Archive for the ‘research’ Category

Mystery Monday ~ Who, What, When, Where?

Posted: August 20, 2012 in Ancestry, cornett, Family, Genealogy, research
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“Hawaiian Jasmine”
Photo Credit: Kelly Vial via kellyvial.wordpress.com
Photo Taken: July 2012, in Honolulu, Hawaii

Hope everyone had a wonderful, blessed weekend! I spent my Saturday, cooking and creating in my kitchen and my Sunday was spent at Ala Moana Beach Park near Magic Island. I went to a baby shower for a dear friend and it was a smashing success! Plenty of games, good food, playing and watching the keiki’s have fun in the sun. There’s nothing better than getting together with your family and friends and welcoming another new life into this crazy world. The sun  was hot yesterday and it was really refreshing to enjoy the cool,  salty water with everyone. It was an unconventional baby shower where men were included in this awesome celebration. It was all great fun 🙂

Speaking of family, who were they really? My quest is to learn more about who my Cornett family really is. It’s more than the genealogy aspect, it’s about the history of my family and getting to know them on a more personal level even though they are long gone. Sometimes I think I should have been born in this era, back in the 1800’s. What life must have been like for them. The trials and tribulations they must have endured in order to survive. Once you start your own family history research, you find that you need to dig just a little deeper because you just haven’t found that clue yet. It may be in the next shovel of dirt you are digging with. You bend over and scoop up a handful of rich soil, while it slowly sifts through your fingers. Looking, searching, and hoping that the next clue will one day be right there in your hands.

What kind of people do you come from? Were they from another country other than the U.S.? Why did they choose Grayson County, Virginia or even Kentucky in which they decided to settle? What were their thoughts regarding the land they would be living on? Was it fertile land, great for farming and cattle? What did they hunt for food? Deer? Did they come across Native Americans? What did they eat back then? So many questions and I will probably never know all of it, but the thrill of the hunt keeps me going!

When my family settled in Grayson, Virginia and also in Kentucky, why did these particular areas appeal to them so much over other areas? I can only imagine that this land in which they decided to live and start a family on, was rough and rugged. Can you imagine having to clear land and trees in order to build your home? Today we have heavy machinery to do this for us, so you can guess how much hard work, tears and sweat they must have poured into their lives, their land and their homesteads. I guess the good thing about that, is the ability to use the lumber in which they had to clear,  using the wood as a log home or cabin.

Where did the Cornett family originate from? From some web sites I have read, it mentions that the Cornett surname was Norse or of French origin. Does anyone really know? The Cornett family married into one family with the last name of Sutherland, where some of the Sutherland’s back in the mid 1700’s originated from Scotland. But what about the Cornett’s? Where do the really come from?

There are so many things to discover in your family tree. The who, what, when, and where of your history will only add depth to your knowledge of your ancestors that came before you.

What will you discover?

Happy Ancestor Hunting!! 🙂

Mobile Monday ~ Saving Memories Forever

Posted: August 6, 2012 in Genealogy, memories, research
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“Hawaiian Jasmine”
Photo Credit: Kelly Vial via kellyvial.wordpress.com
Photo Taken: July 2012, in Honolulu, Hawaii

It seems that I am always on my laptop researching my ancestry, sending emails, and connecting with family members trying to obtain a little bit of history on my ancestral roots. If I’m not on my laptop, I always have my handy dandy iPhone with me everywhere I go. Sharing memories in the form of photographs on social networking sites helps me stay connected to my family being that I live so far away from them all. I live approximately 4000 miles away on an island in the middle of the Pacific, so staying connected is very important to me. Thank God for all this technology!

I recently found an app for my iPhone that I have been trying out and I really like it! The app is called “Saving Memories Forever”. And it’s FREE!! Even better right? You can create your “family memories” through audio recordings! HA! Love it 🙂 Having many stories to share with family and future generations, this app lets you record your stories and share them. Whether you have stories and memories of your grandparents, aunts and uncles, or just want to talk about the vacation you just took or the day you were married, this app allows you to do this. You can record as many stories as you would like to and share them with whomever you wish. The recordings you make are uploaded to the Saving Memories Forever web site and can always be accessed through the app or web site. If you get their premium service, then your stories can be “tagged” which makes the stories easier to find. All your stories are safely stored on this web site and you can even add your family’s favorite recipes and add photos to boot! Yay!

I think my favorite feature of this app is that you can share with your family and add them as storytellers! What better way to share your stories and those of your family? How convenient! What a great idea for an audio scrapbook; you will have your story in your own words and you can have access to your extended family’s memories too. To hear them talk about their own memories and be able to one day share them with your own children, grandchildren, or great grandchildren, is phenomenal!

This app is perfect for me! Always on the go, some memory may just pop in my head, but I don’t have time to write it down to remember later. If I remember everything, that is 🙂 I can then record the memory! Easy peasy right? I just wish I had known about this app sooner, like 10 years ago! I wish it had existed then. I would have loved to have recorded my deceased fathers stories and memories of his childhood, or hear him talk about the day he met my mother, how he felt on the days when my sister, Amy and I were born and so on. Now these memories are lost and died with him.

