New WSGS Treasurer Named

by Roxanne Lowe

Sue Semenza Ericksen has been appointed by WSGS President Mikal McKinnon to take over the state society’s treasurer’s duties. Sue replaces Kathy Bowen who moved out of the state to be closer to family.

Sue’s presence in WSGS is long-standing. She is Immediate Past President and previously served as membership chair, web manager and Region 5 representative. In addition to her WSGS dedication, Sue is an active member of the Yakima Valley Genealogical Society, currently serving as its vice president and web manager.

A routine audit was conducted on the WSGS finances and all was in order. A big thank-you to Sue for stepping into this important position.

 

Abe Lincoln’s mom’s ancestry confirmed finally!

by Charles Hansen

2016 American Ancestors vol. 55 no. 3 pages 55-57 by Christopher C Child

“The Hanks DNA Study: I was wrong!”

A copy will be in KCGS library by Thurs 1 Sep 2016

Nancy Hanks Lincoln’s ancestry found by maternal DNA

~~Tuck Forsythe for Kittitas County Genealogical Society

Generation 1

  1. Nancy Abe-Lincoln-Line HANKS-3353: born 5 Feb 1783 in Campbell, Virginia, United States; died 5 Oct 1818 in Gentryville Area, Spencer, Indiana, United States.

Generation 2

  1. illegitimate dad HALL/FAUNTLEROY/BEALE-18719: born abt 1755 in Maybe, Virginia, British America; married.
  1. Lucy HANKS-3351: born abt 1766 in Richmond County, Virginia, British America; died abt 1826 in Mercer, Kentucky, United States.

Generation 3

  1. Joseph Abe-Lincoln-Line HANKS-3348: born 20 Dec 1725 in Richmond County, Virginia, British America; married abt 1758 in Virginia, British America; died abt Apr 1793 in Nelson, Kentucky, United States.
  1. Anne Nanny Nancy LEE-3349: born abt 1742 in Virginia, British America; died aft 1793 in Of, Nelson, Kentucky, United States.

Northeast Washington Gen Society Newsflash

by Charles Hansen
NeWGS LOGO cropped
Wednesday, September 14, Computer Meeting, 10:30-12:00
RootsMagic Demonstration
LDS Church – Lower Meeting Room – Juniper St, Colville
This will be Part Two of our focus on organizing your genealogy research. This month’s meeting will focus on RootsMagic, a popular genealogy program used by many. Susan Dechant, President of NeWGS will demonstrate some of the most well-like features of this program.
Coming soon, RootsMagic will have the ability to synchronize with the Ancestry.com Tree you may have created or if you have a subscription to Ancestry.com you might be considering.

 

Genealogy Do-Over  (General Meetings)
1:30 pm to 3:00 pm
LDS Church – Lower Meeting Room – Juniper St, Colville
“Genealogy Do-Over” is a scary thought but, then again, maybe it’s just what we need to consider.
Norma Yost, NeWGS Librarian and presenter extraordinaire will talk to us about this edgy idea presented in Thomas McEntee’s new book Genealogy Do-Over.
Here is a short intro by Thomas McEntee describing what’s inside his book:
Here is the short summary of Genealogy Do-Over: I set aside everything* related to my genealogy research including notebooks, papers, and even digitized files and my genealogy database files and START OVER. I’m hitting the reset button. I’m allowing myself to have a do-over! (* certain items such as vital records ordered and paid for or research gathered on long-distance trips can be retained).
Are you ready to open your mind to new possibilities? Come join us and learn!

Serendipity Day

by Charles Hansen

** What Is A Source?

** Mine Is Name Most Unusual

**Library of Congress Digital Newspaper Program

** Images of America: Washington

** Offers From FamilyTree Magazine

 

What is a source? One dictionary definition is so vague as to be meaningless: “a place, person, or thing from which something comes or can be obtained.” See Google search for “define source.”

A source is the identity and location concerning where you got the information you are using. 

That isn’t very artfully said but genealogists are talking about sources being reliable or unreliable. A source is a source. If I got my information from a book in the local public library, the citation information about the book and the place where I found it constitute the “source” of my information. Any questions about the accuracy, reliability or whatever of the information have nothing whatsoever to do with the “source.” If I think your information is wrong or unreliable and you provide me with a source, I can go an check to see whether or not you are correct. Absent a source, I have to guess where you might have gotten the information and from my perspective, I have to assume, since you did not tell me where you got your information, that the information is unreliable and quite likely wrong. When people say a “source” is unreliable, what they really mean is that the information obtained from the source is unreliable. (From: James Tanner ‘s   Genealogy’s Star blog back on  5 Dec 2015.)

