It's time to decide what my genealogy goals are in the new year. This is more difficult than previous years, because I had the same goal from year to year. Ever since I broke through my nearest brick wall, I spent 2020 a little "scattered," for lack of a better term. However, I did make excellent ...
Blog
2020 In Review
I think every year-end blog post or card or family newsletter is going to start with, "What a year!" We say that every year, though, don't we? At the end of most years, I tend to be optimistic and set goals for the new year. Last year, however, I said, "Same shit, different year." So I guess I'd ...
Gratitude: 2020 Edition
It's been a hell of a year for most people and I am well-aware that we lucked out in our household. We have a roof over our heads, income, food, and the ability to meet our needs. Not everyone can say that. There are certainly things we've personally lost, not to mention the greater losses that ...
Census Research
Censuses are the first records most people look at when getting started with family history, and with good reason. Censuses are widely available records that give us a snapshot of an individual, couple, or family every ten years or so. The types and frequency of censuses vary by country, state, and ...
Unexpected Southern Ancestors
As one works their way up my family tree, they will mostly find New England ancestors. I grew up on the south shore of Massachusetts in Plymouth County, and so did the majority of my ancestors. Though some of them were scattered throughout Massachusetts and other New England states, all lines ...
My Ancestor, the Lighthouse Keeper
My great-great-great grandfather, William W. Winsor, has been a bit of a mystery. He was the son of a Duxbury, Massachusetts inn-keeper, John Winsor (who shared grog with the likes of Daniel Webster and Henry Thoreau). William's birth and marriage are documented in Duxbury, however he disappeared ...