RootsWeb Review: RootsWeb's Monthly E-zine 9 September 2009, Vol. 12, No. 9 (c) 2009 Ancestry.com http://www.rootsweb.com/ * * * Having trouble reading this newsletter? The online version is available at: http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/review/2009/0909.txt or http://ftp.rootsweb.ancestry.com/pub/review/2009/0909.html * * * ROOTSWEB HELPDESK: Check here for frequently asked questions about RootsWeb: http://rootsweb.custhelp.com * * * ROOTSWEB NEWSROOM: Check here for the latest RootsWeb news: http://blogs.rootsweb.com/newsroom/ * * * ROOTSWEB STORE: Check here for the latest in genealogy books, software, photos, and more: http://www.therootswebstore.com/ * * * ROOTSWEB REVIEW ARCHIVES: Check here for previous editions: http://rwr.rootsweb.ancestry.com/ ============================================================== IN THIS ISSUE: 1. Using RootsWeb What's in a Marriage Banns? 2. Genealogy Tip Finding and Citing Genealogical References 3. Connecting Multiple Online Cousins Found 4. Bottomless Mailbag: Readers Write In Duplicates in Census Research A Monumental Task Avoid the Needless Loss of Family Treasures 5. What's New: Databases, Freepages, and Mailing Lists 5a. New User-contributed Databases 5b. New/Updated Freepages by Individuals 5c. New/Updated Freepages by Counties, States, and Genealogical/Historical Societies 5d. New Mailing Lists 6. You Found It Salad Basics A Reluctant Father Bedtime Stories Continued Another Bedtime Story 7. Subscriptions, Submissions, Advertising, and Reprints ============================================================== 1. Using RootsWeb What's in a Marriage Banns? by Mary Harrell-Sesniak maryh@volunteer.rootsweb.com "Genealogy is not just a pastime; it's a passion." A marriage banns is a proclamation or publication of an impending marriage. "MLLE. ROTHSCHILD'S WEDDING. From the London Truth. The marriage banns of Mlle. Helen Betty de Rothschild with Baron Stephen Gustavus van de Haar were published in Paris last week. The bride has a fortune of 6,000,000 [british pounds], which will be greatly increased at the death of her mother; so she is decidedly a catch for her Belgian bridegroom who has no fortune." --The New York Times, Aug. 22, 1887 In many parts of the world, it was or still is a legal obligation to announce the intent of a couple to marry. The custom arrived in America during Colonial Times, and although no longer a legal requirement, is still practiced within some religions. "Marriage License Law Changes Take Effect Aug. 28 Banns No Longer Recognized; Data on Past Marital History Now Required..." --Toledo Blade, Toledo, Ohio, Aug. 11, 1951 Historic requirements varied by country and region, but the publishing of the banns was typically accomplished by 1) reading them aloud in a church or public venue, 2) printing them in a newspaper, or 3) posting in a public place -- such as on the door to the Mayor's office. "From the London Answers: The custom of publishing the banns of marriages dates back to the primitive church, for Tertullian, who died A.D. 240, states that warning of intended marriages was given among the early Christians. It appears that the publication of banns was habitual in many places long before there was any general law on the subject, since Gregory IV (1195-1216) speaks of the banns being given out in church, according to custom. The practice was introduced into France about the ninth century, and in 1176 was enforced in the diocese of Paris. The earliest enactment on the subject in England was an order made in the synod of Westminster in 1300 to the effect that no marriage should be celebrated till the banns had been published in the church on three several Sundays or feast days. This rule was made obligatory throughout the church by the fourth Lateran council, held in Rome in 1215." --Duluth News, March 5, 1905 The publishing of the banns gives opportunity for the community to voice objections as to why a marriage should not go forth. Legitimate grounds vary, but include being under age or without consent (ex. chattel rights), marital status (ex. prior marriage not annulled), too closely related (incestuous or marrying a close cousin), conflicting vows (ex. celibacy), and religious impediments (ex. marrying contrary to discipline or outside one's religion). "FIANCE CONSUMPTIVE; GIRL HAS BANNS REVOKED Gothenburg, Sweden, April 7.--A girl applied at the Norbert sessions yester- day to have her banns of marriage de- clared invalid as she had since discov- ered that her fiance was consumptive. The man said that if the girl would not marry him in spite of his affliction he had no objection to the banns being canceled." --Grand Rapids Press (MI), April 7, 1913 "FORBIDDING THE BANNS. On the third publi- cation of the banns of marriage at a country church in England, a buxome [sic] young woman all in her Sunday trim, arose and said--'Please your hon- or, reverend sir, I forbid the banns.' 