QFHS Snippets - January 2012 Volume 12, No. 1

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Dear [member]

Happy New Year!

Our general monthly meetings will now alternate between evening and day; so mark your calendar with the correct times!

Join one of our special interest groups and learn from like-minded researchers.

Do you have prisoners in your family tree? Queensland State Archives offers photographs online.

Did you ancestor serve in the armed forces for Australia? You might locate their military record.

Have fun sticking to your New Year genealogy resolutions - and let us know how Snippets helps you at: snippets@qfhs.org.au

Happy researching!

Table of Contents

  1. About This Newsletter
  2. QFHS Gaythorne Centre
  3. QFHS Dates to Remember
  4. Findmypast.com.uk. Discount for QFHS Members
  5. QFHS Educational Workshops
  6. Queensland State Archives Saturday Openings
  7. Queensland State Archives Seminar
  8. Free Taxi Service to Queensland State Archives
  9. 4BC Family History 101
  10. Heslehurst Family Reunion
  11. Australia Day 2012 - Open Day at Government House
  12. Caloundra Family History Research Inc
  13. Rathdowney State School Centenary
  14. New Photographic Records of Prisoners Now Available Online
  15. Annual Conference - NSW & ACT Association of Family History Societies
  16. Western Australian Central Goldfields Indexes
  17. HMAS Kuttabul Commemoration Project
  18. Recent Newspaper Titles Added to Trove
  19. National Archives Defends Its Record Keeping, Despite Missing Items
  20. National Archives of Australia - Military Records Online
  21. Do You Have an Ancestor in the Australian Navy?
  22. 13th Australasian Congress on Genealogy and Heraldry
  23. Are You attending the 13th Australasian Congress on Genealogy and Heraldry?
  24. What's New at Findmypast.com.au
  25. Medieval English Families on the Internet
  26. 1911 UK Census Online Adds Millions More Searchable Records
  27. Literature, History and Culture in the Victorian Age
  28. Victims of the Great Fire 1854
  29. British Children Sent to Canada (1869-1930)
  30. Scots at War Trust Roll of Honour
  31. PRONI Launch YouTube Channel
  32. Co. Kerry Local Authorities Launch Graveyards Records Database
  33. Photo Stories
  34. Library and Archives Canada Starts a New Blog
  35. Social Security Death Index & Social Security Numbers
  36. Illiana Cemetery Website to Contain 400,000 Tombstone Photos
  37. Lost Ledger Returns Home
  38. Watch the Executive Papers of Governor Thomas Jefferson Being Preserved
  39. California State Genealogical Society Announces Blogs
  40. Historians Use Divining Rods in Hunt for Rutherford, Tennessee Cemeteries
  41. Storage Unit Holds Family Secrets Trove of Lost Local History
  42. What Is "Second Cousin Once Removed?"
  43. Why Inbreeding Really Isn't as Bad as You Think It Is
  44. 2011 GeneaBlog Award Winners Announced
  45. Elizabeth Shown Mills' New Website
  46. Ancestral Lines Pairing System: A New Genealogy Numbering System
  47. Where Did My Ancestors Come From?
  48. More Than Meets the Blue Eye: You May All Be Related
  49. Reading Newspapers in Foreign Languages
  50. Family Search Has Launched Tech Tips
  51. Nick Barratt's Family History Show is Now Available
  52. 1852 New Year's Resolutions Solve Genealogical Mysteries
  53. Acknowledgements

1.    About This Newsletter

Snippets is a monthly publication of the Queensland Family History Society Inc. (QFHS). QFHS Website http://www.qfhs.org.au/

Please do not click on reply to contact Snippets - the 'click on reply' facility is strictly for 'un-subscribing' to the mailing list.

You are encouraged to contribute items which you feel would be of general interest to the family historian hunting for that illusive relative. Humorous items and items relating to the technology of using computers in genealogy are also welcome. Submit your BRIEF items supplemented by hyperlinks to additional details.

Snippets will rarely include items of a commercial nature and only then when they are likely to be of interest to a majority of our readers.

Submit your items to us via: snippets@qfhs.org.au

2.     QFHS Gaythorne Centre

Our address is:

    58 Bellevue Ave
    Gaythorne QLD 4051
    QFHS library - (07) 3355 3369

For details about QFHS Centre, including location map, transport etc, click here: http://www.qfhs.org.au/location_hours.html#Library

3.    QFHS Dates to Remember

Until further notice QFHS Monthly General Meetings will be held on the third Wednesday of:
Attendance at the meetings, held at the QFHS Library, is free, and visitors are most welcome.

