RootsWeb Review: RootsWeb's Weekly E-zine 1 September 2004, Vol. 7, No. 35, Circulation: 830,131+ (c) 1998-2004 RootsWeb.com, Inc. http://www.rootsweb.com/ * * * Editor: Myra Vanderpool Gormley, Certified Genealogist Editor-RWR@rootsweb.com Certification: http://www.bcgcertification.org/certification/ Search and share family trees: WorldConnect: http://wc.rootsweb.com/ Learn how to find your ancestors: http://rwguide.rootsweb.com/ Post and read messages on all relevant surname, locality, and topic Message Boards and Mailing Lists: Message Boards: http://boards.rootsweb.com/ Mailing Lists: http://lists.rootsweb.com/ =============================================================== IN THIS ISSUE: 1. NEWS AND NOTES 1a. "Keeping Mailing List Subscription Addresses Current" 1b. Editor's Desk: RootsWeb Does Texas; Need a DAR Lookup? 1c. Tips from Readers: "Smashing Brick Walls" 2. Connecting Through RootsWeb: "Hooray for Helping Others" 3. New RootsWeb Mailing Lists 4. New Webpages at RootsWeb 5. New/Updated FreePages and HomePages 6. New User-contributed Databases 7. RootsWeb Review's Bottomless Mailbag: "Coping with Imperfect Ancestors" "Obtaining Permission Before You Click-Click" "Peering into the Past" "Last of the Line" "Recording for Posterity" "Walking with Ghosts" "Finding U.S. Toll Bridge Ledgers" 8. Humor/Humour: "A Seasonal Affair; A Mistaken Identity" 9. Submissions, Subscriptions, Advertising, Reprints =============================================================== 1. NEWS AND NOTES 1a. Keeping Mailing List Subscription Addresses Current Remember waaaaay back when you first started tracing your LONGANECKER family history online? Remember you subscribed to all of the relevant surname, locality, and topical mailing lists you could find by exploring the RootsWeb mailing list index: http://lists.rootsweb.com/ If you have been subscribed to your lists for a long time, it is likely your e-mail address has changed. Maybe you moved to a different ISP (Internet Service Provider), switched to DSL or cable modem, or perhaps your address has been altered in some way by your ISP. Often an ISP changes how e-mail addresses are displayed in the from field of outgoing mail -- sometimes it only makes a minor change, such as adding the word "mail" or "e-mail." As long as you haven't tried to actually post a message to the lists, and as long as your ISP continues to forward or process your incoming mail and deliver it to you, you probably haven't given much thought to this issue. However, it can be problem in the making. For example, if you originally were joe@anyisp.com and your mail now is sent out as joe@email.anyisp.com; or your old compuserve.com address is now cs.com; or your worldnet.att.net address has been shortened to att.net; or your attbi.com address has changed to comcast.net; you need to update your subscribed address on all of your mailing lists. Why? Because at some point your ISP will stop delivering the old mail to you or you will want to post a message to a list or unsubscribe. Either of the latter situations requires that the from address on your e-mail agrees exactly (letter for letter) with the address as subscribed to the mailing list. That means if you are subscribed as joe@anyisp.com and you can now only send mail as joe@email.anyisp.com you should update your subscriptions to reflect your exact current address. To accomplish this, send a new e-mail (not a reply) from your new/current address to LISTNAME-L-request@rootsweb.com to subscribe in list mode or LISTNAME-D-request@rootsweb.com, if you wish to subscribe in Digest mode, with the word SUBSCRIBE in the subject and message body. Replace the generic word LISTNAME with the actual name of the mailing list -- SMITH-L-request@rootsweb.com -- for instance. This will get you subscribed at your current and correct address. Remove the old e-mail address that is still forwarding to you or you will receive duplicate list mail. To unsubscribe an old address from which you no longer can send mail, you will have to write to the list administrator of each list and provide your old address that needs to be removed. Be sure to let them know you have already subscribed your new or amended e-mail address. You can contact any list administrator by writing to: LISTNAME-admin@rootsweb.com -- replace the word LISTNAME with the actual name of the list. If you have numerous mailing lists from which your old address needs to be unsubscribed, you