AfriGeneas Saturday Night Chat Log 12 Aug 2000
Topic: Getting Started
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The topic is: African Ancestry
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dldgreen> Hellol PO7489. Welcome!
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dldgreen> Hello Izzy, welcome! Make yourself comfortable!
[Izzy1] Type HEREThanks!
dldgreen> Well folks, let's get started. Others will most likely join us
- later.
dldgreen> Tonight's discussion focuses on Getting Started.
dldgreen> Many people talk about researching their ancestry, but few know
- how to begin.
dldgreen> My goal is to provide some methods you can use to help you get
- started with your genealogical quest.
dldgreen> But first I'd like to know where you are in terms of your research
- and what your immediate research goal is.
dldgreen> PO7489 let's start with you - how did you begin and where are you
- in your research?
dldgreen> PO7489, are you there?
[PO7489] just starting -got interested from a reunion
dldgreen> Wonderful! What would you like to accomplish inititally?
dldgreen> inititally = initially
[Izzy1] I have begun with my parents. I have their marriage license and
- death certificates. Also, I have my maternal grandparents death
- certificates.
[PO7489] i am working on my great grandparents
dldgreen> Thanks PO7489. Izzy, you've started on your parents and
- grandparents...
dldgreen> What do you hope to accomplish in the immediate future?
dldgreen> Well, I ask these questions to underscore the importance in
- setting research goals, even in the beginning.
dldgreen> As you both probably have already done, when beginning your
- research, you start with
[Izzy1] I learned my paternal grandparents name from the marriage license.
- Now, I am trying to locate their death certificates.
dldgreen> yourself and your parents. You write down all that you know to
- include dates of birth, marriage, graduations, divorces, children,
dldgreen> basically all the info you can find out. You then do the same
- for as many of the folks in your
dldgreen> lineage, as far back as you can.
dldgreen> By recording what you know about these people, you can then
- determine what areas are gaps in information.
dldgreen> Also do not forget to obtain source documents for all the
- documentable events. As you
[Izzy1] To learn where paternal gparents were living at the time of their
- death.
dldgreen> both have already done, get those birth, marriage, death, divorce,
- etc certificates..
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dldgreen> record medical conditions, physical characteristics, schools
- attended, profession and places of employment,
dldgreen> etc. The idea is to have more than just names and dates, but to
- also include details that presents
dldgreen> the people as characters with personalities.
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dldgreen> Once you have done that, undoubtedly, you;ll realize there is so
- much you don't know!
dldgreen> That's where talking with others comes in! Sharpen up those
- interviewing skills because you
dldgreen> will need them in this phase of your research.
dldgreen> Always set as your immediate goal, an appointment with the oldest
- living relative(s) in your family.
[Izzy1] right. I like this approach . . . living history. Example, found
- that my father and mother lived across the street from each other. It's how
- they met.
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dldgreen> This may seem like an obvious idea, but time is not always on our
- side.
[Izzy1] right. I like this approach . . . living history. Example, found
- that my father and mother lived across the street from each other. It's how
- they met.
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dldgreen> This may seem like an obvious idea, but time is not always on our
- side.
[CLB]
dldgreen> Talk with the elders, but be sure to do more listening than
- talking.
[Izzy1] I can't find anyone older than me . . . seriously!
dldgreen> Allow the conversation to flow freely, gently guiding them along.
- Record info by tape if possible.
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dldgreen> The idea is to have them fill in the gaps that you've identified
- early in the initial stage.
[jeter] Type HERE
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dldgreen> After that, then you can progress to the next set of elders, etc.
- Don't forget to talk with neighbors,
dldgreen> distant cousins, best friend of the elders,e tc. Good info can be
- found in many places !
dldgreen> Next you'll want to start hitting some other records, like social
- security applications (for deceased
dldgreen> persons), military records, possibly school records/yearbooks, and
- collecting photos and obituaries.
dldgreen> Much information can be found in these.
