2019 Top 10 Genealogy At Heart Posts

As another year comes to an end, here's a review of your favorite GenealogyAtHeart blogs in descending order:

Making Ancestry Ghost Hints Disappear

Genealogy Cleaning Hints Tie

The Virtue of Genealogy Patience Tie

A Winning Genealogy Formula 

Genealogy Gift Ideas - A Few of My Favorite Things 

Genealogy Scams:  What You Need to Know 

A Volunteer Opportunity from Your Arm Chair 

Here Today, Gone Tomorrow - The Ever Changing Access to Online Records 

Three Resources You Might Not Have Tried Yet 

This is NOT Genealogy's Dark Side

Wishing you and your loved ones

Health and Happiness in 2020!

I look forward to helping you keep your

❤

in Genealogy

U.S. Genealogy Enthusiasts - Before the Decade Ends Next Week...

I know you're busy with preparing for the holidays, visiting family and friends, cooking up grandma's passed down recipes, spitting into those DNA test tubes and standing in lines (or trying to figure out where your package got delivered because it wasn't at your door as expected).  You've got to put this on your TO - DO before December 30th list, though, because it effects everyone interested in family history in the U.S.

I've received several emails from various organizations regarding the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Service's 500% proposed fee increase.  That is outrageous on so many levels!  My first complaint is that they just raised the fee 300% less than 3 years ago.  The second complaint is that it TAKES FOREVER to get the documents and sometimes, you don't get them at all and you don't get your money back.

I don't know about you, but I think paying $685.00, waiting up to a year and then getting an email with no individual to respond to stating the USCIS couldn't find the information you sought is ridiculous.

Personally, I don't need to request any documents as I was fortunate to obtain my maternal grandparent's citizenship paperwork before the fees were increased.  Was there startling revelations I uncovered from obtaining the documents?  Well, it was for me but probably most people wouldn't find it extraordinary.  I got two awesome photos of my grandparents taken during the Depression when they had cut back so much to keep the house that they had NO spare change to have family photos taken.  I have them from their marriage in the Teens, their growing family in the 1920's and the war years of the 40's and their retirement in the 50's but zilch in the 30's. 

I also discovered that their long time next door neighbor, Mr. Bauer, served as a character witness.  To me, he was a nice widower who let me pet his dog and gave me $1.00 instead of candy on Halloween.  It also explained why another family would sometimes visit and grandma would break out the good china and silverware - they had once lived behind my family and had also served as a character witness.  Mills is so right - Family/Friends, Associates and Neighbors hold the clue and show the interconnectedness of us all. 

So, personally, the proposed increased doesn't effect me but it certainly does professionally and as a citizen, for those who want to get a better insight into the immigrant experience. 

Yeah, I know, you're going to say they already made up their mind and they aren't going to care that you have a differing opinion.  My response is your opinion matters and I will hold it against my representatives if they fail to respond which they haven't yet and I filled out my paperwork last week. 

This is all you have to do:

1.  If you want to read more about the proposal go to this website https://www.recordsnotrevenue.com/
2.  If you are ready to make your views known - skip step 1 and go directly to this website -
https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=USCIS-2019-0010-0001
3.  Don't let all that political jargon exasperate you!  Just click "Comment" on the right side of the screen at the top

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4.  You don't have to write a dissertation - just a few words will do.

5.  I also emailed my Senators and Representative.  If you don't know how to email yours - click here to identify your Senators and Representative.  To save time, you can do a Ctr C to copy what you write to the USCIS and enter the same by doing a Ctr P for your Senators and Representative.  

Last week, I wrote about another assault on genealogy.  Thank you for all your comments.  Clearly, this is a time for all of us to make noise and express our opinion.  I'm sure, like me, you want your descendants to one day discover you took a stand for the right reasons during these difficult times.  

I promise it will take you less than 10 minutes to send the emails to those who will make the final decision.  Don't delay - do this TODAY!

Genealogy Gift Ideas - A Few of My Favorite Things

My original post planned for today:

For the genealogy enthusiast on your holiday list, here's some last minute ideas that won't break the bank and can be purchased or made quickly.  I've used all of these and am not making any profit on the recommendations.

1.  Do they want to go professional?  This revised book would be oh so helpful - Professional Genealogy:  Preparation, Practice and Standards by Elizabeth Shown Mills on Amazon.

2.  It's Christmas Eve and you're desperate!  Download the revised Genealogy Standards 2nd edition electronically which is also available on Amazon.

3.  Here's another quick gift that can be sent electronically.  Sure, Ancestry.com is great but why not try a different organization this year.  Not sure what to select?  Think of the area where the person is predominately researching:
British - FindMyPast
European - MyHeritage
French - Geneanet
Swedish - Arkivdigital
US - New England plus - New England Historic Genealogical Society 
New York - New York Genealogical and Biographical Society
I have no idea - they research everywhere! - Legacy Family Tree Webinars

4. If you're competent with a computer and can access their tree database, import the info into a chart that can be saved to a thumb drive, taken to an office supply store to enlarge on your choice of background paper.  While there, pick up a frame and voila! You've got a special gift.  You can find the chart on Geneanet.org - click on Charts & Lists – Ancestry – Printable Family Tree.  There are several templates from which you can select.  The one I used is pictured below but my husband made the frames to match ones I already owned.

5. For the artsy, here's a quick gift my husband made me several years ago that I still enjoy daily (see above).  At a home improvement store, pick up 4 tiles, acrylic spray and Modpodge (a type of glue).  At home, select and print from the computer a photo, genealogical saying, coat of arms or anything meaningful to the recipient.  Cut to fit the size of the tile and affix with Modpodge.  Once dry, spray with acrylic spray for durability.  When dry, wrap and enjoy the surprise your 4 coaster set just provided.   Including tea, coffee, or hot chocolate is a nice addition.  Enjoy!

This is NOT Genealogy's Dark Side

The blog I write today was not the one I planned and I want to make clear this is my OPINION.  

