Thursday, September 30, 2010

Randy's Genealogy Day - 30 September 2010

Another month has passed from present to past - they sure go by quickly these days!  It's been an interesting month for Genea-Musings as the Whittle search continues.  Oh - we went to the Padres game today - we lost 1-0 to the Cubs.  The Padres had a pretty bad month of September - 12-15 I think it was.  First rain since the spring here as we had lightning and thunder around all day.

*  Read my email and blogs - I'm using both Google Reader and Bloglines now - need to go completely to Reader to avoid wasting time.  Wrote Treasure Chest Thursday - Betty's Baptismal Record using image from Sunday's Scanfest.

*  Wrote The Children of Alexander and Rachel (Morley) Whittle - Joseph Whittle and set it for later in the morning.  Got cleaned up!

*  Did more newspaper searching for the Whittles and McKnews - found Elijah's and Jane's death notices, but not much else.  Added them to the database.

*  Had lunch, then worked on the FORUM column.  Got the first draft finished - but too many words.  Always too many words, it seems!  Will streamline it a bit on the morrow.  Reviewed SDGS web site designs and provided opinions. 

*  Linda wanted to go to the Padres game - the last home game on the schedule, so we left at 2 PM for Subway, got the 2:30 trolley and had tickets in hand by 3 PM, plenty of time.  Rained hard for about ten minutes, then not much more once game started late at 3:55 PM.  Padres lost 1-0.  Now 88-71, 3 games back of Giants in NL West and 2 back of Braves in wild card.  Believe it or not, Padres can make the playoffs by winning their next three games against Giants! 

*  Home by 8 PM, read everything, wrote The Whittle Research Compendium, checked Facebook, worked on OASIS presentation and handout for Monday,  and Twitter, then wrote this post. 

Genealogy today was 8.0 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 1.0 hour reading blogs, 1.0 hour doing online research, 2.5 hours writing blog posts, 0.5 hour reviewing SDGS site, 1.0 hour working on OASIS stuff, 1.5 hours writing FORUM column. 

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Randy's Genealogy Day - 29 September 2010

It was an interesting genealogy day... and my Padres finally won another game.  Still two back with four to go, but the last three are against the Giants for the division. 

*  Read email and blogs using Google Reader, then wrote (Not So) Wordless Wednesday - Post 122: At the Birdbath.

*  Got cleaned up, and worked in FamilySearch Beta some more, and found the Thomas Spencer death record.  Wrote FamilySearch Beta Fail? Lack of Patience? Success!

*  Worked a bit in RootsMagic and Legacy checking out how the sources came across from FTM 16.  No extraneous characters that I can see, unlike when FTM 2010 made a GEDCOM for FTM16. 

*  Had lunch, packed up and went off to the library at 11:30 AM for the CVGS meeting.  Speaker was Paula Sassi, a Certified Master Graphologist, and she really knew her stuff.  Really impressive.  Had my Devier Smith Bible record analyzed.  

*  Home by 3 PM, read everything, then posted New Google Earth for Genealogy Video Released and started in on my FORUM column article.  Got it about half done.

*  Went in at 5:15 to watch TV, read the paper, took a one minute nap before dinner, had dinner on the patio.  Temp weas about 80 F at dinner outside, only about 85 F max today, with some clouds.  More humid today due to low pressure cell over us.

*  Put the trash out, and back online at 6:30 PM, read everything, answered some email, and went in to watch the Padres game at 7 PM.  Pads beat Cubs 3-0, now 88-70 with 4 games to go.  92 wins will cinch it - only need to win 4 straight!

*  Back online at 10:10, checked Facebook, wrote this post, and will go back to finish my Lescroat novel.

Genealogy today was 8.0 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 0.5 hour working with software, 2.0 hours writing blog posts, 1.5 hour working on the column and 3.0 hours at CVGS meeting.

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Randy's Genealogy Day - 28 September 2010

Stayed home and worked on genealogy all day - and then watched my Padres lose again to the Cubs.  DRAT!

*  Read email and blogs, wrote Tombstone Tuesday - Henry Smith (1680-1743) of Medfield MA after figuring out why Blogger wouldn't post pictures.  I had 1,000 in my Picasa album and the new Blogger doesn't start a new album.  Fixed it by switching to Blogger in Draft.

*  Got cleaned up, then did some more census and other searching for the descendants of Elizabeth Whittle, daughter of Rachel and Alexander.  Wrote The Children of Alexander and Rachel Whittle - Elizabeth.

*  Been thinking about what to write for my FORUM column...think I'll do something about the Whittles!  Had lunch, then answered some emails.

*  Tried to make a GEDCOM file and FTM16 wouldn't do it, said I had a fatal error.  Compacted the file, and tried again, same thing.  Opened FTM 2010 and imported my FTM16 file, and then saved it as a GEDCOM for FTM16.  Opened that in FTM16 and it worked, but now some source fields are messed up.  Shoot.  Probably should check how that works in Legacy and RootsMagic too. 

*  Added sources for two more family lines, which completes the Richmond/White side of the family.  Now onward to the Metcalf and Putman sides of the family, then the Dill side and I'll be done!  About 60% done now.

*  Watched some of the FTM 2011 webinar, and wrote Family Tree Maker 2010 and 2011 Webinars.  Back in the database a bit, tried to correct some of the source errors introduced by the GEDCOM. 

*  Went in to watch TV, read the paper, take a short nap, eat dinner on the patio (only 88 F today), then watch TV, eat dessert, water the back yard and front plants until the Padres game came on.

*  Read more of my Lescroat novel watching the Padres lose 5-2 to the Cubs.  Now 2 games behind Giants with 5 to go.  Doesn't look good. 

*  Read everything, checked Facebook, wrote this post, done!

