Briley Genealogy » Archive
Abundant Genealogy – Week 11
Prompt: Technology: Technology makes it possible for genealogy classroom learning to come to you. Webinars are now hosted by many instructors on a variety of family history subjects. Share with us a webinar or series of webinars that you appreciate. Well this is an easy one to answer. As of now, I have watched 2 webinars. Both on my genealogy software of choice, RootsMagic. They were both well produced and informative. However, in my house, webinars produce the same response as a phone call…suddenly Mom is needed for every and all things. Needless to say, the pause button gets hit alot. I have plans to view more webinars in the future. They are not in my priority list of things to do right now. I look forward to having time … Read entire article »
Filed under: Abundant Genealogy
Ancestor – James Joseph McCaul
James Joseph McCaul was born to James MCCALL and Kathleen Duignan on July 29, 1897. He was born in Bundorn, County Cavan, Ireland. I know he had both brothers and sisters, but little has been told about them to me as I collected data. James lived with his wife, Kathleen Murphy, in County Kildare, Ireland. I know the family owned a pub in the town they lived in. Eventually, just before World War II, the family moved to London, England. This always seemed a curious move to me, as I know James fought for Irish Independence. In London, the family owned and operated 5 pubs. I have heard many stories about London during the war since my marriage. My father-in-law was a teen during the war and volunteered as a lookout during … Read entire article »
Filed under: Ancestor, Irish research
Abundant Genealogy – wk 9
Cemeteries: Genealogists understand the full value of cemeteries and appreciate them in ways most others can’t see. Share a cemetery or cemetery experience for which you are most thankful. What makes this place special? What does it mean to you and your family history? Two summers ago, I met a cousin from the west coast in our “ancestral” land of Pitt County, North Carolina. The highlight of the quick get-together was visiting the small, roadside, family cemetery that holds our great and great-great grandparents. This cemetery obviously was once on family land. Now it just sits on the side of a country road. Some of the visible landmarks that I used the first time I visited the site were gone (torn down after some devastating hurricane damage). The land around the … Read entire article »
Filed under: Abundant Genealogy, Pitt County
Surname – Nelson from Bolton, Lancashire, England
This Nelson line is my husband’s maternal line. They have traced their line back to a Richard Nelson in Bolton, Lancashire, England born about 1615. They had probably been there for generations previous, and stayed at least 9 more generations after that. I know that my mother-in-law is in touch with the cousin who has traced their line, but I am not sure of anyone else who researches this line. I am just starting to learn the ins and outs of English research, so it will be a while before I know more than what I have on this line. … Read entire article »
Filed under: English research, Surname Saturday
House Renovations, posting light
Sorry for the dearth of posting this week. I usually try to have eveything ready to go a week ahead, but with all the things I have need to do at the house, it got away from me. I have the next few weeks planned, and will be working on the posts tomorrow. Hope everyone is having much luck with their own research. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Uncategorized
Abundant Genealogy – Week 8
Prompt: Genealogy Libraries: Genealogy libraries (and dedicated departments in regular libraries) are true treasures in the family history community. Tell us about your favorite genealogy library. What or who makes it special? How lucky can I be that I live in the Richmond, Virginia area? At least, when it comes to genealogical research. My favorite library is the Library of Virginia, followed closely by the local LDS library. I have other libraries I could sing the praises of *cough* Virginia Historical Society *cough*, but I have limited time to write this post. The Library of Virginia is not just a physical repository. They have pioneered putting out digital records. There are still many more records to go. The genealogy library on the second floor is huge. They have many resources … Read entire article »
Filed under: Abundant Genealogy, research, Virginia Research
The Library of Virginia from our local NBC Affliate
The success of Who Do You Think You Are was hammered home last week when I saw a story on the Library of Virginia from NBC12, our local affliate. They did a short sequence on a local politician who was trying to trace a slave ancestor and how she used the repository. All in all, I thought it was a decent, very short introduction to the genealogical resources at the Library of Virginia. I was happy that they mentioned this politician has been tracing her family tree for almost 30 years and that it can be a long and frustrating process. My one quibble with WDYTYA is that they make the process look so “easy”. I type in a name and ‘boom’ your whole tree is there and a professional pops out of your screen and takes you to the right … Read entire article »
Filed under: Miscellaneous, research, Virginia Research
Arthur Alfred Ellkin (1895-1969) of Buena Vista, WA
Arthur Alfred Elkin was born August 31, 1895 in Brush Prairie, WA. His father was Edward Eldridge Elkin and his mother was Margaret Elvira Marrs. They were both from Virginia, originally, and took the Oregon trail out from MO. Arthur was their 8th child. Arthur Alfred Elkin married Etta Ethel Stonehocker on September 24, 1916 in Buena Vista, Tillamook County, Oregon. They had 5 children together. Arthur Alfred died on February 20, 1969 in Tucson, Pima County, AZ. This is listed as the place of death on his SSDI record. You can link to the Rootspersona Tree here. *Most of the information I have on this line of my family came from my great Uncle Edwin Elkin, Arthur’s son. I will be working on the sources of this information and inputting it into … Read entire article »
Abundant Genealogy – wk 7
Prompt: Historical Documents: Which Historical Documents in your possession are you happy to have? How did you acquire this item? What does it reveal about your ancestors? My newest acquisiton is a postcard written to my great-grandfather by his mother while he was in training camp for the Army during WW1. His brothers were also in the military and stationed elsewhere. The postcard is a picture of him and his brothers coming back from a hunt. The note she writes to him is filled with soft humor and love. She tells him of her pride in him. She also mentions some disbelief that the war has come upon them so fast and that few are left at home. The picture in and of itself is a treasure, but to have the personal … Read entire article »
Filed under: Abundant Genealogy, Miscellaneous
Surname – Elkin(s)
My featured surname this post is Elkin. A few generations back, it was Elkins, but a great-grandfather changed it. We are not sure why. I am going to focus on the line I descend from. The oldest ancestor I have found, and that many of the Elkin/s researchers I have worked with, tend to agree it is John Elkins of England. He lived and died in England. His son, Ralph Elkins, came to America while the Virginia Company was still transporting people over here. He was lucky because he must have had some wealth. He was granted land in what is now Stafford County, Virginia. He died in Stafford County, Virginia and his handwritten will is preserved in the archives at the Library of Virginia. He was my 10th great grandfather. Ralph’s children … Read entire article »
Filed under: research, Surname Saturday
