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Blog Entries: 1 to 25 of 1976
The Evans family of Delgany, Co Wicklow
Researching family history is compelling even when it’s not your own family!
My friend, who’s planning a trip to Ireland this fall, is especially interested in knowing more about her maternal line going back to her 2X great-grandmother, Abigail Evans (1833-1899). The word “matrilineal” could be defined by this relationship; Abigail was my friend’s mother’s mother’s mother’s mother.
Among her family records are a typed, multi-page narrative written by a great-aunt in the 1960s, including an old photograph of the ancestral home near Delgany, County Wicklow, where Abigail Evans grew up. The house was built circa 1830 and is still occupied. Shown below are an undated family photo (on the left) and a more recent photo (on the right) courtesy of the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH) website. Visiting this property is assuredly on my friend’s itinerary in Ireland.
My research assistance focused on more traditional genealogy, i.e., people instead of buildings. I discovered an extraordinarily rich resource, the Anglican Research Project, self-described as an “ongoing endeavour to make the registers of baptism, marriage and burial from Church of Ireland parishes available in a digital format.”
Indexed transcripts of five volumes of Christ Church Delgany (Glendalough) baptism/marriage/burial records (1666-2000) can be searched online. I found the baptism record of Thomas “James” Evans, Abigail’s grandfather, who was born in 1778, as well as multiple BMD entries for members of the extended Evans family. A gold mine of details at my fingertips--and free!
Start here to find out what online baptism/marriage/burial records are currently hosted by the Representative Church Body (RCB) Library. |
View April podcast
In the April edition (episode 2 of Season 10) of the “This month at the IGSI” podcast, genealogist Dave Miller begins the episode by providing the dates for the April “Irish Saturday” event, which is scheduled for April 9th.
Dave also talks about the April webinar that will be hosted by Michael Brophy. Michael’s presentation on April 20th is titled "Shamrocks in Cyberspace: Irish Genealogy Databases"! Michael will discuss how information on our Irish ancestors is exploding on the internet and goes over the best websites for Irish research. Landmark additions such as Catholic Church records and vital records will be presented. Finding aids for further Irish research are also assessed and critiqued in this session. Dave lists all that is happening with Irish resources on the internet.
Dave also interviews a lady in Ireland who teaches the Irish language on the internet. She has developed programs that can be used at your leisure from beginner to advanced levels. These courses were started so that others around the world with Irish ancestry can not only learn and understand the terminology of the language but also understand the history and the culture behind the Irish language and its meaning. And she shows how to properly pronounce Gaeilge!
These stories and previous podcast episodes are available on the IGSI YouTube channel or by clicking Our podcasts at left. |
Alternative research methods
There's still time to register for this presentation:
Saturday, March 23 virtual –The Mysterious George Hunter: persistence & methodology prevail
by Joe Hunter, professional genealogist
10:30 AM - Noon CST (UTC-6)
$15 for IGSI members (with Discount Code); $20 for non-members
Some ancestors can be so elusive that it seems they may have vanished intentionally.
Using alternative methods in your research can compensate for missing and incomplete records by uncovering ‘indirect evidence’ that may help break down those stubborn research mysteries.
Applying the Genealogy Proof Standard, we will consider the building blocks for approaching a “brick wall” challenge: a concise research hypothesis, plan, and strategy, the value of a timeline, and solid citations along the way.
Don’t create your own brick wall! Case studies are learning opportunities to increase research skills and methodology. Success in finding your ancestor requires a toolkit of different strategies. Case studies show you step-by-step how to uncover clues, resolve conflicting information, and use the genealogical proof standard. It does not matter who the person was, where they lived, or what their religion was. A case study will present techniques the researcher used to find their ancestor.
The member Discount Code was emailed to members and is also posted on the member-only webpage (link).
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Watch "The Hanging Gale"
Have you seen the Irish Famine period drama "The Hanging Gale"?
Ireland Reaching Out recently recommended this BAFTA-nominated "oldie but goodie" as a must-watch for the diaspora. It's perfect for binge-watching on St Patrick's Day weekend. Ireland XO described it this way:
"The Hanging Gale" (R15+) is a four-part TV mini-series set in Co. Donegal against the backdrop of Ireland's Great Famine in 1846.
