the source.
THEN I create a timeline, 1870:, 1880:, in the notes section, including year, where, and occupation only.

This seems like a Great collaboration of notes & actual text - and perhaps what the two parts are originally designed for.

BUT, what about other things.. like articles. Do you put the full article in the "Actual Text" of the source? Or do you put it in the notes?

It seems a better idea to Source it, and put the source & INFO in the Notes section, because then it prints. Whether you're uploading your database to share or creating individual webpages, the notes will show, but the sources are separate. So... notes are more visible.

Just curious. What do you do? How do you sort it out?

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Cleaning of the Database (pt2) - Rootsweb and Ancestry

I have a new love - Rootsweb (my database) and my PAF software, two windows on my screen. Oh, a whole new world for cleaning the database.

I am not a big fan of Family Tree Maker. I have it, of course. And it's connection to my Ancestry.com membership is handy. Sometimes. Still, I really prefer my Personal Ancestral File from LDS. It's FREE. It's Easy. And it works just the same as Ancestry Family Tree, which I'm still depressed that they discontinued. Btw, is that for real? Does anyone know if it's Really, Truly gone? Cause I can't find it on the web any longer.

Enyhoo... Ancestry has it's place. It does. While I'd rather not pay for genealogical information, it's not a soap-box I'm willing to rant about tonight.

So... My new favorite thing....
I upload my database to Rootsweb. Instead of having 10,000 pages on my personal website, it just makes more sense to have a link to a free family tree... Rootsweb is by far my favorite.

Rootsweb is also tied in with Ancestry, so each individual listing - if Ancestry can find it - gives you search results to Ancestry throughout the Rootsweb database.

This is the best help for cleaning up the database!
I open one window with MY database on Rootsweb. Which has the links to Ancestry.
And then another window of my PAF database.

I can look right at my notes and sources on my rootsweb pages, find oddities, old information, and of course, Ancestry links... and update in my PAF at the same time. It's So much easier than having to click on the Sources and Notes for each individual person - not sure what I'm going to find - cause Rootsweb has it all listed right there.

Of course this means that I've been uploading new databases to Rootsweb every day this week.
But... I don't have a job. And the baby is still taking two naps a day. I have time :-)

If you have an ancestry membership and upload to Rootsweb, this is, so far, the easiest way that I've found to start with cleaning the database. It's at least showing me the weak links, and immediate connections to cleaning up Notes and Sources. Ooh... I've got a long list to build on. But you've gotta start somewhere.

Monday, September 6, 2010

Mayflower Ties

***9/27/2010*** I have since learned that the Webb connection through Samuel Webb and Hannah Ripley is NOT CORRECT. So... while it's still fun to learn about William Bradford, I am not actually connected to him. Ho hum. (the joys of research!)

William BRADFORD, Mayflower

From Mayflower History:
http://www.mayflowerhistory.com

William Bradford was born 1590 in the small farming community of Austerfield, Yorkshire. His father WIlliam died when young Bradford was just a year old. He lived with his grandfather, William until his grandfather died when he was six. His mother Alice then died when he was seven. Orphaned both from parents and grandparents, he and older sister Alice were raised by their uncle Robert Bradford.

William was a sickly boy and by the age of 12 had taken to reading the Bible, and as he began to come of age, he became acquainted with the ministry of Richard Clyfton and John Smith, around which the Separatist churches of the region would eventually form about 1606. His family was not supportive of his moves, and by 1607 the Church of England were applying pressure to extinguish these religious sects. Bradford, at the age of 18, joined with the group fo Separatists that fled from England in fear of persecution, arriving in Amsterdam in 1608. A year later, he migrated with the rest of the church to the town of Leiden, Holland, where they remained for eleven years.

Bradford returned to Amsterdam temporarily in 1613, to marry his 16yr old bride, Dorothy May.

In Leiden, Bradford took up the trade of a silk weaver to make ends meet, and was also able to recover some of the estate in England that he had been left by his father, to support himself and his new wife in Leiden. They had a son, John, born about 1615/1617.

By 1620, when a segment of the church had decided to set off for America on the MAYFLOWER, Bradford (now 30) sold off his house in Leiden and he and his wife, Dorothy, joined; however, they left young son John behind, presumably so he would not have to endure the hardships of colony-building. While the MAYFLOWER was anchored off Provincetown Harbor at the tip of Cape Cod, and while many of the Pilgrim men were out exploring and looking for a place to settle, Dorothy accidentally fell overboard and drowned.

