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Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter
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Congrès Mondial Acadien Louisiane Dictionnaire Généalogique des Familles Acadiennes |
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| August 10, 1999 |
- Congrès Mondial Acadien Louisiane Thousands of Broussards, LeBlancs, Cahouets and more are now gathering in southwest Louisiana, retelling the tragic events that ripped their families apart 250 years ago and celebrating the survival of their culture. These people are "les Acadiens," descendants of the French-speaking people of what is now Nova Scotia who were forced from their homes and deported in 1755 for refusing to swear allegiance to England. In Louisiana the name "Acadians" was corrupted to "Cajun." "Congrès Mondial Acadien Louisiane " is a two-week reunion of Acadians, mostly from the United States and Canada along with a handful from other countries. Hundreds of events are scheduled during the two week reunion, including genealogy courses, demonstrations of old-fashioned weaving and spinning techniques, academic lectures, special masses in rural Catholic churches, craft shows, art exhibits and, above all, individual family reunions. "It's a beautiful experience to see people celebrating family. That's the goal of this event," said Louisiana Lt. Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco. "This is extremely important to Louisiana and we want the world to know it." Blanco said there probably were sufficient Cajun names in her family tree to gain her admittance to all of the family reunions during the Congres, which also focuses on preserving Louisiana's French heritage. An estimated quarter of a million Cajuns still speak the mostly archaic French of their ancestors, sprinkled with words absorbed from the Spaniards, Africans and Native Americans they met along the state's shadowed bayous. The tragedy of the Acadians being forced from their homes was immortalized in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's epic poem "Evangeline." However, that brief poem could not give all the details of the hardships endured. Contrary to popular belief, very few of the Acadians went directly to Louisiana. Many Acadians escaped the deportation orders and simply went further into the woods, remaining in what is now Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Others were deported to cities up and down the Atlantic seaboard. Still more Acadians were sent to Santo Domingo and other Caribbean islands while some returned to France. From those locations, thousands went on to Louisiana in later years, some returned to what is now Nova Scotia, and many more simply settled down in their new locations, wherever that happened to be. Husbands and wives were torn from each other, siblings were divided, and most never saw the rest of their families again. Five years ago, Canadian Paul Pierre Bourgeois helped organize the Congrès Mondial Acadien Retrouvaille in New Brunswick. "The most painful thing to the Acadians was the fracturing of their families. They wanted to get back together and find one another, but it took two centuries," he said. The reunion five years ago was a decidedly Canadian affair. However, this year’s " Congrès Mondial Acadien Louisiane " is more Cajun; celebrants are sopping up alligator sauce piquante (a spicy stew) with crusty French bread or diving headfirst into mountains of jambalaya, a tasty mix of rice, sausage, seafood, bell peppers and onions. 88-year-old Armand Lejeune of Ville Platte, Louisiana, summed it up well: "We may have been scattered to the winds two centuries ago or more, but all Arcadians, we know how to love our families, how to be kind to strangers -- here, have a beer -- and we know how to pass a good time. It's in the blood." - Dictionnaire Généalogique des Familles Acadiennes Stephen White, genealogist at the Centre d'Études Acadiennes of the Université de Moncton in New Brunswick, has for many years been working on a comprehensive look at the first families of Acadia. He recently completed the first two volumes. White discussed the Dictionnaire Généalogique des Familles Acadiennes at the Lafourche Heritage Society's 23rd annual Seminar on History and Genealogy, held in conjunction with Congrès Mondial Acadien Louisiane. The first two volumes of the Dictionnaire provide information about the main Acadian families who settled in Acadia between 1636 and 1714, White said. Full details can be found at the Baton Rouge, Louisiana’s Advocate Online at: http://www.theadvocate.com/news/story.asp?StoryID=7931. - Report on Genealogy Resources in Ireland The following is from Dennis Ahern of The Irish Ancestral Research Association: With the increased interest in genealogy in recent years, many tourists now come to Ireland intent on researching their roots. Unfortunately, access to genealogical data in Ireland is more challenging than usual due to the loss, or lack, of certain records, such as census and other vital records which, in most countries, provide a means of tracing ones ancestors. In the 1980s, to compensate for the lack of civil records prior to 1864, local volunteer groups worked on a variety of indexing schemes, gleaning baptism and marriage data from