Seafood platters, looking for UK cousins, talks & other news: My Genealogy Week 1-7 February 2022

I'm starting to fall behind and it is still early days in the year. Where did the last week go? Time flies indeed. Max and I celebrated meeting in Canberra 21 years ago. I seriously don't know where those years have gone. 

My son has recovered from Covid and managed not to give it to his pregnant wife. A relief for all and the birth of the first grandchild is now only about two months away. Not that I am counting. 

I am in the midst of my six monthly health checks and travelling to doctors and doing tests all takes time. After the session on Friday at the Sunshine Coast Hospital we called into Mooloolaba and the See Restaurant for a seafood platter and a couple of cocktails. 2022 will be my year of the seafood platter.

Blogs

I am just managing to keep up with the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks blog challenge. Week 5 was branching out and I decided to focus on my great grandfather Herbert William White and his siblings who all stayed in England. 

Using more modern genealogy resources helped me to identify who they married, any children and when they died. Although there are some gaps in the story as White is such a common name.

Diary is in tandem with the blog challenge so both are being written at the weekend when I have more time. Getting back to work has seriously dropped the number of hours decluttering, writing and researching.  

Bribie Genealogy

I was the first guest speaker for the year and it was all about FamilySearch and looking at all the different research strategies. You could easily spend days on their website. A small group then enjoyed lunch at Bribie Social at the RSL. I had the Juicy Lucy burger - turns out that has beetroot, bacon and egg plus the usual. Must have been the biggest burger I have seen ever. So shocked I forgot to take a photo.

Next month we have Judy Lofthouse talking about the 1921 UK Census which is on Findmypast.

Social Media

As I am weeding and tossing out my research files, books, binders etc, I have also started to look at social media. My target this week was Twitter and I had just over 1500 people I was following. 

When I checked their accounts many of them had not tweeted in years, even decades and some, sadly,  I knew had passed on. This shocked me to see their accounts still there. Obviously no one has closed the accounts down. 

I am now plodding through all the profiles and deleting any that have not posted within the last 12 months. As you can see I have already deleted nearly 500 accounts.

I also have to update my lists and include some of the more recent people I am in contact with in the Twittersphere.

I joined Twitter in September 2009 and I have never gone back and checked the accounts I was following. This has left me a bit depressed and it is another thing we have to remember to do - give someone your passwords and account names so that they can go in and turn them off. Or at least mark them closed if they want the account to be there forever. 

Will someone want to see my tweets in 50 years time? If I was doing a biography on someone then yes I might want to know what they were doing and posting about on Twitter. This topic is starting to broaden out into what should be archived!

Talks

Another invitation this week to do a presentation with MyHeritage in March. Getting back to basics using MyHeritage for research in Australia and New Zealand.

This morning I gave a talk to the Monash Library family history group on breaking down brick walls. The slides are on the Resources page of my website. They stay up for about six months.

A reminder that I am giving two talks at RootsTech Connect 2022 too in early March. Saw earlier today that they have 152,000 registered and it is not too late to join. And its free. So many sessions and speakers, somthing for everyone. 

All the events that I am speaking at are on the Events page of my website.

What's Coming Up?

A favourite photo of Dad with my son ca 1991

Two talks next week. 

Thursday sees me up at Noosa Library talking about where do you start which will be a refresher for the new year. I so much prefer in person talks. 

Finally at the end of the week on Saturday I am speaking at the Port Macquarie society meeting via Zoom. That will be about my search for Dad's biological father. 

A big week of talking!

On Wednesday I get the pleasure of listening to someone else speak at the Bribie Island Historical Society meeting. It will be good to see people again as the last time we all gathered was the Christmas party in December. 

Take care and stay safe. Happy genealogy finds too. Shauna

Blogs, Books, Talks & Other News: My Genealogy Week 24 -31 January 2022

The week has seen a major tidy up of my book shelves and a lot of the time it seemed to be just moving books from one room to another. But in the end I have a bag of books (mostly fiction) for the local secondhand bookstore and a few boxes of genealogy/local history books for one of the genealogy societies that I belong too. 

However, after taking my books to the local secondhand bookstore, I managed to come home with another six books for research purposes. Just a hopeless book addict!

I did get a few comments on Facebook about rehoming my books but you can only have so many books in one house. And at the end of the road, someone else will either toss them or call Vinnies or the Salvos. This way I can ensure the books that have an ongoing value will be rehomed with the right people. 

I had planned to do my laptops but they stayed in the too hard basket. Maybe next week.

Blogs

Still keeping up with the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks and Week 4 was Foundations and Curious as a suggestion. I chose Mary Anthony later Hosking as she died aged 93 years in the Penzance Workhouse in Cornwall. I was curious about life in a workhouse. Read about Mary here.

I also completed my guest blog post for the Genealogical Society of Queensland, four weeks early. Inspiration hit me while doing some research and I just wrote the post there and then. At least I don't have to worry about it in February. 

Books

I added more ebooks to Kindle on my IPad and noted that I know have quite a 'stack' there. I must start alternating between print and ebook. One that I definitely want to read is Nathan Dylan Goodwin's The Foundling which I seem to have forgotten that I purchased. Not sure how I managed that as I normally read his books the day I get them.

Currently reading Carol Baxter's Breaking the Bank which provides a good backdrop to Sydney in the late 1820s. 

Bribie Genealogy & U3A

Meetings start up next week for Bribie Genealogy and we have the year's speakers planned out. I will start off with a megalook at what you can do at FamilySearch. So many people only search the database and there is so much more that is not indexed and included in the historical records database. We are still meeting at the Bribie RSL which means that to attend people must be double vaxxed and be able to show evidence of that.

Bribie U3A has cancelled Term One due to Omicron on the Island. This means that the English Genealogy subject I was going to tutor is also cancelled. I'm still not sure what I will be doing in Term Two although getting to Sweden seems a bit remote at the moment.

