When I discovered the Genealogy Do-Over project, I decided to participate in Cycle 2, after lurking on Facebook during the later part of Cycle 1.
I wanted to start a fresh database which will be the only one for all of my lines instead of splitting my tree into several databases. Over the years I found there was too many intermarrying between the various branches, or an allied family marrying into two different branches. Which led to the dilemma as to which database do I enter their information and then cross references in the other.
When I started with Week 1 of Cycle 2 of the Genealogy Do-Over, I did set aside my genealogy research to do a complete start over. However, I couldn't just sit on my hands and not start working on my new database. And of course, I needed to use 'place holders' and enter basic information (ie names and undocumented birth/death dates) of ancestors to connect lines when entering names from obituaries, etc. Rootsmagic does allow colour coding, so as I enter individuals who still need to be properly researched and documented, I mark them with a different colour (aqua) from what they will eventually be (green). That way, I can at any time spot someone whose research has not yet been "finalized".
But now that I have "graduated" from the Genealogy Do-Over, it is time to put my newly honed (hopefully) skills to the test and concentrate on my direct lines instead of meandering along the collateral lines.
When I had started inputing information into the newly created database, I did start with myself and started working my way up the tree on my father's side. When I reached my great-great-grandmother (Mary Ann Widdis), I went sideways and started researching siblings and their descendants. She was from a large family and several of her siblings had large families. Haven't finished working on those lines, but I'm getting antsy to work on my direct lines. Since the branches I am abandoning for now are colour coded, I will be able to return to those individuals at some point in the future.
My guinea pig (and long time brick wall): James Widdis and Jane Thompson, the parents of Mary Ann Widdis. Suggested death dates for James should have his death certificate available as part of the Ontario Death records available on both Ancestry and FamilySearch. But earlies searches have not found him in the index on either site. Although numerous Public Member Trees on Ancestry are consistent with their information, I believe the death date usually listed is incorrect and none of the trees document their facts - so there's no link to an image. The couple also seem to be missing from the 1861 census. I'm sure its just a matter of a bad transcription, but just how bad was the named mangled? Cluster searching needs to be done, as well as a Research Log.
Thursday, July 23, 2015
Monday, June 1, 2015
Ancestry vs Family Search
I have had a subscription to Ancestry for a number of years. When they initiated the Canadian site, I quickly signed up as much of my family tree is Canadian. I was surprised that most of the databases, at least at that time, was fairly Ontario centric. But that was okay as the majority of my Canadian ancestors remained in Ontario with only a few migrating out west.
As time went on, I started researching branches that were located in the United States or United Kingdom. I attempted to make use of the the Library Edition of Ancestry at the Kingston Public Library, but having gotten accustomed to searching Ancestry any time day or night when I had an individual's record on the screen, booking a hour or two at a public library just wasn't cutting it. Especially when the branch closest to my house only allowed downloading to 3.5" floppy. (Yes, I was doing the research that long ago!) Not many images could be saved to a disk.
So I upgraded to the World edition of Ancestry and have continued to allow my membership to be renewed each year - viewing it as a birthday gift. It averages out to approximately a dollar a day - well worth it to my research.
At the same time as I was exploring Ancestry, I was also exploring free sites, including FamilySearch. But I have continued to use Ancestry as my prime source for Birth, Marriage, Death and census records as the records are indexed (albeit sometimes questionable) with links to images of the actual document. Even if the link was to Library and Archives Canada site, LAC usually does not provide an index. To locate the specific image on the LAC site, one would need to search in the same fashion as one would do on microfilm but without having to load and crank the microfilm roll.
Sometimes, an image would be available on FamilySearch via a link from the index but not always. Genealogy "experts" are always stressing the need to view the original source. So I continue to be willing to pay a subscription to Ancestry for that priviledge.
BUT....
At the Ontario Genealogy Society conference this past weekend, it was announced that FamilySearch.org now has an arrangement with the Archives of Ontario to provide digitized copies of the Birth, Marriages and Deaths. When I read the announcement, the dates listed for the three databases did not cover the most recent years available via Ancestry. So I figured I would continue my current search methods with Ancestry as my priority.
