Mini Documentary of my Irish Roots Genealogy Trip--

Click the link below to join me in Northern Ireland!
http://vimeo.com/80082705

Ireland genealogy trip days 1 and 2!

After settling into our cottage near Enniskillen, Ireland, and exploring our incredibly beautiful surroundings, we planned our research strategies for the next day.

Our Cottage

The cottage across the lane from us

Our next door neighbor's gorgeous property!

Tuesday we drove the five miles to Enniskilen, first passing the beautiful castle located there (situated beside the River Erne built 600 years ago by Gaelic Maguires - guarding one of the few passes into Ulster, the castle was strategically important throughout Irish history).  We hope to have time to take a tour! We then went straight to the town hall and visited with historian/genealogist Frank Roofe on site, and were completely mind blown after spending an hour and a half. Frank located several family records online for us including 3 children we had never heard of born to the Hamilton family which probably died young.  Names and Christening dates!  Then he located the burial date and told us the probable cemetery for Elizabeth Hamilton who died just one year before her husband and remaining children were able to immigrate to the U.S. This particular finding was one of our main goals to accomplish.  We will go in search of the grave tomorrow in Irvinestown!  

We also found the Church of Ireland where our ancestors were married and paid a visit to the Enniskillen library where we found contact information on a genealogist and Reverend of the Methodist church we want to meet with in Irvinestown.  As well, we read through books containing pictures and history regarding Irvinestown.  Successful day!!

Enniskillen Castle, we are making time to see this place!

My mom and I in front of the Enniskillen town hall.

Frank Roofe, historian, genealogist, and our hero!

Tony, my parents and I, on Main Street Enniskilen

Church of Ireland where some of our ancestors were married, the church was open 

and we were welcomed inside!

Citations:

http://www.enniskillencastle.co.uk/

Riots in Belfast/Red Hand symbol

Beginning next week, I will be spending two weeks in Ireland, therefore I have become concerned with the recent riots taking place in Belfast. "The Troubles," (the most common name for the ethno-nationalist conflict in Northern Ireland), at times spills over into the Republic of Ireland, England, and mainland Europe.  The Troubles began in the late 1960s and is considered to have ended with the Belfast "Good Friday" Agreement of 1998.  Nonetheless, sporadic violence has continued ever since.  The decades-long conflict issues have been raised to the Northern Ireland Assembly level, as some consider this period of conflict to be war.

The primary issues involved in "The Troubles" are the constitutional status of Northern Ireland and the relationship between two core communities.  The first community - Unionists and Loyalists, primarily hail from the Protestant community and generally desire Northern Ireland to remain within the United Kingdom. The second community - the Irish Nationalists and Republicans, predominately hail form the Catholic community and desire to leave the United Kingdom and join a united Ireland.   The former generally views their group as British and the latter generally views their group as Irish.  "The Troubles" involved republican and loyalist paramilitaries, the state security forces of the Untied Kingdom and of the Republic of Ireland, and politicians as well as political activists.  More than 3,500 people have been killed during the conflict.

Belfast, one of the cities in which my family and I want to conduct genealogical research, suffered from rioting just last month.  Fifty-six police officers were injured.  Hopefully, we will feel safe enough to enter the city's libraries, cemeteries, and Heritage Centers while visiting.

Moving on to the Irish "Red Hand" - the symbol, and what the icon stands for. As I have conducted Irish research this "red hand" symbol has surfaced numerous times and is even found on the current flag of Northern Ireland; although disputes are on-going to change the current standard.

Countless versions of the red-hand tale exist in the oral traditions of Ireland.  The best-known version is comprised of a Viking longboat war party fast approaching the shores of Ulster (which in now the country of Northern Ireland, separate from the rest of Ireland).  Their leader promises the first man to touch land full possession of the territory.  On board is an Irish mercenary, a turncoat of a man called O'Neill who, with a sword blow, severs his hand and throws it ashore.  Ulster is now his property and the mutilated hand becomes the family symbol and con for a regional creation myth immersed in violence and territorial rights.

