Genealogy Miscellanea

Do You Use DNA Testing in Your Genealogy Search?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:21:00 +0000

The times they are a changin'. DNA testing for genealogy has become a very popular segment of family history research. Some companies that are well known in this business are FamilyTreeDNA, AncestryDNA, Pathway Genomics, 23andme, and a great many others.

These companies send out DNA kits to gather a sample and you do your own test at home and mail the sample in to one of the DNA testing centers and they will return your results in a few days. The test is harmless in that you just use a little scraper paddle device and run it around inside your cheek and seal it in the sterile return envelope to send to the testing company.

If you are able to test yourself and your parents you will have absolute proof then in order to test further back in generations it becomes a little more like a numbers game. the Y-DNA test is used for testing father to son and is absolute.

If you are a female you do not have the Y chromosome but two XX's and this is called a mitochondrial test that can prove mother to daughter results. All persons enherit mita and this test is used primarily to go way back in history and you will be able to tell which part of the world your early ancestors inhabited.

This type of testing increased rapidly in the 1990's and now in the 21st century it is growing enormously fast. The more people that test and join the database of results, the better the results reporting become. Now is a great time to have your DNA tested.

This is great especially for surname studies, as you can have male distant cousins tested to show approximately how far back in time until you have a common ancestor. Feamles can enlist the aid of a brother or male cousin to prove her surname connection.

Give it a try and see what your DNA test results look like.

(genemisc)

GeneMisc will be Moving Soon, and Two New Websites

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 10:37:00 +0000

GeneMisc.blogspot.com will be moving to a new website of its own soon. The free hosting service here at blogspot, which is part of the Google empire has been a very nice place to post occasional messages such as we have done, and with a big thank you to Google.

However there are certain things that can be improved when this site is moved over to the WordPress Blogging platform and hosted on our own servers that we pay for. Blogger has various templates that may be chosen and it has been quite easy to just fill in the blanks and publish, however there are certain guidelines that must be followed and it is not easy to bring you various new Web 2.0 interactivity, or at least not as easy as it is with WordPress.

We will announce it here when the new site goes live and we will be moving all of the previous articles from this Blog over to the new structure. Thank you to all of our readers and friends that have been following our occasional rants, and we look forward to serving you even better in our new digs.

Next I want to tell you about a couple of new websites that should be helpful in your genealogy research. The first is Obituaries Help at www.obituarieshelp.org, which is a free website that is staffed by volunteers.

From their own description of their website: Access newspaper obituaries and discover your genealogy online. Discover obituary resources like old newspaper obituaries archives and Download free genealogy forms and printable family tree charts.

Here is another website that will give you some ideas about using old newspaper articles for genealogy research and how to Search Obituaries.
www.old-newspaper-articles.com

Thanks for reading and keep checking back for the new move.

Boris Johnson, Mayor of London, Who Do You Think You Are?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 12:17:00 +0000

This Who do You Think You Are program in England is extremely popular. It draws many millions of viewers for each program.

It also has everyone waiting for the next lurid or juicy tidbit. Who Do You think You Are is coming to America so be ready folks.

Here is an announcement from the recent issue about the Mayor of London.

LONDON - London Mayor Boris Johnson rambling through his family history on BBC One's 'Who Do You Think You Are?' pulled in 6.8m viewers last night to win the prime-time slot, according to unofficial overnight figures.

The second episode of the series, which saw Johnson tracking down his great-grandfather, a radical Turkish journalist, and investigating the supposed French aristocracy of his granny, attracted 28.5% of the 9pm-10pm audience.

Read the full story on the Brand Republic website.

http://www.brandrepublic.com/News/840799/Boris-Johnsons-genealogy-pulls-68m-BBC-One/

(genemisc)

Report of a Good Resource for Early Ohio Research

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 10:06:00 +0000

If you had early Ohio ancestors your research comes with some built in problems. The 1800 and 1810 census for most of Ohio, save Washington county, are lacking.

