Timelines put genealogical events into perspective

Timelines are a great asset in genealogical research. They can help put personal and family events into perspective by including local, national and even global events. 

They also come in quite handy if you have relatives with the same repeating name or even similar names. My husband’s side (the Eckman family) has one branch where everyone is John something or other. Timelines help me make sure I have the right spouse and children with the right John Eckman! 

 

Including local and national events may give insight on why you are having a hard time finding information. It may also give direction. For example, my uncle was born in 1916 and died in 1918. It was not until I spoke with a local funeral director that I realized how badly the flue epidemic hit Coatesville in 1918 that I realized why I was having such a hard time. She and a local parish priest both confirmed that, sadly, so many died that many babies in particular were buried in group graves left unmarked and now barely remembered. 

Using my my 4x great grandmother as an example:

Margaret Still is my 4x great grandmother. She was born in 1788 to Charles and Margaret Rhoades Still, of Uwchlan Township, Chester County. She has three brothers: Charles, Henry and Jacob. My family line gets a little confusing when I get back to her since she had two male children out of wedlock. The father – or fathers – are unconfirmed. When she got pregnant, her father put her out on a farm in a different township within the same county. I always wondered how she made a living and got on with her day to day life without any family support. 

Margaret’s Timeline:

1788 – Margaret was born in PA. The Constitution was ratified.

1790 – Neighboring Philadelphia becomes the nation’s seat of government.

1793 – Law is passed in the US compelling escaped slaves to return to their owners.

1794 – Whiskey Insurrection in Pennsylvania

1800 – Seat of government moves from Philadelphia to Washington, DC.

1808 - Son George born on 3 May

1812 – US declared war on Britain.

1820 – US Land Law set a fixed land price at $1.25 an acre, minimum.

1823 - Son David born

1827 - Court records show David Phillips committed fornication against her.

1828 – As per Sheriff Deeds, she purchased three (3) lots from the Kennedys in East Fallowfield Twp.

1830 – Her son George marries Sarah BING on 30 December

1830 - land records show Margaret sold son George 37 acres, a bldg, a horse and a cattle

1845 - son David marries Agnes Armstrong 16 April

1850 - census shows her living w/David and his wife and their son William in East Fallowfield Twp.; Fugitive Slave Law was passed in 1850 and East Fallowfield Twp. Played an active role in the Underground Railroad.

1851 - 23 January she sold George land purchased on 2 Feb 1829

1870 - census shows her living w/David in Marshalltown, East Fallowfield Twp.

1871 - 4 December wrote will

1872 - Margaret died in East Fallowfield Twp., Chester County, PA

1872 - 15 August will executed 

A timeline essentially puts events in chronological order and incorporates them with historical events. By creating a timeline, I can now see where I need to focus as well as understand my ancestor in a more historical context.

 

© Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman, 2015

Speaking in symbols from the grave

As genealogists, by nature, we all have a special affection for graveyards. To find a family plot, with everyone’s information and sometimes parents’ info, is a sort of adrenalin rush. When I first started visiting cemeteries, my family stones were pretty plain. I get so jealous sometimes when I see the clues that other families left behind for their descendants. I can almost hear my ancestors giggling. 

This Still family stone lists Person G. (1884-1977), Mary K. (1885–1916), Margaret (1908–1909), James (1910-1979), and Dorothy (1912-1912). Through deductive reasoning, even if I did not know who they were, one could reason that Pierson is the father and Mary, the mother. Since there is a flag with a military marker at the grave, one could surmise that James had served, which in fact he had. The stone is very plain, just like Pierson was in life. While you cannot tell from just looking at this stone, it cannot be the first, or at the very least, it was erected after their other son, my grandfather Lloyd, had married since he is not included. The stone also does not mention that Mary died in childbirth and her stillborn child is buried with her. Without any decoration of any kind on the stone, one can not – and should not – assume anything about the family. 

Military

Most of my family members, who were in the military, did not have anything commemorative on their stones. However some use an anchor for the Navy. A castle may mean the deceased was with the US Army Corps of Engineers. The Southern Cross of Honor was used for Confederate Veterans. 

Organizations

Organizations may offer much insight to our ancestors. It can also be a source of records and documentation, even if just residence and age. Three links in a chain symbolizes the Oddfellows, for example. A four leaf clover may indicate Irish roots; however, if there are Hs in the leaves, the meaning now changes to 4H Club. Corn and wheat may indicate a farmer.  

Daniel M Herr and his wife Naomi Wiggins Herr are buried at the Zion UCC Church in Providence, Lancaster County. There is a large family stone that identifies them as Herrs. The symbols on this smaller stone are Masonic. Daniel is a member of the Free & Accepted Masons. Naomi is an Eastern Star. A crown with a knight’s head (the helmet) and crossed swords indicates an affiliation with the Order of DeMolay. 

Professions

My great-great grandfather was a blacksmith. However his stone was very plain. Some symbols represent professions. For example an axe, joined with a knife and cleaver, may symbolize a butcher. A bowl and razor would indicate a barber. A chalice may indicate the person was a priest. A hammer and square may mean the deceased was a carpenter.  

Religious

Many people opt for a religious symbol. Crosses, angels, and lambs all indicate one final religious statement. Arches symbolize the door to salvation. The Bible is also often found on many Christian stones. Catholics may use rosary beads. Menorahs are indication of Judaism.  