Have you ever heard the phrase "The Fighting Irish?" Well, the Irish people are descended from  some pretty tough ancestry.  I personally believe the Irish were born from this type of gene-pool to survive the centuries that came BEFORE the modern-day conflicts; however, that is another story entirely.

I am looking forward to exploring my Irish roots and connecting with the Emerald Isle's people!

References:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/hand-over-fist-the-red-hand-of-ulster-still-has-the-power-to-divide-northern-ireland-1950412.html

Two weeks till Ireland!

I cannot wait to see the places my ancestors were born, married, worked, and lived in the Emerald Isle! Mainly spending time in Northern Ireland, still part of the U.K., we have planned multiple research sights, towns, churches, and Heritage Centers to visit!

Pocket Watch

I found all the artifacts of my pioneer ancestors today at the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers Museum in Salt Lake City. Cool stuff!

This pocket watch belonged to my 4th great-grandmother Mary Barr Neff.  The watch was handed down to her through several generations and THEN made it safely across the plains. Beautiful!

J.K. Rowling's "Weasley Genealogy" this needs a new book!!

Check out who all the kids are named after!

Shocked at the antique store today...!

Today I spent some time in an amazing antique store in historical Anoka, Minnesota.  While swimming through treasures, I continually noticed old family photos - sold, dropped off, or otherwise ending up at the antique store.  TRAGIC.  If you have old/new family photos, always label the backs with names and dates!  Keep them for forever! Until someone truly interested comes along that you can pass them on to, in your own family.  Family history is a priceless treasure.

"In all of us there is a hunger, marrow deep, to know our heritage - to know who we are and where we came from. Without this enriching knowledge, there is a hollow yearning." -- Alex Haley, Roots

Below are some of the family treasures I saw at the antique store today, lost forever to the descendants of these people.

I love this show!!

Just a week away!  On July 23rd, Who Do You Think You Are? kicks off with 

Kelly Clarkson walking in the footsteps of her ancestors!

Genetic Genealogy

Genetic Genealogy

Many individuals now search for basic knowledge of their genetic ancestry BEYOND the recent centuries in which traditional pedigrees can now be assembled. The application of genetics to traditional genealogy is defined as Genetic Genealogy.  This growing field implements the use of genealogical DNA testing to reveal the level and type of genetic relationship between individuals.  Such applications of genetics have become quite popular to family historians during the first decade of the 21st century, as affordable testing methods have developed.  With advancement of the field, the objectives of genetic genealogist have also expanded.   Testing has been encouraged by amateur groups such as assurname study groups, or regional genealogical groups.  As well, efforts of research projects such as the genographic project, have led to testing sought by hundreds of thousands of people.  

The Genetic Genealogy Revolution

In 2000, Family Tree DNA, created by Bennett Greenspan and Max Blankfeld, was the first company devoted to direct-to-consumer testing for genealogy research. The company originally provided eleven marker Y-Chromosome STR tests and HVR1 mitochondrial DNA tests, originally testing in partnership with the University of Arizona.

The publication of Sykes “The Seven Daughters of Eve” (2001), which defined the seven major haplogroups of European ancestors, assisted in the push for personal ancestry testing through DNA tests, into widespread public notification.  With growing affordability and availability of genealogical DNA testing, genetic genealogy as a field, has grown rapidly.  By 2003, the field of DNA testing of surnames was acknowledged as officially arriving in an article by Jobling and Tyler-Smith in Nature Reviews Genetics.  The number of companies providing tests, and the number of consumers ordering the tests, had dramatically risen.

Citation:

Deboeck, Guido. "Genetic Genealogy Becomes Mainstream. BellaOnline.  Retrieved 8 July 2013.

Properly Documenting Genealogical Evidence

Want to know how to properly cite genealogical information?  Sure you do!  Then no one else researching your ancestors will ever have to wonder where you found your information!  The paper below explains it all.

