Bucks County
Genealogical Society
January 2016 Newsletter
Mary2013


PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

To all BCGS Members and Friends:

When Julius Caesar established January 1 as the start of the new year in 46 B.C., it was to honor the God Janus whose one face allowed him to look back and his other to look to the future. So too shall I.
 
In looking to the past, I first must extend gratitude to Christine Roberts for her courage in founding BCGS and her creativity and energy that has brought us to where we are today. Blessings, Chris! I also reflect on our growing membership and our yearly Ancestry Fair. We present important experts in genealogy several times a year and try to always include membership in that category.
 
So what does the future hold? That is the challenge I pose to you, our membership. This is your organization. The Board has ideas and is ready to serve. The emails for each of us are listed on the website, or you can stop any one of us at a meeting if you have any recommendations. 

We also need your energy. With the date and keynote speaker chosen, we are now finalizing the venue for the Ancestry Fair. You may not think you have any special skills, but there is a job for you! You care about genealogy. That is enough to get started. We will be holding our first meeting for the Fair. Carve out some time for your organization and jump on the bandwagon. Wagons Ho!
 
Mary Butash

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 5 , 2016
1 0:00 AM-12:00 PM

at the David Library of the American Revolution, 1201 River Rd., Washington Crossing, PA
(Park behind the building and use the Conference Center entrance.)
_____________________

PIER 53: The Ellis Island of Philadelphia
presented by Susan McAninley

Learn about "The Pier 53 Project," a historical study of Pier 53 in South Philadelphia.  Known as the "Ellis Island of Philadelphia," Pier 53 has welcomed over a million immigrants into America.  Collectively, the project describes immigrants' histories from their time of arrival at Pier 53.  Descendants of immigrants tell their ancestor's story, and then receive a passenger tag and a T-shirt, becoming members of the "Pier Group."
Some of the information is gathered from public record, but many of those stories are accounts told by the immigrants' descendants.

Part of the presentation will include some historical context.  Washington Avenue Green/Pier 53 was a shipbuilding site during the American Revolution and the War of 1812; it was the country's first Naval Ship Yard, and during that period was a point of embarkation and disembarkation for Civil War soldiers.

About the speaker:  Susan MAninley is  Philadelphia native.  She had a B.F.A. from University of the Arts, and has worked as an art director, designer, and teacher, with a brief stint as a writer and a radio talk show producer.  Although a graphic artist by profession, her interest in genealogy goes back decades.

The Pier 53 Project is something she started in 2012 when the Washington Avenue Green Park was officially opened.  She lives seven blocks away in Pennsport in South Philadelphia and became interested in the local history of the waterfront.  She was delighted to find that both of her grandfathers first set foot in America on Pier 53.

Susan has been collecting stories of some of the million or so immigrants who arrived between 1876 and 1926, using publicly available records and accounts from descendants.  Each story is a core sample of history from 1876 until the mid-1920's, chronicling the history of Philadelphia and the immigrant experience in America.
_________________

The meeting is open to the public. Reservations are not required.
Cost for members is $5 and for non-members it is $10.


HELP!  REFRESHMENTS ARE NEEDED!

Bring coffee from Starbucks or Dunkin' Donuts (you will be reimbursed at the meeting) or supply a snack...cookies, small muffins, donut holes, etc.  (your meeting fee will be discounted).

Did you know there is a Dunkin' Donuts shop in  Washington Crossing PA?  

It's on your right on Rt 532 just east of the Taylorsville Rd traffic light in a small strip mall. Getting coffee has never been easier.  Call them on Friday at 215-321-3700, place your order, and pick it up on the way to the BCGS meeting. Remember to get the receipt and our treasurer will reimburse you. 

Please call Marilyn Cook at 215-348-8956 
to volunteer for our next meeting.
CIVIL WAR DIARY

A diary of a Civil War soldier from Bucks County has been donated to the Bucks County Genealogical Society. This diary was written in 1865. It was found recently (2015) in the attic of a building in Wilmington, Delaware.
 