Talks

Received another invitation to speak in February. This time it was the Cornish Association of Victoria and I haven't giving a talk there for over 12 years. However, I still have/use the lovely coffee mug they gave me last visit. My topic is the Cornish in Queensland and using my own Cornish mining families as examples. It will be nice to see some old faces as it will be via Zoom.

February is a busy talks month for me with six talks, three in person (Bribie, Caloundra and Noosa) and three via Zoom (Monash Library, Melbourne, Port Macquarie, New South Wales and the Cornish Association in Melbourne. 

Webinars

Watch out for free offerings of well known speakers. I accepted the free offer to Legacy Family Tree webinars on 29 January and had the opportunity to listen to Cyndi Ingle, Lisa Louise Cooke, Thomas MacEntee and Teri Flack. All topics to help you stay organised with your genealogy information. Everyone provided detailed handouts so that saved some note taking.

Keeping on top of my emails is a major problem for me and speakers gave various suggestions. It still comes down to time. I delete many unsolicted emails as well as spam that still manages to get through the filters. 

What's Coming Up?

Always check the Events page of my website for where I will be speaking, both in person and via Zoom. I am really looking forward to getting back into talks as I love meeting new people, seeing old friends and talking about genealogy to people. So much better than talking to myself in my study which is what happens when I have to prerecord talks. I really miss audience feedback during a talk.

Stay safe and well, until next week, Shauna

Tossing binders, Scottish conference & other news: My genealogy week 16 - 23 Jan 2022

The week has gone quickly and I have only left home for pilates, gym and to get milk and bread. Sadly still no toilet paper in the local store and I am still mystified with the connection between covid and the loo. We were going to do a trip to Brisbane to see my son's father but both he and his wife have covid. Then my son sent a text that he has covid from co workers in Sweden. Fortunately no one has really bad symptons as all are vaxxed.

Blogs

Keeping up with Amy Johnson Crow's 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks blog challenge. Week 3 was on a family photo and I don't have that many to choose from. I went with the marriage photo of my great grandmother Mary Finn and James Carnegie in 1906. 

I have her wedding ring and feel a connection to her although she died while I was very young. Read her story here.

Books

Part of my downsizing and decluttering is finding new homes for some of my many many books. What it also means is that I come across something that I have always wanted to read, or something I should read for the family history. Sometimes I think I just move books from one shelf to another, or from one bookcase to another. That of course upsets all my cataloguing in Library Thing which I should really update with new purchases. 

Bribie Genealogy

All our speakers are now organised for the year and it is a good mix of topics. The workshops still have to be organised but at least the monthly meetings are set. It will be good to see everyone again as our last meeting was at the beginning of December.

Conferences

A good part of last weekend was listening to the talks at the Scottish Indexes conference. I have now downloaded the handouts although not all speakers give a handout unfortunately. These conferences are free although you can make a donation to help the organisers keep them going. 

I am now setting aside tasks where I can watch a webinar and still achieve some activity such as sorting photos, going through folders and binders. That way I get something done while learning new things. There are usually free webinars offered by FamilySearch or Legacy Tree Webinars

Downsizing

So many smaller projects
inside this one cupboard

Last week I included a 2019 photo of the end shelves in the wardrobe. I have since tossed out 6 binders of different families and before anyone goes into total shock, I have the information in my genealogy software. I can print out the same information more or less (images still have to be added). 

The main difference is that with the binders you could sit there and turn the pages and see the family group sheets and information on each family. But those binders were heavy (each paper sheet in a plastic sleeve) and I don't think anyone has ever looked at any of them, except me. 

From the new photo of the shelves you can still see lots of family binders still to be despatched. They are now all in one place. There is a shelf for boxes of photos to be sorted and scanned. Smaller tasks for when I watch webinars. 

The only trouble with all in one place, it reminds me of how much I still have to do. 

Tossed binders 

Findmypast & the 1921 Census

I have been exploring the census and using my son's paternal ancestors to search on. Some I have found easily but have resisted the urge to pay for the image so far. Only $4.32 but I don't think it will tell me anything I don't know. 

There is another family who I know should be there but so far I haven't been able to identify them confidently enough to pay the additional charge for the image. 

No doubt after a certain time period the images will be available within Findmypast. If only digitisation wasn't such an expensive exercise. But I have to admit that the cost is less than a certificate.  

Comes back to your research plan and  what do you want to know!

Talks

All my February talks are done although I always like to do a last minute URL check. 

During February I will be speaking in Monash in Melbourne, Victoria, Port Macquarie in New South Wales, Noosaville and Caloundra in Queensland. The last two are in person but that may change due to any new covid restrictions. 

Check out the Events page on my website for my 2022 talks calendar. 

What's Coming Up?

The last week before I am out and about again will focus on organising my old IT equipment. 

I have a couple of old laptops that I take to the computer guy on the Island and he updates and rehomes them for those in need. Same with an old tablet. I even have Mum's mobile phone that needs to be disposed of responsibly. That will free up some space on the other work desk. 

Of course I need to check that I have removed everything I want from the hard drives.

I want to get in some more research on my son's paternal family. From Ancestry I can see that some lines go right back and others are a bit of a blank. There lies a challenge or two for me. 

Take care and stay safe if you can. Researching your family history helps when you need to take your mind off other things. 

Until next time, Shauna

More Downsizing, Blogging, New Resources & Other News: My Week in Genealogy 8-15 January 2022

With Omicron on our Island, we have stayed at home although we did venture out to Caboolture on the mainland for our booster. The good thing about not having fixed appointments to go to, means that once you have done the chores around the house, the rest of the day is free. So lots of photo sorting, writing and preparing talks for February. It will be the same next week but I will get back into my usual routine from 24 January 2022. 

At the end of the week I will take another photo to show my progress. Note the orginal photo below is November 2019 and there has been a lot of procrastination in this part of the wardrobe. But someone has to sort it, and it is preferable that I do the selection and preservation of photos that should be part of our family history.