It follows the story of a family's struggle to hold their farm when the potato blight struck their harvest for the second year in a row. The narrative is well-balanced, offering perspectives from both land agents and tenant farmers, and provides valuable insights for those of us curious about what our ancestors might have faced.
The title of the series, "The Hanging Gale," refers to a historical practice in Ireland in the time of our ancestors. A 'hanging gale' was when landlords gave new tenants a 6-month grace period on rent payment (with the expectation that the rent owed would be paid when the land's crops were harvested and sold).
Back then, tenant farmers paid their rents to landlords, half-yearly, on 'Gale Days' (typically May 1st and November 1st). It was a time for bringing what they had to market and for taking stock of what they needed to sustain themselves until the next harvest. As you can imagine, Gale Day was the bane of most tenant farmers' lives, especially during years of poor harvests.
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IGSI Zoom social hour, Mar 18, 5:30 CDT
Don't forget to join us for a post-Saint Patrick's Day social hour on Zoom!
Monday, March 18, 5:30-6:30 pm CDT.
Meeting ID 838 3439 2087
Passcode 1919
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Trove of Guinness records free for 2 wks
Guinness hired generations of Dublinites to work in its brewery. Their personnel and trade ledgers covering 160 years have recently been digitized. For the first time ever, Ancestry is offering free viewing of this important collection for two weeks (March 8-22).
“No matter when your family left (Ireland), there is a possibility that you could make a connection. Or even if you have family that stayed, there’s a possibility that you can make a connection in this collection, and I just think that’s a huge boon for people,” says Crista Cowan, Ancestry's corporate genealogist.
Almost like a census substitute, the records date from 1799 to 1939. In addition to workers' names, details may include home addresses, occupations, spouses, children and marriages. One in 30 residents of Dublin worked for Guinness at one point in time.
Start your Ancestry search here.
Read about Guinness and what you might find among the 1.6 million records in this CNN article.
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Free Canadian records on Ancestry
Did your ancestors live in Canada? If so, you may want to clear your calendar for the coming week.
Through March 16 at 11:59 pm (ET), Ancestry is offering free, unlimited access to all its Canadian record collections. Click here to get started.
If you don't have an account, you'll need to register. No credit card required.
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GAMECHANGER!!!
Probate and land records are rich in genealogical details but often difficult and time-consuming to harness fully.
During RootsTech, FamilySearch opened an experimental query function that uses Artificial Intelligence to search every word of text in unindexed documents. Judy Russell, well-known as The Legal Genealogist, enthusiastically shared the news in her February 29 blog titled "GAMECHANGER!!"
Everyone is quick to caution that this function is still experimental and does not apply to all FamilySearch records; for now, it's just U.S. Land & Probate Records and Mexico Notary Records. While not perfect, this holds huge promise.
Drop what you're doing to read her posting here and try it out with one of your brick wall names. |
Birthplace of William Anderson
William Anderson was born in Ireland in 1868. Finding where sounds hopeless, right?
William (no middle name or middle initial) Anderson was the paternal grandfather of my friend, Margie. After coming to America as a young adult, William settled in Kansas City, married, raised a family, and died there in 1937.
Her question to me this weekend revolved around exactly where the family lived. I helped her decipher the census-taker's notes for 1910 and 1920. The censuses didn't tell the whole story, but Margie's research ultimately confirmed the families of her father (the Andersons) and her mother (the Blacks) resided on the same street in the 1920s. That's how her parents met! The two houses still stand on Lydia Ave, per Zillow.
While Margie didn't inquire of me about William Anderson's Irish origin, I couldn't resist looking. William's widow provided reliable birth details about him on his death certificate. Date of birth: April 7, 1868. Birthplace: Ireland. Parents: William Anderson and Elizabeth Fife.
With that information, his birthplace was amazingly easy to find on FamilySearch:
Ancestry trees created by someone in England claim the townland is Ballylummin. No source is cited, but it seems reasonable based on this map from townlands.ie. Ballylummin comprises just 1.78 acres.
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Leap Year Day
February 29 occurs only once every four years, and 2024 is the year. Irish folklore allows women to propose to their suitor on Leap Year Day.
