Steve’s Genealogy Blog

• Tuesday, July 1, 2008 to Sunday, July 6, 2008 - 10:45 AM-8:00 PM
  Genealogy Booth at the Fair
  Alameda County Fair Grounds, 4501 Pleasanton Ave, Pleasanton
  Sponsored by the Livermore-Amador Genealogical Society
  *
• Tuesday, July 1, 2008 - 10:00 AM
  SRVGS Board Meeting
  Sponsored by the San Ramon Valley Genealogical Society
  *
• Thursday, July 3, 2008 - 1:00-4:00 PM
  Library Open to the Public
  Upstairs at the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum, 734 Marin Street, Vallejo
  Sponsored by the Genealogy Society of Vallejo-Benicia
  *
• Thursday, July 3, 2008 - 7:30 PM
  Dick Finn - Family Tree Maker Group
  Vineyard Adult Education Facility, 1401 Almond Avenue, Livermore
  Sponsored by the Livermore-Amador Genealogical Society
  *
• Saturday, July 5, 2008 - 9:00 AM
  Beginners’ Breakfast
  Star Restaurant, 1700 Novato Boulevard, Novato
  Sponsored by the Marin County Genealogical Society
  *
• Tuesday, July 8, 2008 - 9:30 AM-3:00 PM
  Book Repair Group
  California Genealogical Society and Library, 2201 Broadway, Suite LL2, Oakland
  Sponsored by the California Genealogical Society
  *
• Wednesday, July 9, 2008 - 10:00 AM-3:30 PM
  Nora Hickey on Irish Ancestor Research
  Berkeley Yacht Club, 1 Seawall Dr, Berkeley
  Sponsored by the California Genealogical Society
  *
• Tuesday, July 10, 2008
  Private Consultations with Nora Hickey on Irish Ancestor Research
  California Genealogical Society and Library, 2201 Broadway, Suite LL2, Oakland
  Sponsored by the California Genealogical Society
  *
• Tuesday, July 10, 2008 - 7:30-9:00 PM
  Marcia Murray Holstrom - “Using Maps in Genealogy”
  Congregation Beth Emek, 3400 Nevada Court, Pleasanton
  Sponsored by the Livermore-Amador Genealogical Society
  *
• Thursday, July 10, 2008 - 1:00-4:00 PM
  Library Open to the Public
  Upstairs at the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum, 734 Marin Street, Vallejo
  Sponsored by the Genealogy Society of Vallejo-Benicia
  *
• Thursday, July 10, 2008
  Beginner’s group field trip to the Federal Archives
  Contact Betty Heryford Cheshier 644-7584
  Sponsored by the Genealogy Society of Vallejo-Benicia
  *
• Thursday, July 10, 2008 - 7:30 PM
  Membership Meeting
  LDS Church, 3700 Concord Blvd (just east of Farm Bureau Road), Concord
  Sponsored by the Contra Costa County Genealogical Society
  *
• Friday, July 11, 2008 - 7:30 PM
  Marin County Genealogical Society Board Meeting
  Marin FHC, LDS Church, 220 North San Pedro Rd, San Rafael
  Sponsored by the Marin County Genealogical Society
  *
• Saturday, July 12, 2008 - 10:00 AM-4:00 PM
  City Directory Library Open
  California Genealogical Society and Library, 2201 Broadway, Suite LL2, Oakland
  Sponsored by the California Genealogical Society
  *
• Saturday, July 12, 2008 - 1:00-1:30 PM
  Membership Meeting
  California Genealogical Society and Library, 2201 Broadway, Suite LL2, Oakland
  Sponsored by the California Genealogical Society
  *
• Saturday, July 12, 2008 - 1:30-2:30 PM
  Panel discussion with Jane Hufft, Nancy Peterson, and Lavinia (Vinnie) Schwarz - “Breaking Down Brick Walls”
  California Genealogical Society and Library, 2201 Broadway, Suite LL2, Oakland
  Sponsored by the California Genealogical Society
  *
• Monday, July 14, 2008 - 9:45 AM
  Monday Morning Group
  Contact Sue at swindell@value.net