Genealogy today was 9.0 hours - 1.0 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 1.0 hours doing online research, 1.0 hour working with FTM GEDCOMs, 2.5 hours writing blog posts, 0.5 hour watching webinar, and 2.5 hours working in the database.

Monday, September 27, 2010

Randy's Genealogy Day - 27 September 2010

The hottest day of the year here in Chula Vista, and all of Southern California.  Only 96 F here, but 110 F in the county.  Got my glasses fixed.  The Padres lost.  Genealogy - oh, a bit!

*  Read my email and blogs, then wrote Amanuensis Monday - Will of Jonathan Keyes (1722-1781).  Got cleaned up.

*  Did more checking records, got more help from my readers, then wrote Alexander Whittle dies in California's Gold Country.   Had to check out the lead given in a comment to this post - found the marriage in the Daily Alta California newspaper too, but a search didn't find it.  Guess the CDNC OCR indexing is imperfect.  GenealogyBank may be better.

*  Had lunch, took off for Wal-Mart to get my classes fixed.  They couldn't do it, so went to the Medical Center where I got them.  Had to buy new frames, but old lenses almost fit.  Home by 2:30 p.m.

*  Read everything, answered some email, wrote Table of Contents -- FGS FORUM Fall 2010 Issue.  Added the new Whittle  information to my database, then fixed several English source citations based on an NEHGS article. 

*  Checked out some genealogy society web pages to evaluate page design, links, tabs, etc.  Looked for articles about societies changing from traditional paper to online presence. 

*  Went in for dinner at 5:30 p.m., watched TV, we ate out on the patio in 95 F shade, no breeze. 

*  Online again at 6:30 p.m., answered more email, did a Seaver genealogy report and sent it off. 

*  Went in at 7 p.m. to watch Padres game.  Read the paper, then my John Lescroat novel, and watched Pads die in the 9th with bases loaded, lost 1-0 to the Cubs.  Only have to win 6 in a row now!

*  Back online at 10 p.m. to read everything, check Facebook and write this post.

Genealogy today was 7.0 hours - 1.0 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 3.0 hours writing blog posts, 1.5 hours doing online research and 1.0 hour working in the database. 

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Randy's Genealogy Day - 26 September 2010

Really not much of a genealogy day - Scanfest was worthwhile, the Padres lost 12-2 to the Reds, the Chargers lost 27-20 to Seahawks, and I didn't find anything useful to do all evening.  Hottest day of the year so far - about 95 F outside, got up to 85 F inside - have fans going.

*  Read email and blogs before going off to church at 9:30 AM.  Back at 11:40 AM and got into Scanfest immediately.

*  Chatted with the big crowd, scanned 17 documents found recently in a notebook in the bookcase, and had lunch.  The Scanfest feed slowed down and I dropped off at 12:45 PM.  Noted that Best of the Genea-Blogs - 19-25 September 2010 posted.

*  Went in to watch football and baseball, read the paper, had my popcorn, and not much else.  They both lost.  Came in at 4:45 to check email and read blogs, checked Facebook and posted CVGS Program on Wednesday - "What Was Great-Grandpa Really Like?"

*  Went in for dinner out on the patio in the cool just before sunset.  Watered the front plants, did the dishes, watched some SNFootball. 

*  Checked the CDNC database again for the Spencer/Whittle marriage without luck.  Read a bit of the latest FORUM magazine.  Answered some email, puttered around in USGenWeb for Calaveras and Tuolumne counties in CA without much luck.  Back in at 9 PM to watch Football Night in San Diego.

*  Read everything, then wrote this post. 

Genealogy today was 4.0 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 1.0 hour writing blog posts, 1.0 hour on Scanfest, 1.0 hour doing online research. 

Saturday, September 25, 2010

Randy's Genealogy Day - 25 September 2010

Really only a genea-blogging day - did absolutely no research or database work due to real life opportunities.

*  Went off before 7 AM for the swim club breakfast.  Home by 8:30 AM.  Told the story of Rachel and Alexander Whittle to the group, who were amazed by how much information I've found online.  I told Linda that she had a black sheep in her ancestry.

*  Read email and blogs, then researched and wrote Surname Saturday - TRIMMER (Germany > NJ) and then pondered what to write next.  Finally put Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - Birth Order together and set it for 12:15 PM. 

*  We left at 11:15 AM for Subway to pick up sandwiches for lunch, caught the 12 noon trolley to downtown San Diego, and were in Petco Park by 12:30.  Ate lunch standing in the shade (it was warm today) and watched my Padres win 4-3 with a walk-off hit in the bottom of the ninth over the Reds.  We're back in first place again.

*  Caught 4:45 PM trolley to Chula Vista, ate at Rubio's on the way home, and I read the paper and watched football on TV while Linda did her email.

*  Back online at 7 PM to read everything, and found that Blogger hadn't posted the SNGF post for some reason.  So did that, and tweeted it.  Read the latest FORUM Magazine, worked in Google Reader some to get experience, and wrote the Best of post for Sunday.  Went in and watched some football and baseball too.

*  Read the SDGS Newsletter, checked in on Facebook, and wrote this post.

Genealogy today was 4.5 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 1.0 hour reading blogs, 0.5 hour reading magazines/newsletters, and 2.5 hours writing blog posts. 

Friday, September 24, 2010

Randy's Genealogy Day - 24 September 2010

It doesn't get much better than working on genealogy, walking on the bayfront on a sunny day, and watching the Padres win.

*  Read email and blogs, then wrote What happened to Rachel (Morley) Whittle?  Got cleaned up.

*  Did more looking for Rachel and Alexander in the newspapers without any success.   Answered some emails.  Had a question about a certain Seaver and found his death in the Mass VRs for a correspondent.  Checked out the Mass VRs 1911-1915 - looks like I've already mined them.

