Author Topic: Genealogy - Getting to Know your Heritage  (Read 156124 times)

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Online Bigun

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Genealogy - Getting to Know your Heritage
« on: June 03, 2016, 09:57:28 am »
Genealogy - Getting to know your Heritage.

This Thread is posted for  discussion of Genealogy or the study of one's Heritage.

I personally think it to be one of the most important undertakings one can engage in and besides that I LOVE it!

Free accounts available at http://myheritage.com
"I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo.

"So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us."
- J. R. R. Tolkien

Offline don-o

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Re: Genealogy - Getting to Know your Heritage
« Reply #1 on: June 03, 2016, 10:12:31 am »
Great! Thanks for starting this.

I am the keeper of my family tree, bequeathed by my mother. She had gotten all the material into Family Tree Maker. When she passed it to me, I had a couple years to ask her many questions. It amazed her (in her early 90's) that she could remember things that she had not thought about in years.

She's gone now and there's answers that only she could give me that will remain questions.

Anyone who has thought about doing this...Do not delay.

Online catfish1957

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Re: Genealogy - Getting to Know your Heritage
« Reply #2 on: June 03, 2016, 10:13:33 am »
Thanks for setting up the thread.  As I said earlier, In my retirement, I occasionally teach genealogy classes for the local genealogical library.  My class, focuses mostly on making sure students realize that the internet is probably the best and worst things ever to happen to genealogy.  Good, in that we now have the ability to research in weeks what used to take a lifetime, Bad, in that there is so many mistakes on databases, that seem to perpetuate, it is near impossible believe half what are shown on many family trees.

Secondly, I provide what I feel are the best sites on the web for research, and then provide a navigational tour through those sites so the students can get a leg up in researching.  Third, I like to give a good bit of time of ways, means, and suggestions on how to deal with those brick walls that we all have in extending our tree.

I also volunteer at our genealogical library when time permits, helping patrons with research.

So just as a starter, here is the list I provide students.  I hope we can have some good discussions from there.

google
Genweb
Rootsweb
Ancestry
familysearcg.org
Cyndi's List
Heritage Quet
Genforum
Vitalrec.com
Higginson's Books
Find A Grave
I display the Confederate Battle Flag in honor of my great great great grandfathers who spilled blood at Wilson's Creek and Shiloh.  5 others served in the WBTS with honor too.

Online Bigun

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Re: Genealogy - Getting to Know your Heritage
« Reply #3 on: June 03, 2016, 10:17:49 am »
Great! Thanks for starting this.

I am the keeper of my family tree, bequeathed by my mother. She had gotten all the material into Family Tree Maker. When she passed it to me, I had a couple years to ask her many questions. It amazed her (in her early 90's) that she could remember things that she had not thought about in years.

She's gone now and there's answers that only she could give me that will remain questions.

Anyone who has thought about doing this...Do not delay.

How many times have I figuratively kick myself for not taking the time to write down things I was told or asking questions of the people who knew the answers while they were still around!!!
"I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo.

"So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us."
- J. R. R. Tolkien

Offline ScottinVA

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Re: Genealogy - Getting to Know your Heritage
« Reply #4 on: June 03, 2016, 10:21:37 am »
Thanks for setting up this page. 

In the late 1990s, I got into a genealogy hobby, as I started tracing my Irish family roots.  It's a great (albeit time-consuming) pastime!

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Re: Genealogy - Getting to Know your Heritage
« Reply #5 on: June 03, 2016, 10:24:28 am »
Thanks for setting up the thread.  As I said earlier, In my retirement, I occasionally teach genealogy classes for the local genealogical library.  My class, focuses mostly on making sure students realize that the internet is probably the best and worst things ever to happen to genealogy.  Good, in that we now have the ability to research in weeks what used to take a lifetime, Bad, in that there is so many mistakes on databases, that seem to perpetuate, it is near impossible believe half what are shown on many family trees.

Secondly, I provide what I feel are the best sites on the web for research, and then provide a navigational tour through those sites so the students can get a leg up in researching.  Third, I like to give a good bit of time of ways, means, and suggestions on how to deal with those brick walls that we all have in extending our tree.

I also volunteer at our genealogical library when time permits, helping patrons with research.