  Sponsored by the Contra Costa County Genealogical Society
  *
• Tuesday, July 15, 2008 - 10:00 AM
  SRVGS Membership Meeting
  Danville Family History Center, 2949 Stone Valley Rd at Smith Rd, Alamo
  Sponsored by the San Ramon Valley Genealogical Society
  *
• Tuesday, July 15, 2008 - 11:00 AM-12:00 PM
  Publications Committee Meeting
  California Genealogical Society and Library, 2201 Broadway, Suite LL2, Oakland
  Sponsored by the California Genealogical Society
  *
• Tuesday, July 15, 2008 - 7:00 PM
  Kay Gutknecht - Publishing Genealogy Books
  Santa Clara City Central Park Library, 2635 Homestead Road, Santa Clara
  Sponsored by the Santa Clara County Historical & Genealogical Society
  *
• Wednesday, July 16, 2008 - 1:00-2:30 PM
  CGS Board Meeting
  California Genealogical Society and Library, 2201 Broadway, Suite LL2, Oakland
  Sponsored by the California Genealogical Society
  *
• Wednesday, July 16, 2008 - 1:00-3:00 PM
  Daytime Workshop
  Clubhouse, Country Squire Mobilodge, 5720 Oak Hill Dr (corner of Esquire Drive and Manitoba Avenue), Sacramento
  Sponsored by the Sacramento Genealogical Society
  *
• Friday, July 18 2008 - 9:00 AM-1:00 PM
  Rose Mary Kennedy - “Federal Land Records”
  NARA-Pacific Region, 1000 Commodore Drive, San Bruno
  To register, call Rose Mary Kennedy at 650-238-3488 or email rosemary.kennedy@nara.gov
  Sponsored by NARA-Pacific Region
  *
• Friday, July 18, 2008 - 10:00 AM-4:00 PM
  City Directory Library Open
  California Genealogical Society and Library, 2201 Broadway, Suite LL2, Oakland
  Sponsored by the California Genealogical Society
  *
• Friday, July 18, 2008 - 1:15 PM
  Seminar Committee Meeting
  SMCGS Library, 125 Lessingia Court, San Mateo
  Sponsored by the San Mateo County Genealogical Society
  *
• Saturday, July 19, 2008 - 10:30 AM
  Pamela Dallas - “Extra! Extra! Your Ancestors are in the Newspapers
  Silicon Valley Community Foundation, 1700 S. El Camino Real, San Mateo
  Sponsored by the San Mateo County Genealogical Society
  *
• Saturday, July 19, 2008 - 12:30-1:30 PM
  Library Committee Meeting
  California Genealogical Society and Library, 2201 Broadway, Suite LL2, Oakland
  Sponsored by the California Genealogical Society
  *
• Sunday, July 20, 2008 - 1:00 PM
  Schelley Talalay Dardashti - Gen-blogging: How to Do Effective Blogging Focusing on Genealogy
  Jewish Community High School, 1835 Ellis Street, San Francisco
  Sponsored by the San Francisco Bay Area Jewish Genealogical Society
  *
• Wednesday, July 23, 2008 - 7:30 PM
  Ann Rutherford - “Am I Stuck?  If you think you’re stuck, you may be fishing with too small a net.”
  Marin FHC, LDS Church, 220 North San Pedro Rd, San Rafael
  Sponsored by the Marin County Genealogical Society
  *
• Monday, July 28, 2008 - 5:00 PM
  RootsMagic Users Group
  SMCGS Library, 125 Lessingia Court, San Mateo
  Sponsored by the San Mateo County Genealogical Society
  *
• Monday, July 28, 2008 - 7:00 PM
  SMCGS Board Meeting
  SMCGS Library, 125 Lessingia Court, San Mateo
  Sponsored by the San Mateo County Genealogical Society

Copyright © 2008 by Stephen J. Danko

While at Jamboree, I had the pleasure of participating in the Genealogy Blogger Summit with Megan Smolenyak and hearing her two presentations on DNA entitled Trace Your Roots with DNA and Beyond Y-DNA: Your Genetic Genealogy Options.