I blog about genealogy because it is my passion and I have found that it pairs wonderfully with my first interest, psychology.  I often start the day reading the news and today was no different.  Having just about finished my second cup of coffee, I was flipping through the stories on The Washington Post when I came across an article published yesterday, “The Dark Side of our Genealogy Craze” by Honor Sachs, an assistant history professor at the University of Colorado – Boulder. 

I beg to differ with the author’s main premise.  In paragraph 1, “…But the rise of genealogy may also, paradoxically, exacerbate the virulently anti-immigration fervor propelling President Trump’s policies and increase racial inequality…”  As the thesis statement, the article continues to present the author’s justification of  her views that researching one’s family history is dangerous for the future and the interest in learning this information is short-lived, per her word choice in the title. I strongly disagree.

To prove her point, the author cites the beginning of the growing interest in finding one’s lineage to Alex Haley’s Roots.  The book and television series without a doubt, gave rise to genealogy in the late 20^th century.  Yes, the story was about an African American whose ancestors were enslaved and those of European ancestry did use the methods Haley outlined to begin their own research.  I am one of them with two of my European lines entering through Ellis Island.  I am also a Boomer. 

How the author connected Roots, Boomers and Ellis Island to this statement, “The exploration of this heritage provided a language through which the baby boomer generation could safely distance themselves from the mandates of the Civil Rights era without sounding explicitly racist.” is unclear.  

As a historian, I would think the author would know that the Boomers were deeply affected by the Civil Rights era since we were born in the 1950-60’s and were the product of Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka.  Boomers are of all races with many of us attending integrated schools as a result of the Supreme Court decision.  While some of us are racist, most of us are not.  Racism is not tied to a generation; it permeates all ages and races. Many Americans of European descent supported (and still do) Civil Rights.  Some even died because of their involvement. Many Boomers raised children to be global citizens in integrated schools.

I believe the real threat to a rise in racism is not genealogy but through online usage and I’m not talking about a subscription to Ancestry.com.  Check out the study, “Measurement invariance of the perceived online racism scale across age and gender.”[1] 

Racism today is not the result of the Boomers or any other generation of Americans with European ancestry interested in genealogy.  Unfortunately, racism will not die with the Boomers but will continue to grow as youths buy into the propaganda they are reading online.

Here’s another problem I have with the Post’s article; the author states “While European immigrants faced significant historic struggles, their descendants mobilized such hardships to dilute the claims of historically persecuted groups that remained marginalized with their own narratives of past immigrant oppression.”  She then goes on to cite Richard Nixon and his “coded language.”  While I agree that Nixon’s word choice were coded for his base, so are every politician of every party in every nation.  Generalizing that all descendants of Europeans who researched their heritage resulted in marginalizing persecuted groups  and “resonates with our modern-day genealogical revival” is just wrong.  Show me the data!

The author continues that although genealogy can benefit those members of historically persecuted groups, it can also “empower those who seek to divide, deny and disenfranchise.”  DNA with the Elizabeth Warren “Pocahontas” debacle is mentioned, along with others of primarily European descent attempting to gain access to programs for underrepresented people.  Let me be clear – it is wrong to try to gain entry to a privilege that was not established for you.  In my genealogical experience, people who have taken DNA tests typically do not take them for the purpose of undermining the system.  Most take them because they want to know who their birth parents were for health reasons, where their immigrant ancestor originated, or to compare their results with family members to determine which got what genetic material from each parent.

Native American ancestry is a family story for many Americans of all races.  I wish I had a buck for every time I hear it!  My own family had a version but long before DNA, I was able to prove what the true story was; distant cousins were kidnapped by a tribe and held for several years.  One escaped and the other was released after a truce. 

Knowing that information does not make me want to hold an indigenous group today responsible.  It was wrong to steal children then, just as it’s wrong to separate children from their immigrant parents today.  Learning this occurred in my family’s past makes me even more vehemently opposed to what is happening at our border.  Understanding what my immigrant family members were fleeing in the old country makes me more empathetic with today’s people who are seeking asylum.  Remembering that my grandparents were targeted by the KKK and my father’s WWII Army placementwas made due to his German sounding last name (DNA now shows more French then German but who knew back them because there was no DNA tests!) allows me to listen to the message from historically disenfranchised groups to gain their perspective. 

Historian George Santayana got it right, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”  Correlating genealogy with racism is wrong.  I know my family’s past because I am a genealogist.  My ancestors made mistakes just like every human does every day.  I strive to learn from their mistakes and follow their examples for what they did correctly.  

No one inherited a racism gene.  Racism's root is fear of not being in power, of losing privilege status and therefore, of becoming indigent.  My definition of poor has nothing to do with money; I define poor as those who lack a moral compass.  I've met poor wealthy people and rich poor people, as I bet you have.  Interesting that the fear of having no money sometimes results in those who have it in become overly controlling at the expense of others to keep it and those that don't have it, trying to differentiate from another group to make themselves feel superior.  Those kinds of people unite in their shared biased worldview and make it bad for all the rest of us.  It leads to a closed mindset and a regression to what we see happening with leaders across the world - derogatory name calling, ostracizing, categorizing, and segregating.  Communication ceases which only separates us further.

Please, let's stop dividing ourselves by age, race, gender, place of origin, religion, sexual orientation, education level and career choice.  The Human Genome Project showed that we all share humanness, we are all one.  Our search for our ancestors isn't the problem.  Finding your family's story and relating it to the world today to make for a better tomorrow is imperative.  

[1]Keum, B., & Miller, M. (2018). Measurement invariance of the perceived online racism scale across age and gender. Cyberpsychology: Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberspace, 12(3), article 3. http://dx.doi.org/10.5817/CP2018-3-3.

Another DNA Site Bites the Dust

Shopping for holiday DNA kits?  I want to caution you about your upcoming purchase.  In the ever changing world of DNA, the results you receive won't be the same a year from now and I'm not talking about mutations to your chromosomes.

The more people that test, the larger the database (duh) and that increase results in a refinement of the ethnicities listed.  I've lost count of how many times Ancestry.com has emailed me that my results have been altered.  Make sure that you or whoever you purchased the test for, understands that the results are fluid.

Once you've wrapped your head around that concept, you need to be cognizant of the bigger picture - that your DNA results might just disappear.  Yes, you paid for them but that doesn't mean they will be available forever.

