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title: The Weekly Genealogist, July 20, 2022
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Every Wednesday, The Weekly Genealogist provides readers with news and information about American Ancestors and the genealogical community.

| View in browser     July 20, 2022   Read past issues Feedback? Email us       Online Seminar Digitizing Your Family History Collections   In this online workshop, our experts will demonstrate how to manage your own records digitization project at home. Topics include planning your project, equipment you'll need, scanning your documents, file management, and basic image editing. July 23 at 2 p.m. (ET). Register Now       Online Seminar—Last Chance! Tracing Ancestors on the Move in America   This four-session seminar will help you research difficult-to-track ancestors who moved to new places, and give you context for migrations across America from the 17th to the 20th centuries. Live broadcasts: August 3, 10, 17, and 24 at 6 p.m. (ET).  Register Now       Spotlight: Obituaries, North Madison County Public Library, IN by Valerie Beaudrault   The North Madison County Public Library is located in Elwood, Madison County, Indiana. The library's online obituary database includes records from Daily Press (January 1893–October 1896), Daily Record (December 1896–December 1910, August 1911), Elwood Free Press (January 1893–December 1909), and Elwood Call-Leader (June 1904–present). Data fields include name, dates of birth/death, source date, age, maiden name, attached obituary, and additional details. When available, images are linked under the attached obituary column. Click "More Details" to view the full record. Search Now       Program in Boston Come Home to New England Work closely with our experts to advance your family history at our Research Center in Boston. In-person program includes a tour, daily lectures, consultations, and more. Discount for members. August 9–13.   Register Now Free Online Lecture Around the World in a Handful of Objects Join Matthias Waschek for a survey of works from the Worcester Art Museum's collection which explore the beauty and struggle of the human experience. August 19 at 4 p.m. (ET).   Register Now Virtual Author Event Camper English with Doctors and Distillers Hear from author and cocktail expert Camper English about the surprising connections between alcohol and historical medicine. Includes signed copy of Doctors and Distillers. Members Save 10%. August 22 at 6 p.m. (ET).    Register Now       What We’re Reading   The Secret Art of the Family Photo “They’re the pictures that mean the most to us. What makes them good?”   New AI Tools Let You Chat with Your Dead Relatives New products that let people keep relatives "alive" via AI are proliferating. Siblings Bill and Beryl Were Lost to Each Other for Nearly 80 Years. The Discovery of a WWII Shipwreck Changed That. The discovery of a ship torpedoed off the coast of Australia in 1942 not only gave Bill Stewart comfort in knowing his dad's final resting place — it led to an emotional reunion with his long-lost sister.   10 Relics From Horse-Powered Cities Hiding in Plain Sight If you look closely enough, you can still find reminders of the equine past in our infrastructure.   Meet the Man Reviewing Historical Sandwiches on TikTok “Barry Enderwick is eating his way through the past, one pan bagnat at a time.” The Most Popular Baby Names From the Year You Were Born Mental Floss presents a list of the most frequently chosen baby names from 1930 to 2021.       The Weekly Genealogist Survey   Last week's survey asked if any of your ancestors or relatives were firefighters. We received 2,850 responses. The results are: 43%, Yes, at least one of my ancestors or relatives was a professional or volunteer firefighter. 5%, Yes, I have a family tradition of firefighting service. 2%, I am a current or former firefighter. 9%, One of my family members is currently a firefighter. 51%, No, I don’t think any of my ancestors or relatives were firefighters. 5%, I have another connection to firefighting that was not mentioned above. This week’s survey asks about family dollhouses. Take the survey now   Want to share your thoughts on the survey with us? We are always happy to hear from our readers. Email us at weeklygenealogist@nehgs.org. Responses may be edited for clarity and length and featured in a future newsletter.       Readers Respond: Firefighters in the Family By Jean Powers, Senior Editor   Last week's survey asked if any of your ancestors or relatives were firefighters. Thank you to everyone who replied. Below is a selection of reader responses.   Bob Evans, Pepper Pike, Ohio: My 3rd-great-grandfather, James Lloyd (1810-1865), a stone mason, emigrated from Wales to Cleveland, Ohio, in 1832, and signed up for the all-volunteer city fire department. In 1837 he became marshal of the Cataract Engine Company #5. He served with that company for 25 years until 1861, when, at age 52, he enlisted with Battery G, 1st Regiment Ohio Volunteer Light Artillery. I recently visited the Cleveland Fire Museum and was thrilled to imagine my grandfather using the 1852 Button Hand Pump.   Neil Ashton, Brewer, Maine: My great-grandfather, Martin Augustus Ward (1854-1930), left the Maine woolen mills for a policeman job in Lewiston. After several years pounding a beat, he developed foot problems. The city transferred him to the fire department, where he developed an affinity for the horses. He exercised the horses by running them up and down side streets—to the delight of the neighborhood children—then returned to the fire-barn to rinse the horses off and put them away for the night.   Linda Mathew, Essex, Connecticut: My great-grandfather, Herbert Granville Lee, was a founding member of the Pawtuxet Volunteer Fire Company in Rhode Island, established in 1891 and incorporated in 1896. The ladies’ auxiliary prepared food and coffee for the men when they returned from fighting fires. Herbert served as chief until age 81, when the position was “recodified by law.” Later that year, on June 2, 1944, he was appointed Honorary Chief for Life.   Kristin Hall Sliwicki, Madison, Wisconsin: My ancestor, William Rogers (d. 1784), a hatter, was among the earliest members of the Ancient and Honorable Mechanical Company of Baltimore. This organization, established in 1763, is recognized as the city's first fire company. Four generations of my Rogers ancestors were members of the Mechanicals—William, Jacob, William, and Seth—until 1858, when the city disbanded the volunteer fire companies and formed the Baltimore City Fire Department.       Database News New Searchable Suffolk County, MA Probate File Papers   This week we’re announcing the addition of 232,885 new file papers to our Suffolk County, Massachusetts: Probate File Papers database. This update adds probate case numbers 43718-49999.This database was created from digital images and indexes contributed to American Ancestors/NEHGS by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Archives. The probate cases include wills, guardianships, administrations, and various other types of probate records. Search Now       Your Legacy. Your Peace of Mind. Your Free Will.    Family historians know the importance of wills for research purposes—but have you created a will for yourself? A legal will ensures that your hard work will have an impact on future generations and your legacy will be preserved. Identify beneficiaries for your assets, support the causes that are important to you, and plan for the preservation of your research through this easy and free online will creation tool from our friends at Free Will. The step-by-step guided process takes just 20 minutes or less to complete. Learn More       Educational events brought to you by Vol. 25, No. 28, Whole #1111 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 |
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