Not a great photo but this is the
cupboard I'm working on. Four
shelves of photos, binders & memorabilia. 

Blogs

Week 2 of 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks was about an exciting find. Although it was 45 years ago now, I can still remember how excited I was to discover that Mum's maternal grandmother Dorcas Trevaskis had Cornish parents. It sounded quite exotic. Read my post on my GG grandmother Elizabeth Rosewarne and her two husbands, James Henry Trevaskis and George Guy both Cornishmen here. 

The Genealogical Society of Queensland has asked me again to be a guest blogger and that is due early February. They never give me a topic and I usually just sit here hoping for inspiration to strike me. Stay tuned!

Bribie Genealogy

Our proposed speakers have all been contacted and most have got back to us confirming dates and titles of presentations. It looks like an exciting and varied year for our members. Because I was so slow at getting the invites out, I will have to do the February meeting. It will be on Making the Most of FamilySearch which looks at more than just searching for a person's name. 

New Resources

Well this week I can't really go past the launch of the 1921 UK census on Findmypast. It will be really useful for tracing my son's paternal grandfather's side of the family. John was born Ivor Henry Andrews Speed in 1921, spent time as John Ivor Conroy and died as John Sackville West in 1993. He was a very interesting individual.

It is the one side of my son's family tree that I have not yet traced.  Now that I have a grandson on the way, I better get my skates on and find out about that side of the family. It's a complicated story with given and surname changes and may be one that I write up for the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks blog challenge. For the record, my daughter in law's family is a very long line of distinguished Dutch families. I think they even have a crest.

John was a passionate advocate for the
right to die with dignity. Photo Courier Mail 23 August 1989

At the end of the year, most of the subscription companies do a summary of what's new during the year. I always like to browse these as its impossible to remember what you see or it is possible you missed the notice during the year. Perusing Ancestry's list of what's new in 2021 had me diving into different record collections. For example, the South Australian Police Inquest Registers 1885 - 1953 was one that I was intrigued by. Not everyone who dies has an inquest, but if there is an inquest there is usually a lot of additional information on the deceased. These records are digitised and the witnesses have also been indexed. Your ancestor may have been a witness to someone's death. It all adds to the family story.

The big news from FamilySearch this week was the addition of the New Zealand electoral rolls 1865 -1957. 

Talks

All my February talks are now drafted and just need some fine tuning which is a big relief. See the Events page of my website for talks I am doing throughout 2022. 

I have even done Week 1 of my English Genealogy course at Bribie U3A. Hoping it doesn't get cancelled due to Omicron on the Island.

What's Coming Up?

Next week will be a quiet week with more downsizing, writing, scanning and tidying up the study. Once speaking engagements start and U3A and Bribie Genealogy gets underway my free time will drop off accordingly. 

Stay safe and well and try to do a little genealogy each week. Salami tactics, a slice at a time. I can definitely see more room in my study cupboards, but there is a way to go yet.Until next time, happy searching.

More searching tips, RootsTech 2022 & Other News: My Week in Genealogy 1-7 January 2022

The first week of 2022 has gone in a blur and the Christmas decorations are all packed away until December. I won't mention that there are hot cross buns in the shops but that is so wrong in my opinion. We should have time to savour each of the seasons and the special events in the year. 

Blogs

My Diary blog made the Top 100 genealogy blogs  - a number of other well known Aussie bloggers are also included so why not try and find some new bloggers to follow in 2022.

Hightville cemetery 2011, north west Queensland
where Thomas Price was buried in 1918

Read my Week 1 blog post on Thomas Price as part of 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks. Thomas Price was my great grandfather born in Wednesbury, Staffordshire and the father of 10 children. He was a miner and eventually settled in Charters Towers, Queensland. At the time of his death he was working for the Hampden Cloncurry copper mine.

Participating in a weekly blog challenge certainly keeps you on your toes. But I like the focus and motivation.

New Resources

1 January signals the release of more records in the public domain including Australian BDMs, archives and libraries. Time to update all your genealogy databases and follow the clues. 

Look for blogs from the archives about what is being released in the public domain. You may be surprised.

FamilySearch have a range of monthly free webinars with a variety of topics - check out January to March offerings here. Categories for the three months include General, using FamilySearch, United States and Canada. Often there are webinars for the British Isles and Asia too.

Newspapers

Do you use Findmypast for newspaper searches? Or do you use British Newspaper Archive? Which ever one you should use both if you can. I was looking for a marriage that took place in Ireland - Henry Andrews Speed a British sailor married an Irish girl Mary Jane Justice in 1852. I had no luck with Findmypast Irish newspapers. I tried the British Newspaper Archive as the groom was English and found numerous references to the wedding in various Irish newspapers in the BNA. 

People often ask me which subscription database should I join? The answer is all of them as they all have slightly different resources. However most of us can't afford that luxury.  A genealogy society membership might be useful as you can normally access subscription sites in their libraries or via home eresources. Or your local library may have Ancestry or Findmypast. See what is available locally and virtually.

The rule is - search everywhere!

Preserving Your Photographs

As a break from writing I am now sorting out all my photo shoe boxes. It is amazing what you forget you have in the back of the warddrobe. Granny died 25 years ago and that is probably the last time I look at her loose photos. I have dragged the two albums out since then but not all the loose photos I had in a shoebox. I was stunned to find so many younger photos of Dad which I can't remember seeing before. Out of sight out of mind or perhaps it is just old age catching me up.

Love Dad's hat

Dad always loved his motorbikes

Behind his father's black FJ Holden
- many a Sunday drive in it

  Not only do I have my grandmothers, but also my mothers and my own photos in shoeboxes. There is some overlap and they take up two shelves in my wardrobe. Going through and tossing those that are not family related or good enough for a final digital album takes an enormous amount of time. Each photo seems to generate its own memories.

More are kept than tossed but the next stage is to merge the three collections and dispose of duplicate photos. I need a bigger table! 

