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Showing posts from July, 2006

Old Photographs

Online Collections DeadFred (46,348 records): http://deadfred.com/ Ancient Faces (30,700+ photos): http://www.ancientfaces.com/ Family Old Photos (10,000+ photos) : http://www.familyoldphotos.com/ Lost Faces : http://www.rootsweb.com/~ote/faces/ - 50 albums, each with many surnames Family Fotos Online (1759 surnames): http://fourkings.freeyellow.com/Page2.html A couple of sites new, or new to me - FordandNagle (Kentucky based): http://fordnagle.com/ , and LostAndFoundPhotos.net , hosted by PhotoGrafix: http://www.lostandfoundphotos.net/ Dating Old Photos Follow the Clues - Dating Your Photographs : http://www.genealogy.com/genealogy/73_taylor.html Date an old Photo (links to Brit photo sites): http://www.cartes.freeuk.com/time/date.htm Dating Old Photographs : http://www.familychronicle.com/dating.htm Dating Old Photographs : http://genealogy.about.com/cs/photodating/ Carte-de-viste http://www.photographymuseum.com/histsw.htm http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/roadshow/speak/carte

Poland

Maps Shtetl Seeker : http://www.jewishgen.org/ShtetlSeeker/ Maps of Poland, provinces and towns : http://maxpages.com/poland/Maps_and_Towns_Poland Polish Historical Maps : http://www.progenealogists.com/poland/ Maps of Poland : http://www.masterpage.com.pl/maps/mapsofpoland.html Polish Maps 1921, 1939 : http://www.pgsa.org/polishmaps.htm Poltran for translations in Polish: http://www.poltran.com/ POLISH GENEALOGY - directory to Polish genealogy resources, databases and websites related to Polish ancestry and research of roots with links to Austrian, Belarusian, German, Jewish, Russian, Ukrainian and worldwide genealogy-related sites: http://polishroots.netfirms.com/ Please also see European Research for many more general links: http://genweblog.blogspot.com/2006/02/european-research.html Poland And Information About Polish Business And Culture : http://www.masterpage.com.pl/ He who possesses the source of enthusiasm will achieve great things. Doubt not. You will gather friends aroun

Google Earth and Moon

Fun, and practical! The latest from Google is Google Moon , which debuted on the 30th anniversary of "one giant step for mankind." Be sure to go to full magnification! Next, a program you must download from Google (9MB, free): http://desktop.google.com/download/earth/ ; Google Earth . Available is a tool where you can overlay images on top of satellite photos. Try importing a plat map image on top of a satellite photo of the area where your ancestors lived, and you will be looking at a photographic map of your ancestors' property! Adjust the size, orientation, and the transparency level of the imported image, so you can match up the roads, rivers, or other landmarks of the satellite image to your transparency. Drag to toggle between the map and the satellite image. This idea is from an Ancestry Quick Tip by Scott Aaron. Thanks, Scott! For $20, you can get Google Earth Plus, which allows you to integrate GPS information, and print higher-res maps. On Eastman's I saw a

Cowans in the Wellington County Historical Atlas

James Cowan Sr. in Biographical Sketches of Early Settlers of Wellington County , Ontario, Canada (Historical Atlas of the County of Wellington, Ontario. Toronto: Historical Atlas Publishing Co., 1906): http://www.rootsweb.com/~onwellin/pioneers/cowan_james_sr.htm    James was born in Selkirk, Scotland in 1790. He married Margaret NICHOL (d. 1883 age 92), and came to Galt in 1829, and died there in 1867. James' son Thomas lived on the Galt homestead of 235 acres. The oldest son James Jr. was b. Selkirk SCT in 1825, and lived in Guelph on the West End Road. He m. Jane BEATTY (d. 1888 age 59). William Cowan (my gggrandfather): http://www.rootsweb.com/~onwellin/pioneers/cowan_walter.htm    William b. "Yarrow Fews, (sic) " Selkirkshire, Scotland, came to Canada in 1831. He was a weaver in Scotland. He took up a farm about one mile outside of Galt which he cleared and where he died. He was a Presbyterian and a Conservative. He m. (1) Jennie SCOTT, of the Scotts of Harden, an

