This is how Christmas was for the first American’s. They did not even take the day off work. Penalty for Keeping Christmas Christmas in America has not always been the holiday it is today. Caroline Kennedy, in her new book A Family Christmas (Hyperion, 2007), illustrates this on page 234, with an excerpt from the Records of the Governor and Company of the Massachusetts Bay in New England: "For preventing disorders arising in severall places with this jurisdiction, by reason of some still observing such festvalls as were superstitiously kept in other countrys, to the great dishonnor of God and offence of others, it is therefore ordered by this Court and the authority thereof, that whosoever shall be found observing any such day as Christmas or the like, either by forbearing of person labour, feasting, or any other way, upon any such accounts as aforesaid, every such person so offending shall pay for every such offence five shillings, as a fine to the county. And whereas, not only at such times, but at severall other times also, it is a custome too frequent in many places to expend time in unlawfull games, as cards, dice, &c, it is therefore further ordered, and by this Court declared, that after publication hereof, whosoever shall be found in any place within this jurisdiction playing either at cards or dice, contraty to this order, shall pay as a fine to the county the some of five shillings for every offence."

19 December 2007 Family History Library and Major Regional Family History Center Patrons to Receive Free Ancestry.com Access FamilySearch and The Generations Network Agreement Give Patrons Access to More than 24,000 Ancestry.com Databases and Titles Provo, UT – December 19, 2007 – FamilySearch and The Generations Network, Inc., parent company of Ancestry.com, today announced an agreement that provides free access of Ancestry.com to patrons of the Family History Library in Salt Lake City and the thirteen largest regional family history centers effective today. With this new agreement, full access will be provided to more than 24,000 Ancestry.com databases and titles and 5 billion names in family history records. In addition to the Family History Library, the following 13 regional family history centers have been licensed to receive access to Ancestry.com: • Mesa, Arizona • Los Angeles, California • Oakland, California • Orange, California • Sacramento, California • San Diego, California • Idaho Falls, Idaho • Pocatello, Idaho • Las Vegas, Nevada • Logan, Utah • Ogden, Utah • St. George, Utah • Hyde Park, London, England “We’re excited for our patrons to receive online access to an expanded collection of family history records on Ancestry.com,” said Don Anderson, director of FamilySearch Support. “Ancestry.com’s indexes and digital images of census, immigration, vital, military and other records, combined with the excellent resources of FamilySearch, will increase the likelihood of success for patrons researching their family history.” The Generations Network and FamilySearch hope to expand access to other family history centers in the future. FamilySearch patrons at the designated facilities will have access to Ancestry.com’s completely indexed U.S. Federal Census Collection, 1790-1930, and more than 100 million names in passenger lists from 1820-1960, among other U.S. and international record collections. Throughout the past year, Ancestry.com has added indexes to Scotland censuses from 1841-1901, created the largest online collection of military and African American records, and reached more than 4 million user-submitted family trees. Free access is also available at Brigham Young University Provo, Idaho, and Hawaii campuses, and LDS Business College patrons through a separate agreement with The Generations Network. “FamilySearch’s Family History Library in Salt Lake City is one of the most important physical centers for family history research in the world, and we are happy that patrons to the Library and these major regional centers will have access to Ancestry.com,” said Tim Sullivan, President and CEO of The Generations Network, Inc., parent company of Ancestry.com. “We’ve enjoyed a ten-year working relationship with FamilySearch, and we look forward to continued collaboration on a number of family history projects.”

[Another GREAT and FUN site from our member Pam. She really finds some good sites. Sally] The Geographic Location Index covers all of the maps in the collection and include maps that are narrowly focused on a geophysical or cultural feature such as a water body, mountain, county, city, or battlefield. http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/pmhtml/panmap.html Sally Rolls Pavia sallypavia2001@yahoo.com List Owner: GENEALOGYBITSANDPIECES-L-request@rootsweb.com Archives: http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index/GENEALOGYBITSANDPIECES "All incoming and outgoing email checked by Norton Anti-Virus"