Megan Smolenyak and Steve Danko at Jamboree 2008

SOURCE: Megan Smolenyak and Steve Danko at Jamboree 2008 (Burbank, Los Angeles Co., California). Photographed by Marcy Brown 29 Jun 2008.

Megan defined genetic genealogy as DNA testing for the purpose of learning about one’s heritage and described it as a complement to traditional genealogy.

Of all the DNA tests available, the Y chromosome tests are the most popular. These tests include the test for short tandem repeats (STRs) and the test for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on the Y chromosome. The STR test looks for the number of times a particular DNA pattern is repeated at places on the Y chromosome called markers. The results of this test defines a man’s Y chromosomal haplotype.

Since only men have a Y chromosome, women can only participate in this test by proxy, meaning that women must find a male relative (father, brother, uncle, male cousin) to be tested in her place. The Y chromosome is passed on from father to son, and can be used to trace a man’s ancestry from his father’s father’s father’s father. Because the Y chromosome is inherited in this way, analysis of the Y chromosome can be used either to support or disprove relationships.

A second Y-DNA test examines SNPs, mutations in the DNA that are so rare that they are assumed to have occurred only once in human history. The result of SNP tests define a man’s Y chromosomal haplogroup. The haplotype, identified by STR analysis, can be used to predict the haplogroup, and the SNP test can be used to confirm the haplogroup and provide additional details about the haplogroup.

Although only men have a Y chromosome, both men and women have mitochondrial DNA which they inherited from their mothers. Although men have mitochondrial DNA, they do not pass it on to their children. Thus, analysis of the mitochondrial DNA provides a test for one’s mother’s mother’s mother’s mother. Because mitochondrial DNA changes very slowly, it is not quite as useful as Y-DNA to examine relationships among people. Nonetheless, mitochondrial DNA can still be used to support or disprove proposed relationships.

Other DNA tests available to both men and women include tests for ethnic and biogeographic origins. Some of these tests provide percentages of different geographical groups such as Indo-European, Sub-Saharan African, Native American, and East Asian, while others are designed to provide details about African and Native American ancestries.

Still other DNA tests can provide information about inherited medical conditions and physical traits.

Megan pointed out that those who participate in DNA tests often have a specific purpose in mind. Some wish to learn if two people have common origins, while others may wish to uncover connections that paper trails can’t. DNA analysis can help solve personal history mysteries, including cases of uncertain parentage.

Copyright © 2008 by Stephen J. Danko

I haven’t had a spare moment at Jamboree, but I wanted to post this photo taken at the Genealogy Blogger Summit.

Some of the Genealogy Bloggers at Jamboree

SOURCE: Some of the Genealogy Bloggers at Jamboree (Burbank, Los Angeles Co., California). Photographed by Linda Seaver 28 Jun 2008.

Linda Seaver was kind enough to take photos of this group of genealogy bloggers including: seated, from left: Kathryn Doyle, Dick Eastman, George Morgan, Steve Danko; standing, from left: Leland Meitzler, Schelly Talalay Dardashti, Randy Seaver, Craig Manson, and Elizabeth O’Neal. Other genelaogy bloggers were in attendance but, unfortunately, weren’t present for this photo.

The Genealogy Blogger Summit was great fun with Leland Meitzler hosting bloggers Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak, George Morgan, Steve Danko, Schelly Talalay Dardashti, and Randy Seaver. Leland skillfully kept the discussion moving for over an hour and a half and then opened the discussion to questions from the audience.

