RAOGK is Down Indefinitely

So you may have noticed that the website for Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness (better known as RAOGK) has been down for a bit now. This site has, for the past eleven years, connected genealogists with volunteers who took the time to look up ancestral records and obituaries, and take tombstone photos. According to the website's administrator, a combination of the owner's health condition and computer problems, the site will be offline indefinitely.

Prayers are being sent to the administrator, in hopes that her health condition improves, and I look forward to seeing RAOGK up and running again in the near future!

My Adventures as a Freelance Genealogy Writer

After spending several years writing articles - some of a genealogical nature, some not - for various Internet publications (some can be checked out on my professional genealogy website), I found the courage to submit an article to an in-print genealogy magazine, Family Chronicle. And guess what...

THEY ACCEPTED!

While they could not promise me a publication date, they are shooting for putting my article in the Jan/Feb 2012 issue. So be on the lookout for it! :)

Thankful Thursday: Virtual Cemeteries

One of the greatest online, genealogy resources I have come across is Find A Grave, a virtual cemetery where users can post memorials for their loved ones and ancestors. Thanks to the many volunteers who work tirelessly to walk cemeteries, taking careful transcriptions and photos of tombstones. also a super huge thank you to the volunteers who have gone out of their way to photograph a tombstone that I have not been able to personally visit. I appreciate all of your work!

Other Virtual Cemeteries:

Interment.net

Genealogy.com's Virtual Cemetery

World Wide Cemetery

Tombstone Tuesday: John McKillop

John McKillop
b. 15 Apr 1861 in Ireland
d. 15 Jun 1897 in Danville, Vermont
buried in the Mount Calvary Cemetery in St. Johnsbury, Vermont.

His parents were James McKillop and Margaret Leslie. He immigrated to America from Ireland with his parents, sisters, Rose, Mary Ann and Margaret McKillop, and Roses boyfriend/fiancée, James Gamble, probably in 1883.

American Civil War Genealogy Blog Challenge

I am a day late at posting this, but better late than never. Right?

Bill West, of the West in New England, provided a blogging prompt entitled the American Civil War Genealogy Blog Challenge Here is a little bit about my Civil War ancestors.

I actually have two direct ancestors that fought during the Civil War. Through them, I was able to gain membership as a Daughter of Union Veterans of the Civil War,1861-1865.

My 3rd great-grandfather, George Andrew Holcomb, of Panton, Vermont was a Private in company B of the 11th Vermont Infantry. His enlistment date was 17 Jul 1862 and he was mustered out on 24 Jun 1865.

My 2nd great-grandfather, Edward Balaw (Bailaw, Beland), of Peacham, Vermont was a Private in Company L of the 9th Vermont Infantry. His enlistment date was 09 Jun 1862 and he was discharged on 13 Jul 1965.

Edward's brothers, Simeon, Alexander, Joseph and William, also fought during the Civil War. Joseph was wounded at Petersburg, Virginia on 25 Mar 1865 and died on 04 Apr 1865. He buried in the Arlington National Cemetery.

National Genealogy Day

Today (March 12) is Genealogy Day, a nationally recognized day to research your family's history and heritage. I wish I had the time to sit down and do some of my own genealogy today, but I have about a hundred things to do, and none of them involve family research. Instead, I put together a list of some of my favorite blog posts regarding my personally genealogy, as well as a list of articles I have written to help you in your own family history research pursuits.

My Favorite Blog Posts

The Second Great American Local Poem And Song Genealogy Challenge (October 15, 2010) A poem written by my great-grandmother, Elizabeth (Beard) Baker

Gamble/McKillop Irish Immigrants (October 16,2010) Help me solve the mystery of this elusive family.

From Hobby to Business: My Great-Grandfather's Talent for Woodworking (November 7, 2010)

Those Places Thursday: Panton, Vermont (November 25, 2010)

Articles to Help You With Your Genealogy
These articles have all been written by me

Beginning Genealogy

Free Genealogy Websites

More Free Genealogy Websites

Types of Genealogy Charts

Breaking Down Genealogical Walls with Cluster Research

Variations in Surname Spellings

Using Cemeteries to Conduct Genealogical Research (PDF)

Glossary of Genealogy Terms

African American Genealogy

Hiring a Professional Genealogist

Follow Friday: Vermont Irish

OK, this is an older posting, but one that caught my interest immediately. In October of 2009, Michael Brophey, a genealogist from Massachusetts and owner of Brophy's Irish Genealogy blog, published a post about Vincent E. Feeney's book, entitled "Finnigans, Slaters and Stonepeggers: A History of the Irish in Vermont," a book that discusses Vermont Irish immigrants.

As a descendant of Irish immigrants, I am excited to have discovered this book. One of my questions has been how my Irish ancestors lived and why they came here. Perhaps I can get some clues within the pages of this book.

Anyways, my follow friday recommendation this week is Michael Brophey's post, Vermont Irish.