Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter

Footnote.com Members Meeting at the 2007 Southern California Genealogical Society Jamboree

Two weeks ago I had a chance to attend a Footnote.com users' group meeting at the National Genealogical Society's annual conference in Richmond. A number of Footnote users attended, listened to presentations, and engaged in discussions with the Footnote.com executives in attendance. I enjoyed the experience, and I think the Footnote.com users did as well. The executives in attendance later told me that it was a valuable session for them, too.

Now the folks at Footnote.com would like to repeat the experience at the 2007 Southern California Genealogical Society Jamboree in Burbank, California, on Saturday, June 9, 2007. The users' group meeting will be held at 6:00 PM.

GenSmarts Version 2 Released

The following announcement was written by Underwood Innovations, LLC:

Long Grove, IL - May 30, 2007 - Four years ago, a new type of genealogy software debuted - one which uses artificial intelligence to make research suggestions. GenSmarts works alongside existing genealogy software to explain records that should be researched and why. Today's GenSmarts Version 2 release represents a new level of usability and power for genealogy hobbyists seeking research assistance.

(+) Why Are the Mormons Interested in Genealogy?

I received an e-mail message from a newsletter subscriber that asked a common question:

I just read your article about the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. I am interested to know why the Mormons have such an interest in everyone's genealogy.

In fact, I asked the same question when I first started researching my own family tree. I suspect that most non-Mormons did the same. I thought I would post my answer here in case others have the same question.

An Interview with Josh Hanna

The folks at RootsTelevision have been busy. They have now released another interview recorded at the recent National History Show in London. In this video, I had a chance to talk with Josh Hanna, Managing Director for European Operations for Ancestry.com, Ancestry.co.uk, and the other genealogy sites owned by The Generations Network.

Ancestry.co.uk was a major sponsor of the show and and had a very large presence there. You can see part of the Ancestry booth in the background behind us. In addition, the company had a separate stage and produced shows and talks almost continuously for three days.

In this interview, Josh talks about Ancestry's presence at the show and about the U.K. records available online at www.ancestry.co.uk.

DNA Accepted as Mayflower Descent Proof

This could be a landmark decision for lineage societies. The Mayflower Society has now accepted DNA evidence as proof of a descent from one of the passengers on that little ship.

John Hawes married a granddaughter of Mayflower passenger John Howland, Desire Gorham. Therefore, John and Desire Hawes’ children were descendants of a Mayflower passenger. They had a son John Hawes, who left New England and popped up in North Carolina. Same person? If so, his issue could join the General Society of Mayflower Descendants.

Historian General Ann S. Lainhart and Assistant Historian General Alicia Williams recently accepted this line — on the basis of a Hawes DNA study of the Hawes Y chromosome.

Update: Own a Piece of the Scottish Highlands?

This article is an update of one that first appeared in the November 18, 2002 issue of this newsletter. It seems that little has changed in past four and a half years.

Clett Island is situated on Loch Dunvegan in the heart of the Scottish Highlands. The island has a long history, witnessing several of Scotland's historic events. Previous owners of the island include Olave the Black (a Norwegian warlord) in 1200 A.D., the MacDonald clan, their rivals the MacLeods, as well as popular 1960s folk singer Donovan. There is no source of fresh water on the island. There is no regularly-scheduled boat service, and there is no place to land an airplane, other than perhaps a helicopter. The island remains deserted today.

Richard Haigh, the present owner of the island, decided to sell the uninhabited island. Claiming that he wishes to preserve the past, Haigh is selling small plots on Clett Island as "Heritage Land Plots." His advertising is mostly aimed at Americans and Canadians, apparently appealing to those of Scottish descent. However, the Scottish National Parliament (SNP) claims that the deeds issued are not worth the paper they are written on.

Update: Encyclopedia of Genealogy

This newsletter sponsors the Encyclopedia of Genealogy, a free online service. While I'm the person who created the "shell" of this new service, much of the information within it is written by newsletter readers like you.

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:

Make Your Own Church Sign

Perhaps you've seen them while driving down the road - those backlit, block-letter signs in front of a church announcing the upcoming sermon or maybe just providing a thought for the day.

But why should religion get all the roadside fun? Now you can, too, with the online Church Sign Generator. Choose from five different designs, enter your text, and presto! A photo of your custom sign appears. You can save the photo to your computer at no charge, or, for a few dollars, order magnets, stickers, and coffee mugs printed with your message.

Jacqueline Depelle - The Hat Lady

You HAVE to see this lady's hat. This is another interview from the recent National History Show in London. Jacqueline certainly had the most interesting hat at the show. She carries her genealogy on her hat.

You can see this video by clicking on the link below:

To view the video, click on the above image. If that does not work for you, you can also view it by going to http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid464120989/bclid240119644/bctid931731244.

More Web Site Service Providers Team with FamilySearch

FamilySearch is announcing still more content providers that will be offering data through local FamilySearch Centers near you and through the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. Note that all the providers listed below except for two have been announced previously in this newsletter and elsewhere. The new additions are: Heritage Quest/ProQuest and Kindred Konnections.

