Staying In Place With Genealogy

Greetings to all members, I hope this President’s address finds you in a quiet stay at home this Spring Season. I am happy to mention that several members have found little gemstones of information. The stay-in-place rule has allowed time to dig a little deeper in various websites and online newsletters to find new sources […]

Unusual Grave Markers

While sorting papers recently, I came across a letter I had been given in 1999. I could not help the gentleman at the time, but with more online resources, I decided to see if I could learn more. The request was about some unusual grave markers in the shape of [tree] stumps. The letter writer […]

Raining Cats and Dogs

Houses had thatched roofs-thick straw-piled high, with no wood underneath. It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the cats and other small animals (mice, bugs) lived in the roof. When it rained, it became slippery, and sometimes the animals would slip and fall off the roof… Hence the saying, “It’s […]

Crossroads Burials

In England, into the 1820s, executed criminals and suicides were buried at crossroads. No one owned the land so the living weren’t charged fees for the burials. There were other reasons why they were buried there.

Recusancy Records

Check out the British National Archives and county records offices for recusancy (refusal to attend Church of England services) records. Archdeaconry records may contain the same plus other church offenses that went to ecclesiastical courts.

English Manorial Records

English Manorial records can contain documents such as court rolls and rentals. They usually name the lord of the manor and the people who lived there and may contain court and property records.

Griffith’s Valuation

Before 1901, between 1848 and 1864, Griffith’s Valuation was done. It is an approximate census as it’s a property valuation that lists where people lived and the type of housing and lands they owned or rented. Try askaboutireland.ie / Griffith-valuation.

The Dill Family of York Maine

For the first month of social distancing, I have been busy organizing some of my genealogy magazines and papers. I stated in my President’s message that we should try to do some genealogy and sorting of our papers. Well, I have been doing what I have been preaching to spend some of the Covid-19 shutdown […]