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 15 February 2012. Our guest speaker will be BCC Archivist Annabel Lloyd who will discuss 'Researching Your Family's Home and Suburb'.
________________________________________

QFHS Daytime Meetings are held on the first Monday of the month (but not in January and December) at 20 Marmont Street, Geebung from 10am - 12 Noon.

The next meeting will be held on 6 February 2012.

Contact Maureen Mutton on 3265 4378 if you would like to attend.
________________________________________

Member Orientations - 'Old' & New Members Welcome

You will almost certainly learn new stuff about the Society, and helpful hints about using the Library and researching, all in a friendly atmosphere and informal setting. New members are especially welcome.

Dates for 2012 are as follows:
Numbers are limited to allow full participation. BOOKING is ESSENTIAL. Please note: Sessions are usually fully booked, with a waiting list, so please advise the organisers as soon as possible if you find you are unable to attend when you have a booking.

Contact Bev Bonning on (07) 3355 7389 or email at: welcome@qfhs.org.au
________________________________________

Central European Group

Meetings are held 10am - Noon on the 4th Saturday of each odd-numbered month. A $2 donation goes toward purchasing relevant records.

The next meeting will be on 28 January 2012 at the QFHS library.

For further information, contact Eric Kopittke on (07) 3376 4339 or email kopittke@tpg.com.au or centraleuropean@qfhs.org.au
________________________________________

English West Country Group

This group researches the counties of Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Dorset. Meetings are held from 12 Noon - 2pm at the QFHS Library, on the fourth Thursday of the odd-numbered months.

Next meeting: Thursday, 26 January 2012.

For further information contact Robert Browning on (07) 3359 9801 or email: robertbb2@bigpond.com
________________________________________

Family History Writing Group

These meetings are held from 9am - 11am at QFHS Library on the third Saturday of odd-numbered months.

Next meeting: Saturday, 21 January 2012.

For further information contact FHWriters@qfhs.org.au OR Robert Adamson on (07) 3266 8353 OR Sue Reid on (07) 3378 2278.
________________________________________

Family Tree Maker User Group

These meetings run from 10am - 11:30am at QFHS Library and are held on 1st Friday each month except January and last Saturday in each even-numbered month except December.

The next meeting will be held on Friday 3 February 2012 For further details, please contact Kerri Kleidon or Joe Greaves via e-mail on: familytree@qfhs.org.au
________________________________________

The Master Genealogist (or TMG) User Group

This group caters to the needs of all users, from novice to advanced. The group meets in the QFHS Library on the third Saturday of each month (except December) at 1:30 pm.

Next meeting is 21 January 2012.

For further information, contact George Kearney on 0438 073 344 or Kevin Haley on (07) 3359 7491.
________________________________________

Irish Interest Group

Meetings are held from 10am - 12 Noon at QFHS Library on the second Saturday of the even-numbered months (not December).

Next meeting: 11 February 2012.

For more information about Irish Interest Group contact Mary King on (07) 3205 3353 or email irish@qfhs.org.au
________________________________________

Scottish Interest Group

Meetings are held from 10am - 12 Noon at QFHS Library on the second Saturday of odd-numbered months (except January). Donations to buy more Scottish resources are welcome.

Next meeting: Saturday, 10 March 2012.

For further information: Email scottish@qfhs.org.au OR phone Sam on (07) 3266 9131
________________________________________

Welsh Interest Group

This group meets on the fourth Sunday of the odd numbered months from 10am - 12 Noon at the QFHS Library.

Next meeting is: Sunday, 22 January 2012.

Contact Kaye Hart on welsh@qfhs.org.au for further information.

4.  Findmypast.com.uk

Discount for QFHS Members

The QFHS now has a subscription to Findmypast.co.uk, and they have offered our members a discount of 15% towards membership.  To take advantage of this discount, simply key in the word "FMPSAVE". Check it out at: http://www.findmypast.co.uk/home.jsp

5. QFHS Educational Workshops

Are you wanting to learn more about Family History. Are you wanting to keep your Records in Order? Well why not come and join me in my Educational Workshops, "Where To Begin" and "How To Keep Your Records In Order" this year. The Workshops are designed to help you achieve the results you are after in your research and your record keeping. Looking forward to seeing you this year.

 Cost is $5.50 per person which goes towards purchasing more research materials for the Library. Time - 10am to 12 noon at QFHS Library.