One negative with Ancestry (beside the previously mentioned questionable indexing) is that sometimes only the left side of the double page ledgers were digitized. Quite often, I have only been able to get part of the information for the event. I would make note of that in my records, but it was frustrating: marriage records with only the county and not the city/township information, the actual record number, witnesses, etc. Similar if the event was birth or death.
Last night when I encountered this situation in the case of a birth record, I decided to search that individual in FamilySearch. Lo and behold, the individual's birth record was at the top of the list of hits and with fingers crossed, I clicked on the link for the image. Not only was the right side of the ledger digitized, but the image of the left side was a clearer copy than what Ancestry offered.
For now, I will still continue with my subscription to Ancestry. There are many other databases offered on that site that I do not believe are offered by FamilySearch. But it is nice to know that "missing" information may be obtainable from FamilySearch.
As time went on, I started researching branches that were located in the United States or United Kingdom. I attempted to make use of the the Library Edition of Ancestry at the Kingston Public Library, but having gotten accustomed to searching Ancestry any time day or night when I had an individual's record on the screen, booking a hour or two at a public library just wasn't cutting it. Especially when the branch closest to my house only allowed downloading to 3.5" floppy. (Yes, I was doing the research that long ago!) Not many images could be saved to a disk.
So I upgraded to the World edition of Ancestry and have continued to allow my membership to be renewed each year - viewing it as a birthday gift. It averages out to approximately a dollar a day - well worth it to my research.
At the same time as I was exploring Ancestry, I was also exploring free sites, including FamilySearch. But I have continued to use Ancestry as my prime source for Birth, Marriage, Death and census records as the records are indexed (albeit sometimes questionable) with links to images of the actual document. Even if the link was to Library and Archives Canada site, LAC usually does not provide an index. To locate the specific image on the LAC site, one would need to search in the same fashion as one would do on microfilm but without having to load and crank the microfilm roll.
Sometimes, an image would be available on FamilySearch via a link from the index but not always. Genealogy "experts" are always stressing the need to view the original source. So I continue to be willing to pay a subscription to Ancestry for that priviledge.
BUT....
At the Ontario Genealogy Society conference this past weekend, it was announced that FamilySearch.org now has an arrangement with the Archives of Ontario to provide digitized copies of the Birth, Marriages and Deaths. When I read the announcement, the dates listed for the three databases did not cover the most recent years available via Ancestry. So I figured I would continue my current search methods with Ancestry as my priority.
One negative with Ancestry (beside the previously mentioned questionable indexing) is that sometimes only the left side of the double page ledgers were digitized. Quite often, I have only been able to get part of the information for the event. I would make note of that in my records, but it was frustrating: marriage records with only the county and not the city/township information, the actual record number, witnesses, etc. Similar if the event was birth or death.
Last night when I encountered this situation in the case of a birth record, I decided to search that individual in FamilySearch. Lo and behold, the individual's birth record was at the top of the list of hits and with fingers crossed, I clicked on the link for the image. Not only was the right side of the ledger digitized, but the image of the left side was a clearer copy than what Ancestry offered.
For now, I will still continue with my subscription to Ancestry. There are many other databases offered on that site that I do not believe are offered by FamilySearch. But it is nice to know that "missing" information may be obtainable from FamilySearch.
Tuesday, April 28, 2015
Research Plan
As I participate in the Genealogy Do-Over I am recreating my database for several reasons:
1) Merging the multiple databases back into one massive file.
As time went on, I was finding I was frequently having to do 'see references' as there was more cross-covers of branches than I thought I would fine.
2) Correcting/improving source citations.
Many of my citations are from the old FamilyTreeMaker files imported into RootsMagic and were in a free-form format rather than a more appropriate template. And no information included.
