NEW MEMBERS ON THE SGS BOARD

SGS has found two new board members to fill vacancies. Sue De Laat is the new technology officer and Heidi Mair is the new volunteer coordinator.

Sue recently retired as IT manager for King County. She has 40 years of experience in the tech field.  She is a graduate of the UW Certificate in Genealogy and Family History program and is currently working toward becoming a nationally certified genealogist.

Heidi has been doing genealogy since she was 14 years old. It has been a lifelong passion. She has an extensive background in non-profits, specifically in volunteer coordination.  She, too, is a graduate of the UW Certificate in Genealogy and Family History program. She also teaches yoga.

Heidi Mair’s contact at SGS is volunteers@seattlegenealogicalsociety.org  and
Sue De Laat’s is technology@seattlegenealogicalsociety.org

WHAT TO THINK ABOUT
BEFORE YOU SHARE YOUR DNA

Several SGS members are recommending you read and understand these informative articles by Judy G Russell, the Legal Genealogist, before you upload your raw DNA to Prothease or any websites offering to provide reports and glean genetic health information from your DNA.

Will the genetic health Information drawn from your DNA be fun, fact, or fiction? It’s safe to say it’s probably going to be interesting and fun, but how much credence can you give it?  What does it really mean? They do tell you the report is for educational and research purposes only, and it is important to remember it is not a medical diagnosis.

You should understand the implications of sharing your DNA. Always carefully read the agreement, privacy policy, and terms and conditions. Do your homework. These articles by Judy G Russell are a good place to start.

https://www.legalgenealogist.com/2017/12/10/promethease-promotion/

https://www.legalgenealogist.com/2016/11/20/that-other-health-option/

THE CHINESE EXCLUSION ACT

In the spring of 1882, the Chinese Exclusion Act passed by Congress was the first law restricting immigration. This act provided an absolute 10-year moratorium on Chinese labor immigration. In 1892, it was extended. And in 1902, made permanent.  It was not repealed until 1943.

Documents, records of individual case files, and Certificates of Residence housed in the National Archives detail the individual stories resulting from this and subsequent legislation. Very detailed stories!  On Saturday, January 13, at 1 pm, Trish Nicola of NARA will speak on this fascinating subject at our Second Saturday Speaker Series.

Come learn more about it.

SAVE THE DATE 

Family History Fanatics,
eConference,
“Finding Family Stories and Passing Them On”,
January 19th at 8:45 am Central Time. 

Speakers will be Randy Seaver, Eric Wells, Victoria Woo and Tammy Hepps. Participants will learn about how to find, preserve, and share their family stories.  Five hours of interactive instruction for the early bird price of $19.99 through January 10th, and $24.99 thereafter. More details and registration can be found at: https://www.familyhistoryfanatics.com/jan2018. Feel free to let any of your friends or family know about this eConference.

          SGS CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Unless otherwise indicated all programs will be at the SGS Library, 6200 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle. Check the SGS Web Site for additions, changes, and corrections. Programs may be canceled or postponed because of inclement weather.

JANUARY 

Saturday, January 6, 10:15am – 12:15pm, Family Tree Interest Group, Lou Daly, leader of this special interest group exploring all the features of the tool Family Tree on FamilySearch

Saturday, January 13, 1:00pm – 3:00pm, Second Saturday Speaker Series, “Chinese Exclusion Act Files – Original Documents at NARA” will be presented by Trish Nicola

Sunday, January 14, 1:30pm – 3:00pm, Scandinavian SIG, with Karen Knudson; there will be a review of online cemetery sites similar to Find-a-Grave.

Saturday, January 20, 10:15am – 12:15pm, Irish SIG, with Jean Roth
Saturday, January 20, 1:00pm – 2:30pm, German SIG, with Jean Roth

Saturday, January 27, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm, DNA SIG, this group meets at the Wedgwood Presbyterian Church, 8008 35th Ave NE, Seattle. For more information contact SGSDNASIG@gmail.com Co-chaired by Cary Bright and Herb McDaniel.

