>We knew Mom was fooling around with genealogy, but the extent was a >surprise! > >We (I and eldest son) want to do it right, save this stuff to >electronic format, make it available on a website (that's no >problem). > >The problem is to get the right software the first time. Probably >other problems ...... tell me. Not much money available. > >Any good advice is appreciated. I don't want to start entering >data, only to find the effort wasted due to poor choice. > >"Ol' Bab" <olbabNO-SPAM@rochester.rr.com> First of all, which operating system are you using? Not every program is available for all platforms (Windows, Mac, Linux). Second, if you stay with programs that support GEDCOM 5 files as an import and export format, your data can be moved to/from another program if you find something you like better. If you're using Windows, you could start with the free version of Legacy (or one of the other free programs) and see how well it meets your needs. If you like the way a particular program works but need more features, see if there is an upgrade path. For example, the upgrade to the "deluxe" version of Legacy is $19.95 for the download version or $29.95 for the CD version with manual ($5.00 cheaper than buying the download version and then the manual). So far, Legacy has met my needs (keeping the relationship records, notes, sources, generation of various reports, including simple web pages, and with the ability to include photos) and it can import and export GEDCOM files so I can exchange data with other family members using Family Tree Maker, among other programs). I didn't know that some of these people existed until I started researching. My best key has been the birth/death/marriage pages from my grandmother's Bible - one of many pieces of information in a large box marked "old pictures"... Be sure to join the message boards/forums at the various genealogy sites (including yahoo). These boards were the avenue where I made contact with someone who's a very distant cousin and lives near the cemetery where my 4-great-grandparents are buried. If you try Legacy, you'll probably find the "Internet search" feature useful. It links to some of the more popular genealogy sites and starts the search with the currently displayed person's name and other info. The links can be changed if you find sites that better serve your needs. Since you're just starting your research, you might also want to try GenSmarts, which can read a GEDCOM file and give you pointers on where to look for the information that's missing. http://www.gensmarts.com/ The only connection I have with Legacy is as a satisfied customer. I'm currently a beta tester for GenSmarts. More about me: http://thelabwiz.home.mindspring.com/ VB3 source code: http://thelabwiz.home.mindspring.com/vbsource.html VB6 source code: http://thelabwiz.home.mindspring.com/vb6source.html VB6 - MySQL how to: http://thelabwiz.home.mindspring.com/mysql.html johnecarter atat mindspring dotdot com Fix the obvious to reply by email. the Wiz <look@message.body>

> We knew Mom was fooling around with genealogy, but the extent was > a surprise! > > We (I and eldest son) want to do it right, save this stuff to > electronic format, make it available on a website (that's no > problem). > > The problem is to get the right software the first time. Probably > other problems ...... tell me. Not much money available. > > Any good advice is appreciated. I don't want to start entering > data, only to find the effort wasted due to poor choice. > > Using my "handle" for now, until I figure how you people get away > with letting your names and email addresses hang out for SPAM > harvesting... > > Ol' Bab The 'right' genealogy software is truly often in the eye of the beholder; it depends on what is important to you, what you are willing to pay, how 'computer literate' you are and whether you want a program you will need to learn to use, or one you can use immediately. I suggest that you do the following: 1. Look at the genealogy software report card and look at the strengths and weaknesses of each of the programs. Here is the url: http://www.mumford.ca/reportcard/ 2. Look at the software mail groups at rootsweb.com. 3. When you narrow down your selection, download either a test version or a money-back guarantee program and test drive the software with a small section of your data. In spite of the generic advice, I can not resist the temptation to put in a plug for the software program I use, which is the Master Genealogist by Wholly Genes software. This Is my third software program, and I finally found one that meets my needs which are: flexibility, and outstanding ability for source documentation. Here is the url to the Wholly Genes website. http://www.whollygenes.com/ They do have a refund policy. Glee By the way, I have a second computer (corporate issued) which I have NEVER used to access the internet, nor send any email other than corporate related, and I still receive spam on that computer. ------- End of Forwarded Message "Glee" <gleemc@earthlink.net>

buckeyegal wrote: > Many public libraries now have the Heritage Quest program on their > computer, and it contains all the census records, with free access > via the library's computers. Check with your local library. Also, many public libraries offer Ancestry Plus. It is the institutional version of Ancestry.com. -=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=- Webmaster: Cynthia Van Ness, MLS -- roots@bfn.org Roots: The Buffalo NY Genealogy Forum -- http://www.bfn.org/~roots With obits, vital records, city directories & hundreds of local links

bransflakes wrote: > > Thank you for the suggestion, but I am looking for something more > interactive. OK by me. Just be aware that being sold on an online medium means that you may never find the exact "noninteractive" piece of information that answers your question--sitting on a library shelf near you. In addition to anthropology and sociology lists, look for folklore lists. -=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=- Webmaster: Cynthia Van Ness, MLS -- roots@bfn.org Roots: The Buffalo NY Genealogy Forum -- http://www.bfn.org/~roots With obits, vital records, city directories & hundreds of local links