December 27, 2007 The Political Graveyard No, this is not an article about the upcoming presidential campaign, although a few snide remarks do pop to mind. In fact, a web site called The Political Graveyard describes itself as "The Internet's Most Comprehensive Source of U.S. Political Biography," or, "The Web Site That Tells Where the Dead Politicians are Buried." If you had an ancestor in politics, you might find this to be an interesting and useful site. The Political Graveyard presently has transcribed records of 138,150 politicians, judges, and diplomats. The coverage of the site includes many federal officials, state officeholders and candidates in all 50 states, state and national political party officials, federal and state judges, and mayors (including candidates at election for mayor) of qualifying cities. This web site is much more than a listing of cemeteries. It has extensive lists of political figures, many of them with mini-biographies or else links to more detailed information about the individuals listed. Such information usually includes states and places of birth and sometimes includes the names of the politician's parents. Of course, with the word "Graveyard" in the site's name, you can also expect to find the place of interment of most of these individuals. With information about 138,150 individuals, there is an excellent chance you can find a politician or two in your family tree, perhaps one that you never knew about before. You can find Horace Greeley, Daniel Webster, John C. Calhoun, Aaron Burr, Sam Houston, and thousands of lesser-known politicians. There is always an excellent chance that someone in the family held public office. If so, he or she may have information listed on this site. As usual with any site I try, I first launched a search for my own surname. I was amazed to find about 40 Eastman's listed. (Please don't tell my aunts. They will be so embarrassed to have a politician in the family!) I didn't recognize any of the names as being close relatives although I suspect that I share DNA with a few of them. Looking through the list, I found numerous state legislators, delegates to national political conventions, and one lieutenant governor. If you are looking for more information about someone in your family tree, The Political Graveyard might be worth a visit. You never know whom you will find there. The Political Graveyard is created and maintained by one person: Lawrence Kestenbaum, of Ann Arbor, Michigan. He must have spent tens of thousands of hours on this so that others can benefit from the information there. The Political Graveyard is free and open to everyone at http://politicalgraveyard.com The best thing about this group of candidates is that only one of them can win. ~ Will Rogers

December 26, 2007 Oldest Family-Owned Firm? Thousands of companies are family-owned. They are typically handed down from one generation to another; each new generation inheriting the family business. One company in Japan may hold the world's record as being owned by one family longer than any other. In the year 578 A.D., carpenter Shigemitsu Kongo traveled from the Korean kingdom of Paekche to Japan, looking for work. He helped with the construction of Shitennoji, one of the oldest Buddhist complexes in Japan. He started a company, and his son was soon working alongside the father as an employee. Today, working from offices overlooking the same temple, Kongo Gumi Co. is believed to be the world's oldest family enterprise. The business is run by Masakazu Kongo, 55, the 40th Kongo to lead the 1,429-year-old company.. The UCLA-trained Masakazu says 90% of the carpentry techniques Shigemitsu brought to Japan are still used. Yet, as much as the Kongos value tradition, their firm has survived by being flexible. About eighty percent of the firm's $100 million annual revenue continues to involve building and repairing Buddhist temples. Over the centuries, Kongo Gumi has participated in the construction of many famous buildings, including the 16th-century Osaka castle. Such businesses are remarkable, considering that "among family companies ... less than 30 percent survive to the second generation, barely 10 per cent make it to the third, and only 4 per cent to the fourth," according to a recent Family Business magazine article. You can see the Kongo Gumi corporate Web site at http://www.kongogumi.co.jp. Obviously, the site is in Japanese. The oldest family-owned firm in the United States is the Zildjian Cymbal Company of Norwell, Massachusetts founded in 1623. A brief recollection of early U.S. history makes it obvious that this has not been an American company for all those years. (No, the Pilgrims did not scramble from Plymouth Rock to set up a cymbal shop.) Founded 14 generations ago in Constantinople by an alchemist named Avedis I, who discovered an extremely musical metal alloy to create powerful, durable cymbals. The sultan named him "Zildjian," Armenian for "cymbalsmith." The family emigrated to the U.S. in 1929, in time for Avedis Zildjian III to establish ties with hot new jazz drummers of the day. His son Armand (1921-2002) created a modern factory. Today Armand's daughters Craigie (CEO) and Debbie (VP/human resources) run the company, the first women chiefs in its long history. The company's Web site is at http://www.zildjian.com. The honor of oldest continuously-operating family-owned business in the United States goes to the Tuttle Farm of Dover, New Hampshire. The exact date of founding is unknown but apparently was around 1635 to 1638. Founder John Tuttle left England in 1635, survived a shipwreck off the Maine coast, and then arrived in Dover with his wife and four-year-old daughter. His 240-acre farm now is managed by the 11th generation of the Tuttle family, which grows vegetables and strawberries and also operates a retail shop on the site. The farm and family seem to be going strong: twelfth-generation member Evan Hourihan, who is in his 20s, has expressed an interest in the family farm. Sally Rolls Pavia sallypavia2001@yahoo.com

Sally (sallypavia2001@yahoo.com) has sent you an eCard. To view your eCard, choose from the options below. Click on the following link: www.bluemountain.com/view.pd?i=180976809&m=2440&rr=y&source=bma999 For your security, if you'd prefer not to click on links within this email: 1. Type http://www.bluemountain.com/?source=bma999&rr=y into your web browser 2. Locate the eCard pickup button in the upper left-hand area of the page 3. Enter the following code --> 1809768092440