The only downfall with the free version of this app is:

  • Only 6 storytellers can be used within the app
  • There is a limit on the number of listeners (only 10!)
  • You can only listen to 5 stories per day
  • No use of tags
  • No photographs can be uploaded
  • You can’t attach Word Documents to your stories

The premium version is only $3.99 a month- definitely worth all the extra features I think. Especially at that price 🙂

If you go to the website, check out the tab, “How It Works” where you can view the PDF document of the users manual.

Let me know what you think about this app; I absolutely think this is a great genealogy tool in which to use. The link to the web page is below, if you would like to check it out 🙂

 

https://www.savingmemoriesforever.com/default.aspx

 

 

Wordless Wednesday~ Family Of George Wesley Cornett and Celia Ann Pool(e)

Posted: August 1, 2012 in Ancestry, cornett, Family, Genealogy, research, Wordless Wednesday
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Family of George Wesley Cornett and Celia Ann Pool(e)
Photo Courtesy of: Dan R. Roberts (Originally Submitted May 29, 2011) Ancestry.com Family Tree
Bottom of Photo: Courtesy of Louise Mays
(Date Actual Photo Was Taken is Currently Unknown)

George Wesley Cornett and Celia Ann Pool(e) were my GG- Grandparents.

Motivation Monday ~ On The Hunt

Posted: July 29, 2012 in Ancestry, Family, Genealogy, research
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brick wall

brick wall (Photo credit: Muffet)

Most days, I stay motivated by working with other family researchers, who just so happen to be my own family! Family I never knew I had until recently. They have become my rock so to speak. They know what hard work it can be to try and track down our ancestors. The thirst for knowledge we have about our family’s past. The ache of not knowing where one family members’ life may take us. It could be down an old, beaten path or it could be down a road less traveled. So much so that we have to cut our way through and make the path passable. At the end of the day, a genealogist or family historian still has names, dates, agendas, to-do lists, research plans and logs, documents to find, dusty attics to search through– all this and much more goes running through our minds at any given time. Most of the time I suffer from insomnia and find myself wide awake at different hours of the night, or should I say early morning? It seems like my best writing ideas comes to me at 3 a.m.! I guess it’s my quiet time with no interruptions or anything else that would distract my thought process. It’s just me, my cup of coffee which is flavored with my favorite hazelnut creamer, my laptop, and my thoughts!

I have even found myself dreaming of what I needed to do regarding my genealogy research. I recently had a dream of ancestors and antique shops, where I found something from the 1700’s that had their name and date of birth written on it. It was a simple Christmas ornament, but the shop keeper wanted an arm and a leg for it and it was way out of my price range. ($7500 to be exact) What do you think triggered this dream? It had to be the email I sent to this antique shop in Virginia just a few days ago! If I were to interpret the dream, I would say that I am feeling out of touch, feeling that my ancestors are just out of my reach. So close but yet so far! I can dream up some really strange dreams, but this one I actually remembered in vivid detail for some odd reason.

Today, I feel like I need more motivation to keep up with all the block walls that I seem to be running into blindly. If you can just picture this: a woman running along a winding road, the wind blowing through her hair and the sun shining down on her. All of a sudden she collides into a brick and mortar wall, her face slamming right into it, as it just appeared out of nowhere. She’s stunned. She looks around to see if anyone saw her. Oh, how embarrassed she would be! Mortified to say the least 🙂

In my most recent search for my fathers documents, I didn’t know the city or county he was born in until Sunday afternoon. I received an email from my aunt, telling me that my father was born in Wythe County, Crockett, Virginia. He wasn’t born in a hospital, but born at home. Even though all that is good to know, I need concrete evidence so I am able to move further back into my family tree, nourishing those roots with some good old TLC and begin my thorough research on my grandfather. One of my goals is to become a member of the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) through one of my patriot family members. But to do this, I need all the documents that I can get my hands on. With any luck, I will accomplish this goal! For those of you who don’t know me personally, I am determined, strong willed and stubborn like my father. I admit I am sometimes too patient but at the same time, I can also have a mean temper. Just ask my husband he’ll tell you what it’s like! 🙂

 

Sorting Saturday ~ Who’s My Daddy?

Posted: July 28, 2012 in cornett, Family, research
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information hydrant

information hydrant (Photo credit: Will Lion)

Sorting through documents, scanning, saving them to my hard drive on my laptop, and importing them into Family Tree Maker 2012 has helped me keep track of what I have and don’t have. Also, I have created a back up disc just in case my laptop decides it doesn’t want to operate anymore. This is very important to me because I had another laptop two years ago where the motherboard fried. All information was lost! Photos, college papers I had written, my resumé, my artwork, and many other important documents that I had saved over time. All GONE! Irretrievable.

Lately, I have been seeking information on my father, Billy Edward Cornett, and have discovered that he has become a brick wall of sorts. Not knowing him as a daughter should, my parents divorced when I was very young, I am finding that I don’t even know the details as to where he was born! After creating a research plan for my father, I hadn’t realized that I was lacking this particular information. Granted, I know that he was born in the state of Virginia in 1944 but that is all I know. I am lacking the information of the county, city and even the hospital in which he was born at. How do I request a birth record based only on this little bit of information I have of him? Where is his paper trail?

