Maine Town Records

Recently I discovered Maine Town Records at the Raymond H. Fogler Library, the University of Maine.  No, I didn't drive or fly to Maine.  The web page can be accessed anytime of the day or night wherever you are located.

Maine towns represented in town reports

Boothbay Harbor Town Report 1891

Not all towns are represented, but there are many on the web site with links to a variety of years of reports. The dates are usually from the mid 1800s to the late 1800s.  Information is different by towns, counties and type of report.  Expect to find information on resident taxpayers, non-resident taxpayers, insolvencies, teacher reports and businesses.  If you think this is "boring" information, think again.  Your ancestor may be listed in these reports.  The dates between 1880 and 1900 fill in with information that is lost to us on the 1890 U.S. Census.

One of the links on the web page is Windows on Maine.  Here you can search and browse to find information on places and topics in Maine.  There are moving images, maps, photographs, texts and databases.

Caribou Town Report 1891 

The web site also hosts a special project, Plantation of Lakeville.  Even if Lakeville doesn't interest you, drop in for a visit to see what is digitized regarding the town.  Beginning in 1859 the records include the petition for organization, list of voters and return of enrolled militia.

You will want to bookmark this excellent page for reference in your Maine research.

Genealogy Webinars

There are many genealogy webinars available on Internet.  You need to plan in advance to attend them at their specific day and time.  Some are free and some cost to attend.  However, you don't to fill up the car with gas, get airplane or train tickets, reserve rooms ... they are brought to you on your computer.

Michael John Neill has announced his Genealogy Webinars.  One started yesterday, but you are in luck because there are still webinars scheduled through October 16th.  Michael is an excellent speaker and very knowledgable about genealogical research.  You can keep up with his research ideas and tips at his blog, RootDig.com.  He also writes  Casefile Clues, a subscription newsletter,  delivered to your e-mail address weekly.  I particularly enjoy his blog, Genealogy Tip of the Day, which provides a very quick read about a genealogy topic.  Do you have problems reading old documents?  Check in with Michael at his blog, Daily Genealogy Transcriber.  Another blog he writes is Search Tip of the Day.  You will want to check out all of them as they are beneficial to researchers.

The schedule for the remaining webinars that he presents:
Two German Women in Illinois - 23 September
Seeing Patterns and Organizing Information - 25 September
Determining Your Own Migration Trail - 1 October
Introduction to Federal Land States - 16 October

There is a fee of $4.25 for each webinar and you will also receive a PDF handout several days before the seminar, along with instructions.  All of this information can be found at Genealogy Webinars with Genealogist Michael John Neill.

Check out the webinar schedule and learn from Michael John Neill.  He is one of the best!

Finding City Directories

Salt Lake City, Utah 1869 Directory by Smith

Genealogists are adept at using federal and state census records, but often stop short of continuing their research in city directories.  Taken at various years and locations, city directories can supply interesting information, plus fill in gaps between census years.  There are many in transcription and/or digital format on Internet.  You can also find them in libraries, historical societies and archives.  The trick is to find them!

Miriam Midkiff's Online Historical Directories Website is a great place to start when looking for online directories.  There you will find links to city directories for the United States and other countries.  Not all states have complete listings because it is a work in progress.  Some of the links will take you to free sites for city directories and others to subscription sites.  The city directories are for a variety of years and may be city, county, town directories, as well as business and farm directories.

Doniphan County, Kansas Directory, 1868-1869 by Smith

When using the website, be sure you read Miriam's blog, Online Historical Directories,  for updates and interesting information about directories.  Her web page is always under construction as directories are located.  It's one of those you bookmark and remind yourself to check frequently.

Tennessee Formation Maps

I have a strong ancestral heritage in the state of Tennessee.  Anything Tennessee catches my attention.  Because no genealogical study and research is complete if you do not know about county formations, I am recommend Tennessee Formation Maps web site for those researching the state.  At the top of the web page is a section called Interactive Maps from 1776 to 1985.  You can play the maps, go back and forth between years and view specific years.  I recommend that you play the maps and then view each separately.

To enhance your knowledge of Tennessee county formations, read the chronology in text.  This begins with Washington District of North Carolina which was formed 12 November 1776.  There is also a list of Tennessee discontinued counties.  I had never heard of Spencer County which was formed in 1785 from Sullivan County and renamed Hawkins County in 1786.  But I did know about Sullivan and Hawkins counties.  No genealogist likes to even think about destroyed records, burned or ravished courthouses, but it happens.  There is also a list on the web page of Tennessee destroyed courthouses.

A study of the chronology also reveals the changes in government in Tennessee.  In 1784 three counties, Washington, Greene and Sullivan, formed the provisional State of Franklin.  If your ancestors lived in northeast Tennessee in that time period, the records may refer to them as being in the State of Franklin.  Three years later North Carolina gained supremacy over the State of Franklin and once again they were part of North Carolina until ceded to the federal government.  A document that I have refers to my ancestor as living in the "Territory of the United States South of the Ohio River."  That could encompass a broad area, but when named in 1790 it was in reference to what would become the state of Tennessee.  Finally on 1 June 1796 Tennessee was admitted as a state.

