Anglo-Celtic Connections

Hot on the heels of the Archdeaconry of Rochester Parish Baptisms is this new collection of 468,500 area burials. These are transcriptions.
Although MyHeritage doesn’t mention where original parish records for the Archdeaconry of Rochester for baptisms, marriages and burials are held, they appear to be at the Medway Archives Centre.
These records are incorporated in Findmypast’s Kent Burials collection, including a few entries with original record images.
For those with a Legacy Family Tree Webinars subscription, a reminder of Helen V. Smith’s presentation and syllabus on Researching in Kent from May.

Whether you’re a casual enthusiast or a serious genealogist, tracing your ancestry and preserving your family’s legacy can be expensive. It doesn’t have to be. Here’s a short list of free and low-cost resources.

A Libray Card
Libraries have books (duh!) and much more. Invaluable free resources for accessing online databases likely include Ancestry, MyHeritage and digitized newspapers, mostly at a library branch. Most offer inter-library loans for obscure books and archival microfilm. Many libraries have knowledgeable staff who can provide guidance. Just ask.

Registration with FamilySearch.org
FamilySearch.org is a free, extensive genealogical resource to access a huge range of resources online from home, and even more online when at FamilySearch Centres and Affiliate Libraries. If you don’t use the Wiki, you’re missing out.

Membership in a “Local” Genealogical Society
Local can be where you live and/or local to areas of ancestral research. Access local knowledge and databases. Leave if the Society no longer meets your needs. No Society wants disgruntled members.

Genealogy software or a robust online family tree builder
There’s no lack of options. Family Tree Maker, RootsMagic, and the latest (free) Legacy Family Tree are the best known. Also free is Gramps. Build your tree online using facilities available from major companies such as Ancestry, Findmypast, and MyHeritage. Don’t overlook collaborative trees from FamilySearch and WikiTree.

Social media, blogs and online forums
Provide platforms for connecting with other researchers and seeking help with brick walls. They offer opportunities to share knowledge, collaborate on research, and stay updated on genealogical news and resources.

This updated database, now with 710,889 entries, contains papers associated with an application for “Freemen” status. The basic information in this database is:

Surname
Date of indenture
Parent or guardian’s name
County of residence
Master’s name.

There are expected OCR errors. Look at this abstract.

How could someone be admitted as a Freeman 15 years before birth? Check the certificate image.

It shows he was admitted in February 1887, having been born after his father was admitted in 1850.

Out of interest, I asked Claude Sonnet for a transcription of the document. The summary was spot on: “The document appears to be a certificate of admission to the Freedom of the City of London, dated 1887, for Herbert John Allcroft.” ChatGPT4o’s transcription also got the 1887 date correct. In both, there were a few (different) transcription errors.

Claire Santry has announced she will no longer be updating her Irish Genealogy News blog. It was my go to place for Ireland genealogy updates. Claire kept her ear to the ground. It was usually where I learned of new Irish resources.

Claire’s announcement on X, Twitter, was followed by posts thanking her for years of posts and wishing her well. I add my thanks and best wishes.

I’ll keep Irish Genealogy News on my blog role for the time being.

I use RootsMagic genealogy software, which has recently been updated to version 10.  An introductory offer I took advantage of is now extended through Sunday, July 14, 2024, at 11:59 PM Mountain Time.

You can purchase RootsMagic 10 at $20 US for existing users, and $29.95 US for new users. Use the discount code ROOTSMAGIC10 at https://www.rootsmagic.com/Store/RootsMagic/

 

Choose from selected free online events in the next five days. All times are ET except as noted. Assume registration in advance is required; check so you’re not disappointed. Find out about many more, mainly US events at Conference Keeper. 

Like me, perhaps you don’t match a Professional Genealogist’s academic qualifications and credentials  That doesn’t mean you can’t be a good, proficient amateur. Here’s a list of skills and abilities needed.

