Author Archives: cvgaboard

National Archives Hosts Virtual Free Genealogy Fair Oct. 25

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National Archives Hosts Virtual Free Genealogy Fair Oct. 25

Washington, DC

WHAT: The National Archives will host a live, virtual Genealogy Fair via webcast on YouTube. Participate in our biggest genealogy event of the year! Sessions offer advice on family history research for all skill levels. Topics include Federal government documents on birth, childhood, and death; recently recovered military personnel files; Japanese Americans during World War II; 19th century tax assessments; and a “how to” on preserving family heirlooms. For the schedule, videos, handouts, and participation instructions, visit the Virtual Genealogy Fair online.

WHEN: October 25, starting at 10 a.m. EDT                                      

WHO: Archivist of the United States David S. Ferriero and records experts from National Archives’ facilities nationwide.  

WHERE: Anywhere! Participate during the Fair while it is live streamed on the US National Archives’ YouTube channel

Captioning: Live captioning will be available online. If you require an alternative or additional accommodation for the event, please send an email to: KYR@nara.gov or call 202-357-5260 in advance.

Background: The National Archives holds the permanently valuable records of the Federal government. These include records of interest to genealogists, such as pension files, ship passenger lists, census, and Freedmen’s Bureau materials. See “Resources for Genealogists and Family Historians” online.

Follow the National Archives on Twitter @USNatArchives and join the Genealogy Fair conversation using #genfair2017.

23andMe Class Action Lawsuit (KCC Settlement Administrator)

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If you bought a DNA test kit from 23andMe between October 16, 2007 and November 22, 2013, you probably received an email from the ‘KCC Settlement Administrator’ concerning a class action lawsuit brought against 23andMe by a group of customers who raised a “…variety of claims ranging from false advertising to consumer protection issues…”, according to Judy Russell, the Legal Genealogist. Judy’s blogpost from September 24, 2017, is the place to go to learn about this lawsuit and get the information you need to make a decision concerning your options in this case.

Click here to go right to Judy Russell’s blog. There are deadlines for your response, depending on which option you choose, so it’s important to act soon by reading Judy’s blog and then go looking for that email that probably looks like a spam message. If you already deleted it, don’t worry, Judy has a link to the correct website. Good luck!

40th Anniversary Celebration! — Sept. 9, 2017

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Join us on Saturday, September 9, 2017, as we celebrate the 40th anniversary of the incorporation of the Central Virginia Genealogical Association. Test your knowledge of genealogy with a Jeopardy-style game, enjoy a piece of cake, and share your reminiscences about your time with the group. If you can’t make it, please consider writing a few lines so that we can share your thoughts. Please pass this invitation on to anyone who might want to come and celebrate with us.

WHEN: Saturday, September 9, 2017 from 1:30–3:30.

WHERE: LDS Church, 1275 Timberwood Blvd., Charlottesville, VA. (On the corner of Airport Road and Timberwood. Coming from U.S. 29, the entrance is on the right (north) side of Airport Road immediately before you reach the church. Drive to the back of the building where you will see the entrance to the Family History Center.)

Fall 2017 Central Virginia Heritage Available!

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First, a snippet from the President’s Column About CVGA’s 40th Anniversary

“This year, 2017, marks the 40th anniversary of the founding of the Central Virginia Genealogical Association. The idea of establishing a local genealogy society was hatched after a group of like-minded people attended a genealogy seminar in June 1977. In short order, they came up with Articles of Incorporation, collected the first dues, and elected the first officers. By September 1977, CVGA was chartered by the State Corporation Commission of the Commonwealth of Virginia…”

For the rest of this article, and several others, CVGA members should go to “Members Only” on the menu bar above, and choose “Central Virginia Heritage — Current Issue.” (Note: You have to be logged in to this website in order to see “Members Only.”)

For those who are not members, we offer the opportunity to purchase a printed copy of each issue. The Fall 2017 issue is available from Createspace.com/title/7469534 for $6.50. Click on the CreateSpace.com link above or search for “Central Virginia Heritage” on the Createspace.com Store site.

If you have trouble logging in to the site to download your copy, or if you have trouble with the CreateSpace.com site, please contact me at the webmaster link at the bottom of this page.

Contents of the Fall 2017 issue:

  • CVGA’s 40th Anniversary…p.1
  • The Fluvanna County Courthouse, by Patricia Lukas…p.2
  • Virginia: Where African American Genealogy and History Begin…p.3
  • What’s the Evidence? Analyzing the Documents To Find Out Where Govan Cureton Was Born! by Shelley Murphy…p.4
  • How to Read Old Handwriting…p.13
  • Estate of Benjamin Gatewood, Caroline County, Virginia…p.14
  • Frederick W. Meerbach (17 Jan. 1814-ca. 1893), by Jean L. Cooper…p.17
  • A Jamison Family Puzzle, by Jane Davis…p.22
  • Last Will of John Williamson of Fluvanna County…p.23
  • Thanksgiving Memories, by Charles Conway Crenshaw…p.25
  • Congressional Cemetery, Washington, DC, by Jean L. Cooper…26
  • A Note From the Editor…p.28

If you have any articles you’d like to share with CVGA members, please send an email to cvgaboard@gmail.com, Attention: The Editor.

September 9 CVGA Meeting

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40th Anniversary Celebration!

Join us on Saturday, September 9, 2017, as we celebrate the 40th anniversary of the incorporation of the Central Virginia Genealogical Association. Test your knowledge of genealogy with a Jeopardy-style game, enjoy a piece of cake, and share your reminiscences about your time with the group. If you can’t make it, please consider writing a few lines so that we can share your thoughts. Please pass this invitation on to anyone who might want to come and celebrate with us.

