Tag Archives: Family tree

Wild Bill Obama

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May 27th was Wild Bill Hickok’s day – I wrote about how easy it is to find newspaper articles about him in GenealogyBank.

Wild Bill Hickok is in the news again – when Barack Obama mentioned his family tradition that he was a distant cousin to Wild Bill – James Butler Hickok (1837-1876).

(Photo: Texas Observer Blog 27 Feb 2007)

Don’t you love it when politicians talk about their genealogy!

The New England Historic Genealogical Society does and issued a statement yesterday verifying Obama’s family tradition:

Obama and Hickok are sixth cousins, six-times removed. Their common ancestor is Thomas Blossom, who came to Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1629 from Leiden, Holland. Obama’s 4th great-grandfather, Jacob Dunham, was 6th cousins with Wild Bill. Obama’s mother, Stanley Ann, is also a Dunham.

“The ancestry of Wild Bill Hickok was published by NEHGS some years back, which showed he descended from the Blossom family of Cape Cod, an early family written up in one of our scholarly publications,” said Child. He added, “Since we had also recently done the ancestry of Senator Obama, finding this connection was a little easier.”

Click here to see the Obama – Hickok family tree – Wild Bill is related to Obama through his mother Polly Butler.

It’s a great day for genealogy!

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It’s a great day for genealogy! And, it’s a particularly good day for me too!

Today marks exactly 43 years since I started working in genealogy.
Wow, it’s been fun.

It was 26 July 1965 – in Stamford, CT – George B. Everton, Sr. (1904-1996) and his wife Ellen (Nielsen) Everton (1902-1987) were conducting a genealogy workshop at the Ferguson Library. I worked at the “Ferguson” and was listening to their presentation from the hall – standing in the doorway – when he announced that they were going to give out a few door prizes – “to the youngest and oldest person” attending the lecture.

He said, “the youngest person is easy …. it’s him” – pointing to me. I was shocked – but was pleased to receive a 10-generation family tree chart. And, as they say – the rest was history.

When I started to fill in that chart the family knew a few generations – now we have records on over 70,000 ancestors and cousins in the family computer and I now have “cousins” from all parts of the world.

It has been fun. Over the past 43 years I have taught workshops and given presentations in 37 States & was a keynote speaker at the first genealogy conference in China. I have written over 20 books and many, many articles that were published in national, state and local – genealogy, library and archival journals.

And the capstone has been the opportunity to be the “Father” of GenealogyBank – and to watch it grow into an essential core genealogy online service – with over 3,500 newspapers you just won’t find anywhere else – easy access to more than 1 billion of our ancestors & cousins.

It’s a great day for genealogy and a great day for me too!

Breaking News – GenealogyBank adds 219 newspapers from 37 States

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In one of our largest releases ever GenealogyBank today added 219 newspapers from 37 States.

You can search them right now.

With well over 3,500 newspapers on GenealogyBank it has never been easier to find birth records, wedding announcements, obituaries and the biographical details of more than 1 billion of our ancestors and cousins.

(Photo courtesy: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, DC – LC-USW3-F104-009104-E [P&P].


From Lanett, Alabama to Everett, Washington – Los Angeles, California to Nantucket, Massachusetts – GenealogyBank has the facts to help you fill-in the branches on your family tree.

Your membership in GenealogyBank gives you unlimited access to search these 3,500 newspapers as well as the more than 150,000 historical books and documents that we have online. We are the only site to have the most comprehensive version of the SSDI online!

Sign up now and ask your friends to join with us in bringing more records online.

We’ve accomplished a lot already this year – and with your help we can put even more records online.

Give it a try right now - It’s only $9.95 – click here and sign-up now.

