Free Genealogy Translation Services

If your ancestors are from Europe, Asia, Russia, South America or another non-English speaking region; you are probably among countless other family tree researchers who will eventually need help translating your genealogy documents.

Although free online translators have become an abundant resource on the net, when it comes to archaic words, idioms or technical terms they may fall short of expectation.

 

Live translation services can be costly however; there are some wonderful folks out there who offer genealogy translation services free of charge.

• Linguanaut. Is a site with access to 150 translators, their goal is to connect people in need of a translation with a volunteer translator.  To get started just click on Free Translation then choose your language and they will match you up with a translator. (Short non-commercial translations only).

•  Freelang: is a fantastic resource with hundreds of volunteers that offers free “short” translations for non-commercial reasons.

To use their service all you need to do is:

1. select a language
2. select a translator
3. fill out their contact form

Your translator will contact you via email with your translation.

• Cucumis: is based on the exchange of services for the benefit of all. This service works on a point system, for example; you can earn points by translating something for another member. However, even if you only speak one language you can still earn points simply by signing up

• WikiTranslation.  This site is the simplest to use. All you need to do is fill out their translation request form and someone should get back to you via email.

Of course, there are other language specific services available as well and a quick Google search should give you a list of sites in no time. Happy ancestor hunting.

The Lost Irish: FREE Searchable Database

During the nineteenth and early twentieth century, Irish immigrants flocked to North America in droves. Leaving their homeland, due to poverty, political upheaval and famine; or simply to begin anew, they came in hopes of finding a better life.

Leaving family and friends behind, their only mode of communication with loved ones was by letter. However, the international postal system was just developing and many immigrants lost touch with the folk back home. As a result, many new immigrants were lost to their relatives who remained in Ireland.

Missing Friends

October 1831 marked the birth of a new feature in the Boston Pilot newspaper when an advertisement seeking a Patrick McDermott and his family was published. This advertisement began what later became known as the “Missing Friends” column. The column was an instant success, increasing the newspapers circulation both at home and on an international scale.

A Family Tree Resource

Lasting an amazing ninety years the column ran from 1831 to 1921 and helped countless people find those they had lost. For family history buffs this translates into an amazing FREE resource for finding Irish ancestors. This genealogical treasure contains 40,268 records with text for every advertisement that was placed in the paper.

While the information included varies, it is possible to find some informative facts such as:

• county and parish of birth
• date they left Ireland
• expected port of arrival
• occupation

Using the Database

Although the database has a simple search, the advanced search function allows a great deal of flexibility.

MISSING PERSON’S INFORMATION	Using this search box, I entered the name Patrick O’Brian that returned 452 results. The information returned included:Home County: CorkTownland: Ballydunigan Nr. Bear HavenDeparture date: 1859Port of Departure: England, Liverpool Port of Arrival: MA, Boston
Additionally there was a description of the ad placed for him:Any Info Alive Or Dead. Other: Last May (05/65) He Resided W/His Si = Margaret O Brien For About A Mo.; He + His Br. = Denis Started To Mi, Lake Superior + Lived W/Fa + Mo For 6 Yrs; He Got M. About 2 Yrs Ago; Came To Visit His Mo. A Yr Ago Last 4-Jul To Mn Coppermines, Antaugon Co.
SEEKING PERSON’S INFORMATION	The above search also returned the data for the person seeking Mr. O’Brien.Name: Catherine O BrienRelation to missing: MotherGender: FemaleResidence: OH, Youngstown, Mahoning CountyDate of advertisement:08-25-1866
POINT OF ORIGIN INFORMATION	The advanced search also lets you search for a person by point of origin.For this search, I used Dublin as my point of origin, which only returned five results.
WORK HISTORY	If you know your ancestors trade, searching by occupation can give you a wide field of reference.I tried looking for: Carpenter: 163 hits Soldier:37 hits Farmer: 13 hits Doctor: 14 hits
LOCATION AFTER ARRIVAL	As many American immigrants first came to North America through Canadian ports, I tried a search for Nova Scotia (A common port of entry for many U.S. immigrants).  This search returned 26 results. Under the results was listed  Patrick O Donnell, a  Shoemaker who after arriving in Nova Scotia travelled to Mo, St. Louis (1859) and ended up in LA, New Orleans
The description for Mr. O Donnell reads.M. in Nova Scotia, Halifax (1857); His Wi. = Bridget O Donnell (Borve) in Canada, Quebec Is Anxious To Hear Some Tidings Of Him.  Other: Last Heard He Worked at His Trade in LA, New Orleans; At The Time He Left Ns, Halifax He Had A Npw. = John A. Hearns Studying at The Seminary Of Carondolet Nr. Mo, St. Louis
TRAVEL INFORMATION	Searching by travel information allows you to simply select a year or the intended destination; very handy for researchers who are working with limited information.
Key Word Search	The last search field allows you to do a search of the entire database. You can search by name or by keyword. This is very handy should you have an ancestor with an alias or nickname.For example, a search under “Bessy” (short for Elizabeth) returned 55 results including the information for Elizabeth Daily AKA Bessy Daily.

