It's a deal. Until 14 December for Dick Eastman's Newsletter readers, which you probably are anyway! Why not? See the details here.
09 December 2020
Ancestry President & CEO Leaving
Margo Georgiadis, Ancestry President & CEO, has announced that she has informed the board that she plans to depart the company at the end of 2020. The company expects to announce a new CEO in early 2021 who will drive the next phase of the company’s ongoing growth. Ms. Georgiadis will remain available for a period of time after her departure to assist in a smooth transition.
“I’m so proud of the collective accomplishments of the Ancestry team and am confident in the company’s continued success,” said Georgiadis. “In partnership with Blackstone and Ancestry’s deep bench of management talent, the company is well positioned for continued growth, delivering on its mission to empower journeys of personal discovery for millions of people around the world.”
Eric Wilmes, Head of Private Equity, Americas at GIC, and Stephen Evans, a Managing Director at Silver Lake, said, “Margo has made a tremendous impact on this organization, and we are grateful for her many contributions. She has created a best-in-class leadership team and led a process of rebuilding and strengthening our products and our business. On behalf of the entire board, we wish Margo the very best in her next chapter.”
Margo Georgiadis was appointed President and CEO of Ancestry.com on 19 April 2018,
Collage: The London Picture Archive
Over 250,000 images of London from the collections at the London Metropolitan Archives and Guildhall Art Gallery are at Collage: The London Picture Archive.In addition to the simple search, there are other ways into the collection, Advanced Search, a series of Galleries and a London Picture Map.
Not finding what you want? Check out the search tips.
08 December 2020
This Week's Online Genealogy Events
Choose from free online events in the next five days. All times are ET except as noted. Assume registration in advance is required. Check so you're not disappointed.
🇨🇦Tuesday 8 December, 2 pm: Virtual Genealogy Drop-In, from Ottawa Branch OGS https://www.facebook.com/findmypastd The Ottawa Public Library. Join here.
🇨🇦Tuesday 8 December, 7 pm: Early Canada – Pre confederation immigration and military, presented by Lesley Anderson from Ancestry Canada for Lambton Branch OGS.
https://lambton.ogs.on.ca/calendar/tuesday-dec-8-lambton-branch-webinar/
Wednesday 9 December, 12 noon: Potatoes, Plum Pudding and Peacock: eating with the Victorians at Christmas, presented by Annie Gray — a tour through the Christmas tables of the rich, the poor and the doing just fines. From TNA
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/potatoes-plum-pudding-and-peacock-eating-with-the-victorians-at-christmas-tickets-127723290801?aff=wowp
Wednesday 9 December, 1 pm: Christmas Lies and Legends, presented by Judith Flanders for Gresham College
https://www.gresham.ac.uk/lectures-and-events/christmas-legends
Wednesday 9 December, 7 pm: OnLand - an insider's guide on how to use it. Presented by OGS and Ministry officials
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMkcOuqqz8qGdZ-j8SYJDI92iLxhAsOMVYk
Thursday 10 December, 6:30 pm: Exploring Historical Dimensions Through Detailed Storytelling, presented by Lauren Peightel for the Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center.
https://acpl.libnet.info/event/4713470
🇨🇦 Saturday 12 December, 10 am: Great Moments in Genealogy, BIFHSGO monthly meeting,
www.bifhsgo.ca
07 December 2020
Two Ontario DNA Success Stories
Surprise, You've Got Siblings
From Monday's Globe and Mail, a first-person account of what DNA, research and a bit of luck can do.
Solving the Jessop Cold Case
From the CBC on Monday, Genealogy buff delighted to find he helped solve the Jessop cold case — but also learns he's killer's cousin.
Educational Records
Maybe it's a thing for December.
On 3 December Ancestry augmented its U.S., School Yearbooks, 1900-1999 collection which now approaches 700 million records. As a separate title Cornell and Princeton University Directories, 1922 appeared.
