Tuesday, January 31, 2017

Finding Your Roots

So someone [Adele] just reminded me about the Irish episode on tonight's TV, Finding Your Roots. Of course I'm in Mexico, and after an exhaustive search - and stopping myself from downloading the episode on an unknown 'free' channel here in Mexico, haha - I finally discovered that a lot, not sure all, but certainly a lot of previously aired Finding Your Roots episodes are available, in their entirety, on YouTube!!!! Yahoo!! I know I'm not the only one away from their home TV, so hopefully this helps. Just Google "finding your roots youtube" and you'll eventually get there. If there is a special episode you want you can either add the name to your queery, or just scroll until you find it.

And I am watching the Irish episode, right now 5pm, and don't have to wait for TV tonight. haha


Cheers,
Pat

Friday, January 27, 2017

Pier 21 Canada

Gail Devers has written a post on using the researchers at Pier 21 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. You need to read her article http://genealogyalacarte.ca/?p=18066. For one thing she reports on what you can get for FREE.

I was there in September 2016, so I have a few personal experience comments to add. Be warned - the building is on the harbour, right where the cruise ships dock. Are you beginning to understand? We were lucky to have dedicated a several day stopover in Halifax, and there was only one of those days that the line-ups did not reach outside the doors and down the street. There were several ships sitting in dock each day - so think of the 2,000 or so passengers on EACH ship and youy get the idea of the numbers you might have to deal with.

So my suggestion, if you can, is to search online for the cruise day schedules, and work around them. Pier 21 is not a place to slip in for a few minutes. There's a lot to see and do - even if you stay away from the dozen or so tourist shops inside. Anyway when we were there they had a wonderful exhibition of the Empress of Ireland which sunk in the Saint Lawrence River after a collision with another ship on 29 May 1914. Of the 1477 people on board, 1012 died! Of particular interest to us is the fact that my husbands maternal Grandmother came from England to Canada, on the Empress, one year earlier.

We also followed a tour of the procedure immigrants would have followed when they arrived in Canada at Pier 21. It was very interesting as we moved from room to room following a knowleadgeable guide, and past wall to floor paintings and displays. One of the men in our group had experience as he had come from Italy, through Pier 21 as a young child, and he was reliving and sharing his memories with us. It was a very good experience.

Oh yes, there is a charge depending on what you want to do/see within the building and they offer a discount for showing your CAA membership! Who knew?!


Cheers,
Pat

Tuesday, January 24, 2017

Here's a True Genealogy Hero

Many genealogists, new and old, forget how we get indexed records. They are the result of dedicated volunteers - and every single one of us need to step up and do something! Doesn't need to be more than you can handle. Every bit helps.

This lady is a true hero and I say Thank You to Twila Van Leer. http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865671694/94-year-old-Logan-resident-on-track-to-index-more-than-600000-names-before-95th-birthday.html


Cheers,
Pat

Tracing Scottish Ancestors

Here's a good article, complete with links, and an offer of a FREE 14 day trial to Find My Past. Whether you use the trial or not, don't forget about ScotlandsPeople!! Learn the background information regarding Scottish records and then use as many free 'stuff' as possible, until you WILL need to buy some documents, but they are sooooooooooooo much cheaper than when I began. Anyway Scotland is one of the easiest countries to research in with some of the very best records available. https://blog.findmypast.co.uk/how-to-trace-scottish-ancestors-2104865677.html


Cheers,
Pat

Oh Those Kids!

One thing I've always said is this "No one, knows everything, about anything, all the time". haha And it's so true. So our Legal Genealogist hit a snag about something even 'she' didn't know ... which just means I'm in really good company. haha

Have a read here http://www.legalgenealogist.com/2017/01/24/term-of-the-day-those-other-kids/


Cheers,
Pat

Discounts on Online Shopping!

I personally have not done this, but I can certainly see how it might work. Just like letting subscriptions expire, which I almost always do, and sure enough along comes a much discounted price to 'get me back'. It's from Thomas MacEntee at Geneabloggers so safe. I don't seem to really purchase a lot online so I will rely on you folks to give this a try. Please let me/us know how you make out? Few things feel better than saving money on something you want!! Right?