So just as a starter, here is the list I provide students.  I hope we can have some good discussions from there.

google
Genweb
Rootsweb
Ancestry
familysearcg.org
Cyndi's List
Heritage Quet
Genforum
Vitalrec.com
Higginson's Books
Find A Grave

Excellent list!  I have personal accounts at both Ancestry and Family Search.  I also use Family Tree DNA (it's the best there is) for DNA testing and GEDmatch.com for comparing my dna with that of others.
"I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo.

"So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us."
- J. R. R. Tolkien

Online catfish1957

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Re: Genealogy - Getting to Know your Heritage
« Reply #6 on: June 03, 2016, 10:27:42 am »
How many times have I figuratively kick myself for not taking the time to write down things I was told or asking questions of the people who knew the answers while they were still around!!!

Even better, is to see if your elderly relatives will allow you to interview them by video tape.  My FIL drove a Halftrack in the Normandy invasion at Omaha Beach.  Right now he is 92 and has dementia.  Thank goodness my wife and son videotaped him about 15 years ago, and he spoke on his experience for about an hour.

Another neat example, is several years ago, I got a wav copy of a audio tape of my great grandmother from back in 1948.  My great uncle's family kindly shared it with relatives.  Irreplaceable family artifact.  Hearing about her life from about 1885- 1945 was fascinating to hear.
I display the Confederate Battle Flag in honor of my great great great grandfathers who spilled blood at Wilson's Creek and Shiloh.  5 others served in the WBTS with honor too.

Online catfish1957

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Re: Genealogy - Getting to Know your Heritage
« Reply #7 on: June 03, 2016, 10:32:21 am »
Excellent list!  I have personal accounts at both Ancestry and Family Search.  I also use Family Tree DNA (it's the best there is) for DNA testing and GEDmatch.com for comparing my dna with that of others.
Have used FTDNA and Ancestry's dna tests with great results.  I think FTDNA is more competent in the field, but Ancestry's tools for matches beat FTDNA hands down.  Have you taken the plunge at FTDNA with Big Y yet?  Been a bust here so far.  My drilled down to a finite haplogroup that has about only 3 other members, and none have my surname.  :(
I display the Confederate Battle Flag in honor of my great great great grandfathers who spilled blood at Wilson's Creek and Shiloh.  5 others served in the WBTS with honor too.

Offline Timber Rattler

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Re: Genealogy - Getting to Know your Heritage
« Reply #8 on: June 03, 2016, 10:32:57 am »
My wife is a professional genealogist, so I'm very pleased to see this post and thread.  I don't have much to add to what has already been said, but it is important to write down the memories and reminisces of your elders before they pass on, or else, that history will be lost forever.  Better yet, sit down with them and do recorded oral histories.  Your families will be very grateful in the future for it.
« Last Edit: June 03, 2016, 10:35:49 am by Timber Rattler »
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Online Bigun

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Re: Genealogy - Getting to Know your Heritage
« Reply #9 on: June 03, 2016, 10:37:16 am »
Thanks for setting up this page. 

In the late 1990s, I got into a genealogy hobby, as I started tracing my Irish family roots.  It's a great (albeit time-consuming) pastime!

You are most welcome!  When I saw that someone had suggested doing this I jumped right on it!  One of the main reasons I thought it might be useful here is that there are folks from all over the place on TBR and we may be able to help each other in overcoming roadblocks! 

For instance I need help with a man named Alexander Wren who was born somewhere along the James River in Virginia around the year 1772.
"I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo.

"So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us."
- J. R. R. Tolkien

Online catfish1957

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Re: Genealogy - Getting to Know your Heritage
« Reply #10 on: June 03, 2016, 10:42:26 am »
You are most welcome!  When I saw that someone had suggested doing this I jumped right on it!  One of the main reasons I thought it might be useful here is that there are folks from all over the place on TBR and we may be able to help each other in overcoming roadblocks! 

For instance I need help with a man named Alexander Wren who was born somewhere along the James River in Virginia around the year 1772.

You are right.  Scant info on this guy.  I will look further.
Alexander Wren

Birth:  1772 - USA
Death:  Virginia, United States
Marriage:  21 Dec 1785 - Greensville, Virginia, United States
Spouse:  Lucy Lawrence
I display the Confederate Battle Flag in honor of my great great great grandfathers who spilled blood at Wilson's Creek and Shiloh.  5 others served in the WBTS with honor too.