*  Had lunch, and went off to walk with George on the bayfront.  A nice day...haven't walked for two months while he's been sunning in Greece.  Stopped at the library, bank and gas station, and home by 1:30 PM.

Wrote Dear Randy - Family Tree Information and then got into the database.  Worked on sources for the Kenyon, Barber, Soule families until dinner time.

*  Had dinner, watched TV news while Linda was on computer, watered the back yard and front plants, and was able to read everything before the Padres game.

*  Finished my Robert Parker book in the 8tyh inning of a tense Padres win over the Reds, 4-3.  Still half a game behind the Giants, but a half game up on Braves now.  Pennant races are fun!  And frustrating.

*  Read everything, checked Facebook, wrote this post.

Genealogy today was 7.0 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 2.5 hours writing blog posts, 1.0 hour doing online research, and 2.0 hours working in the database on sources.

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Randy's Genealogy Day - 23 September 2010

The day started off with some big news, I went to the FHC for the first time this year, Blogger changed their editor, wasted away the afternoon and then the Padres lost.  Drat.

*  Read email, then wrote Treasure Chest Thursday - 1841 English Census Record for John Richman Family and then checked the blogs.  Uh oh, Ancestry.com did what?  Read the press release and wrote Ancestry.com Acquisition of iArchives (including Footnote.com). 

*  Got cleaned up, gathered my stuff for Whittles in England, and off to the FHC before something else came up.  Got there by 10:45 AM, worked in Ancestry Institution in 1841 and 1851 census records.  Ancestry I is really slow there.  Saved images to flash drive, ordered  three microfilms of parish registers, and home by 12:45 PM.  Had lunch.

*  Read everything, downloaded my images and saved them, then wrote The elder Alexander Whittle in English Census Records

*  Started working on database, but got sidelined by finding parents of a loose Seaver guy - found them in plain sight, added more census records for several families and never got to working on sources. 

*  Went in at 4:45 to read the paper, took a nap, watched TV news, ate dinner, more TV news, and then 10 minutes to read email and blogs before Padres game.  We lost 3-1 to Dodgers - now out of first place in NL West.

*  Back to read everything, check Facebook and write this post.  Blogger changed their editor and it does strange things.  A copy and paste inserts several blank lines between lines for some reason.  That's not going to work for Surname Saturday or amanuensis Monday where I often copy a hundred lines or more.  Why screw with something that works?  Drat!

Genealogy today was 7.0 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 2.5 hours writing blog posts, 2.0 hours at the FHC, and 1.5 hours working in the database. 

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Randy's Genealogy Day - 22 September 2010

It was a decent genealogy day - I moved the database ball a bit, blogged a bit, and survived Linda's first attempt at using Facebook. Then the Padres won...

* Read email and blogs, wrote (Not So) Wordless Wednesday - Post 121: Georgia (Kemp) Auble in 1898 and then Other Records for Jane, Leah and Rachel Morley in Lancashire and got cleaned up.

* Wrote New England Historical and Genealogical Register - July 2010 Table of Contents and set it for early afternoon.

* Worked in the database making better sources - adding author, publication data and repository where needed. I need to find the microfilm numbers and other data for some sources now, and website information for many, especially online state vital record collections.

* Linda stayed home today after her brush yesterday, she made lunch, and I came back to work in the database adding source citations to several of my Rhode Island families. These are usually surname books or articles as opposed to town vital records. Did some online searches for specific families that I have little or no textual material for.

* Went in at 5 p.m. to watch TV, eat dinner and read the paper. After dinner, Linda tried to use Facebook with my direction. She did OK. I watered the front plants as therapy. Then the Padres game, and I finished my Parker novel during the game, and reviewed four years of NEHGR volumes for ancestral families. Found some that I missed, I think. Plus some books for the "to be found and read" list. Padres won 3-1 over Dodgers to move into first place in NL West.

* Read everything, checked Facebook, wrote this post.

Genealogy today was 8.0 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blog posts, 2.5 hours writing blog posts, 0.5 hour on Twitter and Facebook, and 4.0 hours working in my database on sources.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Randy's Genealogy Day - 21 September 2010

Goodbye summer, hello fall. Now it will warm up here in San Diego! Not a bad genealogy day until the evening - then just a bad day.

* Read email and blogs, researched and wrote More on Rachel Morley's Parentage rather than Tombstone pix. An interesting case study this one! More surprises to come! Got cleaned up with nowhere to go.

* Looked through the FamilySearch Record Search and saw several new databases - researched and wrote Red Star Collections on FamilySearch Record Search to try to set a baseline. Will try to do that every two weeks or so.

* Lorine commented on the Rachel Morley situation on the blog post and on Facebook, and did some research for me in Lancaster Record Office site. I did the searches too, plus more, and sent an email to the LRO to see how to obtain some records. Will write about that soon.

* Worked in the database - got two more family batches done sourcing not only English records but RI records too. At least some families will have a source for almost every fact! Will have to go back and sort out the other 1,000 families sometime.

* Went in to help Linda after she had a coughing spell. She felt faint and dizzy and couldn't breathe well. She couldn't eat dinner, so we left at 6:30 for the ER and she was examined pretty soon after arrival. Did blood pressure, EKG, blood sample, X-rays and found nothing. After three hours they discharged her with a cough suppressant and she still felt crappy, but now real hungry. Got her home and she made a sandwich and had some soup. Seems better now. The Padres won too, 6-0 over dodgers.

* Read everything, checked Facebook, wrote this post.

Genealogy today was 9.0 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 2.5 hours researching and writing blog posts, 2.0 hours doing online English research, and 3.5 hours working in my database.

