Last year, over 120,000 adoptions occurred in this country, and according to statistics, approximately five million of all U.S. residents are adopted. Of course, this number does not include tens of thousands of other children who have been living without the benefit of adoption in foster care or with close relatives or family friends. Contemporary adoptions, often in concept, seem to be an accepted part of today’s culture. They are celebrated by families and friends with the same fervor and happiness that surrounds the birth of any new baby.
But this fairly new attitude towards adoption in general was not a societal norm in years past. As those of us who are older can attest, adoptions occurring during our generation, as well as those before, were more likely to be cloaked in mystery, surrounded with silence, whispered about in secret, and sometimes hidden from others, even from the adopted child. Speaking from the standpoint of a family history researcher, this practice, along with few or no available records documenting so-called adoptions, an otherwise uneventful family research event can come to a screeching halt.
How to proceed successfully with genealogy research depends on any number of factors, such as the existence of oral history that discusses the adoption, handwritten information, including entries made in a family Bible, personal diaries, or names and details found in wills. But the unavailability of many of these records often causes the researcher to hit what is known in genealogy circles as the proverbial brick wall. More often than not, guardianships and adoptions during the last two centuries resulted when one or both parents died, often from disease, illness, accident, or sometimes war. And in countless situations, other family members may have assumed care of an orphaned child, even changing the child’s surname, with or without the benefit of a legal document. Other adoptions occurred as a result of various societal issues, such as unplanned or unwanted pregnancies, child abandonment, addiction, or incarceration. In these situations, child welfare or other public agencies may have been involved, and laws in place at the time dictated that discretion be used to ensure confidentiality and to protect the identity of the people involved.
The resulting information, or lack thereof, has created major problems for adoptees, their descendants, and family researchers alike in answering questions about ancestry. If a child was adopted from a children’s home or orphanage, depending on the type of facility, the year, and the state, some records may be available to the researcher. But depending on when, where, and how the adoption actually occurred, particularly if the process was a "closed" adoption, legal assistance may be needed to determine the existence of records and to help obtain copies, if they are indeed releasable. If the surname of the adopted child at birth was the same as that of the adoptive parents, the fact that an actual adoption occurred may be less obvious to the researcher. In this particular situation, oral history and the possible comparison of census records that list names of family members in several households, may be the only available sources of information.
Without a doubt, connection to family is a vital part of our lives. And the search for our ancestors most often results from our need to be part of a the larger universe, to know more about who we are and from whence we came, and to understand how we fit into a bigger picture. With the concept of open adoptions, maybe it will be easier in the future for those who have been adopted and family researchers alike to obtain parents’ names and relevant family information.
According to Judith and Martin Land in Adoption Detective: The Adopted Child," secrecy and lack of disclosure in adoptions can result in what has been referred to as "genealogical bewilderment." In their book, published in 2011, the authors point out that discovery of genealogical roots can be a pathway to understanding an individual’s true inner being and the potential source of psychological grounding. Although the reference is specifically directed to adoptees who are searching for birth parents, the same premise is true for those of us who are not adopted and who search for ancestors from generations past about whom we may know nothing at all.
Showing posts with label Genealogy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Genealogy. Show all posts
Monday, October 1, 2012
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
If Only The Walls Could Talk....
At this point, most of us have heard someone make this remark about an old house or building, or you may even have said it yourself. And it’s so true - those walls have heard it all ---some have heard more and for a lot longer than others. Old houses, churches, and other historic buildings have always fascinated me, not just because they are beautiful or architecturally unique, but because each building represents a vital part of the history of a family or of a specific geographical location. I’m certain you will agree that much of a town's history is based on events that happened within the confines of some of its oldest houses and buildings, many of which are still standing today. It was within those walls that babies were born, children were educated, sons and daughters were married, important business deals became reality, and grieving families held wakes when family members passed to the great beyond. And the list of events could go on and on.