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dldgreen> The idea is to get as much information as possible to determine
- who were the ancestors
dldgreen> alive in the latest census publically available, 1920, and where
- these folks were at that time (city, county,state).
dldgreen> Are any of you at that point in your research?
[Izzy1] Yes, I located my mother's family in the 1920 census.
[CLB] I have all but one branch in 1920. All the others are in place for
- 1920.
dldgreen> PO7489, how about you?
[AlGee] I have most for 1920
dldgreen> Thanks Algee.
[PO7489] have not checked that census
dldgreen> And CLB
[CLB] ?
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dldgreen> PO7489, do you think you're at a point where examining the 1920
- census is reasonable?
[CLB] I have Mother and Father in 1920.
[AltaCann] Good evening all.
dldgreen> Welcome, Algee, AltaCan, JulieSJ!
[PO7489] both my grandparents were born before 1900
dldgreen> PO7489, if they were alive in 1920, perhaps you can find them
- there and in 1910. Were you
dldgreen> able to determine if their children were around then?
[PO7489] yes my problem is finding their parents
dldgreen> PO, please explain... perhaps we can help you with a plan...
[PO7489] on my mother side from nc my great great grandfather was white who
- father my great grandfather by a slave
dldgreen> [After we help PO7489, I'll open the floor to questions. CLB,
- you're first in the queue.]
[JulieSJ] hello all
[AlGee] Hello Julie
[PO7489] go ahead open up the floor
dldgreen> So, working from your great-great grandparents, were you able to
- find a death certificate for either?
dldgreen> ..excuse me, great-grandparents...
[PO7489] no
[PO7489] open up the floor for the others
dldgreen> Well thank you PO7489.
dldgreen> CLB, your question.
[AltaCann] !
[PO7489] thank your
[Izzy1] How can a death certificate be located if I don't know the year of
- dealth?
dldgreen> [We're in protocol, meaning we take questions, comments in first
- come,first served order...
[CLB]
dldgreen> [Type ! for comments, ? for questions. I'll maintain a list and
- address you when it is your turn.]
dldgreen> No problem CLB.
dldgreen> AltaCann you were next.
[AltaCann] My apologies for being late, I was actually with another CANNADAY
- researcher at NARA-DC. I missed your lecture. Ii just want a copy of this
- chat.
[AltaCann] g
dldgreen> Alta, type your email address and I'll send it out later...
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dldgreen> Izzy, your question was how to find a death certificate if you
- don't knw the date....
dldgreen> knw=know
dldgreen> Izzy, some states will conduct a search for you, if you have some
- identifying information.
dldgreen> For example, in SC, you can send in basic information such as full
- name, and county. They will
dldgreen> search the index and let you know what they find.
dldgreen> Other states, such as FL and SC, have indices available that you
- can search yourself.
dldgreen> Some states, like Pennsylvania, want exact info only, but will
- conduct a search over X # of years..
dldgreen> for an additional fee. So it depends. Always determine what
- timeperiod you ancestor
dldgreen> ..excuse me, determine what year the state started requiring death
- certificates.
dldgreen> Estimate if your ancestor would have died after that date, and go
- on from there.
dldgreen> Remember that churches & family bibles may be sources of birth &
- death info, too.
dldgreen> Any other questions, Izzy?
[Izzy1] Did some large cities keep death records, too . . .in 1918-19?
[AlGee] !
dldgreen> Some cities may have, but by that timeperiod, I'd venture to say
- that all states were requiring death certificates.
dldgreen> Algee, your comment.
[AlGee] Also it is worth while to scan the probate records
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[jangi54] GOODALL, GAYLE, PENROSE, TERRELL, TERRY. Hi all
[AlGee] in case relative was a propertyowner.He may not have left a will
- but there would be papers or letters of administration
[AlGee] ga
dldgreen> Thank you Algee, you made an excellent point. These records can
- lead to dates of death, where no death record exists.
[Izzy1] Thanks!