parish records. Grant money was found to underwrite these efforts and government-funded training programs were set up to employ young people in data entry and other tasks related to computerizing the records. The Irish Genealogical Project (IGP) was created in 1988 to coordinate this effort, but the ambitious goals of this project have yet to be reached. In 1997 the government published a "Report on Value for Money Examination of the IGP" which made recommendations on what could be done. (See http://www.irlgov.ie/audgen/Pressrel/PRVFM14.HTM) As a result of this report, the Heritage Council was asked to conduct a study of genealogical resources in Ireland. While the original IGP included all 32 counties, the Heritage Council study was limited to the Republic. Notices were printed in Irish newspapers soliciting input from persons or organizations with an interest in Irish genealogy. This notice took the form a series of questions called the Terms of Reference. The Irish Ancestral Research Association (TIARA), a non-profit organization based in Boston, but with members worldwide, accepted the invitation published in the Terms of Reference and responded with recommendations based on our collective knowledge and experience. As a follow-up, we conducted a survey of customers who had used the services of various heritage centres and other genealogical resources in Ireland and Northern Ireland. Because of the time it took us to draft the survey and distribute it to our membership, we had only a few weeks to collect data and tabulate results. To supplement the surveys that were collected by mail and at meetings, we set up an online form on our website at http://tiara.ie/survey4.html. In the end, we had 225 responses that we were able to tabulate. This survey, with all the supporting data and anecdotal comments, was hand delivered to the Heritage Council and also to the Ministry of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht & the Islands in October of last year. Although the Heritage Council's report was submitted in December, it has yet to be released, despite questions raised in government debates. [See http://www.irlgov.ie/debates-99/29apr99/sect4.htm] Most recently, The Sunday Times [of London] reported on the issue and raised questions about the future plans for genealogy resources in Ireland. (See http://tiara.ie/press.htm#sunday) TIARA's report on customer satisfaction with Irish Heritage Centres can be found at http://tiara.ie/results.htm. For recent press coverage of this issue, see http://tiara.ie/press.htm. Also, please note the new location of our website at http://tiara.ie. - Princess Anne Co., Virginia Deeds, Wills & Guardianships CD-ROM Heritage Books apparently is producing new genealogy CD-ROM disks at a very high rate. This week I had a chance to use one of their new releases: "Princess Anne Co., Virginia Deeds, Wills & Guardianships". Like most of the other Heritage Books CD-ROMs, this one is an electronic copy of a series of printed books of the same name. The books contain records extracted by Anne E. Maling and was originally published in 1992 as a printed four-volume set containing 765 pages. The single CD-ROM contains electronic image reprints of all four volumes of Princess Anne County, Virginia, records. The county was formed from the lower part of Norfolk County in 1691. It disappeared completely in 1962 when it was absorbed into the city of Virginia Beach. The CD-ROM contains pictures of the original book pages, not computer text. Obviously there are advantages and disadvantages to the use of images. One advantage is that you can print an image on your local printer; it looks like a high-quality photocopy of an original page. In fact, images printed on my rather old laser printer look much better than any of the photocopies I have made over the years. The locally printed images are clear and easy to read. A big disadvantage to the use of images is the inability to search by words. Many text-based CD-ROM disks allow the user to search for specific words or combinations of words anywhere on the disk. Since the "Princess Anne Co., Virginia Deeds, Wills & Guardianships" CD-ROM is image-based, there is no such capability. However, the CD-ROM does have a rather good surname index. I found that I could go to the index, find a surname and the page(s) where it occurred, and then manually go to the page(s) indicated. The pages are not hyperlinked, however. That is, you cannot click on a page number and automatically go to the cited page. Another disadvantage is that you cannot cut and paste words from the CD-ROM into your word processor or genealogy program. You will have to retype the text in the same manner that you would when using photocopies. The "Princess Anne Co., Virginia Deeds, Wills & Guardianships" CD-ROM contains extracts of every deed, every will and every guardianship document found in the county’s records. The original book apparently was created on a typewriter, and each page image simply shows typewritten pages. As an example, here is an entry from page 17 of Deed Book 9: 9DB6 – 16 Mar 1762: Lemeul LANGLEY and wife Joyce to Thomas TALBOT and John IVY for 46 lbs. 13 shillings 200 acres of land near the sea side left him by his father Capt. Lemuel LANGLEY. Wit: John ACKISS, Nicholas POWELL. The