I am ordering the Civil War Pension files for two on my ancestors. Their index cards came up in Ancestry.com and I need help deciding what numbers I am supposed to put on the Form 85 in box 10., which asks for the Pension File No. One ancestor has two entries on his card: Date of Filing Class Application No. Certificate No. State From Which Filed 1890 Sept 10 Invalid 811332 584693 N.Y. 1900 Sep 19 Widow 726795 N.Y. It seems that he applied for a pension in 1890 and his widow applied for one in 1900 (he died in July of 1900). Do I have to file separate Form 85s for each application number (and pay double) or do I put both Application Nos. in space 10 and only pay for one file? Does the Certificate No. have to go anywhere on the form? The card for the other ancestor shows that only the wife filed for a pension so that one should be simpler. PollyH phheld@twcny.rr.com

> I downloaded the free Legacy software. I filled in my email and > address. BUT, I have not received an email from Legacy with my > password. How do I access the software? There is a contact email address on their web site. This company has fewer than 10 employees, small but dedicated. They are excellent at replying to their users. Joan B "Joan Best" <joanbest@earthlink.net>

> We knew Mom was fooling around with genealogy, but the extent was a > surprise! > > We (I and eldest son) want to do it right, save this stuff to > electronic format, make it available on a website (that's no > problem). > > The problem is to get the right software the first time. Probably > other problems ...... tell me. Not much money available. I recommend Legacy. The free, standard version available from their website should suit your needs. [The free version has no time limit.] This is one of the very best and one of the least expensive [if you buy the deluxe version.] Be sure to put in the sources of your information, if you have it, i.e. birth certificate, etc. Joan B "Joan Best" <joanbest@earthlink.net>

> Many public libraries now have the Heritage Quest program on their > computer, and it contains all the census records, with free access > via the library's computers. Check with your local library. > > Anita "buckeyegal" <buckeyegal@insight.rr.com> List members, When I used this path from the Houston TX library the only census' I found were years 1790, 1800, 1810, 1920, 1860, 1870, 1890, 1910 and 1920. I believe that there are more years than that. I also found some of the indexing to be inadequate. I can say this as I have copies of census data I copied at the library that I could not find at Heritage Quest. Jim Hills Houston TX James Hills <jameshills@att.net>

"Gil Hardwick" <gruagach@highway1.com.au> wrote: > What is coming across here at this end, recalling that we are around > the other side of the planet, is a whole lot of petty, pedantic > bickering over some minor issue apparently looming as of sufficient > importance to a few of the American contingent as to cause them to > argue over it for weeks on end, but to the rest of us here is a > non-issue. What is coming back is run-on sentences that seem to say it doesn't make any difference if people claim a process can do things it is inherently incapable of doing, at least for now. > Surely placing the whole thing into perspective is sufficient to > leave any who choose to adopt the procedure to do so as they wish, > and pay whatever money they wish, none of which altering their lack > of standing is legitimate researchers one iota. Of course. I didn't see anyone claim otherwise and doubt they would, even on this side of the planet, where we are petty, pedantic bickerers. > Why would anybody bother arguing with them, for heavens sake? For heaven's sake, I sure never argued any of the points you now raise. What I did is present evidence that unwarranted claims are being made about what DNA testing has done or can do for genealogists and (b) express my opinion that the cost-benefit ratio doesn't suit me at present. No one has made any effort to refute point (a), other than to point to sites reporting on DNA studies - and these sites also point out what you can't expect to learn from such a study. As for the latter, anyone can hold a differing opinion without either of us being right or wrong. Richard "Richard A. Pence" <richardpence@pipeline.com>

