FamilySearch and RootsTech March 3 - 5

 

     

     Are you interested in finding your family? Your father's (paternal) or your mother's (maternal) side? Do you want to learn more about how to find the records to search for your great-great-grandmother/grandfather? One of the best things about Family History is Family. So researching family isn't hard. However, if you've never researched, it can be daunting and a bit intimidating. I know I was when I first started. Along my Family History journey, I made hundreds of mistakes, and even though I am taking college classes for Family History research, I still make mistakes. Trust me, I'm no scholar when it comes to research or knowing how to put together a research report or the verbatim wordage to use. But I try every day to improve my skill set. 

     Learning how to research, use pedigree charts, and Family Group records were self-learned before I joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in 1999. After then, life happened, and I fell away from the Church in 2003. However, even during those times, I still researched. In fact, I never stopped. I became active again in 2015, and that was then; it was "All or nothing," I remember saying when I answered the door to two sister Missionaries. 

     In 2017, while praying, I asked Heavenly Father what He wanted me to do. I was serving already at the Stake Family History Center, attending the Temple, and providing service to those in need. This was the second time Heavenly Father purposely sought me out, and I didn't/don't want to screw it up. But I wanted to do more. It was then I had maybe a dream or premonition of seeing myself helping people with their Family History, I was at home, talking to a young lady on the computer, and I had a missionary tag on. Still, the dream made no sense. I was at home; I have a dog I could not bear to not be with for an extended period of time, let alone eighteen months. 

     I told my family History center leader what I had dreamt or seen, and she said to go for it. Of course, I needed solid confirmation, and I prayed about it. The next day I was on Facebook thumbing the feed, and I saw an ad from FamilySearch, "Do you want to serve a mission?" I clicked the hyperlink. Long story short, three months later, I was serving a service mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints from June 2017 and served until June 2020 for Virtual Records of Operation (VROC), out of Virginia. 

Virtual Remote Operation Centers are specific groups of people who help with many things concerning family history work, including special indexing projects, for FamilySearch. I loved my mission. I was able to help people (like you) find their ancestors in the documents that we were indexing. I loved my mission so much my plans are after I graduate in the Spring of 2022 (in just a few short months) from BYU-Idaho; I am planning on serving a FamilySearch Records mission, mainly because I know how important this work is.    

Now back to FamilySearch. 

     So do you have a Family Tree started? Where you can work on it at your leisure and Free? Let me answer a few questions. 

• Is FamilySearch better than Ancestry?

Ancestry and FamilySearch are both excellent online family history services. FamilySearch is a completely free genealogy database website, with primarily free access to records (records from Fold3 being the notable exception). You can use an Advanced Search tool by surname, record type, and/or place to access millions of records. The FamilySearch Wiki is a "go-to" resource to find what exists for many family history topics, even beyond FamilySearch's extensive databases.

     If you do not have a FamilySearch account, you can register an account and start your own genealogical family tree. Also, FamilySearch is FREE, no charge; did I mention that already? Also, no missionaries will show up at your door, I promise, that is unless you request them to, but that is up to you.  

Seriously, what is the worst that can happen when you find new family members? If you need help in doing so, I am always available to help you along the way, in a no-stress, no-frills way, and by Zoom.

 If you already have a FamilySearch account, you can do this easily. Log on, then click on the top banner that says Try Relatives at Rootstech: See your relationship to cousins around the world. Click on "Find new Cousins." The next page displays the number of relatives that have joined FamilySearch to see on an interactive map and send a message to connect "View Relatives." Then the next page is RootsTech Relatives; you can find new relatives by location, by an ancestor, search for an ancestor, or talk/message the contacts you have made. 

     If you have not signed up for Rootstech, I suggest you do! These classes are FREE for the 2nd year in a row. 

