Family History Alive! Blog

Jan 26, DNA Testing: Tracing Family Trees <with Family Finder and Relative Finder Tests

Sat, 26 Jan 2013 14:10:34 -0500

The Family Finder and Relative Finder Tests, available since early 2010, rely on recombined DNA testing. Matches mean a common ancestor. Find genetic cousins; add to your family tree!

Jan 6, Parish Chest Records: England, Ireland, and Wales

Sun, 6 Jan 2013 00:57:46 -0500

Parish chest records included many more records than births, marriages and deaths. A few examples: vestry minutes, parish constables' accounts, and churchwarden's accounts, all naming parishioners.

Jan 5, Genealogy Subscription Costs: One Way to Reduce Them

Sat, 5 Jan 2013 13:15:04 -0500

Fed up with high genealogy subscription costs? Here's one way to lower those costs, and obtain substantial savings!

Nov 12, Nova Scotia Vital Records: Births, Marriages, and Deaths

Mon, 12 Nov 2012 07:21:18 -0500

Nova Scotia vital records are complex, in part because the government began civil registration in 1864, abandoned it in 1877, and re-instituted it in 1908. This led to 'delayed registrations' of birt

Oct 23, 1850 US Census

Tue, 23 Oct 2012 22:47:35 -0400

The 1850 US census was the first that listed all white persons and all free blacks, rather than just the head of household. These census records are the first to show families in context.

Oct 18, Surname Variations and Name Changes

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 01:58:01 -0400

Surname variations are frequent in genealogy, as names often were recorded phonetically. They also can change due to illegitimacy followed by the mother's (re)marriage, anglicization, or identity cha

Oct 15, Genetic Genealogy: DNA Testing applied to family history

Mon, 15 Oct 2012 11:15:44 -0400

The use of DNA for family history purposes is a relatively new science. Genetic genealogy combines science and ancestry research to assist in verifying suspected relationships between individuals or

Oct 15, mtDNA Testing: Genetic Genealogy and Maternal Ancestors

Mon, 15 Oct 2012 11:12:00 -0400

Both males and females can find common female ancestors using this form of testing. A mother passes her mtDNA to all her children, and her daughters pass it on down the female line.

Oct 15, Family History Research done by Other Family Members

Mon, 15 Oct 2012 11:06:35 -0400

Other family members may already have done some family history research regarding your family. If you use it, find supporting documentation for every entry before adding it to your family tree.

Oct 14, Origin of Surnames

Sun, 14 Oct 2012 23:21:43 -0400

Have you ever wondered about the origin of surnames? In the British Isles, they had a number of sources: from sons of fathers, to nicknames, places where they lived, and occupations or offices.

Oct 14, Family Tree Research: Getting Started

Sun, 14 Oct 2012 18:36:14 -0400

Where and how do you start family tree research? Can you trace your tree free, or inexpensively? These are common questions when considering tracing the family tree.

Oct 14, Diaries, Trip Journals, and Circular Letters

Sun, 14 Oct 2012 17:48:04 -0400

Diaries, trip journals, and circular letters all are important sources of information regarding the day-to-day lives of our ancestors. In addition to events, they reveal the writer's personality.

Oct 13, Tithe and Glebe Terrier Accounts

Sat, 13 Oct 2012 15:07:38 -0400

Tithe income and rent from glebe lands supported Anglican clergymen in the UK from the 1500s to the 1800s. Tithing maps (1837-1851) reveal owners/occupiers of land, and tarriffs payable in cash.

Oct 3, Quebec Vital Records: Births, Marriages, and Deaths

Wed, 3 Oct 2012 09:32:21 -0400

Looking for Quebec vital records for your ancestors? This page gives an overview of Quebec registration, and provides information on where to find these records, both online and manually.

Oct 3, PEI Vital Records: Births, Marriages, and Deaths

Wed, 3 Oct 2012 09:29:57 -0400

PEI vital records for births and deaths are mostly located in parish records before 1906. Civil registration of marriages began in 1886, and of births and deaths in 1906.