Museum of Occupations of Estonia http://www.okupatsioon.ee/propatria/index.html ************************************** Sally Rolls Pavia sallypavia2001@yahoo.com List Owner: GENEALOGYBITSANDPIECES-L-request@rootsweb.com Archives: http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index/GENEALOGYBITSANDPIECES "All incoming and outgoing email checked by Norton Anti-Virus"

Creek Indian Researcher - records and links http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~texlance/main.htm Also see: Creek Indian Online Records http://www.accessgenealogy.com/native/tribes/creek/ The Creek Nation - North Georgia's American Indians http://ngeorgia.com/history/creek.html Creek Indian http://www.creekindian.com/ ************************************** Sally Rolls Pavia sallypavia2001@yahoo.com List Owner: GENEALOGYBITSANDPIECES-L-request@rootsweb.com Archives: http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index/GENEALOGYBITSANDPIECES "All incoming and outgoing email checked by Norton Anti-Virus"

Iowa Digital Library : World War II Iowa Press Clippings Digital Collection http://cdm.lib.uiowa.edu/cdm4/browse.php?CISOROOT=/wwii ************************************** Sally Rolls Pavia sallypavia2001@yahoo.com List Owner: GENEALOGYBITSANDPIECES-L-request@rootsweb.com Archives: http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index/GENEALOGYBITSANDPIECES "All incoming and outgoing email checked by Norton Anti-Virus"

Ellmendingen, Baden Parish Records http://www.heritagepursuit.com/Ellmendingen/Ellm.htm ************************************** Sally Rolls Pavia sallypavia2001@yahoo.com List Owner: GENEALOGYBITSANDPIECES-L-request@rootsweb.com Archives: http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index/GENEALOGYBITSANDPIECES "All incoming and outgoing email checked by Norton Anti-Virus"

[Not sure about some of the sites re FREE or FEE .. Sally] Research Recommendations: The Twelve Days of Genealogy by Michael J. Leclerc Kimberly Powell's Excellent genealogy blog on About.com is a great place to learn about new resources for your research. This week I've borrowed an idea from her and will discuss the 12 Days of Online Genealogy. Following is a list of websites I consult regularly (in many cases, daily) for research. This is my own personal list, in alphabetical, not preferential, order. You are likely to be familiar with most of these, but hopefully you will try at least one or two new ones. 1. America's Historical Newspapers, 1690-1922 Created by Readex through partnership with the American Antiquarian Society, Library of Congress, and others, this database provides access to newspapers from around the country. A variety of search features make it easy to find pertinent results. Many public and private libraries offer access to this database, or you can subscribe individually as part of GenealogyBank.com. 2. Ancestry.com [FEE] Although subscriptions can be steep, Ancestry.com provides one of the largest collections of online data available anywhere for genealogical research. The new U.S. Passports database has provided me with a great deal of documentation for dates and places of birth for people born where no records of these events were kept. Well worth the price for the World Subscription, which gives you access to materials from Great Britain, Australia, Canada, Germany, and other locations. 3. Canadian Genealogy Centre The Canadian Genealogy Centre includes all of the physical and electronic holding of Library and Archives Canada. Not only can you search records online, but you can discover more about what is (and is not) available at the national level in Canada. 4. EllisIsland.org [FEE] EllisIsland.org provides access to millions of passenger arrival records. Make sure you read the tips on basic and advanced searching to help you search (or use Steve Morse's research tool). You can also find a great deal of historical information about the immigrant experience on this site. 5. FamilySearch.org [FREE] The Family History Library's website provides access to vast amounts of information from around the world. Not only can you search databases for your ancestors, you can consult research guides to familiarize yourself with resources available in a new location. You can also search the Family History Library Catalog to find out which records are available on microfilm. 6. FindMyPast.com [FEE] Formerly 1837Online.com, FindMyPast.com is a commerical website that has a number of valuable databases, including the index to vital records, outgoing passenger lists, and military records for Great Britain. 7. Footnote.com [FEE] Footnote has developed a huge amount of information in a very short period of time. Their search mechanism is easy to use (and an advanced search interface is currently in beta testing). The images are easy to view and to download. Their collaboration features are impressive as well, and subscriptions are fairly inexpensive. 8. JSTOR [FREE] JSTOR is a not-for-profit organization that archives and provides access to important scholarly journals. They currently provide access to 773 titles. Unfortunately individual subscriptions are not currently available, but you can usually access JSTOR through a public or university library (often remotely). 9. NewEnglandAncestors.org [FEE] The hundreds of millions of names available through the research databases on the New England Historic Genealogical Society's website provide access to centuries of information on New England families. The Massachusetts Vital Records databases have search capabilities unavailable at other websites, and may allow you to find previously hidden information. 10. RootsWeb.com [FRE] Started by volunteers, RootsWeb is now part of The Generations Network, parent company of Ancestry.com. Volunteers are still continually adding new data to the site, which is available free of charge. 11. USGenWeb [FREE] Another volunteer-driven organization, www.USGenWeb.com has numerous projects going on. When searching the website, make sure you check the data in the archives and project sites as well as the individual county and state locations. 12. WorldVitalRecords.com [FEE] WorldVitalRecords is adding records faster than I can keep track. British parish registers, newspapers from around America, and Everton's Online Library are only some of the materials available. You can join for a month for $5.95 to try it or take advantage of the current special - two years for $79.95. ***************************** Sally Rolls Pavia sallypavia2001@yahoo.com List Owner: GENEALOGYBITSANDPIECES-L-request@rootsweb.com Archives: http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index/GENEALOGYBITSANDPIECES "All incoming and outgoing email checked by Norton Anti-Virus"