can request that RootsWeb's HelpDesk perform a global removal by providing it with the old address that needs to be removed. However, the HelpDesk can only remove an e-mail address from all lists -- not from selected lists. Complete the form here: http://helpdesk.rootsweb.com/help.cgi/ Keep your e-mail address updated -- everywhere. You never know when your cousins may try to reach you with some late, breaking news about your ancestors. * * * 1b. EDITOR'S DESK. RootsWeb Does Texas; Need a DAR Lookup? Attending the Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) annual conference in Austin, Texas? Don't miss the RootsWeb Symposium: Building a Worldwide Community at 2 p.m., Friday, 10 September (Booth 630 in the Exhibit Hall). It is open to all RootsWeb users, contributors, and volunteers. Stop by and say hello; share your research stories and provide feedback on ways RootsWeb can better serve you. The FGS conference details are available at: http://www.fgs.org/ * * * Need a DAR Lookup? Do you think you might have an ancestor who served in the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783)? Would you like to know whether your ancestor is listed with the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) in the "Patriot Index"? A helpful group of organized DAR VIS Volunteers monitor the RootsWeb DAR Message Board every day and welcome lookup requests. Include your Revolutionary War-era ancestor's first and last name, spouse's name (if known), dates of birth, death, and state of residence when posting your lookup request. You need not be interested in joining the NSDAR to request a lookup. http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec?htx=board&r=rw&p=topics.organizations.dar Or go to: http://boards.rootsweb.com/ and in the FIND A MESSAGE BOARD window type in DAR. Select No. 2 of the choices -- the organization and society. * * * 1c. TIPS FROM READERS: Smashing Brick Walls By Robin Carroll in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. A while back, I was transcribing United Kingdom BMDs, [births, marriages and deaths] and doing surnames starting with H. I came across a few HGREEN's and wondered what accent would put a H in front of Green. Yesterday, the penny dropped. Not an accent, but a typing error, the H being next to the G on a keyboard. So if you can't find your ancestors under their starting initial in records that were typed, have a look under the letter on either side of it on the keyboard, with and/or without the starting initial. e.g. HGREEN, HREEN, FGREEN, or FREEN and GHREEN, along with GHENT -- and look for misspelling of the second letter as well. I guess if you still can't find it, have a look under the letters above and below your starting initial. We have so many weird surnames, who's to say what is or isn't a typo? 2. Connecting Through RootsWeb. Thanks for sharing your stories. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Hooray for Helping Others By Victoria Johnson in Springfield, Missouri, USA I have read several letters about purchasing old photographs and the benefits that can be reaped. I want to add my thanks to those folks who take the time to do follow through with the photographs they find. These people are actually heroes in my eyes! To give a family back these precious items is truly a good deed. Several years ago, my father's cousin had his parents declared "Title nine," which means the state can come in and just haul them off. They were allowed one suitcase a piece. The state then auctioned off every- thing they owned: valuable antiques, clothing, house wares and most important, all of the family photographs, including those brought over from Sweden. I have been searching antique stores in Iowa when on vacation but with no luck. I posted this information on the "Lost and Found" sites and one kind lady e-mailed me from Iowa with a lead. It didn't turn out to be my family, but the thought that people were out there helping others find family treasure just makes me smile and feel good about my fellow humans in an age where we are too often self-oriented. So here's a big hooray for all the heroes. 