Findmypast Record Collection

Findmypast Entire Record Collection is open for free from November 10th - November 14th for researching one's heritage. This is a beautiful opportunity for researching your family and to see what they have to offer and determine if you want to have a subscription. Also, you this opportunity may help you with a brickwall. Check it out at Findmypast

Remember it only lasts from November 10th through November 14th.

American Libraries Internet Archive

I found this wonderful resource of information a while back and wanted to share with you. The American Libraries Internet Archive is a treasure trove for genealogists as it archives images and books that would be of interest for the genealogist.  If you type "genealogy" into the search engine, you will be amazed at the number of items that will be returned. I did a search for my last name and came up with over 30 hits ranging from census records to family genealogy research books.  I would suggest taking the time to research this archive as soon as possible because if the SOPA/PIPA (Stop Online Piracy Act/Protect IP Act) passes through the US congress, which could effect the accessibility of this site. If you would like to research in this site, click Ameican Libraries Internet Archive. The books are available for reading on the Kindle, Daisy, and PDF to name a few.

Fairmount Children’s Home

A while back one of my readers asked me if I had come across any information about the Fairmount Children's Home in Ohio. At the time of her inquiry, I was not familiar with this home, so I began to investigate to see what I could come up with. I recently came across the Fairmount Children's Home website, which provides a little history along with pictures about the home. The site also provides the reader with information on the census records of the employees for the home. Unfortunately this site does not provide an entire list of all the residents of the home. This site does provide a list of the 1943 eighth grade graduating class. There multiple pictures showing some of the children, so possibly you might your ancestor in the picture, if you know what they looked like. The founders of the home to assist in the care of the homeless children in the Stark and Columbiana counties. One article I read noted that the children came from many walks of life, including homeless children, children with one parent or a child(ren) with parents who couldn't feed them anymore. The children were required to perform chores and to work in the fields during the growing season. Some of the young from the home would enlist into the US Navy and served in WWII. The home was closed in the 1970's and then later burned down in the 2002. If you would like to learn more click Fairmont Children’s Home or "The Monday After Fairmount Childrens Home."

What is the big deal about Footnote?

I have posted in the past regarding the great value of Footnote in your genealogical research. I had beta tested for the site before it was ever launched to the public. In the beginning it was a little awkward to navigate, but now the navigation is simple and streamlined. The site is always adding content that is important in genealogical research. There is a fee to research on this site, but it is nominal in comparison to some of the major genealogical sites on the web. This site contains census records and civil war service and pension records to name a few. A friend of mine posted on her blog that she found a great deal for Footnote. The big deal about Footnote is that it is 50% off for a years subscription. It is only $39.95 for an entire years access to the site. If you would like to check it out for your self click here.

Where's the Hundred of Frome?

When I first came across the website regarding the Hundred of Frome, I didn't understand what "The Hundred" of Frome meant. I started researching online and discovered that (according to the Oxford dictionary) the term "Hundred" is used in England as well as Ireland referring to a subdivision of the shire or county. The Hundred of Frome is located in Somerset England and consists of the following parishes and locations:
Beckington, Berkley, Cloford, Elm, Frome Selwood, Laverton, Lullington, Marston Bigot, Nunney, Orchardleigh, Rode (Road), Rodden, Standerwick, Wanstrow, Whatley and Woolverton and the neighboring areas of East Cranmore, Leigh upon Mendip, Mells and Witham Friary and the Peculiar of Buckland Dinham.

This website provides valuable information for the genealogist researching in the areas listed above. Searching for ancestors in this location is made easy by clicking on the tabs across the top of the site. The tabs include locations, families, censuses, church records, property records and others. Records that are available to searching, are transcribed or donated by volunteers. David Smart, the web author, welcomes you to contact him regarding contributing information that pertains to this site.

If you would like to research in this site, click Family and Local History in Frome Somerset.

FamilySearch Record Search

If you haven't checked out the FamilySearch Record Search site, you are missing out. The FamilySearch Record Search site is currently in the pilot stage, but they welcome one and all to research the information that is currently available.

I have posted about FamilySearch Indexing and how many indexers are working feverishly on indexing the thousands of microfilm and fiche in the Salt Lake Family History Library. The result of the indexing can be viewed at FamilySearch Record Search. The 1870 United States Census has just begun to show up on the site and the 1900 United Census is almost completely up. Each of the indices that are located on the left side of the page have both the index and the images available to searching. The indices located on the right side of the web page have only the images and not the indexes categorized by specific locality and type of record.

Other records in various stages of completion that are available for searching include US and state census records, The Freedman Bank, Civil War Pension Records, Germany, Norway, and Mexico Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials and Cheshire England, Church of England Baptism, Marriage, and Burial records to name a few.

These records are available for searching for free. If you would like to browse or search these records, check out FamilySearch Record Search. Have fun!

New South Wales Genweb Project

As most of my readers know, I am a huge fan of the World GenWeb Project. I came across the New South Wales Genweb Project and thought that I would share it with you. For those that are not aware, New South Wales is located in Australia and it is the most populated state.

This GenWeb site offers a great deal of information for those researching in this area. The following is just a small example of what is available for research.

A-Z NSW Shires - This includes information regarding the Shires - Volunteers are needed
Online Databases - Include extracted B/M/D records, census records. Some of the databases are free and others require a fee
Transcript Depot - Include burial records, electoral rolls, and periodicals to name a few
Convict Heritage - Extracted information from various places in England and Australia
General History

As with all GenWeb sites, they are generally maintained by individuals donating their time and talents to assist others in their personal family history quest. Click New South Wales GenWeb Project, if you would like to research further. Have fun!

