RootsWeb Review: RootsWeb's Weekly E-zine 31 January 2007, Vol. 10, No. 5 (c) 1998-2007 RootsWeb.com, Inc. http://www.rootsweb.com/ * * * ROOTSWEB HELPDESK: Check here for announcements: http://helpdesk.rootsweb.com/ * * * ROOTSWEB REVIEW ARCHIVES: Current and previous editions: http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/review/2007/0131.txt http://e-zine.rootsweb.com/ ========================================================= IN THIS ISSUE: 1. Editor's Desk: News and Notes 1a. Online UK Vital Records 1b. Some Sites Worth Seeing 1c. Book Notice 1d. Using RootsWeb: Behind the Scenes at RootsWeb 2. Connecting Through RootsWeb: Leaping Across the Big Pond 3. RootsWeb Review's Bottomless Mailbag: Exploring University Archives Possibilities Looking Closer at Local Libraries 4. New at RootsWeb 4a. New User-contributed Databases 4b. New/Updated FreePages and HomePages for Individuals 4c. New/Updated Freepages and Homepages for Counties, States, and Genealogical/Historical Societies 4d. New Mailing Lists 5. Humor/Humour: Eh? 6. Subscriptions, Submissions, Advertising, Reprints ======================================================= IN THIS ISSUE: 1. Editor's Desk: News and Notes 1a. ONLINE UK VITAL RECORDS In "Some Sites Worth Seeing" in last week's newsletter (RootsWeb Review 24 January 2007, Vol. 10, No. 4), we highlighted a website where you can order UK birth, marriage, or death certificates online. Some of our readers have shared the sites they prefer to use. Genfindit (www.genfindit.com) lets you order certificates for England, Scotland, Ireland, and Australia and New Zealand. You can also order from the government's General Register Office (www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates). 1b. SOME SITES WORTH SEEING A new site created by findmypast.com and The British National Archives contains BT27 [BT stands for Board of Trade and 27 is simply a number assigned to the records by the National Archives] Outward passenger Lists for all outbound voyages from UK ports between 1890- 1960. Includes lists of businessmen, tourists, and immigrants leaving the UK for Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, South Africa, and the U.S. Images of the passenger lists available. Must buy pay-per- view units from findmypast.com to view individual records. www.Ancestorsonboard.com Created by Clear Digital Media, Inc., this site is a portal to all the free databases available on Ancestry.com www.FreeOnAncestry.com 1c. BOOK NOTICE GENEALOGY OF THE CLAYCOMB(E) FAMILY [and other Claycomb(e) family books] by Mary Alice Claycombe Adney Now available at: Blair County Genealogy Society Inc. 431 Scotch Valley Road Hollidaysburg, PA 16648 Phone 814-696-3492 $20.00 plus S/H $0.50 * * * 1d. Using RootsWeb: Behind the Scenes at RootsWeb Originally published in the RootsWeb Review 14 April 2004, Vol. 7, No. 15. When you search the RootsWeb message boards http://boards.rootsweb.com/ or subscribe to a mailing list http://lists.rootsweb.com/ and receive a welcome message providing information about the list, do you ever wonder what makes everything tick to keep the boards and lists running successfully? Of course, you know there are "servers" (computers) at RootsWeb that make these resources available for you. And, there is software running the programs you use, plus staff members working to keep the machinery and software purring. However, this is only the tip of the iceberg because RootsWeb runs with the help of many volunteers -- hundreds of them who work behind the scenes. They give freely of their time and expertise to manage the thousands of mailing lists and message boards at RootsWeb. Mailing list administrators maintain order on a list and manage membership problems, such as assisting people to subscribe and unsubscribe. In addition they process bounce notices when a list member's address goes bad. They also steer the list discussion so that it remains focused on the topic the list was created to serve. Many list administrators requested the creation of lists, providing a resource for researchers that otherwise would not be available for you at RootsWeb. Any and all administrative matters pertaining to a list should be addressed to the list administrator privately at the admin address rather than posted publicly to the list. Not all mailing lists have a volunteer administrator and those lists are managed by staff in the hope that a volunteer administrator will one day come along and adopt them. Message board administrators review new posts to their boards, keep discussion on topic, move off-topic messages to a more appropriate one, and remove unsuitable posts. They also edit the subject line, surname field, and classification of posted messages so that the board can be searched more efficiently. Board admins may be contacted in two ways. 1). If you wish to have a message you posted removed from a board or want to bring an inappropriate post to an admin's attention, click on the REPORT ABUSE option -- while viewing the post. NOTE: You must be a registered board user (have an account), and be logged in, in order to use this board feature. 