Sep 9, My Grandfather cannot be found

Sun, 9 Sep 2012 12:52:44 -0400

You'd think I could find my grandfather, John Parrott from Michigan! My father's birth registration states that his parents were John Parrott and Alice

Aug 1, Nova Scotia Criminal Records

Wed, 1 Aug 2012 00:07:29 -0400

As Nova Scotia criminal records are organized by county, and then chronologically, it is helpful to know an approximate location and date of the trial or of the crime.

Jul 29, Brickwalled - Direct ancestor!

Sun, 29 Jul 2012 00:49:26 -0400

I have an ancestor in Vermont who married and had two sons; he is listed (middle initial included) in their birth and death records. Somewhere between

Jul 26, Naturalization in Canada

Thu, 26 Jul 2012 15:43:33 -0400

Prior to 1947, immigrants to Canada who were not from the United Kingdom could petition for naturalization. These records may contain clues to ancestral origins that were not otherwise recorded.

Jul 25, Probate Records - Wills and Estates - England and Wales

Wed, 25 Jul 2012 00:03:37 -0400

Probate records (wills and administered estates) are fairly easy to find after 1858 in England and Wales. Prior to that year, however, there was a hierarchy of ecclesiastical courts that handled prob

Jul 24, Genealogy Webinars

Tue, 24 Jul 2012 21:52:50 -0400

Increase your knowledge of genealogy, including how to store data, how to back up your data, how to interpret DNA results, what to do about old photos, and many more, with these genealogy webinars.

Jul 14, Canadian Divorce Records

Sat, 14 Jul 2012 02:11:13 -0400

Canadian divorce records are divided between the federal and provincial archives and courts. As there was no federal Divorce Act until 1968, provinces either passed their own legislation or followed

Jul 12, We have a winner in the Canada Day/Independence Day Contest!

Thu, 12 Jul 2012 12:39:54 -0400

The winner of our Canada Day/Independence Day contest is ... Judy, of Atlanta, Georgia! She is our Featured Author for July and August! Click the link to read Judy's story about visiting her ancestral home, in Alabama, where her 3X greatgrandmother and her great-greatgrandfather settled after emancipation! Congratulations, Judy!

Jul 12, Contest: Canada Day / Independence Day

Thu, 12 Jul 2012 12:20:53 -0400

Everyone loves a contest! Write about your experiences on one of three genealogy topics. The best entry wins!

Jul 12, Henry Land

Thu, 12 Jul 2012 11:50:05 -0400

I never knew how my father, Henry Carroll, knew generations of his family names and places, yet had little contact with them during our time together.

Jul 2, Flip-Pal mobile scanner Now Available in Canada

Mon, 2 Jul 2012 22:54:51 -0400

FamilyHistoryAlive is now a reseller in the Canadian marketplace for the Flip-Pal mobile scanner! Avoid cross-border fees and foreign exchange transaction fees! Buy your Flip-Pal from a Canadian!

Jul 1, Flip-Pal Portable Scanner: Product Review

Sun, 1 Jul 2012 22:23:25 -0400

The Flip-Pal portable scanner has taken the genealogy world by storm. It runs on 4 AA batteries and uses an SD card, and thus is stand-alone. Any size of object can be scanned. An excellent devi

Jun 26, Creative Uses for the Flip-Pal Mobile Scanner

Tue, 26 Jun 2012 00:56:00 -0400

The Flip-Pal mobile scanner is a most versatile piece of equipment, which can be put to many different uses. Try this one - home decorating!

Jun 18, Using DNA Matches to Break Down Brick Walls: Update No. 2

Mon, 18 Jun 2012 11:43:42 -0400

Can DNA matches really help to eliminate brick walls in your family tree? Here is my second update on my quest to find my grandfather's family.

Jun 18, DNA Matches and Breaking Down Brick Walls: Update No. 1

Mon, 18 Jun 2012 11:32:58 -0400

Can DNA matches really cause genealogical brick walls really to come crashing down? Read the Nov 2011 update in finding my grandfather's family.