guardianships can be especially valuable, as these are often the only mention of an orphan’s parents. For instance, here is a listing from Guardianships Volume Two, 1774-1778: 11 Aug 1774 – BERRY, Margaret, orphan of Thomas Berry. Guardian: Willoughby BERRY. I noticed that the surname index not only lists the names of the buyers and sellers, it also lists the surnames of the two witnesses: Ackiss and Powell. If you have ancestors in Princess Anne County, you may find them as witnesses to legal documents, even if they never bought or sold land. Often land was sold to relatives. Even if you cannot find birth, marriage or death records of an individual, you can often find valuable clues in other legal documents. The wills contained on this CD-ROM obviously are a big help in proving relationships. However, the deeds and guardianships can also provide valuable clues. The software used in the "Princess Anne Co., Virginia Deeds, Wills & Guardianships" CD-ROM is Adobe Acrobat, one of my favorites, as it is very easy to use. Acrobat is undoubtedly the most popular CD-ROM application today and is available in Windows, Macintosh and several UNIX versions. If you do not already have this software installed on your PC or Macintosh, Heritage Books provides copies on the CD-ROM itself. A 16-bit version is available for Windows 3.1 and a 32-bit version is available for Windows 95, Windows 98 and Windows NT. A Macintosh version is also included on the CD-ROM. Other versions of the software are available at no charge on Adobe’s website. Unlike some other genealogy CD-ROM disks, you do not need any other software. Everything is included on the CD-ROM itself. I noticed that the CD-ROM disk contained version 3.01 of Adobe Acrobat. However, version 4.0 is available at no charge from Adobe’s website. I used version 4.0 when using this CD-ROM. The documentation on the CD-ROM lists the following system requirements for version 3.01: PC users will need: IBM-compatible 386 or higher with a CD-ROM drive Macintosh users will need: System 6 or higher All in all, this is an excellent genealogy CD-ROM disk. The "Princess Anne Co., Virginia Deeds, Wills & Guardianships" disk contains transcribed records of original documents that are valuable to anyone researching Princess Anne County ancestry. The "Princess Anne Co., Virginia Deeds, Wills & Guardianships" costs $25.00 and is available directly from Heritage Books. You probably can also find it at many genealogy bookstores. For more information, look at: http://www.heritagebooks.com - New Edition of the SAR Patriot Index CD The following press release from Progeny Software was issued this week: New Edition of the SAR Patriot Index CD Contains Over 610,000 Records August 1, 1999, Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada --- Progeny Publishing, a division of Progeny Software Inc., developers of quality genealogy software and CD-ROM products, today announced the release of the 1999 Edition of the SAR Patriot Index CD. This new edition contains over 610,000 family history records of Patriots and their descendants collected from membership applications submitted to the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) between 1880 and 1998. (The first edition of the CD was published in 1998, and contained only 470,000 records.) Data is presented in standard genealogical format, (i.e., as a lineage-linked database), so that descendants, where applicable, can easily be traced back to Patriot Ancestors. This edition also includes an enhanced version of Progeny Family Explorer (tm) -- the powerful search and report utility included on all Progeny CD-ROM products. Family Explorer provides the interface to the records stored in the Patriot Index, effectively creating a standalone product. Using Family Explorer, users can quickly search and navigate through records in the database, as well as print professional quality charts and reports for various people on the CD. Now, with this latest version, it is also possible to export records in GEDCOM format for direct import into any popular genealogy database program. "The release of this 1999 Edition went very quickly," said Bob Thomas, Partner of Progeny Software, Inc. "We work closely with Doug Little, Chairman of the Patriot Index Committee for SAR, and he pretty much has the data preparation process down pat." An ongoing project of the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, data for the Patriot Index is compiled from ancestral cards on file at SAR National Headquarters, primary and supplemental applications from State Archives, and new member applications as they are approved by National Headquarters. "Publishing this kind of data on CD makes a lot more sense than going to print," said Douglas Little, Chairman of the Patriot Index Committee. "Instead of printing several volumes of thick reference books, all we need is one CD. Data is so much easier and quicker to find, plus you can print out various reports and charts with Family Explorer. Furthermore, the update process is very straightforward, which is why we were able to produce this new Edition in less than two months!" The SAR Patriot Index CD operates on Windows 3.1/95/98/NT, requires a 486 CPU or better, and 8 MB free hard disk space. It is available now for $39.95 US direct from