One resource that has been created to help fill some voids in that time period is a book that was compiled first in 1971, then had an all name index created for it in 1973, and now has been reissued in its combination form.

Early Ohio Tax Records, by Esther Weygandt Powell. This book was created to take the place of Ohio’s lost pre-1820 census information.

An in-depth explanation of the tax lists used is in this report from the Tribune Star newspaper website of Terre Haute, Indiana. Article by Tamie Dehler

Read the full report on this early Ohio research source at the TribStar, Early Ohio Tax Records.

(genemisc)

Federal Government Turns Genealogy Into a Money Making Venture

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 10:37:00 +0000

The Federal Government reports that they received over 40,000 requests for genealogy information from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS,) through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA,) so they have decided to turn it into a fee-for-service revenue generating department for the government coffers.

Some of the record groups that the USCIS will be able to search for a fee are:

Naturalization Certificate Files (C-files) from September 27, 1906 to April 1, 1956
Alien Registration Forms from August 1, 1940 to March 31, 1944
Visa files from July 1, 1924 to March 31, 1944
Registry Files from March 2, 1929 to March 31, 1944
Alien Files (A-files) numbered below 8 million (A8000000) and documents therein dated prior to May 1, 1951

Index Searches and Record Copy Fees will run from $20.00 to $35.00.

Read about this new program on the USCIS website.

(genemisc)

The Aztecs and the Making of Colonial Mexico, an Exhibit at the Newberry Library

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 15:04:00 +0000

Every once in a while I get speechless with wonderment in this study of genealogy. This is one of those times.

To the readers of the Genealogy Miscellanea Blog, you just have to check out this fantastic collection that is on display at the Newberry.

http://www.newberry.org/aztecs/index_en.html

One of the key items that you will admire is an Illustrated Will done in 1576.

http://www.newberry.org/aztecs/s4i1.html

This is just beautiful!

(genemisc)

Allen County Public Library, Fort Wayne, Indiana Receives 10 Million Dollar Gift

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 15:14:00 +0000

Tom Kemp in his GenealogyBank Blog has reported that the Allen County Public Library (ACPL) in Fort Wayne, Indiana just received a grant of 10 million dollars, to be spread out with a one million dollar check every year for ten years.

The same endowment was also given to three other organizations in Indiana by the Edward D. and Ione Auer Foundation. The others gifted were; The Fort Wayne Philharmonic, The Fort Wayne Children's Zoo and Indiana University - Purdue University Fort Wayne.

Edward Auer was the senior vice president of Lincoln National Life Insurance Co. and owned his own investment firm. Ione Auer was a philanthropist who passed away in 2007 at the age of 103.

Read Tom Kemps GenealogyBank Blog .

(genemisc)

Genealogists Warning: Do Not Take Laptop, Ipod, Cell Phone, or any other electronic recording device abroad

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 13:25:00 +0000

Planning a Genealogy Research Trip to the mother country of your ancestors?

Fair Warning. Do NOT take any electronic gadgets with you, without standing the chance of having them seized at the border upon reentry.

The new rules of border protection allow the security officers at the border to seize all laptops or other devices that "might" have digital files of any type in them, for an undisclosed period of time, to allow technicians a "reasonable" period of time to inspect all the files and look for possible evil.

You do not have to fit any particular ethnicity, group or religion, the officers have the right to seize them for no reason whatsoever. They also will be sharing all of your files with many various other agencies for cross-linking of the data.

Let us know what you think about this and what might be done to be able to share your genealogy research trip findings. Seems possible that it might be better to put all of your research up on a website before your trip, and then while abroad you might want to buy or rent digital devices to use to capture the history of your research trip.

While abroad you could always take digital photos, movies, scanned records, etc., and put them up on a website to be able to access when you get back home.

Let us know what you think.

Read the full story of this problem in the Washington Post newspaper.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/content/article/2008/08/01/laptops.html?hpid=topnews

(Note: if you tried this earlier the link was bad. Randy Seaver on the excellent "Genea-Musings Blog" pointed this out. Thanks Randy.)