Then the process of scanning, naming and placing into the correct digital family albums will take even longer I suspect. This part is incredibly boring and I have started watching webinars while scanning. Although you have to be careful that you name and file as you go too and not mix things up.

Given the size of this project I think it will be interspersed with writing up those family history drafts. 

RootsTech Connect 

Amazingly it is not that long now to RootsTech 25-27 February 2022 which is again virtual. 

The organisers are starting to release the names of keynote speakers. No doubt the whole program will be fantastic.

It is free to register so if you want  to  be part of the world's biggest geneaevent, register now.

Searching Tips

This week I had to cross check when Lavinia Cleaves died - I had 1914 in Victoria and someone else had 1911. I knew my source was Victorian BDMs online so I tried to find it again. 

No Lavinia Cleaves or Cleves for 1911 or 1914. In the end I searched on Lavinia no surname and between 1910 and 1915. There were only 47 matches but it didn't take me long to find it under Cleanes! Have now made a note in my genealogy database in case I have to find it again. Don't you just love spelling variants.

What's Coming Up?

February is going to be a super busy month as I have a number of talks, both in person and virtual. See my website Events for details.

Plus I am doing a 9 week English genealogy term at Bribie U3A (omicron permitting). 

Bribie Genealogy starts up again in February and trying to plan speakers is tricky with speakers not wanting to travel here. So we are looking at the possibility of speakers zooming in.

Enjoy your genealogy searching this week. I will be having a dive into the 1921 England and Wales census. Hoping to progress my son's paternal line. As I write this there is a degree of uncertainty about omicron and any further restrictions. So stay safe and well everyone. 

Brickwalls tumble, smart searching & other news: My week in genealogy 25 -31 December 2021

 It has been a brilliant week for doing my family history and writing. With no family around there is an amazing amount of time. 

Although it would have been nice to have some family for Christmas but perhaps next year will be the White Christmas I have promised myself for the last three years. 

Back Ups

If you are looking for an easy New Year resolution, why not adopt the good practice of doing genealogy back ups on the first day of the month. That's easy to remember and you can set calendar reminders as well. Nothing worse than losing your genealogy database. 

Blogs

Jill Ball (aka GeniAus) issued her annual Accentuate the Positive Geneameme. You can read my response for 2021 here.

Amy Johnson Crow's 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks has come up very quickly. There are weekly themes which are broad enough to have an examply somewhere in the family tree. At first I thought I would do the ones I know most about. But then I am not really progressing my research or analysing why I can't find anything on someone. So more distant direct ancestors are the target if I can find one that fits the theme. One a week for the next year. 

Thomas Price
Mum's great grandfather

Week 1 is Foundations and my choice is Thomas Price from Wednesbury, Staffordshire. He (and his wife Elizabeth Pollard/Judge) were the foundation of Mum's Price family here in Australia.

DNA

Trying to connect all those DNA cousin matches is daunting. But when you think we have 8 great grandparents for 2nd cousin matches, 16 great great grandparents for 3rd cousin matches, 32 great great great grandparents for 4th cousins and 64 great great great great grandparents for 5th cousins. 

If each ancester was one of ten children (as most of mine seem to be, especially on Mum's side) then the numbers start to be enormous. For maximum benefit we should be trying to trace down all those lines to the present to connect up with DNA testers. 

I have done that on most of my mother's family lines as way back in the beginning (1977) I had the idea to trace all living descendants of my emigrant ancestors. The problem lies in the fact that I have not kept up with descendants since about 2000. So I am missing the modern generation. So a bit of back tracking is necessary but my DNA is not so confusing now. 

Also tracing Dad's biological family put a spanner in his cousin lines so I have spent quite a bit of time this week working on all the Cleaves descendants in Australia. I'm surprised at how many Cleaves families came out from Somersetshire, England and Wales. It has paid off as I have recognised some of the surnames in my matches. 

For those who might be looking at 6th cousins, that is 128 great great great great great grandparents!

Searching Tips

It is how you search that often changes the result from 'can't find' to success. 

I have previously tried to find William and Hannah Cleaves/Cleves in the 1841 census. They were in the 1851 census so it was more than likely a spelling variant that was the problem. 

This time I searched for Hannah (more uncommon than William) left the surname blank, searched in the county of Somersetshire and used Littleton as a keyword (the place where they lived).  The surname was indexed as Clears. How easy in hindsight. Looking at the snippet it is easy to see how hard the indexers job was. 

1841 census via The Genealogist

Writing Family Stories

This week was a marathon effort with the Spencer Family from Cosby, Leicestershire. The trouble is every time I show it to Max, he suggests adding something else. The never ending family history is true. Before I do a final 'nice' print job, I am going to send out ecopies or print copies spiral bound for the older generation and will seek feedback or photos. Then I will incorporate and finish. Who believes that?

What's Coming Up?

January is traditionally a quiet month with most societies closed. Given I have four talks in February I can imagine that time will be spent preparing those talks. 

Bribie with the Glass Houses in the background

Also I am doing a term on English Genealogy at Bribie U3A so that's nine classes to prepare. So far I have set up the Powerpoint template and mapped out what each week will cover. I also have a session on student brickwalls and one has already been submitted by an experienced researcher.  She has clearly defined what the issues are, what she has done and ends with 'help'.

Of course I also want to keep pushing on with the writing up my narrative family histories for each emigrant ancestor. Plus decluttering the remaining paper files and folders.

And then again there is my part time job, if I want to get paid and meet contract obligations. Minor detail.  

2022 hasn't even started and already I think I may have overcommitted myself yet again. But I always get to the end of the year and think, that was a wonderful year.

Have fun researching if you get the chance this coming week. 

Happy New Year for 2022 and let's all try and stay safe and well in this challening time. I hope to see you some time this coming year. 

