Friday 22 March 2013

Knock Knock Who's There?




What's in a name?


Quite a lot if it brings your ancestral search to a screeching halt because the name was never etched on the gravestone.


While there could be any number of reasons for the omission, it's most likely due to a cost factor, especially during depression years. Certainly, it's cheaper to re-open a grave than to buy a new plot and stone. Plus, with no existing law about stone markings even more money was saved by leaving it blank.


In the grave featured above, several more people are buried here than engraved on the stone. Also resting here is a one year old boy that the family tree researcher had no idea existed since he was too young to be captured on a census. It was the search for his father's missing burial site that lead to the discovery of little Alexander.


What does it all mean? It means that gravestone transcribers, who rely on stone markings, have nothing to write down. No data to digitise. And empty databases means no online search results.


So, if your search for an ancestral grave has hit a brick wall, this might be the reason why. To find your answer, select the grave of a near-relative to the elusive deceased, say spouse or parents, and ask the cemetery administrator to look up the original grave ledger which shows all of the names of the interred and dates buried.


You never know. Perhaps you'll find a lost soul now happy to be reunited with family or a small child that time forgot.




website http://www.savegraves.com/

email savegraves@gmail.com.

Tuesday 5 March 2013

Genealogical Jaunt Through the Past



Gene-Tripper


Imagine standing on the front stoop of your ancestral  'thatchie'.  Or perhaps they lived in a castle.   Envision yourself walking through the crumbling ruins of  the churchyard where your great-great-great-great grandmother is buried.  Fancy finishing off the day with a pint of Guinness and some foot-stomping fiddle and banjo music in the same untouched-by-time local pub where your ancestors socialized!

If you've traced your ancestral roots to Ireland, this is a great year to combine your ancestral jaunt with a visit to Ireland.  The Gathering Ireland 2013 promises good times as Ireland celebrates its history, culture and all things Irish.  There's more to Ireland than just St. Patrick's Day.

The Gathering Ireland 2013  http://www.thegatheringireland.com/About.aspx#.UTYGCKLFVlw

Solid planning makes for a successful  better holiday. These sites offer a treasure trove of research advice, travel tips and lots of interesting information on being Irish. There's a message board you check out. Perhaps unknown distant family members are looking for you!  http://www.irelandxo.com/user

National Archives http://www.nationalarchives.ie/
National  Library  http://www.nli.ie/
Irish Genealogy http://www.irishgenealogy.ie/
Irish Family History - Roots Ireland http://www.rootsireland.ie/

Of course, one must make every effort to stop in Dublin for a visit the holy grail of ancestry, The Guinness Storehouse!   http://www.guinness-storehouse.com/en/Inside.aspx.  Imagine talking about your exciting day of exploring over a pint in their glass-walled pub in the sky!

So get your genealogy jaunt off and running with this Trip Advisor page tailored to The Gathering Ireland 2013.

http://www.tripadvisor.ca/ShowTopic-g186591-i88-k5766882-Visiting_next_year_The_Gathering_Ireland_2013-Ireland.html


website savegraves.com
email  savegraves@gmail.com
twitter  twitter.com/Savegraves1












Monday 4 March 2013

Do you know who I am?


I'm lost. Can you help me find my family?

Is their anything sadder than finding a stash of old family photos with no clue as to who they are?  And everyone who could unlock the secrets is long gone?

Don't let your ancestors end up in an orphan bin at the flea market.  Host a Family Photo night.  Invite your parents, grandparents and any other 'elders' who can tell you about the pictures and family history stories.  Tell them to bring their pictures and have the scanner ready!

Pick their brains before it's too late.

The woman in this picture is all dressed up but no place to go.  Nothing written on the back.  No idea who she is.  She ended up at a garage sale.

If you have orphan pictures you'd like posted to our Lost Souls page on our site, email them to us with any details you have.  Who knows?  Maybe someone will recognize it.


website savegraves.comemail   savegraves@gmail.comtwitter twitter.com/Savegraves1