HEIRLINES Family History & Genealogy

News & Views - August 2006

In this issue:

• Heirlines End of Summer Research Special
• Partnership Looks to Link Millions of People
• The Truth About Hiring a Professional Genealogist – Part II
• FGS Annual Conference in Boston August 30 – September 2
• Genealogist: “Good Guys Have Won”

 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^     

Heirlines End of Summer Special August 15 to August 31, 2006

Purchase a 20 Hour Silver package for $1200, or a 40 Hour Gold Package for $2200, and get a free wall size working pedigree chart.

These packages will provide you with all the information that it is possible to glean from the records in a 20 or 40 hour research period. You will find this a great way to start any research project, to extend a line, or to work on a specific research problem.  Let HEIRLINES introduce you to your ancestors!

This offer is good on projects purchased August 15 through August 31.  To take advantage of this special offer, simply enter “Summer Special” in the comments section when you place your order online.

********************************************************************************************

PARTNERSHIP LOOKS TO LINK MILLIONS

OF PEOPLE

GENETICALLY AND HISTORICALY

This partnership combines genealogy, family history and DNA genetics to link nations and people in celebrating “America’s 400^th Anniversary.”

 SALT LAKE CITY – Heirlines Family History & Genealogy is merging genealogy with modern science. It has teamed up with Relative Genetics and GenealogyFound to show that after 400 years millions of Americans can trace their family tree back to the Jamestowne colony and Colonial Virginia. DNA testing and genealogical research is combining to help Jamestowne descendants jump the pond and find their immigrant origins from Europe and other nations.

The year 2007 marks the 400^th anniversary of the original Jamestowne settlement – the first permanent English colony in what is now the United States of America. Heirlines, Relative Genetics, and GenealogyFound are using traditional genealogy, along with genetic genealogy, to link millions of living people to their roots in that 17^th Century colony. They are building a public database of Jamestowne and 17^th Century Colonial Virginia descendents that will be available beginning in 2007.

Doug Arnett, COB of GenealogyFound, a non-profit foundation promoting historic event genealogy projects world-wide, said he thinks the Jamestowne 2007 project will awaken the spirit of family history in many Americans as well as people in many foreign countries.

“We want to build an Internet research database for everyone, and spark a patriotic sense that ‘Maybe my ancestors came through Jamestowne’ so people will be excited to tie into this historic location,” he remarked.

Peggy Hayes, director of sales and marketing for Relative Genetics, commented that she expects this database to leave a lasting legacy.

“This project will give people a connection to a great part of their history,” she said. “Knowing where you come from gives you a sense of identity and a renewed desire to search out your roots.”

James W. Petty, President of Heirlines, stated, “Genetic genealogy is becoming an integral tool in genealogy research. It won’t be a ‘stand alone’ service because the testing only reveals relationships, not family history, locations or documentation. It will, however, allow researchers to obtain much more insight into family history and family tree origins.”

“Traditional and genetic genealogy are proving to be very symbiotic,” Arnett said. “Combining the two services is becoming standard in finding ancestry.”

Genealogists can use DNA data to overcome gaps in family trees, establish biological links to specific ancestors, and identify other living family lines to which one is related.  Genetic genealogy is useful in proving or disproving family legends.

“Many people think they’re descended from Thomas Savage, the founder of the first continuous family in America,”  Arnett said. “You’ll hear stories that are passed on from generation to generation; and sometimes, much to their disappointment, they have no relationship to him at all. But other times we find out these family stories are accurate.”

Hayes said if the Jamestown 2007 project goes well the two companies may work together on many other historical event genealogy projects.

Petty said he sees a great future in using genetic genealogy along with traditional genealogy to discover family connections to the people of history and immigrant ancestry.

Doug Arnett concurs. “I find genetics and genealogy fascinating,” he said. “We’re going to find out, sooner or later, that we’re all much more closely related than we ever thought.”

To find out more about the Jamestowne and Colonial Virginia Genealogy and DNA Project go to GenealogyFound at www.genealogyfound.org . For information on the upcoming celebration of the 400^th anniversary of the Jamestowne colony go to http://www.jamestown2007.org/home.cfm.