FEBRUARY

Saturday, February 3, 10:15am – 12:15pm, Family Tree Interest Group, Lou Daly, leader of this special interest group exploring all the features of the tool Family Tree on FamilySearch.org

Sunday, February 4, 1:00pm – 3:00pm, DNA Workshop, Led by Cary Bright with first hour on a specific topic, and the second hour open for sharing DNA issues with focus on GenomeMate Pro.

Saturday, February 10, 10:15am – 12:15pm, Family Tree Maker (FTM) Users Group, leaders Reiley Kidd & Betty Ravenholt, this group meets  the second Saturday of every even month, FTM is the tool long associated with Ancestry.com

Saturday, February10 , 1:00pm – 3:00pm, Second Saturday Speaker Series, “Using Academic Libraries for genealogy Research” with Lisa Oberg

Sunday, February 11, 1:30pm – 3:00pm, Scandinavian SIG, with Karen Knudson. Jill Morelli will give her talk “Finding your Nordic Parish of Birth” & be available for questions following the presentation.

Saturday, February 17, 10:15am – 12:15pm, Irish SIG, with Jean Roth
Saturday, February 17, 1:00pm – 2:30pm, German SIG, with Jean Roth

 REILEY KIDD,
VOLUNTEER OF FALL QUARTER

SGS is pleased to honor and recognize Reiley Kidd for the various roles he has served in since joining the society in 1983.

Before Reiley had the spare time to be a volunteer, he benefited from the many services SGS provides, such as library resources, seminars, classes, and knowledgeable volunteers willing to lend him a hand with his genealogical research.

After retirement in 2014, he took on his first major role at SGS as a Library Trustee. Later that same year, he stepped in to fill the position of Secretary that became vacant on the SGS Board of Directors. He served as the SGS Secretary until June 2017.

One of the projects that Reiley is most proud of is the KC3I Court index. Over 10 years of work went into completing this database, which contains over 1.7 million entries from King County probate cases, divorces, and more.  If you have ever used this valuable resource, you have Reiley, members Marilynn Van Hise and Winifred Price, and their team of volunteers to thank.  Over 300 research requests have been fulfilled!

Reiley has stepped back a bit from SGS, but still fills three “minor roles” (his words, not ours). He continues to fulfill research requests for patrons through KC3I. He leads the Family Tree Maker (FTM) Users Group, that meets on the second Saturday of every even-numbered month.  And last, but not least, he writes proposals for an annual grant from 4Culture. SGS received $3,500 in grant money from 4Culture in 2017.

Reiley says he is proud to be a part of the continuous operation of the Seattle Genealogical Society, an important part of this city for nearly 100 years.

Thank you, Reiley, for your years of service to SGS!

ANNUAL SGS CLEAN LIBRARY WORK PARTY
DECEMBER 28, 2017 

The pleasure of your company (guys and gals) is requested to assist with the cleaning of the SGS Library between 10 am and 2 pm on Thursday, December 28. Refreshments will be provided. If you are able to help, please RSVP to: operations@SGS.org

SGS ANNUAL APPEAL

Membership dues cover less than half of the costs of maintaining the unique SGS research library, educational programs, and family history services that enrich our broader community. So each year SGS appeals to you, our generous members and friends, for the tax deductible donations that are needed to sustain the society.

This year there are a few ways to donate.

Your donation could go further in December, thanks to PayPal and their PayPal Giving Fund Website.

If you donate to SGS online using the PayPal Giving Fund Website and your PayPal account, PayPal will waive the fee they usually would charge SGS for that transaction, plus they will match 1% of your donation amount! If you have a PayPal Account and want to take advantage of this offer, please enter here:

https://www.paypal.com/fundraiser/108133408063901813/charity/1363855

(Here you will be asked to log in to your PayPal account in order to complete the payment transaction. PayPal will send you a PayPal Giving Fund tax receipt via email)

Another way to donate is using the form current SGS members received in the mail earlier in December, or using the form that was emailed to eNews subscribers on December 5th. If you prefer, that can also be done via the donate page on the SGS website.  Here’s that link:
http://seattlegenealogicalsociety.org/content/donate-to-sgs

(Here you will receive an email invoice from PayPal and can use your credit/debit card to complete the payment)

Thanks so much, everyone!