This year's dates and topics are:
For bookings contact Desley Schafer - phone (07) 3204 4254 or email her at: educationofficer@qfhs.org.au

6. Queensland State Archives Saturday Openings

Queensland State Archives will be open to the public on the second Saturday of every calendar month from 9am to 4:30pm. The next three Saturday opening dates are:
Queensland State Archives are located at 435 Compton Road, Runcorn, Queensland.

For more details, go to: http://www.archives.qld.gov.au/research/hours.asp

7.  Queensland State Archives Seminar

Using microform and indexes workshop
On Wednesday, 11 January from 8.30 am to 9.30 am, Queensland State Archives will be holding a workshop to assist researchers in the Public Search Room:
You will need to bring your own USB device to participate in the session. Entry is free. Bookings are essential due to limited numbers - please call (07) 3131 7777 or email: info@archives.qld.gov.au

8. Free Taxi Service to Queensland State Archives

For those who find it difficult to get to the Queensland State Archives (QSA), there is a taxi service for researchers available every Tuesday.

Information can be obtained at:  http://www.archives.qld.gov.au/findus.asp#taxi To book taxi travel to QSA, phone (07) 3131 7777.

9. 4BC Family History 101

4BC has started a regular segment, Family History 101, in its Thursday evening program at 9:30pm. The program is hosted by Walter Williams, with Ann Swain from QFHS, and Marg Doherty of Genealogical Society of Queensland, as the expert guests. It loosely covers a research theme with a response to a listener who has called in the previous week with a brick-wall.

Tune in to 1116 am on your radio's dial for an enjoyable half hour.

10. Heslehurst Family Reunion

On Sunday, 22 January 2012 the Heslehurst family are holding a reunion at Carss Park, Sydney New South Wales. Captain James Heslehurst first arrived at Adelaide in June 1855 on the Grand Trianon spending some time on the goldfields with his crew mates. He eventually made it to Moreton Bay in January 1856 where he settled.

Descendants of James and any of his siblings who later migrated to Australia are invited to contact Lefayre Palmer (née Heslehurst) via email at: lefayrep@optusnet.com.au to register their interest.

11. Australia Day 2012 - Open Day at Government House

The Governor of Queensland, Her Excellency Ms Penelope Wensley, AC, and Mr Stuart McCosker invite you to an Open Day at Government House, Queensland, to celebrate Australia Day on Thursday, 26 January 2012 at 168 Fernberg Road, Paddington. Gates open 10am to 3pm. Enjoy musical entertainment, guided walks through historic Government House and the wonderful gardens. Free parking is available at Norman Buchan Park (cnr Baroona and Rainworth Roads) with free shuttle bus to Government House.

Visit the website at: http://www.govhouse.qld.gov.au/

12. Caloundra Family History Research Inc

Caloundra Family History Research Inc. research rooms will re-open from Thursday, 12 January 2012 at 9:30am, when researchers will be welcomed back to the Guide Hut in Arthur St, Caloundra. The next Interest Group meeting dates are:

Germany                 No meeting in January - next meeting 2 February
Scotland                  No meeting in January - next meeting 4 February
Ireland                    19 January
England & Wales    23 February

The first general meeting for the New Year will be on 19 January at 1:30pm. The Guest Speaker will be Paul Seto, who will tell us about his book "The Sinking of the Pearl"; the tragic loss of many lives when a ferry sank during a flood in the Brisbane River in 1890.  The story becomes more interesting, as Paul came to research this disaster through a connection which arose during the search for his own family history.

Guest speakers have also been secured for February, March and April; a Beginners and Refresher Course will be held during May; a number of trips for members is planned, as well as a seminar later in the year, with an International presenter.

Further details on all the group's activities can be obtained by telephoning June on (07) 5493 2679, Roz on (07) 5493 1197, or Valerie on (07) 5437 3879.

The group can also be reached by email at: caloundrafamilyres@y7mail.com or you can check out their website at: http://www.cirruscomms.com.au/~cfhri/Index.htm

13. Rathdowney State School Centenary

On Saturday, 12 May 2012 the Rathdowney State School will be holding its Centenary celebrations. The day will be celebrated at the Rathdowney School grounds, Mt Lindesay Highway, Rathdowney.

For information, email: mt.lindsay@harboursat.com.au or kylee.m@scenicrim.qld.gov.au

14. New Photographic Records of Prisoners Now Available Online

Queensland State Archives is currently adding digital scans of photographic records of prisoners to the ArchivesSearch catalogue. These records are usually dated prior to 1900 and can include a physical description and criminal history for the individual. Already, there has been a large number of digital scans made available in the ArchivesSearch catalogue which are linked to the following:
To access digital scans of these prison records, simply scroll down to the 'Digital Images' section of the 'Item Details' page, and click on the links you're interested in.

