March Meeting Postponed!
Due to the memorial service for our fallen police officers, the March 7th meeting has been canceled.
NEW SCHEDULE FOR MARCH MEETING & LECTURE:
March Lecture
Thursday, March 14, 2013
1:00 to 3:00 pm
Scotts Valley Public Library
251 Kings Village Road, Scotts Valley, CA 95066
For more information, please call Jennifer at (831) 419-7244; Email: GenSocBlog@me.com
Remember, Scotts Valley Library has AMPLE & FREE parking!
Snacks and beverages will provided!
Speaker:
Warren C. Pratt, PhD
Lecture Topic:
Taking Down a Brick Wall, One Brick at a Time –
A Case Study
For genealogists, brick walls are difficult problems for which sufficient evidence has not yet been found to reach a conclusion meeting the genealogical proof standard. Many, perhaps most, brick-wall problems can be successfully resolved. However, doing so usually requires a disciplined research process and the use of many sources of information. The conclusion many times comes from the use of correlated indirect evidence; after all, if there were direct records simply establishing the relationships, the problem would be less likely to have been classified as a brick wall.
This presentation focuses on some of the research principles, methodologies, and sourcing that can be applied to resolve brick walls. Illustrative examples are taken from a case study researched and written by the presenter and recently published in the National Genealogical Society Quarterly.
The problem solved in this case was the identification of the father of a child born in 1809 to an unwed mother. The father’s surname, his given name, and his location (Kentucky or Virginia) were not known at the outset of the search – even the child’s mother was in question. His mother left no records for the year the child was born and there only two records of his father’s entire life – the father’s birth and death dates in a family Bible and one tax record. The solution required genetic testing and back-tracking a young single woman across four counties in two states in the late seventeen hundreds and early eighteen hundreds.
Biography
Warren C. Pratt was born in southeastern Kentucky and spent his early years among relatives and friends in a small town of 800 residents. He holds B.S. and M.S. degrees from the University of Kentucky and a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois, all in electrical engineering. Dr. Pratt spent his career of about 30 years in the computer industry working in Colorado, Toronto, and California.
Dr. Pratt had a passing interest in genealogy while working; however, it was upon his 2006 retirement that it became a priority. The quest to spend a “little time” putting together a family history for his children developed into a thirst to resolve questions that others had abandoned as unsolvable. Warren has been very fortunate to receive excellent mentoring along the way and he enjoys attempting to repay that debt when he has the opportunity to help others.
Best Irish Genealogy Websites
Live Webinar
Format: Live Webinar Registration
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YOU’LL LOVE THIS IF:
- You have roots in Ireland but don’t know where to start your research
- You’re looking for new websites to learn about your Irish ancestors
- You want to know the differences and similarities between websites on Irish heritage
Date: Thursday, March. 28
Starting Time: 7pm EST/6pm CST/5pm MST/4pm PST
Presenter: Donna Moughty
Duration: 1 hour
Price: $49.99 ($39.99 early bird until 3/21)Call it the luck of the Irish: Whether your ancestor was a farmer during the Potato Famine or immigrant who passed through Ellis Island, there’s a multitude of resources for finding information on your Ireland roots. In fact, so much is available that sometimes it’s difficult to navigate exactly which websites are the best route to the Pot o’ Gold you’re seeking. In this hour-long presentation, if you have family from the Emerald Isle, we’ll reveal the best websites for your research. Webinar attendees receive a free copy of Family Tree Magazine’s article “Singing a New Tune: Overlooked Sources for Tracing Irish Ancestors”.
Plus: Get live advice on your real-life research quandaries! All attendees have the opportunity to ask questions during a live Q&A session at the end of the webinar.
What You’ll Learn:
- Best websites for tracing your roots back on the Emerald Isle
- Top sites for finding your Irish family post-emigration to the US
- Leading resources to further your research into Irish records
ABOUT THE PRESENTER:
Donna Moughty is a Professional Genealogist and former Regional Manager for Apple Computer who has been conducting family research for over 20 years. She teaches classes for beginners and lectures on a variety of subjects including Internet, Irish research and computer topics. In addition, she provides consultations, research assistance and training. She attended the National Institute for Genealogical Research at the National Archives, the Third and Fourth Irish Genealogical Congress in Ireland, the Salt Lake Institute – Irish Research and the Institute for Genealogy and Historical Research at Samford University where, in 2011, she was an Instructor for the Irish course. She is a member of Association of Professional Genealogists and the Genealogical Speakers Guild.REGISTRATION FOR THE LIVE SESSION INCLUDES:
- Participation in the live presentation and Q&A session
- Access to the webinar recording to view again as many times as you like
- 25+ page PDF of the presentation slides for future reference
- 6 pages of additional downloadable handouts: Singing a New Tune: Overlooked Sources for Tracing Irish Ancestors.