 

I have all the other documents I need, except this one little piece of paper that could tell me so much more! Frustrated doesn’t even begin to describe my feelings on this lack of data on my own father, no less. I am a family historian and genealogy buff, I should be able to find this piece of evidence at least. I have written emails to family members and no one seems to have a copy of his birth certificate or even know where this document could be; they don’t know who might even have it, if anyone even does. Dead end #1. I have searched for him on the Family Search web site. Dead end #2. I have searched Archives.com and nothing but census records and an SSDI reference. Dead end #3. I feel like I am overlooking something that is staring me right in the face!

 

My next step would be to contact the Virginia Vital Records office to see what information I can get about his birth. Since I am his next of kin I should have no problem ordering his birth certificate through them. This will have to wait until Monday morning as they are closed right now. Being on Hawaii time, I am 6 hours behind the east coast.

 

These are the documents I have on him to date:

 

  1. Death Record
  2. Obituary
  3. Marriage Certificate
  4. Marriage Certificate Receipt (Ha! My parents only paid $5 back in 1971)

So today, I ask myself, “Who’s My Daddy?”

 

 

 

Family History Interviews

Posted: July 24, 2012 in research
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Photo Credit: Kelly Cornett-Vial via kellyvial.wordpress.com (June 2012)

How do you plan on getting clues about your family’s history? What would you like to know? How about interviewing a family member? By asking the right questions, you may just get a lot more information than your originally thought. Getting people to share their stories isn’t the easiest thing to do but in reality, it needs to be done. What would happen if you procrastinated getting your questions together? Your relative may die with those memories and then you would never know. It would be lost forever!

Think about the questions you would ask them if you were ever given the chance. Do you live too far away to do a one on one, personal interview? That isn’t always a bad thing as you can always create a list of questions for your relatives to answer by email, a phone conversation, or even snail mail. With all the social networking that is done by men and women of all ages, there is no reason for you to delay contacting them. Another idea would be to create a “note” in Facebook, list all of your questions and share it! Why not? It’s worth a shot!

If you do have the chance to interview one on one, be prepared to have a notepad and several pens. If you plan on recording the interview, which I would advise, I would have a voice recorder, extra tapes and also extra batteries. Give yourself at least two hours in which to complete the interview.

Below are some questions I will be asking my relatives by the time the day is out. I am currently in the process of creating this interview in a Word document and I will copy and paste the text in an email for those members that do not have the program. There is always the option of a PDF document too! There are so many questions I have to ask, and I think this is the perfect way to get those questions answered.

Questions You Could Ask

Before you get started, write or record the name of the person being interviewed, who interviewed the person (you), the date, time and location of said interview. Try not to ask questions that will give you a simple yes or no. That doesn’t really get you anywhere. Try and think of open ended questions you might ask to give you more details in which you can work with. Good luck!

  •  What is your full name? Why did your parents select this name for you? Did you have any nicknames growing up? When and where were you born?
  •  How did you and your family come to live where you are? Is there a reason behind why they chose this town over another city or county?
  •  What are your parent’s names? Do you know when they were born and where?
  • What were your (4)grandparents names, birth dates, wedding dates, death dates, and place of burial?
  • What were your (8) great grandparents names , birth dates, wedding dates, death dates and place of burial?Did any of your grandparents ever mention if they emigrated from another country? If so, where did they come from?
  •  Are any family members war veterans? If so, what war and in what year? Do you have any documents showing their terms of service?
  •  Do you have other family that lives in this area? Who were (are) they?
  •  Did your family have a house or a farm? What was that like?
  •  Can you describe the house or property in which you grew up?
  •  Were there any special items in the house that you remember?
  •  What is your earliest childhood memory? Any siblings? If so, what are their names?
  •  What was your family like? Did they have different personalities? What were their personality traits?
  •  What was your favorite thing to do as a child? Did you have a favorite toy or game? What was it?
  •  What school did you go to as a child? What was it like? Did you excel in a particular subject?
  •  Did you ever participate in school clubs or activities? If so, what were they?
  •  Were you ever mentioned in a newspaper article? If so, what was it about? Which newspaper?
  •  What was your family life like?
  •  What Church did you and your family go to?
  •  Who did you look up to as a child?
  •  What was your favorite color? Is it the same one that is your favorite, today?
  •  Did you ever own any pets or farm animals that you considered a pet? What were their names?
  •  Do you have any old pictures that you would be willing to share? Who are they of?
  •  What types of events took place while you were growing up? Did you grow up in a recession or experience the affects  of war?
  •  What family traditions did your family have? What were holidays such as Christmas, like for you as a child?
  • What family heirlooms do you own?

 

These types of questions should get you started and you can alter or delete the ones you don’t think you would need to ask. You can also add more than the above questions I listed to better suit your needs. I hope this article helps you in some way. Now I have to get started writing my own!