Alternatively, you can search the Image Queensland catalogue using the name of your prisoner to locate possible matching records at: http://www.archivessearch.qld.gov.au/Image/ImageBasicSearch.aspx

15. Annual Conference - NSW & ACT Association of Family History Societies

The annual conference and family history expo of the NSW & ACT Association of Family History Societies will be held from 14 to 16 September 2012. Hosted by the Botany Bay Family History Society, the conference will be held at Tradies, Gymea in the southern suburbs of Sydney.

To find out more about the conference, including speakers, go to: http://www.conference2012.org.au/

You can register your interest in the conference on the site and receive regular updates via a newsletter from the Botany Bay Family History Society.

16. Western Australian Central Goldfields Indexes

Hundreds of names for Marriage Index and Miners Death Index for the Central Goldfields of Western Australia. The aim of Outback Family History is to provide you with information on the lives and ancestry of individuals and families on the Central Goldfields of Western Australia.

Go to: http://outbackfamilyhistory.com.au/Miscellany/Wemar.htm

17. HMAS Kuttabul Commemoration Project

Next year is the 70th Anniversary of the sinking of HMAS Kuttabul. In brief, three Japanese midget submarines attacked vessels in Sydney Harbour on 31 May 1942. As a result, the converted ferry HMAS Kuttabul was struck by a torpedo and 21 men were killed.

Findmypast is looking for the descendants of the men that perished on this vessel. On 31 May 2012, it is planned that a commemoration ceremony will take place to remember the 21 men who lost their lives on this day. We would like to connect the descendants with the organisers so that they can be involved in this special event.

Please email findmypast if you are a descendent of one of those men or have any information. Email:  ekelly@findmypast.com.au

18. Recent Newspaper Titles Added to Trove

The National Library of Australia is pleased to announce that the following newspaper titles have been added to Trove. Dates in brackets the years covered.

Queensland
Worker (Brisbane, 1890 - 1955)
The Central Queensland Herald (Rockhampton, 1930 - 1939)
The Capricornian (Rockhampton, 1875 - 1929)

Victoria
Oakleigh Leader (North Brighton, 1888 - 1902)
Oakleigh Leader and District Record (Brighton, 1887 - 1888)
Sunbury News and Bulla and Melton Advertiser (1892 - 1900)
The Benalla Ensign and Farmer's and Squatter's Journal (1869 - 1872)
The Coburg Leader (1890 - 1913)
The Elsternwick Leader (Brighton, 1888)
The Elsternwick Leader and Caulfield and Balaclava Guardian (Brighton,1887)
The Elsternwick Leader and District Record (Brighton, 1887 - 1888)
Elsternwick Leader and East Brighton, South Brighton, Cheltenham, Mentone, Mordialloc, Oakleigh, Sandringham, Balaclava & Caulfield Record (1887)
The Kerang Times (1889 - 1890)
The Kyabram Union and Rodney Shire Advocate (1894)
Healesville Guardian and Yarra Glen Advocate (1898)

Tasmania
The Observer (Hobart, 1845-1846) 
New South Wales
The Leader (Liverpool, 1946-1949)

Enjoy searching at: http://trove.nla.gov.au/

To find out the latest titles which have been added to Trove, subscribe to one of their web feeds at: http://trove.nla.gov.au/general/help-on-finding-things/

19. National Archives Defends Its Record Keeping, Despite Missing Items

Hundreds of rare Australian artifacts, including letters, photos and recordings of historic moments, appear to have gone missing from the National Archives. Around 750 of the millions of items that document Australian political, cultural and sports history have dropped off the official register. Among the seemingly missing files is a 1950s report on secret plans for nuclear weapons and a 1932 report into an Australian cricket tour which starred Don Bradman.

Len Marsden from the National Archives says there's a perfectly logical explanation for what appears to be missing. There are over 39 million records, so a total of 750 missing items is a very low percentage.  The items are held in over 380 kilometres of repository shelving.

You can read more at: http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2011/s3389610.htm

20. National Archives of Australia - Military Records Online

If you have ancestors who served in the forces, then this site is for you. Select the option 'Search as a guest', type in the name of your ancestor, and matched names will be listed. If you are lucky, an icon will feature in the 'digitised item' column. Click on this icon to reveal enlistment and discharge details, medical records and more. Good luck!