DOCUMENTING GENEALOGICAL EVIDENCE

Wendy Spooner

American School of Genealogy

April 18, 2013

DOCUMENTING EVIDENCE

Introduction

Just because someone relates written or verbal details or stories about a person, does not mean the information is accurate.  Even data found on film or in a database may not be factual.  Following steps of stringing together and carefully evaluating each source of information, is vital to depicting a truthful montage of each and every ancestor’s life.  According to Elizabeth Shown Mills, there are thirteen guidelines in which complete documentation is judiciously recorded.  Beginning with analyzing weather a piece of information is common knowledge or not – and ending with finding the best possible source of data at all times – below is a comprehensive evaluation of the recommendations found in Mills’ book “Evidence! Citation & Analysis for the Family Historian.”

Sources, Source Notes, and Tracking

Guideline One

Elizabeth Mills describes her first guideline for proper citing to be sound judgment when distinguishing “common knowledge” data, from information that requires documentation. It is well known that the United States entered World War II after the attack on Pearl Harbor by Japanese forces in 1941.  This account does not require supporting evidence, but a statement that a certain officer was killed in the attack, does.  Mills clearly explains that to give credit where credit is due, “any statement of fact that is not common knowledge must carry its own individual statement of source.”  

Guidelines Two and Three

Mills’ second and third guidelines are that sources have two purposes, and are tracked in two ways. The two purposes of citing are to make record of each specified location of every data piece and to make record of details affecting the evaluation or use of the information.  The two ways of tracking sources are: general lists (bibliographies) and source notes keyed to particular evidences.  As a condensed reference tool, a bibliography is a principal list used for immediate consultation. Its main purpose is to keep track of all evaluated resources but not to document any specific fact.  See an example of the two functions of a source citation and related notes below.

1. Valentine Switzer, “1810 United States Federal Census,” digital images, Ancestry.com.http://search.ancestry.com/iexec?htx=view&r=0&dbid=7613&iid=4433225_00181&fn=Valentine&ln=Swidzer&st=r&ssrc=pt_t19358066_p20380401921_kpidz0q3d20380401921z0q26pgz0q3d32768z0q26pgplz0q3dpid&pid=559847 

2. A note submitted by another contributor (shown as jlgregg, submitting on 3/05/2011) shows a name correction to be Valentine Switzer instead of Swidzer and also states that the original data on the record is incorrect. 

 Guideline Four

Further source note instructions emphasizing Mills’ fourth guideline encompass two basic formats:  full and short citations.  Within any narrative, full details are given the first time a source is cited.  Subsequent citations need only to be comprised of a shortened version, easily recognizable as corresponding to the bibliography entries, as well as to the original citation.  One exception is when multiple excerpts are taken from a collection, book, or file.  Here, a full citation should be fixed to each sheet of research notes and photocopy. “If source citations are to be beneficial, they must be simple-easy to grasp, easy to remember, and easy to find” states Mills.   See examples of full and short citations below:

Full:

Beth Anne bower, “African American Probate Records,” article, New England Historic Genealogical Society, New England Ancestors (http://www.newenglandancestors.org/education/articles/research/specia_topcs//african_american/african_anmerican_probate.asp: posted 2 August 2002), para. 13.

Short:

Bower, “African American Probate Records,” para. 13.

Source Note Formats, Narrative Test Numbering, 

Source Notes Keyed to Narrative Text, and Explicit Source Notes

Guideline Five

According to Mills, narrative account source notes can be presented in four ways:  footnotes, endnotes, parenthetical citations, and hypertext.  The recommended formats for historical researchers and genealogist however, are footnotes and endnotes.  This is due to the fact that parenthetical citation has been altogether rejected.  It disrupts thought, hampers full citations, and adds limits vital to source considerations.  Hypertext is not the best option either.  It is a digital document tool embedded with shortcuts, which are easily lost during printing or download.   An example of a footnote can be found at the bottom of this page, in the footnotes area referenced by the number 6 in the sentence above.  An example of an endnote (seen directly below) is a list of footnote-type notes, but they are listed all together at the end of a writing, numbered and listed sequentially, referenced by the in-text note numbers.

1. “Passenger Record,” database, statue of Liberty-Ellis Island foundation (http://www.ellisisland.org: accessed 16 April 2013), entry for William Shane, 32, arrived 10 March 1914 on the Bermudian.

