Mining for gold will not be easy, but what we find will be priceless!



HOW TO: Experience genealogy, family history activities, family photos and pedigree charts while we search family connections and collections. Write your life story, or keep a journal. Become the caretaker for precious family photos. Learn the stories, and how to protect treasures of family significance.
Showing posts with label Mine Cart. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mine Cart. Show all posts

Monday, September 26, 2011

Ahnentafel Numbers

Ahnentafel - a German word that means "ancestral table".

It is quite easy to prepare an indexed list of all your ancestors by using the ahnentafel numbering system.

To do this you will assign each ancestor a unique identification number and move backwards in time.
If  you are the subject of the pedigree then assign yourself number 1, and your father will be number 2, your mother number 3, your paternal grandfather will be number 4, and your paternal grandmother will be number 7, etc.

The males are always assigned an even number. 2, 4, 6, 8, etc.
Identify the father by doubling the ancestor's number, then add one to that number to identify the mother.

By listing all numbers sequentially, you can prepare an index to your entire pedigree.

If you are using one of the many genealogy software programs they can compose the ahnentafel from the information you key in.

Monday, August 22, 2011

Monday Mine Cart - Glossary A - B

    Here is a little mine cart - bringing you some information---
    Let's get started with some Family History terms- it will make it easier if you become conversant with these definitions:
  • Abstract - summary of important points of a text of document
  • Administrator - person appointed to manage or divide the estate of a deceased person, especially one who died without a will, feminine: administratrix
  • Alien - noun: a foreigner, citizen of another country; verb: to transfer property to another
  • Ancestor - person for whom you are descended; a forefather; a forbear
  • Ancestry - all forebears of a person, from parents backwards in time
  • Archives- records of a government, organizations, institution, the place where such records are stored     
  • Attest - to affirm: to certify by signature or oath   
  • Banns - public announcement of an intended marriage
  • Bequeath - to give personal property to a person in a will, noun: bequest
  • Bond - a binding agreement to perform certain actions or duties or be required to pay a specified sum of money as a penalty; at different times rewired of estate administrators or executors, grooms, certain elected officials. A bondsman, often a relative, acted as surety.
  • Bounty land - land promised as reward or inducement for enlisting in military service

Sunday, August 14, 2011

First Steps to Getting Started

When you have your goal defined for researching your family history you can step up your game plan. Gather your supplies, and now you are ready to begin discovering your past.

Where should you begin your search? - the library, the internet, national archives?

No, you start with yourself and what you already know.  Write down what you know about your family.  Ask yourself key questions, answer the best you can. Be specific! Record everything, be precise and fastidious and do not abbreviate.

Proving Who You Are- look at your birth certificate, it will probably list:
  • your full name at birth
  • your sex and whether you were part of a multiple birth
  • date of birth
  • county and state of birth
  • usual residence of your mother
  • mother's full maiden name
  • her age and race
  • state or foreign country of her birth
  • number of previous children
  • number of her living children
  • father's full name
  • his age and race
  • state or foreign country of his birth
  • his usual occupation
  • kind of business or industry in which he worked
  • name of the informant
  • attending physician or midwife's name
  • signature of the doctor or midwife
  • name of the hospital or institution
  • date of registration
  • registration number on the certificate
  • and usually the certification by the state registrar attesting that it is a true and correct copy of the record
If you don't already have a copy of your birth certificate, you can request one from the state bureau of vital records in the state where you were born.

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Tracing Your Roots is Exciting

Join us!  Tracing your roots looks exciting, and once you start to think about it your really want to get going.  T here is so much information you can become "information overloaded". Don't let it get too confusing - Let me   help you reach your goals.


You need to have a plan to be able to achieve your goals, and so you can follow these steps to develop your game plan.