By reviewing the maps and county formations, you can place your Tennessee ancestor in the proper time period and place.  This one web page is outstanding for genealogical information!

Learning from Blogs

Blogs are places where I learn, exchange ideas and information, and catch up on what my genealogy friends are doing.  It seems each week I find blogs I want to follow.  Some have infrequent posts (as this one does at times), but reading archived posts can also be interesting.

Today I was reading my friend Leland Meitzler's Genealogy Blog.  His post "Discover the Van Dusens of New Amsterdam - 1627-2011" has a link to the full article in the New York Times, published on 22 July 2011.  The name Van Dusen popped right out and I knew that I would learn from that article since I research the family in New Amsterdam.  Thanks, Leland!

Each day I read the short, but informative blog written by Michael John Neill called Genealogy Tip of the Day.  On 19 July 2011 he wrote about the terms devise and bequeath.  Thanks Michael for informing us that devise refers to real property and bequeath to personal property.

Since grade school days I have been fascinated with the Lost Colony of Roanoke.  The history book account sparked an interest in mysteries that need to be solved.  My interest was later rekindled when I discovered early ancestors living in the Outer Banks of North Carolina.  They weren't members of the Lost Colony, though.  Because of my interest in that part and place of history, I frequently read the blog, Lost Colony Research Group.   If you enjoy history and genealogy in combination, check out the blog, Jamestown Adventurers.  It is a part of Virginia Pioneers.net.  You might want to also check out their web page.

Now is the time to celebrate the Civil War.  There are many blogs pertaining to the war, research, reenactments and events.  I would be hard pressed to figure out my favorite.  To find some of those great blogs, check out Best of the Civil War Blogs.

For a "trip" to a foreign country, read a blog.  You don't need to pack a suitcase or make travel arrangements!  I like the blogs Scotlands Genealogy and Scottish GENES.  Linda Elliott writes a great blog about genealogy, English genealogy in particular, at Mad About Genealogy.  Family Tree Tours brings us the blog, Heritage Travel.  There are photographs, links, videos and many research tips.  If you have European ancestry, be sure to click and read.

Some bloggers write to share family experiences, such as can be found at my sister-in-law's blog, Those Old Memories.  Others share research travels and experience.  One of my favorites is Reflections From the Fence, written by Carol Stevens.   Travel with Carol as she and her husband and dogs go searching for adventure and ancestors.  Learning skills are shared at Adventures in Genealogy Education written by Angela McGhie.

There is a lot to learn by reading blogs, such as the Library of Congress Blog.  Not every post contains information about genealogy, but they are interesting and you will a great deal about the library, history and yes ... genealogy.  The Allen County Public Library's blog, The Genealogy Center, brings news about the library, plus research information.

If I didn't mention your blog, it doesn't mean I don't read it and enjoy it.  Hey bloggers ... keep up the good work!

The Vietnam Wall

If you have ever been to the Vietnam Wall in Washington, DC, I am sure you share my feelings that it is awesome and sobering.  Even the traveling Vietnam Wall evokes the same feelings.  There are 58,195 names on the wall.

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall page provides a way of searching for names on the wall, determining their exact location.  If you locate a person of interest, there may be more information, such as a photograph, biographical information and postings from friends and relatives.

The Virtual Wall has links to state and town/city information on those whose names is inscribed on the wall.

Take a virtual tour of the Vietnam Wall at View the Wall.  Let your computer explore the names and areas of the wall in your search for a relative or loved on.

They are lost but certainly not forgotten.  As I have seen my reflection in the Vietnam Wall, I am thankful for the sacrifices that these men and women gave so that we can all be here to enjoy our freedom.  May they rest in peace.

Midwest Family History Expo

Mark your calendars for the next Family History Expo, July 29-30, 2011 in Overland Park, Kansas.  More details are available at the Family History Expo web site.  You can save $25 by registering NOW online.

The Expo will begin with an inspiring message from Lisa Louise Cooke, the producer and host of the Genealogy Gems Podcast.  She will also be teaching.  Once you hear her keynote speech you will want to start learning new research methods.

M. Bridget Cook will be the featured speaker at the dinner on July 29th.  She is a best selling author and biographer.  Her book, Shattered Silence, has been featured on Oprah, Dr. Phil, Good Morning America and other national TV shows and in magazines.  She will also be teaching classes at the Expo.  All of these great speakers and classes can be found at the agenda on the Midwest Family History Expo web site.

There will be vendors and more vendors, including FamilySearch, AGES-online, RootsMagic, Geni.com and the Jackson County Genealogical Society.  Be sure you stop by the Ask The Pros table in the exhibit hall.  Who can't resist free genealogical advise? We don't even use a crystal ball!

Young and old alike (including those in the middle) will enjoy and benefit from the Family History Expo.  The theme this year is "Where Ol' Dogs Learn New Trick!"  Indeed they do, but we also teach puppies about old tricks they need to know.

This is the 2nd Annual Family History Expo in the Kansas City area.  It will be held at the Overland Park Conference Center, 6000 College Blvd., Overland Park, Kansas.

PS .... my new book Genealogical Research in Nebraska will be available at the Family Roots Publishing Co. vending booth.