> However in going the other way, everything is dependent on me > remembering that file XYZ contains information on GreatX fathers > draft records. HI: How about this: Scan all the records into Family Tree Maker, with each record going under the person's name. Use Scrapbook for documents (draft records, etc.) and photos. Print out all the records and put them into a notebook with the surname. I organize my files under my parents' surnames (mom's maiden name). This is easiest for me and pretty simple. But check cyndislist.com, there is a whole link to organizing your files. Kberry Kdberr1@aol.com

> How do others working in genealogy organize all of this supporting > documentation? > > I have thought about a something like dBase or Access but want > something that is software independent? > Keith nuttle wrote: I decided on a web site - I think html could be said to be software independent - it will work in any browser on any platform MAC or Windows or Linux The basic structure for my Lankshear family is a Events by year page with a link to a page on the person and then links to what data files I have ..... Then surname pages for families they married etc I use this on my PC as a research tool but I have also loaded to web and many cousins have found it and contact me and add to my data. -- Ron Lankshear - Sydney Aust (from London- Shepherds Bush & Chiswick) try my links http://freepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~lankshear/ Ron Lankshear <ronlank@hotmail.com>

> I have thought about a something like dBase or Access but want > something that is software independent? > > Keith nuttle <keith_nuttle@sbcglobal.net> Software independent? Perhaps you really mean PLATFORM independent. Both dBase and Access fit that bill. So does FileMaker Pro. More to the heart of the matter, the choice of software depends on what you expect to accomplish. If you are simply making an index of your original documents, then Excel would work well, If, OTOH, you need (or want) to be more aggressive in searching that pile of raw data, you will need a database application ---- dBase, Access, or FileMaker Pro. Be aware, however, that using a database involves considerable effort to create a truly effective record keeping system. And if you are not conversant in database design, you will have a fairly steep learning curve. That said, a project like this can be done, and done well. The key to making such a DB useful is to NORMALIZE the data as much as possible so that the search engine has a chance to find all of the entries it should! BTW, NORMALIZE means to make all data within a field conform to a specific list of possible entries. Not that ALL data has to be this way, only the fields you expect to search most often. The list of possible source types in Reunion's list of sources is a perfect example of normalization. As a final note, both dBase and Access are expensive and have very steep learning curves. FileMaker Pro is not quite so expensive and is somewhat easier to learn. Regards, Arnold <><><><><<><><><><><><> Arrowhead Images <surveyor999@a-znet.com> <><><><><<><><><><><><> Here lyies the bodie of John O'Groats. Him as was has gone from we, Us as is must go to he. AE Palmer <surveyor999@a-znet.com>

> I have reached the point where I have a lot of the documentation > files to support my research. Each time I find information in a > book, or an online source, I have been saving that information as an > efile, most are in the PDF format. For books each file contain the > title page, the page with the publication information, and each page > that has information of interest. Where I have found interesting > information on a webpage I have just printed the page to a PDF > document. On top of all of these files are the pictures of > gravestones, ancestral homes, etc. When I get hardcopy information, > I scan it and store it with the electronically obtained information. > > I started out creating family subdirectories, and storing the > different kinds of files in their own subdirectories. ie. Barlet/ > census data; Barlet/documents; etc. > > I use Family Tree maker to collect my genealogical information and > have no problem in getting from an person's death to the > documentation supporting the data for the death. > > However in going the other way, everything is dependent on me > remembering that file XYZ contains information on GreatX fathers > draft records. > > How do others working in genealogy organize all of this supporting > documentation? > > I have thought about a something like dBase or Access but want > something that is software independent? > >Keith nuttle <keith_nuttle@sbcglobal.net> I name the various files with what they contain: GuyRichard<lastname>-WWI-draft-card.jpg Mary<lastname>-fingerprint-card.jpg 1257WhiteStreet-deed-1958.jpg This does assume that you can place people and places by name - easier on my side than on my wife's side, where there are 4 consecutive generations of ancestors named "Robert <lastname>". John news@picaxe.us

