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title: The Weekly Genealogist, December 14, 2022
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Weekly news about genealogy and history, databases, educational resources, and more from American Ancestors/NEHGS.

| View in browser     December 14, 2022   Read Past Issues   Feedback? Email Us   Recently on Vita Brevis Boston Roots in the Keweenaw Peninsula   In a remote part of northern Michigan, the town of Calumet was once known as a "Boston town." Landmarks and streets still bear reminders of the Boston Brahmins who built them. Read More   The Weekly Genealogist Survey This Week's Survey: How Many Print Books Are in Your Genealogical Library? Take the Survey Now Share your thoughts about the survey at weeklygenealogist@nehgs.org. Responses may be edited for clarity and length and featured in a future newsletter.       Last Week's Survey: Were You Named After an Ancestor or Family Member?   Total: 5,030 Responses 54%, Yes, I was named for an ancestor. 14%, Yes, I was named for a relative who was not an ancestor. 2%, I am not sure if I was named for a family member. 33%, No, I was not named for a family member. 37%, I named a child (or children) after a family member. Readers Respond   John Boeren, Tilburg, The Netherlands: In the Netherlands we have a longstanding tradition of naming the first son after his paternal grandfather. So, my first name is Johannes. A Latin name, since I am from a Roman Catholic family. My second Latin name is Adrianus, after my maternal grandfather. And my third Latin name is Henricus, after my father. Thus, I am named after three ancestors!   Peg Werner, Fergus Falls, Minnesota: My middle name is Jo, after my great-grandmother, Emma Josephine. I named my daughter Jenny Jo, and my son named his daughter Emilia Jo. My first name, however, comes from my mother's favorite dog. My mother insisted it was a high honor, but my brother always replied "Mom, a dog is a dog."   Bernice Gleason, Deltona, Florida: I was named for my paternal grandmother, Bernice, and my maternal great-grandmother, Azalia. My parents didn’t consider the consequences of pairing those names with a last name beginning with “G.”   James Allen Rogers, Centennial, Colorado: I was named after my step-grandfather, James Alvin Stewart. As an adult, I learned James was a scoundrel. In 1922, he tried to shoot his wife but ended up crippling his mother-in-law, who tried to protect her daughter. He even shot their pet dog. A jury found him innocent, and he got his revolver back the day after the trial. If that’s not bad enough, he was still married to the first wife when he married my grandmother! I seriously thought for a while about changing my name.   Joanne Drummond, New Orleans, Louisiana: When my parents were expecting me, they had five daughters and a son. My brother Joe was desperate for a brother. To soften the blow of gaining another sister, they named me Joanne after him. He was named in honor of my uncle Joseph, who was killed as a child.   Catherine Lieb, Copley, Ohio: My family has a tradition of naming the first daughter Catherine. Each Catherine is given a nickname as a child: I was Cathy, my mother was Kay, my grandmother was Kate. When one of us becomes the matriarch, we are called by our full name. I am a fifth-generation Catherine, but sadly I had only sons. However, both of them named their first daughters Catherine!   Kay Patterson, Beardstown, Illinois: I was named Martha Kay. As a child, I didn't like the name Martha. As an adult, I learned that I was named for my grandmother, Martha Gertrude, who went into a coma while giving birth to my mother and died three days later. I am proud to be named after my grandmother and I now cherish the name.   What We’re Reading   How to Record your Family’s History and Preserve Memories “Recording your loved ones takes a little preparation, but it’s so worth it when you have audio and video to look back on years later.” A Stranger Called. He Had Photos of her Family from the Holocaust Era. “‘It meant more than you could imagine,’ says Blanche Fixler, who was contacted by Daniel Patt, a software engineer who also found family photos for the actor Josh Gad.”   Murderous 1600s Pirate Hid Out in US Colonies with Impunity “Newly surfaced documents also strengthen the case that English buccaneer Henry Every. . . hid out in New England before sailing for Ireland and vanishing into the wind.”   Ashkenazi Jews Have Become More Genetically Similar Over Time “A new study of skeletons from a cemetery in Germany reveals a hidden history of Jews in the Middle Ages.”   Roots: The Highs and Lows of Family History The most recent genealogy column in Canada’s History magazine shares stories from readers.   How Maine’s International Border Got Its Shape “Every boundary, Maine state historian Earle Shettleworth Jr. says, reflects some ‘combination of geography and history.’”   Spotlight: Wheatland Cemetery, Wyoming by Valerie Beaudrault   The town of Wheatland is located in Platte County, in southeastern Wyoming. The town of Wheatland has operated Wheatland Cemetery since 1906, and the town website provides a burials database, digitized obituaries, and photographs of gravestones. Data fields in the alphabetical directory include first/middle/last name, maiden name, spouse, grave location, birth and death dates, veteran status, obituary and/or gravestone photo availability, and notes. View obituaries and gravestone photos at the links at the top of the page. Please note that the gravestone photos load slowly. Read More   Upcoming Lectures, Courses, Tours, and More January 5–7 Online Research Tour: Genealogical Skills Bootcamp   January 18 Free Author Event: Malcolm Gaskill with The Ruin of All Witches: Life and Death in the New World   January 21 Online Seminar: Virtual Preservation Roadshow: Documents, Bound Volumes, and Photographs View All Upcoming Events   Free Video from American Ancestors Understanding Boundaries and Jurisdictions   To figure out exactly where your ancestor lived at a given time, you need to understand the broader geo-political and historical context of the area. This video will help you research boundary changes and understand jurisdictional levels using maps, primary and secondary sources, and other records. Watch Now   Planning for the Future? Name Your Beneficiaries Today   Non-probate assets such as an IRA, 401(k), or life-insurance policy are not covered in your will or trust—you must name beneficiaries separately. Our friends at FreeWill.com have provided a free and secure online tool to guide you through naming beneficiaries for your assets in one easy place. Learn More   Educational events brought to you by Vol. 25, No. 50, Whole #1133 Copyright ©2022 New England Historic Genealogical Society. All Rights Reserved.. American Ancestors, 99-101 Newbury Street, Boston, MA 02116, 1-888-296-3447 Unsubscribe Manage preferences Membership   \|   Database News   \|   Expert Help   \|   Give   \|   Live Chat |
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