Whatcom Genealogical Society will meet Monday, November 13th at 2 pm at the Bellingham Elks Lodge, 710 Samish Way.
Our program will be Jill Morelli, Professional Genealogist, speaking on “Changes at Family Search.” Visitors welcome!
Contact: 360-733-8300
For those of you who might have early Spokane connections, The Spokesman-Reivew has published a pictorial history of early Spokane…..as shown in the images of past issues of the newspaper.
While I have no Spokane connections, hubby’s family does. John Peter Oswald married Mary Ethel Leverich in 1911 at her home in Illinois and then came to Hillyard where he worked on the locomotives. When expecting their first child, John’s mother Esther, they bought land west of town and raised their five children there, born 1913-1925. So I’m ordering this book for his Christmas!
For ordering information, click to www.Spokane.PictorialBook.com. Cost before Dec 8th is $29.95 (plus tax/shipping) and will be $15 more later on.
Has the newspaper in your ancestral home towns published such a history? Have you checked????
Good November morning! Ready for a really good mystery today?
I spotted these ceramic “things” at Apple Annie’s in Cashmere. What are they….what were they FOR?
SPOOKIER THAN HALLOWEEN
Everyone has heard of the infamous Salem Witch Trials of 1692, but did you realize the first witch trials and executions actually began in colonial Connecticut decades earlier?
In 1642, the law was enacted and in 1647, the first hanging took place. The law simply stated “If any man or woman be a witch (that is) hath or consulted with a familiar spirit, they shall be put to death”, and only one eyewitness was required for a conviction.
Of course, you were entitled to a trial and a jury of your “peers”. Of eleven documented executions, nine were poor women. Reading the court records, you can see the jurors, “peers”, so to speak, were likely a Mr Phelps, Mr Wadsworth, Mr Talcott, Mr Bacon, Mr Grisswold, Mr Dickson, Mr Whiting, Mr Deming, Mr Clark, Mr Allyn, Mr Steele, and Mr Moore. The only two men ever convicted in Connecticut, were convicted along with their wives.
In 1662, Governor Winthrop established that each act of alleged witchcraft must have two eyewitnesses for a conviction and no witches were executed in Connecticut after that time. In total 35 residents were accused. Some were acquitted, but some fled, fearing for their lives.
Were your colonial ancestors part of this witchcraft frenzy, as one of the persecuted, as an accuser, or on a jury? Be sure to check out the Tip-of-the-Week in this edition for links to some great resources on published court records for the early Colony of Connecticut.
A CALL FOR ARTICLES
Since most genealogists love sharing their research and family story, and SGS is always looking for interesting articles for the semi-annual Journal of the Seattle Genealogical Society, why not consider writing something for publication?
Suitable subjects would be original compositions detailing your research experiences, maybe an unusual research problem and how you solved it, hints and tips for fellow researchers, or even reviewing a genealogically based tour. No one is probably better able than yourself to convey the family history story you have compiled from letters, diaries, scrapbooks, family Bibles, community and public records. Would your story interest others?
The Journal of the Seattle Genealogical Society editorial staff would certainly welcome your submission. Help is available for inexperienced writers. All submissions will be reviewed and edited for style and length as needed. Submissions should include citations on how and where you found the information. Please check the SGS website for writing guidelines. Original manuscripts cannot be returned, so keep a copy for your records. Previously published material will be considered if the sources, date of publication, and the publication’s address are noted.
Interested or have questions? You may contact the editorial staff or the Director of Publications via email at :
publications@seattlegenealogicalsociety.org
NEW EXHIBIT AT NAAM
Lisa Myers Bulmash, a genealogy buff, mom of two, and artist who explores African American heritage through her work, will have an exhibit of her art at the Northwest African American Museum, 2300 S Massachussetts St, Seattle, WA 98144. It will run from November 5, 2017 through April 8, 2018.
The exhibit, “You’re Not From Around Here, Are You?”, explores topics that are top-of-mind for many:
•historical images, including people of color
•gentrification
•feeling targeted or excluded for who we are
•looking for a “safe space”
•what it means to be a person of color in the Northwest
For more info on Lisa’s exhibit and to see what all NAAM has to offer, visit the website at :
www.naamnw.org
The mission of NAAM is to spread knowledge, understanding and enjoyment of the histories, arts and cultures of people of African descent for the enrichment of all. The museum presents and preserves connections between the Pacific Northwest and people of African descent. NAAM also investigates and celebrates Black experiences in America through exhibitions, programs and events.
