Hunters and Gatherers

Migrations

Andrea — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 22:40:00 GMT

Migration patterns are so important. But in our Louisiana research, we have stumbled across a pattern we didn't know about and don't exactly understand.

What we are seeing a trend as we expand our research outside direct lines (to cousins and in-laws). Appears that at the end of the 19th century through about 1920 there was large migration from Baton Rouge and surrounding area to Texas. One would normally think it was oil related, but the folks that move don't necessarily go into the oil business. They will be farmers or carpenters or whatever. And they don't go to any one particular place, as you might expect of families moving together. They head to all different parts of the state (and it's a big state).

I'll post more as we figure out the whys and hows...

Maiden Names: Baton Rouge Part III

Andrea — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 17:39:00 GMT

One of the great challenges of a genealogist is women and their married names. I know I have my fair share of LNUs: Last Name Unknown.

So Stephen and I were delighted when we discovered a remarkable tradition in Baton Rouge. Women used their maiden names extensively after marriage. We saw this in probate, e.g. Jane Catherine Tidwell married twice; once to a Robertson and once to a Jemeyson, yet her probate is listed as Jane Catherine Tidwell. We saw this on tombstones. Many times a woman was listed as "Mary Jane Doe, wife of John Smith." And we saw it on land records, law suits and other official instruments.

Maybe it was a French/Spanish tradition. Maybe it was a class issue; a woman of a good family used her maiden name to promote he pedigree so to speak. Whatever the reason, I have never seen it before. What a great help it was to research!

New Resource!

Andrea — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 19:06:00 GMT

I've found a great new genealogy website. The LDS has a pilot program uploading new databases. Most of the databases are works-in-progress, but when completed, will be awesome.

Most genealogists are familiar with the Latter Day Saints (LDS) genealogy website www.familysearch.org. Among the great tools listed there is the complete 1880 US Census, complete with an all names index.

The new website, http://search.labs.familysearch.org/recordsearch/start.html?..#p=0, once completed, will have the 1850, 1870 and 1900 US censuses. Wow! There are also a ton of great location specific databases, such as state censuses and non-US records.

My all-time favorite is the completed Texas Death Certificates, 1890-1976. This includes actual images of the death certificates. The actual image can be so helpful, because it can give more information than just the index. It includes cemetery burial, informant, cause of death, and funeral home.

Most important, the site is free. Check it out!

What's Up with USGenWeb?

Andrea — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 17:35:00 GMT

I have frequently and enthusiastically recommended USGenWeb as an Internet source for genealogy. The organizers are dedicated to providing free genealogy information. They have a site for every state and county/parish in the US. Volunteer coordinators post information about the county (cemetery transcriptions, census indexes, marriages, land records, etc.). They also welcome submissions from genealogists. Since it is volunteer-driven, the quality varies from county to county, but many times it has just the information needed to loosen the logjam.

Lately, however, I am encountering more and more broken links and the site search engines rarely, if ever works. I often see a notation that a certain county site is moving and to change the bookmarks (or the site is down completely).

Here's my best guess (and it is a guess). Rootsweb, which hosted USGenWeb for years, was "absorbed" by Ancestry.com (a subscription service) a while back. Everything has continued uninterrupted, but now Rootsweb and many of its parts are being absorbed into Ancestry. My guess is that Ancestry has booted USGenWeb (which after all is a major competitor), and USGenWeb is now rebuilding on other servers.

I would love to know if this is the case. If so, I salute USGenWeb for working to keep Internet genealogy free and easily accessible. It is too valuable a resource to lose.

A Journey, Not a Destination

Andrea — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 18:32:00 GMT

There's a scene in a movies from the 60's, The Agony and the Ecstasy, about Michelangelo painting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Seems like the pope, who commissioned Michelangelo to do the ceiling, thought the project was taking too long. He would repeatedly ask Michelangelo: "When will it be finished?" Michelangelo would always reply: "When I am done."

That's a good lesson for genealogy. There really is no "done." So many Americans feel like they are "done" when they get "across the water," or trace an ancestor back to the original immigrant and the arrival in the U.S. But it never seems to stop there. Many want to continue the process in the "Old Country" and find out more about the lives and ancestors there.