I was one of the early testers on Ancestry.com; a few years after I had my X tested they moved to autosomal and no longer supported my original results.  The only way I could access DNA match was to be retested.

Now the granddaddy of DNA testing has announced that they will be ceasing operation in June 2020 - National Geographic's Genographic Project.  That project, launched in 2005, was an anthropological study to identify historical migration patterns.  Geno2 was unveiled in 2016 and now that is coming to an end.  Although the purpose of that project was not genealogical, families often were interested in the long term historical findings hiding in their DNA. 

At it's inception the project was voluntary but I missed my local test date.  When the company decided to expand for a cost, it was pricey for my family's pocketbook so I didn't participate.  A colleague did and I was intrigued by the colorful interpretive guide that she received - just what you'd expect from National Geographic.  Eventually, when the price dropped, I did purchase a kit.

If you have results, you must download and save or you won't be able to access after May 2020. 

Swedish Coincidences

Two weeks ago I wrote about genealogy patience.  This is a follow up that I'm having difficulty writing because I'm so overwhelmed with joy at the moment I can hardly contain myself!  Now this story is also just plain weird and I think proves that the universe has a wicked sense of humor so I hope you enjoy what I'm about to relate.

I have searched for a picture of my husband's maternal Great Grandmother Lovisa "Louise" Carlson Johnson for years (pictured above with her three daughters).  When a DNA match was discovered two years ago in August I sent an email asking if the match had a picture.  He responded this year on Halloween that he didn't think so but would check with another family member who had a box of unlabeled photos and would get back to me.  I put it out of my mind as I wish I had a buck for every time a family member said, "I'll check and get back with you."  My people procrastinate and they never seem to followup up unless I keep bothering them.  I figured, with the holidays approaching and people getting busy, I'd wait til after Thanksgiving and send a gentle reminder.

I went about my business and was volunteering two weeks ago at a local genealogy library  event assisting interested patrons in finding their roots.  I had helped 2 wonderful retired teachers when things got really slow.  I considered leaving but the event was supposed to continue for one more hour and I don't like to cut out early when I've committed so I decided to bring up Arkidigital.com, a Swedish genealogy site, that is awesome.  I used to belong but found most of my husband's Swedish records so I didn't renew.  Since it was free for the weekend I decided I'd revisit and see if they had added any new records.  I was still bringing it up when a new patron stopped by.  So, you can probably guess that the woman had deep Swedish roots.  What a coincidence, I thought, and told her I just happened to open up the free site.  She was interested in discovering information about her great grandfather who settled in Minnesota.  She thought he had changed his name at Ellis Island so she wasn't sure how to verify the story.

I didn't need Arkivdigital for that so I went in search of naturalization records and World War I and II draft records to see if we could find a clue.  There it was - he hadn't changed his name at all.  What she had thought was a last name appeared to be a Confirmation name that he had stopped using between 1917 and 1942.  He had emigrated under the name he had arrived with in the U.S. and continued using it; it is on his tombstone.

By the time we had found the evidence, the event was ending so I showed her how to go to Arkivdigital to search for his birth record in Sweden.  Turns out, she was also a former educator and she told me a funny story of her attending a conference in Wales several years ago.  I replied I wanted to go there, to Croatia and to Sweden to see family's old haunts but I couldn't find a tour that went where my husband and my people lived.  She told me she had gone on a fantastic trip to Sweden through a group out of Minnesota and gave me their website.  I told her I'd check it out when I got home.

On the way home I stopped in a store to pick up a few items and yes, they were already playing holiday muzak.  What was on was Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer.  Geez, I thought, what a dumb song.  I couldn't get it out of my mind.

I got home and told my husband I'd love to go to Sweden next summer and was going to check out a tour group.  Sure enough, the tour went exactly where we needed to visit.  Wow, I thought, that's coincidence number 2 for the day - the last lady just happens to give me the info that I've been looking for.  I sent the company an email.

After dinner I decided I'd bring Arkivdigital back up and search for a bit.  I had my tree up on one screen and the website I'd be searching on the other when an Ancestry little leaf appeared.  As I've written several times, I typically just ignore the hints but this time something told me to check it out.  It was for my husband's paternal great grandfather, Samuel Samuelson, who had died in 1908.  It was a link to Find-A-Grave.  I already had that info but clicked to go to Find-A-Grave anyway.  I'm so glad I did because a man interested in history had recently posted a newspaper story from a Chesterton, Indiana paper that is not available anywhere online regarding the circumstances surrounding Samuel's death. The information hadn't been there the last time I looked (so you have to go back and look over sites again or you might miss something important).   I had the death certificate which noted accident - skull crushed but I assumed that was the result of a farming accident of some sort.  Nope, the accident explained that Samuel and a neighbor were crossing a train track when the sleigh they were in was hit by the train.  Both men and horse died.  Okay, so here's the weird, twisted part - I couldn't get the reindeer song out of my head.  I was humming it when I read this.  I got a sick feeling - I'm humming a song that's supposed to be funny but I just discovered someone's gruesome death in a related accident.  That was the 3rd coincidence that day.  The individual who posted the article had also posted the obituary which said, "...his youthful looks and manner, his good nature, and never failing sense of humor made him a delightful companion...".  Somehow, I thought he would be amused by this twisted occurrence.  And learning about his personality, the man sounds just like my husband.

By this point I was just done with genealogy for the day so I thought I'd check my email and then call it a night.  There was an email and it was from the DNA match who said he's get back with me - he had found a few pictures that were labeled and they were of my husband's maternal great grandma!  It must have been Sweden Day as the photos he sent me were of different stages in the woman's life.  He promised to send me a thumb drive with all the photos of other relatives he had but warned me that most weren't labeled.

I just got the thumb drive - my, oh, my, what a wonderful early Christmas present!  There was my husband's maternal grandparents wedding photo which was also the earliest photo of his grandfather I had ever seen. 

There were photos, labeled, that had stepchildren of his great great grandfather.  There were church records!  Someone had gone to a long closed church and photographed the handwritten membership list.  There is so many genealogical gems that I haven't even gone through everything yet.