'Why?' asked the clergyman. 'Because I want him my- self,' was the reply, 'and I hold in my hand his written promise of marriage to me.' --Boston Evening Transcript, May 15, 1847" If protests were valid, the presiding officiant or official (ex. priest or registrar) was authorized to prohibit the marriage. In some cases, a marriage performed outside of the banns, prohibited one from inheriting property, which was a strong incentive. So what's in a marriage banns? Although not consistent, banns notices can include: Names of the betrothed Birth dates Marital status (ex. spinster, bachelor, widow, widower) Parentage (ex. daughter of Col. John Smith of Boston) Residence (ex. parish or town) Occupation (ex. weaver of London) Religious affiliation Notice of consent to marry Dates of call (publications) Date of impending nuptials (usually near term / within three months) After the wedding, a corresponding certificate or register confirms the event and adds the officiant and witnesses. Notices were often in newspapers. "The Banns of Marriage between William Grimmett of this Parish and Elizabeth Motley of the Parish of Tewkesbury were published on three several Sundays viz: 15, 22 & 29 February 1756" --Tredington, Gloucestershire Parish Register Transcripts by William Good http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~wrag44/tredingt on/tredington.htm "1754 George (X) Rouse of the Parish of Ashelworth and Elizabeth (X) Good of the same Parish of Ashelworth widow were married in this Church by Banns in the presence of: George (X) Barkesdale & William (X) Barkesdale" Ashleworth, Gloucestershire Volume 5 - Marriages 1754-1812 http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~wrag44/ashlewor th/ashleworthvol5.htm Note: The (X) in the notice indicates a signature, possibly by a mark. To view more from the RootsWeb community, follow parish register links at, Deerhurst, Forthampton & Eldersfield http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~wrag44/ Donegal Genealogy Resources http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~donegal/ The Parish of Staplehurst in County Kent http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~staplehurst/index.htm Additional Resource: Glossary of Genealogical Terms http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~walkersj/glossary.html * * * * * * * * * * Advertisements * * * * * * * * * * GENEALOGY BRICKWALLS? Get Help ANCESTOR SEEKERS (http://www.ancestorseekers.com/external/research/rwr) researchers at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City will search this vast collection of records from the United States, Canada, Germany, Italy, Ireland, England, Scotland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and other European countries. Friendly service, affordable prices. For a no-obligation research assessment visit AncestorSeekers.com. Or join us 21-26 FEBRUARY 2010 for our 14th Salt Lake City Research Trip - the dream genealogy vacation! http://www.ancestorseekers.com/external/rwr * * * * * * * * * * End of Advertisements * * * * * * * 2. Genealogy Tip Finding and Citing Genealogical References by Mary Harrell-Sesniak maryh@volunteer.rootsweb.com "Genealogy is not just a pastime; it's a passion." So you finally finished your family history, and realize, oops, you were remiss in specifying sources. Perhaps you used shortcuts such as citing a book with just a summary of the title, History of Fairfield Co., Ohio, instead of History of Fairfield County, Ohio and representative citizens. And most likely, if you did this, you also require the author and publishing data. What should you do? An easy solution is to search a library catalog. It doesn't have to be local - since larger ones have more resources. Here are some favorites: * Allen County Public Library, Fort Wayne, Indiana (http://www.acpl.lib.in.us/) * Daughter's of the American Revolution, Washington, DC (http://www.dar.org/) * Clayton Library, Houston, Texas (http://www.houstonlibrary.org/clayton) * Family History Catalog, Salt Lake City, Utah (http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Library/FHLC/frameset_fhlc.asp) * Los Angeles Public Library, Los Angeles, California (http://www.lapl.org/) * New York Public Library, New York, NY (http://www.nypl.org/) * The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Cincinnati, Ohio (http://www.cincinnatilibrary.org/) You can