Saturday, December 30, 2017

PGS Events for the Week of 1-6 January 2018

Wednesday, 3-Jan-2018 at 10:00 AM--Brick Walls—You will eventually reach a point where you seemingly can’t go back further on a particular line. This class will offer some ideas and suggestions for overcoming dead ends in your family history research. Bryan, Local History Room, Largo Library.
Friday, 5-Jan-2018 at 10:15 AM--Franco-American Discussion Group. Geographic areas include: Europe (primarily France, but not limited to France)-Eastern Canada (primarily Quebec, some Ontario, but including the Acadians of the Maritime Provinces)-USA (Central North America and New England, also Louisiana and the surrounding Southern states). Charest, LeFebvre, Local History Room, Largo Library.
Saturday, 6-Jan-2018 at 10:00 AM--Family Tree Maker User Group--Questions & Answers and Demonstration of how to use the Family Tree Maker genealogical database software. Hosmer-Bryan, Local History Room, Largo Library.

Friday, December 29, 2017

Jordan Cemetery in West Des Moines, Iowa

Jordan Cemetery and West Des Moines, Iowa are in Polk County, and had burials dating back to 1855.
You can search the database by following the link near the bottom of the landing page. You will be taken to an aerial view of the cemetery (give it a minute to load), and then you can use the search box at the top right of the screen. Search instructions are in the left panel.

Jordan Cemetery | West Des Moines, IA:

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Tuesday, December 26, 2017

PGS Annual Seminar Scheduled for 24 February 2018 -- Register Now

The Annual Pinellas Genealogy Society Seminar, co-sponsored by the Largo Public Library, is scheduled for 24 February 2018 at the Largo Public Library from 8 am to 4 pm. The library is located at 120 Central Park Drive, Largo, FL.
This all-day event features Judy Russell (JD, CG®, CGL), The Legal Genealogist, as the primary speaker, as well as two breakout speakers, George G. Morgan and Drew Smith, “The Genealogy Guys.” Judy's four presentations are titled (1) “That First Trip to the Courthouse,” (2) “No Vitals? No Problem --Building a Family Through Circumstantial Evidence,” (3) “Where There Is--or Isn't a Will,” and (4) “DNA and the Golden Rule.” Judy is a nationally known speaker, author, educator, and genealogy blogger.
The topics of the breakout sessions will be: (1) “Principles of Effective Evidence Analysis” by George G. Morgan, and (2) “Organizing Your DNA Testing” by Drew Smith. George and Drew are also highly regarded authors and speakers. They are also renowned for their “Genealogy Guys” podcast.
In addition to the speakers, this event boasts a continental breakfast, box lunch, raffles, door prizes, book sale, and plenty of time to network with other researchers and guest organizations. The registration fee is $40 for PGS members and $45 for non-members. After 15 February, the cost is $50, so register early.
We at PGS are proud of this annual, day-long event; and proud of the lineup of speakers and topics we have scheduled. There is something for everybody—novice researcher or experienced. Join us.
For detailed information about the seminar, see http://www.flpgs.org/NMbrs/seminar/2018/Sem18.aspx . A link to a registration form is at the top and bottom of that page. In Addition, a direct link to a registration form is found at http://www.flpgs.org/NMbrs/seminar/2018/SeminarRegForm2018.pdf or can be requested at  pgsfla@yahoo.com .

Swedish American Newspapers Online

This introduction comes from the site: Hundreds of Swedish-language newspapers were published in the United States from 1850 onward, catering to America's Swedish immigrant communities. Use this online portal to learn more about these newspapers, and to search over 300,000 digitized newspaper pages from 28 different Swedish American newspaper titles published across the United States between 1859 and 2007. 

Click the "Search the Newspapers" link on the landing page. You will get an alphabetic listing of the newspapers with several filters available to narrow your browse. There is a search tab at the top of the screen that allows you to do a key word search.

Swedish American Newspapers | Minnesota Historical Society:

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Friday, December 22, 2017

Des Moines, Iowa Municipal Cemetery Interment Search

The city of Des Moines, Iowa provides a cemetery interment search for the following cemeteries: Glendale, Woodland and St. Ambrose, Laurel Hill, Oak Grove, Sims, and Elm Grove. Clicking on a name in the hit list will open an individual record with a link to the map of the cemetery.

Check it out at:
Cemetery Inquiry System - City of Des Moines, Iowa:

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Tuesday, December 19, 2017

Kentucky: Revolutionary War Land Warrants Online

The Kentucky Secretary of State Website offers us a digitized database of Revolutionary War land warrants. You can search by veteran name, warrant number, or assignee name (name of person the veteran sold the warrant to).

One you do a search, you get a hit list of warrant numbers and veteran names. Click on a name to see the record information as well as an image of the warrant itself.

Also available on the site is a database of patents in an area west of the Tennessee River, called the Jackson Purchase.

Kentucky: Secretary of State - Land Office - RW Warrants:

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Saturday, December 16, 2017

Pennsylvania State Archives Offers Several Digital Record Sets

The Pennsylvania State Archives offers us several digital records sets. The landing page provides links to card files relating to Civil War veterans, Mexican Border Campaign veterans, WWI service medals, Spanish American War veterans, and much more.

Remember, these records are of Pennsylvania residents.