Check it out at: http://www.naa.gov.au/collection/using/search/

21. Do You Have an Ancestor in the Australian Navy?

These lists are from 1905 to 1979 and contain details of officers in the Navy and the ships they were on.

Check it out at:  http://www.navy.gov.au/publications:navy_list

22. 13th Australasian Congress on Genealogy and Heraldry

The 13th Australasian Congress on Genealogy and Heraldry will be held in Adelaide, South Australia from the 28 to 31 March 2012. The theme of the congress is 'Your Ancestors in their Social Context'.

You can find out everything you need to know about the Congress at: http://www.congress2012.org.au/

23. Are You attending the 13th Australasian Congress on Genealogy and Heraldry?

Your society is planning to have a stall at this Congress, which runs from the 28 March to 31 March 2012 in Adelaide. We are interested in hearing from members who are attending and may be willing to volunteer to staff the stall for a few hours.

If you can help, please email:  president@qfhs.org.au

24. What's New at Findmypast.com.au

Spotlight on Cemetery Burials and Memorial Inscriptions for Victoria 1835-1997
This index, which comprises over 185,000 records, is built from transcriptions of cemetery memorials and burial registers. It covers 197 cemeteries in Victoria, plus a few in other Australian states. It details the name and title of the deceased, the Australian state or territory, whether the event was a death or burial, the year of the event, and the cemetery.

Spotlight on New Zealand WWI Soldiers
The New Zealand WWI Soldiers is an index to over 288,000 NZ WWI service personnel and reserves obtained from many sources including: nominal rolls, first and second division roll of the New Zealand, Expeditionary Force Reserve, Native Reserve Lists, Military Defaulters List, Imperial Force, Guthrie Index, Smith index, Halpin Index, British Section NZEF, Fijian Contingent, Roll of Honour Section 3, Stock Index and New Zealanders who served with the Australian. These records are fabulous for providing information such as rank, occupation, marital status, last address and details of their next of kin. This information could be what is missing in your family history search.
 
International Grave Monument Directory
There are now over 1297 cemeteries, 27,000 different surnames, 175,000 graves and 372,000 people indexed from 19 different countries on this site.

It's well worth a look at: http://www.gravestonephotos.com/index.php

Findmypast is available free to members at Gaythorne Library and Resource Centre.

25. Medieval English Families on the Internet

This site links to websites dealing with medieval families - or at least genealogical relationships - rather than individuals, and only those which include a significant amount of narrative material or discussion of sources and evidence, rather than bare pedigrees. Subject to these criteria, the contents of the sites vary tremendously - from brief lists of early occurrences of surnames to extensive illustrated family narratives. The links are arranged by surnames where possible; for some early individuals without surnames, they are arranged by title or office, or by Christian name.

Check it out at: http://medievalgenealogy.org.uk/families/hists.shtml

26. 1911 UK Census Online Adds Millions More Searchable Records

Ancestry.co.uk has finished adding the second part of the 1911 Census transcriptions. Records covering London, Lancashire, Yorkshire and 17 other counties are now fully searchable.

Unlike any previous censuses, this one provides you with the actual forms your ancestors filled in, complete with their handwriting and signatures. You can find the list of the areas that are now searchable at: http://bit.ly/vfA8XX

You can search the 1911 U.K. Census now at: http://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/group/1911uki You can search the index free of charge but a premium membership is required to view the actual census forms. A 14 day free trial is available with details to be found at: http://search.ancestry.co.uk/

27. Literature, History and Culture in the Victorian Age

For much of the last century the term Victorian, which literally describes things and events in the reign of Queen Victoria (1837-1901), conveyed connotations of "prudish," "repressed," and "old fashioned." Although such associations have some basis in fact, they do not adequately indicate the nature of this complex, paradoxical age that was a second English Renaissance. Like Elizabethan England, Victorian England saw great expansion of wealth, power, and culture.

A wonderful site to explore for everything Victorian is at: http://victorianweb.org/

28. Victims of the Great Fire 1854

In the early hours of 6 October 1854, a fire in a worsted factory on the riverside in Gateshead spread into an adjoining warehouse containing large quantities of chemicals. The resulting explosion blasted stone and burning debris over large areas of Gateshead and Newcastle, causing destruction and loss of life on a scale not equalled until the terrible Autumn of 1941 when death and fire once more rained down from the skies.