If you feel strongly about this story please share it with others by linking to this Genealogy Miscellanea Blog article, and if you use DIGG (see button below) or Stumble Upon, it would help if you DIGG or Stumble this article with a thumbs up.
Thanks.

(genemisc)

Secretary Hand, Handwriting of the 16th Century and How to Read It.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 08:51:00 +0000

Learn to read very old handwriting.

Your friends may laugh at you when you tell them you know how to read handwriting from the 1500s, but if you go through the online tutorials Vona Williams shared Wednesday at the Conference on Family History and Genealogy, your friends will have to wipe the smirks off their faces.

Williams is the manager of British reference at the Family History Library of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She teaches a class there on how to read "Secretary Hand," a handwriting that was common between 1485 and 1650.

Read the rest of this article by following the link, and on the Mormon Times website the article continues with links to locations where you can observe and practice with this type of "Secretary Hand" writing. Very interesting.

By Michael De Groote
Mormon Times

http://tinyurl.com/6otuu3

(genemisc)

Preserving Wheeler Family Genealogy

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 20:54:00 +0000

Progenitor of the WHEELER Family in America.

In 1667, Thomas Wheeler, the first of his family to come to America, was granted 4,000 acres in Stonington, Connecticut. This made him the largest landowner in the area.

Today, all that remains is the family's quarter-acre burial ground in what is now the Stonington Acres subdivision.

"This is what's left," said Dick Wheeler of Ledyard, gesturing across the approximately 86 grave sites, most of which date back to the 19th century.

Wheeler and his son Steven, also of Ledyard, for ten years have painstakingly restored the family burial ground. Today, stone walls with a wrought iron gate surround the quiet, tree-shaded cemetery with its well-preserved gravestones and small white sign.

Read more of this story by Joe Wojtas of the Day of New London, in the Newsday Newspaper for July 27, 2008.

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/connecticut/ny-bc-ct-fea--familyburialg0727jul27,0,6107601.story

(genemisc)

Just in Time for the Fourth of July, George Washinton's Boyhood Home Discovered by Archaeologists

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 22:03:00 +0000

This is the spot where George Washington supposedly cut down the cherry tree and then in a moment of guilt feeling had to confess to his father.

That story has never been proven and the experts that dug this site of George's boyhood home did not locate a hatchet.

The house burnt on Christmas Eve in 1740 when George was a lad, but it is an interesting story and you may read about at Boston.com.

(genemisc)

Donegal, Ireland has Fabulous Genealogy Research Website

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 09:17:00 +0000

From the digital online version of the Donegal News in Donegal Ireland, comes a nice story about a woman named Lindel Buckley, a New Zealander, who went back home to her roots of Donegal from where her great great grandmother had emigrated in 1869.

Lindel has since decided to make Donegal her home, and she has created a fabulous website for genealogical and historical resources regarding Donegal. Please do not take this lightly. It is FABULOUS!

This writer at Genealogy Miscellanea has no ancestral connections to Ireland, but did make a very pleasant vacation trip to Donegal in 2001. Lindel's website makes me feel as though I have gone "home" also. And yes, Ireland is GREEN!

Read the article about Lindel Buckley in the Donegal News.

Visit Lindel's excellent website for Donegal Genealogy.

To readers of Genealogy Miscellanea Blog we are trying to increase readership, so if you enjoy or find this Blog helpful in your research, please subscribe to receive each new issue free in your email inbox. If you have a website or Blog, please insert a Link to this site and let us know. We reciprocate. Tell a friend, spread the word. Thanks!

(genemisc)

Newspaper Forum Offers to Share Genealogy Data

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 10:54:00 +0000

The Daily Advertiser newspaper in LaFayette, Louisiana now has a Genealogy Forum and they are inviting all comers to post and share genealogy data.

Genealogy Miscellanea thought you all might want to know about this, but we especially think it would be a great place for those of you with Acadian connections.