John Carver was elected governor of Plymouth and remained governor until his death a year later in April 1621.

Bradford was then elected governor and was re-elected nearly every year thereafter. In 1623, he married to the widowed Alice (Carpenter) Southworth, and had a married feast very reminiscent of the "First" Thanksgiving, with Massasoit and a large number of Indians joining, and bringing turkeys and deer. Bradford was the head of the government of Plymouth, oversaw the courts, the colony's finances, corresponded with investors and neighbors, formulated policy with regards to the foreigners, Indians, and law, and so had a very active role in running of the entire Colony. With his second wife, he had three more children, all of which survived to adulthood and married. Beginning in 1630, he started writing a history of the Plymouth Colony, which is now published under the title of "Of Plymouth Plantation". A number of his letters, poems, conferences, and other writings have survived.

William Bradford was generally sick all winter of 1656-1657; on May 8, Bradford predicted to his friends and family that he would die, and he did the next day, 9 May 1657, at the age of 68.

My connection to William BRADFORD:

William Bradford, 1590-1657
Alice Carpenter, 1590-1670

Maj. William Bradford, 1624-1703/1704
Alice Richards, 1627-1671

Hannah Bradford, 1662-1738
Joshua Ripley, 1658-1739

Hannah Bradford Ripley, 1685-1751
Samuel Webb, 1690-1779

Samuel Webb, abt 1720/1721 - 1801
Deborah Davison, abt 1717-1803

Col. James Webb, abt 1758-1825
Nancy Cony/Conney, died 1809

James Webb Jr., 1795-1833
Sophia Bell, 1797-1840

Rev. James Barney Webb, 1823-1901
Margaret Ann Laughinghouse, 1823-1880

George Bell Webb, 1855-1914
Agnes Pittman, 1856-1883

Eva Bell Webb, 1882-1966
Charles Ernest Loops, 1875-?

Another family tie....

***9/27/2010*** Since this post, I have learned that the Webb connection to Samuel Webb and Hannah Ripley is NOT CORRECT. Oops!

I just recently discovered this tonight, and I must get it down, so I have to show...

It's not a direct tie between Cy and I - we already have that through the Royal Family, some 27 generations back. But this is definitely a marriage relationship, through our Plymouth Family ties - the same families that connect us to the Royal family.

Forgive me for being New at this connection... I'll update more as I research more. Right now, I'm relying on simple family websites and google books.

The connection is through THOMAS LUCAS, born 1630, died 1678/1679 in Plymouth.

Cy's connection:
Thomas Lucas, 1630-1678/1679.
dau Mehitable Lucas, abt 1660-1710
son William Bryant, 1691/1692-1770
dau Abthia Bryant, 1725/1726 - 1809
dau Abthia White, 1765-1848
son Noah Dean, 1790-1821
son Abiel Dean, 1817-1902
son Benjamin Dean, 1854-?
and moving through the DEAN Family... of whom his mother is a DEAN

My connection:
Thomas Lucas, 1630-1677/1679
dau Mary Lucas, 1657/1658-1744
who married Nathaniel Atwood 1651/1652 - 1724
Nathaniel's SISTER, Mary Atwood 1645-1714/1715 married Major William BRADFORD
William Bradford, 1624-1703/1704, ALSO married Alice Richards, 1627-1671
dau Hannah Bradford, 1662-1738
dau Hannah Bradford Ripley, 1685-1751
son Samuel Webb, abt 1720/1721
son James Webb, abt 1758-abt 1825
And then on to the WEBB family

So... it's not an actual connection. Through sisters, and two marriages. No ancestor shared.
But definitely a connection, way prior to our 27 generations back at the Royal Family.

I need some visual to tie my brain around this time. I've been watching The Scarlett Letter, with Demi Moore, to give me some idea of what persons were like at this time. It's not perfect, not the right area and much later. But it's what I have to go on at this point.

Can I mention... MY connection to Major William BRADFORD... that would be, as well, his father, WILLIAM BRADFORD, Governor of Plymouth, who came over on the MAYFLOWER! It's for real! I have a Mayflower connection!