Although researching the history of old houses is not an entirely new concept, it has become an ever increasingly popular one during the last decade. As a younger generation of urban workers continue to buy up older properties for renovation in an effort to lessen daily commutes by living near downtown, the desire to know the history of the house or building they plan to call "home" has taken on a new significance. Just as tracing one’s family history often changes one’s perspective on life, discovering the history of an old house, can be a source of pride to the new owners. The facade of an old house or building too often can be misleading in relation to the actual events that may have taken place inside the structure. And as another group of individuals known as this nation’s “baby boomers” attain retirement age, another phenomenon is growing around America. Many of these retirees, at least the ones who still have funds to do so, are searching for and buying up historic properties to restore into full-time homes, inns, and sometimes a bed and breakfast.
Of course, there are many other reasons, not any less important, for wanting to know the history of one’s house or an old building where one conducts business. Sometimes the desire to discover who built the house or building, who owned and who lived there, or what actually happened inside the structure is simply personal. It may be something as simple as the fact that one’s ancestors lived or died in the house or made its living in the building. In other instances, new owners may want to restore the property to its original state and need to know specifics about the time period in which it was built and the materials used in its construction. Those who are interested in completing historic restorations, for obvious reasons, often also have a strong desire to obtain a state or national historic marker for the property. More about this process can be found by visiting your state's historic commission website or by reading a National Register Bulletin published by the Department of the Interior, National Park Service available at http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/publications/bulletins/nrb15/nrb15_2.htm
In reality, the history of our cities is woven within the stories of the families who lived in its old houses, made a living in its old buildings, and walked along the old streets of its historic downtown. And just as each human life is unique and has meaning, each of these old structures has a story that is worth telling.
If only the walls could talk............
Although researching the history of old houses is not an entirely new concept, it has become an ever increasingly popular one during the last decade. As a younger generation of urban workers continue to buy up older properties for renovation in an effort to lessen daily commutes by living near downtown, the desire to know the history of the house or building they plan to call "home" has taken on a new significance. Just as tracing one’s family history often changes one’s perspective on life, discovering the history of an old house, can be a source of pride to the new owners. The facade of an old house or building too often can be misleading in relation to the actual events that may have taken place inside the structure. And as another group of individuals known as this nation’s “baby boomers” attain retirement age, another phenomenon is growing around America. Many of these retirees, at least the ones who still have funds to do so, are searching for and buying up historic properties to restore into full-time homes, inns, and sometimes a bed and breakfast.
Of course, there are many other reasons, not any less important, for wanting to know the history of one’s house or an old building where one conducts business. Sometimes the desire to discover who built the house or building, who owned and who lived there, or what actually happened inside the structure is simply personal. It may be something as simple as the fact that one’s ancestors lived or died in the house or made its living in the building. In other instances, new owners may want to restore the property to its original state and need to know specifics about the time period in which it was built and the materials used in its construction. Those who are interested in completing historic restorations, for obvious reasons, often also have a strong desire to obtain a state or national historic marker for the property. More about this process can be found by visiting your state's historic commission website or by reading a National Register Bulletin published by the Department of the Interior, National Park Service available at http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/publications/bulletins/nrb15/nrb15_2.htm
In reality, the history of our cities is woven within the stories of the families who lived in its old houses, made a living in its old buildings, and walked along the old streets of its historic downtown. And just as each human life is unique and has meaning, each of these old structures has a story that is worth telling.
If only the walls could talk............
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Developing An Ancestor's Profile Through U.S. Census Records
Last April, the National Archives (NARA) released the U.S. Census of 1940 to the public, a day that genealogists and family history researchers throughout the country had been anticipating for years. You may be asking yourself why the 1940 census was still private - it had been more than 70 years since the data was recorded.