Read more about the history of the silly tradition in this IrishCentral article. |
Resources for Beginning Irish Research
The Ireland XO website is totally free and a great resource for Irish research. Article topics are:
- What’s in a name
- Know your place
- Read more
Each category includes helpful sources, with links to other website articles and additional information.
Thanks to a faithful blog reader for sharing this tip.
With St. Patrick's Day around the corner, now's a good time to dig into your Irish ancestry. |
IGSI March Podcast available now
In the March edition (episode 2 of Season 9) of the “This month at the IGSI” podcast, genealogist Dave Miller begins the episode by providing the date for the March “Irish Saturday” event, scheduled for March 9th.
Dave also talks about the March webinar to be hosted by genealogist Joe Hunter. Joe’s presentation on March 23rd is titled The Mysterious George Hunter: persistence and methodology prevail! Joe will discuss breaking down the brickwalls when researching this elusive ancestor. Some ancestors can be very difficult to find. Joe will display alternative research methods that can compensate for missing and incomplete records. These ‘indirect evidence’ techniques may help break down those stubborn research mysteries. By applying the Genealogy Proof Standard, Joe will discuss how to establish the building blocks for approaching a “brickwall” challenge.
Dave also interviews three coordinators and planners for this summer’s Irish Festivals. They will talk about their plans for not only the month of March but also for this summer’s events and when they began the planning process for their Irish Festivals! Dave announces the dates for many of the Irish Festivals throughout the U.S.
View the March podcast here.
These stories and previous podcast episodes are available on the IGSI YouTube channel or by clicking on Our podcasts at left. |
What was Irish life like in the 1800s?
Do you wonder what life was like for your Irish ancestor when they were living in Ireland?
In this week's "Letter from Ireland," Mike Collins recommends using the 1901 Irish Census as a starting point since much of that information reflects on how the Irish lived and worked in the 1800s. He goes on to describe common occupations.
Read more by clicking here.
While you're at the website, browse past topics and consider signing up to receive weekly letters from Mike and Carina Collins. Free and always enlightening!
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Free access to Newspapers.com
How about spending part of your President's Day weekend researching newspapers?
Newspapers.com is offering free access until midnight MT tomorrow (1 a.m. Tuesday CT).
You will be asked to set up an account for free queries but should not be required to submit a credit card.
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Free MyHeritage Marriage Records
To celebrate Valentine's Day, MyHeritage is granting free access to their marriage records February 13-17, 2024--that's 254 collections containing 746 milltion historical records.
In their words, "This is the perfect opportunity to dive into the love stories that marked the beginnings of new family branches. They typically reveal names, birth dates, places of birth, and residences of the bride and groom, often extending to details about their parents or the witnesses, who might be close family friends or relatives."
Search MyHeritage marriage records here.
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'Ireland House' to open in Chicago
Announcement published in IrishCentral:
"Ireland’s Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin TD announced today, February 8, that the Irish Government will open a new ‘Ireland House’ in Chicago later this year.
Ireland House, to be located on the city’s Michigan Avenue, will house the Consulate General of Ireland together with representatives of Ireland’s economic and trade promotion agencies...
The announcement comes as the Tánaiste visits Chicago for a series of political, business, and community engagements.
The opening of Ireland House in Chicago this autumn will coincide with the centenary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Ireland and the US."
Read the rest of the IrishCentral article here.
Photo at right: The Chicago River is traditionally dyed green on St. Patrick's Day.GETTY IMAGES
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John Grenham's Feb 24th webinar
IGSI's 2024 resolution: Onward with education and celebration.
You can attend live or later…
February 24 - Mapping Ireland's Records
by John Grenham (www.johngrenham.com), a prominent resource for Irish ancestral research
10:30 AM - Noon CST (UTC-6)
$15 for IGSI members; $20 for non-members
Placename and surname are two of the most important pieces of information for researching Irish family history.
Prominent scholar John Grenham returns to explore ways to visualize Irish locations in your record searching by utilizing his newly added map overlays with various record sources: households of surnames in Catholic records, Griffith’s valuation, Irish census records, as well as local records of birth-marriage-deaths. You will learn how the maps were created, and their use and importance to us now in shedding light on Irish ancestral places, surnames, and families.