Progeny Publishing or through participating dealers. Owners of the 1998 Edition of the SAR Patriot Index may upgrade for the special price of $19.95 US. To receive the special upgrade price, you must contact Progeny Publishing directly and send in the front of the 1998 Patriot Index CD booklet as proof of purchase. To order direct, call toll free 1-800-565-0018, or send a check or money order to Progeny Publishing, Olympic Towers, Ste. 200, 300 Pearl St., Buffalo, NY, 14202. Please add $5 for shipping and handling. For more information on other Progeny products visit http://www.progenysoftware.com. The following is a message that I received this week from Kim Culp: Hello, I don't know if you can do this or not but I have been getting the newsletter for quite a while. My mom and I have been working on genealogy for years together. But on June 30th, a month ago she disappeared without a trace. They believe she was abducted. She is 76 years old, her name is Georgia Smith. She left Champlin, Minnesota for her Lake home in Minong, Wisconsin but never made it there. She was driving a 1984 Blue Mercedes with Wisconsin license plate TXP 401. Please if you could mention this in your next newsletter I would be so thankful. She has 7 kids, 24 grandkids. A search benefit fund has been set up at TCF Bank, 405 East Main St., Anoka, MN 55303 under Georgia Smith Search benefit fund. This money will go for a private detective, as the police haven't been able to find anything. It will cost between $25,000-100,000.00. A reward of up to $10,000 is being offered. Thank you for your time, Kim Culp Last November the readers of this newsletter voted Cyndi’s List as the best genealogy-related site on the World Wide Web. Cyndi obviously has not been resting on her laurels. She has now written her second book, which is called, appropriately enough, Cyndi’s List. The following is an excerpt from the press release: CYNDI'S LIST A Comprehensive List of 40,000 Genealogy Sites on the Internet Cyndi Howells When Time magazine ran its April 19, 1999 cover story on genealogy and computers, "How to Search for Your Roots," the featured subject of the article was none other than Cyndi Howells, founder and compiler of Cyndi's List, the most popular genealogy site in cyberspace. Time's recognition was only the latest praise for Cyndi's List, which has won the plaudits of virtually every genealogy authority alive. You will be pleased to learn, therefore, that our featured book for June 1999 is Cyndi's List. A Comprehensive List of 40,000 Genealogy Sites on the Internet. Now anyone can have a version of Cyndi's List which you can feel, touch, and read even when the power is turned off. Winner of numerous awards, the object of countless honors, and acclaimed by authorities throughout the world, Cyndi's List is the gateway to Internet genealogy, providing the researcher with more than 40,000 links to every conceivable genealogical resource on the Internet. An Aladdin's cave of genealogical riches--its bounty spread comprehensively across one hundred subject categories--Cyndi's List, like the fabled cave, offers unparalleled riches to those who would mine its storied contents. For the genealogist, Cyndi's List is nothing short of a phenomenon. It originated just a few years ago with the modest aim of providing the Tacoma-Pierce County Genealogical Society with five or six pages of genealogy website addresses. From there, Cyndi's List of Genealogy Sites on the Internet with 1,025 links listed on one page, grew to more than 40,000 categorized and cross-referenced links in more than 100 categories listed on more than 300 individual web pages. The site now has more than 64,000 visitors each day, with more than 7 million people having stepped through the front door of the site to date. The new book will be available soon. I checked the Genealogical Publishing Company’s web pages and found that it is not yet listed. However, I suspect it will be there soon. Keep an eye on: http://www.genealogybookshop.com/genealogybookshop/index.html - More on BostonFamilyHistory.com Two weeks ago I reported the appearance of a new website: BostonFamilyHistory.com. This week the site’s sponsors released some background information about the site: Have you ever planned a research trip only to be left with nothing to do once the Library and Town Hall closes? A new website for Boston is changing that. BostonFamilyHistory.com is innovative because it contains information about both historical and current events. By using the site you can gain insight into the lives of your ancestors in multiple ways. BostonFamilyHistory.com also utilizes the latest in information technology to make genealogical and historical research in Boston accessible to both beginning and experienced researchers. With a few mouse clicks you can access a directory of genealogical resources in the Boston area, see what cultural events are happening while you visit the city and look at the historical context of your ancestors' lives. The site makes it easy for you to understand the rich cultural diversity of the city by including historical timelines for ethnic groups and neighborhoods. Back in January, BostonFamilyHistory.com was an idea under development by Dr. Robert Krim, Director of the Boston History Collaborative, a not-for-profit