 

 

 

Sorting Saturday ~ Genealogy Detective

Posted: July 20, 2012 in Ancestry, family tree, Genealogy, research
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detective

detective (Photo credit: olarte.ollie)

If you like mysteries, then you are probably a good genealogy detective. Just like police detectives or investigators, genealogists and family historians alike must find the clues in their research to be able to move forward with what they have found. When sorting through my different documents and research findings, I admit I am guilty of just jumping the gun and “Googling” to my hearts content. In truth, there is nothing wrong with using search engines to find something, ANYTHING on your ancestors. But it probably won’t yield the results you are seeking. You may have reworded your keyword search several times over, but the search engines still give you the same web pages, with a little variation thrown into the mix. In cases like this, maybe it’s time for a different direction as far as your research is concerned. What do you do next?

Have you thought about creating a research plan? I have many different times, but have yet to put this into action. After listening to a genealogy webinar hosted by Legacy Family Tree, I have decided to change my research tactics! I have completed research on this topic but just now, think it’s time to share what I have learned. You may ask, “What is a research plan anyway? Why should I use one?” A research plan is the backbone of a genealogists research. It will help you find out what you do and do not know about your ancestors and may also help you break through that brick wall you have found yourself up against. You need a plan of action; this is the purpose of the research plan!

Well, for starters, creating a plan such as this can be critical to your research. Would you go into a library unprepared? Looking around for a book that just may look interesting enough to check out, is just a waste of your time. Go in there prepared and knowledgeable as to what you are seeking. How do you gather your information? Personally, I start with what I know. Right now I am in the process of creating my own research plan form using Excel software. The forms I have seen on the different web pages, I don’t really care for. The field boxes are too small to write the data inside without making a mistake reading it in the future. I want to be able to recall my sources, dates, the type of research that was completed and so on. So I am creating my own! Too much work? Not at all. It will keep me organized and I can always refer back to the plan.

There are many different sites where you can download free forms such as a family group sheet, a research log, pedigree charts, or a research plan; whatever form you think may help you in your overall research, forms are a great resource tool to get acclimated to using on a regular basis. I like http://www.cyndislist.com/free-stuff/printable-charts-and-forms/ personally. This site has direct URL’s that take you to the right form based on your own needs without having to waste time searching for the right one.

If you are like me, you do a lot of online research. I live over 4000 miles away from where my ancestors were known to have settled, so I depend mainly on the Internet for my findings. I have gone to my nearby library but have only walked out with genealogy books and a book that will help me learn the Japanese language. There wasn’t very many research books related to my family search, mainly Hawaiian heritage and the like. They did have huge filing cabinets of old newspapers which I thought was interesting, but doesn’t help me find my Cornett family roots. So I am pretty thankful to have internet access!

Keep in mind that if you are searching through internet search engines, that Google, Bing, Mocavo and others, will yield a variety of differing results. Not all search engines will be the same or give you the same results. Experiment with different search engines and compare the results! Just an idea 🙂

There is quite a bit of data accessible online and it can be overwhelming to a beginning genealogist. One of the sites I go to regularly is https://familysearch.org/. They are always updating the site with new records and documents, so I go there to see what may be new to my own searches on my ancestry. Thank you to the volunteers for adding and helping make these documents available for viewing! Since using a research plan involves thoughtful planning, I hope my plan works for me as well as I think it will.

If you decide to create your own research plan, ask yourself a few questions.

1. What do I already know about my ancestor? Write it down.

2. Can I narrow down the search in any way? Maybe it’s a death date or burial location.

3. Did a family member move away during a specific time frame?

4. Did my ancestor die in one place but happen to be buried in another location or state altogether?

TOOLS

Ancestry’s Wiki or Red Book

Family History Library Catalog

Local history books of the area you are researching

Manuscript Searches

Literature Research

Heritage Quest Online

Search old newspapers

Family Search Wiki

I can’t wait to get started on this new method style of researching my ancestry. Good luck!

 

Genealogy Treasure Chest ~ Partition Findings

Posted: July 5, 2012 in Family, research
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In a previous post, I talked about my ongoing search for a “Partition” that would prove the parental lineage of David “Blue” Cornett. The Partition results were recently found thanks to a fellow researcher working with me and several other Cornett cousins to find this document. It took a multitude of emails, getting into contact with the right people and speaking with others that could look up this document and the results based on the data we had already.

I am currently in the process of transcribing the document, as it was handwritten in a flowing script where some of the words are hard to decipher, not because it was sloppily written because it was actually a beautiful text, and dated October 25, 1866. I was so excited to get this, that I wanted to share the findings! I should probably get on the ball and start transcribing it so I can post that, if needed.

As I read both sets of documents, I noticed that it states the residence of David Curnutt as being non- residents of the state of Illinois; but also states that he was a resident of Illinois as was John and Sarah Shuler, in the final judgement papers. (shown below the actual Partition document) This must either be an error or David didn’t live there for very long as David Cornutt was on the U.S. Federal Census records for both 1860 and 1870.

