Tag: resources

Friday Finds August 1-7

"National Archives Building". Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:National_Archives_Building.jpg#/media/File:National_Archives_Building.jpg

“National Archives Building”. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons – https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:National_Archives_Building.jpg#/media/File:National_Archives_Building.jpg

Articles/Blogs

Webinars/Videos

Resources

Genealogy Finds June 13th-19th

I hope everyone is enjoying their June! We’ve had some humid/warm starts so far but I actually like this weather! It beats shoveling snow anyway 🙂 Winter always make me wonder why my ancestors didn’t go further south!

Here are my finds for the week!

(Love this picture of Lake Superior! I am a Michigan girl through and through! And I mean the state, not the sports team 🙂 )

By Yinan Chen (www.goodfreephotos.com (gallery, image)) [see page for license], via Wikimedia Commons

By Yinan Chen (www.goodfreephotos.com (gallery, image)) [see page for license], via Wikimedia Commons

If I may give myself a shout out (it is my blog, so I will), I was recently interviewed by GeneaBloggers “May I Introduce to You…” series. Check out the interview here!

Blogs/Articles

  • This is VERY important – the Massachusetts Norfolk Registry of Deeds is currently in favor of removing original records from the registry! Check out The New England House Historian’s blog with more information and let your voices be heard!
  • I had a friend recently tell me she had some old Civil War newspapers and she thought about laminating them. I think I may have scared her a bit by my vehement NO but then went on to explain. For those who are also preserving family heirlooms or items you may have found, read this UpFront with NGS article about the best way to preserve your items!
  • Such an amazing find! If only I knew what to do with negatives 🙂 Check out what this man bought from a local auction and then developed!
  • Have you looked at the online presences of libraries/archives/other institutions? You may be surprised by what is out there!
  • I’ve recently been ‘introduced’ to a blog called The Genealogy Kids. Have you heard of them? Check out their blog and videos! I love seeing younger generations take a part in their family history!
  • Educational opportunities! Check out Judy G. Russell’s blog post about GRIP online registration (ENDS TODAY!) and about SLIG
  • Two changes to BCG applications for 2016 – this will effect me as I won’t be applying until after 1 January 2016. All of those who are in the same boat should check out the two new changes on BCG’s blog here.
  • Finding her mother’s manuscript for a memoir led these two authors, Linda White and Marietta Stevens Crichlow, on a family journey! Check out the article here! What a great find to inspire a wish to know more!
  • Ever wonder what a professional genealogist does? Crista Cowan, who works for Ancestry.com, was interviewed about there here. Check it out!
  • Juneteenth 150th Anniversary: Major Genealogy Announcement by FamilySearch” – by Geneabloggers
  • How many have seen this famous picture of men sitting on a New York skyscraper eating their meals? Here is part of the story behind that photograph!
  • Need extra income? Consider becoming a courthouse researcher.” – from the Christian Science Monitor – awesome!
  • Okay, this is just cool. Spend a night in Ellis Island?! Check out the EOGN article about entering this contest! How cool!

Webinars/Videos

Resources

  • Have you checked out the Irish Famine Archive? This database deals with the Irish migration to Canada in 1847-1848. Check it out!
  • Virginia Vital Records NOW Online – Partnership Between VDH & Ancestry” – from Upfront with NGS
  • “Archives digitises World War I vault” – from the National Archives of Australia! Check out the EOGN post here and a news article here.
  • “HistoryGeo.com Adds Landowner Data” from EOGN – I haven’t used HistoryGeo.com myself but this looks intriguing.
  • FindMyPast Friday! New records include: Prisoners of War 1715-1945; British Newspapers; Gibraltar, St. Andrew’s Kirk Baptisms, Marriages, Burials, and Congregation Records 1840-1947; Greater London Burial Index; Surrey, Southwark, St Saviour Poor Relief 1818-1821; Hue & Cry Index 1797-1810; Staffordshire, Parish Registers Browse, 1538-1900; and Kent Marriages and Banns.

Genealogy Finds May 30th-June 5th

By Bernstein2291 at en.wikipedia [Public domain], from Wikimedia Commons

By Bernstein2291 at en.wikipedia [Public domain], from Wikimedia Commons

Blog Posts/Articles

  • A new series by Genealogy Lady on fashion! Her first post is called “The Shirtwaist” and has great information on the changes this piece of clothing has had over the years. Excellent information!
  • Genealogy 101: Genealogical Assumptions” by Colonial Roots – Four common myths that could be why you have a brick wall! Good information.
  •  This is rather neat – “Virginia Beach Navy Divers Prepare to Raise Confederate Ironclad.” The warship currently sits at the bottom of the Savannah River in Georgia. It’ll be exciting to see how this progresses!
  • I wasn’t sure where to put this really… this is part education, part blog post. The Family History Library in collaboration with the Research Specialists of the United States and Canada Reference team are offering a FREE week-long seminar in Salt Lake City this October!! It will focus on U.S. research exclusively. For more information on this amazing opportunity, check out the FamilySearch blog post here.