partnership established in 1997 to develop and implement a new model of historical tourism. The organization, along with representatives from business, government, the tourist industry and non-profit institutions, plus historians and genealogists decided reach out to the thousands of individuals who visit Boston to research their roots. This site is an example of what can be produced when groups work together towards a common goal. Advisors from all segments of the partnership contributed content to this site. The result is a mix of information and hands-on activities. The front page of BostonFamilyHistory.com provides you with several options. You can choose to explore one of the six ethnicities covered in the first phase of the project or the neighborhoods in which your ancestors lived. You can also choose to look at a list of organizations you may want to visit for family research, plus a directory of the types of records you may want to use to research your family and where these records can be found. The second part of the site encourages users to engage in fun activities such as searching for ancestors online, visiting the online exhibit for a new Boston museum, planning a trip to the area or leaving a message for other researchers. It also offers something no other genealogical site does--it provides visitors with material on hotels, restaurants and transportation. By choosing to plan a trip to Boston you can take advantage of a special hotel package offered by the Lenox and Copley Square Hotels. Both are within walking distance of the Boston Public Library and the New England Historic Genealogical Society. If you've ever wondered how to interest the younger members of your family in genealogy, the site also offers a few interesting activities for kids. They can explore naming patterns, create their own personal timeline, or learn how to interview members of their family. Once you select an ethnicity, you can learn more about those people's lives in Boston, including their occupations and religions. For example, a directory of religious institutions in the Boston area can help you discover which churches or synagogues your ancestors attended. If you are unfamiliar with research techniques regarding your ethnicity, additional help is available by clicking one of the options offered. Since the tourism aspect of the site is one of its unique features, on each ethnic page researchers can access information about tours, cultural events and institutions and any newspapers (historical and current), radio or television stations that feature material on the selected ethnic group. BostonFamilyHistory.com offers you a way to follow in your ancestor's footsteps by visiting neighborhoods and participating in events. It also helps you place your family in the cultural and historical context of Boston. The Boston History Collaborative launched two other projects this year--a literary tour of Boston at http://www.lit-trail.org and a maritime tour of the city at http://www.bostonbysea.org. BostonFamilyHistory.com will announce a companion project next spring, a walking tour of Boston ethnic and immigrant history. - Ancestry.com Adds Two-Million Name Biographical Database The following is a press release from Ancestry.com: Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com), the premier resource for tracing family history online, announces the addition of the Biography Database to its ever-growing collection of research databases. This addition brings the total number of records on Ancestry.com to 276 million. Compiled by Avero Publications Ltd., and available online exclusively through Ancestry.com, the Biography Database contains data from both the U.K. and the United States, dated 1680-1830. The data features town directories stemming from the mid-eighteenth century and book subscription lists providing local information for the years prior to the development of true directories. Also included in the database are society membership lists as well as journals, providing details of births, marriages and deaths. "This massive collection of information provides an invaluable tool to genealogical research," said Curt Allen, president and CEO of Ancestry.com. "This database is intriguing because it goes beyond mere dates and reveals more intimate insights about one's ancestors." The addition of this database makes available biographical sources that previously were too large and too dispersed for practical consultation. The database allows genealogists to trace individuals and families by birth, death, marriage, occupation, reading interests, offices held, children and social groups. The Biography Database is accessible -- free of charge through August 15, after which it remains available to Ancestry.com subscribers. The database is a work-in-progress, with two million records currently posted and more than three million additional records to be added by 2001, at which point every known U.K. and U.S. directory through 1830 will have been captured. While not mentioned in the news release, other sources at Ancestry.com have stated that the database will be distributed in five installments. Each installment lists roughly 1 million names. Two installments have been issued to date, and the entire project will be completed before 2001. Members