Wisdom Wednesday – Blog Your Stories
06 Jul 2011 1 Comment
in Genealogy Research Tags: Chicago genealogy, Chicago Italians, Fratto, genealogy, Iozzo, Tellerino
A genealogy blog is a great way to tell your family stories, talk about your research (including your problems) and connect with family.
In the last nine months or so blogging on my Chicago Family History blog about the Iozzo, Tellerino, and Fratto families, I have connected with several people.
These families are a complicated mess in terms of trying to explain the family tree. Basically we have two men, Fortunato Fratto and Tomaso Fratto (my line). Fortunato and Tomaso came from the same village of Taverna in Italy. Both men came to Chicago. Fortunato is a good 10 years older than Tomaso. Family story is the men are first cousins, but the vital records from Italy do not show that. But there is likely a connection somewhere. To make it more complicated, both Fortunato and Tomaso’s lines married into the Iozzo line. There were four Iozzo brothers and three married into the Fratto family. Tellerino married into Fortunato’s line.
Well about three weeks ago a woman named Rosemarie, a descendant of the Fortunato side, gathered together many of the descendants at a local Italian Beef restaurant. I brought my family and we spent about three hours meeting new distant cousins, looking at old photographs, and sharing information. And did I mention I also confused a lot of people because of the intermarrying and trying to explain which line my husband’s family came from versus the others in attendance?
Yesterday I received a nice card from Rosemarie with some pictures from the get together. She thanked me again for continuing to research and bring so many people together. I think that is one of the biggest reasons I continue to research. It helps bring families together.
The group is planning another meeting, date TBD, but you can be I’ll be there with my computer in tow, some old pictures and more information to share!
Are you sharing your stories and connecting with family? If not, why not?
Related articles
- Treasure Chest Thursday – Tomaso Fratto (chicagofamilyhistory.wordpress.com)
- Treasure Chest Thursday – Teresa Ursetta (chicagofamilyhistory.wordpress.com)
- Wisdom Wednesday – Protecting Heirlooms (generationsbiz.com)
- Follow Friday – Official FGS2011 Bloggers (generationsbiz.com)
- Tuesday’s Tip – Use the Genealogy Digital Bookshelf (generationsofstories.net)
Tuesday’s Tip – Family Story Fact or Fiction
26 Apr 2011 1 Comment
in Genealogy Research Tags: Cherokee, family history, genealogy, Olieva Evans, Sara Turner
Tomorrow this will be posted on my Family History Research Blog but I thought it was appropriate to post here too.
I recently received a request for information on a tree I am working on for a friend on Ancestry.com. The person was requesting information on a woman named Olieva Evans. The family story on Olieva is that she was full blooded Cherokee. Adopted. Possible mother named Sara Turner who may have married a Doc Evans.
This person insisted over a few email conversations that they checked the Dawes Rolls front and backwards, up, down and sideways for Sara Turner and she is listed many times under many different names. I was also told that Sara is listed in the 1890s as being in her 30s. Ummmm really?
Let’s look at some facts. Olieva was born 15 June 1818 in Ohio. Married John E. Cunningham 27 Dec 1840 in Ohio. Died 31 Jul 1889 in Missouri. If Olieva was born in 1818, that would mean her mother Sara Turner would have been born around 1800 or just before. How could she possibly be in her 30s in the late 1890s? Sara would have been in her 90s if she was even still alive.
The Dawes enrollment began in 1893. Olieva had died by that time. I am assuming her mother had died prior to this also. None of Olieva’s children appear in the Dawes Rolls.
Now, I am no expert on Indian ancestry or the Dawes Rolls but from what I understand about the Rolls is that if you were part of one of the Five Civilized Tribes during and after 1893, you had the option to register with the Dawes Commission and receive land. There is no documentation for Olieva’s family or children indicating they were involved with any Indian tribe ever. Now, if someone has information proving otherwise, I would love to see it so please let me know.
The point of this post is to look at the names of the individuals you are searching for. Look at their dates. A person who was born about 1800 could not have been in their 30s in the 1890s. Just because someone has the same name does not make them the person you are looking for. Gather other facts to establish some level of proof or possibility. Do not tell me that this Sara Turner on the Dawes Rolls is the one you seek. It is very clear it is not. Show me some proof of this family being on the Rolls or stop telling me they are.
Tuesday’s Tip – Follow the Paper Trail
22 Feb 2011 Leave a Comment
in Genealogy Research Tags: ancestors, genealogical research, historical research, history sources, newspaper microfilm
While doing research for a client last week, I was reminded again to trust my gut and follow the paper trail even if it leads to a dead end. Sometimes this requires reading rolls and rolls of microfilm as you scan newspaper headlines looking for that one thing you need to help prove a theory. Other times it requires re-reading documents you already have in your possession to ensure you are not missing any vital pieces. And sometimes you just have to go with your gut and search the one source you feel is THE one to provide the answers.
Additional Family History Resources
14 Jan 2011 Leave a Comment
in Genealogy Research Tags: ancestor, ancestors, census records, Chicago, family histories, family history, family history resources, genealogist, genealogy, military records
There are many other family history resources available to discover preliminary genealogy information. I will list resources here but for more in-depth how-to get started on your research, see my list of resources below.
Major Resources for family history information
- Vital records
- Military records
- Census records
- Probate records
- Naturalization records
- Maps
- Cemeteries
- Property records
- Published family histories
- City directories
Resources to help get you started
Free Genealogy Guide. I like this site because it provides free resources on getting started.
Blog of a Genealogist in Training. This site is run by a fellow Chicago-area genealogist. She is on a different educational path than I am so be sure to check her out to learn more about learning to research.
Geneabloggers. Need help getting started with research or writing or other topics? Check out a list of over 1,500 genealogy and family history blog topics.
Investigate these family history resources and begin documenting your ancestors lives.
Genealogy Home Sources
13 Jan 2011 Leave a Comment
in Genealogy Research Tags: ancestor, ancestry, census records, family, genealogy, genealogy sources, History, military records
Yesterday I looked at using Census records for beginning research. Continuing on my quest to explain how to begin genealogical research, let’s look at home sources today. There are many types of documents that family historians use to locate genealogy information. These include:
- Bibles
- Birth, marriage and death records
- Photographs
- Diaries and journals
- Address books
- Old day planners
- Recipe books
- Military records
- Previously completed genealogy records
- Heirlooms
- Funeral cards and programs
- Wedding photograph books, programs, etc.
- Books (those written by a family member or about the family)
The list above demonstrates many varieties of home sources where genealogy family data can be located. This list is not extensive. Each item should be evaluated, the information recorded and the source cited. When information on an individual differs between sources, note that. Additional evidence will be required to prove which fact, if either, is correct.
Begin searching your home for genealogy sources. You never know what you will locate when you begin to search. All of these clues will lead you closer to writing your family history.