 

If you are ready to start searching for your missing ancestor, Boston College searchable database can be found at http://infowanted.bc.edu/.

Before you head off remember to get your Genealogy Beginner family tree charts and research tracking forms available with your 30-day free trial.

 

Donating Genealogical Records

Have no doubt that your family tree research has value beyond the current generations of your own family.

Donating your family history to a local historical or genealogy group is an excellent way to make certain all of your hard work is put to good use. Local Historical Societies and Genealogy groups have a stake in preserving your records for future generations.

 

 

How to Donate Your Family Tree

If you are considering donating your family tree research the best place to start is by contacting your local library. Your local library can help you identify the archives that are best geographically suited to receive your family’s story.

Generally, community groups are interested in local reference records. However, they may have ties to other groups with broader interests such as provincial or state archives.

When donating a rather widespread family tree it may be worth considering breaking it into smaller portions focusing on specific locations.

While it is normal in a large family tree to have a significant geographical spread with ancestors coming from all corners of the globe, a local group may have limited space. Therefore, it is reasonable that they may not want to house large documents unless they are completely location specific.

What to Include with Your Donation

Along with your family tree templates or pedigree charts, you should include either originals or copies of:

• Primary and secondary source documents
• Old photos
• Vital Records
• Newspaper clippings
• Maps

Donating your family tree data is one of the best ways of sharing your genealogy and contributing to the preservation of history in your community. Not only does it help preserve your research for future generations it may be key to helping another family history researcher to break down a brick wall.

However, before you donate be sure not to part with any original items you or other members of your family may want to keep.  Lastly, make certain that all of your research conforms to The Big Five Genealogy Standards and Guidelines.

To learn more about genealogical standards sign up today for Genealogy Beginner’s 30-day free trial and receive Eight, Step-by-Step Weekly Lessons You Can Do At Your Own Pace. Starting with Lesson 1: Genealogy Standards And Guidelines.

Ancestors in Debtor’s Prison

Prior to 1869 in Great Britain, individuals who acquired debt could be sent to jail until their debts were paid in full. For many this could be a life sentence, not only for the insolvent individual but also for their entire family.

As life without the main provider would most often mean severe poverty for the family of a debtor, entire communities began to spring up inside of debtor’s prisons resulting in children being born and raised inside them.

 

In the poignant story “Little Dorrit”, Charles Dickens delves into the lives of a family living in debtor’s prison. His inspiration for the tale is rooted in his own experiences, as Dickens own father was sent to debtor’s prison in 1824 for a debt of 40 pounds. Shortly after his incarceration, the rest of the Dickens family with the exception of Charles who at the tender age of 12 was employed and earning money to support his family joined John Dickens.

Although life in debtor’s prison was a harsh existence, there were allowances for debtors living in prisons with their families.  A debtor with a little money would be able to pay for freedoms that might allow a prisoner to conduct business and receive social calls. A practice known as ‘Liberty of the Rules’ even allowed some prisoners to live a short distance outside the prison walls.

Debtor’s Prison Genealogy Records

Your best source of British records for finding information on insolvent ancestors in a debtor’s prison is at the British National Archives. This family tree search will take a great deal of patience as the records are not indexed and offer little detail.

