There are more and more records and books becoming available online each day. Many are free, others are pay sites and still other pay per usage.
Ancestry, My Heritage, Find My Past: Pay sites, millions of records, books, newspapers and family trees.
FamilySearch: Free, millions of records, books and family trees.
Fold3: pay, military records
Find a Grave: free, cemetery records
Rootsweb: free, family trees
Genweb: free, search for state and county records
Archive.com: free, online copies of books
Various repositories in Great Britain and other countries have searchable databases, pay per record options and research help.
Many organizational libraries [DAR, SAR, etc.] have free searchable databases, but records are available for a fee.
National Archives: Military records and pensions, personnel records. Washington, DC [pre 20th century] and St. Louis [personnel and 20th century military]
There are numerous online pay and free sites not mentioned here.
Saturday, May 25, 2019
Thursday, May 23, 2019
Advice #8: Societies
Returning to historical and genealogical societies: Join a local, regional or national society, or a combination of the three. Membership is generally reasonable and discounts are available on programs and products. Some of the societies will sponsor research trips to nearby research libraries, Salt Lake City or overseas venues. Most will offer speakers.
Advise #7: Software
Investigate the various family tree software programs that are available. Family Search [LDS], Ancestry, My Heritage, Find My Past, American Ancestors and other research sites have the capacity to host family trees. Using one of these can make your tree available for others to view.
You should have your data on a personal software program as well. There are several available to download for free, others are offered for a fee.
Among the highest rated are RootsMagic, Family Tree Builder, Family Tree Maker, Family Historian and Legacy.
Investigate the various software programs online.
You should have your data on a personal software program as well. There are several available to download for free, others are offered for a fee.
Among the highest rated are RootsMagic, Family Tree Builder, Family Tree Maker, Family Historian and Legacy.
Investigate the various software programs online.
Advice #6: Filing
Come up with a filing system for your research material.
Read articles or books on filing systems of others and then modify to suit your needs.
File folders work well. Some people digitize everything and keep it on their computer.
Read articles or books on filing systems of others and then modify to suit your needs.
File folders work well. Some people digitize everything and keep it on their computer.
Tuesday, May 21, 2019
Advice #5: Document! Document! Document!
Documentation of sources is key to successful research!
Document:
1] Write the date, location and source of each document you find, be it probate, deed, vital record or map. Write the info on the back of each document.
2] Identify photos! On the back or on a note card write who or what is in the photo, when it was taken, by whom it was taken [if possible], who provided the photo.
3] Family trees: identify the source of each birth, marriage and death date for each person on the tree.
4] Local histories, genealogies, etc.: Make a hard copy of each page, write the title, author, publisher, place and date of publication, and page number. Better yet, copy the title page!
5] Family lore and interviews: Write down who said, when they said it and who told it to them.
Document:
1] Write the date, location and source of each document you find, be it probate, deed, vital record or map. Write the info on the back of each document.
2] Identify photos! On the back or on a note card write who or what is in the photo, when it was taken, by whom it was taken [if possible], who provided the photo.
3] Family trees: identify the source of each birth, marriage and death date for each person on the tree.
4] Local histories, genealogies, etc.: Make a hard copy of each page, write the title, author, publisher, place and date of publication, and page number. Better yet, copy the title page!
5] Family lore and interviews: Write down who said, when they said it and who told it to them.
Sunday, May 19, 2019
Advice #4: Check into local opportunities
Many cities and towns have a genealogical or historical society. They generally have a research library. You can volunteer to help man the library, answer research queries, or some other activity. Many local organizations have monthly meetings with speakers brought in on various topics.
Help out or attend the meetings.
Help out or attend the meetings.
Friday, May 17, 2019
Advice #3: Attend a conference
There are several state, regional and national conferences available for researchers of all skill level to attend.
At the national level there are two major conferences: National Genealogical Society and Federation of Genealogical Societies are the sponsors. These conferences are held in different locales each year to give attendees the opportunity to visit area research facilities before or after the conference. Salt Lake City [UT], Fort Wayne [IN], Orlando [FL], Pittsburgh [PA], Nashville [TN], Chicago [IL], San Antonio [TX] and St. Charles [MO] are among the cities that have hosted these conferences.
There are pre-conference activities held on Wednesday [workshops, research at local libraries, etc.] with sessions beginning on Thursday running through Saturday. Nationally known speakers head up the sessions. Special tracks focusing on regional topics are held as well. [Midwest research at Ft. Wayne, for example.] A banquet is held on Friday evening. A wide variety of vendors are available.