Tom Morris <tmorris-NOSPAM@SPAMFREE.nh.ultranet.com> wrote: > "Richard A. Pence" <richardpence@pipeline.com> wrote: > > > I am sure you count me among the skeptics. I am not. > > "Richard A. Pence" <richardpence@pipeline.com> wrote earlier: > > > I think it's more expensive than it is worth and then > > Gee, Ardis, apparently you missed the Wall Street Journal article > > last month which gives all sorts of goodies that DNA testing has > > brought to genealogists. > > That doesn't sound like a skeptic at all. It sounds like someone > with their mind firmly closed (errr, made up). Dear Tom: I always count it a failure when my sarcasm is missed - especially when it is so blatant. It is true that this is a cold and literal medium, but even so the thought sometimes occurs to me that a closed mind may not be any worse than a thick head (er, ah ...). In another message you pointed to some sites where the results of DNA studies are well stated. I am familiar with both the Mumma and Pomeroy sites - particularly the former - and call your attention to the fact that neither of these studies makes claims such as those made in the Wall Street Journal story or are made among the "success testimonials" at the site of the DNA testing firm. In fact, the Mumma report explicitly provides a caveat to researchers pointing out that you cannot expect such results with DNA testing. That was and is my point. I consider both of these reports to be in support of that point. I really don't think you believe those claims, either, so I am perplexed as to why you appear to be defending them. Or do you indeed believe them? Is so, on what basis? As for the expense statement you quoted above, I have amplified that this is my current belief for our group and have stated the conditions that make more stones to be turned than I can possibly get to as it is - and most of them are a whole lot cheaper. If you believe these reasons are not valid - indeed, are the work of a "closed mind" - then say why instead of trying to make cute remarks. Or if you have five or ten thousand dollars you like to contribute for a Pence DNA study, I will be happy to waive my concerns about the cost involved. Richard "Richard A. Pence" <richardpence@pipeline.com>

I downloaded the free Legacy software. I filled in my email and address. BUT, I have not received an email from Legacy with my password. How do I access the software? Neva "John & Neva Brigham" <neva@cwis.net>

We knew Mom was fooling around with genealogy, but the extent was a surprise! We (I and eldest son) want to do it right, save this stuff to electronic format, make it available on a website (that's no problem). The problem is to get the right software the first time. Probably other problems ...... tell me. Not much money available. Any good advice is appreciated. I don't want to start entering data, only to find the effort wasted due to poor choice. Using my "handle" for now, until I figure how you people get away with letting your names and email addresses hang out for SPAM harvesting... Ol' Bab "Ol' Bab" <olbabNO-SPAM@rochester.rr.com>

The following announcement was in the Wash. state Bar News. Please feel free to copy and post on other suitable lists/boards: State archivists invited to restore and preserve some four million court documents left unexamined for over a century in file cabinets in the St. Louis Courthouse have found nearly 300 lawsuits by slaves seeking their freedom between 1809 and 1865. Missouri enacted legal safeguards to protect slaves from retaliation if they sued, and set aside tax monies to pay for legal counsel. There were three grounds for suits: claims that they were free and kidnapped into slavery; that slaves had proviously bought their freedom or that they had been set free by their masters. Defendant slaveholders had to put up a bond against failure to appear or selling the slaves before trial, some judges took plaintiff slaves into the courts' protection and hired them out for labor, allowing them to keep their wages if they won. Notable among the cases discovered is the pleading filed by Dred Scott in 1846, alleging that with his master, an Army surgeon, he had lived in free states for years and could not become a slave again when he was brought to Missouri. Scott won his case, but the U.S. Surpreme Court ruled in 1857 that since he was African American and not a citizen, he had no right to sue. Missouri stopped funding slave suits shortly before the decision, and after it the suits trickled to a halt. The complete records of all 283 freedom suits are available for download at http://www.stlcourtrecords.wusl.edu Joan B "Joan Best" <joanbest@earthlink.net>

> In this estate of May READ, the Administrator received $11,500 and > the lawyer received the same fee. These fees were on a Total > Receipts for the estate of $395,348.60. <snip> Does this > information tell me anything? What is the "official reporting > service"? Evelyn, In many states the law allowed the lawyer and the adminstrator to get a percentage of the estate. In the states where I practice, that is no longer the case. If you go to a large library such as at your state capital or local law school they will have the laws of all of the states, including the law of probate as it was in the 1960s in Illinois. Joan B "Joan Best" <joanbest@earthlink.net>