My grandmother’s brothers, Michael J and Daniel J Welsh, are buried together near her at St. Patrick’s RC Cemetery in Kennett Square. The stone is simple but adorned with ivy and a cross in each top corner. The crosses are a Christian symbol for the Resurrection. In their case, they were Roman Catholic. The ivy symbolizes immortality or friendship.  

Some symbols are simply icons of death, mortality and grief. A broken column, for example, represents the loss of the head of the family. Doves may symbolize peace. 

People have erected tombstones for their loved ones since early Biblical days. The first mention of such a marker is one Jacob erected for Rachel (Genesis 35:20) when she died in childbirth. The Bible does not elaborate as to what the marker says or any etchings in it. Merely, we are told “Then Jacob set a pillar on her grave, which is the pillar of Rachel’s grave to this day.” 

Jacob set the pillar on her grave, just as we set markers on the graves of our loved ones. Thus tombstones are a way in which the dead may speak one final word.

 

Share YOUR thoughts

Have you thought what yours might say?

A genealogist’s guide to using Pinterest

 

Social media allows us to connect and interact with family and friends across the globe, as well as people who share our hobbies and likes. It is also a great way to promote or share your genealogy posts. We have all heard the old adage “A picture is worth a thousand words” and Pinterest really brings that thought home.

Pinterest is growing in popularity among adults as well. The Pew Research Center conducted a recent survey regarding social media use for those 18 and older. Facebook is by far the most popular, followed by Pinterest and Twitter.  

A word of caution: do not just pin and move on. During a recent #genchat session one person commented “Love Pinterest but it will take me 3 lifetimes to implement all the ideas I have pinned.” My suggestion: Schedule a time each month – or week if you really get addicted! – to sort through and evaluate your pins. 

Setting up your Pinterest page

1. Sign up. Obviously you will need to register and name yourself if you have not yet done so.
2. Set up your profile. I know it is tempting to hop in there and start collecting pins and sharing pins but take the time to create your identity. Add your name and a photo. Choose your username. There is a character limit. Use the About You section to introduce yourself. The location is of course optional, though chances are you probably listed it on Facebook! Be sure to add your website too!
3. Create a board. I currently have five boards: Genealogical Gems (which only promote my blog of the same name); Literary World; Social Media Tips; Places I’ve Been; and Maps (most of which have a genealogical purpose). To create a board, you simply click on “Create a Board.”  It will open a frame. Type a name for your board, for example “Genealogy Resources.”  Now type a brief description and select a category. There is, sadly, no Genealogy category. In this example, I chose “Education” since it will focus on resources. Now click “Create Board.” Your new board will open and allow you to add pins there. 

 

How to Pin from your blog

Pinning is also a great way to bring readers to your site. I use Blogger and after I post an article to my blog, Genealogical Gems, I click on the promotion tools, which includes Pinterest. So how do I go from my blog to Pinterest? It’s simple, really.  

For this example, I am using a post on my blog from last October titled “Mystery Monday: Who fathered George David Still.” This is a mystery I have been working on, on and off, for nearly 30 years now. I have made progress but I still do not know who my 4^th great grandfather is. Again, I use Blogger so the example is done from there. 

1. Go to the end of your article.
2. Select the social media icon for Pinterest.
3. A new window will appear. Pick your desired board and make any necessary changes to your description.
4. Click “Pin” and you are done!

Pinning from someone else’s page

The whole concept of Pinterest is in fact to share. So essentially a good general rule of thumb is: do not post it anywhere if you do not want it everywhere! That said, let’s say you found a pin that you would like to add to your board. Genealogists.com has a great pin about Social Security numbers that would be a perfect “Genealogy Resource.”  Backing up a moment, I found it simply by typing genealogy in the search field.

1. Mouse over the pin you like and click “Pin.”
2. Select the appropriate board (of yours) where you want it to go.
3. Edit the description, if you choose. In the example shown here I m editing it to state where I found the Tip.
4. Click “Pin It.” Simple!

You may have to refresh (hit the F5 key) if the new pins do not show automatically. 

Pinning Tips

Think vertical. When choosing an image, think how it looks vertically. Pinterest is widely viewed on mobile devices, such as your phone. A vertical image fits better. 

Always use captions. It does not matter whether it is your pin or a re-pin. Always use captions. This is easy to forget when repining. Unlike Twitter you are not limited to 140 characters, so make use of the space. Think of your caption as a teaser. It may be the deciding factor as to whether someone glosses over your pin or selects it. 

Think like a search engine. By this I mean simply, when writing your caption, ue keywords that someone might use when searching.  

Hashtags are not just for Twitter anymore. Twitter defines a hashtag as: “The # symbol, called a hashtag, is used to mark keywords or topics in a Tweet. It was created organically by Twitter users as a way to categorize messages.” 

You can follow a person or a single board. I, by the way, am at: https://www.pinterest.com/jeanneeckman/.  Remember to make a widget for your blog!

Tracking

Ever wonder who is pinning from your site? Pinterest has a simple tool for that. To find mine, I type https://www.pinterest.com/source/genealogybyjeanne.blogspot.com/ and hit enter. Naturally you will replace “genealogybyjeanne.blogspot.com” with your site’s address. My pins – that is, from my site – seem to be mostly myself and GeneaBloggers. 

 

 

Share YOUR thoughts and suggestions

Have you started to Pin yet? If so, feel free to share your tips, thoughts and suggestions in the comment section below. Haven’t started yet? Still have questions? You can use the comment section below to ask your questions below as well.