One Big Circle Updates...Ireland, Scotland and Pennsylvania

The last few weeks have been amazing!!  

First I want to thank everyone from Geneabloggers for their kind support and the comments they sent.  If you have not checked out the great blogs at this site please do!! 

I am always willing to learn so I started looking for free Webinars online.  Legacy Genealogy program offers webinars at  http://www.familytreewebinars.com/ .  Some are paid but they normally will have them free for a week.  Ancestry.com users you can go to http://www.ancestry.com/cs/us/videos to see all their webinars for free. You can also search Youtube  and Cindy's list http://www.cyndislist.com/education/online-courses-and-webinars/ and find many great ones there as well.  After some searching I found what I was looking for Ireland and Scotland research.  

A few weeks ago I blogged about my Great Grandmother Annie Flynn.  I took the time to write down what I knew and what I didn't.  The didn't knows way out numbered the knows, so, I spent a few hours watching genealogist who research in the areas I want to become more knowledgeable.  

One of the great tips was that the birth dates on United States or Canadian records can vary greatly from Ireland because of a law in place to make people register the birth with in a short period of time.  Poor farmers could not go to town to report a birth so they would have the child baptized, which would give one date, then they would change the date of birth so the government would not be fined for not reporting the child's birth earlier.  I am pretty flexible when it comes to dates.  If some one is born in 1865 I will always search other dates just in case but I was unsure how off it would be in Ireland. I now know it can be off by up to 6 or 7 years between what we know in U.S census records and the original documents in Ireland.   

I visited http://www.rootsireland.ie/ before but really did not have enough information to use a paid site to research my Flynn's.  I didn't have high hopes of finding anything but to my surprise I found the marriage records for Richard Flynn and Bridget Butler, Annie's parents.  It had their fathers names and birth locations and with that I found both of their birth records (Richard was born in 1859 not 1865 and Bridget 1865 ipo 1867).  Richard's father Richard Flynn was born in a Workhouse in Carrick-on-Suir, Tipperary, Ireland.  Not the nicest places to be born!.  Then to top it all off I even found one of the parents marriage records.  After a small (Okay, really big) happy dance across my living room!!  I have updated the records on my site with the new information.

Since it was just before St. Patrick's day and I had such good luck I decided to tackle a few more Irish names.

I started researching Elliott family of Schuylkill Co, Pennsylvania a little over 10 years ago.  I knew they lived in and around Pottsville and that a story had been passed down that 3 brothers (Isn't it always 3 brothers, never 4 or 2 lol!) had been kicked out of Ireland and had fled to Scotland.  At some point the family immigrated to Pennsylvania.  

Armed with the new information from a Webinars on Irish immigrants in Scotland I began looking for Irish Elliott's living in Scotland in 1851.  I knew by now that the immigrant ancestors Patrick Elliott and his wife Sarah Mulholland were married in Barony, Lancastershire, Scotland in 1845 and had one daughter in Scotland Mary in 1847.  It took a few searches but there was Patrick Elliot, the only one in the area and his parents Arthur and Sarah.  Next I search for Sarah Mulholland, I knew her parents immigrated to Pennsylvania, they are in the 1861 census living next door to her.  Andrew and his wife Mary were found in the same town in 1841 and 1851 as the Elliott's.  It seems Patrick and his wife immigrated 10 years before her parents.  

So updates this week to Flynn, Dunne, Bulter, Tobin, Elliott, Mulholland, Fallon, Burns, Correll and connecting lines.  Also large update on Anthony family of Hants Co, Nova Scotia.

Good free Irish things:

Amazing site on Workhouses, not searchable but very educational for all of the UK
http://www.workhouses.org.uk/

1st of a 4 part Free article from Irish Roots Magazine.
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/73714137/Tracing%20Your%20Irish%20Ancestors%20Online%20Irish%20Roots%201.pdf

Cemetery Transcription of Ireland
http://members.iinet.net.au/~sgrieves/cemeteries__ireland.htm

National Archives of Ireland
http://www.nationalarchives.ie/

All I can do is recommend, no matter how much you think you know, there is always room to learn...