2. Manifest, S.S. Liguria, 16 April 1902, List J, pl 35, for Sebastiao Sammarco (age 19), digital images, Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation (http://www.ellisisland.org: accessed 16 April 2013).

Guideline Six

Elizabeth Mills advises in her sixth guideline that “source notes keyed to narrative text should be numbered consecutively; the corresponding numbers should appear in correct sequence within the text.”   The former practice of preparing a numbered bibliography, and numbering text statements to reference entries on the list, has created confusion in the past.  In general, detailed descriptive writing requires that note numbers inside the text be placed at the end of a sentence, outside the concluding punctuation mark.  Genealogists however, are more precise in two situations.  The first one occurs when information from more than one source is placed within a sentence, and then the first reference number should be placed at the point where the information from that source ends.  The second situation occurs when a personal interpretation or observation is added to a note, then the reference note should be placed where the source information ends and the personal observation begins.  Furthermore, a source number should never be placed directly after a given name because this is the place reserved for the genealogist to place the generation number.  See the examples below covering the guidelines of the above paragraph, with corresponding footnotes. 

James1 (the number 1 here is to show he is the first generation of record for the family) Ferguson Wilson, the earliest-known progenitor of our family, was born about 1861 in Scotland and at the time of the U.S. 1900 Census was married to Martha A Ferguson.   The birth year assumption is made because the 1900 Census record shows his age to be 38. A discrepancy in the middle initial is shown in the 1910 U.S. Census as James W. Wilson, and his occupation at this time shows he was a merchant. 

Guideline Seven

Moving on to Elizabeth Mills’ seventh guideline to genealogical citation, she states that “explicit source notes should also appear on ancestor charts and family group sheets.”    When depending on a computer program for compiling, the genealogist should choose a program carefully focusing on documentation capability.   See example of group sheet below with note reference numbers highlighted in yellow.

Citation Positioning as Well as Ethical Issues

Guideline Eight

As stated by Elizabeth Mills, a full citation should be attached to the front side of each photocopied document, such as the family Bible photocopy below, as well as on every page of a research report. The front side of a copy is vitally important. If anyone were to copy a copy and the citation was written on the back, they may forget to photocopy the back, and consequently the citation would be lost.  Utilizing available margin space (such as the dark area around the Bible in the below image) on the front side of the document, is the optimum citation placement for photocopies.    

Guideline Nine

Mills’ ninth guideline describes the reasons one should not cite sources that one does not use.  Borrowing notes from other writers is unethical and risky. To avoid these pitfalls, Mills advises to fully identify the source a writer cites and to verify that the writer has cited the information accurately.  Additionally, one should search to see if there is more data to be found.   See example with endnote example below.

…”and claimed it to be the first use of ‘family history’ as a concept distinct from ‘mere pedigree work and genalogy’.”26

26. Cecil Humphrey-Smith, ‘Editorial’, Family History 25/202 (2010), 49.  In a similar article, Humphrey-Smith claimed the 1957 lecture ‘created family history as a distinct subject which brought the individuals in the family tree “to life” in their historical context’: ‘Editorial’, Family History 23/190 (2007).

Guideline Ten

Guideline number ten by Mills, involves fair use and the possible legal and ethical complications when copying from another work.  A full citation may not be sufficient. When copying more than three words the words should be treated as a quote.  Furthermore, when utilizing more than three paragraphs (or when quoting from a manuscript owned by an institution or individual) from another source, permission from the author should be sought, if approved, the citation should acknowledge the permission.   See citation example below: 

Family Group Sheet contributed by Jane Tunesi , American  School of Genealogy  (adapted  by Wendy Spooner, 15 April 2013).

Guideline Eleven

In guideline eleven, Mills expounds on some of the difficulties of electronic materials and microforms. Standardized citing may seem impossible to achieve when using these types of sources, hence these materials need additional citation management.  For example, an electronic database for state marriages may seem easy to cite until one asks questions such as: what were each of the sources the information was gathered from? Were they reliable sources?  Extraction methods are another element of microform and electronic materials to examine.   