Sunday, September 5, 2010

Surname Listing - KNIGHT (United Kingdom)

I'm counting down my son's ancestors, working with his 4th Great-Grandparents.

Today.... #35... Harriet KNIGHT
4 generations of KNIGHT connected through:

4. Ernest S. Morgan (1912-1950)
5. Anne Rose Stone (?)

8. George William Morgan (1874-1955)
9. Katie Evelyn Robson (1879-1966)

16. George William Morgan (1844-1892)
17. Hannah Sophia Parks (1847-1931)

34.
WILLIAM PARKS was born in 1807 in Moose Island, Main River, Canada. He died on 3 Jan 1881 in Cambridge Narrows, New Brunswick, Canada. He was buried in 1881 in Baptist Cemetary, Johnson, Queens Co., New Brunswick.
35. HARRIETT KNIGHT was born on 17 May 1817 in Burton, Sunbury Co., New Brunswick, Canada. She died on 24 Jul 1898 in Cambridge Narrows, New Brunswick, Canada. She was buried in 1898 in Baptist Cemetary, Johnson, Queens Co., New Brunswick

Children of William and Harriet: Samuel David Parks (1836-1885), Margaret Anne Parks (1841-1916), James Frederick "Black Jim" Parks (1843-1928), Harriet Parks (1843-?), Hannah Sophia Parks (1847-1931), Ada Parks (1860-?).

70. SAMUEL KNIGHT was born on 19 Oct 1798 in Saint Peter Port, Guernsey, Channel Islands. He died on 13 Feb 1869 in Cambridge Narrows, New Brunswick, Canada. He was buried in Mill Cove.
71. SOPHIA HOLLAND was born on 1 Sep 1798 in Cambridge Narrows, New Brunswick, Canada. She died on 9 Sep 1873 in White's Cove, New Brunswick, Canada.

Children of Samuel and Sophia: Harriett Knight (1817-1898), Robert Knight (born 1819-?), Phoebe Knight (1821-?), Richard Knight (1823-?), Esther Knight (1826-?), Peter Knight (1828-1914), Suzanne Sophia Knight (1830-?), Mathilda Ann Knight (1833-?), Henry T.R. Knight (1836-?), James Harry Knight (1838-abt 1930), Frances L. Knight (1839-?), Samuel Joseph Knight (1843-1845), Mary Elizabeth Knight (1832-?)

140. RICHARD KNIGHT was born on 6 Sep 1769 in Saint Peter Port, Guernsey, Channel Islands. He died in 1824 in Saint Peter Port, Guernsey, Channel Islands.
141. SUSANNE MAHY was born on 29 Apr 1770 in Saint Peter Port, Guernsey, Channel Islands. She died on 15 Aug 1846 in Saint Peter Port, Guernsey, Channel Islands

Children of Richard and Susanne: Richard Knight (1794-1802), Peter Knight (1796-1861), Samuel Knight (1798-1869), George Knight (1800-1802), Susanne Knight (1802-1802), Jean Knight (1804-1832), Henry Knight (1807-1821), Harriette Knight (1810-?)

280. DANIEL KNIGHT died in 1794 in Saint Peter Port, Guernsey, Channel Islands. He was buried on 25 Apr 1794 in Saint Peter Port, Guernsey, Channel Islands.
281. MARTHE HERIVELwas born on 16 Aug 1744 in Saint Peter Port, Guernsey, Channel Islands. She died in unknown.

Children of Daniel and Marthe: Mary Knight (1758-?), Sarah Knight (1766-?), Richard Knight (1769-1824)

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If you have any information on the KNIGHT family, please leave me a comment!

~happy huntings

Surname Listing - PARKS (England)

I'm counting down my son's ancestors, working with his 3rd Great-Grandparents.