Well, here’s the reason. Where U. S. census records are concerned, the federal government enforces what is called “The 72 Year Rule.” What this means is that census records are not available for citizens to search through and view personal information contained in the records until 72 years (an average lifetime) after the information was gathered. Although the U. S. Census of 1940 was released to the public and is available for viewing at www.nara.gov, www.ancestry.com, www.familysearch.org, and other sites, the data contained there is not easy to navigate without an index. Because of the sheer volume of the data, census records for only a few states have been indexed. The good news is that through the efforts of paid individuals and thousands of unpaid volunteers, we are closer than ever to having indexed census record data from the U. S. Census of 1940 available for researching in all 50 states.
Poring through the rolls of the 1940 census would have helped me tremendously last week. I had taken on the task of assisting someone in putting together her mother’s family history. But data for the states I needed to search had not been indexed, and I had to “make do” with data found in census records from previous years. As I reviewed and searched through countless digital images of documents from several states, beginning with 1850 and ending with 1930, I began to develop visual profiles of the relatives my contact had never met, even some she never knew existed. And it was all because of small bits of personal information available on census records. It’s true. Almost everything any researcher might ever need to know about an ancestor, except for a physical description, is contained within those handwritten entries on these priceless documents.
As I continued my review and diligently searched for more facts, census entries answered one question after another. When was the individual born? Where was he/she born? And who were the parents? Where were the parents born, and what language did they speak?
But wait; that’s not all. There is so much more information contained there, information that goes well beyond the basic facts. Many of these old census records reveal how many years a couple had been married, whether they had been previously married, and if so, how many times, and how old they were when they were married the first time. Staring out at me from these images was data that detailed a woman’s childbearing history. How many “live births” had she experienced? And what was the total number of her children who had survived childhood? Just how personal can we get here? But when one considers the importance of this information to a developing country in preventing infant mortality, these facts suddenly become much more than sad reminders of how difficult having a child really was back then.
As I continued my research, I realized that by simply reading a line of words across a page, I could determine the dollar amount of an individual’s assets, the value of his house or farm, the occupation at which he or she was employed, and whether a child had attended school that year. Since we are a nation of immigrants, census records also provide details about when an individual immigrated to this country, if that individual has been naturalized, and if so, when the naturalization occurred. Also, I began to formulate visual images and mental impressions of people caught in a micro-moment of time, sometimes daring people who were forging life out of the elements, but always people whose lives were eternally linked together in this universe by blood, hard work, and often tears.
I knew my contact would be pleased with what I had found. And it was because the census records of this country tell a moving story of its people, a story that consistently makes tracing one’s roots a powerful and enlightening journey.
Monday, July 2, 2012
Wills, Family Photos, and Aunt Susie's Diary
Old family photos, wills, and diaries are often invaluable items that can help solve a family’s puzzle of life. On a number of occasions, I have seen these sentimental items in antique stores, and it always make me wonder why these potential family artifacts are not among the treasures and keepsakes of the individuals’ descendants. As someone interested in family history and its preservation, it makes me sad to see these special pieces of history lost to posterity.
More than likely, you have heard the saying that “a picture speaks a thousand words.” And in the case of old family photos, this could not be more true. Not only do many of these old photographs have the names of those pictured written on the back of the photo, but the name and address of the photographer may appear on the photo, as well. Just a simple bit of information like the address of a photography studio may lead a family researcher to look for information about one’s ancestors in a location previously unknown to the family. And in other cases, the date of the photograph may be determined from information about the photography studio’s years of operation. Examination of old family photographs is always fascinating, since close observation of facial characteristics and how the individuals are dressed in the photos may reveal clues that will be helpful in further research. Some of these observations may assist a researcher in determining an ancestor’s social status, ethnicity, and even possible religious affiliation. Always interesting is the fact that old photographs often reveal facial similarities and other physical characteristics to known living relatives. Our genes speak loudly and very clearly.