Cheers,
Pat

Educate Yourself Online FREE

So many different areas of interest! I see a few that interest me. Now how to get some more hours in the day please. haha http://www.marcandangel.com/2010/11/15/12-dozen-places-to-self-educate-yourself-online/


Cheers,
Pat

Familysearch.org

Thanks to Randy Seaver for this recent posting of new and/or updated record collections available at the always FREE familysearch.org. There is a wide variety [Russia, Ukraine, US, etc] so have a peek http://www.geneamusings.com/2017/01/added-or-updated-record-collections-at_23.html


Cheers,
Pat

Scottish Masks? Ugh

I paid attention to this as the minister discussed lived, and worked, in Ayrshire Scotland, and specifically Dalry where I had many times past grandparents living at the exact time of this story AND I've never head this before. I'm guessing these masks were fairly wide spread in Scotland, but I don't know. Anyway, Yick. Just yick. http://www.scotsman.com/news/the-terrifying-disguise-of-a-fugitive-church-minister-1-4344582


Cheers,
Pat

Monday, January 23, 2017

FREE UK Genealogy

Some of you may not be aware of this group that continue working on making English and Welsh BMDs, Parish records, and Censuses available, online and FREE. These websites have saved me many a dollar. There can be a slight learning curve, but put on your thinking caps and try it out. Scroll to the bottom of the page to find the three searchable categories.
http://www.freeukgenealogy.org.uk/about/


Cheers,
Pat

Irish Cemetery Headstones

First update of 2017 http://www.irishgenealogynews.com/2017/01/ireland-genealogy-projects-archives_17.html


Cheers,
Pat

Sunday, January 22, 2017

Irish Genealogy Course

Sean J Murphy is a University History graduate, also interested in genealogy who offers courses online, or locally in Ireland. Here is his blog https://www.facebook.com/Sean-J-Murphy-777246545723294/

And here is a LOT of info [scroll down]. Wow the Internet is ... so bloody big, and useful ... if I only had the time. sigh Anyway here is a ton of great Irish links https://ucd.academia.edu/SeanMurphy


Cheers,
Pat

Northern Irish Historical Maps Viewer

Thank you to PRONI, cause this one's amazing!! Thanks to Chris Paton for pointing it out. If you're new to Irish researcher, well you've got a lot to learn! haha BUT because so many of the record types we normally use are lost/missing/burned/blown up, we have to learn lesser known records. Some of the best are land records, which require - guess what? - MAPS!! haha Here we go again folks. You cannot do genealogy without maps, atlases and gazetteers. In the British Isles we rely on OS records and OS maps [Ordnance Survey]. And PRONI has just released this https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/services/search-proni-historical-maps-viewer


Cheers,
Pat

Who is the Genealogist's BEST Friend?

Thanks to John Reid for writing this article. And he is EXACTLY right!! He is talking about libraries, but especially librarians!!! They are amazing knowledgeable folks, AND they exist almost everywhere in the World - wherever your interests lie. And they're online!!

I am especially privileged to have been offering genealogy sessions at the Regina Public Library and other libraries around the Province, since, hmmmm not sure exactly, but about 1999. Yikes! And I'll be doing another one at RPL in April 2017, and just before I go back into Fall classes in Sept. Watch the RPL website, and come join me if you can.

So now back to John's article, which includes lots of web links and maybe some new info http://anglo-celtic-connections.blogspot.mx/2017/01/the-genealogists-best-friend.html


Cheers,
Pat

Russia, Tver Church Books FREE

Russia has long been an area of difficult research - but it's beginning to change! As with all research you need to know specific administrative divisions as records were, and still are, created and kept locally ... not just Russia but everywhere. This is where geography comes in my friends. And maps. Especially contemporary maps - maps of the time period you are researching in. Why would that be? Well as we spend one full two hour session learning about this in my Unpuzzling Your Past course, the shortened version is: location names change, borders change, towns disappear. Yes!! That is often the case. Anyway I'll get off my hot little soapbox now (haha) and just tell you that if you happen to have an interest in the province of Tver Russia, you can search births and baptisms, marriages, deaths and burials performed by priests. https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1921824
te
Thanks again to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints [aka Mormons] for filming and making some of the very best original records in the entire World available, to anyone interested, for FREE, always. To see their website https://familysearch.org/

Watch for an inquiry as to anyone interested in taking a course, online, on how to best use this website AND those amazing records!