The Daily Advertiser Genealogy Forum.

(genemisc)

Tri-Centennial Celebration of Seventh Day Baptist Church

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 20:58:00 +0000

300 Year Anniversary of The First Seventh Day Baptist Church of Hopkinton, Rhode Island will be celebrated Saturday June 28th.

The First Seventh Day Baptist Church of Hopkinton is noting its 300th Anniversary this year.

A Homecoming celebration will be noted on Saturday, June 28th at the the Seventh Day Baptist Church, 8 Church Street, Ashaway, R.I.,. Sabbath School - 9:45 A.M., followed by worship at 11:00 P.M., and a Lunch at the Parish House will follow the worship.

The afternoon will have historical moments,memories and music. Dress in period costume and use your imagination. Questions can be referred to Rev. C. Justin Camenga at camengacjustin at verizon dot net.

That is a remarkable tri-centennial ! Congratulations to all.

Note: for those of you who have both New England and New York State ancestors, you will want to read all about the new website for New York Ancestors now being published by the New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS.) Read the story at: Upstate New York Genealogy Blog.

http://ny-genes.blogspot.com/2008/06/nehgs-now-also-publishing-at.html

(genemisc)

Tracing American Indian Ancestors

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 11:26:00 +0000

Researching Our American Indian Ancestors,
is a program to be presented by Sharron Standifer Ashton at the Oklahoma Historical Society Research Center workshop titled from 9 a.m. to noon June 28 in the Oklahoma History Center classroom

Read the full story on the newsOK.com website at: http://tinyurl.com/6p69zk

(genemisc)

Midwest Genealogy Center in Independence, Missouri

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 09:02:00 +0000

One of the Nine Libraries to visit before you die.

So says Family Tree Magazine, about the opening of the all new Midwest Genealogy Center in Independence, near Kansas City, Missouri.

Built at a cost exceeding $8 million in public funds, the Midwest Genealogy Center at 3440 S. Lee’s Summit Road is part of the Mid-Continent Public Library system. The spacious, 50,000-foot center is meant to serve an audience well beyond serious researchers.

Once its shelves are filled, the facility will feature tens of thousands of family history books, local history items, rolls of microfiche and maps, along with computers and printers.

A few of the features are:
Oversized parking spaces for recreational vehicles.
Padded seats and lots of desks.
Classrooms where genealogical issues can be discussed.
A small dining area.

Link to the full story in the Kansas City Star:

Here is A map to the area:

While in Independence you would should also visit the Harry S. Truman Library Museum.

Readers of this Genealogy Miscellanea Blog are encouraged to report in, if you have additional knowledge of this fine facility. do so by leaving comments under this posting.

Genealogy Miscellanea

International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies to Hold Annual Conference

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 14:17:00 +0000

International Jewish Genealogical Society News:

TERRE HAUTE — The International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies will stage its 28th Annual International Conference on Jewish Genealogy in Chicago on Aug. 17-22.

The conference will be presented in the Chicago Downtown Marriott Magnificent Mile Hotel. Co-hosting the occasion will be the Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois and the Illiana Jewish Genealogical Society.

Read More: http://tinyurl.com/3lbl75

(genemisc)

National Archives and Ancestry Sign Contract to Digitize More Records

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 23 May 2008 13:16:00 +0000

The National Archives (NARA) has signed a contract with Ancestry to digitize many more records.

The following article is from the online newspaper examiner.com.

You will soon be able to find more information on your immigrant ancestors. Thanks to a new
partnership between Ancestry and the National Archives.

NARA based in Washington, DC and the Ancestry Web site signed an agreement that would allow Ancestry to digitize many of its records and make them available online for family tree
enthusiasts.

With this agreement, Ancestry will make passenger arrival and departure lists between 1897 and 1958 available. Researchers will also be able to find death notices for U.S. citizens abroad between 1835-1974.