Regional and state conferences have a much narrower focus. The Ohio Genealogical Society Conference, for example, highlights Ohio Valley topics. Vendors tend to be fewer nd more localized.
The New England Historic and Genealogical Society sponsors week long and weekend conferences in Boston throughout the year. NEHGS also sponsors research trips to Salt Lake, Ireland, England and other places during the year. Occasionally, NEHGS sponsors a one or two day conference in other cities.
The Utah Gen. Society hosts the Salt Lake Institute in January each year offering as many as 12 tracks varying from Beginning Research, to German Research, Advanced Research, Writing Family Histories, etc. It is a 5 day conference with sessions scheduled throughout the day, special classes or research opportunities at the FHL in the evening.
Try attending a national or local conference at least once. Give NEHGS, SLIG or another "institute" format a try as well. All will give you a great learning opportunity and a chance to network with other researchers.
At the national level there are two major conferences: National Genealogical Society and Federation of Genealogical Societies are the sponsors. These conferences are held in different locales each year to give attendees the opportunity to visit area research facilities before or after the conference. Salt Lake City [UT], Fort Wayne [IN], Orlando [FL], Pittsburgh [PA], Nashville [TN], Chicago [IL], San Antonio [TX] and St. Charles [MO] are among the cities that have hosted these conferences.
There are pre-conference activities held on Wednesday [workshops, research at local libraries, etc.] with sessions beginning on Thursday running through Saturday. Nationally known speakers head up the sessions. Special tracks focusing on regional topics are held as well. [Midwest research at Ft. Wayne, for example.] A banquet is held on Friday evening. A wide variety of vendors are available.
Regional and state conferences have a much narrower focus. The Ohio Genealogical Society Conference, for example, highlights Ohio Valley topics. Vendors tend to be fewer nd more localized.
The New England Historic and Genealogical Society sponsors week long and weekend conferences in Boston throughout the year. NEHGS also sponsors research trips to Salt Lake, Ireland, England and other places during the year. Occasionally, NEHGS sponsors a one or two day conference in other cities.
The Utah Gen. Society hosts the Salt Lake Institute in January each year offering as many as 12 tracks varying from Beginning Research, to German Research, Advanced Research, Writing Family Histories, etc. It is a 5 day conference with sessions scheduled throughout the day, special classes or research opportunities at the FHL in the evening.
Try attending a national or local conference at least once. Give NEHGS, SLIG or another "institute" format a try as well. All will give you a great learning opportunity and a chance to network with other researchers.
Wednesday, May 15, 2019
Adivce 2: Collecting Ancestors vs. Collecting Ancestral Stories
Having all of the branches on the family tree filled with names is the goal of every family historian. However "collecting ancestors" should not be your goal. Some people are only interested in the begats, but wouldn't telling each person's story be more interesting?
Try to flesh out each person's story with as much detail as possible, even if it means including family lore. [Be sure to note that family lore is just that.] Include birth, death, marriage, occupation, residence and the like.
Write up a bio of each individual. It may be two sentences, it may be two pages. Try to bring the ancestors to life with their stories. Add pictures of the person, family, his/her home, map of the town[s] in which they lived, anything that adds to the story, if you can find them.
Try to flesh out each person's story with as much detail as possible, even if it means including family lore. [Be sure to note that family lore is just that.] Include birth, death, marriage, occupation, residence and the like.
Write up a bio of each individual. It may be two sentences, it may be two pages. Try to bring the ancestors to life with their stories. Add pictures of the person, family, his/her home, map of the town[s] in which they lived, anything that adds to the story, if you can find them.
Monday, May 13, 2019
Advice for beginning, intermediate and advanced family history researchers - online family trees
While I spend a considerable amount of time evaluating the material I have filed away on the St. John family in an effort to determine if the Welsh ancestry is the correct line to follow. In looking over my London church records, I have already discovered a couple of interpretation errors that were not caught earlier in the research process that will figure into the evaluation.
In the mean time, I will attempt to keep things rolling with some genealogy research advice. This has probably all been posted before, but will reappear for the benefit of those would chose not to search for it!😁
1. Family Trees posted on-line and elsewhere: Family trees can be a great source of information, if they are accurately documented.
Many trees offer no documentation or cite other family trees. Use them with serious caution. Look for sources that back up what this person failed to document.
In what seems to be a new and disturbing trend, or just plain carelessness, some trees will be documented, but the evidence doesn't support the facts. A marriage record, with image, will accompany an event. The problem is that the record is for another couple! Make sure the records match the event and people it is intended for.
Documented trees still need to be approached with caution. Make sure the sources fit the facts they are intended to. Find, or try to find, other supporting documentation for each fact.