To ensure better citations, I am re-doing the research. Now that all available census for Canada, US and England are now available on Ancestry, I can search in one spot for the lifespan of each individual. By starting with census searches for an individual, it provides information as to the parents and siblings as well as age. If the birth falls during the time period covered by Ontario Births, search for the individual, as well as marriage and death.
When a marriage is confirmed, the birth and census records for the spouse will need to be searched. Census records of the couple will provide names for children. Birth, marriage and death records for those children will need to be searched.
If an individual or family "disappear" from Ontario, check the US census records as many people migrated from Ontario to various areas of the United States. This would lead to checking records available for that state, as well as military and SSDI.
If an individual/family migrated from Ontario to the Canadian west, they should still be found in Canadian census, including the special 1906 and 1916 censuses done in the Prairies (but not British Columbia). Many of the provinical archives BDM records are now available via Ancestry, so there may not been the need to check the various archives online records.
If census and BMD records not located on Ancestry, check FamilySearch as well as sites bookmarked. And then google.
It is recommended that Research Logs be used to document where and what one searches. But records change so quickly on the internet, I don't see a problem with repeating a search at a later date.
Personally, I don't see the need to maintain a Research Log documenting what I do find as the information is immediately entered in the database. Using split screens when checking for online records, data is entered into Rootsmagic on the spot as well as cut/pasting transcriptions or saving and linking digital images.
More forma Research Plans will need to be developed come the time I venture out to physical repositories. But for now the plan is in my head with evaluations being done of the fly.
1) Merging the multiple databases back into one massive file.
As time went on, I was finding I was frequently having to do 'see references' as there was more cross-covers of branches than I thought I would fine.
2) Correcting/improving source citations.
Many of my citations are from the old FamilyTreeMaker files imported into RootsMagic and were in a free-form format rather than a more appropriate template. And no information included.
To ensure better citations, I am re-doing the research. Now that all available census for Canada, US and England are now available on Ancestry, I can search in one spot for the lifespan of each individual. By starting with census searches for an individual, it provides information as to the parents and siblings as well as age. If the birth falls during the time period covered by Ontario Births, search for the individual, as well as marriage and death.
When a marriage is confirmed, the birth and census records for the spouse will need to be searched. Census records of the couple will provide names for children. Birth, marriage and death records for those children will need to be searched.
If an individual or family "disappear" from Ontario, check the US census records as many people migrated from Ontario to various areas of the United States. This would lead to checking records available for that state, as well as military and SSDI.
If an individual/family migrated from Ontario to the Canadian west, they should still be found in Canadian census, including the special 1906 and 1916 censuses done in the Prairies (but not British Columbia). Many of the provinical archives BDM records are now available via Ancestry, so there may not been the need to check the various archives online records.
If census and BMD records not located on Ancestry, check FamilySearch as well as sites bookmarked. And then google.
It is recommended that Research Logs be used to document where and what one searches. But records change so quickly on the internet, I don't see a problem with repeating a search at a later date.
Personally, I don't see the need to maintain a Research Log documenting what I do find as the information is immediately entered in the database. Using split screens when checking for online records, data is entered into Rootsmagic on the spot as well as cut/pasting transcriptions or saving and linking digital images.
More forma Research Plans will need to be developed come the time I venture out to physical repositories. But for now the plan is in my head with evaluations being done of the fly.
Thursday, April 23, 2015
Online Research sources
The internet has been very beneficial to people doing genealogy research. Yes, the internet provides access to only a fraction of genealogy resources available and allows a log of inaccurate information to be upload and spread by innocent people. BUT depending on what records are relevant to your ancestors, it may be feasible to do alot of research without physically leaving your chair at home.
I am lucky that a large portion of my branches have lived in Ontario for over 100 years, in some cases closer to 200 years. Schells (my maternal grandfather's line) since about 1800; Bates and Mumbersons (my maternal grandmother's lines) since about 1850; Allens (my paternal grandfather's line) since 1830s. The Coopers (my paternal grandmother's line) are the newcomers having only been in Canada since 1902.