Ancestry has around three million users.

www.examiner.com

Read the full article on the examiner website: http://tinyurl.com/3jv4n8

Readers of Genealogy Miscellanea Blog may take advantage of the:
Ancestry.com Free Trial

(genemisc)

Genealogy Miscellanea Has New Sponsor - NewspaperArchive

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 21 May 2008 01:59:00 +0000

NewspaperArchive is our newest sponsoring advertiser.

This is the world's largest database of digitized historical newspapers that you will find online.

This is where you will find those obscure life stories about your ancestors, as well as obituaries, births, marriage announcements, history and genealogy.

By subscribing through the Genealogy Miscellanea website you will be helping us to help you. Thank you for your support and please visit us often.

Laptop Thief Caught by the Laptop

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 12 May 2008 04:35:00 +0000

Friend attends house party, steals laptop.

The owner was very computer savvy and had remote control software that she could use to watch the online activity of the thief and she even took his photograph for the police.

Read the whole story on Dick Eastman's Genealogy Blog at:
http://blog.eogn.com/eastmans_online_genealogy/2008/05/stolen-laptop-c.html

(genemisc)

Interactive Census, Totally Unique!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 08 May 2008 09:39:00 +0000

The 1860 Federal Census is now "interactive"!

You will be able to add your own personal information to the listing.

Footnote has been a pioneer in this interactive feature and it will be just like the inter-active Vietnam Wall that is available for free on Footnote, which was written about in a previous Blog HERE:

If you do not yet have a subscription you should check it out and take advantage of the Footnote FREE TRIAL!

Here is the actual press release from Footnote:

Footnote 1860 census interactive news release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 7, 2008

FOOTNOTE ADDS TO ITS LEADING CIVIL WAR COLLECTION BY LAUNCHING THE FIRST-EVER INTERACTIVE 1860 US CENSUS

Footnote’s innovative tools enable members to enrich the census records by adding photos, comments, and related documents to names featured on the records.

Lindon, UT – Today, Footnote announced the addition of the 1860 US Census to their Civil War Collection. As the largest online collection of original Civil War documents, this new addition to Footnote provides a snapshot of America before the bloodiest war in its history.

The 1860 US Census reveals many details about individuals at that time. What was their occupation? Where were they born? What was their marital status? Did they attend school? Could they read or write? Was your ancestor insane, idiotic, or a convict? The 1860 US Census will let you know.

“Is the 1860 US Census already on the internet? Yes,” says Russ Wilding, CEO of Footnote. “But what makes the census different on Footnote is that these documents become interactive.”

Footnote has developed tools that enable visitors not only to find someone in the census, but also to enrich the records by adding photos, linking related documents, and contributing insights to any name on the record. “Now they’re not merely names on a document,” explains Russ Wilding. “They become people as the contributions start to tell a story about that person.”

This past March, Footnote released a similar project using the same technology with an interactive version of the Vietnam War Memorial. For each name on the Wall, a visitor can view military service information, attached photos and comments. The success of the project is overwhelming as priceless contributions are added to the Wall. Footnote expects similar results with the launch of the 1860 US Census.

At Footnote, it’s more than just looking at a historical document. History becomes a living subject on Footnote as documents from archives come together for the first time on the Internet. Visitors to Footnote can add their own contributions and upload their own shoeboxes of information. Letters, documents, and photos from the past create a view of history that few have seen before.

Every month, two million new documents are added to the site and over a million people visit the site. Footnote promises to continue to deliver new discoveries for those whose interests range from the serious historian to the casual visitor looking for something entertaining.

To view the Civil War Collection including the 1860 US Census, visit Footnote today.

About Footnote, Inc.

Footnote is a subscription website that features searchable original documents, providing users with an unaltered view of the events, places and people that shaped the American nation and the world. At Footnote, all are invited to come share, discuss, and collaborate on their discoveries with friends, family, and colleagues. For more information, visit Footnote.