List of Titles in Today’s Release
AL Lanett, AL. Valley Times-News 3/18/1999 to Today
AZ Tucson, AZ. Alianza 8/23/1900 to 10/18/1900
AZ Tucson, AZ. Amigos 8/7/1975 to 12/21/1977
AZ Tucson, AZ. Ferrocarril 5/17/1885 to 5/17/1885
AZ Tucson, AZ. Fronterizo 1/16/1892 to 12/17/1892
AZ Tucson, AZ. Iris 6/19/1886 to 6/19/1886
AZ Tucson, AZ. Tucsonense 3/17/1915 to 11/1/1931
CA Berkeley, CA. Grito 9/1/1967 to 6/1/1974
CA Colton, CA. Chicano 4/21/1968 to 6/30/1977
CA Los Angeles, CA. Clamor Publico 6/19/1855 to 6/27/1857
CA Los Angeles, CA. Dos Republicas 3/15/1892 to 9/3/1898
CA Los Angeles, CA. Eco de Mexico 10/3/1924 to 10/27/1924
CA Los Angeles, CA. Heraldo de Mexico 12/9/1917 to 12/28/1928
CA San Francisco, CA. Imparcial 11/20/1931 to 2/1/1935
CA San Francisco, CA. Mefistofeles 3/9/1918 to 7/20/1918
CA San Francisco CA Mercantile Gazette and Prices Current, Shipping List and Register 10/2/1863 to 10/18/1867
CA San Francisco, CA. San Francisco Evening Journal 5/31/1852 to 5/13/1854
CA Santa Monica, CA. Aguila 3/21/1971 to 3/21/1973
CA Stanford, CA. Atisbos 6/1/1975 to 6/1/1978
CO Colorado Springs, CO. Gazette-Telegraph 1/1/1900 to 6/30/1911
CO Trinidad, CO. Anunciador 4/6/1918 to 11/18/1922
CT Bridgeport, CT. Republican Farmer 1/5/1847 to 12/25/1849
CT New Haven, CT. New Haven Palladium 7/19/1861 to 12/31/1863
CT New London, CT. Republican Advocate 1/9/1822 to 1/29/1823
DC Washington, DC. United States Telegraph 8/28/1827 to 1/29/1831
DE Dover, DE. Delaware State News 5/13/2008 to Today
FL Tampa, FL. Ecos 7/21/1959 to 7/21/1959
FL Ybor City, FL. Diario de Tampa 6/6/1908 to 7/14/1911
GA Louisville, GA. Louisville Gazette 5/12/1802 to 3/2/1811
GA Marietta, GA. Marietta Daily Journal 12/7/1993 to Today
GA Savannah, GA. Savannah Republican 9/4/1802 to 10/22/1805
GA Savannah, GA. Southern Banner 3/23/1833 to 12/9/1837
GA Thomasville, GA. Thomasville Times-Enterprise 11/14/2007 to Today
HI Hilo, HI. Hawaii. Tribune Herald 5/30/2008 to Today
IA Bettendorf, IA. Bettendorf News 2/5/2004 to Today
IA Clinton, IA. Clinton Herald 8/29/2007 to Today
IA Davenport, IA. Quad City Business Journal 3/1/2004 to Today
ID Blackfoot, ID. Blackfoot Register 7/10/1880 to 7/31/1886
ID Idaho City, ID. Idaho Falls Times 7/9/1891 to 9/16/1920
ID Idaho City, ID. Idaho Register 10/13/1899 to 1/17/1908
IL Chicago, IL. Latin Times 2/1/1958 to 5/2/1975
IL Chicago, IL. Sunday Times 1/12/1873 to 12/31/1876
IL Chicago, IL. Vida Latina 12/21/1959 to 12/21/1959
IL Rock Island, IL. Rock Island News 4/29/2007 to Today
IL Shawneetown, IL. Illinois Gazette 1/9/1819 to 9/18/1819
IL Vandalia, IL. Illinois Advocate 11/2/1833 to 8/5/1835
IN Decatur, IN. Decatur Daily Democrat 3/112008 to Today
IN Indianapolis, IN. Indiana Democrat 10/30/1830 to 3/9/1838
IN Vincennes, IN. Indiana Centinel 3/14/1817 to 12/30/1820
KS Topeka, KS. Adelante 6/10/1972 to 6/19/1977
KS Topeka, KS. Kansas Semi-Weekly Capital 1/1/1897 to 8/31/1897
KY Henderson, KY. Gleaner 4/14/2006 to Today
KY Lexington, KY. Kentucky Gazette 3/15/1794 to 12/28/1837
KY Middlesboro, KY. Daily News 2/1/2007 to Today
LA New Orleans, LA. Abeja 1/3/1829 to 12/26/1831
LA New Orleans, LA. Mississippi 10/12/1808 to 10/12/1808
LA New Orleans, LA. New Orleans Daily Creole 7/1/1856 to 1/10/1857
MA Beverly, MA. Saturday Morning Citizen 10/13/1858 to 2/24/1893