2). You can contact a board administrator by following the LINKS & ANNOUNCEMENTS link on the board. The e-mail contact address for the board administrator will be on this page. [Editor's Note: Since this article was published the message boards have changed slightly. The LINKS & ANNOUNCEMENTS link is now titled BOARD INFORMATION.] Since not all message boards have an administrator, not all boards have a LINKS & ANNOUNCEMENTS [BOARD INFORMATION] link. Those boards have a BECOME AN ADMIN [VOLUNTEER TO ADMIN] link. If the board is one in which you have an active interest, you might consider clicking the link to request to become the admin for the board. Becoming an admin requires that you be a registered user and that you LOGIN to make your request. Remember, when you are contacting an administrator for a RootsWeb mailing list or message board that you are contacting a volunteer who is maintaining a valuable resource on his or her own time and is attempting to help you and answer your questions and concerns as best he or she can. The admin may have a real job and family responsibilities and he or she probably is not at the computer 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You may not receive instant answers to your questions or concerns about problems that develop on a list or board. Admins are scattered around the world and may not be in the same time zone as you are. These fine volunteers do not have a crystal ball and have no way of knowing how to contact someone who posted to the list/board in 1998 and whose address is now obsolete. Don't expect the administrator to help you with your personal genealogical research. While some are experts on the surname, locality, or topic of the resource they manage, many are acting more in the capacity of an administrator providing a resource so that others may carry out their research in an organized manner. Be kind to RootsWeb's list and board administrators and remember to thank them now and then for the fine job they do. * * * * * * * * * * Advertisements * * * * * * * * * * REQUEST A SEARCH FOR YOUR ANCESTORS AT THE FAMILY HISTORY LIBRARY ANCESTOR SEEKERS researchers at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City will search this vast collection for your ancestors from the USA, Canada, England, Scotland, Australia, Ireland, Germany, Poland, Russia, Holland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Italy. Prices start from $55 (U.S.). For a FREE! initial e-mail consultation visit http://www.ancestorseekers.com/research.rwr/ Or join us FEBRUARY 18-23 AT OUR SEVENTH SALT LAKE CITY RESEARCH TRIP--THE IDEAL GENEALOGY VACATION!--a whole week at the Family History Library, accessing the world's largest collection of genealogical records with help and advice from accredited genealogist professionals. * * * * * * * * * * End of Advertisements * * * * * * * * * * 2. Connecting Through RootsWeb: Originally published in the RootsWeb Review 20 March 2002, Vol. 5, No. 12. Leaping Across the Big Pond By Adele in Kiwiland pentony@infogen.net.nz I will give you a wonderful thank you for a wonderful site. Now I have been dabbling in my family tree off and on for years, but only last year found relations in London. They mentioned about searching in Canada, where maybe there were relations we don't know. I put up a query for anyone with a knowledge about William Fredrick RIDLEY, who died during World War I, to please get in touch. This was posted 23.3.2001. Just three weeks ago, a reply from Ted RIDLEY came -- his grandfather married and died in World War I -- said he was shot in the leg in France and as they hoped he would get better, he was sent to England, but his leg was amputated, and then he died due to blood poisoning. In the meantime, his wife hearing he was ill, sailed from Canada with two young sons, reached England, learned he had died, so she turned around, and returned to Canada, never making contact with family in England at all. Ted's grandfather was my grandmother's "Brother Willie." I have a photo, which I have sent to Ted, of his grandfather standing next to my grandmother in 1896. Now I have cousins I never knew about, and so has he. On another note, in my search for descendants of Arch RIDLEY (he was supposed to have worked in Buckingham Palace) it turns out that what I thought was a tall story of my grandmother's, is really true. Brian RIDLEY informs me that my father did work at the palace, his photograph is with one of the famous ones, taken after a bomb hit the palace--standing next to the then King and Queen, now Queen Mum! And, I had written to Windsor Castle Archives hunting for anything on him, but due to its privacy act, it could not tell me if he had worked there. To think we all lived in London and never knew our cousins -- the incredible RIDLEY clan. When Ted replied to me, I immediately rang one of the newly found cousins in London, and she could not believe it. My message to one and all is to never ever give up hope! * * * 3. 