Friday, April 13, 2012

CVGS Research Group Summary - 11 April 2012

The Chula Vista Genealogical Society Research Group meeting on Wednesday, 11 April was in the Computer Lab at the Chula Vista Civic Center Branch Library, so we took advantage of the 12 computer stations there.

Randy Seaver reviewed the available 1940 U.S. Census options on www.MyHeritage.com/1940census, on www.Ancestry.com/1940census/, on www.FamilySearch.org/1940census/ and on the NARA 1940census.archives.gov site.  He noted that the Ancestry site had the Steve Morse ED Finder tools available, and demonstrated their use.  His conclusion was that the Ancestry.com site was the easiest and fastest to use.  He noted that Ancestry has two states completely indexed, and that FamilySearch is in the process of indexing all states, but none are yet complete.  As an example, the 1940 U.S. Census for Susi's father was easily found once we identified the correct Wyoming county.

In the second hour, the attendees discussed their 1940 census successes and challenges.

*  Karen found lots of her families in Maryland, and found that her father made $748 in 1939 wages.

*  Virginia found herself in Indiana, but her age was wrong.

*  Helen found her brother, but not her parents at the address where they lived.  She checked the whole ED and found her parents on Page 61 (the returns to enumerate those not at home previously).

*  John found his folks in Butler County, Nebraska.

In the last half hour, we discussed the successes and problems doing the research in general.

*  Gary transcribed and analyzed the Yates County NY Estate file for Timothy Roff, which named his siblings, nieces and nephews, including Solomon Roff, Gary's ancestor.  Solomon was named as a son of Phillip, and a marriage record of one of Solomon's sisters names her parents.  Phillip Roff's gravestone indicates that he is a Revolutionary War soldier who died in 1835, so there may be a Revolutionary War Pension File available.

*  Helen found a Hamburg passenger list in German which named her ancestor's home town.

*  Virginia was happy that a "shaky leaf" on Ancestry.com provided information for nine more generations in her Bland line, from Moses back to Adam, in a book.  Adam Bland was a minister in England who was burned at the stake by Queen Mary.

*  Ralph joined CVGS today.  He said he was just starting his research, enjoyed the Spring seminar and the Research Group, and looked forward to the other CVGS activities.

The next meeting of the CVGS Research Group will be on Wednesday, 9 May, at the Chula Vista Civic Center Branch Library (365 F Street in Chula Vista).  We will be meeting in the Conference Room on the East Hall.  Randy will demonstrate how to create Source Citations using RootsMagic source citation templates.

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