Oddly, he had even sent photos of my husband's paternal side of the family who isn't even his relation.  I guess I shouldn't have been surprised but in 1917, they all had attended a wedding for one of his relatives.  Living in the small farming community, it shouldn't have been surprising a wedding would have brought neighbors together.  I just never expected to find so many of my husband's great and grandparents in these photos. 

But that's not all!  I had a grainy photo of the Harbaugh family reunion but I could never make out most of the individuals because someone had moved the camera as the photo was taken.  It was also a far shot and the people were so tiny.  Enlarging the photo only made it more blurry.  Turns out I had the first photo and the photographer decided to take a second shot.  I can tell as the man in the front row far left has turned to walk away from the group.  Unbelievably, the photo I just received has names attached and is clear as can be:

Check out the man in row 2, third from left that looks like Abe Lincoln.  That would be my husband's maternal great grandfather.  It is the only photo known to be in existence of him!  His wife is right in front of him.  I had a grainy photo of her from a church group shot taken about 10 years before this one.  All of my husband's great aunts and uncles are also pictured and we never had any of their photos, either!  The mysterious Louisa, who I had originally contacted the DNA match for a photo, is also shown. 

So my patience really paid off and I highly encourage you, this upcoming holiday season, to ask for the stories - photos - documents - DNA tests - that will enhance what you've already discovered and give you a more complete story of your ancestors.   Happy Hunting!

Dealing With Document Disappointments - My Duers Do It Again!

I have blogged extensively about my mysterious Duer family that I connect with DNAwise but can't prove a firm document relationship between son Thomas, who died in 1829 and his purported father, John, who died in 1831.  Thomas' family lived next to John in Trumbull County, Ohio but none of Thomas' children were mentioned in John's will.  John's will only mentioned 1 grandchild and named all of his other living children.  The 1 grandchild was the son of his deceased daughter and was easily recognizable by his last name, Hazen.

I've theorized that none of Thomas' children were named because Thomas had already been given an "inheritance" of land adjoining John's.  I also thought John might have been slightly put off by Thomas' widow, Hannah, quickly remarrying another neighbor who was a widower, James Preston.  That marriage didn't seem to last as both Hannah and James can be found in 1840 living with their adult children.

The land that Thomas lived on remained with one of his son's until the mid-1800's when he sold it to what I believe would have been a cousin who had come to own John's property.  Of course, there was nothing to show the connection between the two listed in the deed transaction so I can't prove that relationship, either.

I've been told repeatedly to give up the search but I will admit I'm obsessed with this line.  So, every few months, I recheck to see if any new records are uploaded, a new DNA match can be found that might hold the key in their basement or attic, or a donation is made to an archive in the areas the family lived where someone drops off records that will be the proof I need.

Yes, I already have DNA proof.  There have been several descendants of John's children who have tested and we all relate but I want a document!  Or do I?

Last month, I found 2 documents online that gave me promise.  I was hoping they would lead me to the smoking gun record; this is what I discovered posted on Ancestry with no citation:

Although I found this posting just two days after it was done, when I reached out to the poster, her response was she couldn't remember where she found it and would get back with me.  I love her dearly because she wrote back the next day and said she found it from another Ancestry poster named John Shivers.  She though it came from Revolutionary War Patriots from Ohio.  She gave me a link to an archive in Ohio but they didn't have it.

I found a John Shivers on Ancestry and emailed him but he hadn't been online in over a year so I wasn't hopeful I would get a response.  I wasn't even sure he was the John Shivers that originally posted it as I couldn't access the private tree.  

Then I reached out to a colleague in my locale who is a member of the Trumbull County Genealogical Society to see if he could check the membership roster and give me contact info for John Shivers.  There was no info but he sent me a new member who was interested in the Duers.  I emailed them but the email address wasn't working.

I then searched Worldcat and Google for the title but only found a SAR pdf that wouldn't open.  

Going to the national SAR website, I found no new info; the Ancestor # 150827 is the number assigned by that organization so I decided to reach out to the Mahoning County, Ohio Chapter hoping that they might have a file with the relationship I was seeking that wasn't submitted to national.  

The local chapter's website is under construction.  Their Facebook page has no contact info.  I reached out to a Trumbull County local who had given me info several years ago - she had tripped over Thomas' fallen gravestone when she was conducting a cemetery clean up and loves to kid me that he almost killed her.  She found two email addresses for local SAR members.

I emailed both.  One never responded.  The other said he's no longer in that area so isn't a member but he kindly forwarded my query to the current president.  The president said the chapter reactivated 4 years ago and has no old files in their possession (who knows what happened to that stuff!?)  so he forwarded my email to the organization's state genealogist.  That gentleman gave me the heartbreaking news - the real citation is from Roster of Revolutionary War soldiers buried in Ohio. Wilbur R. Branthoover, compiler. Veterans Affairs, Ohio. Reprinted by OHSDAR. 1929.

The SAR doesn't even use it any longer because the info has been found to be incorrect.  That is true - my John Duer who is buried in Ohio served in New Jersey and not Pennsylvania, that was my John's cousin also named John.  

So, another dead end here.  Then I found another posting that stated that Thomas had been in the War of 1812.  That was news to me as I had checked online and in the National Archives and could never find him involved in that conflict.  The posting had a citation (hurray!) and when I followed up this is what I found:

It was a John Duer and not Thomas that served.  Someone had misindexed and then hadn't checked the original source.  And the John named to have served in the War of 1812 was my John's grandson but not descended from Thomas.  You have to laugh at this - I discovered the mistake on November 2, 2019, 107 years to the day that this cousin John left the service.  

Yes, I'm deeply disappointed that the newly found leads led to nothing but I'm not giving up.  Several people have told me that I'm never going to find what I'm looking for but I don't agree.  I'm thinking boots on the ground might be my next action.  Unfortunately, that will have to wait a while.  

In the meantime, I'm moving on to other lines.  Oh, Duers, why doth disappoint me so?

