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Meet up with us at Terasita Mexican Grill in New Hudson November 13th 2:00 PM We will be discussing: The Heretic's Daughter By: Kathleen Kent |
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The Heretic's Daughter
by Kathleen Kent
A courageous woman fights to survive the darkest days of the Salem Witch Trials in this heart-wrenching story of family love and sacrifice (USA Today). Salem, 1752. Sarah Carrier Chapman, weak with infirmity, writes a letter to her granddaughter that reveals the secret she has closely guarded for six decades: how she survived the Salem Witch Trials when her mother did not. Sarah's story begins more than a year before the trials, when she and her family arrive in a New England community already gripped by superstition and fear. As they witness neighbor pitted against neighbor, friend against friend, the hysteria escalates -- until more than two hundred men, women, and children have been swept into prison. Among them is Sarah's mother, Martha Carrier. In an attempt to protect her children, Martha asks Sarah to commit an act of heresy -- a lie that will most surely condemn Martha even as it will save her daughter. This is the story of Martha's courageous defiance and ultimate death, as told by the daughter who survived.
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 Join our Genealogy Round Table, where everyone is welcome! Whether you have family history finds to share, a research brick wall you need help with, or just want to listen and learn, your participation is valued. You never know when something you hear could lead to an "ah-ha!" moment. |
GENEALOGY ROUND TABLES FOR NOVEMBER!! AND Register by clicking on the dates above!
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From Dust to Data: How ILCD and ICD Codes Can Guide Genealogical Journeys
by Thomas Macentee
When we think about genealogy, our minds often go straight to the basics: names, dates, and locations that help us map out our family trees. But beyond the vital records and census entries lies a deeper layer of understanding-one that gives life to the challenges and experiences of our ancestors. Exploring health conditions and causes of death is an essential but often-overlooked dimension of family history research. These details, found in death certificates, obituaries, and coroner's reports, add depth and context to the lives of those who came before us. However, deciphering these records isn't always straightforward. The language of death certificates from decades or even centuries ago often reflects the medical knowledge, cultural norms, and idioms of the time. Terms like dropsy, consumption, or brain fever may leave us scratching our heads, wondering what modern conditions they correspond to. That's where the International List of Causes of Death (ILCD) and its successor, the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), come into play. These systems were developed to standardize how mortality data is recorded, making it easier to understand and compare across different periods and regions. This book bridges the gap between these medical classification systems and the practical needs of genealogists. Whether you're a novice researcher or a seasoned pro, you'll find guidance here for interpreting the ILCD and ICD codes often found in older death records. These codes, once an enigma, are now valuable tools for understanding the health history of your ancestors and their communities. Start by diving into the history of mortality classification systems, tracing their evolution from the 19th-century Bertillon Classification to today's ICD framework. Along the way, you'll learn how these systems shaped public health practices, improved medial knowledge, and enabled researchers to track global disease trends. Next, focus on the practical side of genealogy. You'll discover how to locate death records, decipher the codes and terminology they contain, and navigate the changes in disease names over time. We'll also explore the cultural and geographic contexts that influenced which classification systems were used in different places and eras. To make this process even more accessible, the book includes a comprehensive reference section. Here, you'll find all of the ILCD and ICD revisions, key details about editions, and guidance on accessing these resources online. Also included are real-world case studies to illustrate how genealogists can use these tools to uncover stories hidden within cryptic death records. Of course, exploring the health histories of our ancestors comes with its own set of ethical considerations. We'll discuss how to handle sensitive discoveries with care and respect, ensuring that your family narratives honor both the privacy and dignity of those who came before you. The goal of this book is simple: to empower you to move beyond the basics of genealogy and uncover a richer, more human understanding of your family's past. By decoding the language of mortality, you'll not only gain insights into the challenges your ancestors faced but also create a more complete and compassionate picture of their lives. With the right tools and a little determination, you'll uncover stories that connect you more deeply to your family's history and, perhaps, to yourself.
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AI and Genealogy: A Practical Guide to Summarizing, Transcribing, and Translating Historical Documents
by Thomas Macentee
Genealogical research has always called for a deep dive into a wide array of historical resources-everything from centuries-old marriage registers and immigration documents to handwritten diaries and newspaper clippings that capture the rhythm of our ancestors' daily lives. And let's be honest: it wasn't that long ago that we, as researchers, had to wade through every line ourselves, painstakingly summarizing, transcribing, and, in some cases, translating these materials with nothing but our own eyes, our own expertise, and a whole lot of patience. But things have changed-and in a big way. Thanks to cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence (AI), genealogists now have powerful new tools at their fingertips. These advanced language models can take your family documents-no matter how large, how old, or how challenging to read-and deliver concise summaries, transcriptions, and translations with impressive accuracy. From hobbyist family historians to seasoned professionals, this technology can truly turbocharge your workflow and open up new research frontiers. This book is here to help you cut through the hype and get right to the heart of what AI can do for your genealogy projects. We'll explore how these new tools work, walk you through today's best AI platforms, and lay out clear, practical strategies so you can quickly start applying them to your own research. Bottom line? If you use AI intelligently and ethically, you'll unlock new possibilities in your genealogy work that you might never have dreamed possible.
