Women’s History Month Blog Challenge...

March is Women’s History Month in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. So fellow genealogists, historians and bloggers, join with me in participating in Women’s History Month by highlighting some of the incredible women from history. You may like to choose an ancestor or two to write about. Or maybe a female who has made an impact in your local area, or maybe even any of the inspiring women from history around the globe. The choice is yours, take your pick. One thing does seem to be a recurring trait – and that is that women’s history doesn’t get written about nearly enough. They were often the backbone of not only a family, but society itself. They lived, they worked, they got into trouble, they struggled, they triumphed, they were inspirational. Every woman has a story. They helped make history! So let’s do what we can to recount some of their stories and make sure they are not forgotten. For more about Women’s History Month, be sure to check out their website, and also Wikipedia. #WomensHistoryMonth...

My Own Ancestral Places Geneameme...

What places do your ancestors come from? That was the question I asked when I created Ancestral Places geneameme. And I know it’s taken me a while, but I finally got around to doing my own response to the geneameme. But as there’s no time limit, that’s not a problem. The idea is to list places that are relevant to your ancestors. Most of those listed below are birth places, with a few residences, and a few places of death listed as well. And apparently I have no places for X and Z as yet … maybe one day! Anyway compiling the list has made me realise that I REALLY (and I mean REALLY) must get to entering information from “THE PILE”, as I know I have more precise details for many, but they’re not entered into my genealogy program. So I do need to take (or should I say “make”) some time to work my way through the giant pile of unentered paperwork. But it’s been a great exercise to do, and it’s interesting seeing multiple families from the same place – often from different lines. So it makes you wonder, did they know each other? I’ve chosen to include a number of Mr Lonetester’s branches here as well as my own, even though I’m not actively researching them … I still felt they should be mentioned, so did so. A Antwerp, Belgium (Godschall-Johnson) B Babington, Somerset, England (Richardson) Bere Ferres, Devon, England (Treffry) Berry Pomeroy, Devon, England (Randell) Bunbury, Western Australia, Australia (Elphick) C Campbelltown, New South Wales, Australia (MacDonald) Cranford, Northamptonshire, England (Robbins, Holland) Cudlee Creek, South Australia, Australia (Hannaford, Kelly) D Dover, Morris Country, New Jersey, USA (Trewartha) Durham, England (Todd) E Epping Forest, London, England...

NFHM Blog Challenge Week 4: Month...

With August progressing, as is National Family History Month, here is my final post for the NFHM Blog Challenge, and this week the topic is “Month”. Out of the four weeks of topics (National, Family, History, Month), this has proved the hardest in coming up with something, but as I am a fan of “on this day” history, I have settled for giving an “on this day” history of events that have taken place during the month of August. Covering Australian related history as well as overseas, some events date back hundreds of years, while others are relatively recent and you’re likely to remember. Some certainly changed the world, while others you probably didn’t even know about. Still I find it fascinating to find out what happens in history, so here’s a little taster of August … 1 August 1831 – New London Bridge is opened, replacing the 600-year-old London Bridge 2 August 1997 – After three days, skiing instructor Stuart Diver is pulled alive from the rubble of the collapsed Thredbo resorts 3 August 1990 – The highest temperature ever known in Britain is recorded in Leicestershire … at 37C 4 August 1906 – Central Railway Station in Sydney is opened. 5 August 1914 – Australia enters World War I. 6 August 1945 – The first atomic bomb is dropped on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. 7 August 1928 – Dingo hunter Frederick Brooks is killed, sparking the Coniston Massacre of Australian Aborigines. 8 August 1789 – The first police force in the convict colony of New South Wales is formed. 9 August 1173 – Construction begins on the Tower of Pisa, which is later to become the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa. 10 August 1844 – Charles...

NFHM Blog Challenge Week 3: History...