Shauna

Family Memories, Holidays & Other News: My Week in Genealogy 14-21 December 2021

Learning to surf at
the Gold Coast early 1960s

This week my little brother spent three days with us. We talked a little about past family holidays and it is not surprising I think that he has some memories that I don't have and vice versa. We looked at family photos and remembered when they were taken and recalled fun times. 

Where have six decades gone? Without the images (which I have scanned) there is nothing to remind others of what we were like as children. 

Blogs 

Jill Ball's (aka @geniaus) annual Accentuate the Positive meme is coming up and I am a regular contributor. It is a chance to think over the year on all the advances in our family history research. We do much more than we ever think, although our families would possibly say we never get off the computer. 

Anyone can join in the fun. Just follow Jill's directions.

Books 

I have just purchased a series of ebooks - the Ela of Salisbury Mysteries by J G Lewis. Ela was a real person who lived 1187-1261 which makes it more interesting I think. My White ancestors were from Wiltshire just near Salisbury (although I haven't traced them back to 1200s which is when these books are set). I loved the Brother Cadfael series by Ellis Peters and others have given the Ela series a good review. More Christmas reading!

My brother is a fan of Jo Nesbo so he brought up some of his collection for me, also to read over Christmas. Almost hoping for a lockdown so I can just curl up and read through the holidays.

Conferences

I managed to upload my two sessions for RootsTech 2022 in time. Good that is out of the way.

James Carnegie 1906

Still working my way through sessions from The Genealogy Show Winter Event before access expires on 2 January 2022. Then the rest of the sessions from the Virtual Genealogy Association conference from November, expiring in March. If I can do both before the end of the year I will start 2022 fresh.

But not for long. The 15th free Scottish Genealogy Indexes conference is on 15 January 2022. I have registered as I enjoy the differenct aspects of Scottish research and I am determined to advance my Carnegie and Ferrier lines. They haven't really moved in decades.

New Resources

One of the reasons I take so long with my family history drafts is that I recheck the big subscription sites and find new resources. This week I had major discoveries in Findmypast crosschecking some Hampshire families. There are 342 Hampshire record sets - how do we ever finish anything. Needless to say I had a few fantastic hours following up these new records. 

For example, Pragnell is a relatively uncommon name but when I search for it in Findmypast in Hampshire, England there are 10, 265 results without surname variants. When I put in Robert with variants there are still 188 results. Using date or category filters helps to narrow that down but I am still really surprised at the number of Pragnell results. 

The family were from West Tytherley in Hampshire and the records go way back. I popped over to Ancestry just to see if anyone was doing the same tree and there was - they had taken the Robert Pragnell/Mary Olding line back to 1610 in West Tytherley and cited sources. A couple of generations further back than me so now I have to cross check their research with the parish records. 

We absolutely have to review our research and use all the major websites as so much gets added over time.

What's Coming Up

Some talk preparation as I have accepted quite a few talks in the first few months of 2022. See the Events page of my website for details. This was in anticipation of my trip to Sweden in May/June which I'm still wondering if I will get there. Omicron seems to be throwing its weight around in Europe at present so more wait and see before I book.

Writing Family Stories

It has been a hard slog but I have finished Max's Spencer Family History in time for Christmas. I can always add things later and even just this morning Max was pointing out new photos and information that he would like included. Minor amendments but once it goes to the printer in January for wider distribution to family members, all changes will be held over for a second edition. 

I am continuing with my draft family histories for my own family lines. I need to pick one and finish it instead of going between the four histories. 

I hope everyone has a lovely Christmas holiday with family and friends. This is my favourite photo of my son at Christmas, about 30 years ago!

My next Diary update will be just before New Year.

Stay safe and take care.

Shauna

Christmas Hampers, new genealogy resources & other news: My week in genealogy 6 - 13 December 2021

 What a fantastic week I have had. So many good things happening and not just that I have been visiting local markets and buying my first ever baby type things for my grandson's arrival in the New Year. Being practical I have bought bibs and face washers with Australian animals and birds on them. As my new darling will be in Sweden, chances are he is not going to see a kangaroo or kookaburra anytime soon.

My son showing me what I am missing!

However I am somewhat jealous as they are having the White Christmas that I have been trying to have for the last three years. Hopefully I will get there for 2024 Yule Time in Sweden.

Blogs

Having pledged to do this Diary every week (and struggling somewhat but then again it is that time of the year for parties), I have signed up to do 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks with Amy Johnson Crow. Why? At the end of the year I will have a short biography of 52 of my ancestors. A chance to focus on them as individuals not just within a family group. It may not be all direct ancestors as I have some fascinating siblings on family lines. Wish me luck. Two blogs a week, worthwhile if I can sustain the passion!

Bribie Genealogy

Our last Monday night for the year was good. After my demonstration of how I identified matches with different strategies we sat around talking. It is good to hear what others are doing and to help those who have questions. 

No more Bribie Genealogy now until February 2022. Sounds a long way away but 4 February will be here in no time with the festive season in between.

Books & Journals

My reading has mostly been online journals. All too often I download the journals from my genealogy society memberships with a promise to read it later. Have been binging on Genealogical Society of Queensland, Genealogy SA and Queensland Family History Society. This has been fantastic but my list of things to investigate only continues to grow. Not a bad thing as I am finding more on my families. 

Christmas Parties

This week I went to two - Bribie Island Historical Society where I won a bottle of wine in the raffle and at the Caloundra Family History Research party I won one of their Christmas hampers. For someone who seldom wins anything, it was a very big week.

Conferences

This week my webinar viewing includes talks from The Genealogy Show Winter Event and I am still watching some from the Virtual Genealogy Association conference back in November. I have discovered that some sessions I can watch and scan photos at the same time. Double bonus. It depends on how good the handout is whether I can watch and not take notes all the time.

RootsTech 2022 registration is now open and it is free.  Start planning to keep the dates free.

New Resources

The number of records added by the big subscription sites and FamilySearch continue to stagger me. For example, FamilySearch added 4 million new, free, English records for Berkshire, Lincolnshire, Middlesex, Northumberland and Wiltshire. Mum's grandfather Herbert William White was from Wiltshire so I will be checking the new records out. Plus there were collections added for various South American countries and USA states.