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Can I Use That In My Genealogy? A Guide to Copyright and Family History Research
by Thomas Macentee
Genealogy isn't just about gathering names, dates, and places-it's about digging into stories, photos, documents, and everything else that helps us really understand our ancestors and where we come from. With the internet and all the digital tools out there now, it's easier than ever to uncover records, share them with others, and piece together our family histories. Online databases, social media groups, and specialized genealogy sites have opened up a whole world of information that used to stay hidden in old boxes or tucked away in archives. But this easy access to historical resources brings its own set of challenges when it comes to copyright, privacy, and who actually owns that information. Scans or transcriptions of historical documents could still be under copyright, even if they're easy to find online, and new compilations-like indexes, digitized files, or annotated family trees-often come with fresh copyright claims from their creators. That means we genealogists have to be mindful of all the legal rights and interests held by researchers, family members, libraries, and big companies. And this isn't just an abstract worry: using someone else's work without permission or fair use could lead to copyright infringement, takedown notices, or other legal hassles-definitely not what you want when you're trying to collaborate and share info with others in the genealogy community. Plus, privacy matters can overlap with copyright issues when dealing with living people's data or rules like the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). This guide will help you navigate this tangled web of genealogy and intellectual property law. We'll go over the basics of copyright, break down the typical scenarios you're likely to encounter while researching and sharing family history, and give you best practices for staying on the right side of the law and ethical standards. We'll also cover some international guidelines (especially in the EU, Canada, and the UK) and provide handy tools-like example permission letters and links to official agencies. With this advice, you can dive into your genealogical projects confidently, respecting everyone's rights and preserving the integrity of the field.
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The Big Book of Genealogy Lists
by Thomas Macentee
Welcome to The Big Book of Genealogy Lists, your essential companion to navigating the often mysterious world of historical documents and family records. Whether you're a seasoned genealogist or someone just beginning to explore your family roots, you've likely encountered puzzling abbreviations, archaic terms, or unfamiliar spellings that can stall your progress. This book is designed to empower you with a convenient collection of reference lists that will transform your research from frustrating to fascinating. As you delve into old census schedules, deeds, court papers, city directories, and weathered headstones, you'll run across symbols and language that reflect the culture and realities of bygone eras. You may uncover Latin phrases in legal documents, decode city directory abbreviations for occupations that no longer exist, or interpret curious medical causes of death that appear archaic to modern eyes. This is where The Big Book of Genealogy Lists becomes an invaluable tool-each curated list helps you break through these linguistic barriers, bringing clarity and context to your discoveries.Inside these pages, you'll find: Common Abbreviations & Acronyms used by clerks, census takers, and record-keepers, ensuring you don't miss critical details in your ancestors' files.Land & Legal Terminology that can make deciphering deeds, wills, and property records less daunting.Spelling & Phonetic Substitutions, revealing how names and words evolved across regions and generations.City Directory Abbreviations, a treasure trove of insight for locating family members in cities as well as towns settings.Archaic Medical Terms & Professions, shining light on the health issues and occupations that influenced your ancestors' daily lives.Cemetery Iconography, so you can interpret the symbols and motifs engraved on headstones, adding richness to your family narrative.Nicknames & First Name Abbreviations, a key to recognizing those missing relatives who appear under a completely different name in official documents.Occupation Abbreviations, revealing trades and careers that can help you trace a family member's trajectory through time.A Research Checklist, designed to keep your genealogical journey structured and methodical so no stone goes unturned.By making sense of these historical quirks, you can piece together the stories that paint a more complete portrait of your ancestors' lives. Every entry-whether it's a cryptic 19th-century job title or a strange abbreviation for a disease-carries important clues about the people and communities that shaped your family's heritage. I hope these lists give you the confidence to interpret primary sources accurately and open doors to fresh insights. Embark on this journey with curiosity and patience. As you explore the pages ahead, you'll unlock nuances in the records that might otherwise remain hidden. The Big Book of Genealogy Lists offers both a quick reference and a deeper understanding, ensuring that every discovery brings you closer to the past and enriches your family story.
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