The member Discount Code was distributed to IGSI members by email and is also posted on the member-only webpage (link).
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IGSI post-Patrick's Day social hour
On Monday, March 18, IGSI will host a social hour and sharing session on Zoom. Please plan to join us!
Members and non-members welcome! No pre-registration required.
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Irish Language Translations
We are always grateful for topics and tips shared with us by readers. The following handy info comes from Donna Jones, IGSI Co-President:
The In Irish website includes, “Phrases in the Irish Language.” The site includes, “audio recordings spoken by a human being, not a computer-generated voice.”
The home page includes a list of “Top Irish Language Translations”. Click on the English word or phrase and the page has the Irish word and the phonetic pronunciation. Click on the speaker icon and hear the word or phrase spoken in Irish.
If you scroll down the home page, you will find links to 62 pages of English words and phrases. Each page has around 100 words.
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Find a Grave -- 2023 in review
The Find a Grave community celebrates many accomplishments during 2023:
- 13,704,945 memorials added
- 746,442 photo requests fulfilled
- 20,735,482 photos added
- 43,332,973 edits processed
Read about other Find a Grave stories and tips here. |
Roots Tech is 30 days away
RootsTech, the largest genealogy conference in the world, takes place February 29-March 2, 2024 -- live in Salt Lake City and online at RootsTech.org.
The theme of the 2024 conference is "Remembering." The online event is free but registration is encouraged. According to the website, "RootsTech 2024 offers something for everyone, from beginners to advanced researchers with over 300 class sessions, keynote speakers, interactive workshops, and hundreds of exhibitors who will showcase their latest innovative products and features."
Register for RootsTech here and start making plans for which sessions you want to attend. |
Free MGS beginner classes
The Minnesota Genealogical Society (MGS) is offering FREE introductory sessions for new family historians starting this Sunday, January 28, 1-4 pm (CST) at the MN Genealogy Center. MGS membership is not required.
Not available this Sunday? It appears the same class will be available on the last Sunday of each month in 2024. Read more here.
SUNDAY, JANUARY 28
Starting Your Family Tree (Class)
1:00 to 4:00 pm CST
Hosted by MGS at the MN Genealogy Center - FREE
Have you wanted to start researching your family history but didn't know where to begin? Make 2024 your year of discovery of who you came from and how your story came to be.
This free class, taught by Hoffman Research Library Manager Jeanne Bielke-Rodenbiker, will help you prepare for your journey. A tour and orientation to the Library is included and you'll also receive a beginner's guide. Everyone is welcome - just check in at the front desk.
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2024 -- a great year for IGSI webinars!
Let’s celebrate Irish culture! You can attend live or later.
January 27, 2024 - Irish Family History Resources in Ireland's National Folklore Collection
by Fiona Fitzsimons, professional genealogist in Ireland, author and broadcaster
10:30 AM - Noon CST (UTC-6)
$15 for IGSI members (with Discount Code; $20 for non-members
Why is it bad luck to take down Christmas decorations before January 6th? This custom came from Irish ancestors. Irish folklore is more than leprechauns, banshees, and other fairies. It is more than legends and stories.
Understanding the folklore of Ireland is key for researchers to understand the lives of our ancestors. The National Folklore Collection is a record of Ireland’s oral traditions and material culture. It holds one of the largest archival collections of its kind, recognized in the UNESCO Memory of the World Register for its significance in world culture. The collection reveals the texture of daily life in Ireland during the 19th and early 20th Century that we do not find in history books. Fiona will introduce this remarkable collection and show how it will help us to interpret ancestral evidence.
The member Discount Code was sent by email and is also posted on the member-only webpage ( link).
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February 24 - Mapping Ireland's Records
by John Grenham ( www.johngrenham.com), a prominent resource for Irish ancestral research
10:30 AM - Noon CST (UTC-6)
$15 for IGSI members (with Discount Code); $20 for non-members
Prominent scholar John Grenham returns to explore ways to visualize Irish locations in your record searching: the households of your surnames in Catholic records, Griffith's valuation, Irish census records, as well as local records of birth-marriage-deaths. How can these records help with your genealogical and local history research? Learn the answer in vivid examples of just how local some names are... and how impossibly widespread others can be. Some of the focus will be on maps of the geographic areas in Ireland used to collect the records. The talk will give some of the technical background involved in creating the maps, but focus on their use and how they shed light on Irish surnames and families.