  • identify what you wish to research
  • break down each task into manageable pieces
  •  brainstorm potential information sources
  • make a list of the sources you plan to examine
  • make a tentative schedule for completing the task
  • focus on one task at a time 
  • write your plan out in the computer or on paper
  • print and file a copy of your plan in your notebook
  • refer to the plan often
  • revise it as needed
  • be flexible, but stay organized
  • be methodical
  • follow new leads by setting up new plans
  • devise a new plan each time you enter a new phase of research

Sunday, August 7, 2011

USE THIS - - - to get started

The Life History of - - - ___________

FAMILY

I, _____was born on ____ at ____. I was born in __(hospital or home). (List conditions surrounding birth ___weather, ___doctor ___ or absence of one, how you got your name, etc.)

I was the ____ of ____ children born to my parents.  My father was ____ and my mother was ___. I had ____ sisters and ____ brothers. (List names and birth dates, starting with the eldest.)

Some early childhood experiences I have had are: (early playmates, incidents involving brothers and sisters, Christmas memories, birthdays, nicknames, experiences that taught you a lesson).

My father was born ____on ____ at ____. His father's name was _____ and his mother's name was____. Some fond memories of my father are: _____. the following is a brief outline of my father's life.

My mother was born ____on ____ at ____. Her father's name was _____ and her mother's name was____. Some fond memories of my mother are: _____. the following is a brief outline of my mother's life.

SCHOOL
I started school at the age of ____, attending the ____school at ____.  some of my close school friends were:______.  My favorite teachers were: ____-. some outstanding things I remember about elementary school were:_________.

I attended the junior High School at ____.  My special friends were: _____.  some special teachers I remember were: _____. some memories I have about junior high were: _____.

I attended the ____High school at ____.  My special friends in high school were: _____ My special teachers whom I remember were: ____ .  Some outstanding  memories I have of my high school days are: _____. Special activities (athletics or student officers or clubs). I graduated from high school on ____.

I attended university at ____ for ____ years. I majored in _____ and I graduated on ____.  Some university memories are:________.

Other schools that I have attended (trade school, beauty school, business school, etc.) Name of school ___. Kind ___. Where____.  Some special things I recall about my advanced schooling:____.

MY OWN FAMILY
I first met my future husband/wife at____.  His/her name was____.  I was ____ old, and he/she was ___.  some interesting dates we went on were: _____.

We went together for ____ and were engaged on ____.  The"question" was popped like this:_______.

We were married on ____ at___.  Some of the memories I have of my wedding are:____. We honeymooned at ____ for ____ days. Some memories of our honeymoon are:____.

We made our first home at ____.  Some of early married experiences are:____. Other home we have lived in are:____.


We have been blessed up to this date with ____ children.  They are,__________starting from the oldest (name, birth date, birthplace, etc., plus a short description of their lives, schooling, mission, marriage, etc.)


OCCUPATION
My occupations through the years, chronologically listed have been:_____. (also list circumstance leading you into your work, etc.)


MISCELLANEOUS
The following are some interesting things which have happened to me which I would like to pass on to my children and grandchildren. (tragedies, illnesses, funny incidents , trips taken, business successes or failures, hobbies, plans and hopes for the future, etc.)


Thursday, August 4, 2011

What is a Mine Cart?

"mine cart" - a mine cart is used to bring gold up from the bottom of the mine - so when I have some information to share (something that may help you in your family history quest) I will bring it up in a mine cart.   

Friday, July 22, 2011

Ahnentafel Numbers

 
You ask- What exactly is an Ahnentafel Number?

Ahnentafel is a German word meaning "ancestor table." the system is easy to use and gives each ancestor an identification number.  Some genealogists like to use these numbers to organize their files or notebooks. Once assigned, the number stays the same for that person, it doesn't change as you add new ancestors.

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Gold Mine "Definitions"

"gold dust" -  is just a little story, just a little tidbit of information that I found while mining for family gold

"gold flecks"- gold flecks are also small pieces of information, but that information makes me think more, and sends me on a little quest for more information on that topic

"gold nuggets"- gold nuggets are worth a great deal, and so the gold nuggets that I will find while mining for gold will be family information of infinite worth. I hope you can collect your own gold nuggets

"mine cart" - a mine cart is used to bring gold up from the bottom of the mine - so when I have some information to share I will bring it up in a mine cart

"stake a claim" -  when you stake a claim you own something, so when I will give you the opportunity to search for some information, you will be staking a claim on your own family history