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Re: Genealogy - Getting to Know your Heritage
« Reply #11 on: June 03, 2016, 10:42:41 am »
Have used FTDNA and Ancestry's dna tests with great results.  I think FTDNA is more competent in the field, but Ancestry's tools for matches beat FTDNA hands down.  Have you taken the plunge at FTDNA with Big Y yet?  Been a bust here so far.  My drilled down to a finite haplogroup that has about only 3 other members, and none have my surname.  :(

No I haven't. I have done the 67 marker test and see no reason to do more than that at this time.  (I am lucky enough to have a friend from my former place of employment that has a PHD in genetics and he advises me on such things.)
"I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo.

"So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us."
- J. R. R. Tolkien

Online Bigun

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Re: Genealogy - Getting to Know your Heritage
« Reply #12 on: June 03, 2016, 10:47:06 am »
You are right.  Scant info on this guy.  I will look further.
Alexander Wren

Birth:  1772 - USA
Death:  Virginia, United States
Marriage:  21 Dec 1785 - Greensville, Virginia, United States
Spouse:  Lucy Lawrence

They are my fourth great grandparents on my father's side and any help you can provide in finding out anything more about him will be greatly appreciated.  (I suspect that not much will ever be found unless we find a family bible or something like that as I doubt there are many official records from that area in that era.)
« Last Edit: June 03, 2016, 10:48:07 am by Bigun »
"I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo.

"So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us."
- J. R. R. Tolkien

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Re: Genealogy - Getting to Know your Heritage
« Reply #13 on: June 03, 2016, 11:16:21 am »
They are my fourth great grandparents on my father's side and any help you can provide in finding out anything more about him will be greatly appreciated.  (I suspect that not much will ever be found unless we find a family bible or something like that as I doubt there are many official records from that area in that era.)

I noticed that there are several Wrens in the Greensville County area in the 1700's.  Hmmmm....

1. Any dna matches to other Wrens?
2. If he was a land owner, have you checked the land plat maps of that county, and see if there was a neighboring Wren?  Back in those days, chunks were often cut off the father's larger section, and dispersed to children
3. Any siblings or children which may have surname sounding first names?  Often a clue.
I display the Confederate Battle Flag in honor of my great great great grandfathers who spilled blood at Wilson's Creek and Shiloh.  5 others served in the WBTS with honor too.

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Re: Genealogy - Getting to Know your Heritage
« Reply #14 on: June 03, 2016, 11:18:33 am »
Genealogy - Getting to know your Heritage.

This Thread is posted for  discussion of Genealogy or the study of one's Heritage.

I personally think it to be one of the most important undertakings one can engage in and besides that I LOVE it!

Free accounts available at http://myheritage.com

Thanks for starting the thread, Bigun!

My wife's tree (3,513) as well as my mother's (706) is at Ancestry/Family Tree Maker. My Dad's (179) is on My Heritage/Family Tree Builder.

I started doing this about 6 mos. after my mother died in 2008. My first cousin had been doing it for years & had interviewed my mother several times, but neither had ever told me that any of that had been going on. After I found out, it was too late to discuss things with my mother.

On my father's side, I have a first cousin whose second marriage was to Lawrence Cowen.

This was Lawrence's father:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joshua_Lionel_Cowen
« Last Edit: June 03, 2016, 11:19:11 am by pookie18 »

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Re: Genealogy - Getting to Know your Heritage
« Reply #15 on: June 03, 2016, 12:05:15 pm »
I noticed that there are several Wrens in the Greensville County area in the 1700's.  Hmmmm....

1. Any dna matches to other Wrens?
2. If he was a land owner, have you checked the land plat maps of that county, and see if there was a neighboring Wren?  Back in those days, chunks were often cut off the father's larger section, and dispersed to children
3. Any siblings or children which may have surname sounding first names?  Often a clue.

1. Unfortunately no (unless I'm missing something)!  My grandmother was a Wren and I have not yet found any male Wrens from that line who have submitted a DNA sample.  No luck with the Autosomal test either although I have found some cousins that way.

2. I know that both the Wrens and Carters (my father) owned large tracts of land that nearly adjoined each other along the James River in the pre revolutionary war era but my grandparents are the first that I have been able to find who married.  Unfortunately I have NOT yet been able to get to Virginia and do the kind of record research needed there. That's part of why I brought it up here.

3. Not that I have been able to find.  There are two different George Washington Wrens (Descendants of Alexander) in the line but nothing else like that.
« Last Edit: June 03, 2016, 12:09:37 pm by Bigun »
"I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo.

