So, I decided to take in a virtual conference on genealogy on Family Tree University. One of the topics in live chat was mobile apps and hacks. I had heard about Evernote before, but had not yet used it. Turns out that this app is very handy! I can snap photos at a library of a document and add a source citation. So I have been playing around with it a little more.
I am now taking my fifth course for genealogy online, and it is on United States Census Records-which is going to be exciting for me. The first module has really great information on the 1790-1860 census records. While it may list a person on the census, they said not to assume anything as the relationship was not indicated until the later of those records. In addition, some records are lost (1890 fire-most records were completely gone). I absolutely love learning about genealogy and how to prove relationships.
I think it is great that they offered a tip of creating a timeline based on census records to verify identity and that it is the same individual. This may help break my brick wall with an ancestor on my mom's side. Family stated the individual may have committed suicide, but there is no current proof that this was the case. I think this may point me in a new direction on possibilities and figuring out what truly happened to this ancestor.
Monday, March 3, 2014
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
My most recent discovery: Wait, what? I'm not 100% German?!?
So this past year in 2013, I decided to take my research beyond those leaves in the software. I bought an Ancestry DNA kit. My siblings and I had been told as far back as I can remember that we were 100% German. I presumed this to be factual since our ancestors did come to America and were born in Germany (Prussia prior to 1871). I did the DNA test, registered it and linked it to me, and sent it back for them to do their stuff. I got my notice that the results were in about six weeks later. I opened up my account and was in for the shock of my life:
I was not 100% German! What?!?! How is that possible? So I spoke to my parents and they had told me that the information they gave us is what they were told, so it wasn't like they lied to us, they just didn't know any better. But here is the interesting breakdown:
I am 100% European.
Europe West-51%. This region includes: Belgium, France, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, but can also be found in: England, Denmark, Italy, Slovenia, Czech Republic.
Scandinavia: 17%. Sweden, Norway, and Denmark are included here.
Ireland: 13%. Ireland, Wales and Scotland.
Great Britain-12%: England, Scotland, Wales.
Europe East-7%-Poland, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Austria, Russia, Hungary, Slovenia, Romania, Serbia, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Lithuania, Latvia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia.
I did read that a typical native of European West is only 48%, and I have 3% more there than the typical native.
Based on my tracing back, there were marriages to people in the USA back in the 1800s and the roots of those people can be traced back to England. Just based off of what I have seen so far anyway. By no means am I done digging, but now I am working on the genealogical proof.
I put Prussia in parenthesis after Germany because Germany did not become a Unified Germany until the year of 1871. Prior to that year, it was known as Prussia.
I was not 100% German! What?!?! How is that possible? So I spoke to my parents and they had told me that the information they gave us is what they were told, so it wasn't like they lied to us, they just didn't know any better. But here is the interesting breakdown:
I am 100% European.
Europe West-51%. This region includes: Belgium, France, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, but can also be found in: England, Denmark, Italy, Slovenia, Czech Republic.
Scandinavia: 17%. Sweden, Norway, and Denmark are included here.
Ireland: 13%. Ireland, Wales and Scotland.
Great Britain-12%: England, Scotland, Wales.
Europe East-7%-Poland, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Austria, Russia, Hungary, Slovenia, Romania, Serbia, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Lithuania, Latvia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia.
I did read that a typical native of European West is only 48%, and I have 3% more there than the typical native.
Based on my tracing back, there were marriages to people in the USA back in the 1800s and the roots of those people can be traced back to England. Just based off of what I have seen so far anyway. By no means am I done digging, but now I am working on the genealogical proof.
I put Prussia in parenthesis after Germany because Germany did not become a Unified Germany until the year of 1871. Prior to that year, it was known as Prussia.
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
Why I started digging.
I began researching and working on my family history about 12-14 years ago. So right when I started hitting early adult age, I started to have questions of who I am and what my background was. Part of it was an assignment in a college course I was required to take where I had to identify facts about my family (ask me what this had to do with my hospitality degree and I really have no answer for you). So I asked my mom for information. Little did I know some other people would be providing me with vital information over the course of the past several years.
My mom had a copy of the Tones Buse/Peters family tree. Sounds exciting, but to be honest: lots of outdated information. There had been divorces, births, deaths, marriages and other life events that had yet to be recorded (I am quite sure that one of my grandma's cousins on that side kept track throughout the years, but I know she's much older now). But at least it was a place to start. I put in what little I knew into Ancestry.com's Family Tree Maker (back then I think it was version 8 or something like that, and now I have 2014). Yes, with the current version, all of these leaves pop up with hints.
In the past 2 years, I was diagnosed with major depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder. I started reading up and noted that quite often, mental illness may have some genetic ties. So, as I continue to gather information, I discovered that there was some depression on both sides of my family. In addition, I discovered that one of my sisters, who is epileptic, is not the first in the family to be with epilepsy.
This blog is mostly to document findings or pose a Brick Wall where I got stuck. I may have a point where I will include useful websites that I have used. I have chosen to start this to give my family insight on my progress, as well as provide them with the ability to provide me with feedback or information they might have on hand that I didn't know about.
Below is a picture of my parents on their wedding day July 12, 1969. This year, they will mark their 45th anniversary. Congratulations to my parents for their marriage longevity! I can only pray that if I ever get married, my marriage lasts just as long.
My mom had a copy of the Tones Buse/Peters family tree. Sounds exciting, but to be honest: lots of outdated information. There had been divorces, births, deaths, marriages and other life events that had yet to be recorded (I am quite sure that one of my grandma's cousins on that side kept track throughout the years, but I know she's much older now). But at least it was a place to start. I put in what little I knew into Ancestry.com's Family Tree Maker (back then I think it was version 8 or something like that, and now I have 2014). Yes, with the current version, all of these leaves pop up with hints.
In the past 2 years, I was diagnosed with major depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder. I started reading up and noted that quite often, mental illness may have some genetic ties. So, as I continue to gather information, I discovered that there was some depression on both sides of my family. In addition, I discovered that one of my sisters, who is epileptic, is not the first in the family to be with epilepsy.
This blog is mostly to document findings or pose a Brick Wall where I got stuck. I may have a point where I will include useful websites that I have used. I have chosen to start this to give my family insight on my progress, as well as provide them with the ability to provide me with feedback or information they might have on hand that I didn't know about.
Below is a picture of my parents on their wedding day July 12, 1969. This year, they will mark their 45th anniversary. Congratulations to my parents for their marriage longevity! I can only pray that if I ever get married, my marriage lasts just as long.
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