For a detailed account of the disaster and a list of the dead and injured go to: http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/DUR/GreatFire/index.html

29. British Children Sent to Canada (1869-1930)

Between 1869 and the early 1930s, over 100,000 children were sent to Canada from Great Britain during the child emigration movement. Library and Archives Canada holds multiple records in different series regarding the Home Children.

For a fully searchable index of those children go to http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/home-children/001015-100.01-e.php

30. Scots at War Trust Roll of Honour

Each year The Scots at War Programme receives hundreds of enquiries and requests for information concerning men and women who served their country. The concept of Scots at War is taken in its broadest sense. Serving in a Scottish or Commonwealth Scottish Regiment, a Scottish named ship or Scottish Squadron, serving in Scotland, or in Scottish waters, in the services or as a civilian, being Scots or having Scottish ancestry all qualifies your candidate. The list is intended to include men and women who served in the armed and civilian services, those who lived and those who died. The names of those of any race, colour, creed, religion or status may be added. We would emphasise that Scots at War is a 20th and 21st Century Project and this roll is intended to cover the same period.

The Roll is organised on a simple A-Z index based on surname and a huge amount of information can be found at: http://www.scotsatwar.co.uk/rollofhonour.htm

31. PRONI Launch YouTube Channel

The Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) has launched a YouTube channel called PRONIonline. The current 'Exploring Local History' lecture series, delivered in conjunction with the Open University Ireland can be viewed at: http://www.youtube.com/ - search for PRONI.

32. Co. Kerry Local Authorities Launch Graveyards Records Database

A new database by Kerry County Council is now online which includes burial records from over 140 cemeteries controlled or owned by Kerry local authorities. In total there are some 70,000 records in the database. Further records will be added going forward.

Go to: http://www.kerrylaburials.ie/en/Index.aspx

33. Photo Stories

This website features family photographs taken in Armagh between circa 1871 and 1947. It's a genealogical find for anyone with relatives in County Armagh, South Down and County Monaghan. There are now several thousand images you can search through.

Go to: http://www.flickr.com/photos/proni

34. Library and Archives Canada Starts a New Blog

Library and Archives Canada (LAC) is pleased to present a new blog. The Library and Archives Canada Blog provides useful tips and recommends tools to help you discover your documentary heritage and navigate the LAC website.

This four-month pilot project is just one of a number of modernization initiatives that focuses on providing you with quick and easy access to the LAC collection. The blog also connects you with LAC and other people who share an interest in Canadian history.

For more information, visit: http://thediscoverblog.com/about/

35. Social Security Death Index & Social Security Numbers

It's been announced that Rootsweb will no longer host a free Social Security Death Index. In addition, it's also been announced that at the behest of lawmakers, Ancestry.com announced they will no longer show social security numbers for anyone who has not been dead for at least 10 years. This move comes as the result of concerns about possible identity theft issues using the social security numbers of recently deceased individuals.

You can read more in an article at: http://www.genealogyblog.com/?p=15903

36. Illiana Cemetery Website to Contain 400,000 Tombstone Photos

This is a valuable resource for genealogists researching ancestry in Illinois or Indiana. Photographs of tombstones have been placed online. A few of the pictures are wide-area shots, showing dozens of tombstones. These give a perspective of the cemetery. The majority of pictures, however, are of individual tombstones. The site is a 'work in progress' with around 400,000 pictures yet to put up onto the site.

You can read more about this resource in an article at: http://goo.gl/0JL9J while the Illiana Cemetery Website is available at: http://www.vermilioncounty.info/

37. Lost Ledger Returns Home

A 220-year-old court-order book, taken by a New York captain during the Civil War, has been returned to Stafford for a brief visit. It will be preserved for posterity by the Library of Virginia.
The newly discovered pre-Revolutionary record is being displayed in Stafford County so the public, historians and local officials can glimpse this rare treasure.

The court ledger book was among the items that vanished from the county courthouse 148 years ago. The leather-bound ledger, its entries written with quill pen, was found recently by a manager at the Jersey City, New Jersey, Free Public Library as he gathered materials to mark the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War.

You can read more in an article at: http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2011/122011/12022011/668401

38. Watch the Executive Papers of Governor Thomas Jefferson Being Preserved

The Executive Papers of Governor Thomas Jefferson, 1779-1781, have been named one of Virginia's top ten endangered artifacts by the Virginia Association of Museums. The letters and manuscripts documenting Jefferson's service as the second governor of Virginia address the challenges he faced during the Revolutionary War, the drafting of the Articles of Confederation, the negotiation of the boundaries of Virginia and her neighbours, and the dangers of the frontier. The papers are currently undergoing conservation treatments. You can watch a YouTube video showing restoration of these valuable records in the Library of Virginia's conservation labs.