GenealogyFound www.genealogyfound.org is a non-profit foundation established in Salt Lake City, Utah in 2005 to work with other non-profit and for-profit organizations in developing new humanitarian, educational, and historical event projects using genealogy, history and DNA. These efforts will bring peoples and nations closer together! 

Relative Genetics www.relativegenetics.com provides genetic testing solutions to help genealogists build the branches of their family trees. The company’s comprehensive testing services allow private companies, individuals, family organizations and genealogists around the world to establish relationships and identity through DNA testing, genetic interpretation and genealogical analysis.

HEIRLINES Family History & Genealogy www.heirlines.com is a nationally recognized professional genealogy custom research services company that has helped thousands of clients since 1969 to discover their roots. They are located in the genealogy capital of world, Salt Lake City, Utah, which is home to the world’s largest Family History Library www.familysearch.org , owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Heirlines utilizes this Library, the Internet, onsite research, microfilmed and original record sources from across the globe to accurately discover and properly document the family tree.

[ top ]

************************************************************************

The Truth About Hiring a Professional Genealogist -  Part II

Isn’t everything on the Internet? 

                The Internet has definitely affected the way we do family history research.  Every day, more information becomes available – both good information and bad information.  Good information includes scanned copies of original documents, accurately extracted vital records and indexes, carefully researched and documented family trees, and resources that provide access to records that were previously unavailable to researchers due to distance.  Bad information includes undocumented research and family trees, and other publications that perpetuate misleading or incorrect lineages.  A professional genealogist is able to evaluate the validity of information obtained on the internet, and consult original record sources when necessary to confirm, clarify, or disprove that information.  While the Internet is a valuable tool in tracing family history, it is only one of several sources that a professional genealogist uses to provide accurate, solid and thorough research.

The collection at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah includes over 2.4 million rolls of microfilmed genealogical records; 742,000 microfiche; 310,000 books, serials, and other formats; 4,500 periodicals; 700 electronic resources.

            The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is America’s record keeper. NARA is the Government agency that not only preserves documents and materials related to the United States but also makes sure people can access the information. It has facilities all over the country, including Presidential libraries and materials projects that maintain records and artifacts from the administrations of Herbert Hoover, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Baines Johnson, Richard M. Nixon, Gerald R. Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, and William J. Clinton

What questions should you ask before hiring a professional genealogist? 

• How long have you been doing professional genealogy research?
• Do you have either an AG or CG credential?
• Do you perform the research yourself, or do you have research assistants who work with you?
• What percentage of your business is repeat or referral business?
• Do you provide copies of all relevant documents found during your research, with complete source citations?
• Do you provide pedigree charts and family groups sheets containing the new information?
• What resources and repositories do you use to perform your research?

 How long should a project take?

Remember that no one can predict how long it will take to find the answer to your family history problem.  Professional Genealogy research is an extremely time-consuming process.  You are paying for the researcher’s time, experience and expertise, and a negative search takes the same amount of time as a successful search.  The research must then be analyzed, compiled, and a report written.  That being said, you have paid for a certain amount of time, and an ethical researcher will honor that agreement and keep you informed of any delays that might occur, such as on-site research that must be done, or documents that must be ordered.

Next month:

What about DNA testing and research – is it real, or just a gimmick?

Can you expect a guarantee of research results?

[ top ]

****************************************************************************************************

The Federation of Genealogical Societies Annual Conference –
Boston, Massachuetts – August 30 – September 1, 2006

The Birthplace of American Genealogy — Boston, Massachusetts — welcomes you for a re-awakening of the joys of researching the family tree. Come together with thousands of fellow researchers to immerse yourself in everything genealogical in the hometown of the oldest genealogical society in America — The New England Historic Genealogical Society, host of the 2006 Federation of Genealogical Societies’ annual conference.

FGS and NEHGS (New England Historic and Genealogical Society) are proud to bring together some of the finest genealogical presenters from not only the United States but also England, Scotland, Ireland, and Canada for this four-day conference. You will have an opportunity to learn from those who work in the very repositories from which you need information.