of Ancestry.com will be able to search this entire database online. Individual installments of the product would otherwise sell for $2,250. You can search the Biography Database 1680-1830 at: http://www.ancestry.com/ancestry/search/biodb/index.asp A San Francisco cremation company is making it possible for people to go out in a blaze of glory. The Neptune Society of Northern California, a for-profit company, now offers private memorial fireworks shows. Families can choose a musical theme to accompany the 3-1/2- minute shows, in which ashes are packed inside fireworks shells that are fired from a barge in San Francisco Bay. The first such ceremony in the Bay area was held on July 17 for John Kotowski, a rocket scientist who died last summer after helping to design the procedure used for gathering samples from the lunar surface. Kotowski's family took the Neptune Society's 55-foot yacht to the middle of the bay and watched his ashes fly into the air and explode to the strains of Rossini's "William Tell" overture. The pyrotechnic displays are available for about $3,200, not including the cost of cremation. The Neptune Society of Northern California isn’t the first company to offer spectacular exits from this world. In 1997 Texas-based Celestis used a jetliner and rocket to put the ashes of 1960s LSD guru Timothy Leary and "Star Trek" creator Gene Roddenberry into temporary orbit. Last week, when the U.S. Lunar Prospector spacecraft crashed into the moon, it was carrying the ashes of astronomer Gene Shoemaker, who had always longed to go there. The Upcoming Events section of the newsletter is published once per month. Each event will be listed very briefly: title, date(s), location, and sponsoring organization, all followed by either an e-mail address or a Web page that you can use to find more information. Since detailed information is available via e-mail or the Web, I will not list the details in this newsletter. If you do contact any of these organizations, please tell them where you heard about the event. Here are the listings, arranged by date. An asterisk indicates a new listing that has been added since the last time this list was published: The 75th annual PARKMAN Association Meeting will be held August 8, 1999 in Skowhegan, Maine. This association is for all descendants of Gideon and Mary (Vining) Parkman of Abington, Massachusetts and Skowhegan, Maine. Details are available by sending an e-mail to: The ninth annual Walter PALMER Society reunion will be held on August 8th 1999 in Stonington, CT. For details, look at: The 105th annual JOHNSON reunion of the descendants of Daniel JOHNSON and Clarissa BLACKMER will be held Sunday, August 8, 1999 in North East, Pennsylvania. Details are at: The 4th Annual LINSCOTT Family Picnic will be held on August 8, 1999, in Liberty, Maine. All Linscotts, or descendants of Linscotts, are encourage to attend. Information is available at: "New York.... Gateway to America," the 19th Annual Conference on Jewish Genealogy, hosted by the Jewish Genealogical Society, Inc., will be held August 8-13, 1999. For information, look at: The New England Historic Genealogical Society’s annual "Come Home to New England" program will be held August 8-15, 1999 at the Society’s headquarters in Boston, MA. Participants enjoy one-on-one research consultations with NEHGS staff, daily lectures on New England research and methodology, and private research time and exclusive early library hours. For information, look at: The St. Louis County Library is sponsoring a workshop for Genealogical Librarians on August 10, 1999. Note that this is the day before the FGS national conference in St. Louis. Speakers will be Lloyd DeWitt Bockstruck of the Dallas Public Library, Eric Grundset, librarian the DAR library, Paul Conner of the Library of Congress, Brent Griffeths of the LDS Family History Library, Martha Henderson of the Mid-Continent Public Library, and Constance Potter of the National Archives. Details are available at: The Federation of Genealogical Societies and the St. Louis Genealogical Society invite you to "A Conference for the Nation's Genealogists" in St. Louis, MO August 11 through 14, 1999. This is one of the major conferences of the year. The full Conference Registration Booklet is now on-line at: The descendants of Catharine MAHONY and John McCARTHY of Prescott, Ontario will hold their second reunion August 13-15, 1999 in Ottawa, Ontario. For information, contact: The descendants of William DUDLEY, a founder of Guilford, CT in 1639 and his wife Jane Lutman will hold their 1999 Reunion on August 14-15, 1999 in Guilford, CT. For information, contact: The 95th Annual DAGUE Family Reunion will be held August 15, 1999 in Spencer, Medina County, Ohio. Information is available from: The 1999 National HANKS Family Reunion will be held on August 20, 21, 22, 1999 in Plymouth, Massachusetts. The reunion is to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the arrival of the New England Branch of the Hanks family to America. More information can be found at: The 1st Annual West Virginia Highland Games and Celtic Festival will be held on August 21, 1999 at South Charleston, WV. For more information, see the supporting organization’s Web page at: *The Computer Genealogy Society of San Diego will host a