Monday, September 20, 2010

Randy's Genealogy Day - 20 September 2010

Pretty much an all-genealogy day - except for the evening around dinner time. Got quite a bit done too.

* Read email and blogs, then posted Amanuensis Monday - Will of Samuel Hubbard (1687-1753) of Concord MA. Got cleaned up.

* Worked on and then posted Rachel Morley's Birth and Parents. Searched for FHLC microfilms to order for Chorley and Bolton-le-Moors, and printed them off.

* Had lunch, went off to library for Table Talk, back by 1:30 PM. Wrote SDGS Seminar on 9 October - National Archives and Footnote.com.

* Worked on source citations - adding content to them, got maybe half of them done. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. It's far away...still many more to do.

* Went in at 5:30 p.m. to eat dinner, watch MNFootball game, read the paper. Came in at halftime.

* Worked on adding sources for several families - got out several big notebooks with my resource material. I have lots more to put in these books from my to-be-filed stack. Maybe tomorrow I can sort that out a bit. Did 6 groups tonight, still have lots more to do.

* Wondered where I hid the Leland/McKnew stuff - searched the end of the bookcase and found them - and found some interesting papers too - scanned one of them. Also found some Seaver family certificates that I had misplaced - set them aside for Scanfest! Then found the Leland/McKnew photos I knew that I had scanned and captured from Linda's brother, and hid them on my computer. Lastly, found my notebook of letters to and from Seaver family embers back in 1990s - some good memories there to use in the Journal.

* Checked Facebook, read everything, and wrote this post.

Genealogy today was 11.0 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 2.5 hours researching and writing blog posts, 0.5 hour at CVGS, 6.0 hours working in the database on sources, and 1.0 hour digging in the dusty bookcase.

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Randy's Genealogy Day - 19 September 2010

Chargers won, Padres lost, some genealogy, some little girls.

* Read email while little girls watched TV before their mom got up, then when they all left for the Nature Center I managed to finish Best of the Genea-Blogs - 12-18 September 2010.

* Went in to watch NFL game and Padres game. Pads lost to Cards again, 4-1. Rats!

* Listened to Chargers game (blacked out here) but Lolo got up from her nap and wanted to watch TV. Took radio into genealogy cave and worked on my database while listening to Chargers win over Jaguars, 38-13. A great game for Chargers. Got lots of sources fully defined, and almost all English church sources deleted.

* Said goodbye to James and the girls - they're going home tonight. Tami and Linda went shopping and out to dinner. I watched Charger highlights, ate dinner, then cut the front lawn, and watered the plants. Watched SNFootball for awhile, then on computer at 7 PM.

* Read everything, answered some email, revised my OASIS talk handout, posted two blogs on Chula Vista Genealogy Cafe blog, and mined the early California newspapers on Footnote and Chronicling America, and CDNC. Found one item of interest.

* Checked Facebook, wrote this post, and done!

Genealogy today was 6.5 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 1.0 hour writing blog posts, 2.5 hours working in the database on sources, 0.5 hour on OASIS handout, and 1.5 hours doing online newspaper research.

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Randy's Genealogy Day - 18 September 2010

Not much of a genealogy day - did not advance the research ball at all due to family and baseball time conflicts.

* Read email and blogs before going off to the CGSSD meeting at 8:15 AM. Noted that Surname Saturday -- METCALF (England > MA > NH > NY) posted - written last night.

* Sat in on Gary Hoffman's talk about Web-based family trees using The Next Generation - works quick and seems easy. He's using it for a family association with many contributors. The Debby Horton talked about publishing a book - interesting and challenging. She laid out the options for writing, indexing, editing, marketing, producing and distributing books on paper or in electronic format. Very thorough.

* Was home by 12:30 PM, got caught up on everything and the girls came home. Noted that Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - The Time Machine posted. Everybody went down for a nap, including me while watching the Padres game. Padres won 8-4 over Cards in the 9th inning to break latest losing streak and hold onto second place in NL West.

* Everybody up and went swimming except me - read everything and then met them for dinner at Lolita's. Home by 6:30 PM.

* Watched football until after 8:30 PM when girls went down, then checked Facebook, read everything, and started on the Best of post for Sunday.

Genealogy today was 5.0 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 3.0 hours at CGSSD meeting, and 1.0 hour writing blog posts.

Friday, September 17, 2010

Randy's Genealogy Day - 17 September 2010

This was a pretty good genealogy day - I stayed home and really only broke for dinner and the Padres game (bad decision!).

* Read email and blogs, then researched and wrote Whittle Birth and Marriage Records in England.

* Got cleaned up, and researched and wrote Suggested Records on Ancestry.com and set it for late morning. Researched the Whittle and collateral lines in England some more, and added data to the database from the Whittle search. Had lunch.

* Was determined to do useful work in the database today, but got sidetracked with the two online Newspaper Archives on AmericanAncestors.org. Found a lot of Seaver material and added some of it to the database. Found a key Whittle piece too.

* Worked for awhile in the database adding sources for 4 of my ancestral groups, and wrote Gena's "40 Places to Find Vital Record Information."

* Went in at 5 PM to read the paper, watch the Padres game, eat dinner, water the back yard and front plants, and read my book. Padres lost 14-4 to the Cards, and are out of first place in NL West for the first time since June. Really looked bad tonight. Drat!

* Back online at 8 PM to read everything, and write the two blog posts for Saturday since I'm off to the CGSSD meeting in the morning. Checked Facebook, and wrote this post.

Genealogy today was 9.0 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 3.0 hours researching and writing blogs, 3.0 hours working in online databases, and 2.0 hours working in my database.

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Randy's Genealogy Day - 16 September 2010

Not a wonderful genealogy day - too many interruptions and the temptation of online family trees shows how weak I am!