The writer of the diary was somewhat of a mystery since he did not sign it. A BCGS member, Tom Myers, determined the author by reviewing the names and other clues in the diary. The diary was written by John H. Markley.  He was born on 8 March 1842 at Line Lexington, between Bucks and Montgomery counties.  The son of George Markley and Ann Haldeman, he was one of nine children.

Would you like to know more about the diary and John Markley?  There are photos, a link to the diary transcription, and a continuation of this article on the BCGS website at  http://www.bucksgen.org/index.php/civil-war-diary.

DATABASE INFO!
 
Marriages, deaths and miscellaneous notices from the Springtown Weekly Times, 1902-1918 were added to the database on 11/12/15.
On 11/17/15, we added over 11,000 names from the burial list of Bristol Cemetery, over 1,600 baptisms, confirmations, marriages and deaths from Our Parish Record 1881-1886, and over 500 names from the East Swamp Mennonite Cemetery. Additionally, gravestone transcriptions from 6 smaller cemeteries were added on December 14, including Penns Park United Methodist Cemetery, New Hope Cemetery, Fountainville Cemetery, Morris Family Cemetery, Rowland Family Cemetery, and Christopher Day Cemetery. The database now contains:
 
         25,795 birth and baptism records
         18,604 marriage records
       102,154  death and burial records
         38,130 other miscellaneous records
       321,084 total searchable names

To begin your search, go to   http://www.bucksgen.org/index.php/search-database 
 
Your feedback is welcome! Please email Nancy Heath at webmaster@bucksgen.org with your comments.
 
A Trip To G.R.I.P. - Genealogy Summer Camp
by Cathy Ivins, Director of Publicity, BCGS

Cathy Ivins 2012
Last year I had the pleasure of attending several outstanding genealogical events, my favorite one-day conference being our own Bucks County Ancestry Fair!  But can you imagine an entire week of exceptional genealogy classes - morning, noon and night - at beautiful La Roche campus in Pittsburgh? This amazing "summer camp for genealogists" will once again be available through the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh ! The courses at G.R.I.P. are convenient and diverse, highly engaging and educational, and provide great socializing opportunities with other passionate family historians! But the classes fill up quickly, which is why I'll be camping out online, ready to register on February 10th!
            
La Roche College is very easy to get to, whether driving the PA Turnpike (5.5 hours from Bucks County) or a quick ride from the Pittsburgh Airport. The course directors, Debbie Deal and Elissa Scalise Powell, keep everyone in touch with carpooling opportunities. There are plenty of hotels nearby but you just can't beat staying at the dorms, a short walk from the classrooms. Each dorm has two beds, two desks and dressers, a microwave, small refrigerator, and bathroom. You can elect a private dorm or share with a friend. You can also elect to have your meals in the cafeteria, which was not only convenient, but economical and scrumptious!  After eating, the campus is a lovely place for a constitutional.
            
There are two sessions this summer, from June 26 to July 1,and July 17 to 22. The G.R.I.P. website at  www.gripitt.org lists all the courses available from forensic genealogy to Italian or German Research to Genetic Genealogy! The teachers are authorities in their field and "rockstar" speakers, including Judy Russell and CeCe Moore. "It's not unusual" to find the incomparable Tom Jones teaching a course! There are two classes in the morning with a short break in between, followed by lunch and two more classes.  The optional evening lectures provide wonderful "edu-tainment". 
            
The syllabus and other information are emailed ahead of time along with useful tips (like bring a blanket and sweater due to some very efficient air-conditioning!).  Tuition is $450 for the week ($425 if paid by May 15th). Dorms are $350 for single and $295 if shared. You can download all of the course materials and handouts ahead of time or order everything printed out for a fee (which makes it convenient to take notes). A GRIP shirt is also available for purchase and worn during class photos.
            
Last year I attended Practical Genetic Genealogy with instructors CeCe Moore, Blaine Bettinger, and Debbie Parker Wayne. The education I received was invaluable, and the lessons organized effectively between the three highly acclaimed genetic genealogists. Whether you are researching your own genetic background or doing so for others, the wealth of information is worth its weight in gold, and the long drive! I greatly look forward to the advanced session this year, and sharing my learning with our BCGS members during the August 2016 monthly meeting.
            