FOUR COWAN FAMILIES by Jennie F. Cowan

from a copy of a typescript with notes, sent to me by Dr. Mathison. -v (Note across the top in JFCs writing: To keep up interest in the Cowans) FOUR COWAN FAMILIES By Jennie F. Cowan [written after 1985, JFmathison] In the early 1800's there lived in Selkirkshire, Scotland, four Cowan brothers, sons of a James Cowan, according to the family of [ii] Andrew, who was born in 1767. The other brothers were; [I] William, born in 1752, [iii] Thomas in 1771 and [iv] Walter in 1778. A couple of these dates have been calculated from newspaper articles at the time of their deaths. [i, ii remained in USA; iii died in Scotland, iv came to Canada) The people in Scotland had been hearing more and more about America, a land on the other side of the Atlantic needing settlers. There the common man could own land, cut down the trees on it, construct buildings, till the soil, sow seed and reap fruits of his handiwork. In Scotland most of the land was still in the hands of the Lords. [ii] Andrew and hi

James Cowan, Wellington 1901 Census

James & family, Wellington County 1901 Census - Guelph Guelph Township Census Index 1901 1901 Census Province/Territory: Ontario district name: WELLINGTON (South/Sud) District Number; 1S -Sub-district name: Guelph Sub-district Number: d -1chedule: 1 Reference: RG31 Statistics Canada Microfilm Reel Number: T-6505 Finding aid Number: 31-40 -13 Pages Entry may include: * The Name (and initials in many cases) * The Sex * The position in the household * Whether married, single, widowed, lodger, niece, etc * The complete date of birth * Age at last birthday * Place born The ‘u’ or ‘r’ that follows the Place born is important. Eg. Ont ‘r’ stands for rural or a ‘u’ stands for urban (although they are often difficult to distinguish). They can help you locate birth information. * Year of Immigration if born outside of Canada * Religion * Ethnic Origin * Occupation * The number of months worked * Wages, etc. Guelph Twp. Part 2 - Pg 4 C

Ontario COWANs, 1871 Census

Canadian Federal Census of 1871, Wellington South (Ontario Index) ArchiviaNet: http://www.collectionscanada.ca/02/02010803_e.html I need to read these films! I left out the Irish Cowans. COWAN , WALTER Sex: Male Age: 54 Birthplace: SCOTLAND Religion: Canada Presbyterian/C. Presb. Origin: SCOTCH Occupation: FARMER District: WELLINGTON SOUTH ( 033 ) Sub-district: Puslinch ( A ) Division: 1 Page: 22 Microfilm reel: C-9945 Reference: RG31 — Statistics Canada COWAN , WALTER Sex: Male Age: 36 Birthplace: ONT Religion: Evangelical Union Origin: SCOTCH Occupation: CARPENTER District: WELLINGTON SOUTH ( 033 ) Sub-district: Guelph Township ( B ) Division: 3 Page: 18 Microfilm reel: C-9945 Reference: RG31 — Statistics Canada COWAN , WILLIAM Sex: Male Age: 51 Birthplace: SCOTLAND Religion: Canada Presbyterian/C. Presb. Origin: SCOTCH Occupation: FA

Cowan Marriage Bonds in Upper and Lower Canada

Library and Archives Canada/Canadian Genealogy Centre have put the Upper and Lower Canada Marriage Bonds online: http://www.collectionscanada.ca/022/012/index-e.html Lower Canada later became Quebec, while Upper Canada became Ontario. Here are the Cowan Marriage Bonds: Lower Canada Name of Future Husband: O'SULLIVAN, Timothy Residence: Quebec Name of Future Wife: COWAN, Catherine Residence: Quebec Remarks: Reference: RG 4 B28 Volume: 30 Bond Number: 79 Date: 1819-09-21 Microfilm Reel Number: H-1129 Name of Future Husband: COWAN, James Residence: late of Belfast, Ireland Name of Future Wife: PATTERSON, Mary Residence: late of Belfast, Ireland Remarks: Reference: RG 4 B28 Volume: 31 Bond Number: 285 Date: 1822-08-06 Microfilm Reel Number: H-1129 Name of Future Husband: BARWIS, Thomas Bienvenue Residence: Quebec Name of Future Wife: COWAN, Ann Elizabeth Residence: Quebec Remarks: Reference: RG 4 B28 Volume: 33 Bond Number: 529 Date: 1825-10-31 Microfi