     RootsTech starts on the 3^rd of March and concludes on the 5^th of March - (Thursday, Friday, and Saturday). The classes are Free, and the topics are Connection, DNA, Family Historian, Family History Search, Family Members, Family Tree Chart, Getting Started, Historical Events, Historical People, Historical Places, Preservation, Professional Genealogist, Race and Ethnicity, Record Custodians, Research Help, Research Methods, Storytelling, Technology, Traditions and Travel. There are 5 to 10 subclasses on each topic! If you miss a class you really want to see, YouTube is your friend. However, some of those classes will only be available for a limited time. So tuning in with a notebook for note-taking is the best strategy. 

So are you one of my cousins? Let us 

find out! 

 

How did I know I wanted to become a Genealogist?

     Genealogy has always has been my passion since I was a little girl at 9 years of age. Just a little history, my grandmother (maternal) had lost her husband in 1964, several years before I was born.  In their living room, and in their bedroom, there were numerous painted pictures that Jacob hand-painted and framed sketches. 

     As it was told to me, one of those paintings was on exhibit in the Guggenheim museum. Sadly though, through extensive research, and numerous phone calls to the museum and area museums; I have not found this to be true, or no record of such occurrence.  

     Jacob Stephen Reuter was also in the US Army, he was stationed overseas multiple times, and he received multiple War medals. They were framed and placed in the hutch, and alongside on the wall of the hutch. My grandmother Lena and I would go over how grandpa Jacob received all of his medals, and when, even having a Purpleheart medal.    

     As inquisitive as I was, each time I would go to her apartment, I would ask questions. Finally one day, my grandmother handed me a black and white composition book, and she sat down with me. Anytime thereafter, she would sit down with me and tell me all about my grandfather as I took notes in this composition book. I was mesmerized as she told me the stories of her husband, writing down each date, each memory she had of him. 

     Soon after this cherished composition book became known as the "Book of the Dead" as my Mother said. She would always ask, do you always have to bring that book of the dead when we visit family. My reply as a young child and a teenager were "yes Mom, I do".  One year, my mother had enough of me carrying around this "Morbid" book, she took it and said she thrown it out. All of that information, through the years, of not only her father and mother's information, but of great grandmothers and grandfather's information, but of cousins and aunts and uncles birthdates, and marriage dates, even some pictures, all were gone. As a teenager, I was devastated. My mother and stepfather were in the midst of getting a divorce, in 1985, and Mom wasn't in her right mind, I kept telling myself. 

     Several years prior to 2003, my mother had been ill. In and out of hospitals, different diagnoses. Virginia had always been a smoker of menthol cigarettes, Kool and Salem were her preferred brands, however, to appease the doctors who kept insisting that she quit smoking, she went to a lower tar and nicotine cigarette.  At some time prior to 2003, Virginia was diagnosed with COPD and the beginnings of emphysema. Mom had always suffered from asthma as a child and throughout her adolescence and into her adulthood. It progressively got better with time, but whenever mom got sick with a normal cold, it would turn into bronchitis.  However, Virginia always downplayed what the diagnosis was, in fact, she was diagnosed with thyroid disease, which mom quickly dismissed, and soon thereafter quit taking the medication she was prescribed. Her other daughter believes that she definitely had thyroid disease, because, the loss of hair, brittle nails, and the horrible dry skin that Virginia had. Also, her other daughter was diagnosed with thyroid disease, as well as her granddaughter, who was born with thyroid disease. 

     The only medication that seemed to help Virginia's breathing problems was prednisone, and she relied heavily on it, and on her albuterol inhaler.  The final time I had talked to my mother, after just returning from a visit to New York, she told me where some very important documents were in her apartment, as well as items she wanted me to personally have because she knew I wouldn't sell them for personal gain, and with strict instructions, I was to give them to my daughter when my time had run out on this earth.  These items could be found in her bottom drawer in her nightstand. 

     On the 13th of March 2003, Virginia's time had run out on this earth, and she was called home to Heavenly Father. Virginia was born on 22 July in 1947, she was only fifty-five years old when she passed away. 