One source more reliable than many would be a “state society using carefully selected volunteers in each county to extract every marriage record known to be extant for their respective regions.”   Citing microforms from the National Archives or The  Family History Library in Salt Lake City, unearths varied issues - one being that individuals often include multiple materials in one citation.  This mishap occurs often with  Family History Library (FHL) materials since this repository possesses a wealth of microfilm and fiche.  Mills advises to cite either the films or originals, depending upon which was consulted, and the citations should show exactly what material was accessed. This practice allows others to check for errors by referring to original sources. 

Format as shown in Mills’ Evidence! for citing microforms below:

[Specific document name]; [file name/number or page/line number, if  relevant]; [series title, if relevant]; [microfilm title, in italics; publication number] (Washington: National Archives), [roll or fiche number], [frame number]. 

Full citation example:

Council of War, Proceedings re Penobscot Expedition, July 6 – August 14, 1779; Vol. 2, p. 132 of item 65, Massachusetts; Papers of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789  State Papers, 1775-91; Records of the Continental and confederation Congresses and the Constitutional Convention, Record group 360; National Archives Microfilm Publication M247, roll 79.

Clear and Best Possible Source Citing

Guideline Twelve

Elizabeth Mills explains in her twelfth fundamental of that “clear citations require consideration of many details.  Correct bibliographic data, the use of Ibid (which is Latin shorthand for “in the same source as above” ) capitalization (book titles should be italicized and all words capitalized) , punctuation, and defining published material, are all vital components to clearly citing sources.  A clear rule to follow when attempting to define published material is that published material is photocopied, converted to microform, placed on electronic disks, or online for rapid dissemination.  Unpublished data may be present in these same forms but for preservation or very limited sharing reasons such as data found in a family genealogical newsletter like the one seen below.  

Guideline Thirteen

Last but not least, Mills advises not to just cite something, but to cite the soundest and highest quality evidence available.   A random piece of Googled information that  is not verifiable, is no match for a reliable piece of genealogical evidence such as the one found below:

James Ferguson Wilson, no. 497-14-0553, Social Security death Index, FamilySearch (Salt Lake City: Family History Library, 1998).  The SSDI component of FamilySearch is drawn from the Social Security Death Benefits Index of the U.S. Social Security Administration.

Conclusion

          Effective research that produces accurate information with minimal wasted time and money, depends greatly on complete investigation of evidence.  Weighing and evaluating each data source for value and reliability, will ensure supportable citations for the generations to come.  When the thirteen guidelines found in Elizabeth Shown Mills’ book: “Evidence! Citation & Analysis for the Family Historian” are applied in a methodical system of research, the amateur or professional genealogist will be well on his or her way to thoroughly and properly documenting ancestral materials.  

Works Cited

1900 U.S. census ,Salt Lake County, Utah, population schedule, Ward 2,           Enumeration District 273, sheet number  1  (penned), dwelling  2, family 2, digital images, Ancestry.com (http://search.ancestry.com/iexec?htx=View&r=an&dbid=7602&iid=004115259_00563&fn=James&ln=Wilson&st=r&ssrc=&pid=61721868 : accessed 17 April 2013); from National Archives Record Administration.

1910 U.S. census ,Salt Lake County, Utah, population schedule, Ward 2, Enumeration District 122, sheet number  2  (penned), dwelling  33, family 34, digital images, Ancestry.com (http://search.ancestry.com/iexec?htx=View&r=an&dbid=7884&iid=4454822_00928&fn=James+W&ln=Wilson&st=r&ssrc=&pid=28825683 : accessed 17 April 2013); from National Archives Record Administration

National Archives and Records Administration 1810 United States Federal Census Record for Valentine Swidzer, Ancestry.com, http://search.ancestry.com/iexec?htx=view&r=0&dbid=7613&iid=4433225_00181&fn=Valentine&ln=Swidzer&st=r&ssrc=pt_t19358066_p20380401921_kpidz0q3d20380401921z0q26pgz0q3d32768z0q26pgplz0q3dpid&pid=559847 (accessed Apr 15, 2013).

"Citation Graphics." Better GedCom Wiki. http://bettergedcom.wikispaces.com/Citation+Graphics (accessed Apr 18, 2013).

Mills, Elizabeth S. Evidence! Citation & Analysis for the Family Historian. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1997.

