Wednesday, February 23, 2011

It's Like Christmas Every Day

Okay maybe not everyday but some days in genealogy really to feel like Christmas has come.

I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. Those days when you put in a name not really expecting to find anything new because you have only looked up this person like a thousand times and then bamm, a new record that you have never seen and all of a sudden you are back in business. It's like a total rush when that name pops up and you get all gitty and start doing little happy dances in your chair. You want to rush out and tell the world what you found, show them the record and make them understand the importance of such a find. Sadly, most people won't get it but us genealogist do. Each and every time we will always get it.
I had such an experience this weekend. I went to genealogy conference in my local area last Saturday and there was some great information passed out to us all but the best news that I received all day was that familysearch.org updated their site. Seriously, if you haven't been in awhile you need to check it out. This is where I had my great find.

I came home exhausted from the early morning wake up (6am) and although I wanted to jump on the computer and play around with my new found knowledge I simply could not keep my eyes open. After a much needed nap I did actually get on the computer but I went straight to Facebook as per my daily routine (I hate it and I love it). Once I was done stalking my normal folks I decided to give this new familysearch website a try. I typed in Henry Ellis which most of you know has been the bain of my search and of course nothing popped up. Big shocker (not my sarcasm). Then I decided to try his son Mack B. that has been just as much of a pain as Henry considering I have never found him on any census record with Henry or Cassie or any of his sisters. I sat waiting for the wrong records like always to come up but lo and behold the first two records were marriage records which could be him as I am not sure how many times he was married but the third record was what had me jumping out of my seat. The third was a 1930 census that listen Mack B. with his mother in one household. OMG!!!!!

That is not only the first time I have seen him on a census but the first time I have linked him to his parents and it also gave me another clue about Henry as Cassie was listed as single. That would mean that by the thirties they were no longer married and it would mean that I need to be looking for Henry either in a household alone or re-married. I couldn't believe it. It also shed some light onto those two marriage records. If Mack was living with his mother and single in 1930 then he couldn't have married either of those women in the twenties. Deck the halls!

I was so excited that I continued to look for more information and sure enough didn't find anything else on Henry but I was still excited. To finally find this family in the thirties was amazing. Too prove that there was at least one census that had my great uncle listed with at least one of his parents was wonderful especially since I remember this uncle. I was young but I remember visiting him and his wife, I remember them coming up to see us, and I remember going to his funeral because it was one of the creepiest funerals I had ever or have ever been too. It would have sucked to never have found him attached to my family when I knew that he was but now I have someplace to look and a record to build on. Fa-la-la-la-la!!!

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Not Quite What I Expected

I had this great idea after my post on the return of NBC's Who Do You Think You Are? that I was going to post show recaps. I had planned to post them the following Monday after the show aired. As you can see there have been two episodes and I have yet to post a recap for either.

I think the problem that I got into was first do I include all that they found or do I allude to the journey they took so that if you didn't watch the show but still plan on watching it you wouldn't feel as if you know how it ends. The second issue that I found was that if I was going to include fact I would have to include names and it's hard remembering all those names. Heck, it is hard remembering all my families names.

Now this isn't to say that I might not decide to go ahead and recap those first two shows this week and then pick up next Monday with a recap of Rosie O'Donnell's episode. It is simple to get your opinions.

If you were reading a recap of a show would you rather have a recap that makes you want to go look up the show and watch it later or would you rather get all the information you need so that you didn't have to watch the show to feel as if you actually saw it? Let me know and I will be sure to make a recapping decision by next Monday. :)

Friday, February 4, 2011

Return of "Who Do You Think You Are?"

If you have followed this blog for awhile you know that I am a huge fan of the NBC show Who Do You Think You Are?. That means that I have been sitting on pins and needles waiting for the new season to premiere and now it is finally here.

First up is Vanessa Williams most famous for being the first African-American Miss America as well as being on Ugly Betty. As an African-American myself I think that this will be an
interesting history to look into to. I know that they have had other African-Americans on season one but this is the first person of a bi-racial heritage. That isn't to say that I don't think that each and everyone of us has a mixed heritage but not everyone's is so close to their present family. The point is that I am extremely curious about if she will run into as many complications that I have or others that are investigating primarily an African-American lineage.

As far as the season goes I do think that they have a good line up of stars and there sounds as if there will be some interesting stories to be found. I also can't wait to see what I have affectionately termed "The Dream Team of WDYTYA" or just "Dream Team" for short will come up with. They might be my favorite part and the most annoying part of the show. I love them because the stars show up and these people just seem to have their whole family history laid out for them to review which ironically is also what bugs me about them and the show in general. I simply wish that they showed more of the research without the specialist. However, those specialist did inspire me to look into becoming a certified genealogist so like I said, I love them too.

I also love the fact that even if they don't show all the research, ups and downs, and brick walls that we mere mortals run into everyday they do open the conversation for genealogy. They spark interest and with all the commercials for Ancestry.com then there has to be a few additional people that decide to look and that is a great thing. More people looking means more interest, more funding and more information shared. All of these things sound amazing to me.

So if you don't have plans and watch tonight. Also if you would like to chat I will be Tweeting during the show. You can follow me @AlwaysMe74. Hope to talk to soon.