The Virtue of Genealogy Patience

Gust Johnson

You know that Bible verse Matthew 7:7, "Ask and it shall be given to you, knock and you shall find?"  I believe it was really written for genealogists.  I would add to it - "though not immediately."

In August, 2017, I sent an email query to a DNA cousin on Ancestry.  I recognized the surname, Chellburg, and knew immediately the relationship.  I was hoping to find a picture of my husband's great grandmother, Louvisa "Louise" Carlson Johnson.  Louise had lived in the house my husband grew up in and when my husband's parents were relocating, I claimed all the photos and letters that had been stored in a suitcase in the basement.  Of course they weren't labeled.  We were able to identify just about everyone, however, and no photo was ever found to be of Louise.  Maybe she was camera shy or perhaps, when she moved in with another daughter the last year of her life, the pictures went with her.  I was really hoping the last scenario was the case.

Over the years, I've checked with all the closer relatives for a photo and no one had one so when the DNA match came up I immediately sent off a message.  Hey, I followed the Biblical directions - I asked and the email served as an electronic knock and then, well, I guess no one was home because I didn't get a response.

Two years, two and a half months later I get an email back with the answer (paraphrased) - Sorry, I haven't been on in a while.  I don't have a picture of Louise but I have one of her husband, Gust Johnson.  I think another cousin, who's 92, has the photos.  He's got a lot but none our labeled.

Big surprise there - another box of unlabeled photos.  My husband had actually reached out to the older relative a few years ago but he didn't respond.  Now I'm hoping that the DNA match can connect with him to find a photo.

I am many things but patient is not in my makeup so the waiting really is the hardest part of genealogy for me.

Those Overwhelming Hints

Did you wake up one day last month and discover thousands of Hints from Ancestry?  I thought their counter had gone ballistic - I had over 15,000 hints on my Main Tree.  I don't use Hints often as I prefer to search the card catalog for databases and then look for records so typically, I just click ignore on the Hint button weekly.  That way, if I ever want to research a particular individual, I can always go to that person's Hint page and then see what was found.

I soon discovered that the counter wasn't the problem, although it is still off by 1 in records and 4 in pictures.  What had happened, I suspect because of the new T.V. season, Ancestry unveiled the link to Newspapers.com Obituary Index and the U.S. Obituary Collection, 1930 +.  This resulted in the huge number of hints.

As I was deleting hints I had to laugh as two were for me - both pictures from my high school annual.  No hint appeared for my husband though, which makes me wonder about the formula they use to identify hints. A family member's high school photo appeared as a hint which was odd as that individual went to the same high school as my husband. 

Unfortunately, none of those new hints provided me any break through that I needed but definitely check out the new indexes as they might provide the clue you seek.

The Dark Side of DNA

Happy Dia Los Muertos (Day of the Dead).  This year, for Halloween, one of my family members created two glow in the dark pumpkins and a skull and dressed a skeleton to look like Disney's Coco's grandpa, Hector.  Sneaky way to get little ones to learn about genealogy relationships!  It was quite lifelike, or should I write, really dead looking?  Two little girls burst into tears which was not my intention and I felt awful but the mom's said they loved the movie.  I had to show the girls that it wasn't real.  One little boy was so enamored he said he had questions for Hector and could he come inside.  I told him Hector wasn't talking tonight and would want the boy to enjoy his candy collecting.  Ahh, children and genealogy, what an interesting mix.  Their reaction is just like adults - some run when you start asking about family history and others want all the details. 

Two weeks ago I wrote about DNA now being available from hair follicles.  Right after reading that article, I found another story that I suspect relates to it though the articles purpose is to bring up a controversial side of DNA and genealogy.  The Messy Consequences of the Golden State Killer Case by Sarah Zhang published in The Atlantic 1 October 2019 will give you a better understanding of why GedMatch and Family Tree Genealogy recently changed their policies.

As technology evolves, past policies must be rethought.  I've blogged in the past about clients and colleagues mentioning that their returned DNA results were just plain wrong.  We all understand that DNA is a Pandora's box of family secrets but it never crossed my mind that medical procedures acquired as an adult could skew the results.  When I read A Woman Found Her AncestryDNA Test Revealed a Medical Secret also written by Sarah Zhang and published in The Atlantic on 13 September 2019, I was shocked by the findings.  I'm not going to give you a spoiler alert - you must read this article if you have DNA results that seem skewed.  Who would have thought this?!  Clearly not the specialists who first heard their patient's stories.

Both articles are thought provoking whether you are a donor or are making the decision of sharing your DNA results.

The last DNA related article I'd like to share is a topic I've also blogged about in the past.  Accepting the foibles of your family history can be difficult.  Although the author, Ken Bradford, used DNA to build his tree, the old fashion research methods also provide the same results - acquiring the knowledge of the past sins of our forefathers.  Look What the DNA Brought In published in Notre Dame Magazine Autumn 2019 can be helpful if your wrestling with the dark side of your family findings.

All of this is quite spooky, don't you think?  Happy Day of the Dead!

A Volunteer Opportunity from your Arm Chair

Want to get help with an overwhelming indexing project or help get records you are desperately seeking online?  You"re in luck! Now available is a crowd sourcing tool for genealogy groups or individual enthusiasts to use to help get those currently unavailable online records indexed for everyone's benefit. 

Thanks to the Federation of Genealogical Societies Fall Forum 2019 article, check out Crowd Sourced Indexing for more info.  If you're an individual who'd love to help the genealogy community but want to do that from the comfort of your home - check out the current index projects on the site and pick one that tugs at your heart.  If your a community group that has salvaged old records and wants to get them indexed - on the ribbon, go to About and FAQ to obtain information on how to contact the site administrator to get your project up and running. 

This is a win-win for all and with winter approaching, a perfect time to cuddle up with your laptop, a mug of cider and the knowledge you're a do-gooder!



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DNA Today from Hair of the Past

Short blog this week as I'm slammed with work.  I just read something I think is super interesting - Hair DNA Advance Hailed as Forensic Game Changer.  A family member knows I'm interested in DNA and genealogy and passed the article along to me.  Personally I think it's going to be a boon to family genealogy once the new technology gets simplified.  Imagine being able to take in grandpa's hair brush or that Victorian hair ring you inherited but have no idea who it originally belonged to!  Better yet, think of mummies that still have clumps of hair or even woolly mammoths.  I can't even imagine all the new information that will result from these DNA samples.