Seaver, Randy "Genea-Musings.". http://www.geneamusings.com/2012/02/trying-to-be-evidenced-based-researcher.html (accessed Apr 17, 2014).

"Susannah Neff Peirce Boothe." Neff Family. http://johnnefffamily.blogspot.com/ (accessed Apr 18, 2013).

Photo of my great aunt and uncle, properly cited below.

Gordon Corrigan Hamilton & Jessie Lloyd (2nd marriage) Copy of photograph taken 7 September 1932.  He died 11 Oct 1976 She died 24 June 1977.  Gifted to Wilson family by Adam Condie (cousin) in 1980s.

Miracle!

For one of my school assignments, I was to choose an ancestor and order an immigration passenger list from the U.S. National Archives in Washington D.C.  I had to complete about a week of research on Ancestry.com to pinpoint the most likely dates of departure and arrival, possible ports for both, and exact name and age for the ancestor I had in mind.

When submitting this type of order to the National Archives, the online site requires you to enter very specific information - or completion of the record order is not possible.  In narrowing my search to one ancestor, I decided on Andrew Hamilton (my great, great, grandfather), Clerk of the Crown, Irvinestown, Ireland.  This choice was due to the fact that my mother and I possess a set of family letters dated from 1818 - 1833 which encompassed the correspondence from Andrew to his son Allen - previously sent to the U.S. to obtain a livelihood.  Conditions in Ireland at this time were a financial nightmare. To my National Archives search, I included the other children's names I believe immigrated with their father - Eliza, Thomas, and James (my great, great, grandfather).  Andrew's wife Elizabeth Allen Hamilton, died the year before the family was immigrated to America.

Most of the information I possess for my research comes from the family letter collection written between the parents of the Hamilton family, and their son who they sent to America 14 years earlier.  Since the time period is much earlier than the big Ellis Island rush of the very late 1800s, I had no idea if records even existed for this era.

I completed my online order, paid the $20.00 (this is standard for any document order at NA) and not so patiently, waited for the results.  The usual NA order completion time is about 2 weeks.  I checked the status of my order multiple times - it always said "servicing" which meant the research was underway.  Knowing that at any point the status could change to "no results found" which can definitely happen, I was pretty hopeful, but not too hopeful that I would receive any found record copies.

Out of the blue, (3 weeks later) I received a large envelope from the National Archives.  Inside were 3 documents - the research report (listing the microfilm # etc.) and a copy of the microfilm title page and a large copy of the actual ship passenger list.  At first I was skeptical that this was even the record I was looking for - and the condition of the passenger list was poor.  There were only about 12 of the 48 lines that were readable.  I did notice right off, that the column showing passenger ages was completely intact.  I took out a magnifying glass and started analyzing what I could read of the names...

MIRACULOUS.  In the bottom left portion of the passenger list, (one of only two readable portions of the document)... THERE WERE ALL THE NAMES I WAS LOOKING FOR!  The entire family! All of them!  The corresponding ages in the neighboring column matched the ages from their birth records.  What I felt upon reading these names his hard to describe.  I screamed, I laughed, I called my mother.  She screamed, she laughed, we screamed.  Enough said.

Here is the info I obtained from this ONE search:

Name of Vessel: Brig Susannah
Port of Embarkations:  Greenock
Date of Arrival:  June 28, 1833 (coincides with dates in the letters)
Port of Entry:  New York
Names and exact ages of ancestors at time of immigration.

When I searched the port of departure, I was surprised to find "Greenock" on the west coast of Scotland.  This fact raised many questions.  Having completed some research, I have now found that since Northern Ireland and the west coast of Scotland are only 13 miles apart in some areas, the Irish (who were starving) found ways to cross to Scotland and work the seasonal harvests.  At this time, one of my theories is that our ancestors worked the harvest to receive passage money, probably received some money from son Allen in America as well, and immigrated through this plan.  The family letters talk of Andrew and family seeking to immigrate as early as 1819.  It took many years longer, however. The most obvious reason was probably money, and Andrew's wife was not well for years.  See immigration document below!  Line 38 is where my family names begin.