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1500 questions
7
votes
3 answers
Ellis Island immigration record handwriting help
I've had an Ellis Island record for my great grandfather for several years, but have never been able to read the 'relative or friend's name and address' column for that record. I'm hoping someone here can help me!
Here is the text I'm unable to…
Flup
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7
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How do I Cite Genealogy Sources and References in a Book?
I am writing a book (a biography) about an ancestor with material from many sources (newspaper archives, interviews, national libraries and other books).
My question is specific to the genealogy sources, such as websites, BDM offices, cemetery…
stephenmyall
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7
votes
2 answers
Are there academic studies of genealogists or genealogy networks?
I am thinking about pursuing a network analysis of the genealogist network on WeRelate.org, and I'm wondering if there is previous literature about genealogist networks in particular, or even just about the attributes and motivations of…
Jeremy
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7
votes
2 answers
Where can I get help transcribing and translating Danish records?
I do a lot of research in Danish parish registers, and often find these hard to read. I'd like to find a website where I can submit an image of a record and get help transcribing and translating it. What are my options? Is this site the right…
Van Der Graf
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7
votes
4 answers
Help needed reading an occupation and place name
In the 1891 Census of England and Wales for the household of James Jeans, Bermondsey, Southwark (RG12 piece 377 Folio 135 page 12), I can't read (1) the occupation of James Jeans and (2) the birthplace in Somerset, England of his wife Eliza. Can…
user104
7
votes
2 answers
What is somebody's "real" surname from a set of possible spelling variants?
How do you decide what is somebody's "real" surname? Is there some hierarchy of data sources that you follow or do you just go by preponderance of usage? I'm talking about spelling variants -- not obvious cases where a name is changed during…
Mike
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7
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4 answers
When WWII Army enlistment records list "Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA", what does that mean?
On Ancestry.com [library edition] U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946
there is a record where the Branch and Branch Code is listed as "Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA". What does that mean?
The particular entry I was…
user489
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7
votes
1 answer
Finding Expanded Royal Family Lineages
While aggregating some genealogy data for my family, I recently came across something that has my daughters and I pretty excited. It would seem that, on my wife's side, there is a traceable lineage to a member of the Royal Family of Denmark. (In…
David
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7
votes
3 answers
How might a "nurse-child" have been placed with their carers?
In the 1861 census of England, the sister of one of my ancestors is shown living as a 'nurse-child' some distance across London from where her mother was in hospital. How would the placement of a nurse-child have been arranged at this time?
(The…
user104
7
votes
4 answers
Is there an alternative to the National Archive of Scotland for 19th century Scottish prison records?
The prison records for Scotland are available in the National Archives of Scotland. Are there alternative online sources for some of these? (I'm in Australia, so tripping to Edinburgh isn't an option any time soon.) I'm specifically interested in…
Verbeia
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7
votes
2 answers
What was George August Imprisoned For?
I've come across a log on Ancestry.co.uk which shows that George August was imprisoned in 1854. Below is a screenshot of the entry.
I have managed to read it as follows, but this could be wrong as I can't seem to make sense of it:
Name: George…
AvieRose
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7
votes
1 answer
What was the nature of record keeping for land ownership in the Pfalz prior to the introduction of the cadastre/Kataster system?
Some time in the 1840s the French cadastre system of recording land ownership for tax purposes was introduced into the Pfalz region of Bavaria. Records such as the one shown below identified parcels owned by a particular individual, recorded the…
Gene Golovchinsky
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7
votes
2 answers
Getting from New York to Chicago in the late 1800s
In an earlier question, GeneJ offered some evidence for how some of his ancestors traveled from Quebec to Wisconsin. I am wondering whether there are any records other than private recollections or letters in private hands that document the journey…
Gene Golovchinsky
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7
votes
1 answer
Reliability of houseofnames.com: searching for possible Mayflower descendant
My grandfather has told me for years that us members of the Briscoe family are directly related to a doctor that came to this country aboard the Mayflower. He said that in his attic somewhere are personal effects that belonged to him including…
maple_shaft
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7
votes
1 answer
How should I cite a microfiche source at The (UK) National Archives?
In my research, I have consulted the "Women's Land Army: Index to Service Records of the Second World War" held on microfiche at The (UK) National Archives (MAF421), as described here.
Consulting Shown Mills' Evidence Explained there are 2 possible…
user104