"So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us."
- J. R. R. Tolkien

Offline MACVSOG68

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Re: Genealogy - Getting to Know your Heritage
« Reply #16 on: June 03, 2016, 12:19:18 pm »
You are most welcome!  When I saw that someone had suggested doing this I jumped right on it!  One of the main reasons I thought it might be useful here is that there are folks from all over the place on TBR and we may be able to help each other in overcoming roadblocks! 

For instance I need help with a man named Alexander Wren who was born somewhere along the James River in Virginia around the year 1772.

Bigun, thanks for setting this thread up.  I have accounts at ancestry.com and myheritage.  The DNA at ancestry has linked me to a number of cousins from first on through fourth.  BTW, my heritage does have some records on Alexander Wren:

https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-1/myheritage-family-trees?s=148604651&itemId=175863341-5-2225&action=showRecord

Apparently there are multiple trees and some records that have him listed. 

Thanks again for starting this thread.  :patriot:
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Re: Genealogy - Getting to Know your Heritage
« Reply #17 on: June 03, 2016, 12:35:47 pm »
Bigun, thanks for setting this thread up.  I have accounts at ancestry.com and myheritage.  The DNA at ancestry has linked me to a number of cousins from first on through fourth.  BTW, my heritage does have some records on Alexander Wren:

https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-1/myheritage-family-trees?s=148604651&itemId=175863341-5-2225&action=showRecord

Apparently there are multiple trees and some records that have him listed. 

Thanks again for starting this thread.  :patriot:

Thanks MAC!

I had an account there as well until recently.  They have what I have but no more that I could find. (I find that site much more difficult to use than the others for some reason.)
"I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo.

"So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us."
- J. R. R. Tolkien

Offline ExFreeper

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Re: Genealogy - Getting to Know your Heritage
« Reply #18 on: June 03, 2016, 12:54:53 pm »
Thanks for starting this discussion.  I have been researching my family history for many years including hours upon hours at the DAR library in DC as well as the Archives in Annapolis, MD.  I've traced my American ancestors back to early 1650s in MD/VA.  Thus far, I just can't prove the official (i.e. documented) link to the old world as of yet.
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Offline MACVSOG68

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Re: Genealogy - Getting to Know your Heritage
« Reply #19 on: June 03, 2016, 01:31:38 pm »
Thanks MAC!

I had an account there as well until recently.  They have what I have but no more that I could find. (I find that site much more difficult to use than the others for some reason.)

You're welcome and good luck on your search.  I do use that site from time to time, and I did notice they had some links to other sites for Mr. Wren.  Anyway, I agree with those here who recommend talking to the older ones in our family.  That would now be me, and I'm trying to answer any questions my family may one day have.  I wish to this day I would have followed that sage advice, but in any case, working through both Ancestry and Heritage as well as DNA, have put together five generations complete, and some going back farther than that.

My mother's side was Irish and all came over in the late 1840s on the famine ships.  My father's side was almost all English.  What a difference.  The Irish side is extremely difficult to trace earlier than the late 1700s; the English side on some names can trace back to the Normans.  Better record keeping I guess. 
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Offline truth_seeker

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Re: Genealogy - Getting to Know your Heritage
« Reply #20 on: June 03, 2016, 02:13:51 pm »
I went all in for genealogy around 1996 when my father died. Had some great elements of data on both sides of my family, and it was early days for the internet.

Got to about 2,000 entries in the tree. Then burnout. My interest changed from names, dates, places, to the history of regions and groups of people.

I started reading non-fiction history, and historical fiction. Even some actual writings by family. Like about two direct ancestors killed by Indians. (Maternal side-George Ricker, Maine killed  1706; Paternal side-Athe Meeks, Indiana, killed 1812)

And then a couple of months ago learning from DNA that I am 4% "indigenous north American" as they said. The problem is we do not know who or where in the tree they are.


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Re: Genealogy - Getting to Know your Heritage
« Reply #21 on: June 03, 2016, 02:20:27 pm »
A great deal of my family comes from either the Isles or right across the Channel. Notable exceptions are my gg-grandparents, who where Cherokee Indian, another set of gg-gpts were from the now Polish part of Prussia I believe. Possibly some Jewish and African blood too.
« Last Edit: June 03, 2016, 02:24:30 pm by Free Vulcan »
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Offline MACVSOG68

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Re: Genealogy - Getting to Know your Heritage
« Reply #22 on: June 03, 2016, 02:23:48 pm »
I went all in for genealogy around 1996 when my father died. Had some great elements of data on both sides of my family, and it was early days for the internet.