Jun 12, Still stuck with my mom's family

Tue, 12 Jun 2012 14:12:12 -0400

I have only been able to go back so far with my mom's family. I chose to research my mom's biological father and got stuck at my 4th gg with my biological

May 9, Family History Alive

Wed, 9 May 2012 00:59:23 -0400

Bring your family history to life by tracing the fascinating life stories of your ancestors.

Apr 29, Vital Records in the UK

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 14:38:32 -0400

The recording of UK vital records has varied over time, as have the ways of commemorating births, marriages, and deaths. Free genealogy websites are providing more and more parish and civil records,

Apr 29, Scrapbooks: Great Family History Resources

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 14:20:19 -0400

Old scrapbooks can be excellent sources of family history information. They usually contain newspaper clippings of friends and relatives, as well as obituaries, marriage and birth announcements.

Apr 29, Family History Tours: Arranging your Own

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 14:17:21 -0400

Family history tours are becoming more and more popular, as family historians express a desire to see the ancestral villages and discover more about their forebears. Plan your own trip now!

Apr 29, Canadian Census: An Introduction

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 14:03:34 -0400

The Canadian census is a great source of information about family units and relationships, and provides details about migration patterns and the movement of families as new areas opened for settlement

Apr 16, aikenhead!

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 22:24:23 -0400

So, that Aikenhead's Drugstore you knew as a teen! It was my grandfathers store!!!! Miss visiting him there all the time

Mar 24, Canadian Wills and Estates

Sat, 24 Mar 2012 01:16:02 -0400

Wills and estates in Canada are based on the British common law, except in Quebec. These documents usually are found in provincial archives, local courts, or in a Land Titles file, if property was so

Mar 24, Family History Tours - Norfolk and Suffolk, England - More Information

Sat, 24 Mar 2012 01:12:34 -0400

Provides a form for inquiring about family history tours in Norfolk and Suffolk, England

Mar 24, Parish Chest Records: Scotland

Sat, 24 Mar 2012 00:58:51 -0400

Parish chest records

Mar 19, Five Seminars this Week!

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 09:04:23 -0400

For full details of topics, dates, and times, see Genealogy Webinars

Mar 17, US Census

Sat, 17 Mar 2012 01:08:44 -0400

The US census documents from 1850 and on (1870 and on for African Americans) are a real goldmine to the genealogist. They provide information on where an ancestor was at a specific place and time.

Mar 16, ShopFamilyTree Warehouse Sale!

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 16:49:28 -0400

Mar 12, Ten Webinars this week!!!

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 13:21:50 -0400

Click the above link to review them and to register.

Mar 8, Family Tree Software and Templates

Thu, 8 Mar 2012 12:22:35 -0500

There are number of different family tree software programs available today, many of them free. There also are family tree templates, should you choose to record everything by hand.

Mar 2, Canadian Military Records - New France

Fri, 2 Mar 2012 18:07:45 -0500

Some Canadian military records exist from the 1600s, when French troops defended New France from those seeking control of the colony. What military records exist for New France? Find out here!

Mar 2, The American Revolutionary War: Fighting for the British

Fri, 2 Mar 2012 18:02:42 -0500

Supporters of the British in the American Revolutionary War included United Empire Loyalists, Black Loyalists, and German troops. The blacks fought for their promised freedom; the UELs to remain a Br

Mar 2, Canadian Military Records: World Wars I and II

Fri, 2 Mar 2012 17:58:46 -0500

For the most part, Canadian military records for World Wars I and II are held in Canada. In World War I, however, there was no Canadian air force. Canadians could enlist in the British air force in

Mar 2, Canadian Military Records - British Forces in Canada

Fri, 2 Mar 2012 17:53:32 -0500

Canadian military records from 1763 through World War I were generated by Britain, and many of those records are housed in the UK. From 1871 on, Canada had responsibility for its own military forces,

Mar 2, Canadian Military Records: An Introduction

Fri, 2 Mar 2012 17:30:06 -0500

Canadian military records date back to the 1600s, but were created and maintained first by France and then by Britain. Although Canada had its own military forces from 1871, it was World War I before