Lisa Myers Bulmash is the winner of a 2016 Sustainable Arts Foundation grant, an award to support artists with children under age 18. Her work and commentary have been highlighted in five books as well. Myers Bulmash exhibits her work in group and solo shows throughout the Seattle metro area.
Second Saturdays at SGS
On Saturday, November 11, following a short SGS membership business meeting, our Second Saturday program will be Mary Kathryn Kozy presenting “Using Social Media for Family History: Why Bother?” With the popularity of social media, sites like Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube, as well as webinars, blogs, and podcasts, can be invaluable for meeting new cousins, sharing research ideas, records, photos, and genealogical education. Come learn how social media can help you further your genealogy research goals.
SAVE THE DATES
2017 Washington Family History Fair,
LDS – the Bellevue Stake Center,
14536 Main St,
Bellevue, WA
Saturday, November 4, 2017
It’s time again for the annual Washington Family History Fair. Always free, always informative, a different venue.
Early registration is encouraged so they can plan resources accordingly. The classes schedule is listed at the bottom of the online registration form. You can also pay for and order your lunch and order a printed syllabus on the registration form.
Speakers include our Jean A Roth.
Registration for the Family History Fair is at:
https://www.wafamilyhistory.com/2017/registration.html
Overview of Scandinavian Resources,
Stillaquamish Valley Genealogical Society,
6111 188th Pl NE,
Arlington, WA 98223
Tuesday, November 14, 2017
Jill Morelli, CG and president of SGS, is presenting an Overview of Scandinavian Resources which introduces three major record sets of Sweden, Denmark and Norway in a two part series. Part one was on Tuesday, October 10th. Part 2 will be Tuesday, November 14th at 1 pm. This will be held at the Stillaguamish Valley Genealogical Society Library, and is free to the public. It will be followed by the regular meeting of the SVGS. Jill lectures and writes about her research and discoveries as a family historian. She is a member of the Genealogical Speakers Guild, Association of Professional Genealogists and numerous societies.
SGS CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Unless otherwise indicated all programs will be at the SGS Library, 6200 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle. Check the SGS Web Site for additions, changes, and corrections. Programs may be canceled or postponed because of inclement weather. The SGS Library will be closed from November 23 through November 27 and from December 22 through January 1, 2018, for the holidays.
NOVEMBER
Saturday, November 4, 1:00p m – 3:00 pm, Family Tree Interest Group, Lou Daly, leader of this new special interest group exploring all the features of the tool Family Tree on FamilySearch.
Tuesday, November 7, 12:30pm-2:30pm, DNA Tech Tuesday, with Cary Bright.
Saturday, November 11, 1:00p m – 3:00 pm, Fall Membership Meeting & Second Saturday Speaker Series, a short membership business meeting will be followed by Mary Kathryn Kozy presenting “Using Social Media for Family History: Why Bother?”
Sunday, November 12, 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm, Scandinavian Interest Group, Karen Knudson, leader. A workshop for your Scandinavian genealogy.
Saturday, November 18, 10:15am – 12:15pm, Irish SIG, with Jean Roth
Saturday, November 18, 1:00pm – 2:30pm, Women in WWI, presented by Lisa Oberg
Sunday, November 19, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm, DNA Workshop, Led by Cary Bright with first hour on a specific topic, and the second hour open for sharing DNA issues with focus on GenomeMate Pro.
DECEMBER
Saturday, December 2, 10:15am – 12:15pm, Family Tree Interest Group, Lou Daly, leader of this special interest group exploring all the features of the tool Family Tree on FamilySearch.
Saturday, December 9, 10:15am – 12:15pm, Family Tree Maker (FTM) Users Group, with Reiley Kidd and Betty Ravenholt, leaders
Sunday, December 10, 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm, Scandinavian Interest Group, Karen Knudson, leader. A workshop for your Scandinavian genealogy.
Saturday, December 16, 10:15am – 12:15pm, Irish SIG, with Jean Roth
Saturday, December 16, 1:00pm – 2:30pm, German SIG, with Jean Roth
**** Ever heard of “warnings out” when doing New England research? Quoting from an article by Cherry Fletcher Bamberg, in the NEHGS Register, Summer 2015: “The floating poor, unwelcome anywhere but the town in which they were born, left scant documentary record of their existence. They are often mentioned only in warnings out when the town council ordered that they leave town before becoming a burden on the tax rolls. As each town bore the responsibility of supporting its own poor, strangers without proper certificates from their own towns represented an undue drain on the chronically stressed town treasuries.” Have you found your ancestor on a “warned out” list??