Got to about 2,000 entries in the tree. Then burnout. My interest changed from names, dates, places, to the history of regions and groups of people.

I started reading non-fiction history, and historical fiction. Even some actual writings by family. Like about two direct ancestors killed by Indians. (Maternal side-George Ricker, Maine killed  1706; Paternal side-Athe Meeks, Indiana, killed 1812)

And then a couple of months ago learning from DNA that I am 4% "indigenous north American" as they said. The problem is we do not know who or where in the tree they are.

Pretty interesting.  Transitioning from names and dates to historical context is a good thing.  I did that too, and yet come back from time to time to the names and dates as new information comes my way.  Do you match anyone in the DNA database that also has Indian blood?  It likely can't go back farther much than the 1700s.  Are there any suspect locations such as areas in or near reservations where your ancestors might have lived?  If you could possibly get it to a tribe, many of them have excellent databases.  That would really send me into search-land, lol. 
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Re: Genealogy - Getting to Know your Heritage
« Reply #23 on: June 03, 2016, 02:31:25 pm »
Thanks for starting this discussion.  I have been researching my family history for many years including hours upon hours at the DAR library in DC as well as the Archives in Annapolis, MD.  I've traced my American ancestors back to early 1650s in MD/VA.  Thus far, I just can't prove the official (i.e. documented) link to the old world as of yet.

This is as far back as I have gotten so far:

John "The Vintner" Carter
1574–1630
BIRTH 1574 • Hertfordshire, England
DEATH 1630 • England and Newgate, London, England
10th great-grandfather

But there are still gaps that need to be filled in.
"I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo.

"So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us."
- J. R. R. Tolkien

Offline musiclady

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Re: Genealogy - Getting to Know your Heritage
« Reply #24 on: June 03, 2016, 02:33:13 pm »
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Re: Genealogy - Getting to Know your Heritage
« Reply #25 on: June 03, 2016, 02:35:59 pm »
This is my ethnicity estimate from Ancestry DNA:

 
Quote
REGIONAPPROXIMATE AMOUNT
Africa < 1%
Trace Regions < 1%
Africa North < 1%
Europe 99%
Great Britain 50%
Europe West 22%
Scandinavia 13%
Iberian Peninsula 6%
Trace Regions 8%
Ireland 5%
Italy/Greece 2%
Finland/Northwest Russia < 1%

Quote
Your Predicted Haplogroup is I-M170

From FTDNA
« Last Edit: June 03, 2016, 02:45:08 pm by Bigun »
"I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo.

"So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us."
- J. R. R. Tolkien

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Re: Genealogy - Getting to Know your Heritage
« Reply #26 on: June 03, 2016, 02:36:34 pm »


And then a couple of months ago learning from DNA that I am 4% "indigenous north American" as they said. The problem is we do not know who or where in the tree they are.

Maybe the biggest argument I have gotten into with distant cousins was that we had Cherokee ancestry and they diverted  that sect into Northern Arkansas on the way to OK on the Trail of Tears.  Then I got my Ancestry and FTDNA results:

Ancestry - 53% Great Britain  23% Ireland  18% Scandinavia  5% Iberian Peninsula  <1% Both Eastern and Western Europe   = 100% European
FTDNA- 45% British Isle 37% Western and Central Europe  11% Scandinavia 7% Finland = 100% European

Still the lady screams this stuff was voodoo.  Some people just don't want family history messed with.  In my case, the bigger shock for me, is that even though I have traced 95% of family at least into the 1700's, there are no Scandinavian surnames present.  Guess about 1 in 5 of my ancestors were plundering Vikings.

I think the discrepancy of the Central and Western Europe may be migration timing.  Not absolutely sure.
« Last Edit: June 03, 2016, 02:40:08 pm by catfish1957 »
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Re: Genealogy - Getting to Know your Heritage
« Reply #27 on: June 03, 2016, 02:40:18 pm »
Maybe the biggest argument I have gotten into with distant cousins was that we had Cherokee ancestry and they diverted  that sect into Northern Arkansas on the way to OK on the Trail of Tears.  Then I got my Ancestry and FTDNA results:

Ancestry - 53% Great Britain  23% Ireland  18% Scandinavia  5% Iberian Peninsula  <1% Both Eastern and Western Europe   = 100% European
FTDNA- 45% British Isle 37% Western and Central Europe  11% Scandinavia 7% Finland = 100% European

Still the lady screams this stuff was voodoo.  Some people just don't want family history messed with.  In my case, the bigger shock for me, is that even though I have traced 95% of family at least into the 1700's, there are no Scandinavian surnames present.  Guess about 1 in 5 of my ancestors were plundering Vikings.

