Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter

(+) Why You May Need to Hire a Professional Genealogist

Genealogy research is a fascinating endeavor. After all, your family tree is a puzzle that needs to be solved. In fact, you are literally finding out where you came from. I strongly recommend that anyone with an interest in ancestry do their own research. After all, it is fun and challenging.

Who's Your Daddy? Or Mother?

WARNING: This article contains the personal opinions of the author.

Massachusetts became the first state in the U.S. to legalize same-sex marriages. Now the result is creating lots of problems, one of which is how the state keeps birth certificates. The resolution of this question may involve life-or-death situations in future years. Perhaps a smaller, but equally interesting, question is this: how do genealogists record birth certificate information?

"Routes to Roots" in London

Genealogists planning to visit the many different archives in London will be interested in a new map that shows the ways to walk between nine key archive centres in the London Boroughs of Camden and Islington. The Camden and Islington Family History Map has been produced by a partnership of the archive centres, and it is an invaluable tool for anyone uncovering the lives of their ancestors. The map is part of the national Archive Awareness Campaign.

It's a Grave Misunderstanding

A few weeks ago, I wrote a couple of articles about preserving tombstones. (See the articles here and here.) Now a new problem appeared in the news. It seems that one well-intentioned person has caused potential long-term damage to many Civil War tombstones. He thought he was helping preserve the tombstones but his efforts had the opposite effect. Not only did he not realize the damage he was causing, he even received commendations from cemetery officials, Representative Loretta Sanchez (D-Santa Ana), the Santa Ana Historical Preservation Society and the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War.

New Website Features Nova Scotia and the Sea

The following is an announcement from the Nova Scotia Provincial Government:

Researchers, students, and those simply interested in our maritime heritage now have access to a new online resource containing dramatic images and artifacts depicting Nova Scotia's complex relationship with the sea.

Danes plan to (optionally) return to Patronymic Names

Until the late nineteenth century, patronymic naming conventions were common in Scandinavia, Wales, and a number of other countries. In fact, patronymic names are still used in Iceland. Now Denmark is returning to the tradition of their forefathers.

Programme de recherche en démographie historique

Are you researching French-speaking ancestors from Quebec province? If so, you absolutely need to spend some time on the award-winning Web site of Programme de recherche en démographie historique. You don't read French? No problem, as the information on this site is available in both French and in English.

(+) Still ANOTHER Free Tool to Create PDF Files

I am always amazed at how fast the technology world changes. Two or three years ago, the only method of creating PDF (Portable Document Format) files was to pay close to $300 for Adobe Acrobat. Indeed, Adobe created a great market for this product when it gave away the reader free of charge and then charged a high price for the matching program that creates PDF files. It reminds me of the story of Gillette's making millions by giving away razors free of charge and then making a big profit on the sale of razor blades. For several years, Adobe raked in millions of dollars as the only company to offer a program to create PDF files. Then the world changed.

Mobile Genealogy for your Handheld Computer

Do you own a PocketPC handheld computer? If so, does it have Internet connectivity? If you can answer, "Yes" to both of those questions, you need to check out a web site designed for the genealogist on the move.

This week I have been using Mobile Genealogy, a site created by Illya J. D'Addezio. I use a Hewlett-Packard iPAQ handheld computer running the PocketPC operating system (once known as Windows CE), and it contains built-in 802.11b wireless networking. Similar units are available from a number of manufacturers, including Dell, Toshiba, Acer, ViewSonic, Asus, Mitac, and others.

Read this Newsletter on Your Handheld Computer

As a follow-up to my earlier article about a genealogy web site for handheld genealogy users, I thought I would remind owners of handheld computers that you can also read this newsletter on your tiny computer. All you need is Internet connectivity and an RSS newsreader that is designed for use on your handheld computer.

(+) How to Organize a Genealogy Research Trip

How many times has this happened to you? You enter a courthouse, library, or other repository of genealogy information with the intent of finding information about your ancestors. You don't really know what is available in that library or archive. After all, that is the purpose of your trip, right? You want to find out. Next thing you know, your head is spinning amidst a profusion of information and a confusion of objectives.

