Crowe’s Nest by Elizabeth Powell Crowe

New indexing projects added this week are:

·         Argentina, Buenos Aires—1855 Censo [Parte 2]

·         Canada, Ontario, Toronto—Trust Cemeteries, 1826–1935(Partnered with Ontario Genealogical Society—Toronto Branch)

·         U.S., Maine—1920 Federal Census

·         U.S., New York—1920 Federal Census

Volunteers can help with these projects at FamilySearchIndexing.org.

(See the chart below for a complete list and current status of all indexing projects.)

Recently Completed Projects

(Note: Recently completed projects have been removed from the available online indexing batches and will now go through a final completion check process in preparation for future publication.)

·         Argentina, Mendoza, San Juan—Censo 1869

·         Guatemala, Guatemala—Censo de 1877

·         U.S., Kentucky—1920 Federal Census

·         U.S., Indiana—1920 Federal Census

·         U.S., Vermont—Militia Records, 1861–1867

Current FamilySearch Indexing Projects, Record Language, and Percent Completion

(*Percentage refers to a specific portion of a larger project.)

Current FamilySearch Partner Projects, Record Language, and Percent Completion

(*Percentage refers to a specific portion of a larger project.)

About FamilySearch

FamilySearch International is the largest genealogy organization in the world. Millions of people use FamilySearch records, resources, and services to learn more about their family history. To help in this great pursuit, FamilySearch has been actively gathering, preserving, and sharing genealogical records worldwide for over 100 years. FamilySearch is a nonprofit organization sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Patrons may access FamilySearch services and resources free online at FamilySearch.org or through over 4,600 family history centers in 132 countries, including the main Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Washington, DC…The National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC), the grant making arm of the National Archives, in partnership with Documents Compass at the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities, is pleased to announce 5,000 previously unpublished documents from our nation’s founders are now online through Rotunda, the digital imprint of The University of Virginia Press.The ROTUNDA Founders Early Access project (http://rotunda.upress.virginia.edu:8080/founders/FOEA.html) makes available for the first time letters and other papers penned by important figures such as James Madison, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson. The Founders Early Access portion of the site allows users to read, search, and browse the newly transcribed documents, and is available at no cost to users. In 2008, Congress urged the National Archives to investigate ways to make the Founders Papers more readily available to historians, scholars, and the general public at no cost to researchers. As long-time funders of the print editions of the Founding Fathers documentary projects, the NHPRC worked with the editorial teams and supported a pilot demonstration project through Documents Compass, a nonprofit organization designed to assist in the digital production of historical documentary editions.Over the past ten months, the pilot has transcribed and completed basic transcription verification for roughly 5,000 documents. These transcriptions will be fully verified, and the editorial teams will provide explanatory annotation as they proceed with their work. Each completed volume of a documentary edition contains roughly 500 documents and provides notations that identify historical figures and events to shed light on the papers’ meaning and significance.“There is much to discover here,” said Penelope Kaiserlian, director of the Press. “Take a look, for example, at Thomas Jefferson’s letter to James Madison on August 30, 1823, when the elderly Jefferson contests the memory of 88-year-old John Adams regarding the creation of the Declaration of Independence. Historians will already know this letter, but now anyone can easily find this readable version.”“This is an important stage in the process,” said Kathleen Williams, Executive Director of the NHPRC. “We have been looking for ways to help the public gain access to these documents sooner and to assist the editorial projects in completing the comprehensive documentary editions. This work advances those goals.” The Founders historical documentary editions include the papers of George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison, as well as the Documentary History of the Ratification of the U.S. Constitution, the first Federal Congress, and the first Supreme Court. Rotunda is publishing digital editions of some of these publications in its American Founding Era Collection.“Generations of scholars, historians, and teachers will use these documents to tell the American story from its grand beginnings,” added Williams. “We will look back in wonder at the effort of countless scholars to create this work, a national monument to the founding of our nation. Transcribing documents and publishing them online at an early stage makes more of this treasure available sooner, and we look forward to the day when the entire collection is fully annotated and complete.”

