Don't miss this special 10 Million Names program in recognition of Juneteenth! Tune in to ABC News Live today at 9:30 a.m. (ET) to hear some of the stories our researchers have uncovered. Chief Historian Dr. Kendra Field and Dr. Kerri Greenidge will comment live on 10 Million Names and its impact. You can watch this program live on television, via one of ABC's streaming partners, or directly on their website. Watch ABC News Online
Recently on Vita Brevis
Chasing Lucille
In a story full of twists and turns, researcher Phillip Grover investigates the life of his grandmother's half-sister Lucille, the child of her father's previous marriage who was rarely spoken of by the rest of the family. Read More
Last Chance to Register!
Civil War Research: Tracing Union & Confederate Ancestors
This five-session online course will delve into the many primary and published resources that can help document your ancestor's role in the Civil War, and their contributions to either the Union or Confederate cause. Join us for a live Q&A session with the instructors on June 22 at 2 p.m. (ET). 10% Member Discount. Register Now
June Bookstore Sale
20% Off Experts' Choice Books
Check off your reading list and save 20% on our entire Experts' Choice book collection! Choose from 29 genealogical classics, handpicked by our experts and sure to be of interest to genealogists at every level. Act fast—this offer only runs through June. Start shopping and saving today! Use code ExpertChoice624.Shop Now
The Weekly Genealogist Survey
This Week's Survey:
Genealogical and Historical Podcasts
Share your thoughts about the survey!Please limit submissions to 150 words or fewer. Your submission may be featured in an upcoming newsletter or shared on social media; please note in your email if you do not want your story to be shared. Published responses may be edited for clarity and length.
Joyce A. Smith, Sutton, Massachusetts: I am a descendant of Edward Wightman, the last person burned at the stake for heresy in England. The first time his sentence was to be carried out, he was tied to the stake, but he appeared to recant. He ultimately refused to sign a statement confirming his change of mind and was burned at the stake a month later, on Easter Sunday, April 11, 1612. His grandson Valentine was in Rhode Island by 1648 and Valentine's father, John, and his uncles followed in 1650. Edward Wightman's descendants went by both Wightman and Whitman.
Anne H. Richmond, Alameda, California: My mother, Elisabeth Honey, was Czech, and her home was invaded twice, once by the Nazis during World War II and then by the Communists after the war. Her family was arrested, and they were imprisoned as political prisoners. They were finally released, and in 1945, when my mother was 22, she left for Germany. She worked for the Americans and met my father, who was with the United States Air Force. They married and she came to the U.S. They first lived at McCord Air Force Base near Tacoma, Washington. In 1977, 32 years after leaving, she was finally able to visit her former home at Budischau, in Trebic, Czechoslovakia.
Anne B. Wheeler, Portland, Oregon: My Axtell ancestors had to flee England after the monarchy was restored in 1660. The Axtells had been active supporters of Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell and would have suffered terrible fates under the reign of King Charles II. In fact, Daniel Axtell (c. 1622-1660) was convicted of treason and hanged, drawn, and quartered. Other members of the family found refuge in New England, New Jersey, and the Carolinas.
“The Eleutherian Adventurers departed Bermuda for the Bahamas in 1647, hoping to create the first democracy in the Americas.”
What’s In Their Wallets? This post from “Unfolding History,” a blog about the manuscript holdings of the Library of Congress, discusses the contents of wallets in the collection.
Spotlight: South King County Genealogical Society, Washington
by Valerie Beaudrault
The city of Kent, located in King County in west central Washington, is home to the South King County Genealogical Society. Their website includes digitized obituaries from local Kent newspapers (1893-1934) as well as the Record/Chronicle of Renton, Washington (1927-1932). There is also a database of Kent area marriages extracted from Kent newspapers (1893-1917). Search Now
FREE On Demand Course
Getting Started in African American Family History Research
Do you want to learn more about your family's past, but don't know where to begin? Our experts have created a series of modules designed to guide you through the first steps in tracing your African American roots.
Get a FREE Guide to Getting Started with Civil War Veteran Records
Do you know where your ancestors lived during the Civil War? Is there a story that someone in your family served? On what side did they serve? Take the next step in your research with our free guide to Civil War veteran records. Download Now
Bringing together primary source documents from archives and libraries across the Atlantic world, Slavery, Abolition and Social Justice from AM Explorer collects unique material relating to the complex subjects of slavery, abolition and social justice. Members of American Ancestors can search this database as well as many more from our partner organizations. Learn More
Planning for the Future?
Name Beneficiaries for Your Non-Probate Assets 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. Preserve your legacy, make sure your loved ones are provided for, and support the causes most important to you—get started today! Learn More