          SGS CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Unless otherwise indicated all programs will be at the SGS Library, 6200 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle. Check the SGS Web Site for additions, changes, and corrections. Programs may be canceled or postponed because of inclement weather. The SGS Library will be closed  from December 22 through January 1, 2018, for the holidays.

DECEMBER

Saturday, December 16, 10:15am – 12:15pm, Irish SIG, with Jean Roth

Saturday, December 16, 1:00pm – 2:30pm, German SIG, with Jean Roth

JANUARY 

Saturday, January 6, 10:15am – 12:15pm, Family Tree Interest Group, Lou Daly, leader of this special interest group exploring all the features of the tool Family Tree on FamilySearch

Saturday, January 13, 1:00pm – 3:00pm, Second Saturday Speaker Series, “Chinese Exclusion Act Files – Original Documents at NARA” will be presented by Trish Nicola

Sunday, January 14, 1:30pm – 3:00pm, Scandinavian SIG, with Karen Knudson

Saturday, January 20, 10:15am – 12:15pm, Irish SIG, with Jean Roth

Saturday, January 20, 1:00pm – 2:30pm, German SIG, with Jean Roth

Saturday, January 27, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm, DNA SIG, this group meets at the Wedgwood Presbyterian Church, 8008 35th Ave NE, Seattle. For more information contact SGSDNASIG@gmail.com Co-chaired by Cary Bright and Herb McDaniel.

VIRGINIA PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX 

If you are looking for data on an ancestor that resided in Virginia during the decades 1780-1820, here is a resource Christine Schomaker, SGS board member and desk volunteer, would like to share with you.

The Virginia Personal Property Tax, “PPT”, has been collected almost every year since 1782. In Colonial Virginia the noun “tithable”  referred to a person who paid, or for whom someone else paid, one of the taxes imposed by the General Assembly. Basically it was a tax on the productive workforce; free white males over 16, all slaves – both male and female, both African American and Native American. White females were not recorded unless they where head-of-household.

In these early decades, the annual “PPT” list reads like a census with counts of “tithables” plus horses, cattle and whatever else was legally defined as taxable property at the time. Complete microfilms of the original PPT lists for nearly all counties are available at the Library of Virginia in Richmond and may be borrowed on interlibrary loan.

Read more about it at:

http://www.lva.virginia.gov/public/guides/pptax.htm

Thanks to Steve and Bunny Binns, some of these records can be viewed online! Their free website “Virginia Tax List Censuses” offers indexed and linked images of the 1790, 1800, and a few 1810 PPT lists as substitutes for the lost US Federal Censuses of Virginia for those years.  Here’s the link to their site:

http://www.binnsgenealogy.com/VirginiaTaxListCensuses/

You will probably want to see all the intervening tax years as well. You can track families arriving and moving away, sons turning 16 or 21, and property owners passing on, leaving widows in charge. The Binns have you covered here, too. You can purchase CD’s of the PPT list images for each county available. Or, better yet, you can subscribe to the “Tax List Club” and have online access to all of them.  Although these images are not indexed, beginning in 1787, most counties recorded surnames alphabetically by first letter and you can navigate pretty quickly to the appropriate image file. Find out more here:

http://www.binnsgenealogy.com/

Stop by the SGS library some Tuesday and Christine will be happy to help you get started exploring the Virginia PPT. Ask for a short tutorial.

Even in this day and age not everything can be found online, so while you’re at our library check out the three-volume set, “The 1787 Census Of Virginia”. It was intended as a substitute for the lost 1790 US Federal Census of Virginia. Transcribed and indexed by Netti Schreiner-Yantis & Florene Speakman Love, this set also includes those counties now in Kentucky and West Virginia, which separated from Virginia in 1792 and 1863, respectively.