Ancestry.com Allows Americans to Investigate for Themselves, ‘What Really Happened to Amelia Earhart’PROVO, UT–(Marketwire – October 23, 2009) -

There are multiple theories surrounding the mysterious disappearance of iconic aviator Amelia Earhart in 1937, but a unique case file published online for the first time ever by Ancestry.com reveals more details. Ancestry.com, the world’s largest online resource for family history, has published a 73-page file consisting of letters and telegrams sent in the 1960s by an interesting cast of historical characters, including Congressman J. Arthur Younger, U.S. Ambassador to Japan Douglas MacArthur II and members of the U.S. Navy and U.S. Department of State. Now accessible for free on Ancestry.com, the records give the public a first-hand view of the investigation into the claim that Earhart and her navigator Fred Noonan were taken prisoner and executed in Saipan (then governed by Japan). Through the years, this adaptation of Earhart’s death has become one of many theories surrounding her mystery-riddled disappearance.“These records leave you wondering if historians and Hollywood have gotten Amelia’s story right,” said Quinton Atkinson, director of content acquisition for Ancestry.com. “They shed light on a theory of her disappearance that has all but been brushed aside. “In the records, Congressman Younger asks the U.S. Department of State to look into Earhart’s disappearance based on “increasing evidence that she did land and was executed in Saipan.” Younger asked the department to investigate a lead by Thomas E. Devine, who stated that “he actually saw the grave of Amelia Earhart” while he was stationed in Saipan. “It’s been more than 70 years, yet Amelia’s disappearance remains one of America’s greatest unsolved mysteries,” said Atkinson. “These files are a great representation of how historical records offer clues to our past. With records like these now accessible online, Americans can delve deeper into the mysteries and lore that shroud their family histories.”The Earhart file is part of the Reports of Deaths of American Citizens Abroad collection on Ancestry.com, now searchable for free for a limited time. Digitized in conjunction with the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), this Reports of Deaths of American Citizens Abroad collection spans the 1960s and 1970s and comprises more than 80,000 records of Americans who died abroad.Whether a conspiracy theorist, a casual historian or simply curious — learn more about the investigation into Amelia Earhart’s disappearance and decide for yourself what happened by visiting www.ancestry.com/amelia. Or see if you have a hero in your own family tree on Ancestry.com.