I think the discrepancy of the Central and Western may be migration timing.  Not absolutely sure.

You don't have any from the Normandy region of France per chance? I have a couple of Hugoenot ancestors from there that ultimately trace back to Norway and Sweden.
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Re: Genealogy - Getting to Know your Heritage
« Reply #28 on: June 03, 2016, 02:44:23 pm »
You don't have any from the Normandy region of France per chance? I have a couple of Hugoenot ancestors from there that ultimately trace back to Norway and Sweden.

You hit the nail on the head on the confusion of timing.  Were (Normans) these enumerated in Western Europe or in Scandinavia.  Still haven't figured that out.
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Re: Genealogy - Getting to Know your Heritage
« Reply #29 on: June 03, 2016, 02:52:32 pm »
I think I might have mentioned earlier that with the "Big Y"  they have  the ability to drill down Haplogroups down to parsed hairs.   The problem is that they keep jacking with the nomenclature, and really tough to keep up with.  What our group admin told us is that this now got me to about the tribe level within the general Haplogroup R 10-15K years ago.  Probably a central european Gaelic tribe.  YAWN!!!!!
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Re: Genealogy - Getting to Know your Heritage
« Reply #30 on: June 03, 2016, 02:59:18 pm »
You hit the nail on the head on the confusion of timing.  Were (Normans) these enumerated in Western Europe or in Scandinavia.  Still haven't figured that out.

Hard to say, if I understand what you're asking. Would assume any genetic testing would be based off markers, and being that the Vikings did alot of conquest in that part of the world (British Isles, France, Germany, etc), that might explain things. But, you'd probably have to go back pretty far to get to the actual surnames.
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Re: Genealogy - Getting to Know your Heritage
« Reply #31 on: June 03, 2016, 03:03:41 pm »
Hard to say, if I understand what you're asking. Would assume any genetic testing would be based off markers, and being that the Vikings did alot of conquest in that part of the world (British Isles, France, Germany, etc), that might explain things. But, you'd probably have to go back pretty far to get to the actual surnames.

Luckily, with research 99.7% of my ancestry comes from British Isles...   One German (Penn Dutch) at great great great great great grandparent level. Of course both Ancestry and FTDNA do show that there are "ranges" involved with these estimates, so who knows.
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Re: Genealogy - Getting to Know your Heritage
« Reply #32 on: June 03, 2016, 03:10:09 pm »
Luckily, with research 99.7% of my ancestry comes from British Isles...   One German (Penn Dutch) at great great great great great grandparent level. Of course both Ancestry and FTDNA do show that there are "ranges" involved with these estimates, so who knows.

Our ancestors may have known each other.  :laugh: Mine came over with Wm. Penn, but was Scottish, Clan McGregor.
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Re: Genealogy - Getting to Know your Heritage
« Reply #33 on: June 03, 2016, 03:14:22 pm »
Our ancestors may have known each other.  :laugh: Mine came over with Wm. Penn, but was Scottish, Clan McGregor.

Very likely.  My one non-anglo ancestor was Johannes Cassel born in 1639 in Germany, died in 1691 in Penns Colony, Germantown
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Re: Genealogy - Getting to Know your Heritage
« Reply #34 on: June 03, 2016, 03:21:03 pm »
This is as far back as I have gotten so far:

John "The Vintner" Carter
1574–1630
BIRTH 1574 • Hertfordshire, England
DEATH 1630 • England and Newgate, London, England
10th great-grandfather

But there are still gaps that need to be filled in.

Good Job.   I've researched many online archived London and Irish (Dublin) records to no avail.  I just can't prove which boat my forefather came over on although I believe his family members may have visited the new world many times before my sect settled down in MD. 

I've found English Naval Captains, indentured servants, Kilkenny Irish Catholics fighting Cromwell, and later on family members in the Monmouth Rebellion, the Wild Geese, and Jacobite uprisings, etc.   When I first started researching, a local historian ask if my ancestors were Protestant or Catholic?  I did not know the answer then and I still don't know...