Welcome to the Archives Records Information Access System (ARIAS):

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Friday, December 15, 2017

PGS Events for the Week of 17-23 December 2017

Tuesday, 19-Dec-2017 at 10:00 AM--ANCESTRY FAMILY TREES – Part 2. Publishing your tree on Ancestry.com can be a great way to share your research with others, as well as to provide a backup for your work. This presentation covers how to start a family tree on Ancestry.com, and how to maintain it. That includes working with people, events, images, and sources. Summers, Local History Room, Largo Library.
Saturday, 23-Dec-2017 at 10:00 AM--RootsMagic User Group--Questions and answers and demonstrations of how to use the RootsMagic genealogy database software program. Summers, Local History Room, Largo Library.

Wednesday, December 13, 2017

Office of Coast Survey Maps and Charts

Coastal Survey maps are certainly a specialized record set. But if you had ancestors who lived or worked around the water, they may yield important information for you. This collection for the Office of Coast Survey offers maps for sale, but you can search for them and see the results without fee.

The landing page gives you a search box where you can search by title, type of map, state, year, or chart. The most interesting and fun search, however, is using the link to a map-based search page. That link is just above the search box. It gives you a map of the US (you can pan to any place in the world) that you can zoom in on by double clicking. When you find a place of interest, you can select a point on the map to get a list of applicable maps to review.

Although we are dealing with coastal survey maps, click on any plane on the maps and you will be offered a list of maps. That is because the survey deals with both fresh and salt water areas.

Office of Coast Survey Historical Map & Chart Image Catalog:

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Tuesday, December 12, 2017

20 Jan 2018 Program Features Donna Moughty, Focusing on Women in Your Tree

Do you have a pedigree with your female ancestors listed as Mary, Rachel and Phebe…no last names or perhaps one of your male ancestors listed with a wife UNKNOWN? Your pedigree stops
there and you now have a brick wall.

Prior to the 20th century, many women didn’t have an identity of their own…they were tangled with father or husband and in some places, were not allowed to own real estate in their own names or to sign legal documents. When they married their name changed … sometimes multiple times making them harder to find and so they get listed in genealogies by their given name and typically with an approximate date of birth and death. They have been referred to as our “invisible

ancestors.”

The event is free and open to the public.

Sunday, December 10, 2017

Death record Research

Still looking for that ancestor's elusive death record? This article by Allison Dolan in Family Tree Magazine may contain the tip you need. Titled "Nine Kinds of Ancestor Death Records You Should Look For," the piece gives explanations of each of the types of records discussed along with images.

Nine Kinds of Ancestor Death Records You Should Look For - Family Tree:

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PGS Events for the Week of 10-16 December 2017

Tuesday, 12-Dec-2017 at 10:00 AM--ANCESTRY FAMILY TREES – Part 1. Publishing your tree on Ancestry.com can be a great way to share your research with others, as well as to provide a backup for your work. This presentation covers how to start a family tree on Ancestry.com, and how to maintain it. That includes working with people, events, images, and sources. Summers, Local History Room, Largo Library.
Thursday, 14-Dec-2017 at 1:00 PM--Irish Genealogy Interest Group--a discussion group regarding techniques to find your Irish ancestry. Padgett, Local History Room, Largo Library.
Friday, 15-Dec-2017 at 10:30 AM--German Genealogy Interest Group-a discussion group regarding techniques to find your German ancestry. Dietz, Local History Room, Largo Library.
Saturday, 16-Dec-2017 at 10:00 AM--Computers in Genealogy--Question and answer session on the use of computers in genealogy research and record keeping. Bryan, Jenkins B, Largo Library.
Saturday, 16 Dec 2017 at 11:00 AM—Holiday Party. Please remember to bring finger foods and holiday treats along with your "show and tell." Preceded by a brief business meeting and election of officers. Jenkins B, Largo Library.

Thursday, December 7, 2017

Looking for Those Black Sheep Ancestors

Gena P. Ortega gives us this article on researching black sheep ancestors. It comes to us via the archives.com website. You may have been on the hunt for black sheep already, but it never hurts to get a refresher on sources and techniques.

Check it out at:  Researching Black Sheep Ancestors:

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Monday, December 4, 2017

The FBI Vault Online

This is the FBI Freedom of Information Act Library. It contains 6,700 documents and other media. You may not have an ancestor with a record in this collection, but  it makes for fascinating reading nonetheless.

The landing page give you a run-down of the content of the Vault, and in the right pane are links to search, browse the index, and more.

Enjoy to diversion at:  FBI — The Vault:

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Friday, December 1, 2017

PGS Events for the Week of 4-9 December 2017

Tuesday, 5-Dec-2017 at 6:00 PM--Ancestry.com--basic search techniques for getting the most from this huge collection of databases. Bryan, Local History Room, Largo Library.
Wednesday, 6-Dec-2017 at 10:00 AM--Bounty Lands in genealogy research-- Bounty Lands were used from before the Revolutionary War up until 1858 to reward military service and stimulate enlistment. Those records can confirm military service and even locate ancestors during and after hostilities. This class gives the history of the subject, what records are available, and where to find them.  Summers, Local History Room, Largo Library.
Thursday, 7-Dec-2017 at 10:30 AM--Documentation-An introduction on the content of proper source citations. Using modern genealogy programs to enter citations will also be covered (Roots Magic, and Family Tree Maker will be addressed). Summers, Local History Room, Largo Library.
Friday, 8-Dec-2017 at 1:00 PM--Introduction to Irish Genealogy & History-Part 2. Padgett, Local History Room, Largo Library.
COMING ATTRACTION--Holiday party at the monthly meeting on 16 December. Please remember to bring finger foods and holiday treats along with your "show and tell."

