We sat down to learn more about finding Scottish ancestors with one of our professional genealogists, Jamie Kay. Here's what we learned about Jamie and how to research your own Scottish heritage. The Challenges of Finding Scottish Ancestors I grew up around the corner from Aunt Dorothy, our family genealogist, and loved to hear our stories and see the photographs she had collected. My great-grandparents came to the United States from Scotland in the 1870s, so a quarter of my heritage is … [Read more...]
Struggling to Find Your Italian Ancestors? How to Navigate Italian Archives.
From Jersey Shore to Postiglione: Finding Italian Ancestors You never know when and where your Italian ancestors will show up. How one genealogist found her Italian ancestors on a most unusual family vacation. It was the summer of 2016. As was my extended family's tradition, we rented a house at the Jersey Shore for a week in the summer. As is the goal of all family vacations, the hope is to create new memories and forge stronger connections between members. That is why my family … [Read more...]
Irish Family History: Online Resources to Help Find Your Irish Ancestors
Until recently, Irish family history research was considered problematic. But in recent years, individuals can do the bulk of their research online with many digitized records available from private and public entities. Getting Started with Irish Family History Online The first step to Irish research is to document all the information you know about your ancestors and check with older family members who are still living to get as much detail as possible from them. Finding the maiden … [Read more...]
Where to Start With Your English Ancestor Research: Interview with Researcher Kimberly Gilboy
English ancestor research can be simplified when you understand the importance of historical dates and which records will hold the information you seek. In this conversation with Legacy Tree Genealogists Kimberly Gilboy, she shares tips and tricks she has learned over her years in English ancestor research. How did you get your start in genealogy research, and why is England of particular interest to you? Kim: I have English ancestors on both my father's and my mother's sides. I grew … [Read more...]
5 Keys to Researching Your Irish Ancestors
Are you researching your Irish ancestors? Or were your ancestors part of the Irish diaspora worldwide? Five key things to know before you begin your research. 1. North and South Since 1921, the island of Ireland has been separated into two countries – the Republic of Ireland in the south and Northern Ireland, part of the United Kingdom, in the north. It’s essential to know the distinction between the two before you begin. Northern Irish records are held in the Public Records Office of … [Read more...]
America’s Little Known Swedish Colony
When people think of early colonies in North America, most commonly images of Thanksgiving, the Mayflower, and Jamestown come to mind. However, England was not alone in colonizing areas now known as the thirteen original colonies. [1] The New Sweden Company Jamestown, Colony of Virginia, was founded on 13 May 1607. As the colonists endured that first hard winter and eventually began to prosper in their new home, economic opportunities quickly presented themselves. John Rolfe brought tobacco … [Read more...]
African American Women in Research
Legacy Tree Genealogists’ Adrienne Abiodun provides resources and tips on how to overcome the challenges within African American genealogy research and especially to help with identifying African American women. There are certain challenges that come with researching specific groups of people across the world, for example – women. In a previous blog post, Legacy Tree Genealogists’ researcher, Jessica Howe provided numerous tips to assist in the identification of women in historical records. … [Read more...]
My Journey to Dual Italian Citizenship
Legacy Tree Genealogists’ Sarah Gutmann was excited to have stumbled upon a record that could potentially change the narrative of her family’s history. In this article, she describes her journey toward dual citizenship to pay homage to her family’s Italian heritage. For eight decades my grandpa believed his father, Joseph Fraggetta was a first-generation American. Despite this claim, I could not find my great grandfather’s 1906 birth record. One day, about 15 years ago, I was poking around on … [Read more...]
Ask a Genealogist: Tracing Ancestry in Spain
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...]