QFHS Snippets - October 2011 Volume 11, No. 10

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Dear [member]

Have you submitted your entry for the QFHS Family History Writing Award yet? Entries close end of November.

Register your interest to attend a presentation by Queensland Police on identity theft.

Learn about Charles Bean and his first-hand reports from Gallipoli.

Are you stuck at a brick wall with your family tree? Perhaps it’s time to take a second look at your genealogical research.

Remember to let us know your thoughts at: snippets@qfhs.org.au

Happy researching!

Table of Contents

    1. About This Newsletter
    2. QFHS Gaythorne Centre
    3. Parking in Bellevue Avenue
    4. QFHS Dates to Remember
    5. Findmypast.com.uk. Discount for QFHS Members
    6. QFHS inc. Family History (Writing) Award 2011
    7. Christmas Hamper
    8. Queensland State Archives 2011 Saturday Openings
    9. Queensland State Archives 2011 Seminars
    10. Free Taxi Service to Queensland State Archives
    11. Identity Theft and Family History Research - What You Should Know
    12. Vale Jean Lush
    13. 2011 Janet Reakes Memorial Award
    14. 4BC Family History 101
    15. The Descendants of Moggill Pioneers
    16. Tingalpa Cemetery Records Index Online
    17. Maitland & District Genealogical Society Inc Family History Fair
    18. Charles Bean and Gallipoli
    19. World War II Under 16's
    20. Merchant Navy Archives Reveal Photos of UK's Forgotten 'Fourth Service
    21. findmypast.co.uk Launches More New Records
    22. ancestorsonboard.com
    23. West Counties of Briton
    24. British GENES
    25. Revised Opening Hours for London Metropolitan Archives
    26. Barrall Marriage Index
    27. Downton, Wiltshire Parish Registers
    28. Do you have Co Kerry Connections?
    29. Free Irish Genealogy Books Online
    30. Irish Genealogy Online
    31. www.deceasedonline.com
    32. Library and Archives Canada Digitises Past Issues of the Canada Gazette
    33. African Nova Scotian Government Records of Black Settlement Now Online
    34. Millions of Civil War Service Records Added to FamilySearch
    35. Recording Longitudes and Latitudes
    36. Ian's English Calendar
    37. Take a Second Look at Your Genealogical Research
    38. Which Genealogy Web Sites are the Most Popular?
    39. Mixed Blessings
    40. 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.htm#Library

3.    Parking in Bellevue Avenue

Members are reminded to be considerate of local residents when parking in Bellevue Avenue, especially at busy times. Residents' and QFHS members' cars can make the avenue quite busy; Society members are asked to be mindful of our neighbours in relation to parking. Recently a Bellevue Avenue resident expressed concern regarding a car parked too close to her driveway. While the RACQ advises that a vehicle may park right up to where a driveway meets the road, they also advise that drivers can find it difficult to exit or enter their driveways if cars are parked too close. In this case, the home owner may have cause to complain to the City Council.

4.    QFHS Dates to Remember

QFHS Monthly General Meetings are held on the third Wednesday of the month (but not in January and December), at the QFHS Library, and start at 7:30pm. Attendance is free, and visitors are welcome.

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 19 October.

Rosemary Kopittke will discuss the website "Findmypast".
________________________________________

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 3 October.

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

Educational Workshop

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

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

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.

Next orientation: Saturday, 15 October.

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 26 November 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, 24 November.

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, 19 November.

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 meetings will be held on:
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 15 October.

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: 8 October. The topic for this meeting will be "Catholic Church Records".

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, 12 November.

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, 27 November.

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

5.  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

6. QFHS inc. Family History (Writing) Award 2011

The Society invites entries for this Award which will be presented to the person or persons producing the best history of a Queensland family, published in book form within the last five years. It must be the story of a family, not of an individual. The Award is open to the general public as well as to members of the Society.

Entry forms are available from:
 Entries close on 30 November, 2011.

7. Christmas Hamper

Each year, the Society makes a donation to the Salvation Army for their Christmas Appeal. In early October, the Library Co-ordinating Group will commence the drive in the Reception Area at the Library.  Non-perishable goods are welcome. Many thanks for your help.

8. Queensland State Archives 2011 Saturday Openings

In 2011, Queensland State Archives will be open to the public on the second Saturday of every calendar month from 9am to 4:30pm. The 2011 Saturday opening dates for the next three months 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

9. Queensland State Archives 2011 Seminars

Learn how to use Queensland State Archives' online catalogue ArchivesSearch at an introductory seminar on Tuesday, 11 October from 10 am.

Do you want to start research at Queensland State Archives, but don't know where to begin? Then come along to their Getting Started seminar on Saturday, 12 November from 9 am to 11 am. This seminar will provide you with the basics to get your research at Queensland State Archives underway. The seminar includes afternoon tea and a short tour.