TheGenealogist released more College and University registers into its expanding Educational Records adding a quarter of a million additional individuals. This release includes records from England, Scotland, Ireland, The Netherlands, New Zealand and even a college from Portugal.
Registers in this update are:
06 December 2020
Sunday Sundries
Miscellaneous items I found of interest during the week.
British Shop Puns
Heritage Calling: a historic England blog
A Time-Lapse Map of Every Death From the Coronavirus Pandemic (Up to July 2020)
How a flu virus shut down the US economy in 1872 – by infecting horses
Christmas parody
Thanks to this week's contributors: Anonymous, Ann Burns, Gail. Unknown
Ancestry's Obituary Collections Updated
The following Ancestry collections were updated on 2 December 2020.
Canada, Obituary Collection, 1898-Current was updated with 419,715 new records from hundreds of newspapers, the collection totals 8,926,805 records.
UK and Ireland, Obituary Index, 2004-2019 was updated to contain 6,029,096 records.
Australia and New Zealand, Obituary Index, 2004-Current was updated with 273,809 new records from hundreds of newspapers for a total of 1,891,525 records.
U.S., Cemetery and Funeral Home Collection, 1847-Current was updated with 11,761,435 new records from hundreds of cemetery and funeral homes for a total of 65,373,759 records.
05 December 2020
Deceased Online Adds Lambeth Cemetery Records
Under the care of the CWGC are 221 Commonwealth burials of the 1914-1918 war, 145 of the 1939-1945 war, 29 non-world war burials and 1 Belgian grave. There are 1,646 civilian burials from the Second World War recorded in the CWGC database.
Canadians with CWGC burials at Lambeth are:
Private Walter Meldrum, born in Kettlebridge, Fifeshire, Scotland who served with the 34 Battalion of the Canadian Infantry and died of appendicitis on 3 February 1916
Private Charles Albert Smith, born in London, England, enlisted in Edmonton and served with the 10th Battalion of the Canadian Infantry. He received multiple gunshot wounds, was discharged from service on 29 March 1919 and died 28 January 1921.
Serving with Newfoundland Forces was:
Corporal Robert George Good, born at Brixton, London, England, enlisted at St. John's, Newfoundland
who died 24 July 1921.
To comply with UK data protection and GDPR, addresses of the deceased are masked in register scans for the last 15 years.
04 December 2020
Findmypast Weekly Update
Unique to Findmypast, over 169,000 new parish baptism transcript records in the Essex collection which now totals 2,780,733 records. The most recent records are for 1920. They are sourced from the Essex Record Office. To see images of the originals see the subscription site https://www.essexarchivesonline.co.uk/
Devon Baptisms
Our Devon collection has grown with over 45,000 Methodist baptism records. The new additions cover 73 churches and span from 1837-1919. The total collection is now 2,753,444 records with links to images of the original.
Berkshire Probate Index
This new collection contains 38,802 index records for Berkshire probates dating as far back as 1480 and up to the end of ecclesiastical probate in 1857. Copies of the originals may be ordered from the Berkshire Record Office.
DNA Identifies Newfoundland First World War Casuality
More than four years after his remains were unearthed the Canadian Armed Forces’ Casualty Identification Program has identified them as belonging to First World War Newfoundland soldier Pte. John Lambert.
The article in the St John's Telegram makes no mention of the type of DNA evidence used. To date only mitochondrial DNA has been used. Could the long delay have been less if more up-to-date forensic DNA analysis using autosomal DNA been used as it offers a wider range of relations with which to find a possible match?
03 December 2020
FamilySearch Weekly Update
With 11,675 records added only one title England, Northumberland Non-Conformist Church Records, 1613-1920 made it above the 10,000 record benchmark for special mention among Canadian and UK records updated this week. It now has 226,213 total records.
Almost there was England, Herefordshire Bishop's Transcripts, 1583-1898 with 9,616 records added.