******************************

My maternal grandfather’s surname was Gurney. Mother always wondered where her surname originated. And why was the hospital carry-cart called a gurney. Well, I sleuthed and learned that the name originated in France and was DeGournay, meaning of the village of Gournay. A fellow of that name came to England with William the Conqueror (1066) and eventually the name morphed into Gurney. As for the hospital cart? I asked Grandma Google (who knows most everything!) and she said a fellow surnamed Gurney had invented it. Duh.

I have a Gurney ancestor with the first name of Bezaleel. Where did that come from in the early 1700s in Connecticut? Especially when he had siblings Elizabeth, Mary and Thomas. WELL!  It’s a name from the Old Testament, Exodus 35:30:  “I have called by name, Bezaleel…… and have filled him with knowledge in all manner of workmanship.” And Bezaleel was called upon to build the ark for the covenant!

Now why blather you with all of this? Do you have unusual first- or surnames in your family tree? Have you done any sleuthing to learn where that name originated??

Continue reading →

THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Wednesday Evening E-News

by Charles Hansen

GFO1

THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Wednesday Evening E-News 24 August 2016

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 go to www.gfo.org/calendar.htm.

Also, if you missed your free copy of our monthly Insider for August 2016, you’re in luck because we saved you a copy at http://www.gfo.org/insider/16-Aug.pdf.

***

NEWS FLASH!! LOCATION CHANGE for OCT 15th!!

Josh

The location of the Saturday, October 15th, Seminar with D. Joshua Taylor has changed. It will now be held at:

The Milwaukie Center

5440 SE Kellogg Creek Drive

Milwaukie, OR 97222
REGISTRATION is available HERE!
See you at the Milwaukie Center (not the TaborSpace, dear friends and fellow researchers) on a temperate Saturday in October 2016!!

***

Come help us celebrate 70 great years!! Sept 17th, at the GFO and on the mail floor of the Ford Building…
Birthday

BOOK BONANZA!! 10am – 4pm
All GFO’s clearance books are $1 each, or purchase a GFO tote bag for $5 and fill it with as many books as you dare at no extra charge!! Wow! Wadda deal!! On the main floor of the Ford Building.
HUNTING AND GATHERING, 9:30am – 11:30am
Join us for a monthly support group where we help each other find information about a family line. We will learn to do a reasonably exhaustive search and develop research plans. The focus will shift depending on the needs of the group. Several experienced researchers have volunteered to help. Beginners and intermediate researchers are encouraged to submit problems to work on. For more information contact Nanci Remington at nancicr@outlook.com.
MEMBERSHIP SPECIAL, 9:30am – 4pm
Get 2 or 4 extra months of GFO membership when you pay for only 12 or 25 months respectively. If you would like to take advantage of the deal but are in the middle of your current membership, well that’s no problem!! Just sign up at the GFO on Saturday, Sept 17th, and we’ll tack the same deal on to your membership when it next comes up for renewal. PLEASE SEE BELOW for MORE INFORMATION.
GEN Talks, 2pm – 4pm
The GFO proudly presents Keith and Darlene Pyeatt as they will be imparting their wealth of knowledge about the German Parish Map Guides. If you remember, the GFO was recently able to purchase this entire collection with the support of people like you! Or maybe that was you who helped us reach our purchasing goal last month!! We’d like to say “Thanks Very Much” by sponsoring this free talk all about how to utilize these map guides as they are making their way to our library shelves now!
IRISH GROUP CANCELLED
Please contact volunteer@gfo.org to inquire about what you can do to get this group back!! (Looking for leaders!!! Please help.)

***

What?!? You haven’t RSVP’d yet!?! We’d love to have you join us for a picnic to remember!

Parking

GFO’s ANNUAL MEMBERS REUNION PICNIC! Sept 18th
We would love to see you at the membership picnic this year!! Just think of it: Old friends, new friends, possible wild animal sightings, food, ice cold lemonade in the shade of grand Pacific NW trees, and all the genealogical gossip you could ever wish for!

WHEN Sunday, Sept 18th, from noon until whenever you’re sick of it all!

WHERE Mt. Scott Park, Picnic Area B at SE 72nd Ave & Harold St in Portland.

HOW RSVP to picnic@gfo.org, then just put one foot in front of the other on Sept 18th, and come on out! YOU CAN ALSO PUSH THE SUPER-FUN BLUE BUTTON ABOVE OR BELOW!!