Queensland State Archives is located at 435 Compton Road, Runcorn Queensland. For more information and to book your spot, call (07) 3131 7777.

For more information on the seminars, go to: http://www.archives.qld.gov.au/events_2011.asp#September

10. 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.

11. Identity Theft and Family History Research - What You Should Know

The Management Committee has arranged with the Queensland Police Service to speak to members about identity theft when researching family history. To assist us to be more aware of the dangers, Officer Rod Shelton from the Fraud Squad has agreed to speak to members at 1pm on Saturday, 12 November 2011. As we do not normally hold members' meetings during the day and we need to know numbers it will be necessary to register your interest either by email secretary@qfhs.org.au or by adding your name to the booking sheet on the reception counter at the QFHS library.

12. Vale Jean Lush

It is with sadness that we advise of the passing of early member Jean Lush. Jean passed away on 17 August 2011 in a Nursing Home in Cleveland aged 89.

Her late husband Phillip Lush often accompanied Jean to the Library at Albion to service our Fiche and Film Readers. Her daughters Margaret and Cynthia said she loved being a member of the Society and always enjoyed researching at the Library.

13. 2011 Janet Reakes Memorial Award

Entries for this award are free, and the closing date is Friday, 16 December 2011. This year's topic is: "My Most Unusual Ancestor".

For more details, go to: http://www.janetreakesgenealogy.com/MemorialAward/MemorialAward.htm

14. 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.

15. The Descendants of Moggill Pioneers

Invite you to a pleasant Sunday afternoon at Moggill. Enjoy a relaxing afternoon, a chat and afternoon tea with fellow descendants and friends at Moggill Cemetery on Sunday, 23 October 2011 from 2 p.m. 

B.Y.O. afternoon tea to share, as well as a mug and a chair. Hot water, sugar and milk supplied. Feel free to invite family members and friends and anyone else interested and share your family's history with other descendants of Moggill pioneers - everyone is welcome.

Enquiries to Don Greer (president) telephone (07) 3202 6244 or email: margaret@thegreers.com.au or Connie Sugars (secretary) telephone (07) 3286 4318 or email: v8.badachro@bigpond.com

16. Tingalpa Cemetery Records Index Online

Friends of Tingalpa Christ Church (Anglican) cemetery, Brisbane have done some wonderful work saving and restoring the chapel and cemetery.

A burial index, in alphabetical or cemetery order and photographs of headstones are available at: http://bit.ly/quP31c

17. Maitland & District Genealogical Society Inc Family History Fair

The above society will be holding its Family History Fair on 9 October 2011, from 9am to 4pm at Maitland City Bowls, Sports & Recreation Club, Arthur Street, Rutherford (off New England Highway), New South Wales. Entry fee is $5.

Guest speakers include Elizabeth Bolton, Gillian Kelly and Gail Davis. Some of the genealogical societies and history groups represented include:

For further information or stall hire, Phone (02) 4905 1878 (Wednesday and Saturday) or email: mdgs01@tpg.com.au Web: http://www.mdgs.org.au/

18. Charles Bean and Gallipoli

Born in 1879 in Bathurst, NSW, Charles Bean became a junior reporter on The Sydney Morning Herald in 1908. In September 1914, soon after the start of World War 1, Bean won a ballot to become Australia's first official war correspondent. Renowned for his bravery, he was the only correspondent to stay at Gallipoli, despite being shot in the leg.

Bean was motivated to see the bravery of the Australian soldiers recognised. He was instrumental in establishing the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. Not interested in personal glory, Bean refused a knighthood. He died aged 88 in 1968.

Bean's first compelling report from Gallipoli can be read at: http://www.anzacsite.gov.au/1landing/bean.html

19. World War II Under 16's

Do you have relatives who put their age up to join the military forces during World War II?

This site is well worth a look: http://www.worldwar2undersixteens.org/index.html
 

20. Merchant Navy Archives Reveal Photos of UK's Forgotten 'Fourth Service

One million 20th century Merchant Navy Seamen records have been released online for the first time ever. The launch records crew members of UK merchant ships from 1918 to 1941, including rarely-seen photos of the mariners.  The records provide fascinating details about each individual mariner. The most complete records have extremely detailed descriptions, including hair and eye colour, height, and distinguishing marks such as tattoos.

Many people will be surprised to learn that the Merchant Navy consists of all seagoing UK vessels with commercial interests and their crews. The Merchant Navy Seamen records reveal the diverse crews that manned vessels ranging from cargo liners to passenger ferries to luxury cruise ships, working in a variety of professions and industries through some of the most vital moments in British history.