Herbert William White on left with his family

Ancestry keeps sending me new matches and family hints and that can change my day's plans. I particularly like the photo hints. This is where someone in the larger family tree puts up a photo of one of my ancestors siblings. 

I don't have many photos so even if it is just a great uncle or whatever I have an idea of what my person possibly looked like. I still live in hope that someone else out there does have photos of them but until then, I enjoy these match ups.

This week's example is Thomas Isaac Cleaves 1828-1908 - there is a fantastic photo of him on Ancestry and he is my 1st cousin 5x removed. Yes that is distant but we do have DNA matches.

What's Coming Up?

It is a bit hard to avoid Christmas and New Year but we will be having a quiet time again. With family interstate and overseas we are not risking sudden border closures. Luckily we have our own swimming pool and lush tropical gardens so we can pretend to be in a swish resort. At least until one of us has to get up and get the drinks or cook dinner.

Our local bird life keep us amused too

Writing Family Stories

Last week I wrote that I was finalising the Spencer Family History as a Christmas present. I haven't had as much time as I expected plus I started asking questions. 

For example, Max's aunt Veronica - all we knew about her was that she was born and died. There was no marriage and I wanted to know more about her.

 Purchasing the death certificate revealed that she died in Goodna Mental Hospital (formerly Woogaroo Asylum) in 1933 aged 32 years. From the cause of death it looks like she may have had epilepsy. 

Goodna has a closed access period of 100 years so I won't be able to access her file until 2034, only 12 years away. 

I don't know when she was admitted or why. The answer to those questions are hidden in the closed register of admissions. I suspect she didn't have a happy life but at least we know a little more about her than just a couple of dates.

The family history looks like being an epresent now but they can provide me with feedback and point out anything unclear. The main thing is that we continue to keep writing our family stories and sharing them with others. 

There should be one more Diary post before Christmas. Until then stay safe and well and try and find a little time for genealogy.

Shauna

More online geneafeasting, Gift ideas & Other news: My Week in Genealogy 29 Nov - 5 Dec 2021

Weeks are flying past or is it more that Christmas is fast approaching. I have been visiting the local markets for hand crafted gifts and to support local businesses. There are more tourists on the Island and more stalls to make the most of the holiday crowds. My other preoccupation is geneafeasting on so many good webinars and online conferences. I am a member of quite a few societies and there has been so much that I want to watch/listen to.

Bribie Genealogy 

Bribie RSL 

Our last Friday meeting of 2021 at the Bribie RSL was a big success with a number of us having lunch afterwards. We had our usual meeting bits and pieces and instead of a guest speaker, I gave them my Christmas genealogy quiz. Lots of fun and they can do some of the activities over December and January. Our next Friday meeting is in February which seems a long way off.

Our final Monday night meeting is this coming week and we are looking at different ways to approaching DNA matches. A useful and practical end to what has been a busy first year for our group.

Conferences

This weekend has been very busy with THE Genealogy Show Winter Event on Friday and Saturday. I gave a talk on Australian asylum records and we have 30 days to watch all the presentations we couldn't watch live over the weekend. 

On the Sunday I was registered for the Scottish Indexes Conference which I love and not just because it is free to register. Lots of good speakers and topics. Handouts are also available online.

RootsTech 2022 has accepted two sessions from me. I am busily trying to get them down to 20 minutes each. Then I have to record them and send them off before 17 December. Plus do a handout which is the  easiest way to give attendees the URLs.

Genealogy Society Memberships

Genealogical Society of Queensland's mission -
love the concept of enriching

In my introduction I mentioned all the exciting things I have been watching and that's mostly due to my memberships. These give me access to society resources online and thanks to covid, access to some subscription sites. 

While preparing for my talk for Bribie Genealogy I had occasion to visit my Genealogical Society of Queensland members only area. I will admit it has been a while, but I was surprised to see what is now on offer to members. Some subscription sites can only be accessed in person at the Society's research rooms. 

From home I can currently access MyHeritage, The Genealogist, Roots Ireland, Irish Ancestors by John Grenham and the Biographical Database of Australia. There are limited 'virtual seats' but it is possible to gain access and research. 

If you are not a member of a genealogy/family history society, membership is a perfect Christmas gift. Just let the gift giver know which society you would like to join. Then enjoy 2022 exploring what's online in your pyjamas. No selfies! 

My son - will his son look like this?

DNA

We have now had the Gender Reveal Zoom party and I will be a first time grandmother to a baby boy. 

Odd thinking that he will have 25% of my genes. 

I have upgraded by brother's Y DNA with FamilyTree DNA to 111 markers as I have had a few closer matches in recent weeks. Stay tuned.

What's Coming Up?

Apart from the last meeting of Bribie Genealogy I have no more talks for 2021. 

My calendar for 2022 is looking busy and I have agreed to do three terms of genealogy topics at Bribie U3A. Plus Bribie Genealogy will be back on a monthly basis from February. A trip to Sweden is still on the calendar, covid permitting this year. I really want that white Christmas I have been promising myself for the last two years. With the added attraction of a grandchild now, it may even be more than one trip. 

There are some interesting conferences coming up in 2022 which will be in person, covid permitting. Let's all hope that the world starts to return to  more or less normal again. 

Writing Family Stories

I am in the final check stages for the Joseph Spencer family of Cosby, Leicestershire family history that is going out as a Christmas present (via Express Post at this point). At least in a Word document we can add in extra bits and pieces, especially if family members ask us to provide more information.

Have another good week of genealogy research, if you get the time. I will probably just work on talks or written histories but you never know when a rabbit hole will appear.

Stay safe and well.

Shauna

Rootstech 2022, Winter Genealogy & More Newspapers in Trove: My Week in Genealogy 21 - 28 November 2021

 Wow there is so much happening at the moment I'm finding it hard to keep up with webinars and conferences. A weekend away at Tin Can Bay was good and took me away from the study desk.