* Read email before going off to the doctor's appointment at 8:30 AM - smiley faces on blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar, but not on weight. Home to read blogs and post Treasure Chest Thursday - James H. Richmond's obituary.

* Added the English material found to my database on Whittle, Mansley, Morley, Bury and more. Struggle with source citations...can't get them right yet.

* Went off at 11 AM for lunch with retired engineers group, home by 1:15 PM.

* Captured more birth records of Whittle kids in England and Australia on FamilySearch - then wrote Whittle Birth Records in Australia. Worked more with sources in FTM16 on these folks.

* Wrote Jean Wilcox Hibben to Present at CVGS Fall Seminar on Saturday, 2 October on both Chula Vista Genealogy Cafe and Genea-Musings, plus one more post about the seminar on Chula Vista Genealogy Cafe.

* Went in at 5 PM to watch the Padres game, eat dinner, read the paper.

* Back online at 6 PM for TGF chat on NGSQ article - good article by Stefani Evans on Alleta Sadler and Nicholas Power families in colonial NY. Went back at 7 PM to watch rest of Padres game (Pads lost 4-0 to Cards).

* Back online at 8:15 PM, worked a bit more on sources, then tried trees on FindMyPast (no trees to search there), Genes Reunited (some, but can't see data) and Ancestry (some, including a decent Mansley site with a gravestone picture plus data).

* Checked Facebook, answered email and wrote this post.

Genealogy today was 8.0 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 2.5 hours researching and writing blog posts, 2.5 hours doing online searches, 1.0 hour in TGF chat, and 1.0 hour working in database.

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Randy's Genealogy Day - 15 September 2010

A decent genealogy day, but spoiled by the Padres loss to Colorado 9-6, and it wasn't that close.

* Read email and blogs, then posted (Not So) Wordless Wednesday - Post 120: Betty on a Trike and got cleaned up.

* Researched on FS Beta a bit and wrote Whittle Marriage Record in England and set it for later in the morning. Answered some email, had lunch, and then packed up to go to the library.

* CVGS Computer Group started at 11:30 AM - got everything on, and sat in the back and played in FamilySearch Beta. Helped a colleague navigate the FS Beta search fields - not as complicated as Ancestry's, but just as difficult to master it seems.

* Home by 1:30 PM to watch Padres game, took a nap, read the paper, and Pads lost 9-6 to Rockies. Drat.

* Read everything, and worked in my database deleting English church sources and researching Rachel (Morley) Whittle's descendants in Ancestry. Researched and posted Checking out Historic Map Works.

* Went in at 5:30 PM for dinner out on the patio, put out the trash for Thursday, and back online at 6:30 PM.

* Worked in the English Births, Marriages and Deaths collections on FamilySearch Beta. Tried to find records of ancestors, and their children. Not many Deaths! Have fleshed out several families pretty well, but have some mysteries.

* Checked Facebook, wrote this post, and I'm calling it a night!

Genealogy today was 10.0 hours - 1.0 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 2.0 hours writing blog posts, 3.0 hours in FamilySearch looking for English BMDs, 1.5 hour at CVGS meeting, and 2.0 hours working in my database.

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Randy's Genealogy Day - 14 September 2010

Another decent genealogy day, with some online research and database work thrown in. Then the Padres won again over the Rockies (6-4 in last 10 games, hanging on to first place in the NL West).

* Read email and blogs, wrote The Whittles Migrating to Australia - a Forrest Gump Genealogy Moment and got cleaned up.

* Looked for Rachel and Alexander in several online databases - California Newspapers, SFGenealogy, etc. with a little luck, but not much. Pretty well hidden, especially Alexander.

* Got a comment on the first post, so wrote Lesson Learned - Check the Image too! That was revealing and fun. Right - feel stupid, almost Gumpish.

* Linda and I went to lunch at Fuddruckers for the JDRF fundraiser - ate with Frank and Gloria there. Stopped by the store on the way home - here by 1:50 PM.

* Read everything, worked more in some of the CA websites without any success for A&R Whittle. Worked in database doing source citations - got 6 batches done. Have 54 out of 110 done! I'm trying to do 6 or 8 batches each day.

* Went in at 5:30 PM to watch the news, then Padres game, ate dinner in front of TV, watered front plants, read newspaper and Parker novel, Padres won 7-6. Celebrated by doing dishes early.

* Read everything, posted CGSSD Meeting on Saturday, 18 September Features Debby Horton, checked Facebook and wrote this post.

Genealogy today was 7.0 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 2.0 hours researching and writing blog posts, 2.0 hours doing online research, and 2.0 hours working in the database.

Monday, September 13, 2010

Randy's Genealogy Day - 13 September 2010

A decent genealogy day, and then the twin bill of Padres and Chargers tonight. Elation. Anger.

* Read email and blogs, wrote Amanuensis Monday - Probate Records of Isaac Seaver (1823-1901) and then Finding the Whittles in Australia.

* Got cleaned up, did more research on Whittles in Passenger Lists and on FreeBMD, then FamilySearch.org Beta and Ancestry trees. Had lunch.

* Went off at 12 noon for the library - talked to Dearl, Ann and Gary, did my lookup task and was home before 2 PM.

* Went after more English church records for the Whittle and collateral families - got both lines back several more generations. Got into WorldConnect and Ancestry to see what they had. WC not much, several trees on Ancestry had some family info, but several had plenty wrong.

* Wrote and posted Checking out www.BackUpMyTree.com, then went in to watch football, eat dinner, read the paper, watch the Padres game and then the Chargers game. Padres won 6-4 over Rockies to get back into first place. Chargers lost 21-14 by playing bad special teams (both sides), gave up a big play on defense, and let the crowd, rain and Chiefs defense stymie them. It won't be a perfect season!