In regards to John H. Cornutt, he must have been a very wealthy man to be able to afford to pay $5950.00 for this land tract back in the mid 1860’s; today the value of said land would most likely be worth several hundred thousand dollars! John Cornutt financed part of the payment but who in those days had $1950 to put forth as a down payment. That was a  lot of money back in those days. It’s still a lot of money today and hard to come by at times. So can you just imagine how hard it would have been to save that kind of money? Maybe he sold cattle? Or maybe he was just a prosperous citizen. We may never know all the little details.. but at least we have these documents to tell even part of the history behind the Partition and what the Judge’s final decision was.

Let me know what you think!

(Partition Page 1)


(Partition Page 2)

Below is the document which shows the judge’s final decision on the land that is to be divided among the family members mentioned in the document and distributed accordingly.

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Cornett Research Inquiry

Posted: June 6, 2012 in 1860's, David Blue Cornett, Greene Co Illinois, James Cornett, John Kendrick Shuler, petition, Phebe Sutherland, Polly Rankin Cornett, research, Rockbridge, Sarah Cornett Shuler
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The following message is from a fellow researcher seeking information on the Cornett surname.

 If anyone has a copy of a Petition, filed in the 1860’s in VA by two daughters of James and Polly Rankin Cornett against their half-brother and sister, David Blue Cornett (married Phebe Sutherland) and Sarah Cornett Shuler (think she married John Kendrick Shuler), I presume for land as their father, James, died without a Will in 1851 in Rockbridge, Greene Co., Il (but there is no record of him being buried there), please contact me at dorisjoann1@yahoo.com.  Thank you.

If you, my readers, have any information, no matter how insignificant you may think it is, please respond to the above email address. 


Thank you for your help in this matter 🙂


We are also seeking a Mae Berting who had the following email address back in 2002 but apparently she is no longer working in the school system according to the School Superintendent.
Any help in locating her or getting in contact with her would be wonderful, as the petition spoken about in the above email message is very important. It may be the only document in existence that we know of that will prove who David “Blue” Cornett’s parents really were. We think that Mae now lives in the Asheboro or Greensboro area in North Carolina. bertinm@guilford.k12.nc.us


Image Source:
Family Is Forever Graphic

DAR~ A Free Genealogy Resource

Posted: May 4, 2012 in brick wall, Canute, cornett, Daughters of the American Revolution, free, Genealogy, James Canute Cornett, Lineage, members, preservation, research, Resources, surnames, surnames. database, volunteers
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Image Source:
DAR Logo

DAR- Daughters of the American Revolution is a free resource for genealogists and offers aid in their research. The (GRS) Genealogical Research System is a collection of databases, which provides access to the many materials that have been collected over time. The DAR was founded in 1890, the members are passionate about their research findings and are committed to preservation of the history of our ancestors.


This genealogical resource has many volunteers who have scanned and indexed years worth of documents and other materials which can be found in the online database. There is a drawback to sharing this information with others, because of proprietary information and data, and under no circumstances may it be shared or published.


If you are like me, an amateur genealogist, or you may even be a genealogy expert, the DAR could be a stepping stone to finding your ancestral ties that you may have been seeking for so long. It is definitely worth a try, don’t you think? Maybe we can knock down some of these brick walls we have encountered and find some really valuable documents that will only further our research and prove who we are and where we come from. It’s not just about where you, your parents or grandparents were born and the dates of birth, or even how many children they may have had. To me, and this is my own personal opinion on the matter, genealogy research is about finding out more about who my family really was, what they looked like, their way of life, the career choices they may have made and so many other points of their lives and the direction that those points have taken them over the years. 


I recently received an email from a family member, who as it turns out, was researching the same family surnames that I was. Imagine not knowing that you had a family member and didn’t even realize that they were family until you connected through a genealogy resource! Anyhow, back to the email! She has been verified by the DAR and is in the process of getting it signed by officials in Washington D.C. So I can’t wait to find out if she was successful in finding the data she needs to prove her lineage and connection to James Canute Cornett! 


I am definitely going to be researching this DAR to gain a more in-depth understanding. So you may see future postings related to the Daughters of the American Revolution. Who knows, maybe I will also find information on some of my Sutherland and Canute ancestors.


Good luck in your research!





The Fascinating World Of Genealogy

Posted: September 19, 2011 in ancestor, Ancestry, heritage, historical maps, photo genealogy, research, US Geological Survey Maps
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Has your family research come to a standstill? What about that proverbial brick wall that has you stumped? What will you do next? Many researchers both newbies and the more experienced, get stumped all the time. Myself included! It is very frustrating to finally get the lead you have been searching for only to find out that it really hasn’t led you anywhere. Sometimes I feel like a dog who is running around in circles chasing its’ own tail!


Here are a couple of ideas that might get you back on track. I hope the ideas help you and I also hope they help me in searching my ancestral roots.