August continues, and so does National Family History Month, and now I’m up to Week 3 of the Blog Challenge, and this week my topic is “history”. But history is such a broad topic. Family history, social history, local history, ancient history, heirlooms  … oh the list goes on. What do I write about? Well it took a while to work it out, but for Week 3 I’ve chosen something that not enough people think about, and that is “Present History”. As historians and researchers it’s natural that we focus on the past. Our parents, grandparents, great greats and so on. The further back the better. And there is nothing wrong with that at all. But we also need to remember that “today is tomorrow’s history”, so we should be recording our OWN history. Now. While we can. Afterall you know your life better than anyone else right? But HOW do you record your own history? Most people will come up with an excuse along the lines of “my life isn’t interesting”, or “I can’t write” … or both. You don’t need to write a novel, you just need to record life as it happens along with your memories. Some of my family are avid diary writers, and for that I am eternally grateful. Not only has it instilled the diary-writing ethic into me from a young age (and I “mostly” still do it), it means that my parents are diary writers, my grandparents too, my great aunts were, my great grandma was too, and even a great great grandma. We are fortunate that a number of these diaries have survived, and that we are able to “see” life as it was, through their words. When flowers were planted, who...

National Family History Month – Bring it ON!...

July has all but gone, which means that August is almost here, and for family historians (at least in Australia and New Zealand), that’s good news as August is National Family History Month. YAY!! So what does this mean? It means that we (meaning ‘we’ as researchers) have an opportunity to share our knowledge with others and encourage them in their search. It also means we should take some time to self-educate ourselves … afterall, the more you learn, the better researcher you’ll be. Read a guidebook, watch a webinar, go to your local library or society to check out what they have. Grab a copy of a genie mag from your local newsagent and find out the latest news and tips from that. Revisit a website you haven’t been to for a while. Interview a relative, even just a question or two. Scan or simply file and label photos. Order a certificate. Do some transcribing. Maybe even take the plunge and start your own blog? There’s so many things you can do for NFHM, it’s not hard. Getting started …  For those that haven’t started the search, or have ‘just’ started, this is a great time for you. Just check with your local library or genealogy society to see when they’ll be open, and what they offer in relation to beginners talks, or one-on-one help.  Do yourself a favour, and get some good guidance at the beginning, it makes the world of difference and will help your search. And why not join a genealogy Facebook group (trust me there are 1000s out there). The events … The National Family History Month website is the place to check to see what organised events are on in your area. With over...

The Ancestral Places Geneameme...

As family historians we come across all sorts of interesting people and places during our research. In this geneameme I wanted to focus on the places. The countries, the states, the counties or provinces, as well as the parishes, the towns and villages. Our ancestors have a connection to these places. What places do your ancestors come from? Using the alphabet how many letters can you name ancestral places for? Some you will no doubt know well, some you may not … at least not yet (see my letter ‘I’ and ‘N’ examples below). I still have more research to do on those lines. It doesn’t have to be where your ancestors were born, but it does have to be a place that they were associated with. For instance they lived or worked in that place. Name the letter, followed by the place (town/parish/county/state/or country), and the surname/s associated with that place. I’ll be surprised if anyone can list places for all A-Z, but you never know. And if you want to double up on letters, that’s not a problem, go right ahead … after all this really is a cousin bait list detailing the surnames and places your ancestors are from, that you’re researching. EXAMPLE ENTRIES: C – Cudlee Creek, South Australia, Australia (Kelly, Hannaford) H – Helsingfors/Helsinki, Finland (Winter) I – Ireland (McGrath?) K – Kenton, Devon, England (Randell) L – Lancaster, Lancashire, England (Hayhurst) M – Modbury, South Australia, Australia (Phillips) N – Netherlands (Beecken) So geneabloggers, the challenge has been set, who’s up for the Ancestral Places Geneameme. Feel free to join...

Genealogy and the 52 Week Challenge...

Ok, who’s up for a Genealogy Challenge? I could say Blog Challenge, but this isn’t just for bloggers. It’s actually for anyone who wants to record their own history, and it allows you to do it a little each week.  And you don’t even have to do it online. Simply grab yourself a blank notebook, and you’re all ready to go! I recently came across Linda’s 52 Week Challenge, and I love it. Linda writes the Hinterland Writing blog, and she started this Challenge back in May 2016. Releasing a new topic each week, she’s currently up to Week 29. It’s along the lines of my Family History Through the Alphabet Challenge, as in you pick and choose which weeks you’d like to participate in. In saying that she has a number of dedicated followers who are busy recording their memories every week, with others doing some along the way. Anyway I’ve compiled a list of her topics for Weeks 1-29 for you. 52 Week Challenge Week 1 – What is your full name? Do you know why you were given that name? Do you have a baptismal name? A confirmation name? Why were these names chosen? Week 2 – When and where were you born?  Which child are you ? Brothers and sisters? Capture the memories of the house you grew up in and the neighbourhood as you saw it? What do you remember the most about the house? Week 3 – Your dad Week 4 – Name 5 people that you consider to have had a positive impact on the world Week 5 – Mother Week 6 – Occupations Week 7 – Have any of your immediate family members died? Week 8 – Brothers and sisters Week...