Irish Catholic qualification and convert rolls 1701-1845 on FindMyPast.com

Although FindMyPast.com is a fee site, this database is free to search. It consists of about 50,000 records of Irish Catholics who either converted from Catholicism to Protestantism or who swore loyalty to to the British Crown from 1701 to 1845. The data base was provided in cooperation with the National Archives of Ireland.

Ireland, Catholic qualification and convert rolls 1701-1845 | findmypast.com:

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Tuesday, November 28, 2017

North Carolina Yearbooks, College and High School, Available Online

This collection comes to by via the Digital NC project. From the landing page you can select either college and university yearbooks or high school yearbooks. To the right of each institution name is a link titled "View All." That takes you to a list of all the publication years in the collection for that school. Click on the item in the list and you are taken to a reader.

Check it out at:
North Carolina Yearbooks · DigitalNC:

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Saturday, November 25, 2017

Irish Vital Records Online from the Irish Government

Through its website IrishGenealogy.ie, the Irish government is making birth, marriage, and death records from the General Register Office available online. Birth records are from 1864 to 1915, marriage records from 1882 to 1940, and death records from 1864.

You can search by name, civil registration office, or year range.

Check it out at:  Irish Genealogy:

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Friday, November 24, 2017

PGS Events for the jWeek of 27 Nov - 2 Dec. 2017

uesday, 28-Nov-2017 at 11:30 AM--DNA Testing for genealogy—What you can and cannot do with DNA testing relating to your family history—an introduction. Manning, Jenkins A, Largo Library.
Tuesday, 28-Nov-2017 at 1:00 PM--DNA Interest Group--Share your DNA knowledge and discuss your results with others interested in making DNA Connections.  This is a group for DNA novices to learn together, Manning, Jenkins A, Largo Library.
Friday, 1-Dec-2017 at 10:15 AM--Franco-American Discussion Group. Geographic areas include: Europe (primarily France, but not limited to France)-Eastern Canada (primarily Quebec, some Ontario, but including the Acadians of the Maritime Provinces)-USA (Central North America and New England, also Louisiana and the surrounding Southern states), Charest/LeFebvre, Local History Room, Largo Library.
Saturday, 2-Dec-2017 at 10:00 AM--Family Tree Maker User Group--Questions & Answers and Demonstration of how to use the Family Tree Maker genealogical database software. Hosmer/Bryan, Local History Room, Largo Library.

Wednesday, November 22, 2017

Scottish Genealogy and Family History Books Free Online

The National Library of Scotland has provided about 400 genealogy books online. The link below takes you to a Blog ("An Old Scottish Blog"). The blog entry, organizes the books by title family, and each title has a link to read it at the NLS website.

Once you get to the reader, you can search for terms within the book, print, download, etc.

If Scottish ancestry is your focus, don't forget to nose around the Blog itself. It has great articles and leads.

Scottish Genealogy and Family History Research - News - Genealogy and Family History in Scotland:

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Tuesday, November 21, 2017

PGS Holiday Party and More on 16 December -- all welcome


FOR THE REGIONAL DISCUSSION GROUPS, YOU HAVE SOME HOMEWORK:
Choose two of your ancestors for each of the dates below and come prepared knowing where they were (which US state, Canadian province, or foreign country).  The years are 1776 and 1918.

For example:
   1776
   Needham - Pennsylvania
   Prentis - Vermont

   1918
   Schuler - England
   Prentis - Iowa 

 We’ll break into groups and find out if our ancestors might have met.

Sunday, November 19, 2017

New York City Directories from 1798 Available Online

This collection of eighty-three New York City Directories dated from 1798 to 1923 comes from the New York Public Library. Click on the cover of any of the displayed directories and you will be taken to the reader.

To advance the pages of the directory, click on the page images displayed in the bottom right of the screen, or click on "View as Book" to advance the page by simply clicking on it.

New York City Directories - NYPL Digital Collections:

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Saturday, November 18, 2017

PGS Events for the Week of 20-25 November 2017

Monday, 20-Nov-2017 at 6:00 PM--LOYALISTS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION – who were the Loyalists, and how were they affected by the outcome of the war? Were they rewarded for their loyalty to the British crown, and if so, in what manner? Get the answer to these questions and more, including what records may exist and where they might be found.   Summers, Local History Room, Largo Library.
Saturday, 25-Nov-2017 at 10:00 AM--RootsMagic User Group--Questions and answers and demonstrations of how to use the RootsMagic genealogy database software program. Summers, Local History Room, Largo Library.

Thursday, November 16, 2017

Cemetery Lists from the Shelton Library System, Sheldon, Connecticut

Cemetery lists for Coram, East Village, Long Hill, Lower White Hills, and Upper White Hills are found at this website. Click on the name of the cemetery of interest and you will be taken to a transcribed list of burials.

Check it out at:  Historic Items | Shelton Library System:

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Monday, November 13, 2017

Information Online About Loyalists and British Soldiers, 1772-1784

This database from the Library and Archives Canada, contains information from the Carleton Papers.

According to the website: "The series includes a variety of documents about loyalist soldiers and civilian refugees (both white and black people) but also about people who were on Manhattan Island or the adjacent mainland dominated by the British during the American Revolution, as well as many British and German soldiers who settled in Canada later and also some rebels. "

You can search by keyword, name, rank, or regiment. In the hit list, click on the "Item Number" next to the name of interest to be taken to a more complete record.

Links at the left of the landing page will take you to more information about the records and how to use what you find.