A very special perk to attending the sessions is the socializing among our genealogy peers! What a pleasure it was to sit with anyone and share our stories, tips, and brick walls to fresh ears! I was the newbie of the bunch then, and now understand why they seemed to be attending a family reunion, happy to see friends they made at previous "summer camps". I've since stayed in touch with several I befriended from Virginia to California. I even ran into several BCGS members!
            
While summer seems a long way off, especially during this freezing weather, registration for the classes begins February 10th at noon for the June session, and March 2nd for the July session. The classes fill up quickly so don't delay. You can sign up for emails on their website, open their countdown timer to registration, or follow them on their facebook page: www.facebook.com/GRIPitt. 
            
I hope I see you at summer camp in Pittsburgh. It's sure to be highly successful and I am happy to recommend it to our members. If anyone has questions they cannot find answers to on the GRIP website, feel free to email me at publicity@bucksgen.org. Just don't expect an answer on February 10th - I'll be virtually camping out! 
We've got books - lots and lots of books!

Do you know that many books and records have been donated to BCGS?  We don't have an office or storage facility, so the donated items are in the care of BCGS member, Roxan Schneider.  Roxan brings the five cases of items to most monthly meetings.  Want to know what we have? Click here to see a catalog of the donated items:  Catalog of Donated Publications

If you would like to see a book or an item, 
please contact Roxan at rcs57082@verizon.net.  
Your patience is requested; Roxan doesn't check her email daily. However, she will be in touch to arrange to have the item(s) ready for you at a meeting.

BEGINNERS CORNER

If you are doing a Google search and looking for a location, remember that the abbreviations for the United States changed over the years. For example, Pennsylvania might show as Pa., or Penna., or PA    Here is an article with help for a Google search:  Genealogy by Barry

RESEARCH TIP

There are new records collections on Ancestry. com. Here are a couple of unusual collections that might help in your research.

Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Mennonite Vital Records, 1750-1940.There are more than 920,000 records at this site: 

U.S., School Yearbooks, 1880-2012. There are more than 359,000,000 records at this site:  http://search.ancestry.com/search/


COMPREHENSIVE EVENTS CALENDAR


Click the link for a listing of upcoming genealogy events for our organization and others in our area:


Have you looked at our Facebook page?


Cathy Ivins, BCGS Director of Publicity, posts great genealogy information almost every day.  Click here and take a look...

 www.facebook.com/bucksgen
  

Membership Fees for One Year Membership 
    
                         Individual:  $20          Dual/Household:  $35
 
                                            Organization: $75

Our membership fees help to pay for speakers, facility rental, website costs, insurance and more.  Membership in BCGS is on a rolling basis and lasts one year from the month you join. Won't you join and help us continue to grow?

See this list of the Member Benefits - with more to come: 
  • Discount on Society educational programs and events.
  • Members can have their surnames posted on our website with a link to the member's email address.
  • Members-only section of the BCGS website.  Participate in discussion forums, share files, photos, and information with other members; see members' favorite genealogical websites and contribute your own.
  • Meeting handouts are available to members unable to attend the Society's regular monthly meetings.    
  • Free scanning of documents is available by appointment.
  • GenealogyBank: 20% ($14) discount - members may subscribe for $55.95 per year.
  • Fold3: 37% ($30) discount - members may subscribe for $49.95 per year.
  • Saving Memories Forever: 12% discount - members may receive a one-year premium subscription for $35.00.   
  • FindMyPast: 50% discount on annual membership
  • Dell purchase program: provides discounts on products sold through the Dell website to FGS member societies' members, their families, and their friends.  BCGS is a member of FGS (Federation of Genealogical Societies) and the discounts are available to our members.
Join or renew by mail using our membership application/renewal form , on line on the Society's website via PayPal or by paying with cash or check at our next meeting.  And, we now have the ability to accept credit card payments at our monthly meetings!

If you have questions and to get access to the above discounts,
please contact:  membership@bucksgen.org
More information about us:
Not a member and want more information?  Check our website at www.bucksgen.org and our Facebook page www.facebook.com/bucksgen.