While searching once, I came upon the following sad story of a soldier's dog:

Quote
After the Battle of Aughrim, the bodies of the Irish were left where they fell, to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field. Among them was an Irish officer, who was killed and stripped in the battle. But his faithful dog discovered his remains and guarded the body day and night; and though he fed with other dogs on the slain around, yet he would not allow them, or any thing else, to touch the body of his master. When all the dead bodies were consumed, the other dogs departed; but this one used to go in the night to the adjacent villages for food, and presently return to the place where his master's bones only were then left.  Thus he continued from July, when the battle was fought, till January following, when one of Colonel Foulk's soldiers, who was quartered in the neighborhood, happening to go near the spot, the dog, fearing he came to disturb his master's bones, rushed upon the man, who unslung his musket on the instant, and shot the poor animal dead. He expired faithful as he had lived.



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Re: Genealogy - Getting to Know your Heritage
« Reply #35 on: June 03, 2016, 03:24:01 pm »
Catfish tip No. 1- One of my early mysteries when I started doing genealogy was a particular ancestor in Arkansas who seemed to be in a different county every 10 years for every census.  It took several years to find out that back in the 1800's county maps within the states were very very much in flux, versus how stable they are today.  What I was able to find, is that this ancestor actually didn't move an inch.......    The lines of the map did.

I have found a great website that allows you adjust the county maps by date for the entire history of the state, and even into the territory periods.

Great tool if this is a possible issue in your research.  Here is the site.

http://www.mapofus.org
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Re: Genealogy - Getting to Know your Heritage
« Reply #36 on: June 03, 2016, 03:29:37 pm »
Quote
After the Battle of Aughrim, the bodies of the Irish were left where they fell, to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field. Among them was an Irish officer, who was killed and stripped in the battle. But his faithful dog discovered his remains and guarded the body day and night; and though he fed with other dogs on the slain around, yet he would not allow them, or any thing else, to touch the body of his master. When all the dead bodies were consumed, the other dogs departed; but this one used to go in the night to the adjacent villages for food, and presently return to the place where his master's bones only were then left.  Thus he continued from July, when the battle was fought, till January following, when one of Colonel Foulk's soldiers, who was quartered in the neighborhood, happening to go near the spot, the dog, fearing he came to disturb his master's bones, rushed upon the man, who unslung his musket on the instant, and shot the poor animal dead. He expired faithful as he had lived.

That is a truly GREAT story and I believe every word of it!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2202509/Loyal-dog-ran-away-home-dead-masters-grave--stayed-years.html
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Re: Genealogy - Getting to Know your Heritage
« Reply #37 on: June 03, 2016, 04:29:41 pm »
This is as far back as I have gotten so far:

John "The Vintner" Carter
1574–1630
BIRTH 1574 • Hertfordshire, England
DEATH 1630 • England and Newgate, London, England
10th great-grandfather

But there are still gaps that need to be filled in.

Newgate, my brother? That tends to mean one thing here - execution.  :tongue2:

I don't have much spare time, but ....

If someone gets really stuck on an ancestor in the the south of England (London/Kent/Sussex) and I have the time and feel like doing the driving, I'll do an eyeball check of parish records for you.
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Re: Genealogy - Getting to Know your Heritage
« Reply #38 on: June 03, 2016, 04:34:01 pm »
Newgate, my brother? That tends to mean one thing here - execution.  :tongue2:

I don't have much spare time, but ....

If someone gets really stuck on an ancestor in the the south of England (London/Kent/Sussex) and I have the time and feel like doing the driving, I'll do an eyeball check of parish records for you.

LOl! Not surprised!

That's a great offer!  I'll try to remember that you made it! 

Thanks!
"I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo.

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- J. R. R. Tolkien

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Re: Genealogy - Getting to Know your Heritage
« Reply #39 on: June 03, 2016, 04:45:02 pm »
I think I have had 7 direct line ancestors either executed, banished, or transported since 1300.  :tongue2:

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Re: Genealogy - Getting to Know your Heritage
« Reply #40 on: June 03, 2016, 04:50:39 pm »
I think I have had 7 direct line ancestors either executed, banished, or transported since 1300.  :tongue2:

Aha! The picture is coming more into focus by the minute!  :laughingdog: :laughingdog: :laughingdog:
"I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo.

"So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us."
- J. R. R. Tolkien

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Re: Genealogy - Getting to Know your Heritage
« Reply #41 on: June 03, 2016, 05:18:00 pm »
Newgate, my brother? That tends to mean one thing here - execution.  :tongue2:

I don't have much spare time, but ....