MA Boston, MA. Trumpet & Universalist Magazine 10/17/1829 to 3/8/1834
MA Cambridge, MA. Daily Banner 3/1/2007 to Today
MA Dedham, MA. Norfolk Advertiser 7/13/1832 to 2/2/1839
MA Dedham, MA. Norfolk Democrat 2/9/1839 to 12/28/1849
MA Lowell, MA. Lowell Daily Citizen and News 8/1/1871 to 1/31/1872
MA Lowell, MA. Lowell Mercury 11/13/1830 to 12/6/1833
MA Lowell, MA. Lowell Patriot 3/27/1835 to 6/29/1837
MA Lynn, MA. Daily Item 9/23/2005 to Today
MA Nantucket, MA. Nantucket Inquirer 3/13/1811 to 12/1/1832
MA New Bedford, MA. New Bedford Gazette 9/5/1831 to 1/25/1838
MA New Bedford, MA. New Bedford Register 1/22/1840 to 1/6/1846
MA New Bedford, MA. New-Bedford Mercury 6/29/1821 to 6/27/1851
MA Springfield, MA. Springfield Republican 3/23/1861 to 12/31/1910
MD Baltimore, MD. Sun 1/8/1844 to 7/3/1844
MD Fredrick, MD. Republican Citizen & State Advertiser 9/28/1827 to 9/23/1831
MD Fredericktown, MD. Republican Gazette & General Advertiser 7/6/1822 to 11/16/1822 MD La Mesilla, MD. Defensor del Pueblo 3/7/1891 to 3/14/1891
MN St. Paul, MN. St. Paul Daily Pioneer 4/28/1849 to 12/29/1872
MO St. Louis, MO. Missouri Gazette and Public Advertiser 3/23/1808 to 9/18/1818
MS Natchez, MS. Southern Clarion 5/13/1831 to 11/18/1831
MS Natchez, MS. Southern Galaxy 5/22/1828 to 2/26/1829
MS Natchez, MS. Statesman & Gazette 5/1/1828 to 2/7/1829
MS Starkville, MS. Starkville Daily News 3/9/2008 to Today
MS West Point, MS. Daily Times Leader 3/27/2008 to Today
NC Tryon, NC. Tryon Daily Bulletin 4/14/2007 to Today
NE Omaha, NE. Danske Pioneer 10/17/1895 to 10/10/1901
NH Manchester, NH. Telescope 1/13/1849 to 10/13/1849
NM Albuquerque, NM. Albuquerque Journal 9/1/1913 to 12/31/1913
NM Albuquerque, NM. Bandera Americana 8/10/1901 to 5/13/1909
NM Albuquerque, NM. Daily Citizen 2/10/1887 to 8/13/1891
NM Albuquerque, NM. Defensor del Pueblo 6/27/1891 to 5/28/1892
NM Albuquerque, NM. Estrella Mejicana 10/11/1890
NM Albuquerque, NM. Estrella Mexicana 10/4/1890
NM Albuquerque, NM. Evening Citizen 12/24/1892 to 8/6/1894
NM Albuquerque, NM. Hormiga de Oro 11/7/1903 to 11/7/1903
NM Albuquerque, NM. Indito 11/24/1900 to 4/4/1901
NM Albuquerque, NM. News 1/23/1886 to 12/6/1886
NM Albuquerque, NM. Opinion Publica 7/2/1892 to 3/2/1907
NM Albuquerque, NM. Pueblo 2/17/1900 to 2/17/1900
NM Albuquerque, NM. Revista 12/5/1881 to 12/5/1881
NM Albuquerque, NM. Union de Albuquerque 1/20/1893 to 1/20/1893
NM Albuquerque, NM. Voz de Nuevo Mexico 9/1/1894 to 9/1/1894
NM Columbus, NM. Columbus News 7/9/1909 to 5/26/1911
NM Las Cruces, NM .Doña Ana County Republican 3/11/1897 to 2/15/1902
NM Las Cruces, NM. Grito del Norte 8/24/1968 to 6/1/1973
NM Las Cruces, NM. Labrador 9/8/1896 to 6/14/1912
NM Las Cruces, NM. Las Cruces Daily News 3/5/1889 to 11/23/1889
NM Las Cruces, NM. Las Cruces Democrat 2/3/1892 to 11/29/1899
NM Las Cruces, NM. Las Vegas Daily Gazette 7/27/1880 to 1/31/1886
NM Las Cruces, NM. Mesilla Valley Democrat 9/2/1886 to 12/2/1890
NM Las Cruces, NM. Misionero Bautista: Organo Oficial de la Convencion Bautista Hispano-Americana de Nuevo Mexico 9/15/1948 to 6/21/1951
NM Las Cruces, NM. Newmans Semi-Weekly 4/2/1881 to 4/20/1881
NM Las Cruces, NM. Thirty-Four 4/16/1879 to 10/27/1880
NM Mesilla, NM. Mesilla News 2/8/1879 to 11/24/1883
NM Raton, NM. Union 7/16/1898 to 7/16/1898
NM Raton, NM. Weekly News 5/6/1904 to 6/24/1904
