We sat down with Katy Barnes to discuss research in Spain. She spent seven years as a senior editor and researcher with Legacy Tree Genealogists, with a wide range of geographic specialties, and has a degree in family history and genealogy. What interested you in genealogy and specifically research into Spain?I've always loved history, writing, and other topics that frequently intersect with genealogy, such as politics, culture, and law. I discovered genealogy as a hobby in high school, … [Read more...]
Ask a Genealogist: Exploring Your Cherokee Heritage
Michelle Carroll uses a combination of genetic genealogy and traditional research to help clients break through genealogy brick walls. In addition to holding a certificate in genealogical research from Boston University, her diverse background has resulted in a breadth of genealogical knowledge including Cherokee, African American, French Canadian/Acadian, and Norwegian ancestry. What got you interested in genealogy?I became interested in genealogy when I was in grade school and … [Read more...]
Mykoseki.com: A Helpful Site for Japanese Genealogy Research
The month of May was Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Ryan Rockwood, who specializes in Japanese genealogy research, discusses a relative newcomer to the Japanese research space that has already become a go-to resource for Japanese ancestry: Mykoseki.com.Mykoseki.com is a not-for-profit website geared towards helping people of Japanese descent request and access their ancestor’s koseki, or family register. The koseki record is the primary place vital information has been … [Read more...]
Joining a Lineage or Ethnic Society?
Family history societies, also known as genealogical societies, are organizations where members benefit from their love of genealogy by connecting with others to share research, experience, and knowledge. They are especially helpful because of the access to records and resources that they provide, such as birth, marriage, death, migration, and other biographical information. Societies typically have a focus and range from very small, local organizations to others with hundreds of thousands of … [Read more...]
Finding Genealogical Information and Clues in the Freedman’s Bank Records
Legacy Tree Genealogists' Elyse Hill specializes in African American and Southern States research. In this blog, she provides information about a private savings bank established in 1865 in emancipated communities. In addition to inventory lists included in wills and probate records of enslavers, these bank records can be a valuable source to find an ancestor’s name and other information.The Freedman’s Bank, also known as Freedman’s Savings and Trust Company, was established in 1865. The … [Read more...]
Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War, 1861–1865
Legacy Tree Genealogists' Adrienne Abiodun provides information about the Daughters of the Union Veterans of the Civil War, 1861-1865, and offers some tips on how to become a member. She uses her own personal experience to explain how joining a lineage society can be a rewarding way to honor one's ancestors.Between 1861–1865, the War Between the States, more commonly known as the Civil War, was the longest, bloodiest, and costliest conflict that divided the United States of America. An … [Read more...]
Honoring and Proving Formerly Enslaved Ancestors Through Lineage Society Membership
Being the descendent of enslaved ancestors, there awaits a unique opportunity to join a specifically interesting lineage society. Here is an insight into what you would need to prove your family history, and where you would be able to provide these valuable records. African Americans with an invested interest in their heritage and deep roots within the United States of America are all too familiar with the legacy and impact of America’s slave era. Reflecting upon that time can be a source of … [Read more...]
Pathways to Membership in The Jamestowne Society
Many are under the impression that to become a member of the Jamestowne Society, one must have an ancestor who was a first settler of the Jamestowne colony. Although that is one route to join, the Jamestowne Society provides six pathways to membership! Learn more about them.The Jamestowne Society, founded in 1936 and incorporated in 1958, is a lineage society based in Richmond, Virginia with the mission to discover and record the names of early Virginia settlers and their descendants. They … [Read more...]
“Does My Family Have a Coat of Arms?” Eight Tips for Your Heraldic Research
"Does my family have a coat of arms?" We share eight tips for heraldic research to help you find out!Coats of arms and other heraldic devices are beautiful and filled with symbolism: blue signifying truth and loyalty, lions indicating bravery, and the phoenix symbolizing resurrection. They conjure up images of knights jousting and rooms filled with nobleman and ladies and suggest a possible relationship to a famous king or queen. Unfortunately, many people misunderstand heraldry and … [Read more...]
“Am I Related to Royalty?” Researching Gateway Ancestors in Your Family History
Do you descend from royalty? Determining if your pedigree contains a gateway ancestor will help prove or disprove a royal connection!Many Americans of colonial descent believe they are connected to royal or noble European lineages. While in many cases those lineages are accurate, most often they are not. Separating the fact from fiction of royal and noble pedigrees can ensure your genealogy is accurate and well sourced.Gateway Ancestors of Royal and Noble DescentA gateway ancestor is a … [Read more...]