half-day seminar, featuring author Richard Wilson, on August 21, 1999. Richard will give two presentations: "Comparing Genealogy Software Programs" and "Publishing Your Family History on the Internet." Details are available at: The 12th Annual British Isles Family History Society - U.S.A. "Family History Seminar" will be held in Los Angeles on August 26-28,1999. The speakers are: Colin R. Chapman, Tony McCarthy and Paul Smart. For more information, look at: The second CLEVER Family Reunion (KLEBER of Lancaster Co. PA) will be held 27-29 August 1999 at Bellville, Ohio. Details are available from: *The PALMER Family Reunion 1999 will be held Saturday, Sept. 04, inMagee, Mississippi. Details are available from: The Searching For That Elusive Irish Ancestor 1999 Family History & Heritage Conference will be held in Belfast and in Dublin, Ireland September 7 through 14, 1999. The conference will concentrate on making practical use of the genealogical research sources available to the family historian in both cities. Delegates will have ample opportunity for guided research at the main archives and repositories in addition to lectures, tours and entertainment all at no extra charge. Details are available at: The Willamette Valley Genealogical Society, Inc. is sponsoring a conference on genealogical research featuring Mr. George K. Schweitzer, Ph.D., one of America's Foremost Genealogical Speakers. Sessions will focus on "American Land Grants", "Obscure Genealogical Sources", and "Researching in Burned Out Counties". The conference will be held in Salem, Oregon on Saturday, September 11, 1999. The Gloucester County Historical Society of Woodbury, NJ is sponsoring a Heritage Quest Genealogy Road Show on September 11, 1999. For more information, look at: *The Anchorage (Alaska) Genealogical Society will sponsor the all-day Everton's "Discovering Your Heritage" Workshop, Saturday 11 September 1999 in Anchorage. For information, send an e-mail to: The Eli and Mae GARMAN Family Reunion will be held on September 12, 1999 in Independence, Kansas. Details are available from: *STEWART/STUART Family Reunion 1999 will be held Sunday, Sept. 12, at Roosevelt State Park in Mississippi. For further information, send an e-mail to: The Colorado Genealogical Society/Computer Interest Group will present their 8th Biennial Symposium, "Helping Genealogists Use Computers" on September 17th and 18th, 1999 in Denver, Colorado. For additional information, contact:: The New England Historic Genealogical Society is hosting its Fourth Annual "Irish Genealogical Conference" in Randolph, Massachusetts, on September 17 and 18, 1999. The conference will feature nineteen lectures specifically on Irish genealogical topics. Details are available at: An Everton Workshop will be held 18 Sept. 1999 in Prineville, OR; hosted by the Crook County Genealogical Society. For further information, send an e-mail to: A reunion of the descendants of John Rooney and Mary Clark Rooney will be held in Sacramento, California on September 18, 1999. Related families, Clark, Lynch, Devlin, Codd, Garland are welcome. *The Heritage Hunters group of Saratoga County, NY will hold an informative and fun day called "Ancestor Connection Day." Numerous presentations will be made by well-known speakers. Details are available from: The 25th SEABOLT Family Reunion will be held in Vogel State Park, Georgia on September 18 and 19,1999. The New England Historic Genealogical Society will present "Computer Resources for Genealogists" at The Women's Educational and Industrial Union in Boston, MA. Participants may choose to attend the day-long seminar on either September 24 or September 25, 1999 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Speakers will include Rhonda McClure, Steve Kyner and Dick Eastman. Details are available at: The Slippery Rock Heritage Association will hold their Annual Heritage Festival on September 24 through 26, 1999. It will be held in conjunction with the Slippery Rock University Homecoming Weekend Celebration. Details are available at: *The American-Canadian Genealogical Society Fall Conference will be held in Manchester, NH on September 24, 25 and 26, 1999 The agenda will include Stephen White and his new "Dictionary of Acadian Families". Details are available at: The "Make Mine Maryland" genealogy conference, sponsored by the Anne Arundel Genealogical Society, will be held September 24-27, 1999 in Annapolis, MD. Full details are available at: The First (Australian) National Family History and Heraldry Fair is scheduled to run in the September school holidays; 24th September-3 October 1999 at the historic Beechworth Campus of La Trobe University. For more information, contact the Manager Campus Information and Convention Centre at: The annual ESKRIDGE Family Association reunion will be held Friday and Saturday, October 1-2, 1999 in Richmond, VA. Activities include a business meeting, a program on "Using Technology in Genealogy" and other technology workshops as well. For details, contact: The Victoria Genealogical Society will hold all day seminar on October 2, 1999 in Victoria, British Columbia. The program will feature Cyndi Howells. For details, see: *The Boston States Migration Workshops and Genealogy Fair - Eastern Canadian Province, New England and New York States