NM San Marcial, NM. Libertad 4/15/1896 to 4/15/1896
NM Santa Fe, NM. Boletin Popular 4/1/1886 to 5/30/1895
NM Santa Fe, NM. Cachiporrota 10/8/1890 to 10/28/1890
NM Santa Fe, NM. Capitol 9/14/1901 to 9/14/1901
NM Santa Fe, NM. Daily New Mexican 4/2/1872 to 6/28/1875
NM Santa Fe, NM. Gato 5/23/1894 to 7/27/1894
NM Santa Fe, NM. Guia de Santa Fe 10/2/1886 to 10/16/1886
NM Santa Fe, NM. New Mexican Review 3/30/1885 to 8/30/1906
NM Santa Fe, NM. Santa Fe Weekly New Mexican and Livestock Journal 10/8/1885 to 12/19/1895
NM Santa Fe, NM. Santa Fe Weekly Sun 6/17/1893 to 6/17/1893
NM Santa Rosa, NM. Santa Rosa Sun 10/31/1919 to 5/28/1920
NM Silver City, NM. Grant County Herald 6/15/1878 to 6/15/1878
NM Silver City, NM. Herald 4/1/1876 to 4/1/1876
NM Silver City, NM. New Southwest 1/7/1882 to 1/7/1882
NM Silver City, NM. Silver City Enterprise 10/22/1886 to 8/23/1895
NM Silver City, NM. Silver City Independent 8/3/1897 to 11/5/1901
NM Socorro, NM. Defensor del Pueblo 12/26/1913 to 4/9/1943
NM Socorro, NM. Estrella de Nuevo Mexico 8/7/1896 to 3/26/1897
NM Socorro, NM. Golondrina 2/12/1898 to 2/12/1898
NM Socorro, NM. Industrial Advertiser 6/10/1893 to 8/24/1895
NM Socorro, NM. Progreso 5/24/1887 to 7/26/1887
NM Socorro, NM. Republicano 3/16/1901 to 3/16/1901
NM Socorro, NM. Socorro Bullion 4/24/1886 to 9/11/1886
NM Springer, NM. Colfax County Stockman 7/8/1893 to 12/20/1913
NM Springer, NM. Estandarte de Springer 12/5/1889 to 2/9/1893
NM Springer, NM. Sentinel 2/22/1901 to 12/27/1901
NM Taos, NM. Revista de Taos 2/20/1904 to 2/20/1904
NM White Oaks, NM. Lincoln County Leader 6/24/1893 to 6/24/1893
NM White Oaks, NM. New Mexico Interpreter 11/15/1889 to 11/15/1889
NY New York, NY. Cacara Jicara 10/30/1897 to 12/6/1897
NY New York, NY. Cubano 4/26/1890
NY New York, NY. Doctrina de Marti 7/25/1896 to 5/6/1898
NY New York, NY. Eco de Cuba 6/22/1855 to 2/1/1856
NY New York, NY. Grafico 11/25/1928 to 1/3/1931
NY New York, NY. Mulato 3/11/1854 to 6/17/1854
NY New York, NY. Papagayo 2/15/1855 to 4/16/1855
NY New York, NY. Sociale Republik 4/24/1858 to 4/16/1859
NY New York, NY. Spectator 5/4/1840 to 5/29/1841
NY New York, NY. Statesman 9/11/1821 to 10/14/1825
NY Plattsburgh, NY. Plattsburgh Herald 1/20/1815 to 7/21/1815
OH Cincinnati, OH. Cincinnati Daily Gazette 1/1/1867 to 1/3/1883
OH Elyria, OH. Elyria Republican 2/12/1835 to 12/27/1837
OH Painesville, OH. Painesville Telegraph 9/25/1822 to 2/19/1845
OH Pomeroy, OH. Daily Sentinel 10/17/2005 to Today
OH St Marys, OH. Evening Leader 4/2/2008 to Today
OH Wapakoneta, OH. Wapakoneta Daily News 3/10/2008 to Today
OK Hobart, OK. Hobart Republican 1/4/1907 to 6/30/1920
OK McAlester, OK. McAlester News – Capital & Democrat 5/5/2008 to Today
OK Perry, OK Perry. Journal 10/3/1901 to 9/1/1904
OK Perry, OK Perry. Republican 1/1/1914 to 12/28/1922
OR Portland, OR. Oregonian 10/15/1916 to 11/4/1916
PA Philadelphia PA. Philadelphia Inquirer 1/1/1845 to 10/31/1860
PA Philadelphia PA. Weekly Aurora 2/28/1815 to 12/27/1819
PA York PA. York Weekly Record 1/23/2004 to Today
RI Pawtucket RI. Pawtucket Times 9/3/1901 to 2/28/1921
SC Georgetown SC. Winyaw Intelligencer 1/1/1825 to 6/27/1833
SC Union SC. Union Daily Times 1/2/2006 to Today
TX Austin TX. Austin City Gazette 11/6/1839 to 8/17/1842
TX Austin TX. Gaceta de Texas 5/25/1813