As you may have already heard, audience member (and author of Little Bytes of Life) Elizabeth O’Neal stole the show by moblogging from her cell phone and posting the first picture from the summit, LIVE!

Thanks to Paula Hinkel of the Southern California Genealogical Society for organizing this great event.

Copyright © 2008 by Stephen J. Danko

On Thursday, I stopped by Filoli to photograph the June-flowing plants in the gardens and found to my delight that the water-lilies had begun to bloom. I’ll be heading to Burbank today to attend the Southern California Genealogy Jamboree. I hope to see you there!

Red Water-Lilies (Nymphaea)

SOURCE: Red Water-Lilies (Nymphaea) (Woodside, San Mateo Co., California). Photographed by Stephen J. Danko 26 Jun 2008.

White Water-Lily (Nymphaea)

SOURCE: White Water-Lily (Nymphaea) (Woodside, San Mateo Co., California). Photographed by Stephen J. Danko 26 Jun 2008.

Water-Lily Bud (Nymphaea)

SOURCE: Water-Lily Bud (Nymphaea) (Woodside, San Mateo Co., California). Photographed by Stephen J. Danko 26 Jun 2008.

White Water-Lilies (Nymphaea)

SOURCE: White Water-Lilies (Nymphaea) (Woodside, San Mateo Co., California). Photographed by Stephen J. Danko 26 Jun 2008.

Copyright © 2008 by Stephen J. Danko

On 15 May 1664, Joseph Fortin, son of Julien Fortin-Bellefontaine and Geneviève Gamache, was born. On 20 May 1664, he was baptized in the Church of Nôtre Dame de la Visitation in Château Richer, Canada, New France.

The Birth and Baptismal Record of Joseph Fortin - 1664

SOURCE: Gabriel Drouin, comp. Drouin Collection. Montréal, Québec, Canada : Institut Généalogique Drouin. Nôtre Dame de la Visitation, Château Richer, Canada, New France, 1664. Birth and Baptismal Record of Joseph Fortin, page 26.

Click on the image above to enlarge it. Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Birth and Baptismal Record of Joseph Fortin. The record reads:

Joseph Fortin

Joseph, son of Julien Fortin and Geneviève
Gamache was born on the fifteenth day of the month
of May and was baptized on the twentieth of
the present month, the Godfather was Pierre Marcou
and the Godmother was Louise Gagnier.

                    Th[omas] Morel, missionary priest

This record can be found as image 27/727 in the Quebec Vital and Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1621-1967 on Ancestry.com in the records for Château Richer 1661-1702. The record appears on page 26.

Copyright © 2008 by Stephen J. Danko

On 08 Apr 1662, Geneviève Fortin, daughter of Julien Fortin-Bellefontaine and Geneviève Gamache, was born. On Easter Sunday, 09 Apr 1662, she was baptized in the Church of Nôtre Dame de la Visitation in Château Richer, Canada, New France.

The Birth and Baptismal Record of Geneviève Fortin - 1662

SOURCE: Gabriel Drouin, comp. Drouin Collection. Montréal, Québec, Canada : Institut Généalogique Drouin. Nôtre Dame de la Visitation, Château Richer, Canada, New France, 1662. Birth and Baptismal Record of Geneviève Fortin, page 6.

Click on the image above to enlarge it. Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Birth and Baptismal Record of Geneviève Fortin. The record reads:

Geneviève Fortin

Geneviève, daughter of Julien Fortin-Bellefontaine
and Geneviève Gamache was born on the eighth
of the month of April and was baptized on
Easter, the ninth of the present month, the Godfather
was François Fortin, surgeon, on behalf of Nicolas
Gamache and the Godmother was Geneviève Auber, daughter
of Claude Auber.
                             Th[omas] Morel, pastor

This record can be found as image 17/727 in the Quebec Vital and Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1621-1967 on Ancestry.com in the records for Château Richer 1661-1702. The record appears on page 6.