Saturday, May 11, 2019
One argument agaist Matthias [1635-1712] and Rachel as Samuel St. John's parents
My primary argument against Matthias and Rachel is one of age. No evidence is involved in this particular argument.
(1) Matthias St. John was born in 1635 and Rachel Bouton in 1667. An age gap of 32 years was a bit uncommon in a first marriage.
(2) Matthias and Rachel were married about 1689, per the St. John site. That would have been four years after Samuel's birth. Even if they married about 1684, Matthias would have been 49 and Rachel 17.
(3) Matthias and Rachel are credited with 3 or 4 children, Samuel, Matthias [alleged], Rachel and Hannah. The youngest born c1701. Ages of the parents - 66 and 34.
(4) Matthias died in 1712, leaving Rachel with at least two minor children. Did she remarry?
Revisiting Norwalk deeds and records is definitely in order. The 32 year gap between Matthias and Rachel really bothers me, especially if it was a first marriage for both. Still, this could be accurate. We shall see.
(1) Matthias St. John was born in 1635 and Rachel Bouton in 1667. An age gap of 32 years was a bit uncommon in a first marriage.
(2) Matthias and Rachel were married about 1689, per the St. John site. That would have been four years after Samuel's birth. Even if they married about 1684, Matthias would have been 49 and Rachel 17.
(3) Matthias and Rachel are credited with 3 or 4 children, Samuel, Matthias [alleged], Rachel and Hannah. The youngest born c1701. Ages of the parents - 66 and 34.
(4) Matthias died in 1712, leaving Rachel with at least two minor children. Did she remarry?
Revisiting Norwalk deeds and records is definitely in order. The 32 year gap between Matthias and Rachel really bothers me, especially if it was a first marriage for both. Still, this could be accurate. We shall see.
Thursday, May 9, 2019
Who were the parents of Samuel St. John?
Who were Samuel St. John's parents?
I thought I had this one answered a few years ago, thanks to James Noll Churchyard and the Salt Lake Institute.
Alexander Orline St. John, in The St. John Genealogy, had Samuel [b. 168_] as the son of Matthias St. John III [1662-1748] and Rachel Bouton [1667-1748]. This held, and still does in most trees and sources on the St. John family.
James Noll Churchyard wrote an article, published on his website, Those Four Early Children of Matthias3 St. John: A Solution and a Challenge [2004] in part contending that Samuel was not the son of Matthias III, but Matthias II. He offered convincing arguments and evidence.
I was in contact with James at the time, sharing info and theories. I decided his article would make a good Problem Solving project. Digging through Fairfield Co., CT deeds, histories and various records, I came to the conclusion that Samuel was the son of Matthias II and Elizabeth [_______] St. John, not Matthias III and Rachel Bouton. His estimated birth was altered from the 1680-1685 range to 1672-1677.
A third theory now exists, bringing Matthias St. John and Rachel Bouton back into the picture - in a manner of speaking.
The St. John Genealogy Website the third theory. A bit of background is called for here. This will be expanded upon in later posts, but here in a thumbnail sketch.
Thomas St. John of Highlight, Glamorgan, Wales moved his family to London in 1577. His wife was Jane Matthew. Thomas and Jane had nine children. Two, Christopher [1581-1629] and Matthew [1590/1-1671] were central figures to the theory.
Christopher was the father of Matthias I [1601-1669, who married Mary Tinker, Thomas [1613-1696]and Nicholas [1617-1689]. The three brothers went to America, Matthias and Nichols to Massachusetts, Thomas to Virginia. Matthew married Sarah [Hoyt?] and went to Massachusetts as well.
Matthew and Sarah had William [1629-1664], Elizabeth [b. 1631], Sarah [1633-1689], Matthias [1635-1712], Joyce [b. 1639], Walter [1643-bef 1703] and Toby [1646-1646].
Per theory, this Matthias was the husband of Rachel Bouton or Button, not Matthias III [1667-1748].
In addition, Sarah married John Gregory and Elizabeth was the wife of her cousin, Matthias II.
Matthias and Rachel were the parents of Samuel St. John. Samuel was born c1685.
The website cites an ancient genetic mutation in the St. John DNA that separates Matthew's line from Matthias' line. Also cited are several Norwalk deeds tying Matthew to son Matthias.
I need to sift through the copies of deeds that I used in Salt Lake to see if I copied the deeds used on the St. John site. For now, I'm trusting my research and the Churchyard research.
I thought I had this one answered a few years ago, thanks to James Noll Churchyard and the Salt Lake Institute.