Although several branches of the Schells left Ontario to go to Michigan and further west, the families were large, so many Schell branches are still in Ontario. Most importantly, my direct line has stayed in Ontario. My other lines have had some members depart Ontario to migrate to the Canadian west, but again, my direct lines have stayed in Ontario.
Since most of the trees in my forest have remained in Ontario, the databases available on Ancestry are very beneficial to me. Some of the databases are available on free sites, but may not include images (FamilySearch) or provide indexes (Library and Archives Canada). And saves me a trip to the Archives of Ontario in Toronto. Most public libraries provide access to Ancestry but usually require one to reserve time on a computer and limited that access to one or two hours.
Yes, one can do alot of searching in that amount of time and I tried that for US and UK records at a time when my subscription was only for the Canadian site. But as time went on, I found it so efficient to have ready access at my fingertips to the Ancestry databases that I upgraded my Ancestry subscription to world-wide.
So now when I'm working on an individual, I can have Ancestry and my database on split screens going back and forth. I can determine at a glance that the record is my ancestor, enter the information in my database, click and save a copy of the image and attach it to the record in my database.
As I participate in the Genealogy Do-Over, I started a new database and redoing all of my previous research, starting with what is available on Ancestry and other online resources before I start consulting books or venturing out into the field to repositories and court houses (I hadn't even gotten to that stage before the Do-Over).
It is slow going, but it is amazing all of the informaton I have been able to find. Ancestry now provides access to indexed, digitized images of all of the Canadian censuses as well as Voters Lists from 1935-1974. Ancestry also provides indexed, digitized images of Ontario birth, marriage and deaths for several decades. What I cannot find on Ancestry, I will check FamilySearch as they offer some different databases, as well as having used different transcribers than Ancesty to index the databases that are duplicated.
Google searches help to locate newspapers, funeral homes and cemeteries as well as genealogy societies or public library sites that make various databases available through their websites.
When I started with the Do-Over, I intended to refrain from accessing and using public member trees uploaded by individual on Ancestry and similar sites. However, I have to admit that I will search a name and make use of information in the entries on those trees. Using the information from those trees, I have been able to discover maiden names, names of parents of an in-law, children, etc which has assisted me to redo searches to find records verifying that information.
By the time I feel that I have exhausted all available online resources for an individual, I have fleshed out an individual's record as well as providing more foliage in my forest.
I am lucky that a large portion of my branches have lived in Ontario for over 100 years, in some cases closer to 200 years. Schells (my maternal grandfather's line) since about 1800; Bates and Mumbersons (my maternal grandmother's lines) since about 1850; Allens (my paternal grandfather's line) since 1830s. The Coopers (my paternal grandmother's line) are the newcomers having only been in Canada since 1902.
Although several branches of the Schells left Ontario to go to Michigan and further west, the families were large, so many Schell branches are still in Ontario. Most importantly, my direct line has stayed in Ontario. My other lines have had some members depart Ontario to migrate to the Canadian west, but again, my direct lines have stayed in Ontario.
Since most of the trees in my forest have remained in Ontario, the databases available on Ancestry are very beneficial to me. Some of the databases are available on free sites, but may not include images (FamilySearch) or provide indexes (Library and Archives Canada). And saves me a trip to the Archives of Ontario in Toronto. Most public libraries provide access to Ancestry but usually require one to reserve time on a computer and limited that access to one or two hours.
Yes, one can do alot of searching in that amount of time and I tried that for US and UK records at a time when my subscription was only for the Canadian site. But as time went on, I found it so efficient to have ready access at my fingertips to the Ancestry databases that I upgraded my Ancestry subscription to world-wide.
So now when I'm working on an individual, I can have Ancestry and my database on split screens going back and forth. I can determine at a glance that the record is my ancestor, enter the information in my database, click and save a copy of the image and attach it to the record in my database.
As I participate in the Genealogy Do-Over, I started a new database and redoing all of my previous research, starting with what is available on Ancestry and other online resources before I start consulting books or venturing out into the field to repositories and court houses (I hadn't even gotten to that stage before the Do-Over).