• Research skills: The ability to find, analyze, and interpret historical records and documents.
• Organizational skills: A method to keep track of findings, sources, and family connections (e.g., software, filing systems).
• Ability to access records: Subscriptions or connections to genealogical databases, archives, and libraries.
• Patience and persistence: Genealogy often involves solving puzzles and overcoming research obstacles.
• Critical thinking: The capacity to evaluate conflicting information and draw reasonable conclusions.
• DNA testing and analysis skills: The ability to use and interpret genetic genealogy tests.
• Networking skills: The ability to connect with other researchers, distant relatives, and local historians who might share information or collaborate on research.
• Knowledge of historical context: Understanding the social, economic, and political conditions of the time periods and locations being researched.
• Technological proficiency: Familiarity with digital tools, online databases, and software programs used in modern genealogical research.
• Writing and documentation skills: The ability to record findings, cite sources properly, and potentially write family histories or research reports.

Walking on water capability is not required!

How can you build those skills?

1. Attend presentations, conferences and webinars offered by companies, societies, archives and libraries.
2. Read books and magazines.
3. Subscribe to social media by searching for genealogy or family history.
4. Take advantage of Legacy Family Tree Webinars. Each new presentation is free for a week, after which it goes behind a paywall. There’s a library of high-quality past presentations and syllabus material. At $50US, it’s a bargain. Wait for a periodic sale to get 50% off.
5. Consider educational opportunities such as those offered by the University of Strathclyde, Pharos Tutors, or the International Institute of Genealogical Studies.

 

On 5 July, MyHeritage added 2,597,134 new records from their Canadian OldNews collection. Name, gender, residence, death date, death place, relatives mentioned and relationship, date published, newspaper, abbreviated text.
Beware of errors in the OCR. I found a Montreal death listed as buried in Georgia, even though the burial place named in the text was Sorel.

Miscellaneous items I found of interest during the week.

I love the gentle way British people completely change the country:

1. Have a cup of tea
2. Put on raincoat
3. Walk to a ramshackle area in a local hall and quietly pencil a cross into a box on a scrap of paper
4. Go back home and take off raincoat
5. Have another cup of tea (and a biscuit to reward yourself for doing something important) and wait.

via X

Don’t Think of an Elephant
How people think and vote. 120 page pdf.

Military Archives of Ireland – New Website

AI Genealogy Insights: Episode 5: From Global Classrooms to Game-Changing Tools

Thanks to this week’s contributors: Anonymous, Basil Adam, Brenda Turner, gail benjafield, Robert Halfyard, Teresa, Unknown

I am digging further into this unique collection made available by Ancestry from holdings at the Canadian Museum of Science and Technology and the Gjenvick-Gjønvik’s GG Archives.

The 213,190 records from 1955 to 1960 are the bulk and most detailed, mainly from westbound passenger lists. For ships leaving from the UK, they should duplicate the outgoing lists, also ending in 1960.

Some sources are printed passenger lists distributed onboard, which become less detailed, just names, in later years.

The remainder are from documents that survive, perhaps of historic interest, or relate to cruises.

Do you know of additional, perhaps printed lists that may have been kept as souvenirs?

Additions and updates this week are:

Women’s Land Army Service Cards, 1939-1950
This update has 36,438 records, images, and transcriptions. Adding records for those who have passed 100 years since birth brings the total to 133,365 records. Over 200,000 women served.

Expect to find in the transcription

First name
Surname(s) – maiden or married
Age on entry
Date of birth
Occupation prior to entry
County where enrolled
Date officially enrolled
WLA membership number
Address

Additional information to be found in the image may be

Reason for leaving (acceptable reasons included medical or compassionate grounds, marriage, pregnancy, transfer to another service, demobilization).
Date when officially leaving WLA (release).

Learn more about the work done by the WLA here.

Also released this week

Huguenot Society of Pennsylvania Application Papers (36,438 records).
New York Roman Catholic Parish Baptisms and Marriages (170,637 baptisms and 125,977 marriages).
Over 80 million newspaper pages.