St Patrick’s Day Research Seminar Reprise

Posted on March 21, 2021 by Lynn Broderick @thesingleleaf

May your blessings outnumber

The Shamrocks that grow.

And may trouble avoid you

Wherever you go.🍀

On Wednesday, March 17th, the Family History Library hosted a free all-day seminar focused on Irish family history. Although I had other leprechauns to catch that day, I logged in at the top o’ the morning to find a pot of gold for someone beginning Irish research. The good news is that the recordings from these sessions are available for a limited time on the Family History Library Facebook page.

The day began with a keynote presentation by David E. Rencher, CGO+ who serves as the Family History Library’s director. His session was titled, “Three things I wish I’d known when I started my Irish research!”

Spoiler Alert! Here are the three things he wished he had known:

First, the Irish enjoy the stability of surnames. Finding clusters of surnames can help a researcher focus on a specific geographic region of Ireland. If the researcher has the surnames of husband and wife to cross reference, it can leverage the power of intersection to narrow the search even more. Rencher used an example of two surnames he knew of a married couple who had children in Ireland. By using the geographic clues, he was able to narrow the search so that he found the family in the third parish. A great time saver! To be honest, it might not help with Murphys or Kellys, but check out John Grenham’s website. Enter an Irish surname and a distribution map will appear along with other information including variant spellings. This website offers a limited free surname search as well as subscription features, so check it out!

Second, early in his career Rencher was influenced by co-workers when they told him “[a]ll the records in Ireland were destroyed.” This is one of the myths in genealogy. It is true that the Public Record Office experienced a fire in 1922 that destroyed many records that would aid genealogical research, but there are records that help compensate for this record loss.

So, what were the key record losses?

The 1821-1851 Irish Censuses (a few fragments for some counties survive). In 1821 Ireland began to enumerate every person in the household and took note of who had died. It is a significant loss!
Two-thirds of the parish registers of the Church of Ireland
Original wills and administrations dating to the 1500s (fragments and copies did survive)
Court records prior to 1900

But, there was a massive effort to recover lost information so there are potential substitutes. Rencher briefly discussed the work of antiquarians and genealogists who made abstracts and transcriptions from the records housed in the Public Record Office before that fateful date. These files are listed on Family Search wiki, “Irish Genealogical Collections by County,” by the name of the collection (antiquarian), its repository(ies), whether or not the collection is found at the Family History Library, and the associated diocese(s).🍀

Finally, Rencher wished that he had paid attention to friends, associates, and neighbors, commonly referred to in genealogy as the FAN club. He admonished listeners to note the factors that brought their people to America. If they landed in New York and head to Kansas, there was a reason. He recommended that a researcher note all those who served as witnesses, godparents, etc, and the localities from which they came. The social circle might just hold the clue needed to advance the research.

Other sessions currently available on the Family History Library Facebook page are:

Once again, these presentations are available for a limited time. Although St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated one day each year, ancestors can be found all year long!

Good Luck!!! 🍀

Who’s Going to Win Your Family History Bowl?

Posted on February 6, 2021 by Lynn Broderick @thesingleleaf

I probably take the analogy of football to genealogy too far, but sometimes you just have to interject the game to break up the monotony. If not football, something else. Say “genealogy” or “family history” and watch eyes roll. Then again, say “football” and you might just witness the same response.

But, over the years I have found that the best researchers are those who can think outside the box, call audibles, and scramble to avoid being sacked. Their approach is rarely replicated, each bringing their own to the game. Don’t get me wrong. There are standards and skills that make the game what it is, but each researcher has a style of his or her own. Like on the field, a successful player in the field of genealogy and family history is true to themselves, plays by the rules, and has an impeccable work ethic.

For the first time in NFL history the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will host the Kansas City Chiefs for Super Bowl LV at their own stadium. Talk about home field advantage! With one exception—the world is still in the midst of a pandemic so there will be limited fans in the stadium. Win or lose, tomorrow it’s over, only for 32 teams to get ready for another season this coming Fall and to once again compete to arrive at the Super Bowl—Groundhog Day, NFL style!