ANZAncestryTime 

This is a Twitter event by @ANZAncestryTime held every Tuesday night at 6pm Brisbane time (just adjust the time to your time zone). Topics vary each week and attendees answer questions posed by the hosts for the night. It is a great way to pick up some new tips and resources. If you miss a night you can go back and see the night's summary done by @tasteach. Remember to use the hash tag #ANZAncestryTime so that eveyone else can see your responses. The hour goes very quickly.

Association of Professional Genealogists Australia & New Zealand Chapter

Hosted the last Zoom meeting of APG ANZ for 2021 where we discussed what it is like being a genealogy speaker downunder as compared to the US and the UK. 

The impact of Covid and the rise of Zoom has also changed the way society meetings and conferences are managed. 

I also have arranged for a members badge  based on our logo for in person events which will come back some day.

 Bribie Genealogy 

Time was spent on preparing for the December meeting on Friday 3 December where I will be conducting a Christmas genealogy quiz on family history basics. I have also drawn up a list of 31 things to do over the Christmas New Year break before we meet again in February. 

At our last Monday night meeting of the year on 6 December, David Barnes and myself are showing members different ways of identifying DNA matches. 

Conferences

Looking forward to THE Genealogy Show Winter Event this coming weekend 3-5 December. Talking on asylums in Australia and will be doing a live chat on Saturday morning. Not sure how that goes but the talk is prerecorded and loaded along with the handout. So I can just sit back and enjoy the weekend. We have 30 days to then watch all the presentations. It is not too late to buy a ticket.

The Scottish Indexes next conference is on 5 December and I have registered for that too. I love these conferences and get so much out of them. Plus they are free and watchable in our time. 

DNA Update

Totally surprised to see someone two steps away from my brother's Y DNA in Family Tree DNA during the week. It fits with my theory of Dad's father, although still all circumstantial bits of evidence. At least they are all pointing in the same direction.

I have been sent the first photograph of my grandchild due next year. Technology has come a long way since I had my son. His ultrasound was not all that recognisable whereas this image is amazing for the first trimester. 

The Zoom gender reveal party is on 4 December. They are in Sweden, her parents are in New Zealand and the Netherlands and we are in Australia. A multiglobal family. 

Reading

Going on holidays with someone who is a late riser is always difficult for me as I am an early riser. What can I do without making a noise before they wake up? Happy to say that I managed to catch up with my ejournals and emagazines. The latest issues of Who Do You Think You Are and Family Tree Magazine gave me lots of ideas to follow up. Do you know that you may be able to get them through the eresources of your local library? Worth a look and some libraries also have the print magazines for loan. 

SA Genealogy Nov 2021 journal, a couple of back issues of Generation from Genealogical Society of Queensland journals and ditto for the Queensland Family Historian from the Queensland Family History Society. Perhaps I need to get away more! 

RootsTech 2022

I'm excited to have been appointed a RootsTech 2022 influencer. This is the first time for me. 

Two of my speaking proposals were accepted and I have been busy reading forms and contracts. Also there are specific instructions for recording so I will have to practice with the unfamiliar technology. 

Registrations have now opened and you can sign up now for free.

This reminds me that there are still a few talks from last year on my must watch list. 

Writing My Family Histories

The focus this week was on Max's Spencer family as he wants to give it as a Christmas present for his son. I had a draft to start with and this week's just been filling out different sections and making it more clear who is who in the tree. There is a strong military presence so I am adding an appendix of those who served in the various wars both in the UK and Australia. Learning quite a bit about British military records which will be useful.

What's Coming Up?

After this weekend there are no more talks or meetings until the New Year. This will give me even more time to work on those family history drafts. It would be really good to start 2022 with a few of them printed and spiral bound. From there I could PDF and place them on my website. 

I'm going to miss online conferences but there is still plenty of presentations to watch on Legacy Family Tree Webinars and lots of genealogy tutorials on You Tube. 

The following week I will be attending the Caloundra Family History Research Christmas party which is always good fun. 

What's New

Trove enews in November was all about Western Australia. It is free to subscribe and a quick way to find out what's new in Trove. Check out all the new newspaper titles coming and thanks to the various partners who are making it happen. The WA and SA newspapers are of most interest to me. 

          Western Australia

• The amateur sports gazette (1934-1935) [State Library of Western Australia]
• Daily News (1951-1955) [State Library of Western Australia]
• Dalgety's review: a weekly record of pastoral, agricultural, commercial and general information (1926-1948) [State Library of Western Australia]
• Freelance (1924-1925) [State Library of Western Australia]
• Perth Daily Telegraph (1922) [State Library of Western Australia]
• Sports News (1953) [State Library of Western Australia]
• Social wealth: an exposition of the natural laws governing the production and distribution of wealth (1934) [State Library of Western Australia]
• The Sruss-Sruss (1931-1932) [State Library of Western Australia]
• The standard: a church paper for the Diocese of Perth, W.A (1882-1886) [State Library of Western Australia]
• Suburban Life (1939) [State Library of Western Australia]
• Victoria Park News (1949-1950) [State Library of Western Australia]
• W.A. shipping and commercial news: pastoral, agricultural and mining gazette (1922-1923) [State Library of Western Australia]

• South Australia
• Daylight (1919 - 1928) [Brian Samuels / State Library of South Australia]
• The Western Mail (1928 - 1930) [Brian Samuels / State Library of South Australia]
• The Adelaide Examiner (1841 - 1843) [Brian Samuels / State Library of South Australia]
• The Prospecter (1978 - 1984) [Prospect South Australia History Group]
• Northern District Times (21 Oct 1937-17 Feb 1938) [State Library of South Australia with Prospect Local History Group]
• Northern Districts Courier (Aug 1925-Dec 1927) [State Library of South Australia with Prospect Local History Group]