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]. --------------------------------------------------------------------- --- Originally published in the RootsWeb Review 18 May 2005, Vol. 8, No. 20. Exploring University Archives Possibilities By Marlynn O'Keefe I have found that leaving one's genealogical papers to a university archives is a good solution. In my case, I have sent information that I collected from more than 33 years of research of relatives from Germany who eventually wound up in Lake County, Indiana. Indiana University at Calumet in Gary, Indiana was delighted to receive the information and will sort it and make it available to other researchers. * * * Looking Closer at Local Libraries By Jim Liptrap in Houston, Texas, USA In response to Dr. STEWART's suggestions of putting your genealogical records in the library (an excellent idea!), I have a word of caution. While it would seem logical to put your precious records in the local library in the town where your family lived for six generations, they might not be safe there. A regional library with a genealogy department might be a better choice. Many local libraries do not have a policy of preserving genealogical materials, nor even shelving them separately. They will courteously accept your donation and send you a receipt for tax purposes. But due to their shortage of space, they annually sort out all the books that have not been checked out in the previous 24 months, and try to sell them at 25 cents each. Those that do not sell are discarded. So find a library that has a well-maintained genealogy department, with a non-circulating collection, preferably in a separate "local history" room, specializing in the area in which your family lived, probably the library that had the most information you found in compiling your records. Observe how well their books are maintained and whether anyone in the library knows what is on the genealogy shelf. If you are just sent "over in that corner" and find no order to the collection, bindings broken, no security, or if you have to define "genealogy," seek another repository for your life's work. Your relatives will thank you. * * * 4. New at RootsWeb 4a. New User-Contributed Databases at RootsWeb http://userdb.rootsweb.com/submit/ ---------------------------------------------- The following databases have come online recently. They are searchable, but not browseable. Search: To look for specific data or occurrence of text in a file. Browse: To view the entire contents of a file or a group of files. No new user-contributed databases. 4b. New/Updated Freepages and Homepages for Individuals To Request a Free Web Account: http://accounts.rootsweb.com/ -------------------------------------- Can your cousins find your website at RootsWeb? Has it ever been mentioned here or do you have a new, updated, or substantially revised website at RootsWeb (it will have "freepages" or "homepages" in the URL)? Send the URL (its Web address), along with a brief description, including the major pertinent surnames and what is available on your site, to: Editor-RWR@rootsweb.com * * * If your genealogical or historical related site is located somewhere other than at RootsWeb.com, you can add the link here: http://resources.rootsweb.com/~rootslink/addlink.html * * * CRISCUOLO/BENVENUTO. Surnames include: ATELLA, BENVENUTO, BRUNO, COTUGNO, CRISCUOLO, DECOLA, DESANTIS, DEANGELIS, DEMENT, FRANGIOSA, LONGO, LUCENTEFORTE, MARINO, PALOMBO, RATINO, RICCI, ROCCO, SALOMONE, SAPIENZA, and SCAFIDI. Specializing in the Italian towns of Venafro, Casalduni, Pontelandolfo, and Naso, but also has data from the towns of Cassino, Contrada, and Napoli. Recently updated with data from a trip to Italy in June 2006. http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~criscuolo/ JUKER. Genealogy information on the: Juker, Dull, Powell, and Reynolds families, which includes their various family members. Also on Gladstone, Oregon. http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~myjukerfamily/ THOMSON/STAMPF. This website contains current information on surnames: THOMSON, STAMPF, TILLERAY, MCGREGOR, ROBINSON, RENNE, and many others in the areas of Long Island City, New York; Brooklyn, New York; Greenpoint, and even in Scotland. http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~thejoanie/ USS NEVADA HOME PORT. 1930s information about Navy and Marine crew list; boxing/wrestling champs; Navy Insignia' patch(es); holiday menu's; wages; Harbor Day committee lists; lots of photos; Iowa National Guard and Civil