TX Austin TX. Telegraph and Texas Register 10/10/1835 to 3/12/1836
TX Austin, TX. Texas Gazette 11/7/1829 to 2/18/1832
TX Barzoria, TX. Advocate of Peoples Rights 6/15/1833 to 2/22/1834
TX Beaumont, TX. Beaumont Enterprise and Journal 8/1/1910 to 8/31/1910
TX Beeville TX. Beeville Bee 6/12/1896 to 5/25/1900
TX Brownsville, TX. Cronista del Valle 10/8/1924 to 2/28/1930
TX Brownsville, TX. Daily Cosmopolitan 8/19/1881 to 8/18/1885
TX Brownsville, TX. Heraldo de Brownsville 1/12/1936 to 2/29/1940
TX Brownsville, TX. Progreso 1/4/1876 to 12/31/1876
TX Brownsville, TX. Zaragoza 12/20/1865 to 12/27/1865
TX Clarksville, TX. Standard 4/29/1848 to 12/29/1882
TX Corpus Christi, TX. Horizonte 11/5/1879 to 11/13/1880
TX Corpus Christi, TX. Nueces County News 5/12/1938 to 6/29/1939
TX Corpus Christi, TX. Verdad 6/2/1950 to 12/13/1959
TX Corpus Christi, TX. Weekly Labor Herald 8/1/1840 to 12/26/1857
TX El Paso, TX. Atalaya Bautista: Semanario Evangelico Bautista 1/2/1908 to 12/21/1930
TX El Paso, TX. Buena Prensa : Organo del Comite de la Asociacion del Mismo Nombre 9/15/1923
TX El Paso, TX. Continental 12/12/1934 to 12/26/1959
TX El Paso, TX. Correo del Bravo 3/13/1913 to 5/19/1913
TX El Paso, TX. El Paso del Norte 3/12/1904 to 11/18/1904
TX El Paso, TX. Latino Americano 1/14/1891 to 3/28/1891
TX El Paso, TX. Los Dos Americas 3/7/1888 to 7/25/1898
TX El Paso, TX. Monitor 1/30/1897 to 1/26/1900
TX El Paso, TX. Noticias 10/14/1899 to 12/30/1899
TX El Paso, TX. Observador Fronterizo 4/4/1886 to 10/24/1886
TX El Paso, TX. Opinion Publica 5/11/1895 to 5/11/1895
TX El Paso, TX. Patria 6/18/1919 to 8/12/1923
TX El Paso, TX. Renacimiento 5/28/1923 to 6/14/1923
TX El Paso, TX. Republica 11/1/1919 to 5/23/1923
TX Houston, TX. Gaceta Mexicana 2/15/1927 to 9/15/1928
TX Kingsville, TX. Eco 4/1/1931 to 12/1/1941
TX Kingsville, TX. Notas de Kingsville 2/26/1953 to 2/12/1959
TX Kingsville, TX. Tex. Mex. Reflector 1/21/1921 to 4/21/1947
TX Laredo, TX. Alfa 1/21/1957 to 5/21/1959
TX Laredo, TX. Correo de Laredo 7/16/1891 to 1/24/1893
TX Laredo, TX. Democrata Fronterizo 12/8/1917 to 6/6/1919
TX Laredo, TX. Evolucion 1/1/1917 to 2/29/1920
TX San Antonio, TX. Heraldo de Mexicano 10/9/1927 to 3/30/1930
TX San Antonio, TX. Imparcial de Texas 12/20/1917 to 3/31/1921
TX San Antonio, TX. Pan American Labor Express 12/4/1918 to 12/4/1918
TX San Antonio, TX. Prensa 3/7/1933 to 7/18/1934
TX San Marcos, TX. San Marcos Daily Record 4/12/2008 to Today
UT Salt Lake City, UT. Salt Lake Telegram 2/3/1902 to 12/31/1922
UT Salt Lake City, UT. Salt Lake Tribune 1/1/1875 to 12/28/1893
VT St. Albans, VT. St. Albans Daily Messenger 5/9/1839 to 12/31/1922
WA Everett, WA. Daily Herald 8/16/2005 to Today