Reformed Dutch Church Records

Photo courtesy of https://www.newnetherlandinstitute.org

A few weeks ago, I wrote about free genealogy newsletters I receive.  I failed to mention I also read other genealogy blogs.  Recently I read a wonderful article about New York Reformed Dutch church records.

Both my husband and I have ancestors who resided in New Amsterdam.  Although I haven't extensively researched those individuals, the blog article gave me new insights.  Here's what really stands out to add to my knowledge base:

• Before 1664, the Reformed Dutch was the ONLY denomination permitted so if  your ancestor was not of that religious persuasion and wanted to marry or attend a church service, the records are most likely held by the Reformed Dutch.  Who knew?! 
• Although the church in Manhattan founded in 1628 is still in existence today, records are only available from 1639.  That's interesting because the physical church was erected in 1642.  That same year a second church was erected in Albany.  
• Collegiate churches had 1 minister that traveled between several locations and all the records were maintained by the 1 minister.  I have found that happened in New Jersey in the early 1700's also.  
• Many Germans came to New Amsterdam and attended the Dutch church.  Even after the city changed hands and became New York, Germans who immigrated continued to attend the Dutch church so make sure you look over Dutch church records.
• The two databases on Ancestry.com for Dutch Church Records are NOT the same, even though they appear to be.  There are a few names missing in one database so check both.  As is always a good practice, go beyond using the index and browse the records as the transcription may be in error or the spelling may have been slightly changed from what you are seeking.
• Check out the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society's databases. I neglected to mention in my last blog that I also get their free weekly newsletter.  

Discovering the Dead in Your Regional Backyard

Today's blog is a special 2 for 1.  You'll understand in a second so keep reading.

First, spooky season is almost upon us and somehow, in my travels last summer, I missed an article in my local newspaper - Radar finds more than 120 coffins buried beneath Tampa apartment complex.  I found the article by subscribing to a weekly list service through Geneanet.  I believe the organization is headquartered in France so it's interesting to discover a regional article (for me) in their newsletter.

Here's why I was creeped out - my first career was as a school counselor and one of the sites I was assigned had a student population that encompassed the Tampa apartment complex named in the article.  I couldn't even begin to tell you how many home visits I made to that location over the years.  Although I never felt scared while visiting there, a colleague who accompanied me once made a comment about feeling uncomfortable and said every time she had to go there she dreaded it like she did visiting a cemetery.

Personally, there is another complex I had to visit that I absolutely hated to visit.  Every time I used the south stairwell I got a feeling of dread and felt cold and clammy.  I mentioned this to a gentleman colleague who had accompanied me on one visit and asked him why he didn't use that stairwell.  He claimed it was due to his bad knees and said he preferred the others because they had a more secure handrail.  Turns out, his story wasn't the truth.  He told a friend what I had said who later informed me that there had been a murder on those stairs  Hmmm.  That apartment complex was located across from an older school that had a basement.  If you live in Florida you know that's rare - because the water table is not far down there aren't true basements in Florida.  I grew up with basements so they don't bother me but every time I was alone in that basement hallway I got the eebie jeebies - that hair standing up on the back of your head feeling.  I also felt like someone was behind me but no one ever was.  I wouldn't be surprised if there was a graveyard under those two sites.

If you have spent any time with genealogy you most likely have a list of ancestors that you can't find their burial location.  This story is a classic example of why you need to search through old newspapers of the town where they resided to see if you can find references to burial sites that no longer exist.  Old maps and regional  books are another wonderful source to locate cemeteries that have long disappeared.

I suspect most of those buried did not have gravestones.  Death has always been expensive and money may not have been available for a headstone.  In other locations, it may have not been a custom to have one.  My husband's Dutch 4 x's great grandfather preferred a small rough stone carved with his initials.  The stone is long gone but thankfully, the record remained that it once was there next to his wife who had a traditional marker.  A modern trend is to be interred in "green" cemeteries where no stones are used.  I point this out as future genealogists are going to run into the same problem we do today.

If you think after reading the article that this practice only happened in the south think again.  Later in the week I was reading the New England Historic Genealogical Society's weekly newsletter which linked to the story Skeletons found at New Haven site tells immigrants story.  The poor of every race, creed and national origin are marginalized even after death.  I found this second article fascinating in regards to the painstaking research that was conducted after the DNA results were obtained to try to identify those buried.

This gets me to an unrelated but still important topic which I've deemed second in my 2-4-1 special today.  Signing up for free genealogy/history related newsletters can be a wonderful resource for your research.  I subscribe to several.

If you aren't familiar with Geneanet, from their website, they were "Launched in 1996 by genealogy enthusiasts.  Geneanet is a community of more than 3 million members who share their genealogical information for free:  more than 6 billion individuals in the family trees, some digitized archival records, some family pictures, some indexes, all available through a powerful search engine, and a blog."  And they didn't mention the weekly newsletter that I really enjoy.  They also have a paid premium site that I haven't experienced.

As I noted, the second article was found through reading the weekly newsletter from the .
New England Historic Genealogical Society  I also subscribe to FamilySearch.org's monthly update,  RootsMagic, Legacy Family Tree, Find My Past, Ohio History Connection and Genealogy News.

You don't have to feel overwhelmed to read every article.  I let them sit in my email inbox and once a week, open and read those of interest to me.  I have gained historical background to an area I was researching, hints on where to look for records and knowledge of research techniques that have proved helpful.  Most beneficial - all of this information was free!  Check these out and if you have a favorite let me know.

Promethease - Limited Time Offer

Ahhh, the constantly changing world of genealogy changes!  If you've been thinking about uploading your DNA results to Promethease you need to get a move on it.  Recently, MyHeritage announced that they were acquiring Promethease and after the end of this year, the site will no longer be free.  Anyone who had an account with Promethease will continue to have it unless you opt out.  If you are living in Europe, you must do so by November 1st - click here for that link.  If you'd like to read the full story, check out MyHeritage's blog article.

