2013
MEETING
DATES
February 2
March 2
April tba
May 4
June 1
July tba
August 3
September tba
October 5
November 2
December 7
Most meetings will be held at the David Library, 1201 River Road, Washington Crossing, PA. The meetings for three months (marked as "tba") will be held at a time and location to be determined; information will be on our website, our Facebook page, and in our monthly newsletter.
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Happy New Year to Members and Friends of BCGS!
Have you made your genealogy resolutions for the New Year? If not, you might be interested in the article this month on the Top Genealogy Resolutions. Joining your local genealogical society is high on the list!
Speaking of resolutions...our February meeting happens to be on the topic of "Organizing Your Research", which is the number one genealogy resolution. How timely! Hope to see you there on February 2nd at the David Library.
Check out the special article this month on "Inferential Genealogy", which details one genealogist's journey to her Revolutionary War ancestor. Perhaps it will give you an idea for solving one of your research problems.
It is such a delight and an inspiration to see the enthusiasm, dedication and energy demonstrated by our new board. Our first Board meeting of the new year was filled with ideas and plans to bring our young Society to the next level. Together, we really can do great things! Please continue to support BCGS by renewing your membership for 2013.
All the best for your 2013 research goals!
Warm Regards,
Christine Roberts
President
Bucks County Genealogical Society
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Saturday, February 2, 2013, 10 AM to 12 Noon
David Library of the American Revolution
1201 River Road, Washington Crossing, PA
Wherever Did I Put It?:
Organizing Your Research
Presented by Carol M. Sheaffer and Nancy Nelson
Collecting data on ancestors is fun and exciting, but organizing that data can become a daunting task. Methods for organizing your genealogical research will be discussed along with the benefits of doing so, such as better utilization of data and improved research planning. About the Speakers:
Carol M. Sheaffer is President and Program Chair of The Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania, President of Central Jersey Genealogical Club, and Trustee of The Genealogical Society of New Jersey. She has had twenty-five years experience in genealogical research with a focus on Central and Southern NJ, Philadelphia, Lancaster and surrounding counties in Pennsylvania.
Nancy Nelson is on the Board of Directors of The Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania and is Chair of the First Families of Pennsylvania program. With more than 15 years of genealogical research experience, her focus has been Burlington and Monmouth Counties, New Jersey.
The meeting is open to the public and registration is not required. The fee to attend is $5 for members and $10 for non-members.
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Facebook for Genealogy: "Friends with Benefits"
By Cathy Ivins, Director of Publicity
Facebook often gets a bad reputation when it's used improperly. But you have to outweigh the good with the bad in many things. Educating yourselves in proper use and security is certainly key. I've had a Facebook page personally since its inception being a college student at the time. But its true value to me happened just within the last few years, when I began my ancestry research.
Typing in my research surnames, I've connected and continue to connect with family members across the world! Some I haven't seen since my childhood - reminiscing our youth brought such joy and a wealth of updated information. Others I had never met - but soon became close cousins. When I found their Facebook page, which was always set to private as well as my own, I simply sent a private message to them. Once they replied and I knew for sure they were part of my tree, we "friended" each other. This enabled us to see everything we shared on our Facebook pages, from photos to information. Looking at the list of their "friends" I found MORE family members. Messaging each other, they were able to fill in so many empty branches. Their Facebook walls knocked down my brick walls. We now visit one another often, virtually, seeing each other's family photos and watching children grow up. Visiting my elderly relatives for the holidays - in person - they too enjoyed seeing these photos on my laptop.
Another benefit I found is the plethora of genealogy Facebook pages, created by historical and genealogical societies, organizations and media, federal, state and local government, repositories, libraries, and so very much more. Once you visit these pages and "like" them (meaning to click their "like" button) every time they post something to their page, it shows up on your own Facebook wall. I have learned so much more from facebook research than in any other internet search engine.