GenealogyBank.com adding 56 more New York historical newspapers

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Great news - GenealogyBank.com is adding 56 more New York historical newspapers.

GenealogyBank already contains over 330 NY newspapers – part of the more than 3,500 local newspapers from across the country that are online in GenealogyBank.

Wow – climbing your family tree has never been easier.

(Photo courtesy: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, DC – LC-USW3-009107-E [P&P].

Your membership in GenealogyBank entitles you to read the complete text of over 230 million articles and records – search for more than 1 billion of your relatives.

Over 3,500 newspapers 1690 to today!

Sign up now and ask your friends to join with us in bringing more records online – It’s only $9.95 – click here and sign-up now.

List of 56 more newspapers that will be added to GenealogyBank in the months ahead.

Click here to see the list of over 330 New York newspapers that are already online.
Albany, NY. Albany Argus. 1823 to 1876
Albany, NY. Signs of the Times. 1827 to 1828
Albany, NY. Temperance Recorder. 1833 to 1834
Auburn, NY. Cayuga Republican. 1823 to 1876
Auburn, NY. Cayuga Tocsin. 1813 to 1814
Ballston Spa, NY. Saratoga Advertiser. 1804 to 1812
Balston Spa, NY. Saratoga Journal. 1814 to 1817
Batavia, NY. Republican Advocate. 1811 to 1820
Buffalo, NY. Niagara Journal. 1815 to 1819
Canandaiqua, NY. Western Repository. 1803 to 1807
Catskill, NY. Catskill Recorder. 1807 to 1833
Cazenovia, NY. Pilot. 1808 to 1820
Cazenovia, NY. Union Herald. 1838 to 1840
Cherry Valley, NY. Cherry Valley Gazette. 1821 to 1826
Goshen, NY. Goshen Repository. 1797 to 1798
Goshen, NY. Orange County Gazette. 1806 to 1817
Herkimer, NY. Farmer’s Monitor. 1805 to 1807
Kingston, NY. Rising Sun. 1793 to 1798
Kingston, NY. Ulster County Gazette. 1806 to 1811
Kingston, NY. Ulster Sentinel. 1830 to 1831
Lansingburgh, NY. American Spy. 1791 to 1798
New York, NY. Colored American. 1837 to 1841
New York, NY. Commercial Advertiser. 1821 to 1876
New York, NY. Hodge’s Bank Note Reporter. 1861 to 1861
New York, NY. National Advocate. 1821 to 1829
New York, NY. New York Evening Post. 1822 to 1876
New York, NY. New-York Advertiser. 1821 to 1859
New York, NY. Republican Watch-Tower. 1810 to 1810
New York, NY. Royal American Gazette. 1777 to 1780
New York, NY. Spectator. 1822 to 1824
New York, NY. Statesman. 1824 to 1825
New York, NY. True Sun. 1847 to 1848
New York, NY. Universalist Union. 1837 to 1838
New York, NY. Weekly Visitor & Ladies Museum. 1822 to 1823
Newburgh, NY. Rights of Man. 1801 to 1804
Oxford, NY. Oxford Times. 1838 to 1840
Plattsburgh, NY. Plattsburgh Herald. 1815 to 1825
Poughkeepsie, NY. Country Journal. 1785 to 1789
Poughkeepsie, NY. Dutchess Observer. 1816 to 1876
Poughkeepsie, NY. Political Barometer. 1804 to 1809
Poughkeepsie, NY. Poughkeepsie Journal. 1789 to 1845
Poughkeepsie, NY. Ulster Republican. 1834 to 1836
Rochester, NY. Frederick Douglass’s Paper. 1852 to 1862
Rochester, NY. Rochester Telegraph. 1821 to 1876
Rondout, NY. Rondout Freeman. 1845 to 1847
Sag Harbor, NY. Frothingham’s Long Island Herald. 1791 to 1798
Schenectady, NY. Cabinet. 1821 to 1858
Schenectady, NY. Western Budget. 1807 to 1810
Schoharie, NY. Schoharie Observer. 1820 to 1827
Troy, NY. Troy Gazette. 1802 to 1811
Troy, NY. Troy Post. 1815 to 1823
Utica, NY. Utica Patriot. 1817 to 1820
Waterloo, NY. Waterloo Gazette. 1818 to 1821
Whitestown, NY. Western Centinel. 1794 to to 1798
Whitestown, NY. Whitestown Gazette. 1796 to 1803

A genealogy blog? What’s that?

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A “blog” is one of those made up words coined by the Internet. Click here to see the Wikipedia definition.

Think of a genealogy blog as a telegram service keeping you up to date on all possible aspects of genealogy.

These could be brief postcard size updates on what the writer has been researching; breaking news in the field; or a mini-lecture – giving you a quick lesson on some genealogical record source.

Blogs are a quick and painless way to stay informed and to upgrade your family history research skills.

I have been posting news stories and tips (blogging) since the 1990s and use my blog to share breaking news and research tips. In many ways I feel like a genealogy news reporter and I really love it when my blog is the first to report on a new resource – which we’ve done many times.

GenealogyBank – the Official Blog
Usually one posting per day, written by yours truly – the focus is on breaking news in genealogy that you will actually use and rely on; genealogy tips as well as targeted news & insights about new content added to GenealogyBank.

Here are just some of the blogs that I highly recommend.
They are each must read sites.

Ancestry Insider
This well informed blogger’s daily posts are focused on Ancestry.com and familysearch.org Knowledgeable and on target it is a must read blog written by an Ancestry employee – BUT it is not an “official” corporate blog.