Search: Carleton Papers – Loyalists and British Soldiers, 1772-1784 - Library and Archives Canada:

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Friday, November 10, 2017

PGS Events for the Week of 12 - 18 November 2017

Thursday, 16-Nov-2017 at 1:00 PM--Irish Genealogy Interest Group--a discussion group regarding techniques to find your Irish ancestry. Commons, Local History Room, Largo Library.
Friday, 17-Nov-2017 at 10:30 AM--German Genealogy Interest Group-Trish Commons will be speaking on German History. This topic will help you understand the conditions when your ancestors emigrated. Commons, Local History Room, Largo Library.
Saturday, 18-Nov-2017 at 10:00 AM--Computers in Genealogy--Question and answer session on the use of computers in genealogy research and record keeping.  Bryan , Jenkins B, Largo Library.
Saturday, 18-Nov-2017 at 11:00 AM--Program Meeting--Lecture Series--Laying Out Clues in Funeral Home Records: Funeral home and mortuary records can provide clues to many other sources, especially before death certificates were issued and between censuses. Learn what information may be included, what it infers, and places to locate the records. Examples of records from online sources are presented and discussed. George Morgan, Jenkins B, Largo Library
Saturday, 18-Nov-2017 at 1:30 PM--Lecture Series: Timelining Your Ancestors--Your ancestors lived complex lives, interacting with family members, friends, neighbors, and associates of all types. They participated in their communities, and they were affected by events in their communities and around the world. You want to place your ancestors into geographical, historical, and social context so that you can better understand their lives. This seminar suggests a wide array of resources for locating details about your ancestors and presents a methodology for constructing a chronological timeline of their lives. George Morgan, Jenkins B, Largo Library.

Lancashire Births Marriages & Deaths Indexes

This information comes from the website: "The Register Offices in the county of Lancashire, England, hold the original records of births, marriages and deaths back to the start of civil registration in 1837.
   "The county's Family History Societies are collaborating with the local Registration Services to make the indexes to these records freely searchable via the Internet.
   "Although the indexes are not yet complete for all years and districts, we hope that the database will eventually cover all Lancashire births, marriages and deaths from 1837."

Three tabs at the top of the landing page will lead you to search forms for births, marriages , and deaths as well as additional information on each record set.

Lancashire Births Marriages & Deaths Indexes:

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Tuesday, November 7, 2017

Mount Mora Cemetery, Saint Joseph, Missouri Burial Index Online

Mount Mora Cemetery is the oldest operating cemetery in Saint Joseph, Missouri and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

You can do a name search, and each name in the hit list is a link to a larger record. The information is transcribed and is quite extensive, if known.

Check it out at:
Mount Mora Cemetery - Saint Joseph, Missouri:

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Saturday, November 4, 2017

New York Journal and Related Titles, 1896-1899 Online

This collection of the New York Journal comes from the Library of Congress. It covers the years 1896-1899 and includes the New York Journal and other titles it changed to during that time frame.

From the website: "In 1895, William Randolph Hearst purchased the paper to compete with Joseph Pulitzer's New York World. The New York Journal is an example of "Yellow Journalism," where the newspapers competed for readers through bold headlines, illustrations, and activist journalism. The paper infamously reported on and influenced events like the Spanish-American War."

Check it out at:
About this Collection - New York Journal and Related Titles, 1896-1899 | Digital Collections | Library of Congress:

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Friday, November 3, 2017

PGS Events for the Week of 6-11 November 2017

Monday, 6-Nov-2017 at 6:00 PM--INTRODUCTION TO GENEALOGY (Beginner) -- Basics of how to get started in researching your family history—what to do first, where to look & how to do it. Bryan, Local History Room, Largo Library.
Monday, 6-Nov-2017 at 7:00 PM--Pre-1850 Census Research, Summers, Tarpon Springs Library. NOTE LOCATION.
Tuesday, 7-Nov-2017 at 10:00 AM--GENEALOGY PHOTOS: ORGANIZING, MANAGING AND ENHANCING using Picasa, the powerful free program from Google. This class will demonstrate how to manage your digital genealogy photos so they can be easily found and how to enhance their appearance. This includes cropping, straightening, one-touch fix, removing blemishes, adding captions and text to the photo, making a collage, and much more. Bryan , Local History Room, Largo Library.
Friday, 10-Nov-2017 at 10:30 AM--HistoryGeo.com: how to use this large collection of land-ownership maps to recreate frontier neighborhoods and track migrations of families across the United States. Free at Largo Library. Summers, Local History Room, Largo Library.
Saturday, 11-Nov-2017 at 2:00 PM--Genealogy Databases at Largo Library Workshop—JGSTB, Summers, Jenkins Room B, Largo Library.

The Memorial Park Cemetery Canvass Continues on 6 November

The canvassing crew will meet at Memorial Park cemetery (located in St Petersburg, 49th St N and 54th Ave N), Monday, Nov 6 at 8:30am, to prod for covered markers and find missing photos of names in the old records..

We will be working at Division A, located on the south side of 54th Ave N and 49th St N..

We supply tools (prodding tool, brooms, shovels), water and cookies, or you can bring your own. Also bring garden gloves, sunscreen, hats, caps, etc.

Join this group of dedicated volunteers.

Wednesday, November 1, 2017

Search Some of the World's Historical Newspaper Archives in One Place

This website elephind.com searches several newspaper archives in one swipe. It searches over 3,400 newspaper titles from such archives as Columbia University, Library of Congress, National Library of Australia, Pennsylvania State University, and many more. You can search them all at one time or choose the specific archive you are interested in. The countries covered are the United States, Australia, Mexico, New Zealand, and Singapore.