Webinars/Videos

Resources

  • Maureen Taylor’s Family Photo Detective is 40% off until June 7th ($14.99, regular price $26.99)! A great price for a wonderful resource on learning more about genealogy and photographs!
  • The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) made an exciting announcement! They have a new index of over 40,000 digitized family Bible records! Learn more about it here and check out the index here.
  • The Genetic Genealogist posted “Visualizing Data from the Shared cM Project” – it’s a wonderful chart for anyone doing DNA research.
  • Ancestry.com has new Virginia Vital Records! Check out this posting to see what that all entails!
  • New FamilySearch records – 3.7 Million indexed records and images! Check out the list on EOGN (too many to type out!)
  • Eastman’s Online Genealogy Newsletter shared a number of things this week:
  • FindMyPast Friday! This week’s new resources are: Kent baptisms and burials, and Cambridge baptisms and burials.

Enjoy your weekend!

Religious Records

Religious records are a wonderful resource, especially if a vital record no longer exists. Religious records can contain baptism records, marriage records, burial records, and more. Sometimes there are cemetery records if the organization is connected to one. This article will focus on some religious records you can find in American genealogy.

I apologize now that this does not include all religions. If you know of records found in religions that are not mentioned, please post in the comments below with what you know. 

By Pubdog (talk).Pubdog at en.wikipedia [Public domain], from Wikimedia Commons

By Pubdog (talk).Pubdog at en.wikipedia [Public domain], from Wikimedia Commons

Figuring Out The Religion Of Your Ancestor 

Figuring out what religion your ancestor was a part of can be a bit of a challenge. Obituaries can sometimes give you an answer but there obviously weren’t always obituaries. Sometimes you can figure it out based on what religion your family has currently, but if your ancestors are anything like mine, that changed often.

There are some known associations – like that Germans tended to be Lutheran (but can be Catholic if came in the mid 1800’s and later), Scots tended to be Presbyterian, English tended to be Anglican or Congregationalist, and the Dutch tended to be part of the Dutch Reformed Church. Of course, there are always exceptions to this but it can give you a place to start.

The best idea would be to check to see what religious organizations were around the area of where your ancestor lived when vital record events happened. If you know, for example, that there were only two churches available at the time of your ancestor’s death, you have a narrowed down list and a starting point. If you happen to know what cemetery they are buried in, that is also a clue. A religious organization could be associated with the cemetery at the time of your ancestor’s death or even currently. Also note any clubs or organizations your ancestor was a part of as those can be sometimes linked to a religious organization.

Records

Birth/Baptism Records

  • These can be the actual certificate but you’ll most likely find a register book with this information.
  • Keep in mind that not all denominations practice infant baptisms. But if they do, a baptism record can give you an idea of the date of birth. Also, these records can name the parents and sponsors (who are most likely related).
  • Jewish synagogues may have circumcision records. Also birth records are noted in Synagogue Minutes Books and Bulletins.

Marriage Records

  • These are most likely kept in register books.
  • The information varies as much as religious practices. Normally you’ll find the bride and groom’s names, date of the marriage, and the officiate. Sometimes it’ll include parent’s names, witnesses, current residences, ages, birthdays, etc.
  • Sometimes you’ll find only that a marriage was planned or intended. These are called banns in a number of churches. These can sometimes be kept in a banns book, separate from a marriage register.
  • Quakers are another group where the couple would have to get permission first. The couple would have to appear before meetings to make their intent known and to receive permission to marry. The marriage should be noted in a meeting report later on.

Burial Records

  • Again, this could be in a register book or the certificate but most places would likely have a register book.
  • Information can include name, date of death, date and place of burial, age, and spouse or next of kin.
  • Some register books, especially in smaller areas, can give more information on the person and the person’s death.
  • Here is where you may find cemetery records if there is a cemetery associated with the institution.

Other Records

  • Business records
  • Transfer/Removal Records
  • Membership Records (these can also have death information in them)
  • Bar/Bat Mitzvah and Confirmation Records
  • Minutes or Meeting Records (Quakers and Jewish Synagogues may have these)

Where to Find the Records

  • The Place Itself – sometimes the actual institution will still have records. The church I grew up in, for example, has a number of records BUT there was a fire that destroyed all the earlier records. So, a person wrote down an account of what he knew about the beginning of the church since the original records were lost but it is obviously incomplete. The religious institution may not know where the older records are kept but it never hurts to ask!
  • Archives/Historical Societies – Some religious institutions have a historical society or archive dedicated to old records. Records can also be found in state archives and local historical societies as well. If the church doesn’t have the records, see if a library, historical society, museum, or local genealogy group has more information for you.
  • Microfilm – Some microfilm may be online for viewing as well. FamilySearch.org has a number of religious records available on microfilm, which you can pay to borrow and have it sent to a local LDS church near you for you to view.
  • Online Sites – places like DAR have some transcriptions in their library catalog. Also, some local genealogy communities will put an index online of religious records as well as how to get to the original record. Doing a simple search on Google or checking with Cyndi’s List are also good ideas.

Please feel free to comment and add to the conversation! Not all religions follow the general guidelines above so please add any information you may have about other religious records.

Happy hunting!

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