The member Discount Code is posted on the member-only webpage ( link).
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March 23 - The Mysterious George Hunter
by Joe Hunter, professional genealogist
10:30 AM - Noon CST (UTC-6)
$15 for IGSI members (with Discount Code; $20 for non-members
Some ancestors can be so elusive that it seems they may have vanished intentionally. Exhaustive research might uncover indirect evidence to compensate for missing and incomplete records in your ancestor’s life. We will consider alternative methods to break down a “brick wall” using indirect evidence.
We will consider the building blocks for approaching a “brick wall” challenge: a concise research hypothesis, plan, and strategy, the value of a timeline, .and solid citations along the way. Carefully consider the standards of the Genealogy Proof Standard: a reasonably exhaustive search, analysis and correlation of relevant evidence, resolution of conflicting evidence, finally arriving at a soundly reasoned and coherently written conclusion.
The member Discount Code is posted on the member-only webpage ( link).
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Save these dates for upcoming webinars in 2024: Registration will open roughly 90 days prior.
- April 20 - Michael Brophy, Shamrocks in Cyberspace: Irish Genealogy Databases
- May 4 - Mary Wickersham, Migration of the Irish – This will be a hybrid event with a live audience at the Minnesota Genealogy Center
- June 22 – Lois Mackin, PhD, Researching a Mid-Nineteenth-Century Cork Family, from Wisconsin to Ireland – This will be a hybrid event with a live audience at the Minnesota Genealogy Center
- July 20 - Michael Walsh, Townland Valuations
- August 17 - Paula Stewart-Warren, CG, FMGS, FUGA, Railroad Records and Railroad History: Methods for Tracking
- September 28 - Tom Rice and Kathy Lund, What is a “Brick Wall”? – This will be a hybrid event with a live audience at the Minnesota Genealogy Center
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Facts get recorded. Stories get remembered.
by Lewis Schiff, cited on page 37 by ES Mills & RB Lennon, Tips & Quips for the Family Historian, 2017, Genealogical Publishing Co.
All you need to attend the live program is an internet-connected device with audio capabilities (computer, tablet, or smartphone). Unable to attend at the scheduled time? If you register in advance, we will send you a link to the recording and handout the week following the program for on-demand viewing at your convenience.
Education Team: Trish Little-Taylor & Walt Rothwell
Irish Genealogical Society International
1385 Mendota Heights Road Suite 100
Mendota Heights, Minnesota 55120 • USA
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February podcast available
IGSI's February 2024 podcast episode This Month at the IGSI is available now.
In the February edition (episode 2 of Season 8) of the “This month at the IGSI” podcast, genealogist Dave Miller begins the episode talking about the February webinar that will be hosted by John Grenham. John’s presentation is titled Mapping Ireland’s Records! during which John will talk about ways to visualize Irish locations in your record searching. This includes the households of your surnames in Catholic records, Griffith's valuation, or Irish census records as well as local records of birth-marriage-deaths. He will explain how these records can help with your genealogical and local history research. This webinar is scheduled for February 24th.
Dave also provides the date for the February “Irish Saturday” event, February 10th.
Dave discusses Irish Folk music with a singer and songwriter who grew up in Ireland and has been writing and performing Irish folk music in the U.S.
These stories and previous episodes can be found on the YouTube IGSI channel and on the Our podcasts page on the IGSI website.
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Northern Irish Research Tour
Since IGSI isn't sponsoring a trip to Ireland in 2024, motivated researchers may be interested in the package being offered by American Ancestors (New England Historic Genealogical Society), June 23-30, and described here:
Have you determined your Scots-Irish origins and are ready to take your research across the pond? Join American Ancestors for our fourth trip to Belfast, Northern Ireland, and delve into the resources at the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI), Ulster Historical Foundation, and other repositories.
For more details, click here. |
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