Wondering why there is almost a foot of snow in Maine when it is suppose to be spring, Oh yeah, because its Maine!
Michele  

Love..Love...PANB

Yes, I am in love with something besides my husband, I will gladly admit it, and my husband is even okay with it!

My love affair with the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick (PANB) is nothing new. When I was just starting out I would make the 2 hour drive to Fredericton, New Brunswick from Maine and spend my vacation time in the research room of the old brick building. The staff was always helpful, even when I didn't know what I was looking for or when I would bring my husband along and assign him to just copy things I handed him.

I took my mother with me on one trip. She had no real interest in genealogy and I had to make up nicknames for her to remember who people were. I referred to her 2rd great grandfather William Price, Jr as "William the missing", because at the time I had not found his parents, I still call him by title to this day.

We lived in Waterbury, Vermont for three years in the 1990's and I made two 8 hour (one way) trips to the archives just to research a new person.



                                        



Then they started an online site, it grew slowly into what it is today, probably the best archive website I have ever used.http://archives.gnb.ca/archives/default.aspx?culture=en-CA

I research and write allot about New Brunswick but I have researched all over the US and Canada as well as a few foreign countries. The PANB has records online from 1800-1962 most of them with the original scanned document . Last month they added a Federated Database Search that allows you to search most of the online records at once. 

Birth (to 1917), Marriage and Death (both to 1962) records are easy to search. You can search by just last name or even the first three letters of the surname. 

http://archives.gnb.ca/Search/VISSE/?culture=en-CA

The PANB added an area dedicated to Irish research a few years ago.

http://archives.gnb.ca/Irish/exhibits_en.html

It allows you to search arrivals, census and even people who resided at the St. John's Almshouse. Even if you do not have Irish roots you may find your ancestor in some these records.  Added last year was some of the work of R.Wallace Hale. I own the Early Probate book and have used it for years. It was wonderful to see the archives add it as a searchable database.

Early New Brunswick (Canada) Probate Records 1785-1835

http://archives.gnb.ca/Search/MC3706/Default.aspx?culture=en-CA


The Fort Havoc site below contains many records, most pertaining to Loyalist. I holds great historic information.

http://archives.gnb.ca/Exhibits/FortHavoc/Default.aspx?culture=en-CA

Often overlooked guide to family history is a small database of the books, documents for family histories on file at the archives. You can e-mail the archives to see how to obtain a copy.
http://archives.gnb.ca/ResearchTools/GuideToFamilyHistories/?culture=en-CA

Wondering about a Town or City and what county it is in?

http://archives.gnb.ca/Exhibits/Communities/Home.aspx?culture=en-CA


My favorite page overall is the New Brunswick Vital Statistics from Newspapers 1784-1896  transcribed and collected by Daniel F. Johnson (1958-2005). It can be found as a set of 102 books in many libraries around the U.S. and Canada. This database has contributed more to my search than any other I can think of. It has most of the major Newspapers in New Brunswick and is transcribed images (not a view of the orginal). You can search by family name or by a word or place. You will find Births, Marriages and Death as in any newspapers of their time but also the day to day lives of the people of New Brunswick.

http://archives.gnb.ca/Search/NewspaperVitalStats/NameIndex.aspx?culture=en-CA

When I needed to take a break one day I typed in Murder and was amazed at the stories and information in the article that came up. I then did the same with Hanging (morbid I know but I was curious) and then Fire. It was a great way to learn more about the area I spend so much time researching. 

Example:

Date December 22 1869 
County Saint John 
Place Saint John 
Newspaper Morning News 

The language of the text is the original used in the newspaper entry and as transcribed by Daniel F. Johnson. Records acquired by the Provincial Archives are not translated from the language in which they originate. 

MUNROE-VAIL Murder - Judge ALLEN then rose and with much feeling said "You stand convicted of the murder of Sarah Margaret VAIL ... The sentence of the Court is that you (John A. MUNROE) be conducted to the place from whence you came, and thence on Tuesday, 15th day of February next, to the place of execution, there to be hanged by the neck, until you are dead and may God have mercy on your soul" (see original)

If you look to the top right of the database you will see "Full-Text Search" if you click on it, it will take you to a box where you can search for words as individual or combinations. When searching always remember that spelling can be off on surnames as well as regular words. I was searching for an article I had read and I knew it contained the word Polygamy. It didn't come up so I searched by the name and when I found the article the word was spelled polygomy.   Also for those of us from "The States" keep in mind that words differ in spelling between Canada (British English) and the U.S., like Colour and Color.  I found a good site on the some of differences.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_and_British_English_spelling_differences

I hope this will be of some help in your search and that you enjoy your trip through the records of one of my favorite places.  Take the time to click on each link on the toolbar at the top of the PANB site it will take you to many more options that I have listed here.  