* Read everything, checked Facebook, wrote this post. Done!

Genealogy today was 8.0 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 2.0 hours writing blog posts, 1.0 hour at CVGS, and 4.0 hours doing online research for Whittles and adding info to database.

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Randy's Genealogy Day - 12 September 2010

Not much of a genealogy day until the evening...and my Padres lost also. Tried to watch NFL games but kept dozing. Chargers are on Monday night.

* Read email and blogs before going off to church. Home by 11:40 AM, noted that CVGS Highlights for August/September posted this morning, and finished up the Best of the Genea-Blogs - 5-11 September 2010 post.

* Went in to have lunch and watch the NFL games. Switched to Padres game, read the paper, dozed a bit, finished my Parker novel, Padres lost 6-1 to Giants (tie for first place), watched more NFL.

* Read everything, checked Facebook, worked in the database a bit deleting English church sources, had dinner on the patio, watered the front plants, watched more NFL games, etc. Pretty lethargic today.

* Back online at 6:30 PM, worked more in the database, then checked out the early Australia Newspapers on prompt from Rod VC, and found articles about the Whittles - they were publicans in the 1843-1850 time frame in Sydney.

* Checked Facebook, wrote this post, and will do more reading.

Genealogy today was 5.0 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 0.5 hour writing blog posts, 2.0 hours in the database, and 1.5 hour checking out Aussie newspapers online.

Saturday, September 11, 2010

Randy's Genealogy Day - 11 September 2010

Really not much of a genealogy day - some blogging, some reading, some database work, the Padres game in the afternoon in person, and the Aztecs game in the evening on TV.

* Read email and blogs, didn't go to the FHC again. Posted Surname Saturday - PALMER (Somerset, England) and then read more of the Vaux manuscript from Sara - she has quite a bit on the Palmer family but nothing definitive.

* Wrote Still Remembering 9/11 and looking ahead and then Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - Your Sports Teams and set it forj ust after noon.

* Worked in the database a bit - deleted a bunch of English Church Record sources that are now empty, and added a bit to the Vaux people based on information found online.

* We left at 11:20 AM for Subway to pick up lunch, catch the 12 noon trolley, and were in our seats by 12:30 PM at Petco Park for the Padres game with the Giants. A pitcher's duel won by the Padres 1-0, so we keep first place through Sunday, at least. We were home by 4:15 PM.

* Read everything, went in to watch football and took a nap. Had dinner on the patio, and then watched the Aztecs play NM State off and on - Aztecs won.

* Back on the computer at 8 PM - worked on two posts for Sunday since my blogging time will be limited by church and NFL football. Checked Facebook. Wrote this post.

Genealogy today was 5.0 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 1.0 hour reading blogs, 2.5 hours writing blog posts, and 1.0 hour working in my database.

Friday, September 10, 2010

Randy's Genealogy Day - 10 September 2010

Lucas is seven today - happy birthday, grandson! You're a really wonderful boy.

* Read email and blogs, then did a little research in NSW BMD site and found Jane's birth record, plus four more Whittle children. Wrote it up in Jane's Birth Record, and more.... Wrote New "Digging for Answers" Column in Graveyard Rabbit Online Journal and set it for later in the morning.

* Proofed my column and entire FORUM issue for Sandra, took too long! Had lunch, then wrote CVGS Newsletter for September 2010 and another post for the Chula Vista Genealogy Cafe blog. Took a short nap while Linda did her email.

* Researched and wrote What's coming from the Ancestry.com World Archives Project? and then got into the database again to modify my English church sources. Got 10 batches done, but didn't change many. Lots more to do!

* Called Lucas to sing Happy Birthday to him , and he sang back "Happy Birthday to you, you live in a zoo, you look like a monkey, and smell like one too." Seven-year old humor is priceless. He was excited about his gifts, and his friends were coming for a dinner (the party is next weekend).

* Went in at 5 PM to watch TV, read the paper, had dinner out on the patio, watered the front plants, and then back online to read everything, check Facebook and Twitter, and find out Bloglines is quitting. Drat. Exported my feeds to a file and into Google Reader. Worked with it a bit - not sure I like it any better than before.

* Watched the Padres game against the Giants. Giants scratched a run in the 7th, and won 1-0. A good game. Drat.

* Back to read everything, write this post, and done!

Genealogy today was 9.0 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 1.0 hour reading blogs, 2.5 hours researching and writing blog posts, 2.0 hours proofing FORUM, and 3.0 hours working in the database.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Randy's Genealogy Day - 9 September 2010

A decent genealogy day up until we went to the Padres game, then ppffffttttt. Aarrrgggghhhhh.

* Read email and blogs, and posted Treasure Chest Thursday - Isaac Seaver's Will.

* Searched for something to post...saw the California 1852 State Census on Ancestry and went exploring, found the Whittle family as Wadle minus Joseph, so wrote I Found Rachel in the 1852 California Census.

* Got cleaned up, came back to look at some new Ancestry.com things, played in the Member Trees a bit (very laborious...). Had telecon with Chris, then searched Ancestry census records and English BMDs for the Whittles and their offspring. Made some progress finding descendants in 1860-1900 census records, and added them to my database. Made no progress on English BMDs!

* Went in at 4:15 PM to get ready to go to the game, took the 5 PM trolley, had dinner at the Tin Fish, and in our seats by 6:30 PM. Read the paper and had my ice cream - highlight of the evening! Pads lost 7-3 to Giants, and it wasn't that close! Left after 7 innings, home by 10 PM.

* Read everything, checked Facebook, wrote this post and off to bed soon.

Genealogy today was 7.0 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blog posts, 2.0 hours writing blog posts, and 4.0 hours working in online databases and adding data to my database.

