One of the prompts in the #52Ancestors challenge had to do with “courting.” Partakers were given the ability to decide what form of “courting” they wanted to look on, whether it be court documents and the like or romantic courting. I decided to hit a bit of a middle road: […]
The Search for Julia – Part III
As I’ve shared in The Search of Julia and The Search for Julia – Part II, I’m on the hunt to find one of my 3rd great-grandmothers. She has been a brick wall in my research for a while now, and I figure sharing some of the tactics I use […]
The Search For Julia – Part II
(I promise, no cheesy shoe metaphors this time!) So, as I shared in The Search For Julia, one of the projects I’m currently working on is trying to track down the lineage of my 3rd great-grandmother, Julia Light. Julia was born in 1819/20 somewhere in Maine. Unfortunately, I have yet […]
The Search For Julia Light
Have you ever lost something? Like a book or a shoe, and no matter how long you look for it, you just can’t find it? Then, one day, as if by magic or the Universe clicking into place, it miraculously shows up. You should feel a huge sign of a […]
Ancestor Hide and Seek
Some people are lucky in the way that their families were so involved with their town that it seems every newspaper had a picture of at least one aunt, uncle, or sibling. The Simard family, on my paternal side, is nothing of the sort. In documents I seen thus far, […]
Dorcus – Wild Cat Catcher
With so many dreams and schemes boiling away in my mind, I can only hope to find the fortitude to take the reigns of this New Year “With presence of mind, and courage amounting heroism” of my 3rd great-grandmother, who was “plucky” as all get-out. Dorcus White is one of […]
The Foundations of My Quest
I grew up in the White Mountains of Western Maine, in a mill town where I knew nothing of the rich ancestry, heritage, nor history of my family and hometown. It’s hard to mourn what you never knew, and so I went to college knowing practically nothing of the place […]
Virtual Cemeteries
Websites such as Findagrave, Billiongraves, and CanadianHeadstones have allowed for relatives far off to see photos of the headstones of those who have passed. While leaving virtual flowers has never really blossomed into a routine, answering photos requests for others has, and so has building virtual cemeteries. Those new to […]
What To Know About Professional Genealogists
Anytime you hire someone, it helps to know a little bit about their field of occupation. Here are some of the key things to keep in mind about professional genealogists when working with one. We use the same records as you do and then some. Professional genealogists also make use […]
Why Hire a Professional Genealogist?
Ancestry, FamilySearch, Heritage Tree, and WikiGenes all exist to help make genealogical research easier for the do-it-yourselfer. There are also countless social media groups filled with “angels” who will do the work pro-bono. Some surnames are even lucky enough to come with genealogical website already created online – it’s like […]