Check it out at:
Elephind.com: Search the world's historic newspaper archives:

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Lee County Genealogical Society Features Dr. Paul R. Rivera on 16 Nov 2017

Lee County Genealogical Society, Inc. 
November 16, 2017 Meeting 
“From Baltimore to San Juan to Seville to . . . “ Reconstructing and Understanding the Millennium-long History of a Multi-Cultural Family 

Dr. Paul R. Rivera 

A career historian and genealogy newcomer, the presenter has pursued the history of his unique Puerto Rican-Irish family for the past decade. In previous programs for the Society, he has used the research of historians and the records of genealogy to trace his mother’s Irish family to County Monaghan in 1860 and father’s Puerto Rican family to the rural interior of that island in 1800.

This presentation will recount the latest chapter in the search for genealogical records and historical insights to reconstruct and interpret the historical experiences of his family. The research spans the past millennium in three nations and three historical eras – Puerto Rico during the Spanish colonial period, Spain and Portugal in the Renaissance and earlier in the Middle Ages. The program will conclude with a discussion of insights gained and lessons learned from the project that should prove useful to genealogists in search of their family history.

Cypress Lakes Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall 
8260 Cypress Lake Drive, Fort Myers 

Doors Open: 9:30 a.m. 
Announcements at 10:00 a.m. followed by program. 

For more information visit www.LCGSFL.org

Sunday, October 29, 2017

Free UK Census Records (England, Scotland, Wales) Online

The Free UK Genealogy initiative sponsors this site to provide free access to US Census records. The search form allows you to filter by name, birth year range, birth county, and census county/place/year.

The results of your search are in a transcribed list, so you don't see the actual census document, but the information presented is quite extensive.

FreeCEN - UK Census Records (England, Scotland, Wales):

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Friday, October 27, 2017

PGS Events for the Week of 29 Oct - 4 Nov

Tuesday, 31-Oct-2017 at 2:00 PM--Was Your Ancestor Accused of Being a Witch? Exploring the Colonial New England Witchcraft Trials--We have been fascinated by the stories of the New England witchcraft trials, particularly those in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692, for hundreds of years. This presentation will explore what happened and what our ancestors believed, and try to explain why these events took place. Fortin, Aging Well Center, Clearwater [NOTE LOCATION]
Tuesday, 31-Oct-2017 at 6:00 PM--Spanish-American War-- This class is an exploration of the causes, conflicts, and results of the United States’ war with Spain in 1898. In addition to the history of the conflict and its consequences, the types of records generated during the conflict will be discussed along with guidance on where to find those records. Summers, Local History Room, Largo Library.
Wednesday, 1-Nov-2017 at 10:00 AM--Writing Brief Narrative Sketches – Sharing Interesting Ancestors with Family--Do you want to share your family history research and enthusiasm with your relatives, but find that their eyes tend to glaze over when you pull out your pedigree charts and family group sheets? Try presenting the information to them in bite-size chunks, one interesting ancestor at a time, using brief, 1-3 page narratives with visual impact.   Fortin , Local History Room, Largo Library.
Friday, 3-Nov-2017 at 10:15 AM--Franco-American Discussion Group.Geographic areas include: Europe (primarily France, but not limited to France)-Eastern Canada (primarily Quebec, some Ontario, but including the Acadians of the Maritime Provinces)-USA (Central North America and New England, also Louisiana and the surrounding Southern states). Local History Room, Largo Library.
Saturday, 4-Nov-2017 at 10:00 AM--Family Tree Maker User Group--Questions & Answers and Demonstration of how to use the Family Tree Maker genealogical database software. Hosmer-Bryan, Local History Room, Largo Library.

Thursday, October 26, 2017

Update to "Online Searchable Death Indexes and Records"

I have mentioned Joe Beine's wonderful collection of topical indexes, and seldom miss the chance to give his work visibility. Joe frequently updates is indexes and this note is to alert you to an update to "Online Searchable Death Indexes and Records"

Scroll to the bottom of the landing page to find hot links to his other indexes.

Online Searchable Death Indexes, Records and Obituaries:

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Monday, October 23, 2017

Accuracy/Inaccuracy of Historical Records

James Tanner, writing in his Blog Genealogy's Star, gives us a thoughtful piece on "How Accurate Are Historical Records?"

We have all been plagued with misspelled names, incorrect relationships, dubious dates, etc. Read James' article to get a fresh perspective on this issue.

Genealogy's Star: How accurate are historical records?:

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Friday, October 20, 2017

Online Index of Park View Cemetery, Schenectady, NY

Those of you with Ancestors from the Schenectady, NY area may be interested in this online cemetery index.

To get to the index, click on "Search a Grave" located in the bottom right of the landing page. You can then search by name for the record of interest. The index gives the first and last name, the dates of death and interment, and the grave location.

Check it out at:  Park View Cemetery | Schenectady, NY:

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PGS Events for the Week of 22-28 October 2017

Tuesday, 24-Oct-2017 at 11:30 AM--DNA Testing for genealogy—What you can and cannot do with DNA testing relating to your family history—an introduction. Manning, Jenkins A, Largo Library.

Tuesday, 24-Oct-2017 at 1:00 PM--DNA Interest Group--Share your DNA knowledge and discuss your results with others interested in making DNA Connections.  This is a group for DNA novices to learn together. Manning, Jenkins A, Largo Library.

