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 CompanyJamestown, 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...]
Genealogy Tips & Best Practices
As the world's highest rated genealogy research firm, the experts at Legacy Tree Genealogists have compiled a collection of genealogy tips and best practices to help you find YOUR ancestors! From methodology and education, to writing a family biography, we explain the who, what, where and why of family history research!
Guest Blog: My Genealogy Travels and Research
A family tree has many branches and researching ancestors can be an ongoing process. In fact, nearly half of our clients order additional genealogy research projects to answer more questions about their family history. One client, Norman E. “Ned” Donoghue, II, embarked on a quest to trace his ancestry half a century ago and has enjoyed learning more about his family’s past. When he wanted to extend his ancestry beyond his own available resources, he reached out to Legacy Tree Genealogists and … [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...]
Eight Steps to Pursue with New Autosomal DNA Test Results
Paul Woodbury is a DNA team lead and professional researcher at Legacy Tree Genealogists where he has helped to solve hundreds of genetic genealogy cases. In this article, a reprint from an issue of NGS Magazine, Paul discusses steps a researcher could take to begin using DNA test results. This article is published with permission.Several weeks after the submission of a DNA sample, the results finally arrive! An email appears announcing that the test has completed processing. It includes a … [Read more...]
What Can You Do with Legacy Tree Genealogists’ Research? Meet Some of Our Affiliates!
Since 2004, Legacy Tree Genealogists has had the privilege of helping thousands of clients around the world discover their family history. Once you have completed a research project with us, you can share your family history in new ways. Many of our affiliate partners offer a variety of services that complement the genealogy services that we provide. In this blog, we are highlighting just a few of our newest affiliates. We encourage you to visit their websites and explore some of the great … [Read more...]
Where to Test? Genetic Genealogy Testing Options
Paul Woodbury is a DNA team lead and professional researcher at Legacy Tree Genealogists where he has helped to solve hundreds of genetic genealogy cases. In this article, a reprint from an issue of NGS Magazine, Paul discusses four major DNA testing companies’ tools and their benefits. The article is published here with permission.Four major DNA testing companies offer genetic genealogy testing—23andMe, AncestryDNA, FamilyTreeDNA, and MyHeritage— and there are several smaller testing … [Read more...]
Ask a Genealogist: What Makes a Great Family Tree Researcher?
We spoke with one of our researchers, Kim Gilboy, to learn more about what makes a great family tree researcher. We learned that skills like analysis, teamwork, and persistence are all very important, but a love for family tree research is at the heart of every professional genealogist.Q: Would you tell us about yourself?A: Genealogy research is something I absolutely love. I lived in the San Francisco Bay area and had family and friends in Utah. I'd come to Utah, spend a couple of days … [Read more...]
Ask a Genealogist: Interesting Facts about Finnish Genealogy Research
Legacy Tree Genealogists’ Stacy Siirilä Johnson is a second-generation Finnish American and a native of Michigan. She is accredited for research in France, has bachelor’s degrees in history and French, and specializes in Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Germany. We asked Stacy about her experiences in Finnish research to learn more about the nuances of researching ancestors from Finland. Q: What got you interested in genealogy and your areas of research? A: Everyone has a story to … [Read more...]
Celebrate the Women in Your History
One of the challenges genealogists find when researching female ancestors is the lack of resources that document their lives. Legacy Tree Genealogists’ Allison McCord helps celebrate Women’s History Month by showcasing three women born in the mid-1800s, documented through the 1900 U.S. Census, which required more detailed information than any previous census. As Women’s History Month is celebrated in March, have you been wondering about the history of the women in your family tree? Women’s … [Read more...]
British Genealogy Brick Wall Breakthrough: A Case Study
Legacy Tree Genealogists’ researcher Jamie Kay shares a case study that demonstrates how she resolved a “brick wall” to extend the ancestry of a client’s British grandmother, who was sent to Canada in 1877. (Shared with client permission.)A client recently asked for assistance in extending the ancestry of her grandmother, Helen Lilley, who was sent to Canada in 1877 from an orphanage in Glasgow by her maternal grandmother, Helen Gray. Helen’s father had passed away and it was said that her … [Read more...]