You can find this set on the Virginia shelf at the SGS Library, call number: VA:0-150 a,b,c.

          SGS CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Unless otherwise indicated all programs will be at the SGS Library, 6200 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle. Check the SGS Web Site for additions, changes, and corrections. Programs may be canceled or postponed because of inclement weather. The SGS Library will be closed  from December 22 through January 1, 2018, for the holidays. The Scandinavian Interest Group will not meet in December.

Please note the time change for the Family Tree Interest Group on Saturday, December 2;  they will be meeting at 1:00 pm.

DECEMBER

Saturday, December 2, 1:00pm – 3:00pm, Family Tree Interest Group, Lou Daly, leader of this special interest group exploring all the features of the tool Family Tree on FamilySearch

Saturday, December 9, 10:15am – 12:15pm, Family Tree Maker (FTM) Users Group, with Reiley Kidd and Betty Ravenholt, leaders

Saturday, December 16, 10:15am – 12:15pm, Irish SIG, with Jean Roth

Saturday, December 16, 1:00pm – 2:30pm, German SIG, with Jean Roth

JANUARY 

Saturday, January 6, 1:00pm – 3:00pm, Family Tree Interest Group, Lou Daly, leader of this special interest group exploring all the features of the tool Family Tree on FamilySearch

Saturday, January 13, 1:00pm – 3:00pm, Second Saturday Speaker Series, “Chinese Exclusion Act Files – Original Documents at NARA” will be presented by Trish Nicola

Sunday, January 14, 1:30pm – 3:00pm, Scandinavian SIG, with Karen Knudson

Saturday, January 20, 10:15am – 12:15pm, Irish SIG, with Jean Roth

Saturday, January 20, 1:00pm – 2:30pm, German SIG, with Jean Roth

Saturday, January 27, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm, DNA SIG, this group meets at the Wedgwood Presbyterian Church, 8008 35th Ave NE, Seattle. For more information contact SGSDNASIG@gmail.com Co-chaired by Cary Bright and Herb McDaniel.

SUCH A SUCCESS

Hopefully you didn’t miss Dick Eastman, publisher of the popular Eastman’s Online Genealogy Newsletter, at the SGS Fall Seminar a few weeks ago. He spoke to a packed house and it was a fun day. Attendees appreciated that there was plenty of opportunity for Q&A.

The Seminar Committee anticipated a larger than usual crowd so they commissioned two rooms for this seminar. The room usually used for the presentation was set up just to accommodate registration, book sales, refreshments, and plenty of lunch tables. A larger auditorium, set up classroom style with chairs and writing tables, was dedicated to the lecture. Everyone seemed to like the new arrangement.

Did you catch Dick’s recent blog with kind words and thanks to SGS? The sentiment is reciprocated. Thanks so much to you, Dick. It was a great seminar.

A link to that blog is here : https://blog.eogn.com/2017/10/23/thank-you-seattle-genealogical-society/#more-20229

HURRY – FREE THROUGH NOVEMBER 17th

The recording of webinar “Using Non-Population Schedules for Context and Evidence” by Jill Morelli, CG is now available to view at www.FamilyTreeWebinars.com for free for a limited time.

Most are familiar with the decennial censuses, but the non-population schedules can also provide evidence and context for your family history. Using basic analytical skills and correlating tools, investigate five different records sets which shed light on many aspects of your ancestors lives and enrich your stories of them.

SGS CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Unless otherwise indicated all programs will be at the SGS Library, 6200 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle. Check the SGS Web Site for additions, changes, and corrections. Programs may be canceled or postponed because of inclement weather. The SGS Library will be closed from November 23 through November 27 and from December 22 through January 1, 2018, for the holidays. The Scandinavian Interest Group will not meet in December.

NOVEMBER

Saturday, November 18, 10:15am – 12:15pm, Irish SIG, with Jean Roth

Saturday, November 18, 1:00pm – 2:30pm, Women in WWI, presented by Lisa Oberg

Sunday, November 19, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm, DNA Workshop, Led by Cary Bright with first hour on a specific topic, and the second hour open for sharing DNA issues with focus on GenomeMate Pro.