You can watch the video at: http://youtu.be/CArraKc81Kw

39. California State Genealogical Society Announces Blogs

The California State Genealogical Alliance (CSGA), has announced two new blogs for the genealogical public.
  1. The CSGA Blog (http://www.csga.com/Blog/) is a joint society effort to keep the genealogical community informed
  2. CSGAcopyright (http://csgacopyright.wordpress.com), is a continuation to help the genealogical community understand copyright issues. The blog discusses copyright law, provides links and feeds to other copyright web sites

40. Historians Use Divining Rods in Hunt for Rutherford, Tennessee Cemeteries

John Lodl often heard Rutherford County's old-timers talk of the divining rods, swearing by their eerie movements as proof positive of bodies buried below. No headstone, no matter, they said. In the hands of the right person, the wavering of the rods could say more about a cemetery than the aged records that Lodl oversees in the local archives.

Recently, Lodl went from skeptical to startled. In a secluded cemetery in Eagleville, he watched a woman balance a pair of plain old coat hangers on her fingers and walk the field. "Sure enough, when you cross over a grave, those things cross," Lodl said. "I can't explain it. But it works."

You can read more about John Lodl's eyewitness experiences at: http://goo.gl/xvuCC

41. Storage Unit Holds Family Secrets Trove of Lost Local History

An abandoned storage unit in Florida has opened a window on the lives of families in Athol, Templeton, Petersham and other northern Central Massachusetts communities. The storage unit had many items, including documents and photographs, of Massachusetts families. Finding the people whose history is chronicled in the items has become a personal quest for a woman named Debbie Meyers. Visiting with friends recently, Ms. Meyers said, she was shown boxes of family items found when the contents of the storage unit were purchased in Tampa. Ms. Meyers said the couple bought the stored items as something of a treasure hunt.

You can read about the storage unit's contents at: http://bit.ly/rwZA3o

42. What Is "Second Cousin Once Removed?"

A term often found in genealogy is "removed," specifically when referring to family relationships. Indeed, almost everyone has heard of a "second cousin once removed," but many people cannot explain that relationship. Of course, a person might be more than once removed, as in third cousin, four times removed. In short, the definition of cousins is two people who share a common ancestor.

For more definitions on cousin relationships, go to: http://bit.ly/sov6oM

43. Why Inbreeding Really Isn't as Bad as You Think It Is

Inbreeding is where cousins and other close relatives have children together. Most cultures have strong taboos against it, primarily because of the increased risk of birth defects. There can be some very serious consequences to inbreeding, particularly when it's sustained over multiple generations. Genetic diversity is important, and inbreeding erodes that. There are some dramatic, tragic examples of the dangers of sustained inbreeding.

But the fact is that two cousins with no prior history of inbreeding in the family don't have a much greater risk of birth defects in their children than an unrelated couple, and in fact slightly more distant relatives actually appear to produce healthier offspring than the general population.

Read more about this at: http://on.io9.com/vHxSP7

44. 2011 GeneaBlog Award Winners Announced

Tamura Jones' annual GeneaBlog Award for 2011 honours four genealogy bloggers. He writes "One fun thing about the Genealogy Blog Awards is that it does not have fixed categories. Every year I look for blogs to highlight, and then create a fitting category just for them. There is no fixed number of awards either. This year, the Genealogy Blog Awards highlight just four genealogy blogs, but these sure are four worthy ones."

For details on the awards see: http://www.tamurajones.net/GeneaBlogAwards2011.xhtml

45. Elizabeth Shown Mills' New Website

Elizabeth Shown Mills is one of the most respected genealogy authors, teachers, and lecturers of today. Now she has created a new web site that links to many of the articles she has written over the years. This should provide a treasure chest of high-quality "how to" information.

Elizabeth is the author, editor, and translator of 13 books and over 500 articles in the fields of genealogy, history, literature, and sociology. She has delivered over 1,000 lectures internationally, has appeared on radio and TV talk shows.

Elizabeth's new web site is located at: http://historicpathways.com/ and follow the links to her articles.

46. Ancestral Lines Pairing System: A New Genealogy Numbering System

Genealogists have invented several different numbering systems over the years to keep track of the individuals in a genealogy. In situations where names are repeated often in a family, a numbering system helps identify the individual of interest. Capers W. McDonald has suggested using a new numbering system: the Ancestral Lines Pairing System.