I started a Facebook page for Bucks County Genealogical Society a few months ago as a place to share information and photos of our events. I now share posts I see from the many genealogical pages on Facebook. When you "like" our Facebook page, these posts of great information will show up on your Facebook wall. From events presented by other local organizations like the Genealogical Society of PA, to webinars (video workshops) from FamilySearch, to sites with new resources added like GenealogyBank and even interesting photographs from Dead Fred's Photo Archive, I find Facebook to be a great friend with many benefits! For more information on using Facebook as a genealogy resource, check out "7 Genealogy Facebook Apps" by FamilyTree Magazine Online, October 26, 2011 at http://www.familytreemagazine.com/article/7-genealogy-facebook-apps
. If you are a Facebook user, we'd love you to "like" us too:
. Always keep cyber-safe!
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Volunteers Needed
Can you help our growing organization? Check over the following list and see if there is an area where your skills would be a fit.
Membership Committee...
- collect content and edit monthly newsletter
- send welcome emails to new and renewing members
- help maintain distribution email lists
- assist at the welcome table once or twice a year
- collect information each month about upcoming local historical and genealogical events for the newsletter
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A Note from Programs and Education
The Bucks County Genealogical Society welcomed the New Year with a flurry of activity.
We kicked off January with an interesting program by former Director of the Michener Museum, Bruce Katsiff, who spoke to us about the identification of 19th Century photographic techniques. February should be equally informative as we welcome Carol M. Sheaffer and Nancy Nelson to present ideas for organizing our genealogical research.
I was also fortunate to attend the Historic & Genealogical Advisory Panel meeting on January 7 at the Bensalem Historical Society.
As always, I welcome any ideas you may have for future programs. Please contact me at programs@buckscountygenealogicalsociety.org
With tremendous help from Chris Roberts and my fellow board members, 2013 is shaping up to be a great year!
Jeff Sipler, Vice President, Programs and Education
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2013 Membership Dues are due January 1, 2013
Individual: $20 Dual/Household: $35
Help us continue to grow...your membership dues provide great speakers, a meeting place, a website and more!
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Historic & Genealogical Advisory Panel
Four of us attended the Historic & Genealogical Advisory Panel Meeting on Monday January 7, 2013. The meeting was initiated by Donald Petrille, Jr., Esquire, Bucks County Register of Wills and Clerk of the Orphan's Court to discuss the county's collection of public records. Other attendees included members of various local historical societies and the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania.
Don called the meeting to discuss his proposal for digitizing the public records of his office (which include wills, inventories, marriage records, inheritance tax records) and to have a research space in the current Bucks County building for genealogical and historical research. He has already requested this space in our current county building. (For those of you who do not reside in Bucks County, there is a new Justice Center being constructed in Doylestown, Bucks County. The current county building is the Bucks County Courthouse which will be used for various county offices when the Justice Center is completed.)
Don is asking for the support of the genealogical and historical organizations in the county. First, to make calls, email and snail mail our county supervisors, state representatives and state senators our support of Don's plan. Second, volunteering to index records, scan records and staff the research center. Third, naming what we would like to see in a research space.
At one point in the discussion, we addressed the early county records that are not in the possession of the county. Those records need to be identified - where are they, what are they, and how are they available.
We will keep you advised of any news and/or meetings of the Historic & Genealogical Advisory Panel.
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Inferential Genealogy
By Bonnie Wagner
My research over the last two years has involved what I call inferential genealogy research that has allowed me to push through a brick wall to identify an ancestor Jacob Shepherd as a Revolutionary War patriot.
I traced my mother's family tree back to Calvin Lewis Sheppard, born in May 1843 in Patrick County, Virginia. Finding his death certificate online at Ancestry.com, I identified his parents as Jimmie Sheppard and Betsy Dowdy. This confirmed Calvin's parents, birth date, and birth place.
When I searched for 1850 and 1860 U.S. census records listing Sheppard as head of household in Patrick County, Virginia, James Shepherd appeared in the both census, along with his spouse and children. The names of five of his twelve children were unique enough to confirm that I had located the correct records. The name Sheppard was spelled differently for the same family in various census records.