War photos. First person account of the battle of Chickamauga--includes some names. http://freepages.military.rootsweb.com/~ussnevada/bb36/index.html 4c. New/Updated Freepages and Homepages for Counties, States, and Genealogical/Historical Societies 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/~xxxxxx[accountname] U.S.A. ksccgsm -- Cheyenne County Genealogy Society & Museum (Kansas) ksreno -- Reno County (Kansas) oryhs -- Yoncalla Historical Society (Oregon) tndac -- Daughters of American Colonists (Tennessee) * * * 4d. New Mailing Lists To Request a New Mailing List: http://resources.rootsweb.com/adopt/ ----------------------------------------------------------------- For information and an index to the more than 30,000 RootsWeb-hosted genealogy Mailing Lists and for easy subscribing (joining) options go to: http://lists.rootsweb.com/ NEW SURNAME MAILING LISTS No new surname mailing lists. NEW REGIONAL MAILING LISTS CAPSHAW -- A mailing list for the discussion and sharing of information regarding the Capshaw surname and variations (e.g., Capshaws, etc.) in any place and at any time. CUSTANCE -- A mailing list for the discussion and sharing of information regarding the Custance surname and variations (e.g., Costance, Coustance, etc.) in any place and at any time. DEELY -- A mailing list for the discussion and sharing of information regarding the Deely surname and variations (e.g., Dealy, etc.) in any place and at any time. DELPALACIO -- A mailing list for the discussion and sharing of information regarding the Delpalacio surname and variations in any place and at any time. DOUPE -- A mailing list for the discussion and sharing of information regarding the Doupe surname and variations (e.g., Doup, etc.) in any place and at any time. JOHNSON-NC -- A mailing list for the discussion and sharing of information regarding the Johnson surname and variations (e.g., Johnsen, Jonson, etc.) in the state of North Carolina and at any time. KEENAN-IRL-NY -- Focus on Keenan (and various spellings) families from Ireland and New York. KYNASTON -- A mailing list for the discussion and sharing of information regarding the Kynaston surname and variations in any place and at any time. LELACHEUR -- A mailing list for the discussion and sharing of information regarding the LeLacheur surname and variations in any place and at any time. LEMERTRIN -- A mailing list for the discussion and sharing of information regarding the Lemertrin surname and variations in any place and at any time. LEO -- A mailing list for the discussion and sharing of information regarding the Leo surname and variations in any place and at any time. LEVSTEIN -- A mailing list for the discussion and sharing of information regarding the Levstein surname and variations (e.g., Levsteins, etc.) in any place and at any time. MONACH -- A mailing list for the discussion and sharing of information regarding the Monach surname and variations in any place and at any time. RATCHFORD -- A mailing list for the discussion and sharing of information regarding the Ratchford surname and variations in any place and at any time. WILLIAMS-RI -- A mailing list for the discussion and sharing of information regarding the Williams surname and variations (e.g., Wiliams, etc.) in the state of Rhode Island and at any time. NEW ETHNIC AND SPECIAL INTEREST MAILING LISTS No new ethnic or special interest mailing lists. * * * 5. Humor/Humour: -------------------------------------- Thanks to Mick McAllister Came across an entry in the local census of 1871 in Staffordshire, England, and I could just imagine the enumerator asking the head of household, "Any more children, Mr. Smith?" Head of household replying, "Oh, our kid." And there it was, child -- Oharkid Smith, age 3 months. (Sounds better with a West Midlands, country accent though!) * * * Found a funny or "proper name for the job" in old records or an amusing entry in census, parish, church, etc. records? Send them to: Editor-RWR@rootsweb.com 6. Subscriptions, Submissions, Advertising, Reprints ----------------------------------------------------- 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/ If you use a spam-filtering program, in order to receive the RootsWeb Review please make sure that you're allowing e-mail from: rootswebreview@email.rootsweb.com The RootsWeb Review is a free publication of The Generations Network, Inc., 360 West 4800 North, Provo, UT, 84604 * * * 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. The announcement of books and products is provided as a community service and is not an endorsement in any way. 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 and please include your full name and e-mail address in the text. * * * ROOTSWEB REVIEW ADVERTISING CONTACTS. Ad Sales Worldwide: Shana Davis, creative@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: 31 January 2007, Vol. 10, No. 5. * * * *