A new ancestral numbering system has been developed that visibly displays component lines and generations of pedigrees in either text or chart formats.  This "Ancestral Lines Pairing System" meets essential requirements of being easy to read and understand while maintaining the integrity of its unique indicators, and of recording relationships briefly with as much useful information as possible.

You can read an abbreviated version of the article at: http://www.americanancestors.org/ancestral-lines/ or an expanded PDF version at: http://goo.gl/WGUWe

47. Where Did My Ancestors Come From?

This mapping site contains information about the origins of many Europeans. The map gives history and a timeline up to modern day. It is primarily European maps, but touches on Asia. By selecting a period in time, the map changes to reflect Europe's status at that point.

The European History Interactive Map shows the origins of nations and ethnogroups. It optionally can also show ancient and modern political boundaries.

You can find the Worldology interactive maps at: http://www.worldology.com/Europe/europe_history_lg.htm

48. More Than Meets the Blue Eye: You May All Be Related

If you have blue eyes, you may be related to every other blue-eyed person in the world. Researchers in Denmark have found that every person with blue eyes descends from just one "founder," an ancestor whose genes mutated 6,000 to 10,000 years ago. Before then, everyone had brown eyes.

Read more at: http://usat.ly/954T3a

49. Reading Newspapers in Foreign Languages

Have you ever wanted to read a publication in another language, and you can't because you don't know the language? Newspaper Map has the answer. See their Google Map of publications around the world, and if you clock on one, you can bring it up and read in one of 22 languages.

Most major newspapers are covered: the site states 10000+ newspapers are available at: http://www.newspapermap.com/

50. Family Search Has Launched Tech Tips

FamilySearch has launched a new section called Family Search Tech Tips. The goal is to continue building a bridge between the developing worlds of technology and genealogy. It's "technology for the genealogist and family historian". Visitors can read about a variety of subjects, such as how to store photographs for the long term, what mobile applications are available for family historians, how to share files and how to scan images.

The site also contains step-by-step guides to help users accomplish technology related tasks. You'll find it at: http://www.familysearch.org/techtips

51. Nick Barratt's Family History Show is Now Available

Nick Barratt - author, broadcaster, historian and genealogist - is best known for his work on the "Who Do You Think You Are?" television series in the United Kingdom. He is seen frequently on television and is a popular speaker at genealogy conferences. Now he is providing video programming on the Internet.

Episodes of the Show are now available to view free of charge at: http://www.familyhistoryshow.net/  Episode 1 starts here: http://www.familyhistoryshow.net/the-vodcasts/episode-1

52. 1852 New Year's Resolutions Solve Genealogical Mysteries

It is New Year's Eve 1852 and Henry HYDENWELL sits at his desk by candlelight. He dips his quill pen in ink and begins to write his New Year's resolutions.
  1. No man is truly well-educated unless he learns to spell his name at least three different ways within the same document. I resolve to give the appearance of being extremely well-educated in the coming year.
  2. I resolve to see to it that all of my children will have the same names that my ancestors have used for six generations in a row.
  3. My age is no one's business but my own. I hereby resolve to never list the same age or birth year twice on any document.
  4. I resolve to have each of my children baptised in a different church - either in a different faith or in a different parish. Every third child will not be baptised at all or will be baptised by an itinerant minister who keeps no records.
  5. I resolve to move to a new town, new county or new state at least once every ten years - just before those pesky enumerators come around asking silly questions.
  6. I will make every attempt to reside in counties and towns where no vital records are maintained or where the courthouse burns down every few years.
  7. I resolve to join an obscure religious cult that does not believe in record keeping or in participating in military service.
  8. When the tax collector comes to my door, I'll loan him my pen, which has been dipped in rapidly fading blue ink.
  9. I resolve that if my beloved wife Mary should die, I will marry another Mary.
  10. I resolve not to make a will. Who needs to spend money on a lawyer?

53. Acknowledgements

We would like to thank all those who have taken time out to send items of interest to our "Snippets" mailbox at: snippets@qfhs.org.au

The more we receive, the more frequently we can produce a Newsletter. If your submission does not appear in this issue, we will try to include it in a future edition. Please note that reference to any product does not imply endorsement. Members are cautioned to evaluate products prior to purchase.

Pauline Macfarlane

Disclaimer: This newsletter is produced in good faith, and information received is deemed to be accurate, but the editor takes no responsibility for incorrect information supplied. [Editor's note: The opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and are not necessarily those of the Editor or of QFHS]

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