Legacy Tree Genealogists' Shelbie Drake specializes in German and Austrian research. In this article, she provides valuable tips and resources to help you find records in the area that was once known as the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The Austro-Hungarian Empire At face value, the name of the Central European country Austria seems straightforward. However, the history of the Austro-Hungarian Empire - the dual monarchy of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary - is a prime example of why … [Read more...]
Legacy Tree Onsite: A Genealogist’s Guide to Australian Archives
Legacy Tree Genealogists works with researchers from across the globe to access records for our clients. We asked one of our onsite researchers to share an inside look at the resources available for family history research at various Australian archives. Australian archives can be broadly sorted into governmental, public and private collections. They can occur at each of the three levels of government (federal, state and local), within other public institutions such as state libraries, or … [Read more...]
Stolen Handkerchiefs and Convict Ships: Tracing a Convict Ancestor to Australia
This client project (shared with permission) delves into tracing the journey of a convict ancestor, sent to Australia for pickpocketing. One of our Australian clients came to us with an Oliver Twist-esque story about her teenaged ancestor who was convicted of pickpocketing in England in the 1820s and sent to the Australian penal colonies. She wanted to know—was he an impoverished pickpocket in a gang of young pickpockets, or might he have come from a respectable family and been wrongly accused? … [Read more...]
DNA Discovery Down Under
*This story is shared with client permission. Through DNA analysis we are able to gather information regarding individuals' shared heritage, far beyond the basic haplogroup. DNA testing, combined with thorough genealogy research, has helped clients break through genealogy brick walls including difficult-to-trace ancestors, determining an ancestor’s ethnicity, and solving family mysteries that would otherwise be impossible to investigate due to lack of records. With client permission, we share … [Read more...]
Getting Started With Australian Genealogy: What You Need To Know
Australian genealogy CAN be straightforward, but you do need to know a time period and a place, as well as the family name you are researching. Australia has only been a single country since 1901; before that there were colonies and territories beginning with the first European settlement in 1788. Even today the individual states and territories have their own governments and record systems, with no single combined place to research. Therefore, knowing the time period and place where your … [Read more...]
Legacy Tree Onsite: Archives in Adelaide, South Australia!
Legacy Tree Genealogists works with researchers all across the world to access records for our clients. We asked Benjamin from Park Holme to give us insight into doing archival research in South Australia. Check it out! As we mentioned in a previous post, South Australia is blessed with so many major archives located in close proximity to each other. That article contained a discussion of the Lutheran Archives located just outside of the Adelaide city limits. Presented here is a rundown on … [Read more...]
Legacy Tree Onsite: Finding Your German Ancestors…in South Australia!
Legacy Tree Genealogists works with researchers all over the world to access records for our clients. We asked Benjamin, onsite in Park Holme, Australia, to give us insight into what it’s like to conduct research at the Lutheran Archives of Australia. Take a look! Willkommen in Süd Australien!! With the recent co-location of the National Archives of Australia (South Australian Office), State Records of South Australia, and State Library of South Australia, and with the City of Adelaide … [Read more...]
The Basics of Australian Genealogy Research
Do you have Australian ancestry? Our researchers have compiled an overview of helpful resources to assist with Australian genealogy research. Australia is one of the world’s largest immigrant-based countries, meaning that the majority of the people living there have family trees that originate from somewhere else. Thus, unless someone is a descendant solely of Australian aboriginal peoples, most research will ultimately end up working back to European origins. Because of this, Australian … [Read more...]