Wednesday, 25-Oct-2017 at 6:00 PM--AmericanAncestors.org: Searching the Online Databases--American Ancestors, the website for the New England Historic Genealogical Society, provides more than 1 billion records in over 450 databases online. Although much of the collection focuses on New England, records from around the U.S. and even some from other countries are available. This presentation will provide a brief overview of the website, and will go through the basics of searching these extensive databases. Fortin, Local History Room, Largo Library.

Thursday, 26-Oct-2017 at 10:30 AM--WAR WITH MEXICO -- This class is an exploration of the causes, conflicts, and results of the United States’ war with Mexico. In addition to the history of the conflict, the types of records generated during the conflict will be discussed along with guidance on where to find those records. Summers, Local History Room, Largo Library.

National Archives Virtual Genealogy Fair on YouTube (October 25, 2017)

This notice comes from the National Archives Blog:

FREE NARA 2017 Virtual Genealogy Fair (save the date -- 25 October 2017) #genfair2017

From our friends at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)!  An always great opportunity to learn about federal records and just how valuable they can be to your genealogy research.

WHAT: The National Archives will host a live, virtual Genealogy Fair via webcast on YouTube. Participate in our biggest genealogy event of the year! Sessions offer advice on family history research for all skill levels. Topics include Federal government documents on birth, childhood, and death; recently recovered military personnel files; Japanese Americans during World War II; 19th century tax assessments; and a “how to” on preserving family heirlooms. For the schedule, videos, handouts, and participation instructions, visit the Virtual Genealogy Fair online (https://www.archives.gov/calendar/genealogy-fair )

WHEN: October 25, starting at 10 a.m. EDT

WHO: Archivist of the United States David S. Ferriero and records experts from National Archives’ facilities nationwide.

WHERE: Anywhere! Participate during the Fair while it is live streamed on the US National Archives’ YouTube channel

Captioning: Live captioning will be available online. If you require an alternative or additional accommodation for the event, please send an email to: KYR@nara.gov or call 202-357-5260 in advance.

Follow the following link to the YouTube channel:
2017 National Archives Virtual Genealogy Fair (2017 October 25) - YouTube:

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Tuesday, October 17, 2017

Obituary Index for Rush County, Kansas

The Barnard Library provides an online obituary index to Rush County newspapers. The newspapers covered and their dates of publication are: Walnut Valley Standard (1874-1901), Walnut Valley Standard (1893-1896), Democrat (Walnut City), Walnut City Gazette (1886-1890), McCracken Republican (1900-1902), McCracken Midget (1949-1951), Rush County Leader (1895), Bison Courier (1930-1938), and Bison Bee (1902-1918).

Instructions for using the index are front and center on the landing page.

Barnard Library Obituary Index:

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Monday, October 16, 2017

Pinellas Genealogy Society Free Lecture Series Features George G. Morgan

The Pinellas Genealogy Society is pleased to announce another in its Lecture Series, this time featuring George G. Morgan giving two presentations. The first is “Laying Out Clues in Funeral Home Records”:  synopsis--Funeral home and mortuary records can provide clues to many other sources, especially before death certificates were issued and between censuses. Learn what information may be included, what it infers, and places to locate the records. Examples of records from online sources are presented and discussed.

The second is “Timelining Your Ancestors”:  synopsis--Your ancestors lived complex lives, interacting with family members, friends, neighbors, and associates of all types. They participated in their communities, and they were affected by events in their communities and around the world. You want to place your ancestors into geographical, historical, and social context so that you can better understand their lives. This seminar suggests a wide array of resources for locating details about your ancestors, and presents a methodology for constructing a chronological timeline of their lives.

This event is free and open to the public and runs from 11am to 3pm at the Largo Public Library (120 Central Park Drive, Largo, FL) on Saturday, 18 November 2017. There will be a short break for lunch after the first presentation. Plan to bring a brown bag lunch, or make use of the Bookmark Café in the library.

George G. Morgan is president of Aha! Seminars, Inc., and an internationally recognized genealogy expert who presents in the U.S., Canada, England, on cruise ships, and on webinars. He is the prolific, award-winning author of hundreds of articles for genealogical magazines, journals, newsletters, and at online sites internationally. His twelfth book, the fourth edition of How to Do Everything: Genealogy, was released in January 2015. He is a regular writer for the Association of Professional Genealogists Quarterly, Family Tree Magazine, Internet Genealogy, and Your Genealogy Today. He has won writing awards from the Association of Professional Genealogists and the International Society of Family History Writers and Editors (ISFHWE). He is a past president of ISFHWE, and has served on the boards of the Federation of Genealogical Societies, the Florida State Genealogical Society, the Florida Genealogical Society (Tampa), and is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists, the Genealogical Speakers Guild, and societies in the U.S. and U.K. George is co

Saturday, October 14, 2017

List of Genealogy Pages on Facebook

If you are a Facebook user and want to find genealogy-oriented pages on the site, this link is for you. Katherine Willson has done the heavy lifting for us, and provides such a list. The list is alphabetized by state/county name, and all entries are hot links. So, for example, when you click on "Georgia" you are taken to a list of Facebook pages associated with that state, and when when you click on a specific entry in that list, you are taken directly to that page on Facebook. And did I mention that the list is international in scope?

Also provided is a link to a similar list focused just on Canadian genealogy. Katherine also mentions that to be notified each time her list is updated, simply "like" her Facebook page (and she provides a link to do that).