About Ancestry.com

WorldVitalRecords.com, an online family history resource, and Footnote.com, the premier history website for original content, today announced a joint partnership enabling family historians, academic researchers and others free online search access to comprehensive indexes of the 1860 and 1930 United States Federal Census records.”We are committed to enhance our search capabilities while expanding online databases available to those searching the Internet for family history,” said Jim Ericson, WorldVitalRecords.com vice president of marketing. “This partnership allows people to thoroughly research the massive indexes of these two US Federal Census collections in just moments.”Researchers who identify possible relatives in the indexes may subscribe to Footnote.com and access additional content on its interactive 1860 and 1930 Census records. They can also create a unique interactive experience by contributing their own family photos, documents and stories and attaching them to the names on the census.The 1860 US Census includes individuals enumerated in the 1860 United States Federal Census, the ninth census of the United States. Details include names, age at last birthday, sex, color, birthplace, occupation, and more. However, relationships between members of a household are not included.The 1930 US Census includes names of approximately 123 million Americans. It is the largest and most recent census available for public access. Details include information about a household’s family members and occupants including birthplaces, occupations, immigration, citizenship, and military service.”Users of WorldVitalRecords.com and its databases will be a tremendous asset in furthering the social aspect of Footnote,” said Russ Wilding, Footnote CEO. “Our companies both support a community of people who are passionate about a variety of topics relating to family history, so it is a great fit.FamilyLink.com, Inc. restores online access to PaperofRecord.com, a popular database of historical newspaper content, through a subscription product offered exclusively to academic institutionsFamilyLink.com has returned a popular database of historical newspaper content in its entirety to the Internet. Paper of Record (POR), removed from the Internet earlier this year when the database’s ownership changed and its content was updated, is now back online as Paper of Record Institutional Subscription, available to universities, colleges, libraries and other academic research groups.The treasured POR collection includes 523 newspapers, the earliest of which goes back to 1778, and images from approximately 4.5 million periodical issues. The newspaper content originated in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Australia and is highly valued by genealogists, historians and academic researchers.”Most of the content featured in POR is not available anywhere else online, so FamilyLink.com sought to provide libraries, schools and other research groups restored access to the original POR database,” said Steve Nickle, president of FamilyLink.com, Inc. “This newspaper content is instrumental in helping families members connect with the history of their loved ones, and provides researchers with a wealth of poignant stories and historical recollections preserved in these marvelous papers.”A user-friendly interface and search engine enables users to browse newspaper content by date and title, as well as limit searches by periodicals and dates. The search experience is improved to provide an unparalleled experience. The Paper of Record Institutional Subscription also includes a comprehensive index of archived newspaper content.”PaperofRecord.com is a trusted source of academic material, who’s ease of navigation has stood the test of time since its beginnings in 2001,” said R.J. (Bob) Huggins, founder of PaperofRecord, Inc. “The genealogical and academic communities are ecstatic that this newspaper database is once again available for in-depth research.”Also included in the Paper of Record Institutional Subscription is exclusive access to the Sporting News, featuring digitized access to the former St. Louis publication. The “Bible of Baseball” is America’s definitive source of all things baseball since its beginnings in 1892. The Sporting News is not found on any other online sites. The Sporting News historical archive has spawned over 30 books on the history of baseball and helped academics reach information in a timely and orderly manner.Annual cost of institutional subscriptions will vary depending on the size of the purchasing institution. To learn more or to purchase a Paper of Record Institutional Subscription, call our toll free number at 1-888-377-0588.Individuals can purchase an online subscription to select Paper of Record resources through World Vital Records. To learn more about subscribing to individual access and to view an alphabetized list of POR newspapers included, visit WorldVitalRecords.comGenealogical Publishing CompanyGenealogical.com publishes genealogy books and CDs. Whether you are just beginning to explore your family tree or are an experienced researcher looking for in-depth genealogy data, Genealogical.com can provide you with the resources you need. We publish over 2,000 genealogy books and compact discs featuring colonial genealogy, Irish genealogy, immigration, royal ancestry, family history, and genealogy methods and sources. Genealogical.com is the online home of Genealogical Publishing Company, Clearfield Company, and Gateway Press. Search our genealogy books by title, author or keyword phrase or browse our genealogy book sale.Sims Index to Land Grants in West Virginia (available 9/23/2009)Land records comprise one of the most important sources for early American genealogical research, since sometimes they are the only records that can place an individual in a particular place at a particular time. For this reason, Sims Index to Land Grants in West Virginia is an essential resource for anyone researching their early Virginia/West Virginia ancestors. A comprehensive guide to pre-1900 land records in West Virginia (which until 1863 was part of the Commonwealth of Virginia), the Sims Index lists land grants that were made by Lord Fairfax prior to the creation of the Virginia Land Office in 1779, as well as those issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia for land now located in West Virginia, and by the State of West Virginia under its first Constitution.The information contained in this exhaustive compilation was