Carrie wrote: > I have a question about DNA research for women. I have an adopted > aunt, who as the story goes, is actually my sister. Would DNA > testing prove whether or not we share the same father? And would it > show if her father is actually my grandfather(another version of the > story)? We know that she is the daughter of one of these two men > (my father or grandfather), but don't know which. Would DNA testing > of myself and my aunt answer these questions? The type of testing that is now commercially available for genealogy would not help you at all, but there are lots of labs that specialize in paternity testing. This sort of testing would require more than just you and your "aunt" to participate, though. It works best if you can compare samples from the child and both putative parents. If you can't get a sample from your father, you would need samples from your mother, the mother of your aunt, and several of your siblings (or you could go at it from the other direction and get samples from your aunt's mother and several of your grandfather's children, as well as the mother of those children if different). John Chandler "John F. Chandler" <JCHBN@CUVMB.CC.COLUMBIA.EDU>

Richard wrote: > I don't see anyone questioning this premise. But neither has anyone > actually shown where new generations have been confirmed as a direct > result of this improved focus. Anyone engaged in a one-name study for any length of time is bound to have lots of cases where the available evidence falls short of proving the suspected connections. Obviously, some of these won't be suitable for DNA testing, as they may involve people without known male-line descendants or may involve people who are known to be closely related anyhow. Still, it seems likely that you have in your own files some testable cases that you believe you have solved, but that a skeptical observer would not accept. You can certainly let those continue to simmer on the back burner, hoping that more evidence will turn up, but you can also attack them from a new angle. A DNA demonstration that two lines are related could be enough to put you over the top, thus confirming a new ancestor by DNA testing. Then again, a demonstration that they are unrelated could shoot your theory down instead. John Chandler "John F. Chandler" <JCHBN@CUVMB.CC.COLUMBIA.EDU>

> The obvious thing now seems to be to look on the 1910 census for > Texas - can anyone tell me whether there is a cheaper way of doing > this than taking out a subscription to Ancestry.com? I don't know whether or not all LDS Family History Centers have complete census records, but the one in San Diego has. The films and viewers - some with printers - are available to everyone, and there is only a modest charge to make copies. It's worth a phone call to your local FHC to see if the years you need are available there. Virginia "Virginia Beck" <ginia2@san.rr.com>

> Thanks to the helpers who sent me info. - William doesn't appear to > be on the 1910 or 1920 census but I have found one on the 1930 (aged > 47 (correct), born in Scotland, now in Somerville, Middlesex. Mass. > Can anyone see if there is more info. on the bit I can't view? His > wife appears to be a Brunette Baxter and she seems to have dies in > Vancouver in 1948. If she came from there it might be that he was > there earlier in the century. Is it possible to view Canadian > census and marriages? Many thanks, Annette > > "ASHTON-REDLIN ANNETTE" <ashtonredlin@yahoo.co.uk> William F. DEXTER or BAXTER, aged 47, b Scotland, parents both b Scotland, immigrated to US in 1910, naturalized, can read & write, cleaner in a restaurant, 1st married at age of 39. Brunette, aged 42, b Missouri, parents both born Missouri, can read & write, no occupation, 1st married at age of 34. Ernest Thode ernestthode@charter.net (Ernest Thode)

bransflakes wrote: > I am looking for a group or list where members can post questions or > share info about marital rites (...what made a marriage given a > particular time and place, laws pertaining to marriage and family > given the region and time period), rites of passage and general > questions/info about customs. I looked at rootsweb. Didn't see a > list dedicated to this. Anyone know of a list/group I should try or > does anyone have a site to recommend? As Cynthia (Roots Webmaster) says, it's long been a scholarly topic. So, try Cultural Anthropology groups or Sociology groups. singhals@erols.com

> > The obvious thing now seems to > > be to look on the 1910 census for Texas - can anyone tell me whether > > there is a cheaper way of doing this than taking out a subscription > > to Ancestry.com? > > One alternative is to check for state historical societies that > include access to online databases as part of the membership fee. > > I just joined the Kentucky Historical Society for $35. I now have > Internet access to Heritage Quest. Great bargain even though > Heritage Quest doesn't offer the 1900 Census. > > Kdberr1@aol.com Alternatively check with your local library which also may have a subscription to Heritage Quest. For example my local library does and all I have to do is put in my library barcode number to access this. All for free! Roxanne Koelpin "Roxanne Koelpin" <r.koelpin@verizon.net>