Today.... #17... Hannah Sophia PARKS
7 generations of PARKS connected through:

4. Ernest S. Morgan (1912-1950)
5. Anne Rose Stone (?)

8. George William Morgan (1874-1955)
9. Katie Evelyn Robson (1879-1966)

16. GEORGE WILLIAM MORGAN was born in 1844 in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. He died on 31 Oct 1892 in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada.
17. HANNAH SOPHIA PARKS was born on 10 Jul 1847 in Grand Lake, New Brunswick, Canada. She died on 12 Feb 1931 in West Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada

Children of George and Hannah: George William Morgan (1874-1955), Albert E. Morgan (1875-1940), Frederick H. Morgan (1878-1961), Walter Scott Morgan (1884-1959), Harriet Ellen "Hattie" Morgan (1884-1931), Edmund Mitchell Morgan (1885-1934), Ernest Morgan (1887-1965), Emma May Morgan (1889-1891)

34. WILLIAM PARKS was born in 1807 in Moose Island, Main River, Canada. He died on 3 Jan 1881 in Cambridge Narrows, New Brunswick, Canada. He was buried in 1881 in Baptist Cemetary, Johnson, Queens Co., New Brunswick.
35. HARRIETT KNIGHT was born on 17 May 1817 in Burton, Sunbury Co., New Brunswick, Canada. She died on 24 Jul 1898 in Cambridge Narrows, New Brunswick, Canada. She was buried in 1898 in Baptist Cemetary, Johnson, Queens Co., New Brunswick.

Children of William and Harriet: Samuel David Parks (1836-1885), Margaret Anne Parks (1841-1916), James Frederick "Black Jim" Parks (1843-1928), Harriet Parks (1843-?), Hannah Sophia Parks (1847-1931), Ada Parks (1860-?)

68. DAVID PARKS was born in 1770 in Kingswood Township, Hunterdon Co., New Jersey. He died in 1854/1861 in St. George, Charlotte, New Brunswick, Canada.
69. PHOEBE ELLIS was born about 1769. She was christened on 15 Mar 1796 in Gagetown, New Brunswick, Canada. She died in New Brunswick, Canada

Children of David and Phoebe: Mary Parks (1797-1877), Hannah Parks (1798-1836), Nancy Parks (abt 1802-?), William Parks (1807-1881), Jonah Parks (abt 1810-?), Francis Amilea Parks (abt 1811-?), Daniel D. Parks (abt 1818-1881/1891), Sarah Parks (1815-aft 1901)

136. NATHANIEL PARKS was born about 1738 in Kingswood Township, Hunterdon Co., New Jersey. He died in 1818 in New Brunswick, Canada.
137. MARY ELIZABETH PARLEE was born in 1740. She died in unknown.

Children of Nathaniel and Mary Elizabeth: Nathan Parks (1775-1843), Rachel Parks (1777-1794), Joseph Parks (abt 1760-?), Sarah Parks (abt 1763-1844), John Parks (1765-1854), Jonathan Parks (1767-1855), David Parks (1770-1854/1861), Mary Parks (abt 1773-1849)

272. JONAH PARKS was born about 1703. He died in 1777/1778 in Kingswood Township, Hunterdon Co., New Jersey.
273. Unknown STOUT died unknown.

Children of Jonah and Unknown: Nathaniel Parks (abt 1738-1818), Jonah Parks, Jr. (abt 1739/1742-?), Roger Parks (1741/1755-?), Sarah Parks (1743/1745 - ?), David Parks (abt 1740/1743-?), William Parks (abt 1747-?), Joshias Parks (1747-?), Jonathan Parks (1749-?), Ozias Parks (1757-?)

544. ROGER PARKS was born in 1664 in Nottingham Co., England. He died in 1755 in West Jersey, New Jersey.
545. Lady JANE STOUT was born in 1675. She died unknown

Children of Roger and Jane: Joseph Parks (1694-1753), Sarah Parks (1695-?), Grace Parks (1697-1771), William Parks (1699-1764), Keziah Parks (1701-?), Jonah Parks (abt 1703-1777/1778)

1088. ROGER PARKS was born about 1630 in Nottingham Co., England. He died after 1677.
Children of Roger: Roger Parks (1664-1755), John Parks (1667-?), Anne Parks (1668-?)

From Bissett-Cook families (Bev Barney) 2010

In 1677 the ship Kent brought 230 passengers to Burlington from the Northern Counties of England. There is no record of names on these people but the time is right for when Burlington was settled. The ship Kent sailed across the bay and unloaded 230 passengers out of a total of 270, many of these were from the Northern Counties. See the Krnt. This would include Nottingham where our Parkes families lived. They are included in 'First Settlers of Ye Plantations of Piscataway and Woodbridge' by Orra Eugene Merrits, B.A.
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If you have any information on the PARKS family, please leave me a comment!

~happy huntings