compiled by Edgar Sims, the State Auditor of West Virginia, from copies of land grants filed in his office. More than 50,000 entries are included, each containing the name of the grantee, amount of acreage, location and date of grant, and the grant book and page numbers. Sims meticulously examined each record to ensure that the spellings of the names of grantees, location, and descriptions of tracts were accurate, and that any variations of spellings of grantees’ names were also indexed or noted. Records are listed for Barbour, Berkeley, Boone, Braxton, Brooke, Cabell, Calhoun, Clay, Doddridge, Fayette, Gilmer, Grant, Greenbrier, Hampshire, Hancock, Hardy, Harrison, Jackson, Jefferson, Kanawha, Lewis, Logan, Marion, Marshall, Mason, McDowell, Mercer, Monongalia, Monroe, Morgan, Nicholas, Ohio, Pendleton, Pleasants, Pocahontas, Preston, Putnam, Raleigh, Randolph, Ritchie, Roane, Taylor, Tucker, Tyler, Uphur, Wayne, Webster, Wetzel, Wirt, Wood, and Wyoming counties, West Virginia, as well as for the portions of Augusta, Bath, Botetourt, Frederick, Montgomery, Russell, Tazewell, and Wythe counties, Virginia, that were used in the formation of West Virginia.In a great many cases the land grants indexed here pre-date the earliest extant census records or supplement existing census records, and are thus indispensable for finding individuals who lived in the area that later became West VirginiaSketches of Prominent Tennesseans (available 9/23/2009) Free for Ten Days!”I had a native ambition to rise from obscurity and make myself useful in the world, to shine and be distinguished.” So said the Hon. Neil S. Brown, one of the 259 prominent 19th-century Tennesseans profiled in this extraordinary book. It is this kind of unique first-hand biographical information that makes Sketches of Prominent Tennesseans unequaled in the canon of Tennessee genealogical literature. Not only did compiler William S. Speer have the unparalleled opportunity to interview a number of the featured Tennesseans himself, he also was able to garner–and include in this book–thousands and thousands of names of their family members, friends, and colleagues.The biographical sketches include numerous details about the lives of the subjects and their families. In addition, the compiler offers insight into the personal, professional, and sometimes even physical characteristics that made each of these men a success. Surnames featured include Anderson, Arrington, Atkins, Atlee, Baptist, Barrett, Bartlett, Bate, Baxter, Bearden, Bibb, Black, Blankenship, Boynton, Bradford, Briggs, Brockway, Brown, Buchanan, Buist, Burney, Burns, Burrus, Butler, Callender, Campbell, Chester, Childress, Clapp, Clift, Coldwell, Cole, Conner, Cooper, Cowan, Craft, Cullom, Dake, Dashiell, Deaderick, DeWitt, Dibrell, Dickens, Dodd, East, Elder, Elliott, Erskine, Estes, Evans, Eve, Ewing, Fain, Fentress, Ferriss, Fleming, Folsom, Foote, Foster, Frayser, Freeman, Frierson, Frizzell, Fulkerson, Gantt, Gaines, Gallaway, Gardenhire, Gaut, Gibson, Glass, Godwin, Golliday, Goodbar, Grant, Graves, Green, Greer, Hadden, Hall, Haller, Harding, Hardwick, Harrell, Harris, Harrison, Haynes, eiskell, Henderson, Henning, Hill, Holman, Holmes, Houk, House, Howell, Hughes, Humes Ingersoll, Jackson, Jones, Jordan, Keating, Kennedy, Key, Killebrew, King, Kyle, Larkin, Latta, Lea, Ledgerwood, Lidsley, Lipscomb, Livingston, Looney, Long, McAdoo, McBride, McConnell, McDowell, McFarland, McFerrin, McGuire, McMurray, McNeal, McTyeire, McWhirter, Maddin, Marchbanks, Marks, Martin, Mathes, Maruy, Meek, Menees, Mitchell, Morgan, Moore, Mumford, Muse, Neal, Neely, Neilson, Nelson, Netherland, Nichol, Nichols, Nicholson, Overton, Paine, Palmer, Patterson, Pettibone, Phillips, Pitman, Plunket, Porter, Quarles, Rambaut, Randolph, Reid, Richardson, Roberts, Robison, Rodgers, Rose, Safford, Sanford, Saunders, Scobey, Sears, Senter, Shearer, Sheppard, Shields, Simonton, Smith, Smitheal, Smithson, Staley, Stark, Stephens, Stewart, Stockell, Stokes, Tarver, Taylor, Temple, Thompson, Thomas, Thornburgh, Thornton, Thurman, Tinnon, Trewhitt, Trousdale, Turley, Turney, Ussery, Vance, Van Deman, Van Dyke, Vertrees, Wade, Ward, Warder, Watson, White, Shitthorne, Wilder, Williamson, Wilson, Wood, Woods, Wright, and Young.Royal Families: Americans of Royal and Noble Ancestry. Volume 2 (available 9/23/2009)Anne (Marbury) Hutchinson, declared among some in her seventeenth-century world as a religious “heretic,” defied many of the most powerful men in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, including Governor Thomas Dudley, in defense of her strong beliefs. She endured a “trial by fire,” without benefit of a jury of her peers, in a highly charged court where these men challenged and mocked her views on religion. Her banishment from Salem and Boston drove her to a new colony called Rhode Island, which her mentor and friend Roger Williams co-founded. Thousands of Americans can claim the Marbury family’s lineal connections to their royal and noble ancestry, from William the Conqueror through Edward I. These ancestors include John, King of England, who signed the Magna Carta in 1215 at Runnymede, as well as many of the barons who witnessed his signature on that famous document. All later kinds of Spain, Holy Roman and Austrian emperors, most later English and French kinds, all kings of Prussia and Russian czars, beginning with Alexander I, are distant cousins as well.This volume is the second in a projected multi-volume series dealing with Americans of royal and noble ancestry. Taking the colonial period as a point of departure, it focuses on two of Reverend Francis Marbury’s daughters, Anne and Katherine, who immigrated with their husbands to the New World in the 1630s. It covers the first five generations of their descendants, carrying the various lines up to and beyond the Revolutionary War, into the sixth generation. The generational layout of the work follows a modified format of the New England Historical and Genealogical Register, with citations for all five generations based exclusively on vital records and approved family histories.In addition, the author appended a “Lineage Society Index” with names of eligible ancestors in a number of hereditary societies, including the Colonial Clergy, Colonial Governors, Mayflower Descendants, and Revolutionary War Patriots.Subscribe today to access these and the 12,000 databases that WorldVitalRecords offers. You can subscribe through our website at www.worldvitalrecords.com or by calling us at 1-888-377-0588.