Leitrim-Roscommon Website

Leitrim-Roscommon Website is a wealth of information regarding not only the counties of Leitrim and Roscommon Ireland, but also the counties of Mayo and Sligo. If you want to learn more.....Read on.

Leitrim and Roscommon are located adjacently on the west side of Ireland. The authors of this site have provided user friendly search engines and databases to include the following:

*Surname Database of surnames being researched in Leitrim and Roscommon. At times you will see links to a researchers personal web page and can also contact them via email.

Leitrim-Roscommon Townland Database is a searchable database of all the towns in these two counties used for the 1851 census.

IreAtlas townland database is a database of ALL the towns in Ireland during the 1851 census, including information regarding the County, Barony, Civil Parish, Poor Law Union and Province.

Griffiths Database is a database which contains the Griffiths Valuation of Galway, Leitrim, Limerick and Roscommon. The database is extremely large and is stillunder development but the authors of the site have allowed limited on-line searchingcapability.

1901 Census is a database containing transcribed information from the 1901 census of Ireland for Leitrim, Roscommon, Mayo and Sligo and other counties. The Roscommon, Leitrim, Mayo and Sligo databases are complete. All of the other counties are still under development and are on-line for limited searching.

1749 Elphin or Synge Census contains transcribed data from the census in the Diocese of Elphin. The information is this database cover most of Roscommon and Leitrim.

Map Resources include maps for the Towns, Civil Parishes, Baronies, Catholic Parishes and Poor Law Unions in Leitrim and Roscommon.

1890 Surname Distribution in Ireland

A Soundex Code Generator is a free gift from the websites' programmers. For more information in regards to soundexes, click What is a Soundex?

The Kilglass Population survey was put together by Terry McCormick. The survey contains a tabulated listing of the population for the Civil Parish of Kilglass between 1749 and 1881.

This is but a few of the databases and informative links on this site. A message board has been incorporated onto this website allowing the user to post a query to the group (registration is required before being allowed to post). If you have Irish ancestry this site might be able to help you break through your brick walls. Click the Leitrim-Roscommon website to view the many avenues of research for your Irish ancestors. Have fun!

Illinois Trails History and Genealogy Site

The Illinois Trails History and Genealogy Site has much to offer those researching for information regarding their Illinois ancestors. The goal of the site is to provide free online data regarding the history and genealogies of the State of Illinois. Illinois Trails History and Genealogy is a well respected site and has been in existence since 1998 in some form. The earlier years focused primarily Jackson County Illinois, but the authors of the site had such an overwhelming response to the information that they provided that this site has grown to what is today. You kind find information in various degrees of completeness:

Various Census records
The 1850 Illinois State Mortality Schedule
1840 Statewide Census of Revolutionary War and Military Pensioners
The 1909 Cherry Hills Mining Disaster
Church Records
Fur Traders
Obituaries
Information organized by Counties
Military Data
Help for Illinois Research
and much more.

This has many hidden gems that require a little searching but it can be worth your while. Do not forget to look at the pages that are organized by Counties; many search able databases are found within the county pages.

If you are interested in researching this site, please click here and you will be taken to the main page of this site; a great jumping point for the rest of the site. Have fun!

Free Danish Parish and Census Records Online for Searching

I am always in search of ways to find Danish Parish Records and Census Records. I have found such a site but much of the information is in Dansk/Danish. Danish State Archives Filming Centre is in the process of digitizing their microfilm and microfiche of parish records and census records. They have some of the data already available for searching, but other films/fiche are still in the process of digitization.

The website states the following regarding the progress of the development and digitization of the database:

" The Danish State Archives Filming Centre digitises parish registers and population censuses in order to make them accessible via the Internet. The digitisation project is primarily accomplished through scanning of microfiches and microfilms. There is no fixed timetable for the launch of each parish register and population census on the Internet, as this is a successive process.

The parish registers and population censuses will be displayed as pictures of the original records. The pictures show that many records are marked by poor storage conditions, poor ink quality and general wear and tear - a state of affairs that is irremediable. No registers have been compiled in which to search for personal names, occupations, addresses etc.

Parish registers
All Danish parish registers older than 1892 are included in the digitisation project. The end year may, however, differ for South Jutland (North Schleswig) because the local parish registers were kept according to different rules in the period 1864-1920, when South Jutland was under German administration.

Population censuses
The following population censuses will become accessible via the Internet.

1787 - Available on the Internet
1801 - Available on the Internet
1834 - Available on the Internet
1840 - Available on the Internet
1845
1850 - Available on the Internet
1855 - Available on the Internet
1860 - Available on the Internet
1880
1890
1916

Other population censuses are not included in the project. It should be noted that only population censuses taken in the Kingdom of Denmark will be made available on: www.arkivalieronline.dk."

In order to view the parish registers, you must register but it is free. To find out more information about this project and database, click here and you be redirected to the English portion of this site which includes instructions on how best to use the site, register, and a basic Danish/Dansk vocabulary list.

Have fun!

Virginia Tax Lists Substitue for Census Records

I am sorry for posting this later than usual, but I have been attending an advanced cardiac life support class for my professional career and haven't been able to get to this until now. Enjoy!

The 1790 United States Federal Census was accidentally burned in the war of 1812 and the 1800 United States Federal Census was also lost. You may wonder how you can find information concerning your Viginian families during this time period. The Virginia Tax Lists consisting of the Land Tax List and Personal Property Tax list are a nice substitute for the Census records in this case.

The Virginia Tax Lists website allows you to search the site by typing the surname in the search box or by browsing the year you would like to search utilizing a drilling down the alphabet for the surname. Please note that these search features are a little ways down on the page linked here. At the top and bottom of the web page are links to the store where you can purchase CD's with the information if you so desire. Have fun searching.