**** Judy Russell has a terrific nearly daily blog. Last Friday (Oct 27) she posted a great bit about NARA, our National Archives. She reminds us that this repository of American history offers “a virtual cornucopia if information about records there, researching in person at its facilities, and about genealogical research in general.” Wanna know more? Click to www.YouTube.com then to the NARA channel, “Know Your Records.” There you’ll find 61 video-lessons listed, plenty enough for a couple of soon-to-come snow days.
**** Don’t most of us know about Internet Archive…. quoting from their website: “Internet Archive is a non-profit library of millions of free books, movies, software, music, websites, and more.” The news about Internet Archive is that now you can digitally borrow a book from this site! Say you’re looking for a family history, The Turners from Tennessee, and you finally find a copy on Internet Archive….. now you can borrow that book for up to 14 days for free. Check it out. (P.S. I made up that book.)
**** True serendipity: Did you know that brown chickens give brown eggs and white hens give white eggs. That’s the ONLY difference; there is no difference in nutrition, so I read.
TIP OF THE WEEK –
COURT RECORDS IN COLONIAL CONNECTICUT
If you have Connecticut ancestors, you are fortunate because there are plenty of early records available.
The Particular Court, sometimes called the Quarter Court because it was required to meet once every quarter, was an early court in Connecticut. A book, “Records of the Particular court of Connecticut, 1639-1663”, published by the Connecticut Historical Society is viewable and searchable at Hathi Trust Digital Library. Go to :
https://catalog.hathitrust.
Click on the Full View. There’s a box for your search criteria and a FIND button right next to it, toward the top right corner. If you search for John Carrington or Mary Johnson, two unfortunates that were hung for witchcraft, you will find that wasn’t their only run-in with the law. They were also convicted of “bartering a gun to an Indian” and thievery, respectively.
Another resource, “Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut, 1636-1776” is a 15 volume digital set you can access online via the UConn website.
Click on the volume you are interested in; they are in chronological order. Once the viewable and searchable PDF opens up, use the magnifying glass icon closest to the image of the book to “search inside” the book. Using John Carrington again, I found that he was ordered to pay someone for his share of corn, and he was paid for building someone else a coffin.
Much of the proceedings have to do with property and money matters so there is a good chance you will find something in here that involves your ancestor. Happy hunting.
THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’sWednesday EveningE-News1 November 2017 |
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For more information visit www.gfo.org, contact us at info@gfo.org, or call our library at 503-963-1932. We love hearing from you! For a complete GFO CALENDAR click here. Also, if you missed your free copy of our monthly Insider for November 2017, you’re in luck because we saved you a copy HERE. NOTE: The Insider issues are now located under the “Learn” > “Our Publications” menu at www.gfo.org. |
Curious about the status of your GFO Membership?? We’d love to have you as a GFO Member! |
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Library Work Party, Sunday, Nov 5th, 9am – noonOur fearless leader, Laurel Smith, has been working hard with our Library Committee to produce new labels for our books as part of the GFO’s recataloging project. Now all we need is people to help stick the labels on the books! We have several boxes of books that aren’t currently on the shelves because they need their new labels. Come out this Sunday to help Laurel in this effort so we can get the books back where they belong, back on the shelves!! |
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“At some point, almost every genealogy researcher will hit the proverbial brick wall or dead end with one or many of their ancestors. Records appear to be missing, a maiden name seems impossible to find or you need to find ancestors in another country but don’t know where to look. The resources out there are many and varied. Sometimes all the options available can be downright overwhelming.” JGSO’s meeting will be a helping hands workshop. You’re encouraged to bring a list of 3 or 5 of your most difficult brick-wall family history questions to the meeting on Sunday, Nov 12th at 10:30am at Congregation Ahavath Achim. “Take advantage of this golden opportunity to get some one-on-one help, or make use of this groups’ collective knowledge to smash some of your brick walls to smithereens! Bring your research and family tree on a flash drive or on a laptop or tablet. Internet access will be available.” |
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Tell your friends! Tell your family! Tell the queen, for goodness sake!!We’re so close to hitting 1000 Likes on Facebook! Just four more to go. Will you help us hit that magic mark? But don’t stop there! A “Like” doesn’t guarantee you’ll see all our useful posts. Be sure to go to our page and click both “Follow” and “Like” to make sure you see us in your Facebook feed. |