Find the complete list at https://media.familysearch.org/new-free-historical-records-on-familysearch-week-of-30-november-2020/
Forever Changed – Stories From the Second World War
For Canada, the Second World War was a global conflict. For individual Canadians, it was personal. Weaving together diverse stories and compelling artifacts, Forever Changed marks the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War and explores the first-hand impact of war on the lives of Canadians.
Attend the virtual exhibition opening on Thursday 3 December at 7 p.m.: warmuseum.ca/foreverchanged. You may need to refresh your browser.
02 December 2020
Scottish Indexes Conference VII - 6 December 2020
Here are the presentations on Sunday 6 December 2020:
To accommodate people around the globe the programme will begin at 7 am BST and end at around 11:00 pm GMT. There will be time to ask a panel of genealogists questions throughout the day and two Question and Answer sessions.
Find the schedule with times in ET, as well as information on how to donate to make it sustainable at https://www.scottishindexes.com/2020prog7EST.pdf
The National Archives’ Annual Digital Lecture poster exhibition
While not directly relevant to family history, this initiative from TNA shows how COVID has been a stimulus to innovation and change. In previous years, TNA's Annual Digital Lecture and poster display have taken place in person, but this year is moved online for a much wider audience.
Below you’ll see each project title, followed by a short video describing the project, and an online poster display. I especially liked Project ALPHA highlighted below which shows TNA being open and receptive to comments about the development of its website.
Preserving Google Docs: Enabling transfer and preservation of cloud native formats – Paul Young (The National Archives)2020 Annual Digital Lecture: Staff research poster exhibition
01 December 2020
Grab the Legacy Webinar Bargain
Until Friday snap up an annual membership to Legacy Webinars for half-price. At $24.98 US it's only for new members, which means anyone who doesn't have a current subscription.
You get "24/7 access to 1,300+ full-length genealogy classes PLUS all 5,300+ pages of instructors' handouts." And continuing access to all the new material added during the year, typically 2-3 webinars each week, often by "name" speakers. Compare that to the typical $5 - 10 cost of a single session at a conference.
If I seem enthusiastic I am, which is why I let my subscription expire a couple of months ago in anticipation of the sale. I grabbed it as soon as I got the notice.
There's also 50% off Legacy Family Tree 9.0 deluxe software!
Coming in December
News from Ancestry is to expect the addition of electoral register data for eight places in the UK - located in England, Scotland and Wales. They will typically encompass the 1830s to 1960s, with numerous gaps.
For the US there will be 10 new titles and 3 updates.
New titles are coming for France. Also updates to the marriage and obituary indexes via Newspapers.com.
No news of any new or updated Canadian records.
Ancestry Library edition continues to be available at home to patrons of public libraries that normally make it available at their branches.
This Week's Onine Genealogy Events
Choose from free online events in the next five days. All times are ET except as noted. Assume registration in advance is required. Check so you're not disappointed.
🇨🇦Tuesday 1 December, 2 pm: Virtual Genealogy Drop-In, from Ottawa Branch OGS anhttps://www.facebook.com/findmypastd The Ottawa Public Library. Join here.
Tuesday 1 December. 2:30 pm: Family Stories, presented by Allison DePrey Singleton for the Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center.
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYofuqppz8sE9c9dYo6vG84CitEwLjbHqM2
🇨🇦 Tuesday 1 December: 7:30 pm. Show and Tell / Bring & Brag – on Zoom!! From Durham Branch of OPL, https://durham.ogs.on.ca/
Tuesday 1 December, 8 pm: Once upon a time: It’s all about the story, presented by Carol Baxter. https://familytreewebinars.com/webinar_details.php?webinar_id=1236
Wednesday 2 December, 2 pm: Four ways DNA Painter can help with your family history research, presented by the one and only Jonny Perl. https://familytreewebinars.com/webinar_details.php?webinar_id=1289
🇨🇦 Wednesday, 2 December at 7 pm: Kettle Island: a bridge to Ottawa's past, presented by Randy Boswell for the Historical Society of Ottawa. Register here.