Thomas Cowan WWI Attestation

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COWAN , THOMAS (not Grandpa, though) Regimental number: 3032575 Reference: RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 2069 - 11

Germany

Finding places in old Germany: ShtetlSeeker : http://www.jewishgen.org/ShtetlSeeker/loctown.htm Meyers Geographical and Commercial Gazetteer of the German Empire ( Meyers Orts- und Verkehrs-Lexikon des Deutschen Reichs in German) now FREE at Ancestry: http://genweblog.blogspot.com/2008/06/meyers-ort-online-and-free.html GEOserv (email process): http://www.genealogienetz.de/misc/geoserv.html German Place Database : http://www.saxonyroots.com/place/index.php?lang=en Topography Keyword list with links to sources: http://www.digitalis.uni-koeln.de/digitaletexte_keywords.html    in German German Maps : http://genweblog.blogspot.com/2006/05/german-maps.html Genealogy.net (German & English): http://www.genealogy.net Germany GenWeb : http://www.rootsweb.com/~wggerman/ Links for German Genealogy on the Internet : http://home.att.net/~wee-monster/germanlinks.html Ahnenforschung.net (in German; IRC chat as well as information): http://ahnenforschung.net/ and http://alsachat.net/wiki/i

1880 US Census Free to Search at Ancestry

Interesting article from the the Ancestry newsletter - BEYOND THE INDEX: "MORE 1880 CENSUS SEARCH OPTIONS," by Michael John Neill =================================================================== We have looked at the 1880 census search interface at Ancestry.com in the past. This week we revisit the search interface, which now offers researchers eighteen fields upon which to search. The variety of search options allows researchers to potentially locate undiscovered family members. However, the increased number of search options requires the researcher to be organized and systematic. This week we look at some strategies I used in my attempts to locate two of my ancestors' lost siblings in the 1880 census. Note: The 1880 Census Index at Ancestry.com is free and use of the database does not require a paying membership. Access to images of the census is available for a subscription fee. The entire article is available at http://www.ancestry.com/rd/prodredir.asp?sourceid=

Cowans to Australia

I met Marleemia in the #Australia Rootsweb IRC channel tonight, and she directed me to the State Records NSW - The New South Wales Government's Archives and Records Management Authority: http://www.records.nsw.gov.au/archives/indexes_online_3357.asp I know that family stories say that one of the Cowans went from Selkirkshire to Australia before 1832, when our bunch went to Ontario, Canada, but I have not learned WHO went, or exactly when. So I searched on the Colonial Secretary Index, 1788-1825 and found: COWAN, James. Came free per "Triton", 1825 1825 n.d., Nov 24 Memorial (Fiche 3125; 4/1841A No.166 pp.73-86) 1825 Nov 19,28 On list of persons who have received orders for grants of land (Fiche 3266; 9/2652 p.87); on list of lands granted and reserved by Sir Thomas Brisbane (Fiche 3269; 9/2740 p.7) and COWAN, Andrew. Came free per "Triton", 1825 1825 n.d., Nov 24 Memorial (Fiche 3125; 4/1841A No.166 pp.73-86) 1825 Nov 19,28 On list of persons who have received o

WWII Enlistment File

New at NARA - World War II Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File - 9 million records The NARA website says: This series has records on about nine million men and women who enlisted during World War II in the United States Army, including Army Reserves and the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps. NARA scanned War Department microfilmed punch cards on enlistments to support the reconstruction of the military personnel records at its National Personnel Record Center. Because of the microfilm's poor condition, approximately 1.5 million records could not be scanned. Also, the file has no records for Army officers, members of other services or enlistments for other time periods. In general, each record has the serial number of a soldier, person's name, state and county of residence, place of enlistment, date of enlistment, grade, branch, term of enlistment, place of birth, year of birth, race, education, civilian occupation, marital status, and component. These records present uniq