3. New Mailing Lists at RootsWeb Request a New Mailing List: http://resources.rootsweb.com/adopt/ ----------------------------------------------------------------- Brand-new mailing lists can be found under OTHER/MISCELLANEOUS until moved to their proper categories. For information and an index to the more than 28,400 RootsWeb-hosted genealogy Mailing Lists and for easy subscribing (joining) options go to: http://lists.rootsweb.com/ NEW SURNAME MAILING LISTS BARTOSCH, BOXLEY BEAVIS-UK -- The BEAVIS surname in or from the United Kingdom CLAYDON DENNHARDT, DEUR EIRSCHELE ERICKSEN, ERICSON, ERICSSON, ERIKSDOTTER, ERIKSEN, ERIKSON, ERIKSSON GILKES HOBRECKER, HUNSINGER KEMENCZKY, KRIKAC KREYER MCCORDICK, MUSCHAMP OADES POLLAK QUINLIN SHETTER, STUDYVIN SJOGREN WAHLSTROM, WINDMAYER WEDLER, WITTKOPP ZIEGENFUSS NEW ETHNIC AND SPECIAL INTEREST MAILING LISTS ENGLISH-EMIGRANTS -- Genealogical discussions of emigrants from England to any other country in the world GERMAN-EMIGRANTS -- Genealogical discussions of emigrants from Germany to any country in the world GERMANS-IL-IN -- Germans in Illinois and Indiana GERMANS-MN -- Germans in Minnesota IL-OBITS -- Posting of obituaries from Illinois newspapers WELSH-EMIGRANTS -- Genealogical discussions of emigrants from Wales to any country in the world NEW REGIONAL MAILING LISTS IRE-GALWAY-INISHBOFIN -- Inishbofin, County Galway, Ireland MI-HUDSONVILLE -- Hudsonville, Ottawa County, Michigan 4. New Webpages at RootsWeb To Request a Free Web Account: http://accounts.rootsweb.com/ ------------------------------------------------------------- Some of these webpages might not yet be accessible. They are created by volunteers, so if one that interests you isn't up yet, please check again in a few days or next week. http://www.rootsweb.com/~[accountname] Note that the ~[tilde] before the Web account name is required. For example, the County Offaly (Ireland) website is at: http://www.rootsweb.com/~irloff2/ Ireland irloff2 -- County Offaly (Ireland) United States ahgpland -- Land Grant Project (American History and Genealogy Project) alwrkcd -- William Rufus King Chapter (Alabama) DAR azcocon2 -- Coconino County (Arizona) flmpafug -- Manasota (Florida) PAF Users Group flscad -- Society Children of the American Colonists (Florida) gaappli2 -- Appling County (Georgia) gaevans3 -- Evans County (Georgia) gaturne2 -- Turner County (Georgia) gawilco2 -- Wilcox County (Georgia) iluchgs -- Union County (Illinois) Historical and Genealogical Society ncpasqu2 -- Pasquotank County (North Carolina) nhths -- Thornton (New Hampshire) Historical Society paebacem -- East Brady Area (Pennsylvania) Cemeteries pawashin -- Washington County (Pennsylvania) sdccsg -- Clark County (South Dakota) Savings Graves sdmoody2 -- Moody County (South Dakota) txbg1812 -- Bartlett Graves (Texas) USD 1812 txmason -- Mason County (Texas) txmidla2 -- Midland County (Texas) txmidlan -- Midland County (Texas) 5. New/Updated Freepages and Homepages -------------------------------------- Do you have a new, updated, or substantially revised website located at RootsWeb (it will have "freepages" or "homepages" in the URL)? Please send the URL (Web address), along with a brief description, including the major pertinent surnames and what is available on your site, to: Editor-RWR@rootsweb.com FISCHER. This site details the background of Jacob FISCHER Sr., and his service with the 60th Regiment of Foot (Royal Americans) under Colonel BOUQUET during the French and Indian War. Includes partial listing of the soldiers in this regiment, FISHER arrivals at Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania Germans who immigrated to Canada, and FISHER genealogies. http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~pioneer/ GASKINS, McADAMS, SEIBER, MEYER. History of these families and more -- all eventually settled in the Midwest of the USA. http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~shsl/ KENTUCKY. Webster County. This site contains about 750 photo-pages of old pictures of persons with connections to this locality. The photos were sent to the webmaster by people who have roots in Webster County with the express intent that they be put online for sharing, along with ancestral information that the donor sent. http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~cpalmer/album/album.htm MICHIGAN, Saginaw County. Pictures and data of 1953 Brady Center School. http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~confido/daze1and2.htm TENNESSEE. Nashville. 