Alexander Orline St. John, in The St. John Genealogy, had Samuel [b. 168_] as the son of Matthias St. John III [1662-1748] and Rachel Bouton [1667-1748]. This held, and still does in most trees and sources on the St. John family.
James Noll Churchyard wrote an article, published on his website, Those Four Early Children of Matthias3 St. John: A Solution and a Challenge [2004] in part contending that Samuel was not the son of Matthias III, but Matthias II. He offered convincing arguments and evidence.
I was in contact with James at the time, sharing info and theories. I decided his article would make a good Problem Solving project. Digging through Fairfield Co., CT deeds, histories and various records, I came to the conclusion that Samuel was the son of Matthias II and Elizabeth [_______] St. John, not Matthias III and Rachel Bouton. His estimated birth was altered from the 1680-1685 range to 1672-1677.
A third theory now exists, bringing Matthias St. John and Rachel Bouton back into the picture - in a manner of speaking.
The St. John Genealogy Website the third theory. A bit of background is called for here. This will be expanded upon in later posts, but here in a thumbnail sketch.
Thomas St. John of Highlight, Glamorgan, Wales moved his family to London in 1577. His wife was Jane Matthew. Thomas and Jane had nine children. Two, Christopher [1581-1629] and Matthew [1590/1-1671] were central figures to the theory.
Christopher was the father of Matthias I [1601-1669, who married Mary Tinker, Thomas [1613-1696]and Nicholas [1617-1689]. The three brothers went to America, Matthias and Nichols to Massachusetts, Thomas to Virginia. Matthew married Sarah [Hoyt?] and went to Massachusetts as well.
Matthew and Sarah had William [1629-1664], Elizabeth [b. 1631], Sarah [1633-1689], Matthias [1635-1712], Joyce [b. 1639], Walter [1643-bef 1703] and Toby [1646-1646].
Per theory, this Matthias was the husband of Rachel Bouton or Button, not Matthias III [1667-1748].
In addition, Sarah married John Gregory and Elizabeth was the wife of her cousin, Matthias II.
Matthias and Rachel were the parents of Samuel St. John. Samuel was born c1685.
The website cites an ancient genetic mutation in the St. John DNA that separates Matthew's line from Matthias' line. Also cited are several Norwalk deeds tying Matthew to son Matthias.
I need to sift through the copies of deeds that I used in Salt Lake to see if I copied the deeds used on the St. John site. For now, I'm trusting my research and the Churchyard research.
Tuesday, May 7, 2019
Samuel & Rebecca [Olmstead] St. John's Children
1In the Hull article discussed in the previous post, 11 children were identified as being the offspring of Samuel and Rebecca.
Four daughters were listed in the following order: Joanna [Christopher] Burt, Perigrine [Nathan] Northrop, Jane [Ebenezer] Brooks and Sarah [John] Maynard.
The three youngest sons were listed in the following order: Daniel, Job and Ebenezer.
Two elder brothers: Samuel and Noah.
Two other daughters: Rebecca [Samuel] Lobdell and Abigail.
If we consider the order in which the children are named, we may have the birth order for the four girls named in the deed and the three younger boys; probably the two elder boys as well. That leaves two wild cards: Rebecca and Abigail.
Rebecca was deceased by 1773 and Abigail died in 1720.
Samuel [1672-77 - bef 1752] and Rebecca [1681 - c1756] were married about 1701 or 1702. Rebecca was approaching "risky" childbearing years by 1721. So we have about a 20 year stretch for 11 children to be born.
I believe that Rebecca was probably the eldest girl and Samuel the eldest boy. Ballpark marriage age for girls was about 18-22 and 20-24 for boys., but that can be tossed out with this group!
Rebecca married in 1722. Born say 1702
Joanna married in 1727. Born say 1703-1707
Peregrine married in 1730. Born say 1706-1710
Jane married in 1730. Born say 1706-1710
Abigail deceased in 1720. Born say 1710-1720
Sarah married in ???? Born say 1712-1715
Samuel married in 1727/8. Born say 1702-1704
Noah married in 1737. Born 1713
Daniel married by 1752. Born 1715-1717
Job married about 1749 Born say 1717-1719
Ebenezer married in ???? Born say 1721
Possible birth order: [subject to change]
Rebecca c1702
Samuel c1703
Joanna c1705
Peregrine c1707
Jane c1708
Abigail c1710 [as late as 1720]
Nathan c1713
Sarah c1715
Daniel c1716
Job c1718
Ebenezer c1721
Abigail and Sarah are the new wild cards. Abigail could have been born anytime between 1702 and 1720. Sarah's marriage date needs to be located to get a better read on her year of birth.
