What do you know about your state? What do you know about the area that your family lived? Is it still there? Has something historical happened there? Where were the borders and where are they now?
These are only a few questions that I ask when someone wants to know why they just can't seem to place their family in the right county or state when they are researching. As the country grew and expanded, so did the borders and also the city landscape itself. The map on the left shows an ever changing state boundry between Mississippi and Alabama. The map on the right shows several towns that now no longer exist by those names, and in fact, not at all even though they were once bustling towns. Explore old maps by starting with your favorite search engine and typing in the county, city and /or state that you are looking for. If you are lucky, you'll find a treasure or two like these below, that told me where a town was that had the same name as another. When you are researching - note town names and remember them. Googlemaps is a useful tool for plotting out your ancestors migratory habits as destinations, or plotting a whole family out. While it takes some careful thought when doing that, it's well worth the effort in the end so Enjoy your Adventures In Genealogy!!
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It's always nice when you can sit and relax. Sadly, I got to do far too much of that this week while I was sick. Feeling better though and genealogy has found a way to pick me up even further.
This week, two important contacts have been made in my research. One will lead me in the direction of a section of my tree that has been un-linked for a while, floating around and waiting to see where they fit in the puzzle. The second will fill in blanks in my personal family that I've been missing. Both of these are very exciting for me. What would be exciting to find out for your tree? Which clue could make you so happy that you forget to breath? While you are out and about and making those connections this week, try to remember to write that physical letter, email or message to someone who you think could be a long shot. You never know what piece of the puzzle you just might find while you are taking those Adventures in Genealogy!! Sorry I missed a blog Thursday. I have a good reason. I got a job. was my first week so I'm exhausted and apparently a baby about it. :) Today, I'll give you some deep meaningful blog about the time, space continuum. OR - maybe just this cute little cartoon. Have a great weekend and enjoy your Adventures in Genealogy! Well this weekend is a holiday so there won't be much going on with me. What's on your agenda?
Hopefully, you can spend some time making history. :) Oddly enough, we as genealogists tend not to think about the present so much. How many of you have put a copy of your birth certificate in your files? Or your marriage license? Did you make note of your baptism? Have you written all your vitals of your current family in a family bible? We're so single-sighted to think about gathering things for the past that we forget about the things in our present that we can gather too. So after this weekend is over, and you've had some wonderful time relaxing with family and friends and being thankful for everything you have, set aside a few minutes to collect some things that are important to you and your family and document them too. One less document to find in the future. Have a wonderful Labor Day Weekend y'all! |
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AuthorMichele is an obsessed mother of 4 residing in North Alabama. Hobbies include long walks in the woods, on the beach and in strange cemeteries and libraries. Genealogy friends need only apply. Categories
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