If someone gets really stuck on an ancestor in the the south of England (London/Kent/Sussex) and I have the time and feel like doing the driving, I'll do an eyeball check of parish records for you.

Just an FYI...my father & some of his siblings were born in London...

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Re: Genealogy - Getting to Know your Heritage
« Reply #42 on: June 03, 2016, 06:04:44 pm »
@Bigun, @catfish1957, thanks for posting this.  I've dipped my toes into genealogy, but needed some direction to go further.

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Re: Genealogy - Getting to Know your Heritage
« Reply #43 on: June 03, 2016, 06:16:01 pm »
@Bigun, @catfish1957, thanks for posting this.  I've dipped my toes into genealogy, but needed some direction to go further.

Ask away! We have some experts on board already.
"I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo.

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Re: Genealogy - Getting to Know your Heritage
« Reply #44 on: June 04, 2016, 10:17:02 am »
Catfish Tips No. 2-  What the $%@$R$  is Soundex?

I have fielded a number of questions through the years of what, how, and why of Soundex in searching for ancestors.  First the what ...  In wikispeak it is defined as follows: Soundex is a phonetic algorithm for indexing names by sound, as pronounced in English.   As far as history, it was developed early in the 20th century, and one of its early applications was for indexing  census records.  This became a major WPA project, and became a great aid to government, especially in the post social security era, for finding and proving age in the pre-birth certificate era (i.e before 1914, but varies by state).  In the pre-computer era of genealogical research (including myself), pretty much everyone knew their ancestors surname soundex codes.   If you are curious, the second section of the wikipedia entry gives you the details and instructions of how to construct. 

Now some good news, almost all the major commercial and free databases for genealogical research have the algorithm built in for searches.  Not only for census records, but for pretty much any search.  Why is this important you may ask.  In our present day, precise spelling of our names is customary, and expected.  Back in older days, how the names were pronounced often held more importance than the spelling.  In fact, I have seen some of my 19th century ancestors sign their name with different spelling.  By using this algorithm in your searches, it will improve your ability to find appropriate matches.

Happing Hunting........
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Re: Genealogy - Getting to Know your Heritage
« Reply #45 on: June 04, 2016, 11:23:03 am »
@Bigun
@catfish1957
@EC

My paternal grandparents & 2 of their children came to England from Russian Poland bet. 1891-1893. I know neither exactly when they arrived nor how they traveled. At Ancestry's UK incoming passenger lists, I don't see them. Are there any other possible sources of which you're aware?

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Re: Genealogy - Getting to Know your Heritage
« Reply #46 on: June 04, 2016, 11:47:22 am »
@Bigun
@catfish1957
@EC

My paternal grandparents & 2 of their children came to England from Russian Poland bet. 1891-1893. I know neither exactly when they arrived nor how they traveled. At Ancestry's UK incoming passenger lists, I don't see them. Are there any other possible sources of which you're aware?

Yes!

https://support.ancestry.com/s/article/Tips-for-finding-immigration-records-1460088565991-2214
"I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo.

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- J. R. R. Tolkien

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Re: Genealogy - Getting to Know your Heritage
« Reply #47 on: June 04, 2016, 12:05:00 pm »
Ping to follow this thread.  Thanks for starting.

Been doing it off and on for 20 years.  Have a large family tree as both sides (maternal and paternal) trace back to 1600's in America.  Eaton's of MA/NH on paternal side. On maternal side, the Stone's, Clark's, and Lee's of VA and Vansciver's of NJ.
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Re: Genealogy - Getting to Know your Heritage
« Reply #48 on: June 04, 2016, 12:05:49 pm »
Yes!

https://support.ancestry.com/s/article/Tips-for-finding-immigration-records-1460088565991-2214

Don't think that'll work (unless I missed something). I already know when they arrived in the US (1908). I know that the last child born in Russian Poland was in 1891 & the first born in London was in 1893, but I don't have a date for their arrival in England. (if that can be found anywhere).


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Re: Genealogy - Getting to Know your Heritage
« Reply #49 on: June 04, 2016, 12:13:40 pm »
Don't think that'll work (unless I missed something). I already know when they arrived in the US (1908). I know that the last child born in Russian Poland was in 1891 & the first born in London was in 1893, but I don't have a date for their arrival in England. (if that can be found anywhere).

I would think you would need to search the immigration records of England for that period. There is information at the link I posted for you as to how to do that.
"I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo.

"So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us."
- J. R. R. Tolkien