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dldgreen> Well we've got 7 minutes left. Let's do a roundrobin...
[sweetlisa] Hello
dldgreen> Post your surnames and associated county/state. Freely respond to
- any that are of interest.
[jangi54] What is a round robin?
dldgreen> you may make a connection!
[sweetlisa] I'm interested in African Canadian research. Specifically, the
- Black Loyalists
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dldgreen> Drayton, James, Sinkler, Wilder, Nelson, all Clarendon County, SC
[AlGee] GIBSON in GA Baldwin County
[jangi54] GOODALL, TERRELL of Orange County, VA. GAYLE, PENROSE, of
- Mecklenberg County, VA and TERRY of Bedford County, VA.
dldgreen> Logan, Mitchell, of Sumter CO, SC
[CLB]
- BROOM(E),MCMATH,ARMSTEAD,ARMSETED,ARMSTERD;GA>AL>OK,MCQUAIN,CLARK;LA>OK
[linkgen] DOUGLAS(S) PA,KS,-HOWARD KS,MATHEWS KS
[AltaCann] Cannaday (VA/WV) Webb Tate Dillard White Martin Franklin County
- VA
[sistuh1] MARSH, ELMORE, MOSS, DUNNAWAY all in Jackson Parish, LA.
dldgreen> Green, Dawson, King, Mitchell, Raspberry - all of Craven COunty,
- NC
[PO7489] blackwell caswell co. nc/norflett augusta ga
bin?
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[Izzy1] EDMUNDS, FORD, tAYLOR, Phila., PA, Virginia, Michigan
[CLB] EDMONDSEN,SCOTT,BODDIE,MCENTIRE;AL>GA>OK
[linkgen] WORK KS-NORTH CAROLINA,WRIGHT PA/NY
dldgreen> Thank you all for attending tonight's session. I hope there was
- something here that helped you.
[CLB] ?
dldgreen> Next Saturday night, we will discuss the census and the soundexes.
[AltaCann] !
dldgreen> CLB, your question?
[CLB] I need copies of tonights chat and last weeks chat to
- REB372@BellSouth.net Please?
[jangi54] did, at same time?
[AlGee] CLB was your BODDIE from Baldwin County GA?
dldgreen> CLB, still have to edit down last week's. this week's should be
- easier.
[CLB] Believe so.
[AlGee] Hmmmmm
dldgreen> Yes, the same time, Jangi, 9:30pm -10:30pm.
[CLB] Lemmeee check, please>
[AltaCann] These are so helpful. e-mail altacann@aol.com . Yes, I realy
- want last week, too.
[CLB] Or write me at REB372@BellSouth.net.
[AlGee] OK
AlGee] OK
[jangi54] did, thanks. Hope to be back then.
[PO7489] yes thank u
[linkgen] linkgen@aol.com requesting copy of this chat and last week. thank
- you
[CLB] AlGee, meet me on AOL in just a few moments, please?
[AlGee] Niters all annd thanx dld and all!!!!!!!!
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[Izzy1] This week and last week, please.
dldgreen> Thanks again, all. Hope to see you again next Saturday. Same
- AfriGeneas time and place!
[jangi54] Bye all, Peace...out.
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[AltaCann] Important to be here on time. The lectures are most enlightening!
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[linkgen] night all
[CLB] Nytol!!
dldgreen> Type your email address for a copy of tonight's presentation, for
- the record!
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[joan] jclyns@weblnk.netType HERE
[PO7489] po7489@aol.com
[AltaCann] Thank you dld !
dldgreen> You are welcome Alta!
[PO7489] thanks dd
dldgreen> My pleasure, PO..
dldgreen> You are welcome Alta!
[PO7489] thanks dd
dldgreen> My pleasure, PO..
[AltaCann] goodnight all
[joan] what time does the chat start?
dldgreen> Starts at 9:30 pm ends at 10:30pm.
[PO7489] 930
dldgreen> Niters all!
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AfriGeneas ~ African Ancestory Genealogy