About Me

     
I'm a member of the Mayflower Society, DAR, the San Diego Genealogical Society, the North San Diego County Genealogical Society, and the Aberdeen & North-East Scotland History Society. I've been researching my family for over 18 years.

I've had incredible successes. One of the biggest was due to a post I made on Rootsweb. A long lost brother was able to find me. In doing so he was able to meet our Mom (who had given him up for adoption as a baby).  It was a wonderful, happy reunion for both mother & son that lasted ten years prior to her death.  That brother and I are now very close friends.

I've recently had the honor of identifying my daughter-in-law's biological parents.   
And, finding a once unknown 4th cousin's biological parents.  DNA played a major role in both of those discoveries.  

I've helped a co-worker find his biological parents (pre DNA). I've located cousins I hadn't seen in decades, met new cousins I didn't know existed, made many new friends, traveled to places I might not otherwise have gone and just generally had a great time.

I use Legacy Family Tree software for my personal database and I taught/facilitated the Legacy Users Group for the San Diego Genealogical Society for about 2 years.  I've also presented classes about "Using Social Media in Family Research" and "How to Use Evernote in Your Family Resarch," "My Trip to Scotland, What I did Right and what I did Wrong," "Tips on Using Ancestry" and a co presentation with a fellow blogger "The Mayflower Society."

My hobbies, besides genalogy include traveling, caring for my horses and reading.  I am happily married and retired.

I think genealogy is the most interesting and rewarding hobby there is.

Stay tuned and I'll share all the stories with you.

11 comments:

  1. PHOTO DUPLICATION REQUESTS ON FAMILY SEARCH – PLUS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT LEGACY AND EVERNOTE

    I sent off for my Great Grand fathers Death Certificate on 7/13/2014 and got it today 7/16/2014. It has proven some of my information, and has provided NEW information.

    thank you for your Blog.

    Robin Bolda Wilson
    Raregolds@aol.com

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    1. Robin - You're welcome. I'm so glad my post was helpful.
      Thank you for stopping by.

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  2. I also grew up in Michigan! I began my research about a year and a half ago and discovered the ancestry on my father's side is Scottish and not Irish, as I had been told as a child. My great-great grandfather, Alexander Ellis was the last immigrant to arrive from Scotland, the Baird's arrived much earlier. I will be looking for pointers, as I want to travel to Scotland, too. Thanks for your work on your blog. Lisa

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    1. Lisa,
      Scotland was my dream trip for sure. I've found LOTS of records on Scotland's People website. Many vital records. Buying the units for the site ends up being well worth it for what I have found. Enjoy your journey. I hope to go back one day.
      Thanks for stopping by.

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  3. Our Hall family, 024, is also a "Michigan Hall" family. George Washington Hall 1831-1897, b. Unadilla, Otsego, NY, died in Negaunee, MI., son of JAMES B HALL 1807 Mansfield, Tolland, CT., d. 25 Feb 1982, Utica NY.
    George W. Hall's son, THEODORE DWIGHT HALL 1869-1954, was born in Lockport, Niagra, NY. He was an avid photographer.

    The Negaunee Library has a photo of a family heirloom, one of George Washington's Epaulette's given to the family by George Washington.
    Many photos of this Negaunee area taken by THEODORE DWIGHT HALL.


    http://mmm.lib.msu.edu/results.php?subcollection=U.P.+Photos&page=5

    I've had little success in finding other JAMES B. HALL descendants/relations. JAMES HALL married ELIZABETH BROWN ROGERS Oct 1829.

    KEVIN HALL

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    Replies
    1. Hi Kevin. Thanks for your comment. Are you a member of the Hall Families of New England, on Facebook? It's a very informative group and they also have an active presence on FtDNA with specific groups for various Hall lines. Perhaps they could assist you with your James B. Hall.
      Thanks for stopping by.

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  4. I am relatively new to genealogy. I started in 1998 and in 2000, due to life circumstances, my research lay dormant for 20 years. I began again in February 2018. I have a paid subscription with Ancestry.com and I am very happy with the website format and what is available. My question is: Why do individuals pay for a computer program (e.g. Family Tree Maker, Roots Magic, Legacy, etc.) if they have a tree on Ancestry.com or Family Search? What are the benefits for multiple trees on multiple sites and/or programs? I am not LDS, so I am unable to merge Family Search with Ancestry.com. I am not computer savvy enough to resolve a problem (should one occur) if I download a purchased genealogy program. Can you shed some light? I am confused. Thank you. Judy from Las Vegas

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    1. Hi Judy,
      There are many reasons for having your information on your own computer and not just online. If you attend classes, seminars and conferences you will hear from many of the top genealogists in the country. I've never heard any of them recommend only having a tree online. I belong to a very large genealogical society and the majority of our members use a software program. Why? Because you have many more options as far as reports, the ability to sort families, using the program when you're offline or have no internet access. You don't have to pay a subscription fee (although I am always subscribed to Ancestry and many other sites). You pay one time to purchase the software and then only for new versions when they come out every couple of years. There are just so many options that I cannot name them all here. You could use Google and find a run down of all the various programs and their benefits. As to being LDS. I am not either. However, Family Search and Ancestry do not merge, no matter who you are. They are two entirely separate sites, each one offering the opportunity to build a tree. The difference being that the Family Search tree is not private and anyone can change anything in your tree. The Ancestry site offers both public and private trees.
      I hope my answer helps you out somewhat. Thank you for stopping by.

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  5. Hi Diane, I done a Google search of 'euphemia anderson fitzcharles uk' and came across this website. Euphemia was my wife's grandmother who passed away in 1984. She had a brother who was adopted, but she was orphaned, we believe, but might not tie in with this Euphemia.
    Have you and further information on Euphemia or her brother?

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  6. Hi Diane, I done a Google search for on behalf of my wife for 'euphemia anderson fitzcharles uk', who was her great grandmother, but they know nothing more than she had a brother, who was adopted. Unfortunately they believe Euphemia was orphaned. She did mention arbroath- could this be the same lady?

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I look forward to reading your comments. If you have any connection to the people mentioned in this blog, please let me know. I write about mine and my husband's ancestors and would welcome new information or meeting a new cousin or two. Thanks for visiting and come back soon.