DECEMBER

Saturday, December 2, 10:15am – 12:15pm, Family Tree Interest Group, Lou Daly, leader of this special interest group exploring all the features of the tool Family Tree on FamilySearch.

Saturday, December 9, 10:15am – 12:15pm, Family Tree Maker (FTM) Users Group, with Reiley Kidd and Betty Ravenholt, leaders

Saturday, December 16, 10:15am – 12:15pm, Irish SIG, with Jean Roth

Saturday, December 16, 1:00pm – 2:30pm, German SIG, with Jean Roth

SPOOKIER THAN HALLOWEEN

Everyone has heard of the infamous Salem Witch Trials of 1692, but did you realize the first witch trials and executions actually began in colonial Connecticut decades earlier?

In 1642, the law was enacted and in 1647, the first hanging took place. The law simply stated “If any man or woman be a witch (that is) hath or consulted with a familiar spirit, they shall be put to death”, and only one eyewitness was required for a conviction.

Of course, you were entitled to a trial and a jury of your “peers”. Of eleven documented executions, nine were poor women. Reading the court records, you can see the jurors, “peers”, so to speak, were likely a Mr Phelps, Mr Wadsworth, Mr Talcott, Mr Bacon, Mr Grisswold, Mr Dickson, Mr Whiting, Mr Deming, Mr Clark, Mr Allyn, Mr Steele, and Mr Moore. The only two men ever convicted in Connecticut, were convicted along with their wives.

In 1662, Governor Winthrop established that each act of alleged witchcraft must have two eyewitnesses for a conviction and no witches were executed in Connecticut after that time. In total 35 residents were accused. Some were acquitted, but some fled, fearing for their lives.

Were your colonial ancestors part of this witchcraft frenzy, as one of the persecuted, as an accuser, or on a jury? Be sure to check out the Tip-of-the-Week in this edition for links to some great resources on published court records for the early Colony of Connecticut.

A CALL FOR ARTICLES

Since most genealogists love sharing their research and family story, and SGS is always looking for interesting articles for the semi-annual Journal of the Seattle Genealogical Society, why not consider writing something for publication?

Suitable subjects would be original compositions detailing your research experiences, maybe an unusual research problem and how you solved it, hints and tips for fellow researchers, or even reviewing a genealogically based tour. No one is probably better able than yourself to convey the family history story you have compiled from letters, diaries, scrapbooks, family Bibles, community and public records. Would your story interest others?

The Journal of the Seattle Genealogical Society editorial staff would certainly welcome your submission. Help is available for inexperienced writers. All submissions will be reviewed and edited for style and length as needed. Submissions should include citations on how and where you found the information. Please check the SGS website for writing guidelines. Original manuscripts cannot be returned, so keep a copy for your records. Previously published material will be considered if the sources, date of publication, and the publication’s address are noted.

Interested or have questions? You may contact the editorial staff or the Director of Publications via email at :
publications@seattlegenealogicalsociety.org

NEW EXHIBIT AT NAAM

Lisa Myers Bulmash, a genealogy buff, mom of two, and artist who explores African American heritage through her work, will have an exhibit of her art at the Northwest African American Museum, 2300 S Massachussetts St, Seattle, WA 98144. It will run from November 5, 2017 through April 8, 2018.

The exhibit, “You’re Not From Around Here, Are You?”, explores topics that are top-of-mind for many:
•historical images, including people of color
•gentrification
•feeling targeted or excluded for who we are
•looking for a “safe space”
•what it means to be a person of color in the Northwest

For more info on Lisa’s exhibit and to see what all NAAM has to offer, visit the website at :

www.naamnw.org

The mission of NAAM is to spread knowledge, understanding and enjoyment of the histories, arts and cultures of people of African descent for the enrichment of all. The museum presents and preserves connections between the Pacific Northwest and people of African descent. NAAM also investigates and celebrates Black experiences in America through exhibitions, programs and events.