Cheers,
Pat

Haplogroup Explained

As always we can count on the Legal Genealogist to explain 'stuff' in a manner everyone can understand. In this one she takes on DNA main parts, and does a great job. http://www.legalgenealogist.com/2017/01/22/term-of-the-day-haplogroup/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheLegalGenealogist+%28The+Legal+Genealogist%29


Cheers,
Pat

Friday, January 20, 2017

Proud to be Canadian on this day

Well I'm ALWAYS proud to be Canadian. The more you travel, the more you will understand how lucky WE are!! But today, as I enjoy life as a Canadian wintering in Mexico I cannot ignore what is happening in the USA. Again. I am soooo proud to be Canadian. We are not perfect. There is so much more we can do. BUT ...

BUT - and I truly don't care what your political beliefs are - during 2016 Canada (Canadians) welcomed more than 25,000 Syrians refugees. It's what we DID during the first large immigration into Canada. This happened during the Irish Famine (there were many Irish famines, but the 1840s is what most know about) when about 500,000 arrived on Quebec shores. Half a million? Sick. Destitute. Impoverished. Hopeless. It's what we did. It's what we do today. It's what we will always do.

And Thank God we still Welcome the sick, the destitute, the hopeless.

I am in the process of writing a genealogy presentation about my trip to Gross Isle to see where the sick, the destitute, and the homeless landed in Canada between 1832-1937. My Mother was born an American, and I get it, but today I'm saying "God bless CANADA"!! And yes, I am in tears.


Cheers,
Pat


Thursday, January 19, 2017

WIN an Ancestry Workbook FREE

So another opportunity to WIN! This time it's a copy of 'Unofficial Ancestry.com Workbook'. Any of us who use Ancestry know that it's a huge site that keeps changing. That's what this book is about - helping us find all those goodies we've missed, lost, or forgotten about. Give it a shot http://www.geneabloggers.com/giveaways/win-copy-unofficial-ancestry-com-workbook-shop-family-tree/?lucky=92385

Wouldn't it be fun if one of us won?


Cheers,
Pat

Wednesday, January 18, 2017

Dreaded Irish Tally Stick

Horrible similarities here http://www.askaboutireland.ie/learning-zone/primary-students/looking-at-places/meath/fr.-eugene-ogrowney/the-irish-language-in-the-1/


Cheers,
Pat

Irish Newspapers

So THE man to listen to regarding all things Irish has written on his blog https://www.johngrenham.com/blog/2017/01/09/the-revolution-in-irish-historic-newspaper-research/ and followed up with another excellent post https://www.johngrenham.com/blog/2017/01/16/let-the-quibbles-begin/.


Cheers,
Pat

Scandinavian Genealogy Cheat Sheet FREE

This one is awesome - Scandinavian genealogy is not for the faint of heart!! Thanks to Family Tree magazine for this. http://www.familytreemagazine.com/article/scandinavian-genealogy-cheat-sheet


Cheers,
Pat

Salt Lake City Research

I see that the Medicine Hat Branch of Alberta, and Saskatchewan Genealogy Society are jointly hosting a trip to Salt Lake City in June 2017. I've had the great honour of speaking to the Medicine Hat group a while back, and found them to be a VERY knowledgeable group of genealogists so I suspect you would be in good hands. Anyway have a look at their website http://www.abgenealogy.ca/ and scroll down or click here for the SLC trip http://www.abgenealogy.ca/salt-lake-city

I have stayed at this hotel when in SLC and can vouch for it. It is really nice to have it so close to the library - you can slip back for a quick rest 'cause researching there is tiring, and for anyone who has never been to SLC be warned: their version of one block is a loooooooooong block, especially if you're walking and dragging along books etc. Anyway have fun to those who go!!