Check it out at:  Genealogy on Facebook List – Katherine R. Willson:

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Friday, October 13, 2017

PGS Events for the Week of 16-21 October 2017

Tuesday, 17-Oct-2017 at 10:00 AM--King Philip’s War, 1675-1676: Causes & Consequences – Although largely forgotten, King Philip’s War was a widespread conflict that had a significant and long-lasting impact on New England colonists and Native Americans. The class will look at causes leading up to this brutal war, analyze the course of the war, and outline the consequences that helped shape the future of the United States. Fortin, Local History Room, Largo Library.
Thursday, 19-Oct-2017 at 1:00 PM--Irish Genealogy Interest Group, Padgett, Local History Room, Largo Library.
Friday, 20-Oct-2017 at 10:30 AM--German Genealogy Interest Group, Dietz, Local History Room, Largo Library.
Saturday, 21-Oct-2017 at 10:00 AM--Computers in Genealogy, Bryan, Jenkins B, Largo Library.
Saturday, 21-Oct-2017 at 11:00 AM--Program Meeting--How Advertising Brought Our Ancestors to the Midwest, Lyttle. Jenkins B, Largo Library.

Wednesday, October 11, 2017

Periodical Source Index at findmypast.com

I have pointed you to the Periodical Source Index (PERSI) before, but it deserves repeating.

PERSI is housed at the Allen County Public Library's Genealogy Center, but the collection is being indexed and presented by findmypast.com. Although findmypast.com is a fee site, use of PERSI in not.

PERSI is a collection of journal articles from genealogical and historical societies, and the index allow  you to search for those articles by subject/title. When you find the citation of an article you want, one way you can get a full copy is to send the citation to the Allan County Library and for a modest fee, it will be copied and sent to you. Instructions for ordering are on the landing page under "How do I get copies of the full articles?"

One avenue to explore to get a full copy of the article you want is to take the citation you find in PERSI and look for the source journal in our collection at Largo Library's Genealogy Center.

US, UK, Irish and Australian records | findmypast.com:

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Sunday, October 8, 2017

PGS Features Presentation by Annette Burke Lyttle on 21 October--Free and Open to the Public


Views of the Men Who Made Those Sanborn Maps

Here is an article that is very interesting for a variety of reasons. First it tells us about some of the men who made the Sanborn maps and the procedures they used, and it also gives a good example of newspaper research on a topic.

The article comes to us from the "Preservation in Mississippi" Blog. It offers a collection of newspaper articles covering actions of "Sanborn Men" specifically in Mississippi, from their plans to send workers to the state, to identifying individual Sanborn employees as they work with city residents to complete their job.

If you work with Sanborn insurance maps in your research, you will enjoy historical perspective.

Who Were Those Sanborn Men? – Preservation in Mississippi:

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Saturday, October 7, 2017

PGS Events for the Week of 9-14 October 2017

Tuesday, 10-Oct-17 at 10:00 AM--Facebook for Genealogy—how to use this powerful tool to aid in your family history research. Summers, Local History Room, Largo Library.
Thursday, 12-Oct-17 at 10:30 AM--Google your family tree-- This presentation demonstrates how to use the powerful features of the Google search engine to discover genealogy information on the internet. Topics include: how to select keyword search terms, how to interpret the results, using Google Alerts, news archive searches, book searches and more neat things that Google can do for you. Bryan, Local History Room, Largo Library.
Friday, 13-Oct-17 at 10:30 AM--Familysearch.org—the class will demonstrate how to search the vast databases available on this rapidly-expanding site made available from the LDS (Mormon) genealogy collection. Bryan, Local History Room, Largo Library.
Saturday, 14-Oct-17 from 12:00-4:00 PM--Family History Assistance Day. This is the 14th semi-annual event presented by PGS and Largo Library designed especially for beginning researchers. Bring what information you have about your family and receive free, one-on-one research assistance from a PGS consultant. No appointment is necessary--first come, first served. Tours of the Genealogy Center will also be offered. We will be in Jenkins A, B, on the first floor of Largo Library.

Thursday, October 5, 2017

More Digital Newspapers Coming to Library of Congress--Chronicling America

Those of you doing newspaper research are probably aware of the great collection of digitized newspapers at Chronicling America at the Library of Congress website. You are also probably aware that the collection, large as it may be, is limited to the years 1836-1922.

That apparently is changing now, as reported By Lisa Louise Cooke in her Blog, Genealogy Gems."  Over time, that date range for the digitized collection of some papers may change to as early as 1690 and as late at 1963.

Read about the reason for the change and other interesting collection facts at:
Chronicling America New Records - More Digital Newspapers Coming:

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Annual PGS Seminar Being Held on 24 February 2018--Register Early

The Annual Pinellas Genealogy Society Seminar, co-sponsored by the Largo Public Library, is scheduled for 24 February 2018 at the Largo Public Library from 8 am to 4 pm. The library is located at 120 Central Park Drive, Largo, FL.
This all-day event features Judy Russell (JD, CG®, CGL), The Legal Genealogist, as the primary speaker, as well as two breakout speakers, George G. Morgan and Drew Smith, “The Genealogy Guys.” Judy's four presentations are titled (1) “That First Trip to the Courthouse,” (2) “No Vitals? No Problem --Building a Family Through Circumstantial Evidence,” (3) “Where There Is--or Isn't a Will,” and (4) “DNA and the Golden Rule.” Judy is a nationally known speaker, author, educator, and genealogy blogger.
The topics of the breakout sessions will be: (1) “Principles of Effective Evidence Analysis” by George G. Morgan, and (2) “Organizing Your DNA Testing” by Drew Smith. George and Drew are also highly regarded authors and speakers. They are also renowned for their “Genealogy Guys” podcast.
In addition to the speakers, this event boasts a continental breakfast, box lunch, raffles, door prizes, book sale, and plenty of time to network with other researchers and guest organizations. The registration fee is $40 for PGS members and $45 for non-members. After 15 February, the cost is $50, so register early.
We at PGS are proud of this annual, day-long event; and proud of the lineup of speakers and topics we have scheduled. There is something for everybody—novice researcher or experienced. Join us.