U.S. Geological Survey Maps– Have you thought about topography maps to aid in your research? The U.S. Geological Survey web site can help you locate historical maps of interest that may help you in your genealogy searches. In addition, this site also features a National Atlas, which will help you by offering a number of maps that can include country boundary lines, cities, lakes and rivers, and other topographical points of interest. 
** Another idea that just came to mind: Blow up the map to a large wall size and use different colored “ball” tacks for different family surnames to give you the visuals that you may need in your research. It could help you track their movements especially if they have migrated from other countries.


Direct Line Software– A software program that is called Deed Mapper. Deed Mapper works with old land records. Whether you have one deed or a hundred, this software program will help you:

  • Find the location of a particular plot by anchoring a group of neighboring plots against a stream.
  • Discover genealogical relationships by showing that person X sold a part of person Y’s land.
  • Untangle people having the same name by analyzing their landholdings and transfers.
  • Create a map of original landholders in a region. 
  • Trace changes in parcel ownership over the years.



There is also an online community that you can interact with other members. Deed Mapper is designed for historical research so it handles surveys that have straight lines. So it may be worth checking out at least!


Direct Line Software Screenshots


Dead Fred– This web page is dedicated to genealogists and family researchers, who can search and post photos, search surnames and the like. It is a free, fun photo genealogy research site devoted to helping you visualize your heritage! Wouldn’t it be great to find a lost ancestor on this site?  Your bonus would be a photo you may have been searching out for years! 


Image Source:
Dog Chasing Its’ Tail

Dog Chasing His Own Tail

Image no. 700-00046138

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Stuart Marvin Cornett and Gincy Malinda Long

Posted: August 3, 2011 in Genealogy, generations, Gincy Caroline Malinda Long, research, Smythe County Virginia, Stuart Monroe Marvin Cornett
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Stuart and Gincy were my great grandparents and Stuart was also the grandson of James Monroe Cornett and Mary Ann Cornett. He was born on September 22, 1881 in Grayson County, Virginia and died on February 3, 1966 in Smythe County, Virginia at the age of 84. His immediate family includes his wife, Gincy Malinda Caroline Long and their 14 children.

Stuart Monroe/Marvin Cornett (09/22/1881-02/03/1966)

Gincy Malinda Long (07/01/1886- 09/24/1978)

Married April 5, 1905 by Rev. Johnson Stamper

Children
Born
Married
Died
Della Pauline
Wayne Wright
02/06/1906
02/14/1904
11/23/1924
02/07/1963
01/10/1979
Mary Frances
Verlin Cornett
Frederick L. Corriston
05/04/1908
01/19/1905
04/24/1910
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
04/16/1972
09/10/1979
Anna Mae
James Dean Russell
07/12/1910
03/06/1908
07/01/1928
N/A
07/14/1986
Grover Fred Cornett
Wave L. Kiser
08/31/1912
07/15/1919
10/07/1939
N/A
01/20/1987
Lucia Rose Cornett
Walter Allen Cornett
07/08/1914
12/29/1909
07/15/1928
11/2010
06/30/1967
Pearl Mildred
Harmon Harold Hash
05/08/1916
07/17/1913
04/07/1939
N/A
08/04/1986
Elbert Wayne Cornett
Edith Roberts
05/04/1918
07/04/1926
07/12/1941
N/A
N/A
Charles Estel Cornett
Velma Louise Parks
05/02/1920
07/13/1925
10/04/1941
N/A
N/A
Lillie Edna
Millard C. Parks
04/10/1922
05/29/1921
05/22/1941
N/A
N/A
Carl Wesley Cornett
Margaret Emaline Watson
03/21/1924
02/22/1929
08/01/1949
N/A
N/A
Ora Lee
Stanley Franklin Anderson
11/10/1925
05/26/1927
12/16/1946
N/A
06/10/1993
James Donald Cornett
Doris Jeanne Leonard
07/22/1928
07/03/1931
09/20/1952
N/A
N/A
Billy Cornett
Jackie (Wadie) Richardson
07/05/1930
01/19/193_
08/10/1949
(Divorced)
N/A
N/A
Claude Scott Cornett
Betty Sue Shepherd
11/30/1932
07/26/1934
12/05/1953
(Divorced)
N/A
N/A
 

I have been researching the Cornett line for some time now and have been adding data as it becomes available to me. It is a long process when trying to incorporate data tables of the information supplied to me, in hard copy form I might add. But it is all coming together. Patience is a virtue I am learning, as I like things completed NOW. But in genealogy you have to be patient, so I’m taking baby steps!

 

And the Plot Thickens!

Posted: July 23, 2011 in books, cornett, Grayson County VA, History of Grayson County VA, Legend of Caty Sage, relatives, research
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This past week, I’ve been researching and reading on my Cornett relatives even though I haven’t been posting new articles as I go along. In the beginning of the week I received a book that I purchased on Amazon’s web site, entitled, “Grayson County: A History in Words and Pictures“.
I found a few things about my family personally inside and a couple of photos also, which was very exciting. I can actually put a face to the name now. The book explains the history of Grayson County and how it came to be what it is today. 