     While her other daughter and I were cleaning out Virginia's apartment after the funeral, deciding where to send all of her clothes, dishes, and housewares, which most of them went to the Catholic diocese in Brooklyn, New York.  Also to the Catholic Church Virginia attended, and to her sister Linda who still resided in Brooklyn. While my sister and I were in Virginia's bedroom, I remembered the conversation I had previously with Virginia. In that bottom drawer was several mementos of Virginias.  The catholic prayer book she was given by her mother, Lena, on Virginia's first holy communion. Inside of that prayer book was pictures of her that were taken for her Holy Communion, and of her brother Stephen. Also in that book, were pictures of Linda, Virginia's sister for her Holy Communion.

     These were pictures that I had never seen. Also in the pages of her prayer book were catholic mass cards for her brother-in-law, Anthony Reuter, and her Uncle's wife Maria Harsen, who was Maria Reuter or as we knew her to be, Tonda Marie. Also, a mass card for Marie's 2nd husband Edward R. Harsen.  

These were all precious to Virginia, even the newspaper clipping of when Elvis Presley passed away!

However, at the bottom of her drawer was my black and white composition book and a small jewelry box that contained her Mother's watch that her husband Jacob Reuter gave her for Christmas in 1945.  

Also, Virginia's High school diploma, where she graduated in California, not in New York as we had thought. 

Now, these mementos are very precious to me. Because this is what my mother held near to her heart. 

These are the simple reasons why I want to become a genealogist, because of family. 

Brick walls.... Breaking down the barrier one brick at a time...

For me, my maternal Grandfather and his lineage have been my brick wall. Only until recently was I able to chisel down to a name.

His Father's name. Imagine my almost frantic search for a little over 15 years, looking, searching, and just little teasers. I already had my Grandfather's birth-date and death-date and dates of Immigration, his two other son's information, and his daughter's information, but as far as any other information, nothing. Not finding any other information was my proverbial "Brick Wall."

Now a lot of my earlier research on the internet has been "tongue and cheek." Usually, I would end up with some pretty phenomenal results. I found my Grandfather on Find A Grave and my Grandmother as well. Sometimes just entering one of your relatives and their birth and death dates can be pretty lucrative. That is what I did with my Grandfather. I entered Jacob Stephen Reuter, birth 15 September 1912, and died 3 February 1964, and that is how I initially found him on find a grave.

Jacob is buried at Long Island National Cemetery in East Farmingdale, Suffolk County, New York. 

Lena Mae Lee, Jacob's wife, was born on 22 January 1921, to George Louis Lee Sr and Elsie Mae Bowden in Vernon, Wilbarger County, Texas. Lena Mae Reuter was 72 when she died on 30 December 1993, and she is buried at Long Island National Cemetery East Farmingdale, Suffolk County, New York.                                    

Jacob S Reuter and Lena Mae Lee were married on 5 June in 1943 at First Baptist Church in Gainesville, Cooke County, Texas. 

5 Jun 1943 • Cooke County, Texas, USA

Next, how I found Jacob's father...Peter Reuter.

As most of my readers have asked, "how do I begin"? As Julie Andrews has sung in The Sound of Music: 

"Let's start at the very beginning, a perfect place to start...." You start with what you know, YOU!

So, do I go out and buy all those funny looking charts and print up a ton? NO, for goodness sake, NO! You have charts at your fingertips, just find one you prefer and print, voila! So, for ease of reference, here is a simple, easy, easy chart that you can go with, for now.

Now you can do like me, for when I first started over twenty years ago, I started on paper. Starting with me, myself, and I.

My name, my birth date, and where I was born. Wow, simple! Now, this is where things get difficult, parents. Some may not know, we may not have a Dad or a Mom that we can call on a daily or a monthly or bi-6month or a lifetime. You go with what you know, AND if you are adopted, GO WITH WHAT YOU KNOW. This isn't meant to be painful or dredge up bad memories or anything of the like. This is all about YOU and finding out where you come from. Easy and painless.