migrations will be held on October 2, 1999 in Waltham, Massachusetts. Details are available at: *WESLEY Family Reunion 1999 will be held Oct. 2, Saturday in Pearl, Mississippi. For additional information, contact: *The Elgin, Illinois, Genealogical Society will hold its Ninth Annual Chester A. Bowser Memorial Program October 2, 1999 with 5 lectures presented by James W. and Paula Warren. Details are available from: The Alford American Family Association, Inc. (including Alvord, Halford, Alfred, etc.) will hold its 12th annual meeting and national "Alford" family reunion October 8-10 in San Antonio, Texas. Details are available at: http://www.alford.com/alford/aafa/homepage.html *The annual BOBO Family Reunion will be Oct. 8-10, in Huntsville, AL, and in Lynchburg, TN. For information, send an e-mail to: The McHenry County, Illinois Genealogical Society will host "Genealogy. . .On The Internet. . .With Cyndi Howells" on Saturday, October 9, 1999, in Crystal Lake, IL. For additional information look at: *The South Carolina Genealogical Society’s 1999 Annual Meeting will be held at Hilton Head Island on October 15-16, 1999. A pre-conference will be held October 13-15. Details are available at: An October Seminar will be sponsored by the Genealogy Friends of Plano (Texas) Libraries, Inc. on October 16, 1999. The seminar will feature Helen F. M. Leary, speaking on "Clutching at Straws and Other Last Ditch Efforts: A Workshop in Genealogical Problem Solving." Details are available at: The Mid-Atlantic Germanic Society will hold an all-day seminar on Saturday, October 23, 1999, in Trappe, PA. The program includes a number of speakers discussing German genealogy research in Pennsylvania. For details contact: *The annual CAREY/CARY Family Reunion will be held in Ocean City, Maryland, on 23-24 October 1999. For information, contact: The Florida State Genealogical Society will hold its 23nd Annual Conference October 29 and 30, 1999 in Sarasota, Florida. The featured speaker will be Sharon DeBartolo Carmack. For more information, send an e-mail to: The Ingham County (Michigan) Genealogical Society presents "A Genealogical Seminar" on Saturday, November 13, 1999. Speakers will be Shirley J. Hodges and Jana Sloan Broglin. For more information see: The New England Historic Genealogical Society is offering its annual "Research Program to Salt Lake City" from November 14-21, 1999. This program brings the experience and knowledge of the society’s research staff to The Family History Library in Salt Lake City, which houses the world's largest collection of genealogical data. Details are at: GENTECH, a non-profit volunteer organization, and the San Diego Genealogical Society will host GENTECH2000 "Bridging the Centuries: Bringing Genealogy and Technology Together" in San Diego, California on 28-29 January 2000. A large program is planned. Details are available at: The McAllen Genealogical Society will hold its annual all-day seminar Saturday, February 5, 2000 in McAllen, Texas. Henry Z (Hank) Jones, the featured speaker, will present four informative and fun lectures. For details, contact: The Colorado Council of Genealogical Societies will host its Annual Rocky Mountain Regional Conference, 22-23 September 2000, Lakewood CO. Featured speakers will be Cyndi Howells, Henry "Hank" Jones, and Christina Schaefer. For details, contact: If you would like to see your event listed, send an e-mail to: The following is a list of some of the genealogy-related World Wide Web home pages that have been listed recently on http://www.rootscomputing.com. Some of these sites may charge a fee for their services: Guild Genealogy - Descendants of John Guild, a proprietor in Dedham, Massachusetts in 1640: GAUER Family Home Page – a repository for information about the GAUER family surname. It includes a discussion forum, research resources and GAUER family researchers contact list: The Presley-Pressley Family History Site is devoted to the research of the Presley and Pressley (and variant spellings) families: The Cheval dit St-Jacques Resource Center. One name study, variations include: Cheval, Cheval dit St-Jacques, St-Jacques, St-Jacque, St-Jaques, St-Jock. Indexed surname listing, biograpy page, researcher listing, links, mailing list, marriage repetiore of St-Antoine-sur-Richelieu, association information: Descendants of Cornelius Roberts, born in about 1746 in what is now Henry County, Virginia: The Orion Project - transcription of the Queensland, Australia birth, death and marriage records from microfiche to computer database: Purcell Family Genealogy originating in Dublin, Ireland: Gleason's Old Maps - Photocopies available of town maps from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, California, etc. from the 1860s and 1870s, most of which show the family name on each house: Calliope Origins Forum for anyone researching families from the Calliope or Gladstone districts of Central Queensland, Australia: Searching for WISHENGRAD. If you know of ANY Wishengrad, please check this page: To submit your home page to this newsletter, enter the necessary information at: http://www.rootscomputing.com/register.htm. Due to the volume of new Web pages submitted, I am not able to list all of them in the newsletter.
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