Naturalization

History of the United States Naturalization Process : http://www.archives.state.co.us/natinfo.htm INS - History, Genealogy and Education: http://uscis.gov/graphics/aboutus/history/index.htm National Archives - Naturalization Records: http://www.archives.gov/research_room/genealogy/research_topics/naturalization_records.html Pledging Allegiance - Naturalization Records : http://rwguide.rootsweb.com/lesson16.htm Sample Certificate of Naturalization : http://www.history.rochester.edu/jssn/natucert.gif A Gold Mine Of Naturalization Records In New England : http://www.ilw.com/lawyers/articles/2005%2C0603-hickey.shtm    Index to naturalization records from 301 courts in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, & Vermont, available as NARA Microfilm Publication M1299, Index to New England Naturalization Petitions, 1791–1906 from NARA, and from the LDS as FHL US/CAN Film 1429671 - 1429787, 117 films in all. Consult the film notes page on the FHL Catalog for coverage of each f

French Emigration Indexes

From the Research Outline at http://familysearch.org : http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/Rg/guide/Germany14.asp#emigration_and_immigration Many Germans either lived in Elsaß-Lothringen (Alsace-Lorraine) or passed through it to emigrate. The following sources help identify many of them. Alsace Emigration Index . The Family History Library has compiled an index of persons who emigrated from or through Elsaß-Lothringen from 1817 to 1866 . About half the names are from southern Germany. The alphabetical index gives the emigrant's name, age, occupation, place of origin, residence, destination, passport date, and source microfilm number. Not everyone who emigrated via Alsace is in this index. The index is easiest to find in the Author/Title Search of the Family History Library Catalog under Alsace Emigration Index.Look this term up in the glossary. It is also listed as: France. Ministre de l'Intrieur. Registres des émigrés, 1817-1866 (Index of emigrants, 1817-1866). Salt Lake C

Searching Census

U.S. federal census records are a common starting point for most American researchers after they have gathered information from home sources. The population schedules were used for censuses from 1790 to 2000, including the 1885 census for Colorado, the Dakota Territory, Florida, Nebraska, and the New Mexico Territory. The cost for the 1885 enumeration was split between the federal and state/territorial governments. Population schedules are, of course, the most frequently used census record type. These are followed by mortality schedules (available for 1850-1885) and slave schedules (1850 and 1860). There were, however, other non-population census schedules used over time for the collection of other information. These include agricultural schedules (1850-1885), industry or manufacturing schedules (1810, 1820, 1850-1885), veterans’ and widows’ schedules (1890), social statistics (1850-1870), and the defective and delinquent classes schedules (1880). We also use enumeration district (ED)

Revolutionary War Ancestor Research

The following article is from Eastman’s Online Genealogy Newsletter and is copyright 2006 by Richard W. Eastman. It is re-published here with the permission of the author. Information about the newsletter is available at http://www.eogn.com Searching for Your Revolutionary War Ancestor As Americans celebrate Independence Day this week, perhaps now is the time to focus on finding more information about your ancestors who took part in the war that brought independence to this great nation. Luckily, there are numerous online resources to help you get started. I would suggest that you first read an excellent introductory article, Finding Your Patriot: Basic Sources for Starting Revolutionary War Research by Curt Witcher. Curt is the department manager for the Historical Genealogy Department of Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and is a well-known and respected genealogy researcher. His excellent article can be found at Finding Your Patriot: Basic Sources for Starting Rev

Heritage Quest in Sumner, Washington

From Barbara Heutchy, and Nell Snodgrass: Heritage Quest Research Library in Sumner has an institutional membership to New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS) online, giving patrons access to http://www.newenglandancestors.org . "NewEnglandAncestors.org has grown to include access to over 110 million names in 2,200 databases!" The library has 2 computers, and also is wired so you can take your own laptop and have wireless internet access. They also have Ancestry Library edition (same as King County libraries have). If you're not a member of HQRL, there is a fee of $5/day to use the facility. More info is available on their website: http://www.hqrl.com/index.html . Their library catalog is easy to browse online before you go to get some idea of what books are available there. Heritage Quest, formerly in Orting, is now in Sumner on Main Street next to the burned-out KC Caboose Restaurant. 909 Main Street, Sumner. To raise new questions, new possibilities, to