Image Source
Grayson County, Virginia Map



Among the events that happened in the 1700’s is a story, which caught my attention and it’s the legend of Caty Sage. She was kidnapped at a young age and given to Indians. Caty’s mother had been at the creek, and came back to get clothes for washing when she found her daughter was missing. Caty grew up among the Indians and even spoke their language, she even married a Chief of the tribe, so when she was eventually found some fifty years later, she needed an interpreter as she no longer knew the English language. The sad part of the story is that when she was about to be reunited with her mother, the mother was already in her elderly years, and died before she was able to set eyes on her beloved daughter. There is so much history regarding Grayson County as a whole; before white man settled here, it was the hunting ground of many different Indian tribes, not only was settling in Indian territory one of the events of the time but the families had to deal with the effects of war too. 


Today, I am still researching my Cornett family and just enjoying the time I get to spend learning about them, their hardships, their way of life, their occupations, the way they dressed and a little about how they raised their children back in the day. It is one never ending journey that I have been taking one day at a time! As a family historian, researching your ancestors will never, ever really be completed, no matter how hard you try. I can’t imagine someone saying “I’m done with my family tree!” Ummm….really? That’s nice, but HOW? I don’t even consider that a possibility! There are so many people in your tree that could be studied and their parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and siblings, for generations and generations. I just don’t see it happening like that. I don’t think my research will ever be complete, at least not in my lifetime! 







Thinking About Acquiring An Education In Genealogy? Read This First!

Posted: July 12, 2011 in Classes, education, genealogy courses, knowledge, online education, procedures, research, The National Genealogical Society
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green door & windows

green door & windows (Photo credit: peter.clark)

I love learning new things and furthering my education and knowledge. I was even thinking about taking some classes in Genealogy. I thought that maybe acquiring additional knowledge or procedures might just help me in my own research. Below is an article I found on the Genealogy.com web site in regards to certain institutions offering a beginners genealogy course. If you are interested in these types of classes, please check the qualifications and reputations of the instructor and the educational institution! Granted some may be free, but why risk being led in the wrong direction which in turn, could be a costly mistake in your research.


Students Beware!


“The Genealogical Web Site Watchdog warns of a free online course offered by the Iowa Digital Education Association. The Watchdog says, “There are 15 lessons in the course covering what one would expect to find in a beginning genealogy course. Problem is, much of the information is too generic to be useful and there is a lack of qualifications on how different laws and time periods affected the records available. Additionally, the beginning genealogist is frequently referred to secondary sources, with no mention of the primary sources and their availability. Granted, the course is free, but the cost can be high to someone sent off in the wrong direction with bad information.”

The Genealogical Web Site Watchdog also alerts genealogists about the Genealogy 2000 School of Genealogy which allows you to become an Ethel Torice Certified Family Genealogist (Certified Certificate Program), or an Ethel Torice Certified Professional Genealogist (Certified Diploma Program), or an Ethel Torice Certified Home-Based Business Genealogical Executive (Certified Diploma and Business Licensing Program). Watchdog states: The Ethel Torice Genealogical Society claims to be an umbrella group for a number of other organizations, some sharing the Torice name, but others with names that are deceptively similar to well-known national genealogical organizations with no connection to the organization. The society lists credentials of an unidentified “Educational Staff” that includes respected credentials awarded by recognized national accrediting bodies, but includes others unknown generally, like “Accredited Master Genealogist.”
This demonstrates how vulnerable we are to seemingly credible education. To prevent the cost of poor education, check out the credentials of instructors. Compare a sample lesson with lessons from another Web site.” Written by Kathleen W. Hinckley, CGRS


Kathleen W. Hinckley, is a Certified Genealogical Records Specialist, author, lecturer, and owner and operator of Family Detective. She also serves as the executive director of the Association of Professional Genealogists, and trustee for the Board for Certification of Genealogists.
 
But on the bright side, The National Genealogical Society offers this type of course free to their members, which only costs $60 for a one year membership. If interested, you can go to the following web site for further information. You can review the syllabus on this site also.
NGS Educational Courses




Source: 
Hinckley, Kathleen W. “Genealogical Education: Online and Home Study Courses.” Genealogy.com. Genealogy.com Web site, n.d. Web. 11 Jul 2011. <http://www.genealogy.com/57_kathy.html&gt;.

Now Where Did I See That Surname?

Posted: July 8, 2011 in access, Evernote, projects, research, software programs, surnames. database
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Evernote for iOS icon

Evernote for iOS icon (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Have you ever thought about how much genealogy research you accumulate over time? I have papers, personal notes, photos, and other documents that just keep piling up and thrown into a folder, then filed away into my filing cabinet. How will I ever stay organized and find what I need without having to search each paper individually for a particular surname or date? I found it! A program called Evernote; I’ll only have one account and can use it on a multitude of devices! 


Evernote works by connecting all the computers and phones you use daily, which in turn, enables you to capture something in one place and then access it from another. What a genius idea! Imagine creating a folder for each project, surname, location, or however you see fit. You can capture everything, every bright idea, every little post-it you may have attached to one of your documents, so if you can see it or think of it, Evernote can help you remember it. “Everything you capture is automatically processed, indexed, and made searchable. If you like, you can even add tags or organize specific notes into different notebooks.”
 Evernote Download






Using Evernote will help me remember tons of things! I will be able to clip text from different web pages on topics of interest, I can then tag them for easy reference later. What’s even greater? The fact that I can use my smart phone to automatically sync my account with the program I have installed on my laptop! I could be in town and see something that sparks an interest that relates to genealogy in some way- snap the pic and off I go! I love this program because I can also use it in my library research. If you decide to use Evernote, let me know what you think of it. You can download a free version, the link to the website is above. 