The records show that the seamen who made up the Merchant Navy not only came from the UK, but from every continent, with large numbers from across English-speaking world (notably the Maritime provinces of Canada), from the West Indies and Sierra Leone, and from Scandinavia, Somaliland, China and Japan. There are even some seamen from landlocked Switzerland.

You can search these records from today at: http://www.findmypast.co.uk/search/merchant-navy-seamen

21. findmypast.co.uk Launches More New Records

Find My Past UK has launched over 18,000 baptism, marriage and burial records from London and Kent dating from 1825-1871, covering the parishes of Greenwich and Rotherhithe. These follow on from 79,842 parish records from Gwent (formerly Monmouthshire), spanning the years 1634 to 1933, which were also published on the site last week. These records cover the parishes of Chepstow, Shirenewton, Bedwellty, Beaufort, Mynddislwyn and Risca. Monmouth workhouse baptisms and burials are also included.
 
Recently 20,000 burial records from the St Mary parish of Lambeth for 1819-1838 went online along with 128,000 burial records for the years 1802-1846 from the East Kent Burial Index. These records can be accessed using the subscription service at the QFHS library.

22. ancestorsonboard.com

This website contains passenger lists with over 24 million records from ships sailing to destinations worldwide. It featuries BT27 Outward Passenger Lists for long-distance voyages leaving the British Isles from 1960 back to 1890.

With ancestorsonboard, you can search for passenger list records of individuals or groups of people leaving for destinations including Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, South Africa and USA. Passengers include not only immigrants and emigrants, but also businessmen, diplomats and tourists. Images of the passenger lists are available to download, view, save and print.

Check it out at: http://www.ancestorsonboard.com/

23. West Counties of Briton

This is a very helpful website for people researching the West Counties of Briton.

Have fun at: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~wbritonad/

24. British GENES

This new genealogy blog, (whose title is a contraction of GEnealogy News and EventS) is written by Chris Paton and is available at: http://www.britishgenes.blogspot.com/

Scottish GENES will continue to be found at: http://www.scottishancestry.blogspot.com/

25. Revised Opening Hours for London Metropolitan Archives

From Monday, 14 November 2011 there will be changes to weekday openings at London Metropolitan Archives (LMA). The new opening times are:

For Saturday openings please check the website: http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/lma

26. Barrall Marriage Index

Information regarding Northamptonshire and North Buckinghamshire Marriages between 1837 and 1911 can be found at: http://www.barrallmarriageindex.co.uk/1801.html

27. Downton, Wiltshire Parish Registers

This simple-looking site contains a large amount of information for researchers with ancestors from the parish of Downton in Wiltshire. It includes indexes of baptisms and burials from 1599-1812 and marriages from 1601-1837 as well as marriage banns, bastardy papers, settlement certificates and bishop's transcripts.

See http://www.index.uku.co.uk/

28. Do you have Co Kerry Connections?

Kerry local authorities have just made available online a collection of 164 burial registers from the graveyards they administer throughout the county. This is not a complete collection of the local authorities and the dates covered are very late for pure genealogical research - the earliest registers appear to date from 1898 with a large majority starting in 1950 with many up to 2000. Even with these limitations this is an excellent resource and you may be able to come forward in time and connect with living relatives. The records have all the blessed messiness of reality. Among the recorded causes of death are "Jondus", "Ill health" and "Suddenly".

A wonderful site which is located at: http://www.kerrylaburials.ie/en/Index.aspx

29. Free Irish Genealogy Books Online

If you have an interest in Irish history, this site may be of interest. You do need to register at: http://freeirishgenebooks.blogspot.com/

30. Irish Genealogy Online

This is not a new site, but there have been a lot of new records added recently - a work in progress so check regularly. If you just starting out on Irish research it has a lot of interesting information.

Go to: http://www.igp-web.com/IGPArchives/

31. www.deceasedonline.com

Burial and cremation records for the cities of Aberdeen and Edinburgh are the latest additions to the above website. Over 22,000 burial records dating back to 1824 are from three Aberdeen City cemeteries; Nigg, Trinity and St Nicholas Kirkyard. Register scans for a further 45,000 cremations from Warriston Crematorium in Edinburgh are also now available, covering the period 1991 to 2009. This brings the total number of records on Deceased Online for Warriston Crematorium to nearly 225,000, covering the period 1937 to 2009.

You can search registers by country, region, county, burial authority or crematorium free of charge. By registering as a Deceased Online user you gain access to more information.

For details on all data, see the database coverage section at: http://www.deceasedonline.com/

32. Library and Archives Canada Digitises Past Issues of the Canada Gazette

Library and Archives Canada (LAC) commemorates the 170th anniversary of the Canada Gazette by making accessible the digitised issues, from 1841 to 1997, on its website dedicated to this official publication.

