The Hartshorn Family
This week we are traveling BACK IN TIME through a BRANCH of MY OWN FAMILY… the HARTSHORN FAMILY branch. This branch is connected to me through my paternal side and has roots in Maumee, Toledo, and Perrysburg, Ohio.
Read More—Welcome to — The Genealogy Gypsy Blog
The Hartshorn Family
This week we are traveling BACK IN TIME through a BRANCH of MY OWN FAMILY… the HARTSHORN FAMILY branch. This branch is connected to me through my paternal side and has roots in Maumee, Toledo, and Perrysburg, Ohio.
Read MoreThe Adkins Family
This week we are traveling BACK IN TIME through a BRANCH of MY OWN FAMILY… the ADKINS FAMILY branch. This branch is connected to me through my paternal side and has roots in East Toledo, Ohio.
Read MoreThe Bigley Family
This week we are traveling BACK IN TIME through a BRANCH of MY OWN FAMILY… the BIGLEY FAMILY branch. This branch is connected to me through my paternal side and has roots in East Toledo, Ohio.
Read MorePart Two - Double Murder
We continue with the trial of Wesley Johnson, the murderer of George Williams and his wife, Isabella Williams, hearing his account of what happened, witness accounts, as well as learning the details of his execution. Buckle up, this case is not for the weak, as it has twist and turns of a twisted individual with little to no remorse for his actions. Join me in the conclusion of the Double Murder Near Wauseon.
Read MoreJohn Harmon, a highly respected citizen is shot and killed in cold blood by Peter D. Cole on Main Street in the town of Deshler, Ohio just outside of Toledo, Ohio. Several witnesses were present in the six shot murder, including Mr. Harmon’s young son, as he is gunned down, traumatizing both families involved, as well as the town for one last time.
Read MoreOur first case takes us back to 10 Jan. 1889, with the Horrible Murder and Suicide of M. Shaffer and Mary Jane Valentine in East Toledo, Ohio on Front and Platt Streets.
Our second case takes place on 15 Apr. 1900 when two aged women, Kate and Joanna Sullivan, the Sullivan Sisters, are robbed in their Toledo, Ohio farm home and one is murdered and the other sister goes insane.
Join me, Kelley Amstutz, The Genealogy Investigator, as we hunt for the killer(s) of this notorious murder mystery.
Read MoreOnce anyone finds out I'm a professional genealogist, and I specialize in DNA, the questions start pouring in about what test to take, what are my privacy rights, or just advice on what to do next...
Read MoreI want you all to stop and think for just a minute. Think about all the friends, coworkers, and neighbors you see each and every day. How many of those people will show up on your family tree one day? It's a good question, right. Something we don't often think about. And probably a few of those surnames might pop up in your tree. But, it's important to remember that you're part of a bigger community, one that shapes who you are and the decisions you make, just as much as your blood relatives.
Read MoreAmerican history was made with our immigrant and ethnic ancestors. Everyone has immigrant ancestors. It doesn't matter if your ancestor came to America in the 1900s, the 1600s, or were here to meet the rest of the settlers, all American ancestry leads somewhere else.
Read MoreLand records are one of the most underutilized resources in genealogy, believe it or not. What once brought immigrants to America, the ability to obtain land, is often completely forgotten in research. Established countries, like Europe, almost all land had been titled for years, even centuries. Laws of primogeniture (inheritance by only the FIRST SON) ensured that properties wouldn't be split up into smaller parcels, but that also meant that other children couldn't inherit the land.
Read MoreThe Civil War produced huge amounts of documentation with over 3.5 million men (and a few hundred women) fighting for both the Union and Confederacy. But... because military records do not fit familiar patterns of most genealogical research you will conduct, vital records, passenger lists, and so on... these records can be overwhelming to a first-time researcher. But, by understanding a few key facts and having some great resources in your toolbox, you can start with a wealth of information about your Civil War ancestor before you even start digging!
Read MoreUS Federal Census reports are an important part of a Genealogist research. Census were taken every 10 years, providing the opportunity for genealogists to follow families back in time. They would provide locations of ancestors, age information, occupations and geographical data. They also hold clues about an ancestor's educational background, and even military status. So, with Census documents holding so much valuable information... it's so frustrating when you run a name search for an ancestor and you end up with NO RESULTS!
Read MoreHere are some of my favorite genealogy hacks that help you figure out what websites can do... that you didn't even know was possible, to speed up your research, and even streamline websites and tech tools. Some of these hacks can even save you money (which I love the most) on subscription websites, by helping you weed out free records or pay as you go.
Read MoreWhenever I talk about citing genealogy sources, I swear I can hear someone physically sigh... and I get it! There is no other area of genealogy that stirs less excitement than the topic of citing! Creating accurate genealogy source citations can be DULL and let's be honest... it takes up so much time... but it's so important!
Read MoreOur weather is something that seems to always be a topic of conversation day in and day out. We always want to know what tomorrow will hold... especially with global warming being a hot topic. Weather is a worldwide subject of daily conversations, and it's also a great way to break the ice in awkward moments of silence.
Read MoreOur ancestors' lives were influenced by society, events, and external forces. Everything from the lands where a family lived to the social causes they endured could affect how our ancestors made decisions about where to settle down, where to start a family, and where to work. These values and motivators go far beyond traditional genealogy records, and can help you break down your brick walls!
Read MoreIt's summer vacation... and as a Professional Genealogist, running my own business, working for myself... that means I have two eager kids fighting for my time in between projects. We decided to set out and see Ohio this summer, taking in the History, learning about the land through visits to local battlefields, a trip to the public library and a tour of the Genealogy archives, and even some historical home tours that aren't too far from our home.
Read MoreAs you're tracing your family history, you'll at least occasionally find that you need the help of a professional genealogist to make the progress you want. This can be due to time constraints in your own life, a need for verification of your work, dealing with a foreign language, or searching for an ancestor who left little written history behind. Whatever the reason my be, when it's time to hire a professional genealogist, it's important that you find one who is trustworthy and whose work will last for generations to come.
Read MoreSometimes the KEY to solving a genealogy mystery is going BACK to the BASICS!
When you run up against a genealogy BRICK WALL - try these nine (9) old-school ways to break that wall DOWN. You'll find that not only can old dogs learn new tricks... but dogs both young and old will benefit from practicing these time-tested strategies!
Read MoreAs a Genealogist... you've probably already discovered that the term "Brick Wall" is discussed almost regularly! We love to chat about the brick walls that are blocking our search into families' pasts. Usually, these brick walls are only detours that we can find our way around by stepping back and taking a fresh look at our research.... seeking out different record types... or doing some cluster research to find a clue buried in the overload of information.
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