And there's always another line, another ancestor to investigate. There are usually four grandparents, eight grandparents, 16 great-grandparents, 32 great-great grandparents, and so on and so on and so on. Each of those ancestors contributed just as much DNA to our bodies as the other...and each contributed to the culture--the nurture--of our family. Every generation we go back, we have two more line to investigate. Even with the wonder of Internet genealogy, the task of, say, getting every family line back to 1600 AD is mind-boggling.

So, faced with this task, how do we reconcile the endless work, constantly growing with every generation of success we have? Because it is fantastically fun, interesting and rarely boring.

It's all a journey of discovery. We probably will never get "there," wherever there is. But we are having a grand time on the trip!

Coming soon: Who Do You Think You Are?

Andrea — Sat, 31 May 2008 00:30:00 GMT

Apparently, the hit BBC show Who Do You Think You Are (link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/familyhistory/get_started/family_history_faq.shtml) is coming to the U.S. courtesy of NBC (link: www.nbc.com). The show, in its fifth season in Britain, presents the genealogy of famous people to the celebrity subjects. Apparently, the show has sparked a renewed interest in genealogy in Britain. It reminds me of Henry Louis Gates' PBS (link: www.pbs.org) show African American Lives 2 (link: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/aalives/) which presented the genealogy of famous African-Americans with suprising twists and turns and heart-wrenching stories of perfidy and heroism.

According to the story published in Hollywood Reporter, the British Who Do You Think You Are "uncovered backstories included tales of bigamy, wartime heroism and, in one case, attempted murder. Celebrity participants often are brought to tears as they learn about their relatives' hardships." The full story can be found here (link: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3ib8b5060e33b9624e43b1e8bb77126058)

Posted by Stephen

Priorities: Baton Rouge Part II

Andrea — Tue, 20 May 2008 21:18:00 GMT

During the Baton Rouge research trip, we, of course, climbed through cemeteries. Magnolia Cemetery in Baton Rouge is amazing. It's a shame that something on the National Registry of Historic Places is not better maintained, but I am sure money must be an issue. But to see gravestones fallen over, broken or covered with fire ant mounds as big as volleyballs is hard.

We also visited the Foundation that oversees Magnolia, housed in the old governor's mansion building, beautifully restored and impressive. Goes to show you that, yet again, those who have passed on get the minimum.

Nothing takes the place of being there: Baton Rouge Part I

Andrea — Tue, 06 May 2008 16:07:00 GMT

Stephe and I just returned (well, a few months back) from a research trip to Baton Rouge. We had a grand time. The weather was okay. The food was great. And, wow, did we find some amazing things. And I will have several postings about this trip.

We spent most of our time in the East Baton Rouge Parish clerk's office (Louisiana has parishes instead of counties). We could have spent another week there easily. We were the odd folks out amongst all the real estate title people and attorneys. No matter. The East Baton Rouge Parish clerk's office is very welcoming to genealogists (not always the case), and the staff was welcoming, helpful and encouraging.

The research was fabulous. We found answers to old riddles, discovered new scandals, scratched our heads over new puzzles and ended up with a five inch pile of documents to transcribe: marriage licenses, successions (probate), divorce proceedings, lawsuits and more.

None of these things were on the internet. None were in books, as far as I know. I'm not sure even the Family History Center would have the full microfilm (and copies would be impossible).

I was reminded of an important lesson. Nothing takes the place of going to a locality and doing the research onsite. It's very expensive. It's very tiring. And there is never enough time. But when all else fails, you have to go there.

And I can't wait to go back! Thank you, Stephen.

The Harney-Hull Conundrum

Andrea — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 22:28:00 GMT

I've been working on my paternal side for a while; actually, Stephen and I have been working together. We've come across several naming patterns that have us baffled.