also use Google Books (http://books.google.com/) to locate publication data. Or you could utilize WorldCat (http://www.worldcat.org/)- a catalog website which locates resources in participating libraries, and also formats citations. You'll need to register, but it is free. After searching, select the Cite/Export option at the upper right, and when the resulting window opens, select your desired style from APA, Chicago, Harvard, MLA or Turabian. Or, if you prefer, export the citation to RefWorks or an EndNote. Make sure to add your favorite library catalog and WorldCat to your browser favorites. Another tip for bibliophiles who love owning rare genealogy books is to set up a favorite search in online auction sites, but you can also locate them using a book bot (an automated Web robot). Bots, such as Alibris (http://www.alibris.com/) or Bookfinder (http://www.bookfinder.com/), search a variety of other book sites and locate the best deals! Additional Resources RootsWeb Guide: Creating Worthwhile Genealogies for our Families and Descendants (http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~rwguide/lesson12.htm) 3. Connecting Multiple Online Cousins Found My connecting story involves several of my lines. I had a friend who was "into genealogy" and was showing me his research. He showed me how to use the online resources, and I made a post about my dad's family stories. Someone reading the post (one of my dad's second cousins) told me the names were familiar but the story was wrong. From that, I ended up with quite a bit more information on my HUSKINS lines. Not only that, he sent me photos of my father's grandfather as well as great grandparents! Over the years my tree has become so big I can't even tape it to the wall, thanks to wonderful people who share information online with Rootsweb. I've found online cousins who've helped me research some lines. As I have continued to search online message boards, I have found several more nice gentlemen who have also helped me. They have also sent me photos of long lost ancestors and relatives! I love my online cousins! name withheld 4. Bottomless Mailbag: Readers Write In [Editor's note: The opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and are not necessarily those of the editor or of RootsWeb.] ------------------------------------------------------------- Duplicates in Census Research Don't dismiss any duplicate findings within any census year without researching. I have found on at least 3 occasions of an early or mid teen living within another household other than his parents. The first one I came across the surname was different which drove me crazy for a couple of weeks. All of the persons information was dead on except for the surname. At first I had thought the parents had died until I located them in a neighboring county with the child. When I looked into the family that he was living with I found that the wife was the sister of the mother and the time of the census was late summer. The child was probably on a summer jaunt with the aunt and uncle but was also listed with the parents. The others were the same situation but with the uncle being the blood kin. Don't dismiss any possible findings without researching those included in the family unit, could be a lost relative of the parents. Pat Bowen * * * A Monumental Task After reading Funeral Home Records Can Help, Rootsweb Review, 12 August 2009, Vol.12, No.8, (see http://ftp.rootsweb.ancestry.com/pub/review/2009/0812.html) I was reminded of a local cemetery employee who is attempting to add as many obituaries to the cemetery's database as she can find, either from newspaper archives or online data. Quite a task, considering there are 35,000 people buried in this cemetery which dates to 1855! This will be a treasure trove of information for genealogists! Anonymous in Virginia * * * Avoid the Needless Loss of Family Treasures How often do priceless family treasures end up on the trash heap or selling for fifty cents at a yard sale, all because none of the younger generation knew the beautiful family stories associated with them? A grand parent dies and the youngsters come in to clean out the house. Who could have known that the lamp had been a fiftieth wedding anniversary gift from a great-grandmother, or that the inexpensive looking bric-a-brac had been a treasured wedding gift, lovingly carried from one residence to another for the past eighty years? Who would have guessed that grandmother remembered the day in 1923 when her father brought home the Alcoa Aluminum pot with lid, as a gift for her mother, and the special meals her mother had prepared in it when she was a little girl - it was just another pot the kids found in the kitchen cabinet. In this age of computers and digital cameras, such heartbreaking stories are insanely unnecessary. While there is still time: 1. Ask older members of your family if they have items that are special to them. Find out why they are special, (make notes). Who bought them? Where? Who has owned them? When and how did you come to have them? If possible, go from room to room, jogging memory by asking whether there are such items. 