It is slow going, but it is amazing all of the informaton I have been able to find. Ancestry now provides access to indexed, digitized images of all of the Canadian censuses as well as Voters Lists from 1935-1974. Ancestry also provides indexed, digitized images of Ontario birth, marriage and deaths for several decades. What I cannot find on Ancestry, I will check FamilySearch as they offer some different databases, as well as having used different transcribers than Ancesty to index the databases that are duplicated.
Google searches help to locate newspapers, funeral homes and cemeteries as well as genealogy societies or public library sites that make various databases available through their websites.
When I started with the Do-Over, I intended to refrain from accessing and using public member trees uploaded by individual on Ancestry and similar sites. However, I have to admit that I will search a name and make use of information in the entries on those trees. Using the information from those trees, I have been able to discover maiden names, names of parents of an in-law, children, etc which has assisted me to redo searches to find records verifying that information.
By the time I feel that I have exhausted all available online resources for an individual, I have fleshed out an individual's record as well as providing more foliage in my forest.
Got a few minutes?
Genealogy research can be done anywhere, anytime, for a few minutes, or lengthy periods of time. Of course it all depends on what resources are available to you at any given time.
Most of my working career was in academic libraries. What a perfect place for a genealogy hobbyist! Not only were print and microfilm documents available at my fingertips, but so was the internet from its infancy.
Pre-internet, lunchtimes were spent checking census microfilm, usually one reel at a time. By the time the reel was located, loaded and started scrolling through the images by the time I located the family in question I barely had time to record the informtion before having to return to work. How I wish the technology existed then to download the image to a thumbdrive. I could have got a lot more done in less time. Of course when I stayed after work, I didn't have the same restraints.
Yes, one can find many relevant records during their 15 minute break, surfing the internet in one's cubicle. Download images to a thumbdrive, cut & paste text into a word processor and save to the thumbdrive. And of course, if one ate one's lunch at said cubile, even more records can be found, saved and/or transribed.
But all this found data still needed to be incorporated into the database on the home computer, although I have been known to take my laptop to work to use on break/lunch/afterwork. But that changed when a new release of RootsMagic included "To-Go". This enabled me to synch from my home computer to a thumbdrive. All I had to carry to work was that thumbdrive and not only was I able to consult my existing tree, I could update my database on the spot! More efficient as I could then spend the evening at home surfing the internet for new records rather than entering data found earlier in the day. When I would synch the thumbddrive to the laptop, I would have to remember to copy images from the thumbdrive to the computer.
Over the years, I found a lot of relevant information in chunks of 15 minutes at a time.
Most of my working career was in academic libraries. What a perfect place for a genealogy hobbyist! Not only were print and microfilm documents available at my fingertips, but so was the internet from its infancy.
Pre-internet, lunchtimes were spent checking census microfilm, usually one reel at a time. By the time the reel was located, loaded and started scrolling through the images by the time I located the family in question I barely had time to record the informtion before having to return to work. How I wish the technology existed then to download the image to a thumbdrive. I could have got a lot more done in less time. Of course when I stayed after work, I didn't have the same restraints.
Yes, one can find many relevant records during their 15 minute break, surfing the internet in one's cubicle. Download images to a thumbdrive, cut & paste text into a word processor and save to the thumbdrive. And of course, if one ate one's lunch at said cubile, even more records can be found, saved and/or transribed.
But all this found data still needed to be incorporated into the database on the home computer, although I have been known to take my laptop to work to use on break/lunch/afterwork. But that changed when a new release of RootsMagic included "To-Go". This enabled me to synch from my home computer to a thumbdrive. All I had to carry to work was that thumbdrive and not only was I able to consult my existing tree, I could update my database on the spot! More efficient as I could then spend the evening at home surfing the internet for new records rather than entering data found earlier in the day. When I would synch the thumbddrive to the laptop, I would have to remember to copy images from the thumbdrive to the computer.
Over the years, I found a lot of relevant information in chunks of 15 minutes at a time.
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