Records held in this collection include:

·         Registers and indexes of people served with petitions for bankruptcy (1884-1923)

·         Bankruptcy case files (c.1759-c.1979)

·         Records of Fleet Prison, Marshalsea Prison, Kings Bench Prison and Queens Prison (1628-1862)

·         Registers of documents filed in bankruptcy proceedings (1733-1925)

For a quick online search findmypast has a bankrupt directory for 1820-1843 that includes details of all bankruptcies documented in The London Gazette for the period.

Forces War Records

If you are searching for ancestors who served in the British Military Forces, you may want to check out Forces War Records; a new genealogy site that looks to be one of the best-organized search sites of its kind on the net.

 

 

 

Forces War Records has over four million records for British Armed Forces personnel.

However, what makes this site special for family tree researchers is its search system.   The records are cross-matched with bases, and regiments as well as Ships of the British Armed Forces, providing a usage that is easy to apply, accurate and time saving.

The Records Include
World War One World War Two Crimean War Databases Boer War Databases African Wars Databases Indian Mutiny Databases Napoleonic Wars Databases Medal Rolls	Individual Battle Data Other Wars Casualty Lists Prisoner of War Records Royal Marines Databases Fighter and Bomber Command Losses Fleet Air Arm Data RFC/RAF List RN Losses
Shot at Dawn Database and more !!!

 

The site has many cool features including:

•   A free search for WWII POWs with information that lists

• Name
• Rank
• Service Number
• Regiment
•  POW number
• Camp type/number and location plus notes.

•      A free medieval search with  search tips
•       A community forum
•       Tutorials
•      A “Memories” section where you can record your own or read stories left by other members.
•      Genes Magazine: an online journal that gives access to How to and historical articles.

Some other aspects of the site include the ability to save your searches and bookmark pages to your profile. Of course, registration is required to use the site and there is a reasonable fee for full access to records. Although the fees are reasonable, prospective users should be aware that they are in pounds sterling.

 Before you get started on your search at Forces War Records, be sure to download Genealogy Beginners Military Research Tracking Form, available with your 30-day free trial membership.

 

Politics and Genealogy

For most people genealogy is an enjoyable pastime, a pursuit of our heritage that helps to answer questions about why we are the way we are and how we got here.

However, when it comes to politics and the genealogies of politicians it seems the stakes of knowing your line of decent are a little higher.

 

 

Political Family Trees and the Media

 The spin that is put on the importance of a politician’s family tree sometimes defies reason.  Certainly, it is understandable that the personal history of political candidates should have some bearing. After all the voting public has a right to know just who they are placing in a position of leadership.

Yet it seems curious that the cultural history or ethnicity of a perspective leader’s ancestors should create such media buzz, much less hold sway with the voting public.

Family History Headlines

From the time 35th President of the United States, John F. Kennedy’s Irish decent came into the

spotlight in 1963; genealogy has played a role in politics.

 

 

 

 

A great example of this type of speculative Genealogy-gone-wild is the media frenzy      surrounding President Barak Obama’s family history. During his campaign and following his 2008 election, countless stories of the president’s ancestors made it onto the pages of distinguished publications, such as the New York Times.

 

 

More recently, the news has been filled with a different type of genealogy story and controversy is at the heart of it with genealogists coming out of the woodwork to contest the family tree claims of political hopefuls.

 

 

 

 

 

The latest political family tree to come under scrutiny is that of senatorial candidate Elizabeth Warren whose claim to Native American ancestry is being challenged by the Cherokee Nation, the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians, and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians along with Cherokee genealogist Twila Barnes.

Barnes know for her genealogy blog “Polly’s Granddaughter” is a notorious “Wannabe Hunter” who strongly discourages any and all from making claims to Cherokee heritage without first producing the documentation to prove it.

It seems that genealogy and politics has clearly developed a love hate relationship and while it is, being determined if “politics is in the blood”; votes may hang in the balance.

 

 

Family Tree Webinar News

Are you yearning to discover the details about the newest genealogy technology or become skilled at digging up old records?

June is jam packed with great webinars for family tree enthusiasts. Whether you are a beginning genealogist or seasoned professional, you are going to love this month’s line up of webinars across the net.