First is a many-times-great grandmother with the birth name of Virginia Harney Elam. Harney is really her middle name; it is not a previous marriage name (yes, we're sure. We have her Bible and a trillion records). So what is the problem? There are no known Harneys in the family. We've searched Baton Rouge (where she lived her whole life) and there is only one person with a Harney surname that we can find that lived there…and he was a military doctor that came AFTER she was born (a bachelor who never married). Further, the same name pops up as a middle name is several other branches of our tree, some related to Virginia Harney Elam, some not.

What's up with that? Did they just think it a cool name? Was there a celebrity with that name, now lost to history, but everyone latched onto the name (along the lines of Southern women loving the name Scarlett)? Are we missing an obvious connection-a maiden name or a distant relative?

The second is on another branch (actually, it's the husband of the above referenced Virginia), William Hull Gayle. Again, we can find no Hull's in the family (and this family has been researched quite well. We've found a William Hull who was a general in the US Army during the War of 1812 (so the timeline fits). Only problem with that is he was in command of the forces in Michigan (a long way from Baton Rouge) and was court-martialed for losing Detroit to the British (he was later remitted, or pardoned). Not particularly convincing as a solution. There is a William Hull back in old "home county" in the Carolinas, but that is a bit of a stretch. There is a William Hull in a nearby Louisiana parish (county), but we have found no connection as of yet. Or maybe it has nothing to do with a William Hull, maybe there is another "plain" Hull floating around somewhere.

These are minor points…maybe. Naming patterns can be so helpful in genealogy. One "odd" name can be a thumbprint for connecting a family. While not actual proof, in a research sense, that odd name can encourage further investigation.

Or it can just make you crazy with curiosity!
Posted by Andrea

Know Your Neighbors

Andrea — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 23:06:00 GMT

Posted by Stephen:

I honestly don’t know how many times I have found myself looking up a possible census hit only to realize that the person lived next door to relatives I had already found.

Apparently, or at least in my family, we either keep our relatives nearby or we marry the neighbors.

For example, I tracked my great-great-great grandmother in the 1870 East Baton Rouge, Louisiana census. Her maiden name was Mary Jane ROBERTSON, but in the drawl of Anglo-Louisiana (as it had come to me), her name was sometimes listed ROBERSON, ROBESON or even ROBINSON. I thought, (based on poor transcription), that her father was Isiah and her mother Catherine TITREVILLE (turned out to be TIDWELL), but had no idea about siblings or any other relatives. I knew she had married a COOK after the 1860 census. I found her in 1870 living with her daughter and a Lizzie ROBERSON (no ‘t’), probably a sister.

Having triumphantly added one new relative to my tree (like a Christmas ornament), I didn’t even bother to notice that two households up the census page was a David A. ROBERTSON. He would turn out to be my ggg-grandmother’s brother.

And it was a couple of years before I found out that her other sister, Sarah Ann, had married a Charles ROBERTS. When I checked the 1870 census, Sarah Ann and Charles ROBERTS were the household between David ROBERTSON and Mary Jane COOK. The fact that Sarah Ann had named her children traditional family names should have attracted my attention previously, but it didn’t.

I have learned my lesson, however. Now whenever I find relatives, or "people of interest" as I like to call them, I always take a careful look at the neighbors. I notice their names, ages, places of birth and occupations to see if there are clues or similarities to my family. Oftentimes I don’t always see anything meaningful, even when the neighbors later turn out to be relatives. But every once in a while, I come across a neighbor household that just fits. After looking further, I will discover a person who I had seen in a census, but because of the pervasive use of nicknames, or poor handwriting, was lost.

The Buddy System

Andrea — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 23:05:00 GMT

Everything is more fun when you can share the experience with someone else. Sharing lightens the load, makes for a good laugh and provides encouragement. But in genealogy, a "buddy" can be hard to find. Regular friends, even family members, may have a hard time sharing a genealogist’s enthusiasm. Not everyone can get excited over discovering a long-lost g-g-aunt in the 1880 census or finding a tombstone in an overgrown cemetery.

I’ve been extraordinarily lucky. My maternal grandmother was as interested as I was in our family history. A dear aunt also is interested, although not quite as driven as I am.