I am uncertain if the Godfather’s name is François Fortin and his occupation is surgeon, or if his name is a dit name: François Fortin-Chirurgien.

UPDATE 25 Jun 2008: Gilles of The Nomadic Researcher wrote to let me know that François Fortin, surgeon is the correct translation. Chirurgien is not a dit-name. Gilles referred me to the website of the PDRH which discusses dit-names and provides a searchable database of all dit-names known to be associated with surnames before 1800. Thanks again for your help, Gilles!

At the time this record was written, France and her colonies were using the Gregorian Calendar, while England and her colonies were still using the Julian Calendar. England did not switch to the new calendar until 02 Sep 1752.

Copyright © 2008 by Stephen J. Danko

On 17 May 1877, Hannah Elizabeth Shults Olds, wife of Willard Olds, died. She was buried on 19 May 1877 in the Methodist Church of Canada, Philipsburg, Province of Québec, Dominion of Canada.

The Death and Burial Record of Hannah Elizabeth Shults Olds - 1877

SOURCE: Gabriel Drouin, comp. Drouin Collection. Montréal, Québec, Canada: Institut Généalogique Drouin. Methodist Church of Canada, Philipsburg, Missisquoi County, Province of Québec, Dominion of Canada, 1877. Death and Burial Record of Hannah Elizabeth Shults, recto folio 8.

Click on the image above to enlarge it. Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Death and Burial Record of Hannah Elizabeth Shults Olds. The record reads:

                           folio eight

Burial:- E. Olds

Eliza Olds, wife of Willard Olds of Philipsburg
St. Armand West and county of Missisquoi, died
on the seventeenth day of May Eighteen hundred
and Seventy-seven in the seventy-fourth year
of her age and was buried on the Nineteenth
day of the aforesaid month and year by me

                                [signed] J.E.Richardson
                                                     M. M.

Witnesses:  [signed] Willard Olds
                     [signed] Geo. W. Olds

This record can be found as image 8/20 in the Quebec Vital and Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1621-1967 on Ancestry.com in the records for Philipsburg (Methodist Church) 1877. The record appears on recto folio 8 (the front of folio 8.

The initials “M. M.” under J.E.Richardson’s signature stand for “Methodist Minister”. 

Copyright © 2008 by Stephen J. Danko

On 26 Feb 1921, Loretta Fidelia Olds, wife of the late William Symms, died. She was buried in the Philipsburg Protestant Cemetery on 28 Feb 1921.

The Death and Burial Record of Loretta Fidelia Olds - 1921

SOURCE: Gabriel Drouin, comp. Drouin Collection. Montréal, Québec, Canada:
Institut Généalogique Drouin. Church of England, Parish of St. Armand West, Philipsburg, Missisquoi County, Province of Québec, Dominion of Canada, 1921. Death and Burial Record of Loretta Fidelia Olds, recto folio 2.

Click on the image above to enlarge it. Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Death and Burial Record of Loretta Fidelia Olds - 1921. The record reads:

                           Folio two

Olds Delia, Widow of the late William Symms
Buried Feb. 28th 1921

Delia Olds, widow of the late
William Symms, aged eighty years,
of the Village of Philipsburg of the
Parish of St. Armand West of the
County of Missisquoi of the Province
of Québec died on the twenty-
sixth day of February in the
year of our Lord Nineteen
Hundred and Twenty-one
and was buried in the Philipsburg
Cemetery on the twenty-eighth
day of the month and year
aforesaid.
                      by me,
       [signed] Wm Jms Palmer Baugh,
                      Rector
In the presence of the
  Subscribing Witnesses:
  [signed] C Fred Farnsworth
  [signed] L L Markell

This record can be found as image 2/17 in the Quebec Vital and Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1621-1967 on Ancestry.com in the records for Philipsburg (Anglican Church) 1921. The record appears on recto folio 2 (the front of folio 2.

