May 14th Research Group Review

The May 14th Research Group meeting of the Chula Vista Genealogical Society had 16 attendees. 

In the first 30 minutes (without using the Internet since the projector didn't make it to the meeting), Randy discussed the Southern California Genealogy Jamboree, Family Tree magazine, Internet Genealogy magazine, and the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks biography challenge that he is participating in.  He passed several issues of the magazines, and several 52 Ancestors articles, around the table.  

The attendees shared their research questions, research problems and research successes for the blance of the meeting.  For example:

*  Sylvia found a set of third great-grandparents and their spouses checking out Ancestry Member Trees.

*  Diane shared a letter from a relative with some family secrets and noted that "sometimes births occur before marriage and people won't share information."  She also showed how she uses a 12-generation chart, noting that it's helpful to put your research down on paper.

*  Marie is trying to find and contact her granddaughter, who recently married and has had several name changes.  The group suggested using social media, checking adoptee message boards and a surname message board to find go-betweens.

*  John has found more wills in the Essex Antiquarian periodicals on the shelves at the Chula Vista library for his colonial ancestors in Essex County, Massachusetts.  He found one for Reverend William Worcester, and he and Randy learned they were distant cousins.

*  Gary is looking for more military records for his Revolutionary War ancestor, Philip Roff.  He knows he was in the 12 regiment of Albany N.Y. militia.  The group suggested the DAR, Fold3.com records, FamilySearch Books, regimental histories, a local genealogical or historical society, and researching others in the regiment.

*  Karen Y is a volunteer for the Midway Museum, and is working on the Memorial Board for servicemen who died while serving on the Midway between 1945 and 1992.  Previously, the Board had only the name and date of death, and she wants to find the squadron, cause of death and other information.  She has been checking Ancestry.com and Find A Grave for information.  The group suggested newspaper obituaries and Fold3.com for more information.

*  Jane committed a mortal sin by buying a new Windows 8 computer, and needs help with it.  She did find a connection to an Amish or Mennonite family in Pennsylvania recently, and needs to do more research on the family.

*  Virginia found an 1830 declaration of intent for Robert Dunlap in the Pennsylvania Naturalizations database on Ancestry.com.  He immigrated in 1799 from County Donegal in Ireland and was naturalized in 1813 in Nisipining.

*  Gerry's husband's father was in the U.S. Navy from 1900-1905, but didn't serve in a war.  She wants more information about his service.  She wrote to the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis but received little information.  The group suggested an obituary, an enlistment record, a draft registration, cemetery records, and a town history or family genealogy.  

*  Hazel has been working on her ancestry with Diane's help.  She wondered about copyright and privacy issues with photographs on Facebook and other sites.  The group noted that material published before 1923 is in the public domain is used, but after 1923 the photographs are under copyright protection, and that the creator of the material, or their heirs, owns the material.  Permission to use copyrighted material should be requested, and attribution of public domain material is recommended.

*  Arlene has a new Mac computer, since her PC died recently.  She is working on her tree on Ancestry, and wanted to get a software program.  One recommendation was Family Tree Maker for Mac to synchronize with her online tree.  

*  Helen's 4th great-grandparent moved from Virginia to North Caroline to Tennessee, and three sisters moved to Missouri.  One married an uncle, and the uncle was arrested for murder.  She has found census, land and an article in a county history book about the uncle.  Helen also says that we shouldn't believe everything you find in a book or online.

The next CVGS Research Group meeting will be Thursday, 12 June 2014 (note the day/date change!) from 1 p.m. to 3 pm. in the Auditorium at the Chula Vista Civic Center Branch Library (365 F Street in Chula Vista.