Monday, March 27, 2017

Ancestry TreeSync Ends Mar 29, 2017

Wow. For anyone using Ancestry's TreeSync feature to sync their Ancestry family tree with their offline software - you need to read this immediately! http://familyhistorydaily.com/genealogy-help-and-how-to/ancestry-treesync-end-forever-march-29th/

It will be replaced March 31st with their new sync colution BUT you MUST be using Family Tree Maker 2017.


Cheers,
Pat

Friday, March 24, 2017

DNA

So I sort of accidentally began studying DNA the past couple days - you know one of those distracted by something shiny moments that lead down crazy, interesting, unintended paths? haha Anyway it reminded me I hadn't looked at my results from FamilyTreeDNA [no association to the old genealogy software program] and they have added some really neat features. One of those features is seeing 'balloons' pop up in whatever physical areas your DNA shows up [shows matches from is probably more accurate]. So you can chose to see green balloons for your Mom's line, and/or orange balloons for your Dad's line. The strange thing is, well the FUN thing is, both parents have balloons showing up in similiar locations! And that is one HUGE surprise to me. Hmmmmmmmmmm not sure what to think! Lol

So much to learn, but I've begun. So I'm EUROPEAN 97% , made up of British Isles 67%, Western & Central Europe 27%, Soutern Europe 7%, Eastern Europe 1%, and MIDDLE EASTERN 3%. I even have a match in a few places I've never been: the Shetland Islands, Poland, Russia, New Zealand, and Egypt/Jordan/Lebanon [well, not sure about travel in these 3!]. Oh myyyyyyyyyyyy.

Anyone else dabbling in their DNA? Surprises anyone?
Have a great weekend! Weather looks amazing in good ole Saskatchewan! +15C ... lets hope cause my tan is fading fast. Darned British Isles pale skinned girl.Lol


Cheers,
Pat

Monday, March 20, 2017

BREAKING News!!

So thanks big time to Shannon Cherkowski for what she has done, and what she is sharing regarding Alberta Canada digitized vital statistics indexes and or registers. Not only has she introduced this, she has provided step by step VERY detailed instructions!! She learned this by working through the system, step by step, and now shares all that time and expertise with us, FREE!! WOW Shannon!! You ROCK my friend!! The Provincial Archives of Alberta has digitized vital statistics indexes and or registers and are now available online.


35 cents a page? Really?? So in Saskatchewan, our government has taken the very 'un'progressive step of uppping our costs which were already the most expensive in all of Canada - our index at http://genealogy.ehealthsask.ca/vsgs_srch.aspx which has not been updated, or added to, for decades, will now be an additional $15.00 each to BMDs ... which means $65.00 for each birth, marriage, or death certificate you are interested in! Bloody HELL!!

And a MAJOR shout-out to Shannon for making the announcement, and for offering us at PastRelations the big SCOOP! This is a major big time deal folks! Perhaps speak to your local MLA regarding how faaaar behind we are in Saskatchewan? Please!! See what she's done http://albertaresearch2.blogspot.ca/

And now our other great friend, and western Canadian genealogist extraordinaire, Dave Obee has made direct links to the BMDs available at Provincial Archives which you can find on Alberta portion of his CanGenealogy Blog http://www.cangenealogy.com/alberta.html Amazing what can happen when collaboration happens.

And Shannon has left an interesting idea for us in Comments below. Click on 'comment' and read. Anyone can leave a comment on any post within this blog, and I would love it if you would. The comment comes to me first, so no chance of spam sneaking by me.


Cheers,
Pat

Sunday, March 19, 2017

FREE British Webinars - Register Now

And now for something completely different! Isn't that a line from some old Monty Python sketch? Not really sure, but it's what went through my mind as I sat down to share this. HaHa

So this is titled "Breakfast with Family History Webinars from TNA". Thanks to John Reid over at his Canada's Anglo-Celtic Connections blog where you can see all the details, which look pretty interesting! I've taken a few courses on using Discovery, the online catalogue at TNA (The National Archives) in London England, and I'm going to try to attend this one as well as I've learned so much from them. http://anglo-celtic-connections.blogspot.ca/2017/03/breakfast-with-family-history-webinars.html

You can register for one, some, or all sessions through this link https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/webinar-first-world-war-army-ancestors-tickets-32432757250?aff=email&utm_campaign=289300_Whats+on+March+2017&utm_medium=email&utm_source=The+National+Archives&dm_i=3PUB%2C6784%2C1MO4CB%2CLDHD%2C1

BEWARE: you must register, and there are a limited number they can accept so don't delay too long or you may get shut out. It takes less than one minute, and it's FREE. And they won't steal your identity, or bombard you with unwanted mail. There. Relax, and register to learn some new 'stuff'!! haha


Cheers,
Pat

Friday, March 17, 2017

Organizing Your Papers Workshop - Mar

So I got home to IH yesterday, March 16th [my birthday!] and on Saturday March 18th I'll be delivering a two hour workshop titled "Organizing Your Paper Files". It will begin at 1:30pm at the Heritage Club building - on Otterloo kitty korner from Big Way Foods in Indian Head. I believe the cost is about 5 bucks!! What a bargain!! Everything you need will be supplied. Description below


ORGANIZING YOUR PAPER FILES [2 hours]

We LOVE the thrill of the chase! Later we can’t find what we *know* we have. This one deals strictly with getting control of the copious amounts of paper we collect, or have inherited, and getting it organized so you can find, within a few seconds, exactly what you are looking for! Eureka! Hello happy dances, and goodbye dust bunnies!! Includes a several page handout with comprehensive details so you won’t get lost as you prepare to use this system to get totally organized.
This session is aimed at all skill sets. You'll go home with five pages of comprehensive notes, plus two Pedigree Charts and a Family Group Sheet to work on.

