This year when you are unwrapping your Christmas tree ornaments I have a fun idea for you and your family. Do you ever pause and recall when you purchased various ornaments? Do you have some ornaments that have adorned your Christmas tree for decades? These family heirlooms mean a great deal to me and my […]
Read more "The Genealogy of your Christmas Tree"On September 2, 2018 a devastating fire has potentially claimed and destroyed much of the 20 million plus objects at the Museu Nacional – National Museum of Brazil. This two hundred year old museum housed priceless artifacts from Ancient Egypt, Pompeii, as well as pieces of the rich history of Brazil. Luzia one of the […]
Read more "Virtual Museums: How the Public Can Keep History from Going up in Flames"Deadlines in Genealogy are often set by the Genealogist. However, have you ever stopped and thought what time it is on your Genealogical Clock? My recent birthday has initiated the countdown to my half century mark. I have been collecting family papers and researching my genealogy for the better part of my 49 years now. […]
Read more "What time is it on your Genealogical Clock?"In my family the tradition of climbing into the car and going to the local football field to watch the fireworks on July 4th is forever etched into my memory. However I can still remember my grandmother telling me stories about my 4th great-grandfather Capt. Jonathan Poor (1737-1807) of Newbury, Massachusetts on the Fourth of […]
Read more "Remembering the forgotten witnesses of the Revolutionary War this Fourth of July"Thanks to Patricia Greber’s “Let’s Honour our Military Ancestors in November“ Challenge – I thought I might share another World War I veteran story which only ended last year. My grand-father James Albert George Lambert, Jr. was born on the island of Saint Pierre and Miqueleon, France in 1887. This small island on the southern […]
Read more "Remembering Great Uncle Fred: A soldier from the Great War – no longer forgotten."Let it be known I have officially accepted the challenge posted recently by mygenealogylife.ca “Let’s Honour Our Military Ancestors in November” an 11 Day Challenge This broken hand colored photo I discovered in a trunk in our attic when I was just a boy of seven. This photo would spark my curiosity to learn more […]
Read more "Pausing to Remember in November: My soldier from World War I"For me it is easier to remember the birthdays of my ancestors from 100 or 200 odd years ago versus the birth date of a cousin born the same decade as myself. Sure I have my cousins birthdays written down, and I attended their birthday parties as a child. But for over forty years due […]
Read more "Why we may remember the Birthday of our Ancestors better than our own first cousins."Sometimes you accidentally stumble upon a goldmine online. I am happy to report that the Massachusetts Archives Collection has now a digitized collection. In 1987 I started using the Massachusetts Archives Collection 1629-1799 (328 microfilms) when I worked on the reference staff at the Mass. State Archives. These volumes are a wonderful source for Massachusetts […]
Read more "Massachusetts Archives Collection (1629-1799) now available Online"When I discovered King Edward I of England was my ancestor I made a point to purchase a hammered silver penny of him a quarter century ago. What a fascinating way to touch history from the time of my ancestor from centuries past. When my daughters were born I made sure I purchased a U.S. […]
Read more "Can you spare a Penny for your Ancestors? Collecting Coins of your Family Tree."In 1925 my widowed Grandmother Lillian Mae (Poor) MacDonald (1896-1980) would marry her second husband. This marriage to British born John Samuel Lea (1901-1965) in Dorchester, Massachusetts would bring into this world my own mother Joan Lois. Also in this union would be born my uncles John George “Buddy” Lea; Ralph Clarence Lea; Robert Edward […]
Read more "Remembering my non-Grandfather Daniel"