Copyright © 2008 by Stephen J. Danko

On 07 Nov 1857, William Symms and Loretta Fidelia Olds were married in the Wesleyan Methodist Congregation of the Circuit of St. Armands, Missisquoi County, Canada East, Province of Canada.

The Marriage Record of William Symms and Loretta Fidelia Olds - 1857

SOURCE: Gabriel Drouin, comp. Drouin Collection. Montréal, Québec, Canada: Institut Généalogique Drouin. Church of England at Philipsburg at the Parish of St. Armand West, Philipsburg, Missisquoi County, Province of Québec, Dominion of Canada, 1880. Birth and Baptismal Record of Lillian Bertha Symms, recto folio 11.

Click on the image above to enlarge it. Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Marriage Record of William Symms and Loretta Fidelia Olds - 1857. The record reads:

                           folio twelve

            Marriage
William Symms Junr. of Philipsburg in the
Seignory of St. Armand County of Mississquoi
and District of Montreal Bachelor Wheelright
and Loretta Phidelia Olds, of the same place
Were Married by license on the Seventh
day of November in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight Hundred and fifty seven
in presence of the Subscribing Witnesses
           by me [signed] Francis Hurt
                                       Minister

Witnesses { [signed] William Symms
                     [signed] Loretta F Olds

Witnesses { [signed] R W Morgan
                     [signed] Mary Ann Symm

This record can be found as image 12/18 in the Quebec Vital and Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1621-1967 on Ancestry.com in the records for St-Armand (Methodist Church) 1857. The record appears on recto folio 12 (the front of folio 12.

This record can also be found as image 9/12 in the Quebec Vital and Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1621-1967 on Ancestry.com in the records for Clarenceville (Methodist Church) 1858. The record appears on recto folio 12 (the front of folio 12). The record does not appear to belong in the Clarenceville records. It seems that Ancestry.com duplicated part of the St-Armand (Methodist Church) records at the beginning of the Clarenceville records in error.

The text of this document lists the bride’s name as Loretta Phidelia Olds, but she signs it as Loreta F Olds. Her birth and baptismal record provided her name as Loretta Fidelia Olds, and that is the spelling I have used in my database.

Copyright © 2008 by Stephen J. Danko

On 11 Aug 1876, Lillian Bertha Symms, daughter of William Symms and Loretta Fidelia Olds, was born. On 06 May 1880, she was baptized in the Church of England at Philipsburg at the Parish of St. Armand West, Philipsburg, Missisquoi County, Province of Québec, Dominion of Canada.

The Birth and Baptismal Record of Lillian Bertha Symms - 1880

SOURCE: Gabriel Drouin, comp. Drouin Collection. Montréal, Québec, Canada: Institut Généalogique Drouin. Church of England at Philipsburg at the Parish of St. Armand West, Philipsburg, Missisquoi County, Province of Québec, Dominion of Canada, 1880. Birth and Baptismal Record of Lillian Bertha Symms, recto folio 11.

Click on the image above to enlarge it. Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Birth and Baptismal Record of Lillian Bertha Symms. The record reads:

                    folio eleven

On this sixth day of May A.D.
eighteen hundred and eighty
Lillian Bertha daughter of
William Symms of the Parish
of St Armand West and of his
wife Loretta Fidelia Olds born
the eleventh of August eighteen
hundred and seventy six A D.
was baptized in the presence
of subscribing witnesses by me
          [signed] Wm Westover
                          Officiating Minister

[signed] [V.E.Gestimer?]
[signed] M. A. Whitwell

This record can be found as image 11/25 in the Quebec Vital and Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1621-1967 on Ancestry.com in the records for Philipsburg (Anglican Church) 1880. The record appears on recto folio 11 (the front of folio 11.

Lillian Bertha Symms was baptized on the same day as her mother, brother, and two sisters.

Copyright © 2008 by Stephen J. Danko