DNA Doubles. Have you found your look-a-like?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 04 May 2008 14:15:00 +0000

Twenty two years on a genealogy research trip to Salt Lake City, I came across information on a group of relatives that left the east and went out to the upper mid-west by way of Ohio, Indiana, Nebraska, and South Dakota. The descendants of my great grandmother’s brother were now living in and around Pierre, South Dakota.

We had made many trips to the Family History Library, operated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS) (The Mormon Church,) usually flying commercially from Upstate New York. This time we had driven and on the return trip one morning we were filling up in Nebraska and upon looking at the road map it was just too tempting. Pierre was only about a 600 mile side trip, minor detail.

A telephone call to a man whose name and address had been located in the LDS records found him home, and he was happy to hear from a relative from back east, but I should call his cousin, who was REALLY into genealogy.

Another call found a nice lady that was thrilled to hear from a distant cousin and, “Do, please come and visit!” Didn’t have to ask twice. After a ride through the Bad Lands we arrived at her door, and were welcomed graciously.

The lady was my mom’s direct third cousin, so she was my third cousin once removed. Neither of us knew anything at all about each other before this meeting. She was intense and stared deeply at me throughout the short meeting. Her kids were all coming home for the weekend and they lived all over the country, so we could not stay long. She shared some family heirlooms, old letters, a civil war diary and we talked about our common ancestor, which she knew of, but had no information on any of his descendants, other than her own line.

After trading addresses and phone numbers, we were about to leave, when she proclaimed, “Ever since you arrived at the door, I was shocked by how you look EXACTLY like my brother when he was your age!”

Well we have all heard that before right? About two weeks after returning home there was a nice package of family records to add to my data base, and I had sent her a package as well. She sent a large family gathering photograph, you know the type, a family reunion where everyone lines up, short ones in front, and we all say cheese.

This photo had been taken probably in the 1920’s or 1930’s. Standing in the back row center was “ME!” Now I don’t mean looks a little like. It was ME! Unbelievable!

My mom was still alive and she knew that I had the genealogy bug and she loved it. She also knew that I had met people out west that were related.

So I showed her the group photo of the South Dakota people and asked her if she knew anyone. After a couple of minutes, she proclaimed, “Well I see YOU, but who the heck are the rest of these people?”

This story is extremely similar to one that was just recently published in the “Seattle Times” Newspaper, about a man by the name of Ron Schwert who had traveled to Konstanz, Germany to visit his ancestral roots hometown. Ron was on the trail of his German ancestors. Ron found out where the Schwerts were buried in Binningen, only 20 miles from Konstanz

After finding some of the graves he and his wife stopped at a local gasthaus. Ron explained that he was looking for information about the Schwert family.

The pub owner made a phone call, and soon Franz Schwert came in the door.

They were all speechless. Franz and Ron were doubles, separated by five generations!

Read the full story here: http://tinyurl.com/3fw86g

Do you have a similar story? If so, just add it to the "comments" box of this Blog message and we can all share the fun.

(genemisc)

Recluse dies in motel leaving $263,000 in cash in room

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 01 May 2008 14:24:00 +0000

Police are asking for help to locate a possible brother and daughter of
John Richard Grant, who was discovered deceased in his motel room at the Sheldon Motel, in Sheldon, Sioux County, Iowa.

Sheriffs discovered some papers, the back of a gold watch and other belongings, and in two vinyl cassette tape cases was $263,000, most of it in $50 and $100 bills.

They immediately began searching for relatives. There was no reason to believe Grant got the money illegally, so the money should go to his next-of-kin, they said.

A possible brother is said to be working as a harbor master for the U.S. Navy in Japan. The late John R. Grant, a WWII U.S. Navy veteran, also might have a daughter. Again, nobody seems certain -- at least not yet.

Grant had documents showing he served in the Navy during World War II. He was buried April 17 at the Keokuk National Cemetery. His obituary noted he was born on Nov. 7, 1925, in Rochester, N.Y. His parents were Harold and Cora Grant.

