—Welcome to — The Genealogy Gypsy Blog
The History of Mother’s Day
Anna Maria Jarvis (May 1, 1864 – November 24, 1948) was the founder of Mother's Day in the United States. Her mother had frequently expressed a desire to establish such a holiday, and after her mother's death, Jarvis led the movement for the commemoration.
Read MoreLake Township, Wood County, Ohio - The Furry Family
Read MoreNew Year - Let’s RESET!
Who doesn’t LOVE those resolutions? …. said noone ever! Let’s dig into some great HISTORY, TIDBITS, and some HELPFUL HINTS as we dive into JANUARY’s COLD.
WINTER IS COMING!!!
Read MoreThe Hartshorn Family
This week we are traveling BACK IN TIME through a BRANCH of MY OWN FAMILY… the HARTSHORN FAMILY branch. This branch is connected to me through my paternal side and has roots in Maumee, Toledo, and Perrysburg, Ohio.
Read MoreThe Adkins Family
This week we are traveling BACK IN TIME through a BRANCH of MY OWN FAMILY… the ADKINS FAMILY branch. This branch is connected to me through my paternal side and has roots in East Toledo, Ohio.
Read MoreThe Bigley Family
This week we are traveling BACK IN TIME through a BRANCH of MY OWN FAMILY… the BIGLEY FAMILY branch. This branch is connected to me through my paternal side and has roots in East Toledo, Ohio.
Read MorePart Two - Double Murder
We continue with the trial of Wesley Johnson, the murderer of George Williams and his wife, Isabella Williams, hearing his account of what happened, witness accounts, as well as learning the details of his execution. Buckle up, this case is not for the weak, as it has twist and turns of a twisted individual with little to no remorse for his actions. Join me in the conclusion of the Double Murder Near Wauseon.
Read MoreA MURDER AND A SUICIDE | We begin with A MURDER AND A SUICIDE, meeting John Molloy, age 72 and his wife whose dead bodies are discovered on the floor of their home, both suffering from gunshot wounds by the paper body, learning of mental instability and jealously that led to divorce and murder/suicide.
DOUBLE MURDER - PART ONE — Our second story is a two-parter. WARNING – Graphic Details of the HORRIBLE double murder near Wauseon, Ohio (just outside of Toledo, Ohio) of George Williams and Isabella Williams who were found after two days murdered in their home with their two month old baby nearly starving to death. We are taken on the beginning of a long and gruesome tale of one of the worst murders I have ever encountered.
Read MoreJohn Harmon, a highly respected citizen is shot and killed in cold blood by Peter D. Cole on Main Street in the town of Deshler, Ohio just outside of Toledo, Ohio. Several witnesses were present in the six shot murder, including Mr. Harmon’s young son, as he is gunned down, traumatizing both families involved, as well as the town for one last time.
Read MoreA Strange Disappearance and Murder Without a Clue- Our story begins in 1887 when Mrs. Margaret Ellis disappears after a night at the theater in Toledo, Ohio. The only items found were her shoe and an article of clothing.
This strange case was brought to light and dimmed out just as quick, as we look at the circumstances and try to draw some of our own conclusions as to what happened to Mrs. Margaret Ellis.
The second story takes place in 1894 when the home of Mr. and Mrs. Seiner is entered, and both are brutally murdered. Their son is missing, and their barn is set on fire. The details around this story are hazy and it is said that the murders were done in a cruel manner. No clue was left behind.
And, finally, we are in 1897 when a suspected suicide is investigated further, after witnesses proclaim to have seen two men with the deceased, Mrs. Alonzo Bennett. We are led through twists and turns for this Who-Done-It crime to try to catch a killer.
Once anyone finds out I'm a professional genealogist, and I specialize in DNA, the questions start pouring in about what test to take, what are my privacy rights, or just advice on what to do next...
Read MoreI want you all to stop and think for just a minute. Think about all the friends, coworkers, and neighbors you see each and every day. How many of those people will show up on your family tree one day? It's a good question, right. Something we don't often think about. And probably a few of those surnames might pop up in your tree. But, it's important to remember that you're part of a bigger community, one that shapes who you are and the decisions you make, just as much as your blood relatives.
Read MoreAmerican history was made with our immigrant and ethnic ancestors. Everyone has immigrant ancestors. It doesn't matter if your ancestor came to America in the 1900s, the 1600s, or were here to meet the rest of the settlers, all American ancestry leads somewhere else.
Read MoreLand records are one of the most underutilized resources in genealogy, believe it or not. What once brought immigrants to America, the ability to obtain land, is often completely forgotten in research. Established countries, like Europe, almost all land had been titled for years, even centuries. Laws of primogeniture (inheritance by only the FIRST SON) ensured that properties wouldn't be split up into smaller parcels, but that also meant that other children couldn't inherit the land.
Read MoreThe Civil War produced huge amounts of documentation with over 3.5 million men (and a few hundred women) fighting for both the Union and Confederacy. But... because military records do not fit familiar patterns of most genealogical research you will conduct, vital records, passenger lists, and so on... these records can be overwhelming to a first-time researcher. But, by understanding a few key facts and having some great resources in your toolbox, you can start with a wealth of information about your Civil War ancestor before you even start digging!
Read MoreUS Federal Census reports are an important part of a Genealogist research. Census were taken every 10 years, providing the opportunity for genealogists to follow families back in time. They would provide locations of ancestors, age information, occupations and geographical data. They also hold clues about an ancestor's educational background, and even military status. So, with Census documents holding so much valuable information... it's so frustrating when you run a name search for an ancestor and you end up with NO RESULTS!
Read MoreHere are some of my favorite genealogy hacks that help you figure out what websites can do... that you didn't even know was possible, to speed up your research, and even streamline websites and tech tools. Some of these hacks can even save you money (which I love the most) on subscription websites, by helping you weed out free records or pay as you go.
Read MoreFamily history research can be full of obstacles... and your genealogy journey might seem like it's laced with pitfalls, vast expanses of water... and those brick walls that seem to come out of nowhere at every twist and turn. If you focus your family-history training regimen on conquering the five challenges outlined here, you'll get better at building your family tree and even level up your Genealogy Research!
Read MoreHave you ever visited an online research site (or physical archive) and thought about the vast collection of records that were just within your reach... but you had no idea where to even start? Or, maybe you've spent hours researching one single person only to lose... or worse... forget most of what you've learned and/or where you learned it. Maybe you've even walked away from your research for a few weeks and when you sat back down were left completely confused about where to pick it up again...
Read MoreOur weather is something that seems to always be a topic of conversation day in and day out. We always want to know what tomorrow will hold... especially with global warming being a hot topic. Weather is a worldwide subject of daily conversations, and it's also a great way to break the ice in awkward moments of silence.
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