The Legacy Tree Genealogists Blog

Hand-picked, tested and trained, our professional genealogist team knows how to find your story. We search the world for answers. Find the un-findable. And we’re experts at everything from tracking down rare international records to analyzing DNA test results. Based near the world’s largest family history library in downtown Salt Lake City, we also work with researchers and archives around the globe. Contact us today if you would like help discovering your ancestors!

Lesson in History: How Did We Get the 1790 U.S. Census?

August 10, 2018 by Mckenna - Legacy Tree Genealogists Researcher Leave a Comment

The first U.S. census was taken on 2 August 1790 in response to the 1790 census act, signed by President George Washington, Vice President John Adams, and Speaker of the House Frederick Muhlenberg on 1 March 1790. This began the process of taking a census every ten years as mandated by Article 1, Section 2 of the Constitution. The main purpose of the census was and is to determine the number of seats each state has in the U.S. House of Representatives to balance the power between the federal government, the states and individuals. As a result of the 1790 U.S. census, the House of Representatives increased in number from 69 to 105 members. Another purpose of this census was to assess the military and industrial strength of the new country as it began to establish itself as an independent nation. 1790 U.S. Census Overview The first U.S. Census only asked for the names of heads of households and counted all other people only by age, gender, or status, though a more complete …

Meet Derek, Project Manager for Legacy Tree Genealogists

August 9, 2018 by Legacy Tree Genealogists Leave a Comment

Derek has a depth of experience in project management from a nearly 30-year military career managing linguists and intelligence professionals. The skills Colonel (Ret) Tolman developed serving the intelligence community transfer over nicely to the family history and genealogy community. As he says, “It’s nice to transition from looking for the bad guys as an intelligence professional to helping others trace the good guys on their family tree.” Derek hails from a family deeply committed to genealogy and family history. He currently serves as the President of the Thomas Tolman Family Organization which was founded in 1903 by his third-great grandfather. This all-volunteer organization has been holding regular family reunions and preserving ancestral records, pictures, documents, and personal histories for over a century. In the mid-1970s, as the volume of records increased, the family built the Thomas Tolman Family Genealogy Center in Bountiful, Utah by gathering donations of over …

The Places Your Ancestors Knew: Planning a Successful Heritage Tour

August 3, 2018 by Legacy Tree Genealogists Leave a Comment

What’s inside you isn’t just your DNA, but also the life experiences passed to you by your ancestors – which were often played out all over the world. Visiting the places your ancestors knew is life-changing, and preparation for a successful heritage tour is key. START WITH GOALS Before you buy a plane ticket, you first need clear goals for your trip. By visiting your ancestor’s homeland, are you hoping to extend your family tree by searching records in an archive or church? Are you hoping to visit the places where your ancestors lived and worked? Are you hoping to connect with distant cousins? Are you planning to include “tourist activities” as part of your family tree travels? All of these are meaningful goals that will lead to unforgettable experiences, and each requires preparation. RECORDS – Do Your Homework If one of your travel goals is to learn more about your ancestors and their origins, make sure you have searched the records already available online or on microfilm in …

uncovering history behind surname origin

Uncovering the History Behind Surname Origins

August 3, 2018 by Kim - Legacy Tree Genealogists Project Manager 2 Comments

*Legacy Tree successfully uncovers the rich family history of a client seeking to learn more about his unique surname origins. Shared with client permission. Paolo Zeppetelli contacted Legacy Tree Genealogists with a quest to learn more about his Italian heritage. The Zeppetelli name is not a particularly common surname in Italy, and he was curious to know of its origins. As he began collecting information, he concluded that uncovering the history behind the Zeppetelli surname origins would make the ideal gift for his father’s upcoming 60th birthday. Stories that circulated among the Zeppetelli family stated there was a branch of the family who were wealthy landowners in the region of Caserta in southern Italy, from the village of Alife. There was supposedly even a road named Via Zeppetelli about 20 minutes from Alife and Paolo was curious to find out if this road may have something to do with his family. His direct ancestors had owned land, a restaurant, hotel and a post office …