DearMYRTLE’s Genealogy Blog
DearMYRTLE has been working in genealogy for decades. Her blog is essential reading and can be counted on for breaking news and insight. Count on her to make new resources easy to use and understand.

Eastman’s Online Genealogy Newsletter
Dick Eastman’s blog is essential reading. Dick is up to date and knows the field. His blog comes in two flavors – free and a paid version. You’ll want to pay the nominal fee and subscribe to his blog – it’s worth it.

Everton Publisher’s Genealogy Blog
Leland Meitzler posts 3-4 times a week and puts his decades of experience to work in reporting what is happening in genealogy. Leland has the pulse of the field and hey, he’s a heck of a nice guy too.

The Footnote Blog
This blogger usually posts 2-3 times a month. The articles are usually brief and focus on the latest developments at Footnote.com – you’ll want to read it to keep up with what’s new on that site.

Genealogy Insider
Diane Haddad, Editor of Family Tree Magazine is a great blogger. Well informed and with an upbeat writing style. Haddad is essential reading. Don’t miss this blog – its terrific.

Birth Announcements – newspapers are packed with them

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Newspapers have been announcing births since the 1700s.

It is common to see birth notices in newspapers all across the country, like this one for triplets born to “Mrs. Rust of Wolfeboro, NH” in 1796. It appeared in the Massachusetts Mercury 14 Oct 1796.
You’ll find millions of births recorded in newspapers on GenealogyBank from the colonial period right up to recent times.
Newspapers often had regular columns for all area births. Sometimes these were listed by the name of the hospital. These notices often give the names of the child, parents and even grandparents.

Some are written in a fun, familiar style – as this one from the Dallas Morning News 1 June 1967 – “She’ here…” and went on to give the details of their new daughter.

This 1918 birth notice from the Belleville (IL) Democrat 8 March 1918, gave three generations of genealogical information including the name of the grandmother, the mother’s maiden name and the name of the parents – but not the name of the baby!

Other newspapers simply gave the essential facts of their area births. Like these births from the San Francisco (CA) Daily Evening Bulletin 12 August 1856.

But no matter how much detail the newspaper included, genealogists will find GenealogyBank a practical tool for uncovering the birth notices for their relatives.

Since the name of the child is not always given, search for them by the name of the parents or simply the surname. You may limit your search by date or place to see if the birth of the children you are looking for was published in the newspaper.

For a complete list of the newspaper titles and dates of coverage click here.

Newspapers are a great source for finding the historical records that document our family tree.

NGS Newsmagazine – Latest Issue

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The April-June 2008 issue of the NGS Newsmagazine (National Genealogical Society) just arrived in the mail.

Articles:
Alpert, Janet A. President’s Message. pp. 2-3
Kerstens, Elizabeth Kelly. Editor’s Corner. pp. 4-5
Freilich, Kay Haviland & Ann Carter Fleming. Research in the States Series Expands. pp. 10-11.
Jennings, Arlene V. Reconstructing family history from museum visits. pp. 18-22.
Mieszala, Debbie. Courage on the Seas: Records of the United States Life-Saving Service. pp. 23-27, 51.
Smith, Gary M. & Diana Crisman Smith. Reaching Genealogists through Words (ISFHWE, Genealogical Speakers Guild). pp. 28-31.
Hovorka, Janet. Care and Repair of Photographs. pp. 33-37.
Gray, Gordon. What is APG? pp. 38-41.
Pierce, Alycon Trubey. Adding final pension payment voucher records to the researcher’s toolbox. pp. 42-48.
Smith, Gary M. & Diana Crisman Smith. Research dilemmas of broken homes. pp. 49-51.
Swanson, Andree Brower. Not so plain Jane (Jane Crawford). pp. 52-54.
Schneck, Barbara. Review of Family Tree Maker 2008. pp. 55-58.
Smith, Drew. Papa’s got a brand new genealogy bag. pp. 59-61.
Hinds, Harold E., Jr. A paradigm shift? Biology vs. lineage. pp. 62-63.

Philadelphia – Death Records Online

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Genealogists researching Philadelphia just got even more help in finding their ancestors.

FamilySearchLabs has just added digital copies of Philadelphia (PA) death certificates from 1803-1915.

The Philadelphia Inquirer 1860-1922 along with over 280 Philadelphia and Pennsylvania newspapers from the colonial period right up to today are already online at GenealogyBank


So – what will you find in these records?

One gives the basic facts and the other tells us the rest of the story.

The coroner’s return has the grim story: Edward Hendrickson, age 11, killed on 20 April 1905 at the B&O Railroad tracks “while trespassing.” A sterile almost harsh report.

But there is more to the story. The Philadelphia Inquirer (21 April 1905) called him a “little hero” – who had “sacrificed” himself to save his younger brother Gilbert, age 8.