> Rumors of Cherokee on both sides of my father's family. Have my > grandmothers mtDNA sequence from np 16.001 to 16,683 > (electrophernogram). Is there any way to search this sequence > against knowns on-line? > > 0aerothree3@gmail.com I think it would be more appropriate to ask what you KNOW from the evidence doing actual RESEARCH first before jumping to DNA test results. Today's DNA tests are not so sophistocated as to be able to pinpoint a tribal connection although they can indicate, in some cases, the existence of Native American or other Asian ancestry. In your case with mtDNA--the Indian heritage would need to be on your paternal grandmother's "tail female" side--meaning her mother's mother's mother's etc. line. Joan JYoung6180@aol.com

> > I would /assume/ that hiring a title search company in Duplin County > > might be helpful. Whether it would be cost-effective is a little > > doubtful, but it might be comforting to keep it as a last-resort > > sort of thing. > > > > Cheryl Singhals <singhals@erols.com> wrote: > > > > Cheryl, I do not know how to approach this situation you have > described. Do I locate a title search company, tell them what I > seek and supply what records? Is cost discussed with one prior to > the company's beginning of the project? > > Barbara McLeod In my neck of the woods, they're listed in the yellow pages. Most real estate offices or mortgage companies would know one. I haven't LOOKED but I'd assume any on-line yellow pages would show them. Call one in your own area and ask THEM for their opinion on whether it's doable and what it might cost. Prices can have a huge variation even in the same town, so yes, ask price structure FIRST. It's been 20+ years since I paid for one, so who knows today's market? You might also consider a letter to the newspaper in that corner of NC -- Few details, just "does anyone happen to know where the [insert surname here] family lived in the County? I know they owned 450 acres in [date here], but I don't know where." I've had excellent luck with letters to the editor all over the country. Cheryl singhals <singhals@erols.com>

The information I have gotten from this news group has been a big help as I get deeper and deeper into genealogy and would like to thank all who have helped me get this far. I have reached the point where I have a lot of the documentation files to support my research. Each time I find information in a book, or an online source, I have been saving that information as an efile, most are in the PDF format. For books each file contain the title page, the page with the publication information, and each page that has information of interest. Where I have found interesting information on a webpage I have just printed the page to a PDF document. On top of all of these files are the pictures of gravestones, ancestral homes, etc. When I get hardcopy information, I scan it and store it with the electronically obtained information. I started out creating family subdirectories, and storing the different kinds of files in their own subdirectories. ie. Barlet/ census data; Barlet/documents; etc. I use Family Tree maker to collect my genealogical information and have no problem in getting from an person's death to the documentation supporting the data for the death. However in going the other way, everything is dependent on me remembering that file XYZ contains information on GreatX fathers draft records. How do others working in genealogy organize all of this supporting documentation? I have thought about a something like dBase or Access but want something that is software independent? Thank you in advance for any information that you may share. Keith nuttle <keith_nuttle@sbcglobal.net>

Rumors of Cherokee on both sides of my father's family. Have my grandmothers mtDNA sequence from np 16.001 to 16,683 (electrophernogram). Is there any way to search this sequence against knowns on-line? 0aerothree3@gmail.com

On Thu, Oct 2, 2008 at 4:16 PM, > I would /assume/ that hiring a title search company in Duplin County > might be helpful. Whether it would be cost-effective is a little > doubtful, but it might be comforting to keep it as a last-resort > sort of thing. > > Cheryl Singhals <singhals@erols.com> wrote: Cheryl, I do not know how to approach this situation you have described. Do I locate a title search company, tell them what I seek and supply what records? Is cost discussed with one prior to the company's beginning of the project? Thanks for the help. Barbara Mac "Barbara McLeod" <1brown1blue@gmail.com>

Barbara McLeod wrote: > At the NC State Archives we have checked deeds, wills/probate to > include cross-reference of possible allied families when available, FWIW, maybe 2 cents in a sellers' market ... I opened a very large, oddly labelled, book at the County Clerk's office one day and discovered myself looking at plat maps, including the one for the house I grew up in. I no longer remember the label, but when I was gleefully reporting this find to some other researchers, I was assured that ALL county clerks' offices have such books. Not having looked in ALL county clerks' offices, I won't vouch for it. I would /assume/ that hiring a title search company in Duplin County might be helpful. Whether it would be cost-effective is a little doubtful, but it might be comforting to keep it as a last-resort sort of thing. Cheryl singhals <singhals@erols.com>