WHEN: Saturday, September 9, 2017 from 1:30 – 3:30.

WHERE: LDS Church, 1275 Timberwood Blvd., Charlottesville, VA. (On the corner of Airport Road and Timberwood. Coming from U.S. 29, the entrance is on the right (north) side of Airport  Road immediately before you reach the church. Drive to the back of the building where you will see the entrance to the Family History Center.)

For more information call 434-962-4697 or email us.

We look forward to seeing you there.

 

AUGUST 12 CVGA MEETING

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Attention:  Special Program August 12

1918 Spanish Flu Epidemic in Charlottesville and Albemarle County.

From the summer of 1918 to the spring of 1919 a worldwide epidemic of deadly influenza killed millions. When it arrived in Charlottesville and Albemarle County in September 1918, the community faced a crisis.

Addeane Caelleigh is a historian with special interests in social and cultural aspects of extreme events such as epidemics and natural disasters. She is currently researching the 1918-1919 Influenza Epidemic in central Virginia.  Ms. Caelleigh worked in academic publishing for many years, including serving as editor in chief of Academic Medicine. She recently retired from the faculty of the University of Virginia School of Medicine, and is still serving as a visiting scholar.  

There will be a presentation followed by a question/answer session.

The meeting will take place from 1:30 pm-3:30 pm at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The address of the Church is 1275 Timberwood Blvd., Charlottesville, VA. It is located on the corner of Airport Road and Timberwood. Coming from U.S. 29, the entrance is on the right (north) side of Airport Road immediately before you reach the church. Drive to the back of the building where you will see the entrance to the Family History Center.

Legacy Purchased by MyHeritage

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As it says on the Legacy blog (http://news.legacyfamilytree.com/legacy_news/2017/08/legacy-family-tree-has-a-new-home-with-myheritage.html), the company has been purchased by MyHeritage.com. You can read more about it at the website above. They are also offering a discount:

To celebrate the acquisition, we are offering a limited time, never-offered-before discount on Legacy 9 software and annual webinar memberships. Through Sunday, August 13 (Geoff’s birthday), take 50% off:

Legacy 9 software – from $34.95  $17.48

1 year webinar membership (or extension) – $49.95  $24.98

Click here to get Legacy software or webinar membership at 50% off.

I’ve tried out the Legacy software before, and find it’s relatively easy to use (although I get annoyed at the multiple clicks it takes to insert a reference or citation). But currently, I’m using the free standard version available here: http://www.legacyfamilytree.com/

Free Access to Revolutionary War Records, July 1-15, 2017 on Fold3.com

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Access Revolutionary War Records for Free*

Revolutionary War Signing for Payment VouchersDo you have ancestors who fought in the Revolutionary War? Now is the perfect time to learn more about them, as Fold3 is giving free access* to our Revolutionary War Collection July 1–15.

There are 20+ titles in our Revolutionary War Collection. Popular ones include:

Revolutionary War Pensions
The records in this collection include entire pension files for soldiers and sailors who served in the Revolutionary War. Unlike selected records, which were typically chosen subjectively for genealogical content, these records reveal more details about each veteran’s history and service, as well as more information about his family, state of health, and life after the war. Every name mentioned in the pensions has been indexed, not just the soldier’s name, which makes finding people even easier.

Revolutionary War Service Records
These are compiled service records for the regular soldiers of the Continental Army, and for the militia, volunteers, and others who served with them. The records are arranged under the designation “Continental Troops” or a state name, then by organization, and then alphabetically by a soldier’s surname. Records consist of card abstracts of entries relating to each soldier from original records. Also included are regimental lists including muster rolls, pay lists, and caption cards.

Revolutionary War Rolls
The primary function of the many Revolutionary War rolls maintained by the American Army was to provide basic information about the identities, numbers, condition, equipage, and pay status of the men and units that comprised the Army in order to facilitate administrative control. Browse these rolls by state and name of organization (regiment, battalion, guard, company, etc.). Find names of soldiers with the help of annotations supplied by other Fold3 users and feel free to add your own. Thousands of records from 138 rolls of microfilm provide names and details about the men who fought for independence.

Final Payment Vouchers Index for Military Pensions, 1818–1864
Pension payment records are not typically found in pension application files. These cards were created as an index for the final payments made to either the veteran or his widow. They provide additional details on where a family may have moved in the early- to mid-19th century, death dates of veterans, widows, or dependent children, and sometimes the maiden name of a widow.

Get started searching or browsing the Revolutionary War Collection on Fold3!.

*Access to the records in the featured collections will be free until July 15, 2017 at 11:59 p.m. MT. Free access requires registration for a free Fold3 account. After the free access period ends, you will only be able to view the records in the featured collections using a paid Fold3 membership.

 

JULY 8, 2017 CVGA MEETING

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Can this photo be improved?

Please join the Central Virginia Genealogical Association for the July 8, 2017 meeting. Read below for meeting details.

Do you have old photos that have faded, turned yellow or become so dark that you can’t discern anyone anymore? Technology might just help to bring those photos back.
At the next meeting of the CVGA Diane Inman will share her experience with improving old photos with computer software. In addition to showing us the tools available to enhance old photos, she has made a great offer to us: send her a photo and she will apply photo fixes and send it back to you with improvements.
Reply to this email with your photo with the subject ‘Old Photo’ and Diane will get back to you. (The time frame will depend on the number of photos she receives.)

The meeting will take place from 1:30 pm-3:30 pm at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The address of the Church is 1275 Timberwood Blvd., Charlottesville, VA. It is located on the corner of Airport Road and Timberwood. Coming from U.S. 29, the entrance is on the right (north) side of Airport Road immediately before you reach the church. Drive to the back of the building where you will see the entrance to the Family History Cente