This brings me to the 31-32[1] key individuals in your first five generations. Are there any that are the focus of your Family History Bowl? Is there some family history project you’d like to complete in the coming days, months, or year? If there is anything I’ve learned, it’s that a person can become overwhelmed when they take on too much at any given time. Imagine a quarterback attempting to sling a Hail Mary for every. single. play. It would just be too much and the defense would kill them!

One key to success in football and genealogy is pacing. In genealogy, similar to a team making a first down and maintaining possession until making that touchdown, a researcher must do the same. Each touchdown is another score that wins that Family History Bowl.

So, what is a first down play?

It depends on your genealogical journey. Some members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will tell you that their genealogy is researched back to Adam or as far as records will take them. I’m not sure how true it is or if the claims have been verified. Some lineages have been verified. Some have not. FamilySearch had a Medieval Families Unit that focused on pre-1500 A.D. lineages. It closed in 1996. There are plans to rework the data but these plans are projected to be accomplished in the distant future. Latter-day Saints with this dilemma, i.e., the research is finished, have been counseled to know their lineage and learn their ancestors’s stories. The rest of us have work to do in this arena. [And, those with *completed* lineages can focus on other aspects of *the work*, such as assist the poor, the needy, the sick, and the afflicted.]

If you have not collected what you know and know what has been verified, this is the place to start. Once you update what you know, my general advice is to make SMART goals: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.

Genealogy and family history goals typically begin with anchoring an ancestor to three dates and places—birth, marriage, and death—a tripod. Call this “core” information. In sports, the conditioned core of an athlete serves as a base to prevent injury among other benefits. In genealogy, the core serves to prevent errors always building on the last verified fact working back in time.

So, what would be a S-M-A-R-T goal? Here’s an example of a genealogy first-down:

Diana Fink was born on 8 January 1895 in St. Louis, Missouri. Who were Diana’s parents?

This first down question can be answered by going to the Missouri Digital Heritage website.[2]

We learn from this abstract that Diana’s parents were Louis and Amelia Fink and that both parents were born in St. Louis. We also learn Diana’s middle name, Adell, and that she was born at 2926 Montgomery St. with the certificate returned by Mrs. Bollhagen.

Remember—this is just an abstract. The reference to the original is given at the top of the page. I also glanced through the list of Fink candidates and recognized that Louis and Amelia Fink also had a son, Louis, on 15 March 1900 in St. Louis and this should be noted.

It is always recommended to trace back to the record closest to the original, with preference for the original, so you would want to request an actual copy of Diana’s birth certificate as well as a copy of Louis’s birth certificate. One record might contain additional information or more information than the other.

Does this meet the criteria of a SMART goal?

S—Specific—yes, Who were Diana’s parents?

M—Measurable—yes, acquired names of her parents from birth index: Louis and Amelia Fink. [I would send for copy of the original. It should also be noted that only DNA testing can confirm the biological relationship.]

A—Achievable—yes, thanks to the Missouri Digital Heritage website and access to a copy of the original

R—Relevant—yes, for family history

T—Time-bound—yes, in this case, it took me less than a couple of minutes, but, then again, games have been won in 8 seconds

As you can see, this search would qualify as a first down. There are other records you’d want to search to consider it “reasonably exhaustive” research and from which you might glean additional information. This handy chart can coach you on what records to seek to answer your specific research questions.

So, who’s going to win your Family History Bowl? You are!

Cheering you on from the bleachers!

If you have any questions, contact me.

Note:

[1] Thirty-one, if you’re single; thirty-two, if married

[2] Use your favorite search engine or the FamilySearch Wiki to learn what records are available in your particular area of research.

