It helps to read the directions ...

I finally got back into trying to organize the new information gleaned in Salt Lake City when I attended #FGS2015 and #RootsTech2015 .  I spent a bit of time in the Family History Library and really found some great information.  Now, finally back home and caught up with the affairs of state, er home, I am back into #GenealogyDoOver and loaded up #Evidentia once again.  

This time, when I launched Evidentia, it started with the message that I needed to upgrade.   So I did. Things looked a bit different, but I was gung-ho into trying to figure out how to use the software and I had the step list I printed off before I went to Salt Lake.    Things made no sense,   OK, back to the Evidentia web site.   Oh, ya, I am now on version 2.2.4.   The cheat sheet I am using is for an earlier version.   The new user manual is available!!!!!  I download it.   I am old, so I print the whole 116 pages so I can go page by page and follow what I should be doing.   DANG!!  It works.   I finally got it figured out and it makes sense.

#Evidentia is going to be well used in recording evidence and evaluating it as well.   I really like that you can like derived source to an original source once you track it down.   Reminds me of Warren Bittner's spaghetti diagram only an electronic version.  

Well, back into recording info and seeing it in action.   I have old County Clerk Land Sale indexes and the actual land sale documents that need to be recorded and linked and then there are so many more things to do.

And then Week9 of #GenealogyDoOver starts up.  

Wow! I'm Missing Stuff!

As promised, I actually viewed the introduction video for #GenDetective.  It was quite well done and really gave me the information needed to start using a sample GEDCOM file.  I uploaded the same GEDCOM I have been using for FamilyTreeDNA and then hit the Analyze button.   The reports were easy to read and are simple checklists of what information (documents) should be recorded and what have not.

Based on birth location and subsequent residence reporting and death date, the program calculates which census (both state and federal) the ancestor should have appeared in and reports back.

All in all, it was quick and easy to use.   I only uploaded through my 2nd great grandparents and only my direct line, but I have a great deal of hope for using this for other "clumps" of my database.  I cannot see uploading the entire database of 40,000+ records and then trying to generate reports.   At least, not until I have done a lot more work.

#GenDetective #GenealogyDoOver #Week4 #Genealogy

New Software To Try

OK, as part of the #GenealogyDoOver, I figured I would see what tools were out there that I have ignored for various reasons.   I still like #LegacyFamilyTree8 for my database and have been a #Clooz user since time began, but there are a lot more tools and it was time to explore.  Thanks to #DickEastman I have installed #GenomeMate to help with the DNA match analysis and #GenScriber is a great help in transcribing document images and then being able to zero in on sections to really see what is written.  But, now I venture into my own exploration with #Heredis, #Evidentia, and #GenDetective.  

I think of myself as being able to find my way through pretty much any computer program -- I have been working with computers for over 40 years in design, program, debug, implement, so I have a good background. Evidentia is pretty straight forward -- but I will sign up for the on line Google Hangout as soon as my computer issues allow.   Heredis is OK, but needs more of my time.   GenDetective is a big QUESTION.   Luckily, they provide a video to explain how to use it.   So, next entry will be after I have taken the time to watch the video and really given GenDetective a fair shot.


#Genealogy #RootsTech

New Year, Fresh Start

Thomas MacEntee has initiated a Genealogy Do Over for 2015.  As of today there are over 1,100 of us signed up to give this a whack.   It is a ground up approach to restart our Genealogy Research.  In our restart efforts we will learn how to track research, cite sources, evaluate evidence and more!

I started to get back to basics and just search as if I had never looked for some of my ancestors before during December.  The results were quite surprising.


Members of the group have posted a number of tools that may be of assistance.


2015 Genealogy Do Over Web Page


#GenealogyDoOver #Genealogy #Research

Not to get all techie, but ....

I have just downloaded a couple of new pieces of software that I find interesting.   One I have used and one I intend to start using tomorrow.   The one I have used is called GenScriber #GenScriber and it is #FreeGenealogySoftware .  This is a wonderful tool.  It allows you to pull in a jpg of a document (i.e. census sheet) downloaded from #FamilySearch, etc. and had templates for the fields available by year.  The image can be magnified as needed to make out the enumerators handwriting.   Once completed, the work can be saved as a CSV file.  The information can also be exported as a pdf among other formats.   I found this to be a great tool.  Much easier than trying to write the information down on a form while looking at the screen.

I have one #ImprovementSuggestion and that is to have the ability to enter the census header information as well as the line item information.   Other than that, I find #GenScriber to be a nice addition.  Thank you #DickEastman for the article on the software!


Now for the second piece of software, #Evidencia.   As I said, I have not started to use it yet, but I am a bit perturbed with the vendor since they sent me an email to sign up for a class on how to use the software.   When I click on the sign up button,it takes me to a page on their web site that says there are no events.   Really bad form.   If there is nothing to offer, do not sent out an offer!!


#GenealogySoftware

Hope Your Relative is Dead

That is one of my favorite quotes from presentations by Dr. Deborah A Abbott ( #DeborahAbbott) - always hope that your ancestor is dead, because then you might find a record of them.   The recently announced Michigan Probate Records (#MichiganProbateRecords) being available on #FamilySearch.org got me hoping to find my great grandfather's probate records.  He died in 1929 in Wayne County which is one of the last years that is loaded for that county.   No luck!!   Then I looked at Oakland County.   The first year loaded was just a couple of years prior to my great great great great grandfather's death.   Now, there is no index to the images.   So, being a good mathematician, I applied a binary search process.   BINGO!!!  I found the Probate Record.   A new piece of gold.  

Must Keep Digging, Sometimes More Than Dirt Appears

I decided to document my search for my great great grandfather, Ezra Peter Koontz.  I had very sketchy information and I wanted to get my To Do list ready for when I am in Salt Lake City at #FGS2015RootsTech Conference.   I knew that my great grandfather, his son, was born in Indiana and that great grandpa was a cabinet maker (there are still items he made in the family).   But, little was ever said about his father and mother.   Well, dig and dig some more -- using variations on names -- great grandpa's name was unusual, Casimer, but he claimed it was really C.P.  Then I tried  g-g grandpa as Ezra, as Ezra Peter, and as Peter.   Then, looking for either of Ezra's wives -- the man made this easy, they were both named Mary Ann.   BINGO!   Found Esra, Mary Ann and son Casimer.   And his occupation was cabinet and chair maker.  What a find!!!   But, now I have to find more and know more about him.

Happy Trails to me!!

#Genealogy #CensusSearch