WHAT Iced tea, lemonade, and all the necessary paper and plastic products (plates, utensils, napkins, etc.) will be provided by the GFO. Please bring dishes to share, preferably filled with additional, more food-like items!!

NOTE No alcohol or smoking of any kind is permitted on the park grounds…city rules say so regarding all public parks.

***

Membership Special Sept 17 2016
Membership
***

What’s Happening this Week at the GFO?
 

SATURDAY, AUGUST 27th
Autosomal DNA Basics 9am – noon

Facilitated by Emily Aulicino, come join us this session covering the basics of autosomal DNA, including an easy form of chromosome mapping. There will be time to answer any questions you may have on any test. Please download the handouts and evaluation form and bring it to class (CLICK HERE)and HERE. If you review the handout prior to class, you will better retain the information presented. Please send your questions for any of the major tests to Emily at: aulicino@hevanet.com several days before the meeting. You can also ask questions at the meeting of course!

Italian Interest Group 1pm – 3pm

Ciao to everyone interested in Italian genealogy research. This is a great opportunity to learn, share, and enjoy others with a common interest. Italian genealogy research in the Portland area now has a home. Come join our group. Facilitated by Keith Pyeatt.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 28th
Library Work Party 9am – noon

There’s another work party at the GFO library today for those of you who can come. There’s lots to do and we’d love to have your help. Doors open at 9am and work usually wraps up around noon. Some people come for just an hour or so and you’re welcome to do the same. Any time you can share is valuable. Hope to see you there

Heritage Quest Research Library Autumn Quest

by Charles Hansen

Leaves

 

Autumn Quest

Heritage Quest Research Library’s Special Event

Saturday, October 8th, 2016 at the

The Emerald Queen Ballroom & Conference Center

5580 Pacific Highway East

Fife, Washington

 8:00 a.m. (registration begins) – 4:30 p.m.

Guest Speaker: Curt B. Witcher,

Genealogy Center Manager for Allen County Public Library

His topics for the day include: “Effective Use of the Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center,” “Doing Effective Genealogical Research in Libraries,” “Mining the Mother Lode: Using Periodical Literature for Genealogical Research,” and “Finding the World with WorldCat.”

$60.00 includes Saturday seminar, catered lunch, snacks, water and non-alcoholic drinks.

(No outside food or drink is allowed at this venue.)

 

Please check our website (hqrl.com) for further information on Friday and Sunday events, registration, directions and accommodations.

Questions may be e-mailed to: booksalesmanager@HQRL.com

Note this is a NEW E-Mail Address

 

The last day of registration is Friday, September 30th at 1:00 p.m. Sorry, N0 WALK-INS on Saturday!

(HQRL will be open for extended hours for seminar attendees on Friday until 7:00 p.m. and Sunday 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.)

Northeast Washington Gen Society Newsflash

by Charles Hansen

The next Northeast Washington Genealogical Society meetings are on Wednesday, September 14, 2016. The morning Computer Interest Group (CIG) will meet in the basement meeting room of the LDS Church on Juniper Street in Colville at 10:30 AM. Entry is located at the back of the building. The building is located one block east of the South Main Restaurant on Hwy 395.

NeWGS LOGO cropped

 This month will be Part Two of our focus on organizing your genealogy research. This month’s meeting will focus on RootsMagic, a popular genealogy program used by many. Susan Dechant, President of NeWGS will demonstrate some of the most well-like features of this program.

Coming soon, RootsMagic will have the ability to synchronize with the Ancestry.com Tree you may have created or if you have a subscription to Ancestry.com you might be considering.

We will take a lunch break at noon and then meet again in the LDS Lower Meeting Room at 1:30 p.m.

“Genealogy Do-Over” is a scary thought but, then again, maybe it’s just what we need to consider.

Norma Yost, NeWGS Librarian and presenter extraordinaire will talk to us about this edgy idea presented in Thomas McEntee’s new book Genealogy Do-Over.

Here is the short summary by Thomas McEntee of Genealogy Do-Over: I set aside everything * related to my genealogy research including notebooks, papers, and even digitized files and my genealogy database files and START OVER. I’m hitting the reset button. I’m allowing myself to have a do-over! (* certain items such as vital records ordered and paid for or research gathered on long-distance trips can be retained).

Are you ready to open your mind to new possibilities? Come join us and learn!

All visitors are welcome. You do not need to be a member to attend the Northeast Washington Genealogical Society’s meetings