- Please note: You do not have to attend the live event to get a recording of the presentation. All registrants receive an email two business days following the live webinar with instructions on how to download the recording and handouts.
Please join GSSCC member Mike Epperson at the Scotts Valley branch of the Santa Cruz Public Libraries where he will teach you how to easily access Ancestry.com’s Library Edition (ALE). This will be a hands-on workshop so, if you prefer, please bring your laptop if you have one. Laptops, however, are not necessary to enroll in the course.
What is ALE?
Ancestry’s Library Edition (ALE) is a genealogical database designed to help you find your ancestors. The database was recently purchased by the Santa Cruz Libraries for public use – for beginning to advanced genealogists and family historians. You don’t have to be an expert researcher to find your ancestors. With just a little instruction, this FREE database will help you be off and running!
The next workshop is on Saturday, March 30, 2013.
The workshop will be from 2:00-3:30 p.m.
Look up census records, immigration records, etc. There are hundreds of types of records to help you build your family tree.
Again, this is a hands-on workshop. Bring your laptop if you have one.
The ALE database is now available at all ten of the Santa Cruz Public Libraries. It’s not accessible from one’s own home, but visit any branch and see what family history you can uncover!
Hope to see you there!
Address:
Santa Cruz Public Libraries: SCOTTS VALLEY BRANCH
251 Kings Village Rd, Scotts Valley, CA 95066
To register, please call the Scotts Valley Branch library at (831) 427-7712
Class size limit of 12.
This is a very popular workshop so please make your reservations early!
May Lecture
Thursday, May 2, 2013
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Santa Cruz Public Library, Central Location
(2nd floor meeting room)
224 Church Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
For more information, please call (831) 419-7244; Email: GenSocBlog@me.com
Speaker:
Christine Bell Green, PhD, PLCGS
Lecture Topic:
Researching Probate Records and Death Duties in the UK
As genealogists we are constantly challenged in determining family relationships with certainty. And the further back in time we go, the more complex the task. Our ancestors were surprisingly mobile, even in “the old country,” frequently making it difficult to find the parents of an adult child. Wills, when available, and, during the 19th century, “death duty” records can be instrumental in providing primary information about these family relationships. But where can these records be found and what information can one obtain from them?
When and where your ancestor died are the keys determining where to begin your search. England and Wales used one series of courts, Ireland another, and Scotland yet a third set. Prior to the middle of the 19th century, Ecclesiastical courts in England, Wales, and Ireland had jurisdiction. The wills might be found in the records of Prerogative Courts (the highest level), Diocesan courts, or “Peculiar” courts. Fortunately modern wills are a little easier to find. The inheritance laws in Scotland are different again. There’s a lot to learn! And yes, it can feel like one is wandering through a maze at times. But the rewards are frequently spectacular.
Chris Green is a professional genealogist who has been researching her British roots for over 10 years. She has a Professional Learning Certificate in Genealogical Studies (PLCGS) from Toronto University, Canada, where she specialized in English and American records and is an alumna of ProGen. She is a member of the National Genealogical Society (NGS), the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG), and numerous other genealogical societies in the US and UK.
Chris lives in Half Moon Bay, San Mateo County, and is current president of the San Mateo County Genealogy Society and a former SMCGS VP of Programs. Chris is passionate about genealogical education. She teaches and lectures on a variety of genealogical topics in the Bay Area and is a member of the SMCGS team that runs two highly-successful seminars a year with nationally-known speakers. When not immersed in genealogy, Chris likes to travel with her husband to visit their family who live in England, Germany, New Zealand, as well as in the US. In her other life, Chris runs a marketing research company.
With Special Pre-Conference Events on May 7, 2013.
The NGS 2013 Family History Conference will be held at The LVH-Las Vegas Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mark your calendars for 8–11 May 2013.
The hotel and conference center are under one roof.
The LVH is adjacent to the Las Vegas Convention Center, ten minutes from McCarran International Airport, and convenient to I-15 and I-515. Self-parking is free. Valet parking is free but tip is expected. The Las Vegas Monorail begins at The LVH and carries passengers to six major Strip resorts.
Click Here to Learn All About This Fantastic Opportunity!
(Photos: Jennifer Cobas, gensocblog@me.com)