An often overlooked source of valuable information about our ancestors who lived and died prior to 1900 are probate documents. Commonly known during the 18th and 19th centuries as one’s “Last Will and Testament,” these old documents contain first hand information provided by the deceased about his family at a defined snapshot in time. Following English Common Law, upon which our nation’s legal system was based, the oldest son inherited lands owned by his father. Therefore, the names of the decedent’s oldest living male heir, the name of his widow, and the names of his other offspring are included in the text of the will, provided they received bequests of real property, household or personal property, or money. Other valuable information resulting from the examination and review of a will may be the maiden name of the widow of the deceased, married names of his daughters, and the names of grandchildren who also received bequests. Since names of females were not listed on U. S. census records prior to 1850, finding the married name of a female ancestor in a will is a cause for celebration. And in many instances, the names of other close family members may be among those who served as witnesses to the signing of the will. In the last decade, online access to early probate documents has increased tremendously and continues to grow by leaps and bounds. Free access to large numbers of information from probate records is available at www.familysearch.org. And a subscription to www.ancestry.com will allow a researcher to view information gleaned from millions of probate documents housed in thousands of locations throughout the U.S. without ever leaving home. Of course, the ultimate dream of most family researchers, if they will admit it, is to search through hundreds of old dusty and musty courthouse records until they find and actually hold the probated copy of an ancestor’s Last Will and Testament in his or her hands.
I guess I am a sentimental sort, because I believe anything written by a family member or loved one, young or old, is something worth keeping. Within the family history research community, I am not alone. These statements bring me to “Aunt Susie’s Diary.” Not everything our relatives leave behind is valuable to their descendants. Most of us know that, particularly if we have helped someone move or assisted in closing out an estate of an elderly friend or loved one. But if that individual maintained diaries or other handwritten records of personal thoughts and activities, photos of trips taken and picture postcards received, or letters from those who lived in distant places, these items may become family treasures in years to come. All are worth keeping, not because they are museum quality or have monetary value, but because they tell the story of someone’s life. And who knows, that story may be just what someone needs a half-century or more from now to complete a family’s puzzle.
More than likely, you have heard the saying that “a picture speaks a thousand words.” And in the case of old family photos, this could not be more true. Not only do many of these old photographs have the names of those pictured written on the back of the photo, but the name and address of the photographer may appear on the photo, as well. Just a simple bit of information like the address of a photography studio may lead a family researcher to look for information about one’s ancestors in a location previously unknown to the family. And in other cases, the date of the photograph may be determined from information about the photography studio’s years of operation. Examination of old family photographs is always fascinating, since close observation of facial characteristics and how the individuals are dressed in the photos may reveal clues that will be helpful in further research. Some of these observations may assist a researcher in determining an ancestor’s social status, ethnicity, and even possible religious affiliation. Always interesting is the fact that old photographs often reveal facial similarities and other physical characteristics to known living relatives. Our genes speak loudly and very clearly.
An often overlooked source of valuable information about our ancestors who lived and died prior to 1900 are probate documents. Commonly known during the 18th and 19th centuries as one’s “Last Will and Testament,” these old documents contain first hand information provided by the deceased about his family at a defined snapshot in time. Following English Common Law, upon which our nation’s legal system was based, the oldest son inherited lands owned by his father. Therefore, the names of the decedent’s oldest living male heir, the name of his widow, and the names of his other offspring are included in the text of the will, provided they received bequests of real property, household or personal property, or money. Other valuable information resulting from the examination and review of a will may be the maiden name of the widow of the deceased, married names of his daughters, and the names of grandchildren who also received bequests. Since names of females were not listed on U. S. census records prior to 1850, finding the married name of a female ancestor in a will is a cause for celebration. And in many instances, the names of other close family members may be among those who served as witnesses to the signing of the will. In the last decade, online access to early probate documents has increased tremendously and continues to grow by leaps and bounds. Free access to large numbers of information from probate records is available at www.familysearch.org. And a subscription to www.ancestry.com will allow a researcher to view information gleaned from millions of probate documents housed in thousands of locations throughout the U.S. without ever leaving home. Of course, the ultimate dream of most family researchers, if they will admit it, is to search through hundreds of old dusty and musty courthouse records until they find and actually hold the probated copy of an ancestor’s Last Will and Testament in his or her hands.
