Genealogy Plans for 2014?

What are your genealogy plans for 2014?

Me, I am going to finish up the last of my organizing (1 small box of phtographs and 1 even smaller box of negatives still to go). Then I will start making a dent in digitizing my genealogy papers.

On the research front, I will be going over the border this year. On one of my research lines I will be crossing the Dutch border into Germany and Poland. I am also going to be doing more research into my paternal line, trying to trace it a few generations further back.

And last, but not least, on a well-researched line I will be writing a biography on one of the siblings of my great-grandmother. I wrote one biography (of another of my great-grandmother's siblings) already, so now I am going to tackle the next one. This will require a little bit more research, but not too much. It does, however, involve at least three different archives. Fun times ahead.

So, what do you want to get done in 2014 on the genealogy front?

Aiming at some research into the non-Perkinses of
the paternal>maternal line: my father's mother's parents
and beyond. The surnames
are Alexander and Wallace.
There must be dozens of families of that name, most of them no longer considered
relatives by each other, in Virginia alone. (Virginia was thought, in family tradition, to be my paternal grandmother's
( nee Mary
Adelaide Alexander, d. before 1931) native state.)
But I learned on Google that
she was born in Woburn MA,
the same as my Perkins ancestors. (Of course, I realize, it could be the Google data, not the family tradition, that was wrong.)
I have no idea how to begin.

2> The best tip I can give - although I'm sure you've heard it before - is to go from what you know (and have documented) to what you don't know. Try to keep an open mind, so you don't miss any clues just because they don't fit the "known" family history.

Well, I've got to get some presentation proposals submitted soon. I've also got to finish my syllabus for this year's NGS soon. I'm going to keep plugging away at the autosomal DNA matches. I am working on a review of all my genealogical data. I know so much more now that I knew when I started researching. As I'm working on an ancestor, I'm bringing all the lines from that ancestor forward as far as I can since those are going to be my potential autosomal DNA matches. Maybe it will help identify some of these matches eventually! I will be going to NGS in Richmond so I am hoping for some research time at the Library of Virginia. I have a library conference near Fort Wayne this summer so I'm making sure I go early so I can use the Allen County Public Library's incredible genealogy collection.

I've got to get back writing up my family history; the REAL history, not the myths and legends which I grew up with.

Now that the old Australian newspapers are coming online I am discovering just how much my family didn't talk about and what a sleazy lot most of my mother's family were. I haven't started on my father's side yet but as they were mostly clergymen and missionaries I don't expect to find any scandals which I didn't know about already.

I am writing it all as an HTML document so that I can link the various parts, copy it to disc and send it to any family who are interested.

Myths and legends are a real pain to work with. They're great for clues so you can start looking, but often time they're so distorted. When you do find the truth, convincing family members the legend was wrong and your research is right is...problematic, sometimes.

Finding the stories behind the people is fun though, even if it's not a scandal.

I'm going to try to figure out how to trace my tree back further. The 1850 TN census shows my relative born in 1803 in NC. No idea where or who is parents are. Unfortunately, a trip isn't in the cards for me right now.

Also working on my MIL's family tree. I think we have connected her back to the American Revolution but I need to finish up some research. She has an entire branch that just disappears into the unknown. I find them as adults but not as children anywhere.

7> Have you found your relative in the 1840 census (and possibly the 1830 as he would have been old enough to be on his own)? You probably want to look at other records in the area he resided in 1850, including records that are not online. If you cannot travel, is there a Family History Center or Family History Center affiliate near you where you can order microfilm of records to be sent? You may also want to study neighbors, etc. in the 1850 census to see if they may have followed a similar migration pattern. In which county in Tennessee was your ancestor in 1850?

I did not look on the 1840 census. His name is James Dixon (Dickson as another spelling). Why couldn't it be Hugo or something? Anyway, according to the 1850 census, his 8th child and all before were born in NC (last one being 1846) and then the 9th, my gggg-grandfather was born in TN. They died and were buried in Crossville TN. I'm thinking to try to trace the 8th child and see if I can find any records on his birth place. I do have a family history center nearby and I need to get there. The problem is that the kids usually have activities at the same time. I'll have to get them a ride so I can go there!

Thanks for your suggestions thornton37814!

I've been looking up the 8th son on findagrave.com and the 1870 census but cannot locate him. I'm going to look in War records next, pretty sure he would have served and possible died

7,9: Do you know where/when he died? Got married? I've gotten marriage and death certificates for ancestors through county courthouses, and those may (or may not) have info such as place of birth or names of parents.

You should definitely try to trace all of the children of James. You never know what hints you'll find that will take you back further.

#11-Too early for marriage certificates. I'm looking into death certificates now

#12-Been trying to trace but they have the most common names, so many appear

I'm getting in touch with some great-aunts, in hopes of discovering old photos and hearing stories about the people they remember. I didn't ask my grandparents nearly enough questions when I had the chance.

#14-isn't that the truth!! I started on genealogy when my great-aunt was living. She was excited that I was interested and pulled out all kinds of photos for me to look at. Literally ten days before my trip home she passed and all that knowledge was gone. She was the last of her generation. Now I'm left with piles of pictures that I know nothing about.