Email notes from anywhere and they end up in your Evernote account to access later. A scribble from your iPad, a voice memo from your phone, a typed memo from your desktop, a clip from a website, a snippet form a blog, a photo, a link – absolutely anything! The world is your oyster…











Searching For the Root of Your Family Tree…

Posted: June 26, 2011 in brick wall, Classes, endless possibilities, family treasures, Genealogy, online genealogy classes, research, Resources
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English: Pine tree on Pentridge Hill at sun-se...

English: Pine tree on Pentridge Hill at sun-set 2 Slightly different angle, beyond tree to left one of the family dogs is searching for anything to chase. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Are you ready to throw in the towel? Have you come to, what seems an endless brick wall? Are you looking at the big picture or just an element of that picture? If the wall seems endless, are you able to go around it? No? Then climb over it! There’s always a different way to approach an obstacle, than the one that seems to be right in front of your face. In my experience with my family tree, I have faced plenty of obstacles! But there has to be a different resource to utilize right? Have you thought about seeking out classes on Genealogy? You can do this online, if you aren’t the type to be on campus with the younger generation of students. Which is okay; you may be younger, older, and wiser, or already have your desired degree. Nobody says that you have to go back to school again, just to be fulfilled with your family tree results and research. So what will your next step be and where will it take you?

You may just want to organize what research you have already accumulated; or you may want to research your family to pass on to the younger generation, namely your own children or grandchildren one day. But for whatever reason, the online classes may help you. It sure couldn’t hurt right? One day, you may find your perfect family treasures!


Below you will find a link to the classes that are offered. This isn’t your run of the mill mini-course!
There are four different sections, the first section is more or less your introduction and leads into other topics as you go. So in this first section, there are 14 lessons; in the second section there are 31 lessons! I won’t drone on about each section here because you can view it for yourself!

I am seriously thinking about starting this course too! Can’t have enough knowledge right? What are you waiting for? Let’s DO this!

Online Genealogy Classes~ Click Here To Learn More!

My Experience With the Family History Quick Start Mini-Course (Series) DAY 3

Posted: June 23, 2011 in cornett, database, lessons, merging family trees, One Great Family, research, success stories
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The fourth lesson of the Family History Quick Start Mini Series explains how to add 30 generations to your family tree with some amount of ease. As you probably know by now, research can be fun but also time consuming; researching can be hard work at times. Although time and work aren’t necessarily bad things, but sometimes you might wish that you could alter the one and automate the other. Well there is a genealogy tool that you can use to help you speed up your research and automate the work involved. It’s called One Great Family, and it can help ease the load of searching for your family history. The site automates your family tree search. You would then enter as much information as you know about your family tree, and One Great Family then searches to connect your family tree to the over 190 million names in their database. When it finds matches, you can include them in your family tree and instantly have an expanded tree!


Success Stories


What I Like About One Great Family


1. How could one person researching their families not like the fact that having a way to merge your family trees when a match has been found and it’s all automated! Love it! 


2. I really like how it identifies and eliminates duplicated data; this can be such a chore to have to go back and try to find any duplicate entries especially when most names are frequently the same.


3. One Great Family works around the clock; it will do all the search work for you and this aspect saves you the time, effort and headaches of conducting these searches manually by yourself.


Check it out and see if it’s something that you could benefit from! With a little luck, you’ll be able to add a few generations to your family tree. With a little bit more, you may expand it by 10-30

generations!






Mocavo- Genealogy Search Engine

Posted: June 14, 2011 in family history, Find A Grave web site, Library of Congress, Mocavo, National Archives, research, search engine
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English: Storage hallway at the National Archi...

English: Storage hallway at the National Archives I building. This was taken with permission at the Wikipedia 10 Washington D.C. event. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

What’s new in genealogy today? How about a free search engine called Mocavo, that is specially geared towards genealogists and other people that are interested in their families history? The Mocavo search engine enables the researcher to include more than 50 billion words, names, dates and places in the search bar. Mocavo fills this need by providing the first large-scale, free search engine for family history research. Can you imagine having your hands on all the free genealogy resources? All of the related results from industry sources such as genealogy message boards, family trees, state and local historical societies, the Library of Congress, National Archives, Ellis Island, Find A Grave, the Internet Archive, various U.S. state archives, and the thousands of genealogy sites that are built by individuals will be displayed on this site. This is so exciting! I can’t wait to see what this site has to offer.


When searching particular names, it is better to put quotation marks around the name as it yields better results, just an FYI in case you didn’t know. So lets see what kind of results I’ll be getting! 
Let me know how your search goes! Any success stories you could share would be great!


Have a blessed day!


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