June Webinars:

Date/ Time	Subject	Website/ REGISTER:
June 2021:00 – 22:00	Genealogy Hacks: Tricks to Crack the Top Genealogy Web SitesWith Rick Crume	REGISTER: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/586250704
June 2014:00 – 15:30	Marriages and Anniversaries. Mining newspapers for engagements, marriages, anniversaries, and divorce records.With Thomas J. Kemp	Legacy Family Tree
June 2114:00 – 15:30	Mapping Your Ancestors’ FootstepsWith Kathryn Lake Hogan	https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/415630494
June 2214:00 – 15:30	Staying Safe with Social Media.With Thomas MacEntee	Legacy Family Tree
June 2521:00 – 22:30	WordPress Part 2: Dissecting the DashboardWith Taneya Koonce	REGISTER: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/547184313
June 2714:00 – 15:30	Digital Images for Genealogists and Technologists: scanning, digitizing, editing, and preserving your photos.With Geoff Rasmussen	Legacy Family Tree

 

Before you sign on remember to:

·         Check that you have all of the system requirements

·         Register (if needed)

·         Download any required software

·         Mute your Mic

·         Log in Early

After you have been inspired and motivated check back with Genealogy Beginner and make sure, you are stocked up on Family Tree Charts and Research Tracking forms.

Available with your Genealogy Beginner Starter Kit when you register for a 30 Day Free Trial.

Searching for Immigrant Ancestors

Unless you are of aboriginal descent, your ancestors came to North America as immigrants.

Europeans have been making the journey to North American shores since the first recorded settlement by Vikings in L’Anse aux Meadows (Newfoundland, Canada) in 1000 AD.  Although colonization truly did not begin until 1492 when Columbus headed his Spanish expedition in search of trade routes and instead found a new land.

In the following centuries, the North American population grew with immigrants of all races and nationalities. From those seeking religious freedoms to those who suffered forced immigration. They came by ship in droves and ever since, we have been looking back, seeking our immigrant ancestors.

The Immigration Brick Wall

For many beginning genealogists this is the point where they first encounter a brick wall in their research. Up to this point, the search for records has been confined to home shores and filling out the spaces on family tree charts has gone relatively smoothly.  Then all of a sudden your ancestors disappear from the records… and you do not know where they went.

This is often the point in family history research where new researchers first come across an immigrant ancestor. Unless family bibles and/or stories offer a clue, it leaves researchers asking the questions. Where do I look now, who am I looking for and when did they emigrate?

Immigration and Name Changes

Before you can know where and when to look you will need to know who it is you are looking for. This may sound like a silly statement however; it is not unusual for immigrant ancestors to change their names. Name changes happened for a multitude of reasons from letter combinations and symbols that were not compatible with the English language to a desire to sound more American.

For example, you may have found a family patriarch listed in North American records as John Weaver but if he emigrated from Germany, you may actually need to be searching for Johan Webber.

Where to Begin Your Search

If the ancestor you are hunting for came from overseas, you may not have a birth or marriage record to answer the question of where they came from.  Three excellent sources to consult should this be the case are:

• Census Records (which could also give you a clue as to when they emigrated)
• Death Records (if country of birth is not listed the names of listed parent could offer a clue)
• Newspapers (Wedding and anniversary announcements in addition to obituaries often contain biographical information that could aid in pinpointing your ancestors country or birth)

When Did They Emigrate

Your best starting point for unearthing the date of your ancestors emigration is the census records. The first census for the United States was taken before the ratification of the American Constitution in 1790. Since then a Census was taken every ten years.

In Canada, the first census occurred in 1666 in what was then New France. However, the first national census was not taken until 1871 and was followed by subsequent enumerations every five years. Locating the first census your ancestor was found in should help narrow down your search for an emigration year.

Once you have the data your next step is to begin locating records of immigration and ships lists. A visit to Library and Archives Canada or the US National Archives should be your first stop, as they will direct you to further research sources.

Do not forget to sign up for a 30-day free trial membership to Genealogy Beginner and download your complimentary family tree charts and research tracking forms.