2. Open a "Family Inventory" file in your computer, with sub-folders for father and mother's side of the family. 3. Create a page to display a photo of each item and the story of its family history. 4. Include a line specifying who you wish the item to go to upon your demise, and make sure that the owner and the designee receive a copy of the page. For the sake of your family's children for generations to come, don't allow your parents and grand parents to take their memories of treasured items into eternity with them. Rev. Charles Stanley, Retired Have a story, question, genealogy resource, or tip you'd like to share with RootsWeb Review readers? Send it to Editor-RWR@rootsweb.com. 5. What's New: Databases, Freepages, and Mailing Lists 5a. New User-contributed Databases at RootsWeb http://userdb.rootsweb.com/submit/ ------------------------------------------------------------- ILLINOIS, MARION County. CALVARY CEMETERY BURIALS 1900-2009, 1193 records; WILLIAM L CULBRETH http://userdb.rootsweb.com/cemeteries/ PENNSYLVANIA. Trinity Lutheran Cemetery South Philadelphia, 1667 records; Jane McKnight http://userdb.rootsweb.com/cemeteries/ Submit Your Genealogical Data to a RootsWeb Database at http://userdb.rootsweb.ancestry.com/submit/. 5b. New/Updated Freepages by Individuals Request a Free Web Account at http://accounts.rootsweb.com/ My Wisdom Family http://freepages.family.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~mywisdomfamily now contains narratives, family groups, and source information for six generations of my Wisdom family. Barnhill Families of Pender County, NC and their Connections http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~wbek1/index.html has been updated with family photos, census info, family life, obits, updated photos of churches, old mansion, train depot history, cemetery headstones and many records. The major surnames covered include Barnhill, Henry, Horrell, Sherman, Wallace, and Woodcock families of Pender County, NC and their connections to families in New Hanover and Bladen Counties going back to the late 1700's. Monuments in Kintail & Lockalsh http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~alloveruk/, contains pictures and transcripts of the inscriptions of grave stones for Kintail and Lochalsh Parishes in Ross-shire Scotland. Predominant surnames include Macrae, Mackenzie, Maclennan, Matheson, and Fraser. Genealogy of the Cushing Family http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cushinc/ is an account of the Ancestors and Descendants of Matthew Cushing, who came to America in 1638. The site has been completely revised and updated. It identifies the Cushing families of England and Ireland who emigrated to Canada and the United States, including the descendants of Maurice Cushing of County Kerry, Ireland, and of Edward Cushing of County Cork, Ireland, and of Pierre Courchesne of Paris, France. If you have a new or substantially revised freepage at RootsWeb and would like to see it mentioned here, send the URL, the title, and a BRIEF description, including major surnames, to Editor- RWR@rootsweb.com. * * * If your genealogy- or history-related site is located somewhere other than RootsWeb, you can add the link to RootsWeb here: http://resources.rootsweb.com/~rootslink/addlink.html 5c. New/Updated Freepages by Counties, States, and Genealogical/Historical Societies Request a Free Web Account at http://accounts.rootsweb.com/ ------------------------------------------------------------- Some of these Web pages might not be accessible yet. They are created by volunteers, so if one that interests you isn't up yet, please check again in a few days or weeks. http://www.rootsweb.com/~xxxxxx[accountname] Note that the ~[tilde] before the Web account name is required. For example, the Alaska State Society United States Daughters of 1812 website is at http://www.rootsweb.com/~akusd/ * * * CAR = Children of the American Revolution ALHN = American Local History Network DAC = Daughters of the American Colonists DAR = Daughters of the American Revolution UDC = United Daughters of the Confederacy USD 1812 = United States Daughters of 1812 USGW = United States GenWeb Project