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Randy's Genealogy Day - 8 September 2010

A fairly full genealogy day until evening, when my Padres won their third straight game to move 2 games up in NL West. Whew!

* Read email and blogs, wrote (Not So) Wordless Wednesday - Post 119: Cousins near the Bush and then '

* Got cleaned up, came back and wrote San Diego Genealogical Society Meeting on Saturday, 11 September and set it for early afternoon. Gathered up my papers and...

* Had lunch at McDonalds, went to the library, and hosted CVGS Research Group meeting from noon until 2. We had 14, and John showed several the stacks and drawers in the library.

* Home by 2:45 PM, read everything, checked Facebook, dove into the database checking English parish sources, then added some data for Hale and Dowsett families in England. Found NEHGS articles online and printed them off.

* Dinner at 5:30 PM, watched TV until Linda said she wanted photos off camera for tomorrow so captured pix off both cameras, and printed the ones she wanted.

* Watched Padres game - read the paper, read the English Records book I got at the library, and enjoyed the game. Pads won 4-0.

* Back online at 10:15 PM, read everything, checked Facebook, wrote this post.

Genealogy today was 9.0 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 0.5 hour on Facebook, 2.5 hours at library on CVGS business, 2.0 hours writing blog posts and 3.0 hours working in the database.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Randy's Genealogy Days - 6-7 September 2010

I missed last night, eh? The Padres game ended late (we won finally!) , got into a chat with my daughter, and rolled off to bed without posting my day. Now let's see if I can remember anything!

Monday, 6 September 2010, Labor Day.

* Slept in! Read email and blogs then posted Amanuensis Monday - Probate Record of Samuel Gray (1681-1712) of Little Compton RI and tried to think of other blog posts to write. Blogger's block...

* Pondered about my Graveyard Rabbit Journal column, and finally wrote it up and sent it off on deadline. Took awhile.

* Had lunch at home, then wondered about my ancestor's occupations. Wrote The Occupations of my Ancestors. Should have included the mothers too, I think. nobody has complained yet.

* Burned down my email list for awhile too.

* Balanced the checkbooks and finished in time for dinner. Watched the Boise State game, then the Padres game. Pads won 4-2 over Dodgers, breaking 10-game skid. Must have been the kid with cancer that was the guest of the Padres. sign him up - he's 4-0 on the season!

* Read everything after the game, checked Facebook, chatted with Tami, and lost track of time.

Genealogy on Monday was 6.0 hours - 1.5 hours doing email, 0.5 hours reading blogs, 1.5 hours writing blog posts, 0.5 hour on Twitter and Facebook, and 2.0 hours researching and writing my column.

Tuesday, 8 September, first day of school for grandsons.

* Read email and blogs, then wrote Tombstone Tuesday - Effie E. Carringer (1858-1874). Got cleaned up.

* Posted Gary Brock's "Surnames and Their Meanings" Talk and Saturday Class, 11 September - Alfredo I. Peña talk on the Chula Vista Genealogy Cafe blog, plus two others, corrected the Seminar post and put it up top, and checked the Gmail.

* Gathered up the CVGS Newsletter stuff and off to the UPS Store to print our copies and mail them. Got it done in about 40 minutes.

* Grabbed the Buzzy book and wrote Book Review: Shaking the Family Tree by Buzzy Jackson.

* Had a quick lunch (apple, salami, pudding) and dove into my database. Did quite a few of the English church source citations of books and journals, still lots more to do. Then added several family names from stuff in my "to be put in database" file - stuff I've collected and haven't added while I'm struggling with errors, sources and place names.

* Ate dinner out on patio, watered the front plants, came back afterwards to read everything and work a bit more in database.

* In to watch the Padres game at 7:10 - Pads beat Dodgers 2-1 for second straight win and still in first place in NL West by 1 game.

* Washed dishes, read everything, checked Facebook, wrote this post, and I'm done!

Genealogy today was 9.5 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 2.5 hours writing blog posts, 1.0 hour on CVGS Newsletter, 0.5 hour on Twitter and Facebook, and 4.5 hours working in my database.

Sunday, September 5, 2010

Randy's Genealogy Day - 5 September 2010

What a frustrating day... worked my butt off to get the CVGS Newsletter finished with the right information, then the Padres lost, and OpenOffice gave me problems tonight.

* Read email and blogs, started writing Best of the Genea-Blogs - 29 August to 4 September 2010 before church and finished it after church.

* Got home from church at 11:40 AM, put last bits of info into CVGS newsletter that I received this morning about the seminar in four weeks, printed it out, gathered my stuff and went down to the UPS Store and it's closed for the long weekend. Well, shoot. Back home and watched the Padres game.

* Padres lost 4-2, 10th loss in a row, I am really upset now, the hopes and dreams and playoff tickets are flying away... Got a short nap, read the paper, etc.

* Read everything, checked Facebook, answered some email and emailed flyer to CVGS members. Had dinner out on the patio, watered the back yard and the front plants.

* Worked in my database for awhile - fixing the source citations to have proper author, title, publisher, location, etc. Also fixed some sources to reflect the article or book rather than the English parish registers.

* Stopped in the database at 9:30, checked email, and got notice that FamilySearch Beta site is live and has all Record Search databases. Wrote All Record Search Databases are on FamilySearch Beta Site after OpenOffice gave me fits by shutting down and claiming I had to recover a document. Pain in the butt, that.

* Wrote this post, and will go read my Jeffrey Deaver novel...

Genealogy today was 6.5 hours - 1.0 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 1.5 hours writing blog posts, 0.5 hour on CVGS Newsletter, and 3.0 hours working in database.