I guess I am a sentimental sort, because I believe anything written by a family member or loved one, young or old, is something worth keeping. Within the family history research community, I am not alone. These statements bring me to “Aunt Susie’s Diary.” Not everything our relatives leave behind is valuable to their descendants. Most of us know that, particularly if we have helped someone move or assisted in closing out an estate of an elderly friend or loved one. But if that individual maintained diaries or other handwritten records of personal thoughts and activities, photos of trips taken and picture postcards received, or letters from those who lived in distant places, these items may become family treasures in years to come. All are worth keeping, not because they are museum quality or have monetary value, but because they tell the story of someone’s life. And who knows, that story may be just what someone needs a half-century or more from now to complete a family’s puzzle.
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Stories Told in Stone
On Memorial Day, numerous ceremonies were held throughout the United States and elsewhere honoring this country’s veterans. Many of these ceremonies will take place in cemeteries where hundreds, even thousands, of simple gravestones mark the burial places of those who fought in wars dating back to the American Revolution. Not only do their gravestones remind us of our nation’s history and the freedoms for which our men and women in the Armed Forces fought, they remind us, also, of just how fragile life often can be. And sometimes the only reminder of that life many years later is a simple gravestone in a cemetery among others like it.
Cemeteries and the gravestones contained in them are among the most valuable sources of information for family history researchers throughout the world. Inscriptions on gravestones often reveal not only a birth date and a date of death, but they may include other vital information as well. This additional information often includes where the deceased was born and limited relationship information, such as a spouse’s name, parents’ names, or a woman’s maiden name. In older locations in the United States, it is not unusual for several generations to be buried alongside each other in a cemetery that bears the family’s surname. And often, families who intermarried may be buried in the same cemetery in close proximity to each other. Discovering a family cemetery and especially one where allied family members are buried is simply “pure gold” for genealogists everywhere.
The cemetery where your parents or grandparents are buried may be the first place to visit if you have decided to embark on the journey to trace your family’s history. And some amazing discoveries about a family’s origins and relationships within that family often have been made from just one trip to the cemetery. Most of us are not fortunate enough to have families that have lived in the same location for several hundred years. But if you are one of those people, that one trip to the cemetery may provide you with enough information to fill the branches of your entire family tree. In reality, the one cemetery trip scenario is certainly not the norm, simply because our early ancestors were adventuresome people who seemed to be forever “on the move,” searching for personal freedoms, land, and always a better way of life.
If your ancestors were already living in the south, the southeast, in Indian Territory, or in other locations west of the Mississippi River in the early to mid 1800s, tracing your roots certainly will involve trips to more than one cemetery. Most of the early settlers to these areas of our nation’s expansion, migrated through the Carolinas, Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi. Some later moved into northern Louisiana, Texas, and to points further west. Many who began the trip decided the journey was too long and too arduous and decided to put down roots somewhere along the way. Others settled for a time near family and friends, eventually choosing to forge ahead to distant places where others waited for them in newly opened lands to the south and to the west. Because the Great Migration took years to complete, family members often died along the way and were buried wherever it was convenient to do so.
Because such a large majority of our families’ early generations were so transient, it was extremely difficult at one time to determine a location to begin researching a family’s origins. The free database known as Find-A-Grave (www.findagrave.com), however, now makes it easy to pinpoint the locations where our ancestors lived and died - all without ever leaving home. Although it is only one of many tools available to family history researchers, this website is absolutely among the best.
If you are among the many families throughout the country who attend summer family reunions, consider taking the time this year to visit a family cemetery. Talk to older family members whose ancestors may be buried there. And take a few photos of the gravestones....you never know what you might discover.