If you aren't sure what Promethease is - I found the best definition from Google that explains "Promethease is a computer program developed by the SNPedia team which allows users to compare personal genomics results against the SNPedia database, generating a report with information about a person's attributes, such as propensity to diseases, based on the presence of specific single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)."

I have used it and discussed the results with my physician and have compared my close family's DNA results.  Although Promethease has been free for awhile, I had to pay a nominal fee, I think it was a few dollars, back in the day when I first did it.  I intend to go back on the site and update my results to see if there is any new developments.  Since I'm a member of MyHeritage I will still have access but my family is not so I want to be able to get them an updated report.

Old Letters

Yesterday, we had a beautiful fall day and the change in temperature was such a welcome relief from summer's heat.  I remarked to a passerby how delightfully cool the morning breeze felt and our brief conversation about the weather turned to his place of origin, Trinidad and Tobago.  I mentioned my family was indentured in Barbados in the 1700's and that I've traveled to Grenada several times and love the island.   The gentleman laughed and said his mother was from Grenada and his father from Barbados.  Such a small world!

Then I listened to an interesting podcast, Sarah Gray Cary From Boston to  Grenada that I highly recommend.

Don't you just love reading old family letters?  I certainly do!  We don't often think about all the valuable information that an old letter contains.  Primary sources, names, places, dates and events that are recorded can provide us with clues to find other historical records, such as wills, journals, diaries, passenger lists and perhaps, even more letters.

The podcast discusses letters written by Bostonian Sarah Gray Cary who had relocated to Grenada in the Caribbean.  Grenada has had an interesting history as it went from French to British ownership.  The letters were written at the start of the American Revolution as Sarah took the last ship out of Boston after the tea party to join her husband who had taken a job on the island.  She left behind her infant son due to the hardship of the trip thinking they would be reunited soon.  Due to war, however, they did not see each other again for 10 years. 

The letters are Sarah's only way to connect with her child and other family members.  Not only must she persevere over the unexpected length of her separation, she must learn to embrace three cultures. 
After listening to the podcast, I plan on getting the book to read this fascinating true life story.  Enjoy!

The Changing Norms of Genealogy - Dealing With DNA

Twice a year, my local genealogy society holds a free Meet a Genealogist Day at a regional library.  The well attended event allows the general public with little knowledge of genealogy to meet with a professional to kick start their research.  Over the years that I've participated, the trend has been more and more questions about DNA.

The genealogy society does provide free classes on a variety of topics during the year but unfortunately, most are held during the day which working people can't attend.  I think that's one of the reasons the Meet a Genealogist Day is so widely attended as it's held on a Saturday.

I just received an email with the new date and a new format.  The event will be held in two rooms - one for general research (which I call old school methods) and the other for those interested only in DNA research.

I'm not sure where I'll be placed as I'm fine with either group but I am looking forward to the "data" that shows the interest level of the two groups.  One part of me says that it's all the same - that you need to use both historical record research and DNA results.  The other part of me, from my participating in past events, understands why there is a new division.  People are getting DNA results and not understanding what they mean or how to move forward with their findings.

I'm not criticizing the companies who are providing the results.  Most have done an amazing job with giving lots of helpful information on their sites.  Even so, it is overwhelming to many and unfortunately, sometimes the results are disappointing.

We all know real life is not T.V., however, I wish I had a dollar for every time someone came to me saying they thought they'd find a family connection with an entire tree done once they had their DNA results back.  Then there's the smaller number of people who insist that the DNA lab messed up their results and that they aren't the ethnicity that was stated.  A few have insisted that the results were just plain wrong when the results show they aren't related to a known relative.  I know of one local genealogist who insists that happened.  Interestingly, the individual did not get retested.  Personally, if this happened to me I would contact the company AND I would test with another company to compare results.  Mistakes happen but I've never ever heard that the mistake was made by the lab.

So, the underlying issue is having difficulty accepting the DNA results. Like with all of life's disappointments, that healing takes time.

Reuniting the Lost and Found

A few weeks ago I blogged about the very worthy Field of Honor database project in the Netherlands that memorializes fallen World War 2 soldiers. Strangely, as I was writing that article, I was contacted by an Ancestry.com member who I first connected with last spring about her DNA.

One of her parents was adopted and she was trying to see if we were related as I had placed information from the same geographical area she was researching on my Ancestry.com tree for the same surnamed individual. There were other coincidences - they had the same occupation, religion, place where they immigrated from and where they immigrated to about the same time (early 1900's). We were thinking they were related but after comparing our DNA results, they weren't blood relations.

The Ancestry member had received an email from another member who was contacted by someone in the Netherlands who found World War 2 dog tags using a metal detector and wanted to send them to family. I was contacted since we had the same surname - Koss - as the found tags who once belonged to Joseph E. Koss who died in 1944 in Holland.

I reached out to the memorial owner at Findagrave.com but he was not a relative. If you are a family member of a Joseph Koss please email me (see contact me page) and I will happily connect you so you can get the tags.

I've blogged in the past about scammers and I've read about fake dog tags being sold in Viet Nam but this does not smell like a scam to me but to keep my readers safe - I'll play middleman for you. Using a metal detector and finding a lost object is typical in my world as that's one of my husband's hobbies and he has found and returned lost articles for people for years.


Funny how I've been contacted by folks living in the Netherlands twice in the past few weeks - maybe that's where I should go visit next!

Genealogy Scams - What You Need to Know

A few weeks ago I received an email from a "well meaning" individual I did not know.  He was writing to inform me that based on my DNA results, I am in the "same tribe" as a wealthy man who went missing in Saudia Arabia about 10 years ago and the bank is ready to close his accounts and  disburse the vast amounts of stock he earned from oil revenue. 

Wow, I'm so lucky that this person found my DNA and linked me to a wealthy relative I didn't know existed, NOT!  This letter was clearly a take on the old Nigerian banking scam that still circulates today. 