Grant paid $500 per month to stay at the motel. Officials say he had also stayed in Kansas, Minnesota and near Chicago.

Read the full story in the “Telegraph Herald” newspaper at: http://www.thonline.com/article.cfm?id=200007

(genemisc)

Native American Genealogy Lecture

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 23:28:00 +0000

The Stevens County Historical Society and Museum in Morris, Minnesota will host a special program on researching Native American Ancestry on Saturday, May 3, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Certified Genealogist Paula Stuart-Warren will present a workshop on Native American genealogy titled “Researching American Indian Ancestors.”

Read the whole story on the website of The Morris Sun Tribune newspaper at http://tinyurl.com/6gtkub

(genemisc)

Latest Update on the Living With Wolves Holocaust Hoax

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 21:10:00 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Email contact: Caroline Best
distribution.media@gmail.com

April 9, 2008

Publisher seeks to overturn $33 million judgment

The third act of a decade-long legal drama began on April 8 when publisher Jane Daniel filed a complaint to overturn the judgment against herself and her company, Mt Ivy Press, brought by Misha Defonseca and her ghost writer Vera Lee, over their book, MISHA A Memoire of the Holocaust Years. The trial ended in 2001 with an award to the plaintiffs of $11 million, which was trebled by the court to $33 million, then the second largest award in Massachusetts history.

"This case has been an unbelievable ordeal. My hope now is that I will be able to restore my good name," says Daniel. The new lawsuit follows the stunning confession by Defonseca on February 28, 2008 that her autobiographical account of walking 3,000 miles across the European theater of war, at the age of seven, searching for her deported Jewish parents, at times living with wolves, was completely fabricated. Her book, an international bestseller, has been translated into 18 languages and made into a French feature film, "Survival with Wolves," that premiered in Paris in January.

Although there were historians who questioned the authenticity of the story, the hoax went unchallenged for twenty years until an American genealogist, Sharon Sergeant, unearthed documents that proved Defonseca's real identity and showed that she had spent the war years in the home of her Catholic family.

Daniel's attorney, Joseph Orlando of Gloucester, MA says his client's case is unprecedented in his experience. "In my 30 years of practicing law, in the Federal and State Courts of Massachusetts, I have never seen a party commit a fraud on the Court of this magnitude, nor a greater wrong inflicted on a litigant. Defonseca perpetrated a fraud based upon one of the greatest historical tragedies known to mankind, the Holocaust. Her reprehensible conduct mocks the unimaginable suffering of millions of Jews at the hands of the Nazis."

In July of 2007, Daniel began writing a book based on her decade-long legal battles and posting chapters as a blog, BESTSELLERthebook.blogspot.com, with the request that anyone having information on the case contact her. Five months later, forensic genealogist Sharon Sergeant emailed her expressing her belief that she could solve the mystery. The clues were limited. In Defonseca's account she says she never knew her Jewish surname, her date and place of birth or any family names. The name she used, Monique DeWael, was a "false identity," she said, given to her by the Belgian "foster family" that hid her from the Nazis. In addition to the lack of personal information on Defonseca, Sergeant's efforts were hampered by Belgium's privacy laws that seal all vital records for 100 years.

Sergeant assembled a team that included real Jewish hidden children in the U.S. and Belgium who were the key to bringing the truth to light. "This work was very 'close to the bone' for them. It brought back excruciating memories of their own lost families," says Sergeant. "They obtained Defonseca's baptismal record and her first grade school registration that provided the central evidence needed to uncover the fraud."

When the documents appeared on Daniel's blog, they set off a firestorm across the Belgian and French media, with hour-by-hour new revelations of mounting proof that Defonseca's "memoire" was based on lies, including an interview with her 88-year-old cousin who recalled her as a child. After ten days of intense pressure, Defonseca released a statement in the leading daily newspaper, Le Soir, saying, "It is not the truth but it is my truth. I always felt Jewish."

The text of the entire complaint is online at: Complaint Against Misha Defonseca, et. al.

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