My Genealogy Journey

06/04/2025

Ollie is helping with my genealogy work tonight.

05/27/2025

Nice to hear the responses from a recent class I taught. ;)
Did you like the course?
Respondents said "Yes"
What did you think of the class and/or instructor?
Outstanding and very knowledgeable
Excellent class and instructor!
What could be improved about the course?
Continuation
Nothing. It was a good introduction.
Any additional feedback?
[I would like] a Geneology class that has more sessions.
Class was really informative, I can't wait for a continuation in the fall.
Thank you for teaching this class with us at OOB/Saco Adult Education!

05/18/2025

Top 5 Reasons You’re Not Finding Your Ancestors:
1. You’re putting too much weight on old family stories.
2. You’re using other people’s trees and info they’ve “researched” and it’s wrong.
3. You’re searching for records that don’t exist.
4. You’re stuck in a research rut.
5. You’re not examining your ancestors entire life and the records related to their immediate family and “F.A.N. Club.”

03/04/2025

For those of you wanting some more insight into doing better at your genealogy research, I'm hosting this event and teaching some great tips and tricks tomorrow night via zoom. It's NOT just about New England research. You can use a lot of what I teach in ANY research. ;) https://www.wellsogunquithistory.org/events

02/21/2025

I'll be holding an online zoom class that's suitable for all working on their genealogy on March 5th. See link for details. It's free! https://www.wellsogunquithistory.org/events

12/20/2024

Just a reminder that I'm teaching again for those interested. ;) Don't I look good in this pic? 😉

Become a more skilled family history sleuth and journey into the world of online genealogy! Focus on strategies to achieve your research goals and discover new resources-including many free ones! Discuss the genealogical proof standard and learn...

11/25/2024

Genealogy friends. Tip time. An ancestor of yours CAN be enumerated on two separate census records in the same year. And it can tell a story. I just came across this again, and even though it's relatively rare, this one told a story. First, I saw the person I was researching in the 1900 census at age 15 enumerated as a farm laborer and "boarder" on June 3rd and 4th in Hatfield, MA and then on the 11th and 12th of June, he's back living with his siblings and parents in Holyoke, MA about 17 miles away. But here's the kicker. 20 years later he would marry the granddaughter of the man he was working for as a farm laborer. So, if I were to take this further the questions to ask are "How is his family connected to the one he went to work for?" "Are they related?" "Was it an ad he responded to in the papers to go get work?" There are many possibilities. But the story here is, MAYBE he wouldn't have met the woman he married if he never went there to work on the farm that summer 20 years earlier. And then my client wouldn't exist. And then this post wouldn't exist. ;)

11/20/2024

I'm sharing my knowledge again. Come join!

Become a more skilled family history sleuth and journey into the world of online genealogy! Focus on strategies to achieve your research goals and discover new resources-including many free ones! Discuss the genealogical proof standard and learn...

10/23/2024

While doing genealogy research for someone, I came upon this. BOY are we not spoiled nowadays? Everything when we want it for how long we want it...

10/15/2024

This is the time of year to get in touch if you're looking to give genealogy research as a gift for those hard to buy for. Just a heads up. Don't wait until December. 😉

10/14/2024

Genealogy friends and clients. Another tip time! Keep in mind that even though things are set in stone, they are NOT set in stone. I recently was researching and found a grave for a certain individual and the death year on the grave was 1943. They actually died in 1944. Keep in mind, cemetery stone are sometimes erected years after the death of someone. Also, names can be off. Sometimes it's a middle initial, sometimes the whole name. Correlate with other records to come to the best conclusion!