My longest term "buddy" however, is my cousin, Stephen. For over 25 years he and I have worked together: researching, discussing, excavating and, occasionally, arguing over our family tree hunt. We are different in many ways. We’re of different generations (and ages); our research styles are different; our temperaments, while complementary, are different. We’re also 1500 miles apart. But the differences actually turn to strengths and we make a really good team.

So it seems perfect that Stephen joins me in this blog. The blog will be much more fun for the both of us together. And hopefully, for readers, will give two different (but complementary) viewpoints.

And we just might stop boring our families!

Break Time

Andrea — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 22:51:00 GMT

Remember in the sitcom "Friends" how Ross would wail "we were on a break!" Well, that’s where I’ve been with this blog. I was on a break for a while. Lots of reasons: life; change in blog hosting requirements; sunspots. But I’m back now and determined to continue this blog.

Genealogy demands breaks, too. Whether a day, a month or even years, stepping back from the research helps in the long run. We can return with a fresh perspective to analyze old clues. Sometimes those old, tired clues suddenly make sense. And just the activity of refreshing the memory can trigger news ideas and avenues of research.

Taking a break--recess, if you will--also prevents burn out. It can be frustrating to repeatedly hit our head against those family brick walls. The whole process stops being fun. A break can get the juices flowing again and bring the enjoyment back into this unique hobby.

So don’t feel guilty if the time comes to take a break. Enjoy the other activities of life and know that the research, and alas, the brick walls, will be waiting for you when you’re ready to resume.

Are You a Hunter or a Gatherer?

Andrea — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 19:16:00 GMT

My title refers to the prehistoric groups of humans who were divided into categories based on their food selection. Hunters went out in search of prey, gatherers were those who gleaned food from the flora around them…eventually cultivating their own crops and, therefore, becoming farmers.

My thought in naming the blog in this matter takes a spin on these ancient practices. In genealogy, there are hunters and gatherers also, but of very different natures and results.

A Hunter is the fact finder. Like the hunter of ancient times, a genealogy hunter goes in search of the facts. She travels to where the “prey” is, whether it be a cemetery, courthouse or library. She can “clean out” an area—get all the information the repository has—and then be forced to move on to other locations, much like the hunters whose game has been hunted to the point it requires regeneration. This Hunter is a stickler for facts and finds great joy in the “chase” for the tidbits of information. The Hunter lives for the “Eureka!” moment, when the hunt has yielded a feast of data.

The Gatherer is a different creature altogether. He stays in one place—probably the Internet, and roams around to find as much as he can. He doesn’t care to much about references or logic—he really wants a quick find, no long hunts for him. These are the folks that find a GEDCOM or website that mentions a name in his family (whether it really is a family member or not is unimportant. Sure looks similar!) and swallows it into his own “research” without ever questioning its accuracy or its source.

This analogy came to me when, in one of my Internet hunts (yes, Hunters can hunt the Internet, as I will describe in a moment) and found references to my long-time brick wall, a great-great-great grandmother. I wrote the gentleman who had posted the references, as he had information I did not. I inquired as to his sources, as I was thrilled that someone had found something somewhere I had missed.

His reply? His sources were other peoples databases…including a cousin I had corresponded with several times. Turns out my g-g-g grandmother was not kin to him, just a in-law of some third great aunt. None of the databases had any sources, and, in fact, had some errors. So he had just cultivated a diseased crop—no facts, no references, but boy, did he have a bunch of people in the database!!

I was so sad. But I should have expected it. A brick wall is rarely broken down that easily.

However, here is where I think the Gatherers might be helpful to the Hunters. He did have one little piece of important information: the birth location of the aforementioned g-g-g grandmother’s husband (my g-g-g grandfather). An actual Tennessee county! I had known he was born in Tennessee, but never where. I certainly do not take that information as accurate, but it’s a clue. A starting place. A new hunting ground.

So Hunters can use the Gatherers information almost like bait, like you would use carrots or lettuce to catch a rabbit. The Gatherers collect the carrots and lettuce and the Hunters use it to trap prey, or rather secure the facts. So while using the Internet is certainly dangerous for fact finding, it can come up with some great bait!

So welcome Hunters and Gatherers. Let’s enjoy the discussion!