Four daughters were listed in the following order: Joanna [Christopher] Burt, Perigrine [Nathan] Northrop, Jane [Ebenezer] Brooks and Sarah [John] Maynard.
The three youngest sons were listed in the following order: Daniel, Job and Ebenezer.
Two elder brothers: Samuel and Noah.
Two other daughters: Rebecca [Samuel] Lobdell and Abigail.
If we consider the order in which the children are named, we may have the birth order for the four girls named in the deed and the three younger boys; probably the two elder boys as well. That leaves two wild cards: Rebecca and Abigail.
Rebecca was deceased by 1773 and Abigail died in 1720.
Samuel [1672-77 - bef 1752] and Rebecca [1681 - c1756] were married about 1701 or 1702. Rebecca was approaching "risky" childbearing years by 1721. So we have about a 20 year stretch for 11 children to be born.
I believe that Rebecca was probably the eldest girl and Samuel the eldest boy. Ballpark marriage age for girls was about 18-22 and 20-24 for boys., but that can be tossed out with this group!
Rebecca married in 1722. Born say 1702
Joanna married in 1727. Born say 1703-1707
Peregrine married in 1730. Born say 1706-1710
Jane married in 1730. Born say 1706-1710
Abigail deceased in 1720. Born say 1710-1720
Sarah married in ???? Born say 1712-1715
Samuel married in 1727/8. Born say 1702-1704
Noah married in 1737. Born 1713
Daniel married by 1752. Born 1715-1717
Job married about 1749 Born say 1717-1719
Ebenezer married in ???? Born say 1721
Possible birth order: [subject to change]
Rebecca c1702
Samuel c1703
Joanna c1705
Peregrine c1707
Jane c1708
Abigail c1710 [as late as 1720]
Nathan c1713
Sarah c1715
Daniel c1716
Job c1718
Ebenezer c1721
Abigail and Sarah are the new wild cards. Abigail could have been born anytime between 1702 and 1720. Sarah's marriage date needs to be located to get a better read on her year of birth.
Saturday, May 4, 2019
St. John Family: Additions, Corrections, Updates, etc.
My revisiting the St. John family is turning up a variety of issues.
[1] The children of Samuel and Rebecca [Olmstead] St. John
[2] Samuel's parentage - AGAIN!
[3] Origin of the St. John family
The latter was to be my focus, but I'll begin at the top of the list. I came across an article from the March 2002 issue of the Connecticut Nutmegger [Vol. 34, p. 542-547] by Robert W. Hull, CSG #12200, entitled Updating the family of Samuel St. John and Rebecca [Olmstead] St. John: "Love, respect and goodwill" of generous sisters for brothers.
Hull used 1773 land deeds to prove the identity of Samuel and Rebecca. From my own early research, I had the following children for the couple: Samuel, Rebecca, Joanna, Peregrine, Jane, Abigail, Abigail, Noah, Daniel, Job and Ebenezer.
I, and many others, had included Abigail St. John, wife of John Marvin, as a child of Samuel and Rebecca, without sufficient evidence. The fact that the life spans of both Abigails overlapped should have been a red flag.
Hull's article showed 11 children for the couple as well.
Samuel, Rebecca, Joanna, Peregrine, Jane, Abigail, Noah, Sarah, Daniel, Job and Ebenezer.
I will discuss birth order [probably correct here], spouses, birth, marriage and death dates later.
[1] The children of Samuel and Rebecca [Olmstead] St. John
[2] Samuel's parentage - AGAIN!
[3] Origin of the St. John family
The latter was to be my focus, but I'll begin at the top of the list. I came across an article from the March 2002 issue of the Connecticut Nutmegger [Vol. 34, p. 542-547] by Robert W. Hull, CSG #12200, entitled Updating the family of Samuel St. John and Rebecca [Olmstead] St. John: "Love, respect and goodwill" of generous sisters for brothers.
Hull used 1773 land deeds to prove the identity of Samuel and Rebecca. From my own early research, I had the following children for the couple: Samuel, Rebecca, Joanna, Peregrine, Jane, Abigail, Abigail, Noah, Daniel, Job and Ebenezer.
I, and many others, had included Abigail St. John, wife of John Marvin, as a child of Samuel and Rebecca, without sufficient evidence. The fact that the life spans of both Abigails overlapped should have been a red flag.
Hull's article showed 11 children for the couple as well.
Samuel, Rebecca, Joanna, Peregrine, Jane, Abigail, Noah, Sarah, Daniel, Job and Ebenezer.
I will discuss birth order [probably correct here], spouses, birth, marriage and death dates later.
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