Online Genealogy Search techniques

I promise you that you will find illuminating information in this GenealogyInTime Magazine article … even if you have read articles before about using online search engines.

Check it out at:  Ten Innovations in Online Genealogy Search

PGS Educational Event for the Week of 28 December 2014 to 3 January 2015

We have only one event scheduled for this week:

Saturday, 3-Jan-15 at 10:00 AM--Family Tree Maker User Group--Questions& Answers and Demonstration of how to use the Family Tree Maker genealogical database software, Hosmer, Jenkins C, Largo Library

Here are some websites to keep at hand:

• PGS on Facebook: http://goo.gl/fU1lo
• PGS Monthly Newsletter: click on "PGS News" link at http://goo.gl/9FFe0
• PGS Class schedule: http://www.flpgs.org/classes.aspx
• PGS Class handouts, book lists, and other publications -- sign in to members-only website: http://goo.gl/9cqHR

Ohio Marriages and Obituaries

Check the Tuscarawas County Genealogical Society for county marriages and obits. On the home page look for the links in the panel to the left of the screen.

The marriage index covers April 1880 through April 1941 and contains 38,421 marriages.

The obituary index covers 1954-1967 and 2003-2011.

Tuscarawas County Genealogical Society

Are People With the Same Family Name Related?

This article from GenealogyInTime Magazine gives some insight to the chances that people with the same surname are related (actually it appears to only run up to about 50% for even the most rare surnames…and significantly less for more common surnames).

The data comes from a study of British surnames. You can read the article at:  Are People With the Same Family Name Related?

Godfrey Memorial Library Databases Available to Largo Public Library Genealogists

Recently the Genealogy Center at the Largo Public Library subscribed to the online databases of the Godfrey Memorial Library. Those databases are now available to patrons in the library using personal computers, terminals, or their own laptop.

The Godfrey Memorial Library is located in Middletown, Connecticut, and its collection focuses mainly on New England states. Some of its databases, however, include other states and even roam occasionally to foreign countries. The collection also offers  material that is not available elsewhere on the Internet. The home page gives you the choice of doing a word search or browsing the individual collections. Instructions on how to access the Godfrey collection are located next to each workstation in the Genealogy Center, and consultants are on duty to provide assistance as needed.

The following is a list of the principle databases in the Godfrey collection:

• American Genealogical and Biographical Index (AGBI)
• Biographies – alphabetical surname list of published genealogies
• Cemeteries – Ed Laput Cemetery Project; indexes alphabetized by state (mostly Connecticut); cemetery records listed by Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Italy (only a few)
• Church records – indexes and record books
• Directories – alphabetized by state
• Funeral Home Records – indexes and record books
• Genealogies – alphabetized lists of books, family charts and journals
• Godfrey digital content on World Vital Records – digitized books
• Helpful Websites – table of links organized by state and by topic
• Maps – alphabetized by states
• Military – Books in three categories: Revolutionary War, Civil War, Spanish American War
• Newspapers – 19^th century US Newspapers
• State and Local Histories – Alphabetized by state
• Vital Records – alphabetized list by state (mostly Connecticut and Massachusetts)

The Godfrey collection is the second new addition to the Largo Library genealogy databases in the past several months. The other is Fold3, a comprehensive collection of online military indexes and actual records ranging from the Revolutionary War to the present.

Plan to stop by the Genealogy Center and see if these new resources are helpful in your research.

Middlesex County Probate Records Free Online

AmericanAncestors.org has made available probate records from some 45,000 cases adjudicated from 1648 to 1871.

You can search and view them for free at:  New England Historic Genealogical Society

Brick Wall Solutions

The GenealogyInTime Magazine offers us another of its articles about finding solutions to brick wall problems. This one is full of tips and is worth reading even if you haven’t encountered a brick wall in your research yet.

More Great Genealogy Brick Wall Solutions

Anglicized French Surnames

If you suspect that you have some French ancestry, you will be interested in the Anglicization of French surnames. Knowing that version of your surname can help in tracing back to the old county.

You can find an impressive list of English surnames and their French equivalents at the Quebec Project GenWeb.

Check it out at:  GenWebQuebec, noms anglicisés

PGS Educational Events for the week of 14-20 December 2014

Monday, 15-Dec-14 at 10:00 AM--Library of Congress Website--what genealogy help it provides, veterans’ information, historic newspapers, digital collections, photographs, and use of the catalog. Summers, Local History Room, Largo Library.