It’s the NFL’s Wild Card Weekend

Posted on January 3, 2015 by Lynn Broderick @thesingleleaf

Warning: Participating in genealogy and family history football while watching an NFL game with your significant other may cause side effects including distraction, interference with relational bonding, and failure to fully enjoy chips, salsa, and guacamole. Research responsibly.

It’s the NFL’s Wild Card Weekend! Now that the playing field has been narrowed to twelve, the winner of the Lombardi trophy will soon be determined on the field. Although some teams are required to play more on their way to the Super Bowl, it’s anyone’s game. Since there is no NFL team in the land of genealogy and family history, the following of the locals here can change as fast as the wind. It’s a house divided. But in football, there is no place like home!

So, are you up for your game this Wild Card weekend? Do you have your goal defined for each of the games you will play? Have you narrowed the field so that you are prepared to finish the season on February 1, 2014? Each play moves you closer to a genealogical touchdown, to winning the game, and ultimately achieving the Lombardi trophy of your Family History Bowl.

Have you looked for information on your pivotal person and it’s just not where you hoped it would be? Is the record set impossible to access in the time frame of this season? Does the most obvious record set not exist? Check out this page on the FamilySearch wiki. Go to the bottom of the page to “Selecting Record Types.” There you will find a listing of objectives and a priority list of records to search. If you cannot find that record set online, check the FamilySearch catalog for available microfilm, then visit the Family History Library or order microfilm to view at your local Family History Center. If you need assistance contact me. I would be happy to provide coaching advice or execute a play or more on your behalf.

To the NFL players and coaches this season, the genealogist who struggles to find time to play the game, to our ancestors whose lives were rarely blessed more than ours, I close with a quote known as The Man in the Arena[1]:

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”

Cheering you on in your game to win your Family History Bowl!

1.Roosevelt, Theodore. “Citizenship In A Republic.” Delivered at the Sorbonne, in Paris, France on April 23, 1910. Accessed January 4, 2014. http://www.theodore-roosevelt.com/trsorbonnespeech.html. [For a copy of the complete speech in PDF format click here.]

There’s More Than Just a Number on a Jersey

Posted on January 12, 2014 by Lynn Broderick @thesingleleaf

Team colors. Team uniforms. Teamwork. This is what we witnessed during Wild Card Weekend. Thanks to all the players and coaches! Winning is a time for celebration; losing is never easy.

It’s the NFL Divisional Playoffs this weekend and I’m interested in names, particularly family names, also known as surnames, the ones the guys wear on the back of their jerseys. Surnames can provide additional facts and clues about your family and their story.

Ancestry.com has a great database available to search for information about a surname’s meaning and origin. The database information is from the Dictionary of American Family Names. Additional demographic information is provided for the United States, England and Wales, and Scotland. There are charts and links that provide information on immigration, average life expectancy, occupations, and civil war records.

The FamilySearch wiki has a list of surname database links that provide information from many countries. If you do not see the country related to your surname interest on the list, use your search engine of choice. If you find a helpful site, contribute that information to the FamilySearch wiki. Other genealogists and family historians will thank you!

Are Genealogy and Family History Your Game This Season?

Posted on September 1, 2013 by Lynn Broderick @thesingleleaf

I wrote about the genealogy touchdown back in February.1 Although it was my way of well-wishing genealogists and family historians in their work on Super Bowl Sunday, the game of football can help create a winning strategy in the pursuit of your family tree goals.

One person every team needs is a good coach. I remember when I was a little girl the undefeated season of the Miami Dolphins. Yes, that was my team and I have a childhood photo to prove it :-) Coach Don Shula once said, “I think what coaching is all about is taking players and analyzing [their] ability, put[ting] them in a position where they can excel within the framework of the team winning…”2

If you have the desire and motivation this is your opportunity. You can be the coach of your own team. As one committed to helping others grow their family trees, I provide the following questions for you to consider as the football season begins:

How do you define your Family History Bowl this season?