Discovering the “Australian Women Writers Challenge” 2015...

Do you love reading? And love a blog challenge? If you said yes to both, you’ll certainly love this! Late last year I discovered the “Australian Women Writers” Challenge. This is where readers read books written by Australian women and write reviews about them, through their blog or other means. Why only women you might ask? Well, it seems that the female authors don’t get their fair share of reviews. So the idea of the AWW Challenge was formed and the concept has taken off. By 2014 they were on their way to , and they are now getting several thousand reviews a year. Don’t you love it!! Anyone can participate (men or women), so long as you’re willing to do some kind of review of the book you read afterwards. You don’t have to be a professional reviewer, but just don’t give away the plot in your review. Fiction, or non-fiction, there’s no genre restrictions, and they don’t even have rules on how many book you are to review during the year. So I think I’ll take up this Challenge during 2015, and as my passion is history and genealogy, I’ll go with the genealogy and history genre. Though there does seem to be lack of Australian female authors in this genre – at least at this stage. For more information on the Australian Women Writers Challenge for 2015, visit their website. And be sure to read their About page to learn how it all started, and their FAQ for questions you might have, then head on over to their Sign Up page and fill in your details. And in this world of social media, you can keep up with the latest news (and reviews) by following the Australian Women...

Genealogy World Photo Day Challenge 2014...

August the 19th was World Photo Day, and as us genie nuts like to give everything a genealogy twist, Denise Levenick of The Family Curator blog issued the challenge of making it a Genealogy World Photo Day Challenge. So rather than simply submit a photograph, why not make it a family-history related one. In Denise’s words … “The Family Curator challenges genealogists and family historians to celebrate World Photo Day by combining the past and present in a single photograph — recreate an old photo, merge past and present Dear Photograph style, or present a Then and Now retrospective. Participate by posting your photograph and descriptive caption on your blog or social media page. To be included in the Genealogy Photo Challenge Gallery, do any of the following no later than 6am US Pacific Time, Saturday, August 23, 2014 [note: which is sometime late Saturday or early Sunday, Australian time]. – send the link or photo with caption to The Family Curator – share your Facebook post or post your photo on The Family Curator Facebook Page Here’s what I have come up with … two 5 generation photographs. One following my mum’s line, the other following my dad’s, both starting from myself, and going through to my great great grandma. You can click on each for a larger...

It’s All in the Numbers Geneameme...

Ever since I created the Family History Through the Alphabet Blog Challenge back in 2012, one idea that continued to make a regular visit is “numbers”, and how I could make that work that into a blog challenge. Over time I have come up with numerous scenarios, but none have made it beyond my head yet. Anyway rather than create a blog challenge – which does tend to tie you into something for a number of weeks, and this time of year is busy enough. And there are already some regular blog challenges currently going, I’ve decided that this can be a geneameme. My idea for “It’s All in the Numbers” Geneameme is for you to come up with say 10  numbers (but feel free to do as many as you want) that mean something to YOU, and that relate to your family history in some way. You might choose number 12 as that was the number of children one of your ancestors had, or number 3 as that’s how many sets of twins you’ve found in your family so far. Your great great uncle might have lived until he was 102, or 24 was the date of your grandma’s birthday. Number 28 was a house you lived at as a kid, or you might like to use the number of years you’ve been researching, or the number of trips you’ve taken to see family in the ‘homeland’. So pretty much any number that you can link in with your family history – do them consecutive, do them random – it’s your choice. Here’s just a couple of examples: 13 – Thirteen is the number of generations I can go back on one line! That takes me back to...