 

Genealogy: Getting to Know Your Ancestors

The Merriam Webster Dictionary gives a definition of genealogy as:

1. an account of the descent of a person, family, or group from an ancestor or from older forms
2. the study of family pedigrees

 

 

Strictly speaking, this is true; it is certainly a good definition of the process and an accurate descriptor of the intent with which genealogy is first approached. However, to those of us who have spent any length of time on this addictive hobby, the study of our ancestors begins to take on new meaning.

It is not long after family tree research begins that the dry definitions become inadequate. As we work our way through record after record, learning piecemeal the details of our ancestors lives we begin to feel we are getting to know them as individuals.

For some, the genealogical aspects of family history research are not enough.  We want to get to know our forefathers on a deeper level. Become more familiar with their day-to-day lives.

If you count yourself among those wishing for a deeper understanding of your generations past, there are a number of activities you can participate in; activities that will allow you to experience your family history in a very real way.

Recreationists

Pick almost any period in history and you will find a group of people actively recreating the era. Living history groups include the activities, dress and tools of the eras they portray to give participants the sense of stepping back through time. Recreationists are not re-enactors; they are not scripted nor are they involved in recreating specific events. Member’s interests can include clothing styles, pastimes, cookery and artisanship, everything that would help create a feeling of every day life in bygone days. It is not at all surprising that among their ranks you find many genealogists and family historians.

Living History Groups

From late 20^th century groups like “The 20th Century Revisited” A UK based group recreating scenes and events from various parts of the later 20th Century including WW2 resistance, and 1970 British Army of the Rhine (BAOR) or “Paper Dolls” An international group made up of female members who portray military and civilian life during World War Two. From hometown sweethearts, Women’s Land Army, French Resistance, American Red Cross, Women’s Army Corps. These groups offer an opportunity to learn what it was like for ancestors who lived during the great wars; both on and off the battlefield.

If you are more interested in the events of the 19^th century The Living History Society of Minnesota members can attend workshops and participate in activities designed to increase their knowledge of mid 19^th century life. For those whose Gr,Gr,Gr, Grandfathers heeded the familiar call of “Go West young Man” the Mojave Muleskinners have several branches across the US, Canada  and the UK where you can immerse yourself and learn about life in the old west.

If you can trace your family tree to medieval times, a living history group from the Middle Ages may be more suiting. The Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) is an international organization with over 30,000 members residing in countries around the world. One of the best things about this group is that you will find a mix of cultures from Viking to Italian to Middle Eastern. Members attend events such as tournaments, royal courts, feasts, dancing, various classes, workshops and more. The SCA is a group that lets you explore all of the European lines in your family tree.

If you want to know more about how living history groups can help enrich your genealogy and family history or how to find a group near you, just post a question to the Genealogy in General board on the Genealogy Beginner forums.

The Grave Humor of Genealogy

Genealogists have long used cemeteries as a source for finding ancestors in their family trees. Burial grounds are a repository of the history of people, they record lives lived and commemorate deaths.

They are frequently filled with beautiful statuary, touching memorials and every so often …humorous remembrances.

 

 

Genealogy Fun

When doing a graveyard search, humor is not likely the first thing most genealogists and family historians have on their minds; the graveyard is a solemn place. However, if you stick with this hobby long enough you may run across some extremely entertaining memorials such as the following.

• Written on the gravestone for talk show host Merve Griffin:

“I will not be right back after these messages.”

• On the memorial of Mel Blank, famous for the voices of the Cartoon series Looney Tunes.

“That’s All Folks”

• Written on a tombstone in Thurmont MD:

“Here lies an Atheist. All dressed up and no place to go.”

• On the memorial of a certain Mr. Cook:

“Ma loves Pa- Pa loves Women. Ma caught Pa with 2 in swimming. Here lies Pa.”

• On a 1905 Gravestone:

“I told you I was Sick”

• On the grave marker for Robert Clay Allison (1840-1887):

“He never killed a man who did not need killing.”

• On the Grave of Anna Wallace:

“The children of Israel wanted bread, And the Lord sent them manna,
Old clerk Wallace wanted a wife, And the Devil sent him Anna.”

 

• On a stone from Burlington Vt.:

“She lived with her husband fifty years, And died in the confident hope of a better life.”

Another great tool for your cemetery searches is a Cemetery Visit tracking form. Get yours free with a Genealogy Beginner 30 Day Free Trial.

 

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