Saturday, September 4, 2010

Randy's Genealogy Day - 4 September 2010

It was my brother Stan's 64th birthday and our friend Stephanie's 34th birthday today - Stephanie got jolted out of bed at 4:30 AM by the Christchurch earthquake, I'll bet she remembers this one! Here it was not much of a genealogy day...

* Read email before getting cleaned up and going off to the Men's Bible Study breakfast at 8 AM. Home by 9:30 AM.

* Read blogs, then researched and wrote Surname Saturday - Ruth (in PA) and then wrote Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - Your Genealogy TV Show and set it to post after noon.

* We left at 11:15 AM for Subway to pick up sandwiches and then to the trolley station to go to Petco Park for the Padres game against the Rockies. Pads lost 6-2, their 9th straight loss, panic time! Many fans were highly perturbed by the outcome. Stopped at Lolita's for take home food and were home by 6 PM. Ate dinner, read the paper and watched TV.

* On computer by 7 PM, read everything, worked on CVGS Newsletter for several hours, printed off the copy to publish, checked Facebook and wrote this post.

Genealogy today was 4.5 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 1.0 hour writing blog posts, and 2.0 hours working on CVGS Newsletter.

Friday, September 3, 2010

Randy's Genealogy Day - 3 September 2010

A decent genealogy day, plus a big earthquake strikes where our friends live, and my Padres lose again.

* Read email and blogs, researched and wrote Checking out the Archives.com People Finder. Got leaned up and back to the keyboard.

* Answered some piled-up email, and of course they all wrote back tonight... I'll try to answer again sometime soon! It's a hard email life, sometimes. Also have Ancestry and Facebook email to answer. Saw news of Christchurch earthquake, got on Facebook and Stephanie said they were OK, and off to the brother's place nearby.

* Worked in the database on the English church sources, and sources in general. Found that I haven't added notes or sources for some of my Medfield families, so worked on that for awhile. Had lunch at home.

* Finished the 8 Medfield family lines and added some good content, mainly from out-of-copyright Google books and from MEHGR articles. Added sources for quite a few facts too.

* Posted CVGS Fall Seminar - Where Do We Go From Here? bulletin on both blogs. Looked at making text reports with indexes and sources in FTM16, RootsMagic 4 and Legacy Family Tree 7 - and looked also at resolving place names. That's going to be an even bigger job! Arrgghhh.

* Worked a bit on the CVGS Newsletter, then went in at 5:15 PM to have dinner. Back afterward to work on newsletter until 7 PM, and answered some email too.

* Padres game started at 7 PM, so read the paper and then my new Deaver book - Pads lost 4-3 to Rocks (8th straight loss...panic time!). Drat.

* Read everything, wrote this post, will check Facebook and done.

Genealogy today was 10.0 hours - 1.0 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 1.5 hours writing blog posts, 3.5 hours working in the database, 1.0 hour working with software, 2.0 hours working on CVGS newsletter, and 0.5 hour on Twitter and Facebook.

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Randy's Genealogy Day - 2 September 2010

It was pretty much a genealogy day - took some time out to eat dinner and watch the first half of the Chargers game. Padres had the day off so no worries there. Until Friday!

* Read email and blogs, and wrote Treasure Chest Thursday - Alma Bessie (Richmond) Seaver's Death Certificate and then researched and wrote Checking out the Ancestry.com Immigration Collection.

* Got cleaned up, and came back to work on my database - got the Data Errors done - T through Z! Now to work on the English church sources.

* Answered some email, worked for awhile with the English church sources, then read everything and wrote Content Wars - my thoughts in response to Thomas's questions. Back to the English church sources - had to look some up in NEHGR back issues at AmericanAncestors.org.

* Went in at 5:15 PM for dinner on the patio, watched the news, then back online to read everything, answer some email, and write Genealogy Days in Chula Vista - September 2010 and the seminar announcement post for Friday on the Chula Vista Genealogy Cafe blog.

* Went in at 7 PM to watch Charger game - last preseason games suck. 49ers first string better than our second string. Gave up at halftime.

* Worked on CVGS Newsletter - got about 50% of content in, still need reports from several contributors, like the President. Checked Facebook, wrote this post and done!

Genealogy today was 10.5 hours - 1.0 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 2.5 hours writing blog posts, 2.5 hours working on CVGS things, and 4.0 hours in my database.

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Randy's Genealogy Day - 1 September 2010

A new month, same old problems... a struggle for blog content, too many errors in my database, confusion at CVGS, and the Padres aren't winning. Arrggghhh.

* Read email and blogs, then wrote (Not So) Wordless Wednesday - Post 118: The Carringer House . Wrote Was Charlotte on the Orphan Train? for the 97th Carnival of Genealogy, and set it for later in the morning. Got cleaned up.

* Printed off papers for CVGS Board meeting, then went to McDonalds for lunch and the bank and the library for the meeting.

* CVGS Board meeting from 12 noon to 2:20 PM - was home by 2:40 PM to read email and blogs.

* Went in at 3 PM to watch news, Padres game, take a nap, eat dinner, finish Buzzy's book and finish my Spenser novel. Took the trash out, watered the front plants, washed the dishes - I'm a good cabana boy! Oh - Padres lost 7th straight game - 5-2 to Zonies on grand slam in the 7th. Drat.

* Back online at 7 PM to read everything, answer some email, revise the CVGS program summary, review Ancestry's I&N collection, found some for Jeannie, sent them to her.

* Worked in the database - finished the S's in the Data Errors - now just have T to Z to do. Progress!

* Checked Twitter and Facebook, wrote this post.

Genealogy today was 9.0 hours - 1.0 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 1.5 hours writing blog posts, 3.0 hours on CVGS stuff, 1.0 hour checking Ancestry, and 2.0 hours working in my database.