History of Andersonville Prison, 1876 from the University of Michigan, Making of America online books http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=moa;type=simple;rgn=subject q1=Andersonville%20Prison or Short Version: http://tinyurl.com/22ht6l Sally Rolls Pavia sallypavia2001@yahoo.com List Owner: GENEALOGYBITSANDPIECES-L-request@rootsweb.com Archives: http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index/GENEALOGYBITSANDPIECES "All incoming and outgoing email checked by Norton Anti-Virus"

The link page to all photographed cemeteries in Denmark .... On this page we will try to collect links to all photographed cemeteries in Denmark.Danish law does not allow official archives to display the details of dead persons until 10 years after their death. http://www.dk-gravsten.dk/i-english.php

Thank you, Sally. This is one of the best web sites I have seen to get a personal "Thank You" to a serviceman. The artwork by the children is beautiful; and the fact that you can choose a "personal message" to send with the card is a magnificent gesture. I have picked my card and message and sent it on. I have also forwarded your e-mail to every person on my list with the hopes that they will do the same. Mary C Atlanta, GA **************************************See AOL's top rated recipes (http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop00030000000004)

A message was sent by one of our members about her being in Honolulu during the bombing on 7 Dec 1941. Lost the email that was sent and would LOVE to have it resent, please. Her father and 2 brothers worked at Pearl Harbor and a brother was stationed at Hickham. Sally Rolls Pavia sallypavia2001@yahoo.com List Owner: GENEALOGYBITSANDPIECES-L-request@rootsweb.com Archives: http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index/GENEALOGYBITSANDPIECES "All incoming and outgoing email checked by Norton Anti-Virus"

MortalitySchedules.com - free search through census mortality schedules http://www.mortalityschedules.com/ ************************************** Sally Rolls Pavia sallypavia2001@yahoo.com List Owner: GENEALOGYBITSANDPIECES-L-request@rootsweb.com Archives: http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index/GENEALOGYBITSANDPIECES "All incoming and outgoing email checked by Norton Anti-Virus"

Massachusetts Genealogy : Marriages 1841-1850 http://www.genealogysearch.org/massmarriages/ ************************************** Sally Rolls Pavia sallypavia2001@yahoo.com List Owner: GENEALOGYBITSANDPIECES-L-request@rootsweb.com Archives: http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index/GENEALOGYBITSANDPIECES "All incoming and outgoing email checked by Norton Anti-Virus"

Georgia State Virtual Vault .. Can spend HOURS checking this site out. http://content.sos.state.ga.us/index.php Example: [sent by LindaBee from Candyman Mailing List] Georgia's Virtual Vault : Confederate Pension Applications http://content.sos.state.ga.us/cdm4/pension.php Sally Rolls Pavia sallypavia2001@yahoo.com List Owner: GENEALOGYBITSANDPIECES-L-request@rootsweb.com Archives: http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index/GENEALOGYBITSANDPIECES "All incoming and outgoing email checked by Norton Anti-Virus"

[A good idea for Christmas, cards drawn by children. .. Sally] If you go to this web site, www.LetsSayThanks.com you can pick out a thank you card and Xerox will print it and it will be sent to a soldier that is currently serving in Iraq. You can't pick out who gets it, but it will go to some member of the armed services. Please send a card. It is FREE and it only takes a few minutes. Sally Rolls Pavia sallypavia2001@yahoo.com List Owner: GENEALOGYBITSANDPIECES-L-request@rootsweb.com Archives: http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index/GENEALOGYBITSANDPIECES "All incoming and outgoing email checked by Norton Anti-Virus"

Marston Manor's New England Room, Genealogy, History, related families Linked http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~dickmarston/NElinks.html ************************************** Sally Rolls Pavia sallypavia2001@yahoo.com List Owner: GENEALOGYBITSANDPIECES-L-request@rootsweb.com Archives: http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index/GENEALOGYBITSANDPIECES "All incoming and outgoing email checked by Norton Anti-Virus"