Choose either Maternal (Mother), the Websters #3 definition: derived from a mother [1]: or Paternal (Father) and again the Websters #3 definition: related to the father's side.[2] Since I personally knew my Mother's name and my biological father's name, I was able to do that, now, birth-dates of both were easy, but the year, not so much. So, I made a phone call to my Mother, and with a lot of why's and wherefore's she told me both her and my biological father's birth-date, and of course, while I had her on the phone, I asked about my maternal grandmother and her husband, my grandfather (my Mother's parents). Confused yet? Trust me, keep it simple. Sometimes on notebook paper, it'll come together, and don't forget about your Mother being long-winded and telling you stories of your great-grandparents because they will; keep writing everything down. Just let her talk and talk and talk. You'll have later  to verify these "sources." Hopefully, while on the phone with your Mother, she's told you where she was born, and maybe where your grandmother was born. Remember, you will be able to verify these "sources."

So, let's start with my personal pedigree chart above. The first person is me never mind the spouses, that'll come later in my next blog post. I have listed my maiden name, not my married name, Why?

When recording your genealogical data on charts, some important conventions should be followed concerning names, dates, and places. By following these standard rules, you can help ensure that your genealogy data is as complete as possible and not be misinterpreted by others.

1. Record names in their natural order - first, middle, last (surname: A Family name, surname, or last name, is the part of a person's name that indicates to what family they belong. ). Use full names if known. If the middle name is not known, you may use an initial.

2. Print SURNAMES in upper case letters. This provides easy scanning on pedigree charts and family group sheets and distinguishes the surname from first and middle names. This convention is widely used but is not necessary. Example: Wendy Lee ROSE (please take note, I did not use this form, its all a matter of personal preference)

3. Enter women with their maiden name their surname at birth, rather than their husband's surname. When you do not know a female's maiden name, insert only her first given name on the chart followed by empty parentheses (). Some genealogists also record the husband's surname. Both ways are correct as long as you are consistent and follow all naming rules.

4. If a woman has had more than one husband, then you would enter her given name, followed by her maiden name in parentheses, followed by the names of any previous husbands (in order of marriage). If the middle name is known, then you may enter that as well. 

5. If there is a commonly used nickname for an ancestor, include it in quotes after the given name. Do not use it in place of a given name and do not enclose it in parentheses (parentheses between a given name and surname is used to enclose maiden names and will cause confusion if it is also used for nicknames). If the nickname is a common one (i.e., Kim for Kimberly), it is not necessary to record it. Example: Rachel "Shelley" Lynn BROWN

6. If a person is known by more than one name (i.e., due to adoption, name change, etc.), then include the alternate name or names in parentheses after the surname, preceded by a.k.a. Example: William Tom LAKE (a.k.a. William Tom FRENCH) As listed above in my tree, it shows my daughter listed as M May (Hewitt) because she was adopted by my second husband.

* YOU CAN NOT DISCOUNT A MARRIAGE EVEN IF IT ENDED BADLY, OR A DEATH*

Simply just fill the information in, even though you don't "count it" it still happened. Signing a court document negates personal preference and a whole lot of confusion twenty to thirty years later. Then your family members down the line while doing their genealogy will find out about it, and not know what to do with all this other information.

7. Be sure to include alternate spellings when your ancestor's surname has changed over time. This possibly is due to the name being spelled phonetically or due to the surname being changed upon immigration into a new country. Record the earlier usage of the surname first, followed by later usages. Example: Michael HAIR/HIERS

*note* My Grandfather Jacob Stephen Reuter is a perfect example of this. On the ship's manifest "The Berlin," his name was "Stefan Jakob Reuter" when he arrived in the States, and upon filling out his declaration, he "changed" his name to be more American. He switched his given name and the middle name, and it is known on his military DD-214 records, as Jacob Stephen Reuter.

8. Don't be afraid to use the notes field. For example, if you have a female ancestor whose birth name was the same as her husband's surname, then you will want to make a note of that so that it is not assumed in the future that you had just entered it incorrectly.

Whew! That is a whole lot of information, isn't it? Yes, will you use it? Yes.

[1] "Definition of Maternal." n.d., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/maternal. Accessed 19 October 2020.

[2] "Definition of PATERNAL." n.d., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paterna l. Accessed 19 October 2020