HEIRLINES Family History & Genealogy will be present in the vendor hall, to announce the launching of our new division, Heirlines & Heirlooms custom designed Scrapbook Memory Pages, memorabilia displays and scrapbooking supplies for the family historian.  Come visit our booth and watch the HEIRLINES website for all the details.

The 2006 FGS/NEHGS Conference will be the largest genealogical event ever held, with more than 350 educational opportunities in classes, workshops, and luncheon presentations. Enjoy rare opportunities to hear speakers from five countries. For registration information, go to www.fgs.org. 

[ top ]

******************************************************************************************

Excerpt from the Columbus Telegram, Columbus, Nebraska

Genealogist: ‘Good guys have won'

A Platte County farmer has lost his bid to run a pivot irrigation system through a 125-year-old cemetery that contains the grave of a Civil War veteran.

The Nebraska Supreme Court rejected on Friday a case brought by Calvin Sjuts, a farmer who has owned the land surrounding the Granville Cemetery for some 32 years.

Nancy Hartman, a Bellwood genealogist who has been involved with the matter for about five years, said this morning that the ruling will have consequences for all cemeteries in the state.

“It was kind of overwhelming that the good guys have won. To me it is a very great victory,” Hartman said. “We started out doing something small and we ended up doing something large,”

Granville was incorporated as a cemetery in 1881.

There are 17 stone grave markers in the cemetery, including that of Francis H. Baker, who served in the Civil War. Court records say there is evidence of as many as 20 other unmarked graves in the cemetery.

Hartman said it's possible that number could be higher, and that 49 white crosses have been erected in the cemetery to denote the estimate.

In 1976, Sjuts began to operate a center pivot irrigation system, which crosses a portion of the cemetery. The pivot's wheels have left well-worn tracks in the cemetery, although Sjuts says they do not cross over any graves.

The Supreme Court ruling states that although the appellants assert the system's wheels do not cross any graves, they acknowledge that “irrigation pipe and sprinklers pass over the gravesites.”

A few years ago, Hartman began contacting descendants of those buried in the cemetery and recruiting people to help her fix it up. One of those descendants was Mary Schott of Alliance and her sister, Roberta Sherman of rural Valentine. Schott said this morning that the family was relieved by the decision.

“How do you say thanks when it's something that means so much? I don't know where to start,” Schott said.

Schott's great-grandparents, Adin and Dianna Potter, sold the land for the cemetery after their 2-month-old daughter died. The Potters buried her in the new cemetery which was within view of their home. Another set of Schott's great-grandparents are also buried at Granville Cemetery. In the 1890s, the Potters moved west and the whereabouts of the cemetery were eventually forgotten.

After Hartman notified Schott's family about the condition of the graveyard, the family hired an attorney to look into the matter.

“Graves are to be taken care of,” Schott said.

In 2003, Sjuts filed a quiet title action against the Granville Cemetery Association, claiming the cemetery had been abandoned and taking ownership of the property.

Sjuts filed his legal action after the cemetery association began building a fence around the cemetery, which would have prevented him from running his pivot irrigation across the cemetery.

The Supreme Court's opinion stated that there is no evidence that Granville was ever dissolved or that the cemetery property was legally abandoned. At some point in time, however, Granville's board of trustees became inactive and Granville's board was not reactivated until February 2004. Granville is presently operated on a nonprofit basis.

In ruling Friday for the cemetery association, Judge Lindsey Miller-Lerman cited a ruling in a Kansas case that said cemetery property has a public nature and must be given special protection.

“A cemetery is as public a place as a courthouse, or a market,” the ruling said. “It may not be frequented as much, but visits to it are necessary and as certain. We may keep away from the courthouse, and avoid the market, but the place of the dead none may shun.”

 Hartman said the graves in old cemeteries must be protected, even if the families of the deceased cannot be found.

“Somebody loved them,” she said. “Somebody cared about them.”

[ top ]

***************************************************************************

A monthly newsletter published and copyright by

HEIRLINES Family History & Genealogy
PO Box 893
Salt Lake City, UT 84110
1-800-570-4049
www.heirlines.com

[ top ]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

You have received this newsletter as a courtesy from Heirlines Family History & Genealogy. 

If you wish to subscribe and receive future newsletters , please click here.

If you do not wish to receive future newsletters, please click here.