Another genealogy scam making the rounds that I never receive is one I found on Wikipedia. The "Death Certificate Scam: Person will get an obituary off Internet. Find out relatives related. Get their emails. Contact them with fake story of another family member near death, which of course, is only told in ambiguous language. It originates out of Ethiopia with the "makelawi" tag in the email, but it can have de (German free email tag) along with it."


I'm not sure how many people fall for these poorly worded (in English) emails.  I know several of my colleagues weren't happy to get the DNA scam as they felt that it will make more people hesitant to have their DNA tested.  Although that may make someone pause before spitting, being able to make your results private would lessen the likelihood of fraudulent people contacting you because of your test results, if that is your concern.  (I've had people tell me they were hesitant to take a DNA test because they didn't want the insurance company to get the results and deny them coverage which would be illegal but we all know how that goes.)

My concern is different then my colleagues; as I blogged a few weeks ago, I have been volunteering with an organization trying to obtain photos of American service people who were killed in Europe during World War II.  In contacting a small public library in rural Indiana for assistance, I was surprised to hear back that the family of the killed in action serviceman was found but they were hesitant to provide a photo because they had several questions about the reasons the photo was needed.  

I, too, check out organizations before I affiliate with them so the inquiry was probably a wise course of action.  I forwarded the email to the person I had been working with and the library staff received a detailed explanation, an offer to provide the name and contact information of the local individual who had been maintaining the grave for the past several years, an invitation to attend the upcoming memorial service and the organization's goal as the 75th anniversary of the deaths approaches.  

I was impressed with the response less than 24 hours after the questions were received but disappointed that the family decided to ignore the information.  This reminds me of a distant cousin I have who absolutely refuses to share photos of our shared ancestor because, well, there is no reason. 

Not every query is a scam.   If you are concerned that you received a possible nefarious email, check out the FTC's recommended ways to recognize and avoid scams.  If you are contacted for a picture of your great great grandma by someone who writing a history of the town she lived in, most likely it's a legitimate request.  Check it out and after making a decision, respond to the inquirer with your answer.  It's the right thing to do.

DNA Dumbness - What Not To Do When You Take a Test!

You may be contemplating taking advantage of the DNA specials that are currently offered - Ancestry.com and MyHeritageDNA.com are both being sold for $59.00 plus shipping.  Maybe you're like me and have tested with a number of different companies over the past several years and believe you know the directions well enough to not read them.  I am going to share an embarrasingly dumb mistake I made last month when taking a DNA test to spare you having to learn this lesson on your own.

At my annual wellness physical my physician and I discussed genealogy.  Side note:  Physicians and genealogists share a lot in common, especially at parties where acquaintances want to poke your brain and get free advice on their chronic complaint - a health issue for the docs and a brick wall for the genealogist. 

My medical provider was sharing the results of her recent DNA test and I told her how I had compiled an ancestor health history going back several generations as I believe that some genetic conditions reoccur farther than the two generations back that typically the medical community zeroes in on when you complete the initial paperwork of who had what conditions. 

Granted, I have no proof of my theory other than what I've discovered in my own family tree and usually, when I mention this to a doctor, I get the same look that is given when you tell them you tried to self diagnose using WebMD.  I understand I'm enchroaching on their professional judgement but I mean no disrespect.  My current physician is very understanding of this tendency I have and although neither my parents or grandparents had medical concerns that DNA testing could show might affect me, I had two aunts that clearly carried a trait.  We both agreed it would be beneficial for me to be tested for medical information.

Deciding I could handle the test's results, I made a followup appointment to spit into the test tube the next week.  The receptionist reiterated what the doctor said, don't eat or drink anything within an hour of the test.  Yeah, yeah, I know already, I'm an expert DNA test taker!

Since my appointment was scheduled as the first visit of the morning, I decided I wouldn't eat or drink anything after dinner the previous evening.  I even brushed my teeth right after dinner so there'd be no chance of a toothpaste interference.

The next morning I got ready quickly and drove straight to the doctor's office.  After signing in and being taken back to an exam room, the MA asked if I had eaten or drank anything in the last hour.  "No," I replied, "Nothing since last night about 6:00."  She then handed me the test tube and told me foam didn't count so make sure to spit to the line. 

No worries, I got this.  My only thought was why didn't they just take a cheek swab as in the days of old - that's how I took my first Ancestry.com DNA test. 

MA left the room and I began to fill the test tube.  I was really going to town so I didn't stop to look at the tube for a bit.  When I finally did, I had quite a shock.  My spit was not clear; it was tinged with pink. 

My first thought was I was bleeding but I felt fine.  Then it hit me; I had put lipstick on that morning. 

Lipstick does not process in my brain as food or drink.  It reminds me of my history as my maternal relatives never left the house without applying it.  I asked my grandmother why when I was about 8 and she said you should always put your best face forward.  That is, except when you're taking a DNA test in the doctor's office.

I didn't know what to do; should I go look for the MA and ask if I should continue or should I just finish filling the tube?  I opened the door and saw no one in the hall so I decided to finish and maybe the test would be valid.

A few minutes later the MA returned and I sheepishly showed her the pink vial.  "I'll check to see if that's okay," she said, "Never had that happen before."  That made two of us.  Returning, she told me that the test wasn't going to be acceptable and I needed to "Wash off your makeup, wait an hour and we'll retest." 

The last time someone told me to "Wash off that makeup" was in 8th grade and my lipstick of choice was Wow Wow White that looked awesome with my then braces.  Sister Rosarita felt differently and I was sent to the girl's gang bathroom to remove it.  Then, I was angry at the school rule that was enchroaching on my lifestyle.  At the doctor's office, I was angry at myself for being so stupid.

I was planning on meeting my husband after the appointment so I texted him I'd be late because, well, my lipstick got between my DNA and the tube.  He thought that was hysterical.  Me, not at all. 

A little over an hour later the MA called me from the waiting room and asked if I was sure I had gotten all the lipstick off.  I showed her my pale pink lips and said, "This is what they really look like."  She laughed and said, "Nice color." 

The second test went smoothly.  My results have been returned and they're good, too. 

The doctor's office staff were so kind about my mistake and said they'd make sure that they mention "NO LIP PRODUCTS" to future women who will DNA test.  I'm letting my dear readers know that, too.