Lisa Myers Bulmash is the winner of a 2016 Sustainable Arts Foundation grant, an award to support artists with children under age 18. Her work and commentary have been highlighted in five books as well. Myers Bulmash exhibits her work in group and solo shows throughout the Seattle metro area.

Second Saturdays at SGS

On Saturday, November 11, following a short SGS membership business meeting, our Second Saturday program will be Mary Kathryn Kozy presenting “Using Social Media for Family History: Why Bother?” With the popularity of social media, sites like Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube, as well as webinars, blogs, and podcasts, can be invaluable for meeting new cousins, sharing research ideas, records, photos, and genealogical education. Come learn how social media can help you further your genealogy research goals.

SAVE THE DATES

2017 Washington Family History Fair,
LDS – the Bellevue Stake Center,
14536 Main St,
Bellevue, WA
Saturday, November 4, 2017

It’s time again for the annual Washington Family History Fair. Always free, always informative, a different venue.

Early registration is encouraged so they can plan resources accordingly. The classes schedule is listed at the bottom of the online registration form. You can also pay for and order your lunch and order a printed syllabus on the registration form.

Speakers include our Jean A Roth.

Registration for the Family History Fair is at:

https://www.wafamilyhistory.com/2017/registration.html

Overview of Scandinavian Resources,
Stillaquamish Valley Genealogical Society,
6111 188th Pl NE,
Arlington, WA 98223
Tuesday, November 14, 2017

Jill Morelli, CG and president of SGS, is presenting an Overview of Scandinavian Resources which introduces three major record sets of Sweden, Denmark and Norway in a two part series. Part one was on Tuesday, October 10th. Part 2 will be Tuesday, November 14th at 1 pm. This will be held at the Stillaguamish Valley Genealogical Society Library, and is free to the public. It will be followed by the regular meeting of the SVGS. Jill lectures and writes about her research and discoveries as a family historian. She is a member of the Genealogical Speakers Guild, Association of Professional Genealogists and numerous societies.

SGS CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Unless otherwise indicated all programs will be at the SGS Library, 6200 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle. Check the SGS Web Site for additions, changes, and corrections. Programs may be canceled or postponed because of inclement weather. The SGS Library will be closed from November 23 through November 27 and from December 22 through January 1, 2018, for the holidays.

NOVEMBER

Saturday, November 4, 1:00p m – 3:00 pm, Family Tree Interest Group, Lou Daly, leader of this new special interest group exploring all the features of the tool Family Tree on FamilySearch.

Tuesday, November 7, 12:30pm-2:30pm, DNA Tech Tuesday, with Cary Bright.

Saturday, November 11, 1:00p m – 3:00 pm, Fall Membership Meeting & Second Saturday Speaker Series, a short membership business meeting will be followed by Mary Kathryn Kozy presenting “Using Social Media for Family History: Why Bother?”

Sunday, November 12, 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm, Scandinavian Interest Group, Karen Knudson, leader. A workshop for your Scandinavian genealogy.

Saturday, November 18, 10:15am – 12:15pm, Irish SIG, with Jean Roth

Saturday, November 18, 1:00pm – 2:30pm, Women in WWI, presented by Lisa Oberg

Sunday, November 19, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm, DNA Workshop, Led by Cary Bright with first hour on a specific topic, and the second hour open for sharing DNA issues with focus on GenomeMate Pro.

DECEMBER

Saturday, December 2, 10:15am – 12:15pm, Family Tree Interest Group, Lou Daly, leader of this special interest group exploring all the features of the tool Family Tree on FamilySearch.

Saturday, December 9, 10:15am – 12:15pm, Family Tree Maker (FTM) Users Group, with Reiley Kidd and Betty Ravenholt, leaders

Sunday, December 10, 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm, Scandinavian Interest Group, Karen Knudson, leader. A workshop for your Scandinavian genealogy.

Saturday, December 16, 10:15am – 12:15pm, Irish SIG, with Jean Roth

Saturday, December 16, 1:00pm – 2:30pm, German SIG, with Jean Roth