The name James Shepherd appeared in at least two of 30 land deeds from Stokes County, North Carolina, where the surname was spelled three different ways in the same document. This realization gave me another tool for online searches.
Knowing that the 1850 and 1860 U.S. Census records placed my ancestors in Patrick County, Virginia, I searched online for a local genealogical society of Patrick County, Virginia, and of Stokes County, North Carolina, where I knew my ancestors had settled.
With this one cold contact in Patrick County, I was introduced to a Sheppard descendant who had established an independent website for this family line. By invitation I joined this site to see gathered descendant trees and to share what I had. I am amazed that all twelve children of James Sheppard and Betsy Dowdy reached adulthood to produce yet another generation. My family tree had literally exploded, along with resources to draw on.
This Sheppard Family website included a file cabinet of descendant trees with citations. What a bonus I discovered in two-volume The Heritage of Patrick County, Virginia 1799 to 2005 compiled by The Patrick County Heritage Book Committee and County Heritage, Inc.
Each family history submitted by a local resident contained not only genealogy information but a glimpse into lives of the individuals. The bonus of these brief histories of resident families included contact information of a descendant. My network was expanding. I purchased both volumes and similar volumes for Stokes County, North Carolina, for my personal library.
James Sheppard (my spelling of choice) was married in 1821 in Bedford County, Virginia. My sister, who lives northwest of Richmond, Virginia, checked a nearby Family History Center for a marriage bond/license for James Sheppard. Marriage Bonds of American Quaker Genealogy, Bedford County had a listing for the marriage bond of James Shepherd and Betsy Dowdy, daughter of Hundley Dowdy. This confirmed the marriage bond issuance date and the marriage date. Betsy's father's name turned out to be a useful inferential fact.
Since James was married in Bedford County, Virginia, in 1821, I searched census records from that locality for his possible parents in the 1820 U.S. Census. Both a Jacob and a John Shepherd were listed as heads of household. Jacob was the only Shepherd with a son of marriage age. Since James married Betsy Dowdy, daughter of Hundley Dowdy, I also searched for and found a Hundley Dowdy nearby with a daughter of marriage age.
I look for public family trees that show sources or citations for data so that I can independently verify the information. One particular family tree listed a Joel, not a James, as a son of Jacob. However, the information carried a citation for Sons of the American Revolution application. The application listed Jacob Shepherd, born in 1760 in Pennsylvania, with a spouse and a son Joel.
Unfortunately this was not my James. Highly promising was a list of the documentation's supporting membership application including pension records, death certificates, family Bible records, and a will of Jacob Shepherd. I directed my efforts toward finding a Jacob Shepherd in Revolutionary War records. I found a wealth of information on HeritageQuest.com, including a summary page of service for Jacob listing his surviving children by name. The list included both a James and a Joel.
Furthermore, the text of the application included a note from an attorney who indicated that Jacob married a Mary Warner in Loudoun County, Virginia, in 1787 after his military service ended. The notation also indicated that they lived in Loudoun County until moving to Bedford County, Virginia, in 1800. This confirmed James's presence in the 1810 and 1820 U.S. censuses for Bedford County, Virginia. The bonus was that James was named as one of Jacob's surviving seven children. I followed up by locating Jacob's will, which stated that only one child, Thomas, inherited Jacob's farm -plantation. This was based on Jacob's written statement that Thomas would care for both him and his beloved Mary until their deaths.
By inferential reasoning I followed an investigative path to identify not only the parents but the siblings of James Shepherd, my ancestor. At that point, I had good documentation to support a membership application to the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). I can now confirm that the DAR approved my research, and I am now an active member of the DAR.
Reprinted by permission of the Silicon Valley Computer Genealogy Group. This article was published originally in the November 2012 issue of PastFinder newsletter.
