As many of you already know, we added a new branch to our family tree on 12 October 2005, with the birth of our son, Joshua.
While trying to name our new baby, I stumbled across some interesting information pertaining to family history and the selection of names from which our ancestors chose the names for their children. For example, in Elizbethan England, the 60% of all children were given one of 5-7 popular names for their sex at the time. Choices included Elizabeth, Ann, Joan, Margaret, Alice, Mary and Agnes for girls, and John, Thomas, William, Richard and Robert for boys.
In later years names were imported from Europe but I thought it was interesting that even in this time of supposed religious zeal, that very few biblical names were actually used (Elizabeth, Mary, John, Thomas being the religious names from above). There were very few Benjamins, Matthews, Lukes, Joshuas, Timothys etc to be found at this time.
Another interesting point is that when you look at these names, from the boys names only 1/7 starts with a letter in the first half of the alphabet, and conversely looking at the girls names, only 2/7 starts with a letter in the latter half of the alphabet. This means that when searching for records in indexes, it is quicker to search starting at A when looking for a female ancestor, and Z when looking for a male ancestor.
To read the full article: http://www.babyzone.com/features/content/display.asp?topicid=30&contentid=1596&scf=8000
While trying to name our new baby, I stumbled across some interesting information pertaining to family history and the selection of names from which our ancestors chose the names for their children. For example, in Elizbethan England, the 60% of all children were given one of 5-7 popular names for their sex at the time. Choices included Elizabeth, Ann, Joan, Margaret, Alice, Mary and Agnes for girls, and John, Thomas, William, Richard and Robert for boys.
In later years names were imported from Europe but I thought it was interesting that even in this time of supposed religious zeal, that very few biblical names were actually used (Elizabeth, Mary, John, Thomas being the religious names from above). There were very few Benjamins, Matthews, Lukes, Joshuas, Timothys etc to be found at this time.
Another interesting point is that when you look at these names, from the boys names only 1/7 starts with a letter in the first half of the alphabet, and conversely looking at the girls names, only 2/7 starts with a letter in the latter half of the alphabet. This means that when searching for records in indexes, it is quicker to search starting at A when looking for a female ancestor, and Z when looking for a male ancestor.
To read the full article: http://www.babyzone.com/features/content/display.asp?topicid=30&contentid=1596&scf=8000
FamilySearch.org has posted some of the presentation materials from the FGS 2005 conference. One presentation explains some of the projects that the LDS Church is performing.
1. The FamilySearch indexing project which will focus on indexing US, Canada, Pacific and South America vital records as well as British Parish Records.
2. The Scanstone microfilm scanning project which with new technology will have the entire collection of the FHL scanned within 6 years (estimated). The new technology provides for 370,000 films to be scanned each year rather than the 25,000 films which are scanned each year at the present time.
1. The FamilySearch indexing project which will focus on indexing US, Canada, Pacific and South America vital records as well as British Parish Records.
2. The Scanstone microfilm scanning project which with new technology will have the entire collection of the FHL scanned within 6 years (estimated). The new technology provides for 370,000 films to be scanned each year rather than the 25,000 films which are scanned each year at the present time.
Yesterday, the Kelowna and District Genealogy Society held their bi-annual seminar. By all accounts it was a great success with approximately 206 attendees. Researchers came from all over British Columbia to attend the seminar. At a cost of only $60 for 4 sessions, full course materials and breakfast, lunch and snacks, this was a very reasonable way to learn more about genealogy and mingle with fellow genealogists.
Today Wholly Genes released a new version of The Master Genealogist 6.04 with some bug fixes and new features (for a full list of changes see the Change Log on http://www.whollygenes.com/upgrade.htm). At the same time, Second Site, an “add-on” that allows you to use your TMG file to create a genealogy web site also released a new version 1.9 (Build 2).
With the bi-annual seminar of the Kelowna & District Genealogy Society coming up this Saturday, I thought I'd take this opportunity to provide some tips on how to make the most of a genealogical seminar. Here they are in no particular order:
Enjoy your seminar!
- Arrive early. This makes it easier for the organizers, yes, but you will also be able to browse the merchandise stands, figure out where the washrooms, lunchrooms are etc, and get a seat near the front of the room.
- Talk to other attendees and the lecturers. I have been to many seminars where people each their lunches in silence at tables with other genealogists. Instead, make the effort to get to know the people you are sitting with. Ask them where they are researching, what time period, what surnames, any particularly interesting problems they have overcome, useful resources in the community or online. In short, you could be sitting next to a long-lost relative or someone who knows the answer to the particular problem you are having. Make sure that you take the opportunity to find out.
- Listen. It is so easy to tell others about our family history but theirs never seems as interesting to us. Yet you don't learn anything by talking. Make sure that you are open to listening to the kind of information in point 2 above.
- Collect and keep the handouts provided to you by the lecturers. Lecturers are usually limited in the number of pages they are allowed to provide in handouts (due to the expense). This means that the handouts should have the "essential" information that you will need to know on their topic. I have been to many seminars over the years and have collected extensive resources. Make sure that you file these as soon as you get home so that you can find them later.
- Take money with you. It might seem like a no-brainer but with all that genealogical merchandise floating around make sure that you have cash to purchase anything that catches your eye. Most of these vendors probably won't take credit cards (except at large genealogical conferences). While you might need to watch you don't overspend, it is better than to miss out on that book you have been looking for.
Enjoy your seminar!
For most of us, genealogy becomes addictive after a short time. I think this is why it is so hard for us to commit to actually publishing our findings. We know we are "that close" to finding the next missing link and, for every ancestor found, there are at least two more (the parents) to find, so our work never seems complete. I for one have had a hard time commiting even just a small family history story to paper. So here are some ideas to try to help you overcome this fear.
- Try focusing on just one family or a few generations. For me, it is my Rayner/Aggio family that I have been concentrating on. This family are particularly interesting as the family were in and out of Workhouses (Marylebone and Mile End) for four generations.
- Similarly, you could choose a theme such as the Workhouse theme above.
- Don't worry about only having enough material for a small booklet. The cost of publishing has come down hugely in the computer age. Check out http://www.lulu.com/. This is a self-publishing service where you submit a book for publishing, order copies for yourself and provide a web address to your relatives so they can order a copy of your book for themselves. For $39.95 US it even has the option of applying for an ISBN number as well as using the Amazon bookstore.
- Pages can be created out of order (chronological, alphabetical etc) and new pages inserted in-between. As I write up each family story I just create a one or two page layout for each family.
- Like a book, my album will eventually have a table of contents and an index (although these will need to be created either in a temporary form (pencil) or re-printed on paper each time I add something new to the album.
- Photos are easily added (either originals, scanned copies or photocopies) as are other items such as ships passenger lists, newpaper cuttings (originals or copies). This cuts down the need for lots of written materials. Remember, even if you don't have a lot of documents for your ancestors you can add information about the town where they lived, or the events in their lives.
- Other 3-dimensional keepsakes can be added (either the original item or a colour copy), baby tags from the hospital, tickets or postcards from a trip etc.