> Where do you find him in the 1790 -1840 Census? > > bob gillis <robertgillis@verizon.net> Bob, the man was found enumerated by name 1800 Duplin County, NC and so far that is the only census record. According to tax records he was considered too old to pay poll taxes in 1808 and that Duplin County tax record is the last time he was found in any NC State Archives record. and from Bob: Look in Duplin, Wayne and New Hanover county land records. At the NC State Archives we have checked deeds, wills/probate to include cross-reference of possible allied families when available, military (he participated in the Battle of Moores Creek and re-enlisted in the Revolutionary War for a period of time), marriage. Thanks for the advice to check New Hanover, Wayne and Duplin. We have checked as written above, all extant Sampson and Duplin County, NC records found at the State Archives. What other sources might we check in effort to determine ownership of 450A in 1784? All help appreciated. Barbara Mac "Barbara McLeod" <1brown1blue@gmail.com>

Our research note for October (Family History month) explains how you can enrich the searches for Minnesota birth and death records, and why you should. You can find it at http://www.parkbooks.com/Html/res_WOTR.html More notes on other topics of interest to Minnesota family researchers can be found at http://www.parkbooks.com/Html/research.html Happy ancestor hunting! Mary Bakeman Park Genealogical Books Mary Bakeman <mbakeman@parkbooks.com>

I am reviewing some census research done previously using NARA film, by now looking at the images at Ancestry. I am noting that the pages in the 1810 Richland District, South Carolina census are numbered thus: Ancestry image 15 Number printed on sheet: 178 Page number of top image: 329 Page number of bottom image: 304 Ancestry image 16 Sheet number written in left margin: 178A Page number of top image: 303 Page number of bottom image: 330 Ancestry image 17 Number printed on sheet: 179 Page number of top image: 331 Page number of bottom image: 302 Ancestry image 18 Sheet number written in left margin: 179A Page number of top image: 332 Page number of bottom image: 301 I am trying to figure out the relationship between the page number at the top of the sheet and that at the bottom. Were these pages somehow folded into a "booklet" then unfolded for filming, or is the person whose name is at the top of page 304 actually head of household of the next farm after the last person on page 329. Hopefully this makes sense, and it would be very helpful to me in determining who lived near whom in 1910. Thanks Cheryl Freeman "Cheryl Freeman" <cheryl@genattic.com>

> > > Currently millions of records worldwide are online and millions > > > more > > > > > > Laurie Nelson wrote: > > > > Probably I'm the only one in the world who managed to misunderstand > > this, but ... > > > > In that sentence fragment, the words "millions of records" actually > > means "millions of ENTRIES". > > > > It's a picky-enough point, but since LDS has not-quite 3-million > > microfilms, millions of records is most of 'em, and they're nowhere > > near to being nearly finished. > > > > Still a worthwhile project to volunteer for (and I have), and still > > a potentially useful site to visit, though. > > > > Cheryl Singhals <singhals@erols.com> > > I received an e-mail from the Indexing folks some months ago. In > the first four months of this year, 50,000,000 names were extracted > ... for example, a census page has space to record some 40-50 > people. So one page of census enumeration might constitute 50 of the > fifty million. I think the notice said the fifty million were > amassed by a group of 130,000 volunteers. And so many more > volunteers are needed!! > > Eller True, a useful nit to pick: an entry may be a name, but it doesn't necessarily represent a unique person -- I've found the same person in the birth, marriage, and death indices on the site, making three names and three entries but only a single person. Cheryl singhals <singhals@erols.com>

> Laurie Nelson wrote: > > > Currently millions of records worldwide are online and millions > > more > > Probably I'm the only one in the world who managed to misunderstand > this, but ... > > In that sentence fragment, the words "millions of records" actually > means "millions of ENTRIES". > > It's a picky-enough point, but since LDS has not-quite 3-million > microfilms, millions of records is most of 'em, and they're nowhere > near to being nearly finished. > > Still a worthwhile project to volunteer for (and I have), and still > a potentially useful site to visit, though. > > Cheryl Singhals <singhals@erols.com> I received an e-mail from the Indexing folks some months ago. In the first four months of this year, 50,000,000 names were extracted ... for example, a census page has space to record some 40-50 people. So one page of census enumeration might constitute 50 of the fifty million. I think the notice said the fifty million were amassed by a group of 130,000 volunteers. And so many more volunteers are needed!! LR "Eller" <familyhistoryguy@gmail.com>