U.S.A. akusd Alaska State Society USD 1812 azgpcscv Granville Oury Chapter 1708 (AZ) Sons of Confederate Veterans azjrbudc John R. Baylor Chapter 2298 (AZ) UDC caamado2 Amadar County Cemeteries (CA) coahs Arvada Historical Society (Jefferson Co., CO) flwwdar Winding Waters Chapter (FL) DAR gafannhf Fannin County (GA) Heritage Foundation idawcdar Alice Whitman Chapter (ID) DAR inboone2 Boone County Indiana Pioneer Cemeteries Restoration Project inowen3 Owen Co (IN) USGW inpike3 Pike County (Indiana) ALHN laccusd Chalmette Chapter (LA) USD 1812 miwatgs Waterford (MI) Genealogical Society mndoldar Daughers of Liberty Chapter (MN) DAR momfmudc Matthew Fontaine Maury Chapter #1768 UDC nssda National Society Southern Dames of America paahcdar Adam Holliday Chapter (PA) DAR padac Pennsylvania DAC pafldar Fort Ligonier Chapter (PA) DAR pagjwdar General Joseph Warren Chapter (PA) DAR pagmdar Great Meadows Chapter (PA) DAR papssaw Pennsylvania Soldiers of the Spanish-American War 1898 pawkdar William Kenly Chapter (PA) DAR scelpdar Eliza Lucas Pinckney Chapter (SC) DAR scngdar Nathanael Greene Chapter (SC) DAR sdfaulk2 Faulk County (SD) Seneca People and Places txhghs Huntington Genealogical & Historical Society (East Texas) vafc2dar Falls Church (VA) Chapter DAR wamtcdar Michael Trebert Chapter (WA) DAR warcdar Rainier Chapter (WA) DAR INTERNATIONAL auskbcem Kalgoorlie Boulder Cemetery Association (Australia) irlgalway County Galway Surnames (Ireland) irlngsm North Galway & South Mayo (Ireland) Stories mexjedar John Edwards Chapter (Mexico) DAR nirbvphm Bann Valley Pre-History Museum (Northern Ireland) zafsaaf History of the Central Photographic Establishment (South African Air Force) 5d. New Mailing Lists To Request a New Mailing List: http://resources.rootsweb.com/adopt/ ------------------------------------------------------------- To find or subscribe to a mailing list, or to search archived posts to more than 30,000 RootsWeb-hosted genealogy mailing lists, go to http://lists.rootsweb.com/. NEW SURNAME MAILING LISTS BOZZA DUNSHEE GARETT JONES-FL LIVEZEY MARBURGER MCGLOWN PATTINSON ROEHLING STUMBO NEW REGIONAL MAILING LISTS CAN-NS-LUNENBURG GERMAN_COLONISTS_1714_VIRGINIA PAKISTAN VA-NORTHERN-NECK NEW ETHNIC OR SPECIAL INTEREST MAILING LISTS Y-DNA-HAPLOGROUP-R1A - A mailing list for discussion and sharing of information on the Y chromosome DNA haplogroup R1a and any subclades (i.e., R1a1, R1a2b,...) including queries and discussions making use of genealogical, archaeological, historical and biological studies and theories. 6. You Found It Salad Basics Years ago I was transcribing records for the LDS Church. I came upon a name that had me giggling. I wondered what was in the minds of her parents when they named her. Of course she was born in the mid 1700's. Her name was "Lettuce Head". Thanks to Kathy Johnson * * * A Reluctant Father I was combing 19th century Yorkshire Parish Records and Bishops' Transcripts for my Dawson ancestors a few years ago. In the margin of a Bishops' Transcript listing out-of-wedlock births, someone had added the father's name with the following notation: "He says he isn't, but he is!" (That's an exact quote, including the exclamation point. I was so startled by it, that I've had no trouble recalling it over the last 6-7 years!) Thanks to Linda Dawson in southern California * * * Bedtime Stories Continued Some years ago I met at church a lady called Mrs Chambers but she told me her maiden name was Gotobed. So Miss Gotobed married Mr Chambers. Thanks to Beth Skepper in Loughborough, Leicestershire * * * Another Bedtime Story Three Gotobeds that I like are the questioning, May Gertrude Gotobed, born 1877 and the echoed reply of, Gertrude May Gotobed, born 1900 and 1905. John Court Found a funny name or humorous tidbit in old records or an amusing entry in census, parish, church, or other records? Send these and other genealogy-related humor/humour items to Editor- RWR@rootsweb.com. For a description of, subscription information to, and an index of the more than 30,000 RootsWeb-hosted genealogy mailing lists go here. 7. Subscriptions, Submissions, Advertising, and Reprints ------------------------------------------------------------- SUBSCRIPTIONS. You received this newsletter because you are subscribed to the "RootsWeb Review." 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 Ancestry.com, 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 editor is considered to be for publication-- send 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: Kathryn Davidson, kdavidson@ancestry.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": 9 September 2009, Vol. 12, No. 9. * * * *