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Saturday, November 18th, 2 – 3pmSpeaker: Don Anderson Paper & Spit: DNA + Genealogy, and How to Make That First Contact. Like many adoptees, Don Anderson wanted to know where he came from. His new book, Paper and Spit, chronicles his journey. Using both DNA and genealogy, Don finds not only the identity of his birth parents but also his true ethnic heritage. This GenTalk will focus on using Don’s story to illustrate “What to say when making contact with new matches.” This can be one of the most delicate and challenging aspects of finding close relatives, or wanting to create a positive experience with new cousins. Discovering a new match is much like finding a fish at the end of your pole, and now you need to reel in the fish. There is a method – what you say and how you say it is important. |
Saturday, December 16th, 2 – 3pmPresenter: LauraDenise White, GFO’s resident archival consultant. Get ready for the holidays with Personal Papers & Archiving! Learn how to not only preserve some of those family heirloom papers and photographs you know are just sitting in the attic and basement, but also see how you can put together wonderful family history gifts with these fabulous relics of the past. Learn how to weave the fabric of your family history into inspiring and lasting treasures. Attendees are encouraged to bring in a sample of items of their very own to work on during this interactive session. Photographs and letters and diaries, oh my! Bring them on in! We’ll work on them together while discussing ways to keep them safe AND ways to share them with family and friends both far and near. Interested? Well, you should be! These are all FREE events, completely open to the public. Help us get the word out! CLICK HERE for FLYERS |
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This Week at the GFO… |
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4thVirginia Group 10am – noon The Quakers – history, beliefs, and their lives in records The early Society of Friends, more informally known as Quakers, had a belief in the equality of all people who called on the Divine within. Their beliefs lead to a unique organizational structure of monthly, quarterly, and yearly meetings that resulted in incredible records. We’ll discuss types of records, record repositories and websites, and how to effectively access the Quaker record holdings on Ancestry.com. German Group 1 – 3pm Speaker: Barbara Forster The German Interest Group was formed in the spring of 2011. It is intended to be a source of information and inspiration for anyone with German speaking ancestors. One goal is to provide information on a variety of topics related to Germanic history and migration. We also will provide time for members to share their research journeys and connect with others who may be researching the same region or time period. SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 5thManuscripts Work Party 9am – noon Explore our manuscript, personal papers and Bible collection while we organize, scan and create finding aids. Drop by at the time that works for you. Questions? Send a note to manuscripts@gfo.org. LABELS WORK PARTY!! 9am – noon Come help the Library Committee put labels on books so we can get them back out to the shelves for our researchers! Come for as long or short as you can. We need all the hands and wonderful attentive minds and eyes we can get! MONDAY, NOVEMBER 6thFree First Monday 9:30am – 5pm That’s right! It’s the first Monday of the month again, and YOU know what THAT means!! The GFO Library is open and free to the public every first Monday of every month of every year (excepting major holidays, but then the library is usually free the next Monday). Come on by and bring a friend! All of these events are FREE and open to the public. |
The Washington State Genealogical Society thanks all who participated in our Digital Archives indexing effort throughout Family History Month (October). Whether you indexed one record or 1,000, each is appreciated and valued. So, let’s keep it up! There are still thousands of records to be indexed so a future researcher can benefit from your efforts.
We’d like to know if you indexed any Digital Archives records during the month of October. Just leave a comment on this posting to let us know. Thanks for your continued efforts!
Ever find an error in an online database, family tree, etc? This months Quirky Genealogy Tip Sheet has some interesting errors and how to spot them.
IMMIGRATION—MIGRATION:
WHY THEY LEFT, WHERE THEY WENT, AND WHAT IT CAN REVEAL ABOUT OUR ANCESTORS.
The November meeting is one you won’t want to miss. We are fortunate to have professional genealogist PAM VESTAL to speak about how our ancestors came to this country.
LOWER COLUMBIA GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~walcolgs/
SOMERSET RETIREMENT APARTMENTS
2025 TIBBETTS DRIVE, LONGVIEW
DINING ROOM 7:00 PM
NOVEMBER 9, 2017
Visitors are welcome and encouraged to attend.