Laurie Nelson wrote: > Currently millions of records worldwide are online and millions > more Probably I'm the only one in the world who managed to misunderstand this, but ... In that sentence fragment, the words "millions of records" actually means "millions of ENTRIES". It's a picky-enough point, but since LDS has not-quite 3-million microfilms, millions of records is most of 'em, and they're nowhere near to being nearly finished. Still a worthwhile project to volunteer for (and I have), and still a potentially useful site to visit, though. Cheryl singhals <singhals@erols.com>

> Thanks for the information on indexing. I just registered as a new > indexer 3 days ago. I had no idea a "batch" had to be completed in > 7 days. I received no information on this anywhere in the info sent > to me. I just completed one batch but need to proof read it for any > mistakes I typed in. So guess I better get going. > > One question maybe you can help with. under ages some children are > recorded as being 2 years old and 4 months. Shown as 2 4/ 12. Is > this how you need to transcribe the age and months in the column as > 2 4/12 ?? > > Nancy <nposs1936@yahoo.com> Nancy, thank you so much for volunteering. Every project is different, so the only one who can answer your question (if it isn't in the project information) is the project coordinator (they call it Group Administrator). I'm indexing the 1930 Mexico census. For that project there is a separate column on the actual census sheet for age in years (anos) for adult and months (meses) or days (dias) for infants under one year. For the Mexico census there is only one column to insert the age, so I have to type the number plus a, m, or d. You're probably indexing one of the U.S. censuses, and each year has different instructions. If the instructions don't include this information, you need to contact your Group Administrator. I had a hard time finding out who to contact, but finally found it under Help > Support. There is no listing under Group Administrator. Instead it says to email World-Wide Support: indexing@familysearch.org. My instructions for the 1930 Mexico census say to contact your stake extraction director if you're a member of the LDS church. Maybe that's true for other projects, too. When I first started indexing over a year ago, I made several suggestions that I don't remember any more. I think one of them was to state that a batch will be returned for someone else to work on if you don't finish it in 7 days. Anyway I think you should let them know anything you're not clear about so maybe they can clarify it in future instructions. A couple of things I forgot to mention for those who are not sure if they want to help is that there is a tutorial to help you get started, you download a program in which you do the indexing, a lot of the fields are filled in automatically for you as you tab through them, and some of the surnames, locations names, etc., use autocomplete so you only need to type 2-3 characters in certain fields. It really is a lot easier than doing your own census transcriptions. And they have other types of records that also need indexing. Laurie Nelson "Laurie Nelson" <lanenelson1@msn.com>

I have been working with the Indexing program for seven months. It is something that one can do a few minutes a day--I have found myself donating a few hours a week to this project. Aside from the satisfaction of promoting a worthy genealogical cause, it has helped me with my interpretive skills in reading old handwriting. I have picked up some tidbits and skills in how to "attack" what appears to be chicken scratch. I would encourage all to check this program out. The LDS church has the goal of digitizing all those millions of feet of microfilm collected over the years and making them available to everyone. LR "Eller" <familyhistoryguy@gmail.com>

Thanks for the information on indexing. I just registered as a new indexer 3 days ago. I had no idea a "batch" had to be completed in 7 days. I received no information on this anywhere in the info sent to me. I just completed one batch but need to proof read it for any mistakes I typed in. So guess I better get going. One question maybe you can help with. under ages some children are recorded as being 2 years old and 4 months. Shown as 2 4/ 12. Is this how you need to transcribe the age and months in the column as 2 4/12 ?? Thank you, Nancy Nancy <nposs1936@yahoo.com>

> My great grand mother was Sophia Frances Sutton B: Jul 29, 1871 > married Jacob Barlett on Dec 06, 1891. > > I am looking for Sophia Frances's father. I know the name of her > mother Sarah Jane (Jefferies) Sutton. I also know that her father > was not in the family by her late teenage years as she is living > with her grandmother and her mother is remarried. > > I have found one possibility for her father from the Civil War > Pension records. > > John B. Sutton Sarah J. Sutton > Indiana filed Dec 11, 1871 April 9 1894 > > Since Sophia was born in 1871, and the pension was filed a few > months after her birth. Could that be an indication her father died > about that time and her indigent mother file for the pension to > support her and her new born daughter? > > Keith nuttle Probably not. I don't believe the existence of minor children affected those pensions. Do you have Sutton's service record? Is there a W or an I appended to the pension number? Cheryl singhals <singhals@erols.com>