• Queensland
• Catholic Advocate (1911 - 1919; 1923 - 1934; 1936 - 1938) [State Library Queensland]

• Victoria
• Richmond Guardian (Vic. : 1885; 1904 - 1922)
• Albury Banner and Wodonga Express (1860-1872) [Albury Library & Albury Wodonga Historical Society]
• Bacchus Marsh Express (1866 - 1943) [Bacchus Marsh and District Historical Society]
• Great Southern Advocate (1889 - 1906, 1914 - 1919, 1921 - 1940) [Korumburra & District Historical Society]
• Elmore Standard (1882 - 1911) [Bendigo Regional Genealogical Society]
• Ferntree Gully News and Mountain District Free Press (1954); [Eastern Regional Libraries & Dandenong Ranges Historical Society]

• New South Wales
• Inverell Times (1899 - 1907, 1909 - 1954) [Inverell Shire Public Library]
• Albury Banner and Wodonga Express (1860-1872) [Albury Library & Albury Wodonga Historical Society]

Enjoy your genealogy week and stay safe and well. 

Shauna

Exciting Progress, online events & what's coming up: My Week in Genealogy 13-20 Nov 2021

This is the first week of my new weekly genealogy progress diary. Yes I am doing my own genealogy. And I am having lots of fun and learning heaps. 

Honour Roll Peachester 

Events in Person

This is certainly something I have missed over the last two years. Yesterday I attended the History Queensland meeting at Peachester. Niles Elvery from Queensland State Archives did a talk on Peachester school which was a good summary of education records in general. 

Each of the member society present gave a quick catch up of their activities over the last six months. We had a wonderful morning tea, lunch and tour of the Peachester Heritage Centre. And we could catch up with people we hadn't seen except via Zoom for ages. It was really good.

Online conferences

Last weekend I spoke at the Virtual Genealogy Association annual conference. I didn't watch any live sessions due to the time difference. I also registed for the FHS Really Useful Family History Show and again because of time differences, I opted to watch after. Therefore this week I have steadily been making my way through the FHS webinars and classes as the link expires this week. Sometimes it is hard to watch everything before links expire. The VGA has given us until March which is not so hectic. 

One of the good things about webinars is that you can pause and then on a different screen call up a website and do some searches or whatever to follow up on what the speaker is saying. Of course, this makes for longer viewing but can be worthwhile when you discover new things. The FHS only cost me $20AU and that is excellent value when there were more than 20 speakers/talks on a range of topics.  So much to learn or is that remember?

My last talk for the year is on asylum records in Australia at THE Genealogy Show Winter Event 3-4 December 2021. 

Writing My Family Histories

With my new dedicated focus, I now have Cornish, Scots and Irish draft family histories drafted with images, citations and list of contents and illustrations. The indexing will happen after I am satisfied with the text. 

Mum's Price and White families are almost complete and I spend a lot of time trying to find my great grandfathers Thomas Price and Herbert William White nieces and nephews in the 1939 Register. 

Finding people can be an issue when handwriting is faint, poor or both. Robert James White was finally located under Robert F White - and I won't tell you how many Robert Whites were in Wiltshire in 1939!

The concentrated writing has made me realise that I have more on some lines and less on other family lines. This of course has led to more research to balance up each family history as I want them to be of interest to anyone descended from the same immigrant couple. 

U3A

One reason I am making some good writing progress is that I am not tutoring at U3A this term. However, with the goal to have all my family histories done by the new year, what will I do next year? So I have agreed to go back to tutoring and will do Advanced English genealogy in Term 1, Advanced Scottish genealogy in Term 3 and Advanced Australian genealogy in Term 4. That should be fun and keep me busy and learning new things at the same time.

Overseas Tripping

I can hear some of you saying 'what about Term 2'? My son lives in Sweden and I will finally be a grandmother in early 2022. The plan is to visit them and also do some tripping around England, Ireland or Scotland depending on how Covid shapes up in 2022. It is hard to plan now with all the uncertainty around this Fourth Wave in Europe but I will map out some travel plans with different scenarios and then see how 2022 unfolds. 

Talks

There have been lots of invitations to speak next year and so far there are all in the first few months as my travel plans are so uncertain. Some in person, some hybrid and some simply Zoom. At least Covid has changed how we interact online and given us so many more options to hear speakers without expensive or time consuming travel. Check out the Events page of my website for dates and places and remember I update as invitations come in.

Big events include two talks for RootsTech 2022, the AFFHO Congress on Norfolk Island, and two presentations for Legacy Family Tree Webinars. All very exciting plus talks to some of my favourite societies in Australia.

Thomas Price

What's New in My Family History

There is so much new I don't know where to begin. What I have noticed that revisiting some websites to check sources for my written histories, I have found new information and photographs that weren't there the last time. So  review and revisit. 

The most exciting find was the burial of my 8 times great grandmother Agnes Leach in Scotland. She was indexed under her maiden name of Mitchell and not her married name although she was described as the widow of Alexander Leach. In 1779 in Maryton, Angus, Scotland. Amazing. One of the places on my 2022 trip wish list.

The most frustrating is tracing my Price family. My great grandfather Thomas Price was the grandson of Henry Price, a coal miner who died in a mining accident in 1840. Just before the census. Henry's wife Elizabeth Peploe died before the 1851 census so I don't know where she was from either. They had nine children and trying to find common names in Staffordshire is not easy.

DNA Update

Just this week someone has turned up matching my brother's Y DNA and just 2 steps away and living in Scotland. That is a close match and the paternal country of origin is Scotland. One of the surnames the person is researching is similar to an American DNA match which is 4 steps away. Both surnames are similar to the surname I suspect is Dad's father's name. Getting closer I feel but definitely not straight forward. 

Takeaway tips

Don't give up 

Keep searching - new resources all the time

Register for overseas conferences - great value - some may even be free

Remember Australian online events may also be free or cheap

Review and revisit your research - maybe declutter

Write those family stories now - dedicate time