🇨🇦 Wednesday 2 December, 7:30 pm: Devonshire to Durham to Huron: Ancestral stories of immigration and migration in the 19th century. Presented by Jim Bowen for Huron County Branch of OPL.
https://huron.ogs.on.ca/events/dec-2nd-webinar/
🇨🇦 Thursday 3 December at 12:30 pm: Intro to McCord Museum’s online resources, presented by Heather McNabb. 30-minute session. Register here.
🇨🇦 Thursday 3 December at 6:30 pm: Which DNA Test Should I Order? presented by Sara Allen for the Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center.
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcsfu-trjwtHd2EPuU3Cg9lrBN1K5eDtJ0T
Thursday 3 December, 7 pm: Religious Newspapers - Not just for Clergy, presented by Janice Nickerson for OPL.
https://ogs.on.ca/zoom-meetings/webinar-2020-december/
Friday 4 December at 2 pm: Your DNA questions answered live with Diahan Southard.
https://familytreewebinars.com/webinar_details.php?webinar_id=1518
🇨🇦 Saturday 5 December at 10am: Ontario Land Records Made Easy, presented by Ken McKinlay. BIFHSGO two hour workshop . Register here.
🇨🇦 Saturday 5 December at 10am: What’s New In The London Middlesex Centre Archives. Presnted by Carol Small for London-Middlesex Branch of OGS.
https://londonmiddlesex.ogs.on.ca/branch-programs
Internet Genealogy Dec/Jan 2021
This next issue will be available on 10 December.
Obscure Resources: Genealogy When There “Ain’t No Sunshine”
Joe Grandinetti goes off-road and unconventional to find ancestors within relevant timeframes
Ancestors on the Water
David A. Norris looks at records pertaining to ancestors whose lives depended on the water
PRIMARY SOURCE: The Provincial Archives of Saskatchewan
Tony Bandy examines the collection of online resources in the Province of Saskatchewan
U.S. Mortality Census Schedules
David A. Norris looks at records that offer names and details of those who died in the year prior to the census date
Wicked Instigations of the Devil
Steve Ward asks: Was your ancestor a victim of the bawdy courts?
Ancestral Journeys
Sue Lisk highlights online resources for important migrations our ancestors may have undertaken when starting a new life
Cemetery Protocol and Propriety
Robbie Gorr offers notes on cemetery etiquette for genealogists
Do You Have the Notion?
Lisa A. Alzo reviews a new free online workspace to write, plan, and get organized
Mulling Over Mills
Sue Lisk looks at websites to help us understand the importance of mills in our ancestors’ lives
JSTOR Text Analyzer
Diane L. Richard looks a new feature offered by the JSTOR digital library
NetNotes
Internet Genealogy looks at websites and related news that are sure to be of interest
Back Page: If Not for the Kindness of Strangers
Dave Obee shows that family photos can come from the most unexpected places
Subscriptions to Internet Genealogy are $27.95 for the print edition and $17.95 for pdf delivery.
30 November 2020
FamilySearch Updates
Here are the titles updated on FamilySearch in the past week with the total number of records.
Canada, Nova Scotia Church Records, 1720-2001: 135,042 records
Canada, Ontario Deaths, 1869-1937 and Overseas Deaths, 1939-1947: 2,050,112 records
England, Herefordshire Bishop's Transcripts, 1583-1898: 1,200,135 records
England, Northumberland Non-Conformist Church Records, 1613-1920: 250,252 records
(an increase from 226,213 records on 3 December)
England, Gloucestershire Non-Conformist Church Records, 1642-1996: 71,913 records
England, Middlesex Parish Registers, 1539-1988: 1,403,194 records
England, Essex Non-Conformist Church Records, 1613-1971: 82,959 records
Isle of Man Parish Registers, 1598-2009; 438,382 records
England, Devon, Plymouth, Electoral Rolls, 1781-1973: 57,142 records
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