Cheers,
Pat

Win a FREE DNA Kit

Thanks to the folks over at The DNA Angel Project - Shop the Hound is again making a draw for a FREE Family Finder DNA Kit. This is the one I've been using, and while I still don't totally understand everything it can do, it's pretty cool. And FREE is always good, right? So here's your link http://blog.familyhistoryhound.com/giveaways/dna-angel-project-january-edition-win-family-finder-dna-kit/?lucky=2725

If you win please let me know? Best of luck everyone!!!!


Cheers,
Pat

Hello From Mexico

Hoping you all had a wonderful Christmas! Mine was fine, but for some reason this year just seemed exceptionally rushed and busy. Sorry I've not posted for a while. Following Christmas I had my granddaughter for a few days, and then we began getting ready for our winter - this year we're in Huatulco Mexico. If you don't have a map handy it's pretty much parallel with Guatamela, so pretty far south. We only arrived Saturday afternoon so really haven't done much except buy groceries, twice, and sort out our rented condo and complex. It's hot here so everything and everybody moves slow. Works for me! haha

But now that we're kind of settled I'll attempt to keep sharing genealogy news as best I can. Where is everyone? Share it under this post, or drop me a note privately if you'd prefer. So enough chit chat. On to work.Oh and I really am happy it's warmed up at home as that was just brutal. I'll share one quick little incident - our first night here I put some butter on a dish so it would be manageable for buttering toast in the morning. You are now laughing, right? Yup. Got up to find the butter had all melted in the dish overnight. haha Need to learn how to live in the tropics again, after coming from -30s and 40s.


Cheers,
Pat

Friday, January 6, 2017

Family Tree Maker Download

Wow. I'll just let you guys read this as I don't have FTM any longer, but apparently there has been some issues with the new download, where to find it, and then how to download it. http://familyhistorydaily.com/genealogy-help-and-how-to/family-tree-maker-free-update/

Best of luck.


Cheers,
Pat

Ukrainian Xmas & Irish Women & German Men?

What in the world could those three have in common you ask? haha Well tomorrow is Merry Ukrainian Christmas http://www.edmontonsun.com/2017/01/05/ukrainian-christmas-just-around-the-corner,

and tomorrow is also the Irish Nollaig na mBan or Women's Christmas http://www.irishcentral.com/roots/womens-christmas-is-celebrated-in-ireland-today-136801703-237745401


I was particularly interested in reading about the Irish Women's Christmas Day because of Men's Day in Germany! Ever heard of that? Well Al and I participated in Men's Day and I'm going to be sharing the story with the group in Lethbridge Alberta when I speak there in early June. Come on along everyone!! It's gonna be fun!


Cheers,
Pat

Wednesday, January 4, 2017

Important Irish Info

It's called the Down Survey Project, but it deals with ALL of Ireland, not just County Down. I draw this to your attention as there is a ton of excellent background info that may just add to your knowledge, and explain a lot of details. http://downsurvey.tcd.ie/history.html


Cheers,
Pat

Useful Irish Links for You

The title says it all http://www.irishancestors.ie/?page_id=26

I'm trying to catch up a bit, so many posts will be very brief!


Cheers,
Pat

Genealogy on Facebook Lists

Thanks to Linda T. for reminding me of how Facebook can be also be used for genealogy. https://socialmediagenealogy.com/genealogy-on-facebook-list/

And a Canadian only list, including French speaking groups and pages http://genealogyalacarte.ca/?page_id=10169


Cheers,
Pat

US Land Records

Canada is full of people who had ancestors who first farmed in the USA before heading North across the 49th Parallel. There are land records available for the US, similar to the Canadian Homestead Files, and more. Lots of details here http://www.directlinesoftware.com/land_record_reference


Cheers,
Pat