Often referred to as "the official newspaper of the Government of Canada," the Canada Gazette has been an important instrument in the Canadian democratic process for 170 years. It has informed Canadians of the operations of government and encouraged them to participate in the legislative process.

You can find the website at: http://bit.ly/qpRhO1

33. African Nova Scotian Government Records of Black Settlement Now Online

The Nova Scotia Archives has released a new online archival resource to its existing virtual exhibits on African Nova Scotians. Covering the years 1791 to 1839, it includes over 500 digitised and fully searchable Government documents relating to early African Nova Scotian immigration and emigration.

The earliest documents concern the 1792 emigration to Sierra Leone of about 1200 free black people, who had come to Nova Scotia as part of the Loyalist migration at the close of the American Revolutionary War in 1783. Other early documents relate to the arrival of the Jamaican Maroons in 1796 and to Government costs pertaining to their emigration to Sierra Leone in 1800.

The documents focus primarily on the settlement of 2000 Black Refugees in Nova Scotia between September 1813 and August 1816. They came as the result of a proclamation by British military authorities during the War of 1812, giving Americans who deserted to the British side the opportunity of going as free settlers to one of the British colonies.

You can access the records at: http://gov.ns.ca/nsarm/virtual/diaspora/

34. Millions of Civil War Service Records Added to FamilySearch

FamilySearch.org has recently added millions of Confederate and Union Service Records for soldiers of the American Civil War. The newly added database contains millions of indexed and searchable images. The records include the jacketed folder showing each soldier's name. Other content includes such items as payrolls, muster rolls, appointments, and any other service related records or document specific to the soldier.

You can find a detailed list of available records and images counts at: http://www.genealogyblog.com/?p=13955

35. Recording Longitudes and Latitudes

Genealogists have always been taught to record our sources of information. We not only record the name of the book or other source of genealogy information, but we also record the location of the building (repository) where we found it. Typically we record the building's name, street address, city and state.

With today's technology, shouldn't we also be recording the geographic coordinates? With GPS receivers and the plethora of high-quality on-line maps, it is now easy to find the exact latitude and longitude of any address. Unlike street names, the longitude and latitude will never change.

Read more about this at: http://bit.ly/qXEnQ3

36.  Ian's English Calendar

This is an online handbook of dates for English history and literature. The site includes four separate sections: Ecclesiastical Dates, Old & New Style Dates, Day of the Week and Regnal Years. In the Ecclesiastical Dates section you can enter a year and calculate the date on which Easter and other movable holidays fell in that year. The second section allows conversion between old and new style dates.

You can also calculate the day of the week in which any given date fell, and you can convert dates from regnal years to ordinary dates.

Check it out at: http://people.albion.edu/imacinnes/calendar/Welcome.html
 

37. Take a Second Look at Your Genealogical Research

You've spent hundreds of hours searching for clues as to whom might be the parents of your ancestor. And you're at the point of just laying it aside and moving on. Laying it aside might not be a bad idea. If you've done all there is to do, it might be best to move on to researching a different ancestor for now. Lay the research aside and let some time go by. New resources and indexes are published and posted every day. Something could very well be available in a year or two that isn't available today.

The remainder of this article can be found at: http://bit.ly/qcl10m

38. Which Genealogy Web Sites are the Most Popular?

John Reid has the answers in his blog at:  http://bit.ly/p7af4Y

39. Mixed Blessings

We may not live in times gone past but the past is present in us
When parents search a new-born's face and finer points discuss.
When we walk a mile in someone's shoes, we're in his feet as well,
And see the world through another's eyes, whose we cannot tell.
Grandma Kelly's bunions or Grandpa's knobbly knees,
Aunt Em's squinty eye and very funny sneeze -
We can't choose our inheritance, what goes in the mix
Is of Frankenstein proportions, nature playing tricks.
We think we control our destiny, we choose and wisely ponder,
So much is predetermined as ghostly relations linger.
We'll never see our progeny a hundred years from now,
But we'll be in that time machine and qualities endow.
We're a 'one-off' composed of thousands, unique and wonderfully made
Of the genes of generations, each one slow to fade.
We're the sum total of millennia, each whole person, rare,
For the fire of life within us, is a gift beyond compare.
(c) Marilyn Terlich 2011

40. 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]

Permission to reprint articles from QFHS 'SNIPPETS' NEWSLETTER is granted unless specifically stated otherwise, provided: (1) the reprint is used for non-commercial, educational purposes; and (2) the following notice appears at the end of the article: "Previously published in QFHS 'SNIPPETS' NEWSLETTER" with the appropriate date and volume number (eg QFHS 'SNIPPETS' NEWSLETTER January 2009 Vol 9 No. 1). The last six months issues of Snippets are available from: http://www.qfhs.org.au/snippets.htm

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