**Are you working on a family that I have listed marked with a * , + or *+ in the name on my Rootsweb page and want to know more?  Let me know I may have notes available that I don't show online.  I can also make it into a blog if I have enough on the group.**

Take care,

Michele

My Trip through Genetealogy...

In 2011 I asked my husband and children for DNA tests for Christmas. Sound strange? Not if you know me and my genealogy obsession. I received three DNA tests and excitedly order the first test and waited for it to arrive. Genetic Genealogy or Genetealogy as it is being called is a great tool when you are trying to crack a brickwalls or to find if your research is correct.

I started to read everything I could get my hands on to educated myself. What I would tell you is education first then order a test. I am not going to go into a long explanation about the companies available and which one is best. I choose Family Tree DNA http://www.familytreedna.com/ for two of the test and 23 and Me https://www.23andme.com/ for one. I will explain why later.

If you have already done the testing you will probably not learn anything new here but if you are just starting or even thinking about testing there are a few things you must know first.

Find a good book, there are many that are recommended but if you have just started, I recommend, "DNA & Genealogy" by Colleen Fitzpatrick and Andrew Yeiser, It is basic and easy to understand. I have also heard good things about "Trace Your Roots with DNA: Use Your DNA to Complete Your Family Tree" by Megan Smolenya and Ann Turner. However good these books are they were published over 5 years ago and in Genealogy things can change daily.

I just started reading, "DNA and Social Networking: A Guide to Genealogy in the Twenty-first Century" by Debbie Kennett's, it gives more information about autosomal DNA and using online sources in your research.

Another recommendation is The International Society of Genetic Genealogy found at http://www.isogg.org/ . Their Newbies section will give you everything you need to know to find the right test and even after to help with your results. There is also a Newbies DNA group on Yahoo http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/DNA-Testing/ . You can join both webpages.

Understanding that learning about DNA is just like learning a new language will help you in your journey. At some points I was pretty sure my head would explode with all the new terms and information. I took Biology 1,2 & 3 in High School and even Bio classes in College, although I was a History Major, I understand how it works, that was not the problem. The issue is trying to understanding what your results mean and when you ask for help the answers that you receive will just lead to more question. I found that anyone who has been doing this for a while cant or wont explain things simply. They expect you to already know what they know. If you take this into account and keep asking and searching you will find the answers.


So now you have read and re-read everything and you now have to test someone, it might be easy, like my first test I chose my husband. His Daniels ancestry was one of my brickwalls. Males carry the Y-DNA from their fathers and the MtDNA which is from the mother. Females only carry the MtDNA from their maternal ancestors. Then there is Autosomal DNA which basically allows you to find relatives but no proof of your common ancestor. A good explaination can be found here. http://www.dnainheritance.kahikatea.net/autosomal.html

Remember to keep and open mind and make sure your research will stand up to review. You may find out things you had no idea existed or disprove thing you thought you knew.

Testing will depend on what you are looking for. I was stuck on his ancestor Christopher Columbus Daniels b 1832 Virginia and lived in Ohio. He fought in the Civil War but all but a few pension records are missing. He is found in 1850 Ohio census with his mother and stepfather.

Once you chose your "subject" and the company you want to use, check the surname to see if there is a DNA project for that name. Some offer free or discounted testing.


I also contacted several Daniel, Daniels and even Danielson DNA groups online. The one that had the best information was the Daniel Family of Middlesex County, Virginia http://www.pamiller.net/genealogy/docs/danielmiddlesex/danieldna/index.htm

                     



My first try at DNA testing would be a textbook case of what you want to have happen.