The following announcement was written by FamilySearch (formerly Genealogical Society of Utah), a nonprofit organization sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:

Popular web sites available for free through local Family History Centers

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH-FamilySearch has announced the addition of more popular online genealogy services available for free through worldwide family history centers. The expanded services are in keeping with FamilySearch's goal to provide increased access to records that will assist individuals in family history pursuits. New resources include:

Boston Streets: Mapping City Directory Data

Tufts University has a web site that will interest most anyone researching ancestors or studying history in the city of Boston. "Boston Streets" combines city directories, maps, and photographs to tell the story of Boston over the last 160 years.

The web site provides zoomable maps from 1844, 1867, 1874, 1898, 1928, 1950, and 2001. These maps are combined with searchable city directories from 1845, 1855, 1865, 1870, 1872, 1875, 1885, 1905, and 1925. While these directories are only a sample of the many directories printed over the years, you will find more than 2 million unique entries. You may be able to find your ancestors listed in a city directory, then plot their location on the maps. Older maps often showed ward boundaries—very handy for anyone working with Boston census schedules.

The End of the Palm Operating System

The Palm Pilot was the first wildly successful product that enabled us to walk around with a small computer in our pockets. Palm and the Palm OS (operating system) have been very popular. Likewise, GedStar Pro has become a very popular genealogy program for the Palm operating system, used by thousands of genealogists to carry their databases in a pocket or purse.

Numerous reports now claim that the new Treo 755p, just released by Sprint Nextel Corp., will be the last product to ship with the Palm OS.

Society Names Irvin's Place in History

There's the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame, the Baseball Hall of Fame, the Country Music Hall of Fame -- and now the Virgina V. Irvin Volunteer Hall of Fame for the Wisconsin State Genealogical Society.

Those who have a hall of fame named after them usually have done something so extraordinary that a mere place in a hall of fame isn't enough. More than 220 members of the Wisconsin State Genealogical Society recently named their hall after Virgina Irvin.

An Interview with Paul Blake

This is one of a continuing series of video interviews conducted recently at the National History Show in London. I had the opportunity to talk with Paul Blake, co-author (with Maggie Loughran) of Discover Your Roots as well as numerous magazine articles. Paul is also a frequent lecturer. In this video, Paul talks about how to research British ancestors, even if you live in Canada, the United States, Australia, New Zealand or some other location that is distant from England.

The interview was videotaped by Roots Television and you can watch it right now on your computer by clicking on the icon below.

To view the video, click on the above image. If that does not work for you, you can also view it by going to http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid464120989/bclid240119644/bctid909829571

2008 NGS Research Trip to Salt Lake City

The following is an announcement written by the U.S. National Genealogical Society:

Sunday 24 February – Sunday 2 March 2008

The National Genealogical Society is pleased to announce a research trip to the Family History Library in February 2008. This is the ninth annual trip sponsored by NGS and as in previous years, the trip will be co-led by Dereka Smith, MLS and Shirley Langdon Wilcox, CG, FNGS.

Ancestry.com Launches Largest US Military Records Collection Available Online

The following announcement was written by The Generations Network, parent company of Ancestry.com:

Ancestry.com is announcing it has launched the largest collection of U.S. military records available and searchable online, featuring more than 90 million names that span more than four centuries of American history from the 1600s through Vietnam.

This U.S. Military Collection includes exclusive record sets such as the only complete collection of WWI draft registration cards and commemorative military yearbooks and newspapers. Combined, the records bring to life the stories and sacrifices of the millions of brave men and women who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces.

QuickSheet: Citing Online Historical Resources (Revised)

Elizabeth Shown Mills is well known in genealogy circles for a number of reasons. One of those reasons is her excellent book, Evidence! Citation & Analysis for the Family Historian. This book is the definitive guide about how to cite sources in any genealogy work. I wrote a review of this book when it first appeared ten years ago, and I was very impressed with it. I have used it often ever since.

Almost two years ago, Elizabeth produced a condensed QuickSheet that is equally valuable. It consists of four laminated pages. It focuses on online sources, a subject that has grown in importance since her book "Evidence!" was published. A lot of information is crammed into these four pages. A revised edition of the QuickSheet is now available.

An Interview with Maggie Laughran

While at the recent National History Show in London, I had a chance to interview Maggie Laughran. Maggie is the Administrator of the Federation of Family History Societies, one of the largest genealogy organizations in England. Maggie described the activities of the organization and provided a lot of information about resources available in England.

The interview was videotaped by Roots Television, and you can watch it right now on your computer.

To view the video, click on the above image. If that does not work for you, you can also view it by going to http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid429035835/bclid240119644/bctid900702978

Baptisms in Lanchester & Weardale districts in County Durham Now Available

The following announcement was written by Durham Records Online:

Durham Records Online is pleased to announce the addition of an index of 28,310 baptisms for the following parishes in Lanchester & Weardale districts in County Durham, England, from 1810 through 1851 (whenever these churches existed during that period).

NGS awards Scholarship for Home Study Course

The following announcement was written by the National Genealogical Society:

The National Genealogical Society, based in Arlington, Virginia, is pleased to announce it has awarded the scholarship for NGS American Genealogy: A Home Study Course to Teresa Steinkamp McMillin of Inverness, Illinois. The course is an in-depth learning opportunity aimed at the intermediate to advanced researcher. The scholarship covers the cost of all three CDs as well as the grading of assignments and comments provided by experienced genealogists. This represents a value of $475.