1859 City and Business Directory -- images and index of individual and business listings. http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~jjohnson/ UNITED KINGDOM. Kent. Isle of Sheppey. Relating to coastguards with census details of them for the period 1841-1901 (1841-1861 posted). http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~puxty/ WASHINGTON. Okanogan County. Marriage indexes, 1888-1930 (brides and bridegrooms). http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~heeyjude/Okanogan/marriages/ Note: Comments and questions about any of these independently authored webpages should be directed to their respective compilers/webmasters. 6. New User-Contributed Databases at RootsWeb ---------------------------------------------- Who Has the Data? Does your state, province, county, parish, church, old military unit or alma mater have material available that you think would be of interest to genealogists and historians? Do you have any compiled lists of names or databases -- other than your personal family tree because genealogies can be posted at WorldConnect: http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com/ -- that you would like to share and that you think would be of value and interest to others? In most cases, RootsWeb would be proud to host them. http://userdb.rootsweb.com/submit/ The following databases have come online recently. They are searchable, but not browseable. Browse: To view the entire contents of a file or a group of files. Search: To look for specific data or occurrence of text in a file. CALIFORNIA. Los Angeles County. Long Beach. David Starr Jordan High School Class of 1951; 412 records; Ron Williams http://userdb.rootsweb.com/alumni/ ILLINOIS. Madison County. Collinsville. Glenwood Cemetery veteran markers; 59 records; Gene Beals and Patricia Peters http://userdb.rootsweb.com/military/ IOWA. Boone County. Boone. Boone High School Class of 1917; 65 records; Marilyn Threlkeld http://userdb.rootsweb.com/alumni/ NEW YORK. New York City (area). 1916 deaths; partial list; 43 records; M. Hellam http://userdb.rootsweb.com/deaths/ OHIO. Hamilton County. Saint Bernard. Old St. Mary's Cemetery; 727 records; David Butsch, public works superintendent http://userdb.rootsweb.com/cemeteries/ PENNSYLVANIA. Lancaster County. Millersville. St. Paul Lutheran Church Cemetery; 109 records; Jennifer Rhodes Fritsch for St. Paul Lutheran Church http://userdb.rootsweb.com/cemeteries/ TENNESSEE. Gibson County. Funeral records with ties to Gibson County; 3,058 records; Linda Neal http://userdb.rootsweb.com/deaths/ 7. FROM ROOTSWEB REVIEW'S BOTTOMLESS MAILBAG [Editor's note: The opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and are not necessarily those of the editor or of RootsWeb.com]. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Coping with Imperfect Ancestors By PeggyWho in Sunny Queensland, Australia G'day, I have been reading your "Bottomless Mailbag" with much interest and quite a few chuckles. Now I'd love to add my two ha'pennies' worth (cents). I have often wondered in this so-called "modern anti- discrimination world" of ours, why there should be any stigma attached to being "born out of wedlock"? And there rankles in my soul the dismay and anger at the injustice of the label of illegitimacy being attached to a baby when logic should indicate quite clearly that the hapless babe had no control over two adults at the time the infant didn't even exist. Not to mention the double standard (still existing alive and strong) about the "sowing of wild oats" greeted with backslapping (male approval) and the girl/woman "with baby, but no husband, tut-tut" (general community disapproval). Sad isn't it? Sad also to realize that most of these "judging" people haven't got the grace to be ashamed and to be more understanding of human nature. After all, we are all related to people who were never married when they started the line of our ancestors. So we are all related to illegitimate offspring regardless. Think about that and less of this view of "dirty family secrets." Not dirty at all just human. Love is wonderful, even if at times it doesn't last. I loved Sallie Lou Morris Nelson of Texas via Indiana's comment, "Just go on and live a perfect life. Time will tell!" * * * Obtaining Permission Before You Click-Click By Sandra Martin Whilst I agree with Maryellen that digital cameras can be extremely useful for copies of records you find at the library, I urge anyone who is contemplating doing this to seek permission from the librarian first. I have always done this and am rarely refused, but occasionally I am told it is not allowed. Sometimes the reason given is that the flash from the camera