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Top Genealogy Resolutions
 January is here, a time when we all think about turning over a new leaf, making some improvements in our lives, and planning for a productive and happy new year. You probably all have at least one genealogy resolution or goal in mind for 2013. Here are some suggestions to consider - perhaps you can check off a few this year! 1. Get organized The #1 Resolution for genealogists is to organize your stuff! If you are like me, you have stacks of papers in various piles all over the house. Perhaps you've even duplicated some research because you didn't remember you had already done it. Attend our February meeting to learn how to get back in control! 2. Interview Your Oldest Relatives This is one that you shouldn't put off until next year. The stories which the older generation can share are priceless, and time is limited! 3. Get that DNA Test If you have not done a DNA test on your older relatives, do it! Again, time is limited (see #2) 4. Cite Your Sources You probably know that your research is only as good as its source. Every time you add information to your database, you should get in the habit of adding its source. 5. Join a Genealogical Society Joining a genealogical society is your opportunity to share with others and also to give back to the genealogical community by volunteering. The more interest there is in our rewarding hobby, the more benefits to all of us. Don't forget to renew your membership in BCGS for 2013! 6. Scan Your Family Photos and Documents You are no doubt your family's archivist. By scanning family photos and documents, you are preserving these precious items, while at the same time making them more available to family members. 7. Learn a New Research Skill Even the most experienced of us can always learn something new. Investigate webinars, books, conferences, local events, and classes as ways to enhance your knowledge. 8. Start Keeping Research Logs Research logs can make a big difference in your efficiency. If you are researching more than a few ancestors, no one can remember all the places they have checked for an ancestor's record, or the documents they have already ordered. 9. Create a Plan to Break Down a Brick Wall We all have 'em. Sometimes it's easier to work on other lines, but maybe this is the year for you to really tackle that brick wall. Who knows, maybe you will get lucky! 10. Keep an Online Tree and Print a Hard Copy If you were to be hit by the proverbial bus this year, could someone else find your research? Putting your tree online, and printing a hard copy as well, ensures that someone will be able to find what you've done.
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Cemetery Project
Please help with our Cemetery Project! BCGS volunteers are completing Cemetery Assessment Forms for all 250 cemeteries in Bucks County. The goal of Phase I of the project is for BCGS to create a database with information about all cemeteries in the County, including location, year created, location of burial records and transcriptions, and contact information.
To volunteer, just choose one or more cemeteries from our website, and let us know your selection at projects@buckscountygenealogicalsociety.org. This project can be done remotely! The CAP Form and more information may be found here:
Thanks for your help!
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January 2013 Meeting
 President Chris Roberts welcomed close to 30 members and one guest to our first meeting of 2013 on January 5th. She introduced the new 2013 Board members, and spoke about accomplishments in 2012, and plans for the coming year. Bruce Katisiff, artist (and former CEO of the James A. Michener Art Museum) spoke about the history of photography, and how to determine the dates of our family photographs. There was a long line of members waiting to ask Mr. Katsiff to look at the photos they brought from home.
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QUERY FROM ARLENE MAUER
I need help finding information on two individuals named David KITCHIN (1700's) of Solebury, Bucks County:
1. David born about 1750 shows up on American Revolutionary records, tax records under single men and in land grants and wills. One history article on Bucks Co. said he never married.
2. David born about 1770 married Mary Hellender on 18 January 1790 in the presence of 18 witnesses according to "Marriages Docket of John Wilson, Esq. 1784 - 1805". No birth record has been located.
The two Davids are listed in the will of Esther Kitchin, Solebury Twp., July 8, 1809, proved Aug. 3, 1809. One is listed as David, Sr. Also, in early censuses two Davids are listed. I know they are two different men, and I just need to connect them together.
Any help would be most appreciated.
Arlene Mauer, Naples, FL researcher7@comcast.net
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QUERY FROM CAROL JACOBS NORWOOD
I inherited these two photographs. They were in a set of matching, handmade, antique frames. The frames/photos were found in the attic of a home my grandparents lived in during the late 1940's in Plumsteadville,Bucks County, PA. I have been told by Maureen Taylor, The Photo Detective, that the photos were most likely taken in the 1860's. Does anyone know the identifications of any of these people? Carol Jacobs Norwood, Myerstown, PA Email: norwoodcj@aol.com
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