I had a 37 marker test done with Family Tree DNA and the results come back in sections. When the first 12 markers came back much to my luck it was a 12 for 12 match to over 150 people that were tested. The good thing 15 of those were to the Daniel's of Middlesex group. The admin of the group was a wonderful woman named Joyce and I credit her with how easy my first experience with DNA research was. Then the next section came in and the next. My husband and another man in Texas were a full match. It helped prove that a mutation that man carried was specific to one ancestor and we could then track from the original William Daniel b abt 1638 through his son William Jr and to William Jr's son Obadiah. Following each know person down the trail until we found the only person left that could be my husbands ancestor.
After years of searching in only 7 weeks the misery was solved and over 200 years of missing genealogy was discovered.
For those who understand the breakdown, my husband is an I1 which is of Scandinavia ancestry. 


This Daniel's family is a good example of how DNA can change everything you know about your ancestor. William Daniel b 1638 had 4 known sons who lived to adulthood. The oldest two William Jr and Robert are from a unknown 1st wife and James and Richard were thought to be from his 2nd marriage to a Jachebed. What DNA proved is that the 3rd son James was in no way related to William Daniel Sr. His DNA is matched to a Davis family. We will probably never know if William knew that James was not his biological son.


                                                             
My next test was for me through 23 and Me, although they offer autosomal Testing, I was more interested in their health testing. I could have tested my MtDNA that would be my mothers, mothers, mother, ext. My furthers known maternal Mtdna ancestor was Hanna Sofia Conge born 1737 in Germany.  At this point I am not interested in researching her line. 

I have had some matches from my test for family members but in the 20 people I contact I heard back from 5 and we have never been able to find the connection. I am an H and 100% European ancestry.

What was great about the testing is medically I know know what I carry and what I can pass on to my children. My maternal grandmother and my mother both died of breast cancer and one maternal and one paternal aunt have been diagnosed. I have had yearly mammograms since I was 34 years old but thanks to DNA testing I know I do not carry the BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation for early onset breast cancer. It does not mean I can stop being careful. The testing is a guide, something to add to your knowledge.


                         
The final test has been a wild and bumpy road. My great uncle was kind enough to allow me to have his DNA tested for one of my Price lines. At 89 he was excited to find out what answers his DNA could offer. Unfortunately he passed away just 4 days after the test was sent in.

When the test results came back it was determined that he was an R1b1a2 which is one of the most common European ancestries. Further testing found he was in a smaller group of R1b1a1a1a1b4 that breaks down into L21 (see all Greek!) . I am still working on this part trying to see if I want to break down the L21 into subgroups that are available or wait until more groups come available or more common descendants have test done.

The fun had just begun when I started to search my matches on Family Tree DNA and Ysearch (Free world wide DNA database) http://www.ysearch.org/ I found that my Price family matched no other Price's ever tested in the world. At 37 markers it was a full match to two tested men with the last name Williams and a 37/35 to another. Since the original test I upgraded to a 67 marker test. The Williams men went to 65 to 67 and another person has been tested at the same group. So now I have 4 men named Williams all out of Pee Dee, South Caroline that match my ancestor William Price Sr. (see previous blog) who I know has been in New Brunswick, Canada since 1783.

So far only more questions have arisen than answers and some family members just could not understand how we were not Price's. Very simply it all goes back to before there were surnames. Both families are Welsh and surnames did not come into steady practice until the 1600's (1800's in some rural areas). A full explanation can be found at http://www.terrynorm.ic24.net/welsh%20surnames.htm .

Now it will be a challenge to find when the line splits.


I have a few more DNA test to go, descendants of Peter Watson b. abt 1760 of Woodstock, New Brunswick next and Richard Flynn b. 1865 Ireland, lived Rhode Island and after that.  I am hoping to convince a distance Morton cousin to contribute his DNA to find our common ancestor Frances Morton b. 1803 possibly Nova Scotia.


The decision to test is up to you and how far you want to take the testing (and cost) as with the Daniel's I only need a 37 marker test to find what I needed. Unlike the Price's where I have upgraded twice and had tests done for more information on the SNP's. All I can do is re-emphasize educating yourself before you start and be willing to learn something new about your ancestry. 

If you have questions feel free to ask, I may not be an expert but I can point you in the right direction.  


Enjoy your hunt,
Michele