might damage an old document but I have come across one FHS who set aside a period each week when photographing was allowed but they charged for this and would not allow it at any other time. So please be careful, librarians are usually very willing and helpful people but they might take exception to breaking the rules. I would consider it to be good manners anyway to ask first. * * * Peering into the Past By Cynthia Bolick Gilbert After reading several messages about looking through old photos at antique stores I decided that I would do the next time my husband and I went "antiquing." While walking by numerous furniture, glass, book and silver antiques I came upon a postcard dealer. All of his cards were in alphabetical order by state, then by city or attraction. Since I've never found any postcard relating to what I research I started to move on but remembered what others on RootsWeb had said. After finding the state -- North Carolina -- I looked for my home town -- Maiden. No luck, but there were cards from nearby Newton. Of course, there was the courthouse and such but then, I found a postcard of the old Newton hospital where I was born and the picture on the card showed the room where my mother stayed when I was born. I was thrilled. The dealer must have heard it all before because he took my money and went back to reading his book. So, don't pass up those postcard dealers either. You might find what you weren't looking for. * * * Last of the Line By Rita Chernoff I am looking for suggestions on what to do with an acquired family Bible. Several years ago our neighbor, who is the last surviving member of his family, gave me his mother's Bible, which has his family's information recorded in it. He had been given the Bible by his mother following his graduation from university. He was the first to attend school in Canada and graduate from university (the family had emigrated from Ukraine). The Bible is huge and is written in the Cyrillic. Our neighbor was one of four children and none of them had any children. There are three cousins, however he did not want the Bible passed on to any of them. What do I do with it? There is absolutely no connection between our families and I have no one to pass it on to either. Does anyone have any suggestions? * * * Recording for Posterity By Betty Kennedy In response to Carrie S. Sims on the topic of "Bloodlines vs. Adoptive Lines," I would like to encourage her to at least record the name of her daughter's birth father. Think of her future descendants -- there could be medical knowledge needed or at the very least, curiosity about their true ancestry. No details of the relationship need to be mentioned. One of the roadblocks in my husband's tree is a gg-grandfather whose mother never married his birth father and, therefore, had his mother's maiden name as his surname. We have absolutely no clue as to who his father may have been, especially since we are looking at records back in 1813, or if he was even listed. * * * Walking with Ghosts By Wilkes I always tell my friends and family that I walk with ghosts. My obsession with genealogy has me talking to dead people and sometimes I feel like the little boy in the movie who said, "I see dead people". A recent experience has shown me that there is more truth to my walking with ghosts than I had realized. Traveling to South Carolina for a McLEOD family reunion, one of my research goals was to locate an old family graveyard where some cousins were buried ca 1800-1880s. In particular, I wanted to film two stones, John Robert McLEOD's and his sister, Annie McLEOD BOYKIN. I knew from the stories of locals that the graveyard was rapidly deteriorating and being eaten by the encroaching woods. I felt that if I didn't locate it this trip, I might forever lose the chance to film the stones of my family. Four of us spent nearly three hours searching the woods before finding the abandoned burial ground. Most of the stones were damaged or missing. In the footage, you can hear our excitement and our awe at the beauty of the engraved stones and you can hear our sadness at the state of neglect we found. It was obvious that no one had walked there for a very long while. I was thrilled to find John Robert's grave -- almost immediately -- and spent a good three minutes discussing his life for the benefit of the filming and posterity. And although we searched diligently, we never found his sister's grave. Upon returning to the