Edward and Gilbert were walking along the B&O Railroad tracks when he saw that Gilbert had stepped onto the tracks in front of an oncoming train. The paper reported that Edward “jumped toward him, pushing him down a small embankment” saving Gilbert’s life, but the train took his.

Yes – the coroner’s report gave us the core facts but aren’t we glad to have the newspaper account to give us the full story.

Having Philadelphia’s newspapers and death records online makes it easy for genealogists to get the complete stories in our family tree.

This new FHL resource includes Philadelphia Death Certificates, hospital returns, undertaker certificates and similar death records from 1803 to 1915. It may be searched for free.

Typical entries include the person’s name, date of death/burial; place of death/burial; names of the parents; attending physician; undertaker; age of the deceased; occupation of the deceased; race; former residence; and cause of death.

The FamilySearchLabs site is easy to use.

Go to FamilySearchLabs.org
Under: Current Projects – Click on Record Search
Sign-in
Under: Search an Indexed Collection – click on:
Pennyslvania Philadelphia City Death Certificates 1803-1915

A simple search box appears.
You may search by first or last name; names of the parents; name of the spouse or location.
The FHL index let’s you search on any one or these entire search options.

To search the nearly 280+ Philadelphia and other Pennsylvania newspapers go to GenealogyBank and begin searching.

1st genealogy published in America – 7 May 1724

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The first genealogy published in America appeared in a newspaper 284 years ago – today – May 7, 1724.

It appeared in the American Weekly Mercury. It was a genealogy of King Philip V of Spain. Genealogy articles routinely appeared in colonial newspapers.

The first genealogy published in book form was in 1771 – the Stebbins Genealogy and by 1876 and the nation’s first centennial there were less than 1,000 genealogies published.

With a push from President Ulysses S. Grant the idea really took off. It was 132 years ago on May 25th that he issued a “Proclamation” to the American people asking them to remember their history, write it down and distribute it widely.

He wrote that he wanted to see “a complete record” of our history … be kept and placed in each county and in the Library of Congress”. If the Internet were available then I am sure he would have suggested that they be put online too.


According to the 16 Mar 1912 issue of the San Jose Mercury “Genealogy Study Rapidly Growing. In Recent Years Americans Have Been Making Great Study of the Family Tree”. By the year 1920 there were 2,000 published genealogies and by 1972 there were 50,000 family histories in print.

With the publication of Roots in 1976 genealogy really took off.

By the late 90s the Internet was becoming a common tool for genealogists. By 1998 there were over 90,000 published genealogies. Today, just ten years later that number has jumped to over 150,000 published genealogies.

GenealogyBank was launched in 2005 and is also growing at a rapid pace. Now we are adding over 4 million items per month.

This month we added 4.3 million records; included 78 newspapers from 23 States. Click here for the complete list.
Amazing.
What a great day for genealogy!

A soldier’s last letter ….

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“What have I done I asked myself, to deserve to be remembered by strangers in a town in which I had never been…”

You can almost hear him ask that now, over 100 years later as we remember him.

Corporal Wilson Mcpherson Osbon (1877-1899) wrote the letter on 28 Dec 1898, in gratitude for a Christmas care package of food and goodies sent from Mrs. R.S. Gleason of Aberdeen, SD. She had sent it to him and the three other young men who were serving in the Philipines from Howard, South Dakota in Company F – among them was his brother Orman King Osbon (1874-1903).

Portion of his letter – Aberdeen Daily News 22 Feb 1899

This would be the last letter Wilson Osbon would write back home. He was killed just a few weeks later on 15 Feb 1899.

I found his story in the Aberdeen (SD) Weekly News.
In looking into it further, I quickly pulled more than a dozen articles about him and his family in GenealogyBank.
It was gripping to read his last letter.

Even more gripping to read in the old newspapers that his brother Orman was also killed in the Philippines just four years later in a fight leading a group of 22 men against a band of local thugs – in Bolinao, Philippines.

Going beyond the historical newspapers I found Orman Osbon’s obituary in a 1903 report of the War Department. It was there that I learned one more key family detail – Orman Osbon had married in the Philippines and his wife, Antonia Osbon resided in Manila.

Annual reports of the War Department for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1903. Volume VII. Report of the Philippine Commission –
Serial Set Vol. No. 4634, Session Vol. No.858th Congress, 2nd SessionH.Doc. 2 pt. 7. p. 719.
I checked the other popular online sources – none of them give these details that filled in the family tree.

I could only find the complete record in GenealogyBank – dozens of articles and reports that gave the crucial details of this family and their loss of two sons in the service of the country on the other side of the world.

The handy search box made it easy – I entered the name and it searched all 219 Million records and documents – making it quick and easy to find the details of the family tree.

Give it a try right now – there is a special give it a try rate of $9.95.