And anyone wanting to pre-register can contact me pryan@sasktel.net or just show up!!


Cheers,
Pat

Thursday, March 9, 2017

Ireland - Flax Grower's Bounty List 1796

So the first time I saw, and used this, it was on MICROFICHE and this was mid 1990s. i had no luck. I have also searched the list numerous times since then, on various medium including online websites, free and paid sites. Today I tried this website and found many of my families!! Yippee Yahoo!! haha Anyway, give it a try and best of luck folks. There is a good description of this list as well as various ways of searching. Try them all. http://www.marmionfamilytree.com/FlaxGrowersListDown1796.html

I decided to copy the info from this website, minus the search engine of course, just in case the site disappears we will still have the background.

"Listed below is the Flax Growers' Bounty List which was published by the Irish Linen Board in 1796 listing below a portion of this list for all the flax growers in County Down, Northern Ireland. This was when the Linen industry was at it's height. A government program to encourage the growing of flax.which awarded the growers. It is a valuable substitute for non-existent census material for this period in Ireland, containing the names of around 55,000 small farmers is almost every county (Dublin and Wicklow being the only counties not covered) who received an award of a spinning-wheel or loom in return for planting certain amounts of flax."To the person who should sow between the 10th day of March and the 1st day of June 1796 with a sufficient quantity of good sound flax-seed, any quantity of land, well prepared and fit for the purpose not less than 1 Acre -- 4 Spinning Wleels, 3 Roods -- 3 ditto, 2 Roods --2 ditto and 1 Rood -- 1 ditto. And to the person who should sow in like manner any quantity of like land, not less than 5 Acres, a loom or wleels, reels or hatchells to the value of 50 shillings, and for every 5 Acres over and above the first 5, a like premium"

To search a name, click on the first letter of the last name then use Ctrl + F and enter name, or simply scroll down. Sometimes children were listed on the growers list. Many of these people were related to each other in County Down, if the place name and last name are the same chances are they are one family. Land was not given to the oldest or heir, but in a more family oriented and loving manner was divided among all the children. These growers wre usually the middle class. All of the names listed here were awarded at least one spinning wheel.
There are nearly 3,000 names for County Down."

Cheers,
Pat

Lethbridge - Genealogy at the Bridge

I am so honoured to be speaking at Lethbridge Alberta - Genealogy at the Bridge - June 3rd, 2017. These lovely folks have a full day of sessions planned, which also includes comprehensive and detailed hand-outs written by me. Please come and join us in Lethbridge for lots of fun, merriment, networking, and sharing of information!! https://lethbridgeags.theboss.net/Workshop%202017.pdf


Cheers,
Pat

Wednesday, March 8, 2017

Upcoming 'Organizing' Class March 18, 2017 @ Indian Head SK

So I get home to IH March 16th and on Saturday March 18th I'll be delivering a two hour presentation titled "Organizing Your Paper Files". It will begin at 1:30pm I think. I'm waiting for details re address, costs etc. Lol But I can include the following description:

ORGANIZING YOUR PAPER FILES [2 hours]

We LOVE the thrill of the chase! Later we can’t find what we *know* we have. This one deals strictly with getting control of the copious amounts of paper we collect, or have inherited, and getting it organized so you can find, within a few seconds, exactly what you are looking for! Eureka! Hello happy dances, and goodbye dust bunnies!! Includes a several page handout with comprehensive details so you won’t get lost as you prepare to use this system to get totally organized.
This session is aimed at all skill sets.

And anyone wanting to pre-register can contact me pryan@sasktel.net.


Cheers,
Pat

FREE Webinars From FHL

I'm still alive!!! hahaha Sorry for the long interlude. We had company. I had a few days of illness, but am perfectly fine now. We've been busy and have really, really enjoyed Huatulco and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for the cleanest part of Mexico we've ever seen, with beautiful beaches, identical perfect weather day after day, and tons to do if you're interested. Really reasonable prices on all except accomodations. Anyway, we head North Tuesday March 14th, and will arrive at our own home on my birthday, the 16th of March. So NOT sorry to have missed this last blizzard!! OMG - I've shown pictures friends have sent me, to new Mexican friends. You should really see their faces!!! hahahahaha Pretty sure they could never totally understand snow, but it's fun to watch expressions. So that's enough blabbering!! Lol

March and April are great months for watching FREE webinars from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, aka the Mormons [who are every genealogists best friend]. The sessions all organized by region so easy to find your area of interest, register FREE, and watch FREE. How could you possibly go wrong? https://familysearch.org/wiki/en/Family_History_Library_Classes_and_Webinars#Past_Webinars

Nice to be back, but not steadily until really HOME. Hope you've been having some fun AND some success?


Cheers,
Pat