hotel, we shared the afternoon's footage with some elderly family members. Imagine my horror when I realized that John Robert's gravestone was not on the video! I knew that several times I had the recorder on pause and had to go back and record a few stones again, but I was sure that I had it on record when viewing John's stone. My husband, knowing that I had specifically gone into those woods for John and his sister's gravestones and that without John's footage I had not achieved my goal, reassured me that he could find the graveyard again and we would re-visit it in the morning before heading home. Bright and early we traipsed back into the woods, locating the graveyard much more quickly than before. This time, we were not as excited and were able to view the area more calmly. We quickly found John's stone and then we realized we had missed several others the day before. While continuing to film, we began to see the rows that would have existed before the stones began to fall and disappear beneath the encroachment of nature, and we began to try to reason out where John's sister Annie would have lain. Gently moving layers of dirt, we were amazed to see her stone lying intact and beautifully engraved only a few feet from her brother. Upon arriving home, we sat and viewed the two days' worth of filming with our children, knowing they would compare it with the Blair Witch Project. Imagine our surprise when we realized that the three minutes of footage regarding John's stone was clearly there on the first days film! Six adults watched that video on Saturday evening and not one of us saw John's stone, yet there it was plain as day. Had we seen it on Saturday, I would simply have gone home without revisiting the graves and would never have found Annie's grave. Only John's missing footage would have me braving the woods again. * * * Finding U.S. Toll Bridge Ledgers By Sinta Seiber-Lane in Springfield Illinois, USA I recently was reading a history of early American architecture and it had a chapter on bridges -- covered bridges and toll bridges. Apparently many of the toll keepers kept meticulous notes on who crossed their bridge, when, why and how much they paid or traded. I thought this would be a very interesting source of information about our ancestors but I have no idea where to begin looking for these ledgers. I have never seen one in the libraries. Any ideas? 8. Humor/Humour: A Seasonal Affair; A Mistaken Identity ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Thanks to: Anne Willson Looking in extracted marriages for Basingstoke, Hampshire, England located at: http://www.familyresearcher.org/BASINGSTOKE.cfm I found: WINTTER, Joseph md. SUMNER, Sarah 30 Dec 1737. * * * Thanks to Jane B. Mayo In the 1900 Colbert County, Alabama census my grandfather, Harry, was listed as Hairy. However, as long as I knew Poppa, he had little hair. * * * Found a humorous entry in census, parish, church, etc. records? Send to: Editor-RWR@rootsweb.com 9. Submissions, Subscriptions, Advertising, Reprints ----------------------------------------------------- The RootsWeb Review does not publish or answer genealogical queries, and the editor regrets that she is unable to provide any personal research assistance or advice. RootsWeb Review welcomes short (500 words or less) articles, humor, stories, or letters, and reserves the right to edit all submissions. All mail sent to the RootsWeb Review editor is considered to be for publication -- send in PLAIN TEXT (please, no attachments) to: Editor-RWR@rootsweb.com Search/download past issues of the RootsWeb Review: http://e-zine.rootsweb.com/ * * * SUBSCRIPTIONS. To manage your e-mail communications (i.e. to subscribe or unsubscribe to this newsletter, or to sign up for others), visit our newsletter management center any time at: http://newsletters.rootsweb.com/ The RootsWeb Review is a free publication of MyFamily.com, Inc., 360 West 4800 North, Provo, UT, 84604 * * * ROOTSWEB REVIEW ADVERTISING CONTACTS. Ad Sales Operations Mgr. Shana Davis sdavis@myfamilyinc.com U.S., Worldwide Sales: Sacha Yenkana syenkana@myfamilyinc.com * * * REPRINTS. Permission to reprint articles from RootsWeb Review is granted unless specifically stated otherwise, provided: (1) the reprint is used for non-commercial, educational purposes; and (2) the following notice appears at the end of the article: Previously published in RootsWeb Review: 1 September 2004, Vol. 7, No. 35. * * * *