DavisDNA and Family Research

02/24/2026

Do you have ancestors who were accused of witchcraft? In this RootsTech lecture, David looks beyond Salem to examine other American witchcraft trials and shares essential archival and online resources to help guide your research. Register for RootsTech: https://hubs.ly/Q041j6sD0

02/24/2026

In this online RootsTech presentation, David will discuss the numerous American Revolutionary War lineage societies that you can join during the 250th anniversary celebration. https://hubs.ly/Q041j6pg0

02/24/2026

Unexpected DNA Results – with Michelle Leonard

DNA can break brick walls — but it can also bring surprises. Join Michelle Leonard of Genes & Genealogy for a full-day online course on how to identify, understand, and work through unexpected DNA results.

You’ll learn how to:
• Spot unexpected matches
• Analyse close and distant DNA surprises
• Work step by step with mystery matches
• Learn from real case studies

Recordings included (available until 14 April 2026)

📅 14 March 2026 | 14:00–20:30 | Online
👉 Book now and gain confidence in your DNA research

02/24/2026

02/24/2026

When Were Statewide Death Registrations Required (Updated Quicksheet)

If you are looking for death certificates, you need to know the timing of each state’s requirements. Each state in the U.S. started requiring death registrations in different years. Usually, some types of records were created prior to the official state laws, either at the county, city, or town levels. But state records weren’t required until a law was passed. Furthermore, even though registrations and certificates were mandated, general compliance was not achieved by all entities for just a few years or even a few decades in some instances.

Get the Quicksheet PDF which specifies the dates for each state at https://theancestorhunt.com/blog/when-were-statewide-death-registrations-required/

02/24/2026

What if your family tree connects you to a trailblazer, a member of royalty, or a pop culture icon? Visit the link below to uncover the famous names hiding in your family history ⤵️
https://www.familysearch.org/en/connect/famous?cid=SO-00056307

Once you find a famous relative, drop them in the comments!

02/24/2026

NOW RESCHEDULED* to March 9th, 6pm CT!

Discover the early lives of Jesse and Frank James and how their involvement in the Civil War led to their career as outlaws. We’ll discuss the James brothers, their birthplace in Kearney, Missouri, and the Jesse James Bank Museum in Liberty, Missouri.

HYBRID (in person AND Zoom), free.
Register: https://www.mymcpl.org/genealogy/programs

(*This program was originally scheduled for Dec 2 and was postponed.)

02/24/2026

18 million NEW opportunities to find your missing ancestors!

Looking for World War II draft cards or European church records? Maybe a New Zealand cemetery transcript?

FREE records are available from 32 different countries!

🇺🇸 The United States
🇭🇳 Honduras
🇨🇦 Canada

and more!

Click the link in the first comment to start exploring!

02/24/2026

Researching Your Ancestors in the Hamburg Passenger Lists (New Quicksheet)

The Hamburg Passenger Lists are one of the most important — and most underused — immigration resources in genealogy. Covering departures from the port of Hamburg primarily between 1850 and 1934, these lists document millions of emigrants leaving Europe for destinations around the world.

Because these are departure records, they can reveal information that never appears on Ellis Island or Castle Garden manifests. This Quicksheet explains how the Hamburg Passenger Lists work, what information they contain, and how to use them effectively — especially when U.S. arrival searches fail.

Get the Quicksheet PDF at https://theancestorhunt.com/blog/researching-your-ancestors-in-the-hamburg-passenger-lists/

02/24/2026

Some mornings I open my inbox and see four or five variations of the same question waiting for me.

The good news is I can probably help.

I have access to a wide range of federal military, pension, and federal land records held at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. That includes records from the War of 1812, Mexican War, Spanish American War, and Indian Wars.

In addition to service and pension files, I also work with federal land records, including bounty land applications and homestead files.

The best first step is to visit the “How Do I Get Started?” page on my website:
https://civilwarrecords.com/pages/whatsavailable

That page explains what types of records I can access, how to search the indexes, what information to gather before ordering, pricing details, and exactly how to submit your request.

I want this process to feel simple and approachable. If you take a few minutes to review that page first, you will be in great shape. And if you still have questions after that, just reach out. I am always happy to help point you in the right direction.

02/24/2026

It feels like a small world when we connect with so many of you from everywhere. For those adopted in our community, if you’d like to share, where were you adopted from and where do you call home now?