Update: Encyclopedia of Genealogy

A few months ago, I created a free online service for genealogists, called the Encyclopedia of Genealogy. While I'm the person who created the "shell" of this new service, newsletter readers like you write much of the information within it. If you missed the announcement, you can read it at http://eogn.typepad.com/eastmans_online_genealogy/2004/12/encyclopedia_of.html.

I must admit that I am quite pleased with the Encyclopedia of Genealogy. Many newsletter readers have offered new content or have corrected existing information within the Encyclopedia of Genealogy. Here is a partial list of some of the articles added or updated by newsletter readers and myself in the past few weeks:

Utah Seminars will examine uses of Genetic Genealogy

The Utah Medical Association and Heritage Genealogical College are planning a genetics and professional genealogy seminar: Grandpa's Genes, the Ancestral File, and Current Genetic Research.

Over the past 20 years, Salt Lake City has gained international prominence for genetic research and studies at the University of Utah and the Huntsman Cancer Center. This is also the worldwide center for genealogy research, through the facilities and collections of the Family History Library of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Lusty Beggars, Dissolute Women, Sorners, Gypsies, and Vagabonds for Virginia

Colonial Virginia was always intended to be a piece of England translated to the Chesapeake Bay. King James I expected his three kingdoms-Scotland and Ireland being the other two-to develop their own American colonies. By 1640, however, the surviving overseas plantations were all English, and neither Scots nor Irish were especially welcome. Nevertheless, many a Scot still made his way to Virginia, though not always under circumstances that commended the journey.

StoughtonHistory.com

Anyone with ancestry in or near Stoughton, Massachusetts will be interested in a new web site created by David Lambert. StoughtonHistory.com contains everything from historic maps to biographical and genealogical sketches of local families.

Here is a list of some of the resources available on this free site:

MidwestIrishRadio.com

The following was written by Keith Fahey of Midwestirishradio:

"Hi to John in San Francisco…………. Josephine in the South of Sunny Spain would love to hear Johnny Mc Evoy singing the Boston Burglar………. Tell my cousin Jim who is tuned in in Ontario, Canada that I will see him in Ireland in October……………and to Brigid in Hamburg congratulations on the birth of your baby boy from all the family at home".

Something seem a little bit strange about the above broadcasts?  Well, it's just a regular day in the life of Midwestirishradio.com, a brand new fully dedicated Irish Radio service available on the net.  Broadcast from state of the art studios in a little corner of Mayo in a town called Ballyhaunis, Midwestirishradio is a refreshing little piece of home, tucked away neatly in a corner of the vast machine that is the internet.  Whether it's the sweet voice of Mary Black, the gruff tones of Ronnie Drew, or the haunting sounds of Clannad, then this is the place for you, broadcast around the globe in crystal clear stereo.

Connecticut Indian Tribe Is Denied Genealogist's Research

The Schaghticokes want the genealogical records that Francelia C. Johnson may have in her possession. One problem: Johnson - who has been known to assist strangers trying to find ancestors in local graveyards - said she has little interest in providing any information.

1911 Canadian Census is now Online

After several years of legal wrangling, genealogists can now view the scanned images of the 1911 National Census of Canada. The images went online today and are searchable by location although not but by name.

You can see the 1911 census images at: http://www.collectionscanada.ca/archivianet/1911/index-e.html

(+) Another Free AntiVirus Program

I have written before about a free antivirus program for Windows. I have been using it for months on a couple of my PCs and, so far, it has worked perfectly. Both machines remain virus free, even though they are connected to the Internet twenty-four hours a day. Even better, this antivirus program does not slow my PC down as much as do its commercial cousins. Now another free antivirus solution has appeared.

1895 Test

This is the eighth-grade final exam from 1895 from Salina, Kansas. It was taken from the original document on file at the Smoky Valley Genealogical Society and Library in Salina, Kansas and reprinted by the Salina Journal.