A detailed schedule of events and a registration form are found at http://www.flpgs.org/NMbrs/seminar/2018/Sem18.aspx . Questions can be addressed to pgsfla@yahoo.com .

Monday, October 2, 2017

Exploring Your Ancestry DNA Results

Linda Barnickel, writing for the Ancestry Blog, explains a couple of the important but often over-looked analytical tools Ancestry DNA offers.

If  you had your test done by Ancestry DNA, you may want to take a moment and read this helpful article.

See it at:  Exploring Your DNA Results Further – Ancestry Blog:

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Jewish Genealogical Society of Tampa Bay Features Drew Smith on October 8, 2017

Jewish Genealogical Society of Tampa Bay Meeting
Organizing Your Genealogy Research Process
Speaker: Drew Smith
Sunday, October 8, 2017

The Jewish Genealogical Society of Tampa Bay will meet at Gulf Coast Jewish Family & Community Services, 14041 Icot Blvd., Clearwater, Florida on Sunday October 8, 2017 for a presentation by Drew Smith on  “Organizing Your Genealogy Research Process”.

The research process includes goals, questions, sources, information, evidence and conclusions. In this presentation, attendees will learn to use task management software, research logs, and other tools to keep track of their research.  

Sunday, October 1, 2017

Country Jubilee at Heritage Village on 28 October 2017

The following comes from the Heritage Village website:

Country Jubilee
October 28, 2017
10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
$2.00 donation suggested for 12 yrs & up
Children under twelve free.
Sponsored by the Pinellas County Historical Society

The Country Jubilee is the first place to search for gifts for the upcoming holiday season. The event features a large flea market and book sale, handmade holiday crafts, paintings, jewelry, stained glass, wooden treasures, musical entertainment, tours of historical homes and demonstrations of traditional crafts.

Heritage Village is located at 11909 125th Street N., Largo, FL.

Friday, September 29, 2017

Information on America's "Lost" Colleges

If your ancestor attended a college that was eventually closed or merged with another school, this database of 260 closed or merged colleges may by just what you need to further your research.

The colleges are listed by state, and each college name is a hot link to further information and history. The link to "Colleges by State" is found in the tab bar at the top of the landing page.

Check it out at:
America's Lost Colleges:

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Tuesday, September 26, 2017

Families in British India

The Families in British India Society gives us an online database of births, marriages and deaths for the years 1806-07. The data comes from the Asiatic Annual Register.

Each list gives you the name, rank or title, relationship, year and month of the event. Each column can be sorted, so although there is no search mechanism, the person is not really difficult to locate in the list.

Check it out at:
FIBIS Database - Powered by The Frontis Archive Publishing System:

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Sunday, September 24, 2017

Lee County Genealogical Society Features Diana Crisman Smith on 19 October


PGS Meeting Features Annette Burke Lyttle on 21 October at Largo Public Library


Family History Assistance Day to Be Held 14 October at Largo Public Library


Pinellas Genealogy Society (PGS) and Largo Public Library are presenting a "Family History Assistance Day." This will be on Saturday, October 14 from 12:00 to 4:00 PM in Jenkins Room A on the first floor of the library. Bring what information you have about your family and receive free, one-on-one research assistance from a PGS consultant. Beginners are especially welcome. No appointment is necessary--first come, first served. Tours of the Genealogy Center will also be offered. 

Contact Bob Bryan at BBryan84@gmail.com, telephone 595-4521 if you have any questions.


Saturday, September 23, 2017

Sherburne, Minnesota History Center- Research Resources Online

This is a great site to explore if you have Minnesota ancestors. It gives you several online resources such as birth/marriage/death, burials, obituaries, biographies, and more. The collections are indexes rather than digitized documents, and instructions are given if you want a record copy.

Check it out at:
Sherburne History Center- Research Resouces Online:

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PGS Events for the Week of 25-30 September 2017

Monday, 25-Sep-2017 at 6:00 PM--Female ancestors--locating and tracing the maternal line; tips and methods to finding maiden names. Bryan, Local History Room, Largo Library.
Tuesday, 26-Sep-2017 at 11:30 AM-- DNA Testing for genealogy—What you can and cannot do with DNA testing relating to your family history—an introduction Manning, Jenkins A, Largo Library.
Tuesday, 26-Sep-2017 at 1:00 PM--DNA Interest Group--Share your DNA knowledge and discuss your results with others interested in making DNA Connections.  This is a group for DNA novices to learn together. Manning, Jenkins A, Largo Library.     
Wednesday, 27-Sep-2017 at 10:00 AM--MAPS IN GENEALOGY RESEARCH (Part I) -- Maps can reveal much about the lives our ancestors led and the conditions under which they lived. They can also reveal hints on where to look for other important documents. There are many different types of maps available to the researcher, and this class deals with road, city, political, insurance, and migration maps. Summers, Local History Room, Largo Library.
Thursday, 28-Sep-2017 at 1:00 PM--Introduction to Irish Genealogy & History-Part 1. This is the class scheduled for last week that was cancelled due to the aftermath of the storm. Designed especially for  those of you interested in a basic/beginner Irish genealogy class. Padgett, Local History Room, Largo Library.