Cemeteries and the gravestones contained in them are among the most valuable sources of information for family history researchers throughout the world. Inscriptions on gravestones often reveal not only a birth date and a date of death, but they may include other vital information as well. This additional information often includes where the deceased was born and limited relationship information, such as a spouse’s name, parents’ names, or a woman’s maiden name. In older locations in the United States, it is not unusual for several generations to be buried alongside each other in a cemetery that bears the family’s surname. And often, families who intermarried may be buried in the same cemetery in close proximity to each other. Discovering a family cemetery and especially one where allied family members are buried is simply “pure gold” for genealogists everywhere.
The cemetery where your parents or grandparents are buried may be the first place to visit if you have decided to embark on the journey to trace your family’s history. And some amazing discoveries about a family’s origins and relationships within that family often have been made from just one trip to the cemetery. Most of us are not fortunate enough to have families that have lived in the same location for several hundred years. But if you are one of those people, that one trip to the cemetery may provide you with enough information to fill the branches of your entire family tree. In reality, the one cemetery trip scenario is certainly not the norm, simply because our early ancestors were adventuresome people who seemed to be forever “on the move,” searching for personal freedoms, land, and always a better way of life.
If your ancestors were already living in the south, the southeast, in Indian Territory, or in other locations west of the Mississippi River in the early to mid 1800s, tracing your roots certainly will involve trips to more than one cemetery. Most of the early settlers to these areas of our nation’s expansion, migrated through the Carolinas, Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi. Some later moved into northern Louisiana, Texas, and to points further west. Many who began the trip decided the journey was too long and too arduous and decided to put down roots somewhere along the way. Others settled for a time near family and friends, eventually choosing to forge ahead to distant places where others waited for them in newly opened lands to the south and to the west. Because the Great Migration took years to complete, family members often died along the way and were buried wherever it was convenient to do so.
Because such a large majority of our families’ early generations were so transient, it was extremely difficult at one time to determine a location to begin researching a family’s origins. The free database known as Find-A-Grave (www.findagrave.com), however, now makes it easy to pinpoint the locations where our ancestors lived and died - all without ever leaving home. Although it is only one of many tools available to family history researchers, this website is absolutely among the best.
If you are among the many families throughout the country who attend summer family reunions, consider taking the time this year to visit a family cemetery. Talk to older family members whose ancestors may be buried there. And take a few photos of the gravestones....you never know what you might discover.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Mocavo Plus - A Review
Several weeks ago, I was contacted by Katelyn Lazor, Marketing Associate for Mocavo.com. As part of her community outreach efforts to promote the site, Katelyn offered me a subscription in exchange for writing a review on this blog about my experience in using Mocavo Plus. Although it has taken me a few weeks to write this review, I was not a total stranger to the site before Katelyn and I communicated. I began following Mocavo on Twitter almost a year ago and had visited the site a number of times during its early development. My recent visits to the site do allow me to make a positive observation that Mocavo Plus is an excellent place for linking researchers and for sharing information. And it is free. But the Advanced Search function, which seems to be the hallmark of Mocavo Plus, is limited in that a researcher must know the exact date of the life event(s) entered. While my own use of the Advanced Search feature was successful, the resulting information consisted primarily of links to my own blog posts. Overall, the site is a great resource for novice family researchers. But more experienced researchers who need actual documentation, whether it is census record information or birth, marriage, military or death records, likely will use the site as simply a stepping stone on their genealogical journey.
Sunday, June 5, 2011
This is the Face of Genealogy
 |
| Margaret Susanna Merriweather Porter and John J. Porter My Paternal Great-Grandparents Attala County, Mississippi Circa 1920 |
The more I think about what happened with the LAWeekly, the more I wonder why this incident occurred in the first place. Do some members of the public feel that researching one's family history is some sort of joke and that it is less than a worthy and noble effort? I don't think so. Viewer response to two seasons of "Who Do You Think You Are" has surely proven otherwise. What I do know is the LA Weekly now knows first-hand the geneablogging community believes genealogy is a subject that deserves respect.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)