Like the NFL, the goal is to win the Bowl game. Although we may want to know everything about our lineage back to Adam, each season brings a different challenge. Decide on the individual that will be the pivotal player of your project. This individual’s story becomes your game. When you choose someone to focus on, realize that the outgrowth of your pursuit will encompass family, community, and social history. This pivotal player will help you determine if what you find is relevant to the game you are currently playing. The focus on this pivotal person will help you set parameters on your pursuit so that progress can be made with little distraction. Finding an in-law, or outlaw, may be interesting, but if it doesn’t take you to your Bowl game it must be put aside for another season. Note your interest, but then get back in the game. Remember, if you were playing the Super Bowl Champions today, you would not concern yourself with any other team but them. FOCUS on the goal; this is how a game is won :-)

What’s your game plan?

Every genealogist needs a plan that provides direction in their research. A great place to begin once you have determined that pivotal person is the FamilySearch wiki and the RootsWeb.com wiki. These resources can provide direction at no cost to you. Search for the known or suspected locality of that pivotal person on these sites to find what record sets are available that might help answer your questions. Then, of course, use websites, including the FamilySearch Catalog, and on-site research facilities to identify holdings and locate specific record sets. By the way, one overlooked resource is individuals who might have known your pivotal person so interview as many of them as possible. Once you know what your game plan is it’s time to make another decision…

Who’s on your team?

In football the offense has 11 players, and the defense has an equal number. Then there are special teams. You may not be able to recruit these numbers to your team, but recruit. The actual number of team players is dependent on the individual project. Teamwork is your key to success :-)

Your offense will consist of those that actually assist in obtaining the genealogy touchdowns. These individuals will be other family members, if you are fortunate, and friends of a like-mind. I would recommend that you become the quarterback; the team will need your vision and leadership :-) For those with children and/or grandchildren, involve them in tasks that engage them. Most children will have an interest in some aspect of this work if it’s presented to them in an appealing way. It’s amazing how genealogical tasks can become enjoyable. It’s not always the task at hand but who you’re with that can make the difference, especially for children.

Now the defense is critical. There are so many competing interests and distractions in life that one may believe that there is no time for this game. Your defense must be carefully considered. It always helps to have the support of family and friends. Remember, your best defense is a good offense. Determine what you will do and stay with the plan, unless of course it’s a true emergency :-)

Finally, you must identify who’s on special teams. These are the reference librarians, archivists, and others who can direct you when necessary. Make a list of the libraries, archives, genealogical and historical societies that are specialists in your area of interest. Those at a Family History Center near you may also be able to assist you.

What’s your schedule?

Now that you’ve defined your Bowl game, determined your game plan, and identified your team, it’s time to set the schedule to play the game. Decide when you can play and stick to it. Once a week is a good strategy in the lives of people who are busy with other commitments. Two to three hours on a Sunday evening may be just the activity you need, but the schedule is yours to decide. I’ve seen meaningful success in 15 minutes. Although there have been a few games forfeited over the years, your game is worth playing so stick with it!

We are in this to win!

I’m looking forward to a winning season; I hope you are, too! Unlike winning the NFL Super Bowl, each team in the field of genealogy and family history can win the big one. I look forward to your genealogical success! I am here all season to answer your questions; contact me :-) I would love to hear from you!

1. Definition: A genealogy touchdown is when you have used sound principles to gather enough information and evidence to accurately identify an individual and his or her place in the world. A genealogy touchdown is the answer to your research question. Depending on your game, a genealogy touchdown is when you have used sound principles to gather enough information and evidence to reconstruct a family, a neighborhood and/or events that tell a story of a people. A genealogy touchdown is a sense of accomplishment amidst the game, knowing the game is not over yet. A genealogy touchdown inspires an end zone celebration :-)

2. Don Shula. BrainyQuote.com, Xplore Inc, 2013. http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/d/don_shula.html, accessed August 31, 2013.

The Single Leaf

Researching individuals of the past in the context of family, community, and social history for the generations

Tag Archives: FamilySearch wiki