Wednesday, 17-Dec-14 at 6:00 PM--National Archives,–Ordering Data. This is an in-depth explanation of how to order several different records from the National Archives. The records include military (both historic and modern), naturalization, census, land, and microfilm. Both online and postal mail ordering procedures will be covered.  Summers, Local History Room, Largo Library.

Thursday, 18-Dec-2014 at 12:30 PM--Familysearch.org—the class will demonstrate how to search the vast databases available on this rapidly-expanding site made available from the LDS (Mormon) genealogy collection. Bryan, Aging Well Center, 1501 N. Belcher Rd., Clearwater, FL

Saturday, 20-Dec-14 at 10:00 AM--Computers in Genealogy--Question and answer session on the use of computers in genealogy research and record keeping. Bryan, Jenkins B, Largo Library

Saturday, 20 Dec 2014 at 11:00 AM—Program Meeting, Holiday Party and “Show and Tell”. Bring your family heirlooms, genealogical displays or other items about your family history to show others. Display tables will be available around the room.

Economics and Name Change

The GenealogyInTime Magazine offers us an interesting article about the economic consequences of immigrants changing their names.

A recent study in Sweden is cited that revealed earnings increased with more “local-sounding” names.

See the details at:  Why Immigrants Change Their Name

New Year's Eve "London Time"

This is a dinner and dance celebration sponsored by the Greater Largo Library Foundation. It is on 31 December 2014 from 5:30 to 9:30 PM. Enjoy a celebratory dinner dance and still be home in time to watch the ball drop in Times Square, attend another party, or just crawl into bed early!

Beginning at 5:30 PM with hors d'oeuvres and cocktails, the festivities will move into a delicious English dinner and dancing to the music of the Jim Weber Band. There will also be silent and Chinese auctions.

AT 7 PM, New Year's in London Time, the balloons will drop and Champaign will be served.

Tickets are $60 per person or $100 per couple, and sponsorship opportunities are available. Proceeds go to support of the Largo Public Library.

Tickets are available online at www.gllf.org or at the Largo Public Library Circulation Desk. Call the GLLF office for more information : 727-586-7398

Fun Stuff

Sometimes you just have to take a break from all of that serious research, and this is a website that will accomplish that. It is packed with humorous sayings, definitions, poems, and more.

Take a break at:  http://www.funstuffforgenealogists.com/html/poems.htm

PGS Educational Activities for the Week of 7-13 December 2014

Tue, 9-Dec-14 at 6:00 PM--Heritage Quest--Getting the most from this free* website. Summers, Local History Room, Largo Library

Wed, 10-Dec-14 at 6:00 PM--National Archives--Finding Data. This is a detailed explanation of how to get the most out of the NARA website (other than ordering records—see additional class listing for that topic). Topics will focus on finding data online, using the catalog system, preparing for a visit, and finding genealogy assistance. Summers, Local History Room, Largo Library.
Thu, 11-Dec-14 at 10:30 AM--Canadian Genealogy Interest Group. Grandmaison, Local History Room, Largo Library.

If you are looking for a way to contribute to PGS projects, here is a good one. Saturday, 13-Dec-14, 9:30-11:30--Memorial Park Cemetery Canvass. Location: 5750 49th Street North, St. Petersburg (at the  intersection of 49th Street North and 54th Avenue North, west side).  We plan to meet in the South section of the cemetery (south of 54th avenue).  Google "memorial park cemetery St. Petersburg FL" for a map. Refreshments will be provided.  Wear your PGS shirts if you have one and bring your digital camera. It’s a lot of fun as you get to know PGS members better while you contribute to a good cause.

Ancestry Paths: Links and Tips Abound

Ancestry Paths is one of those websites that you tend to get lost in. You start to read a bit, follow a link…then another…and pretty soon time has passed and you were not aware of it.

The site offers a wealth of information on scores of genealogy topics, and then links to find additional information and even online data.

Check it out at:  Ancestry Paths | Helping you find your way to Genealogy information.

Videos and Podcasts on DNA

If you are interested in getting started in DNA research, or just want to bolster your understanding in general, this website may be for you. I gives you direct links to videos and podcasts about the subject. They are free. There are also links to information on the more popular testing companies.

Check it out at:  How-To DNA | How-To Videos and Podcasts That Help You Understand DNA