Family History & New Technology Walk Hand In Hand

I am very happy to report that my personal experience from the RootsTech2012 conference was one of unabashed excitement about all the upcoming technology changes and updates. I believe in my heart that when all the new software updates are released, and I am able to implement several other new features, that it will bring my family history to a whole new level! There will be new Gedcom file programs, a new world of Cloud Storage, which is still in it's infancy. Mobile applications to enable us to take our family trees with us; plus there are many free genealogy podcasts available to watch, and as of January 2012, if we insert important keywords in our blogposts, our blogs will be searchable for others. I for one plan to take full advantage of as many of the podcasts as time will permit. My hat goes off to everyone who worked behind the scenes to put this annual conference together, and who were gracious enough to freely stream many of the presentations.

RootsTech Conference 2012

Todays post is to report that I won't be writing any regular posts this week, due to a very imortant genealogy conference that I will be attending on-line. It is called RootsTech2012, and will combine the very best of the latest in technology and genealogy. I hope to learn much from the pros, and will report my findings in my next post as they apply accordingly. Until then, keep going through those family photos, old home movies, and family Bibles, letters or journals!

Where Did You Grow Up?

Where did you hang your hat as a child? I chose today's post to be about this famous picture of the log cabin that my Burnum grandparents lived in for a few years with all their children you see lined up. This is an edited image naming everyone from left to right. As per the date at the top of the image, this picture was taken in August of 1940. Amazingly enough, this very same log cabin is still standing today, and is located on West Shore Drive, Grand Isle, Vermont. It has also been labeled as the 4th oldest log cabin structure for Vermont's Historical Society. I have also been informed by a cousin that a descendant of the original family who built it is currently residing in it part time; using it as a studio. He had heard about this picture being taken, and asked my family's permission to screen print this image onto t-shirts to sell to tourists. I hope to own one of these shirts someday. My challenge to you today is to pick a family photo from your album, and write a story about it. In years to come, you will be immensely glad that you did!

We Are Family.....

One  thing I have discovered in my adventures into my past, is the frequency of what I like to call "Inter-familial Marriage." Back before there were laws to prevent these types of marriages from occurring, it happened on a fairly regular basis. First and second cousins marrying each other, and in some cases, an uncle would marry his neice! Historically, the upper crust of society, those having royal or blue blood as they referred to it, would practice that idea of a family member marrying another family member with the thought in mind of "keeping the bloodlines pure". Later, history would prove that it was not such a good idea, as bad genes were created, and diseases were introduced to the line. so, I have asked myself, what were they thinking, when I found evidence of that practice occurring within a few of my family lines! It reminded me of the perverbial red-neck joke, "I would like you to meet my wife and sister", and there is only 1 woman standing there. It's no wonder, that our family is literally riddled with several hereditary diseases that have been passed down through the generations.How about an instance where a brother and sister choose to live together as husband and wife, and even produce children from their relationship?Could they have been considering a possible approach to the Mormon lifestyle? What if your siblings or children were to do that? How would you feel?

A Job Well Done!

As of today, I have just finished packaging up my very first Family History Book; which I call "The Book of Bev-Maguay". It is the fulfillment of the second part of my dream, to actually create books telling the history of my family. This first book was named for my favorite aunt to whom I have dedicated this book to. As I have stated in the closing of the book, I had made a promise to her a few years ago, that she would receive the very first copy. If it were not for her, I would not have been so successful so early on in my research. I raise my glass to you in a toast to a most wonderful woman!
I managed to complete this book in the span of six months. It covers 4 generations in my maternal Burnum & Cootware family lines. I am extremely proud of this accomplishment! I put every ounce of my being into it, and gained a new respect for just a hint of what professional authors go through! If I am patting my self on the back, or tooting my own horn, then so be it. It is not something I do often enough!

Paper Trails

Have you ever wondered about the mountain of paper evidence we create just by being alive? Even when we die, the paper is still generated! You cannot escape it!!
The keepers of family history will forever be grateful for that fact!! It is amazing what you can learn from a simple birth certificate. I have even uncovered 2 different birth records for the exact same person, listing 2 different birth fathers!  No wonder my family seems to be so confused. The first birth father was a stranger; and the second birth father listed was a family member. How does that old saying go? "Oh what tangled webs we weave, when first we practice to deceive?"
The resulting child never did take on either of the fathers' names. He just kept his mother's last name. Perhaps next time I will begin rattling some chains!

The Name Game

It has been said many times throughout history, that we are all related, or connected to each other. What started out as a simple search for my family tree has grown by leaps and bounds to become a forest of trees with infinite branches and twigs and leaves! It is therefore, quite easy for the family historian to get led astray from their main purpose, to follow another lead, another clue, which will in turn lead to more names! We must fight hard to avoid those temptations. Afterall, we will not live forever! Time is limited and must be spent wisely! That being said, I will present the following partial list of family names, both paternal and maternal that I am researching.
Guerin, Bulriss(Bulnes, Burliss, Boulerice), Fueilleret, Manor(Maner, Manard, Menard), Burnum, (Burnham, Bunum, Bonnette`, Burnam, Bonin), Bodah(Beaudin), Nelson, Cootware(Courtois, Coutware), Blow(Bleau), Monbleau, Cinjeux(Coryea, Carriere), Forest(Forrest), Wheeler, Lagrenade, Dalcour(Dalcourt), Bushey, Pigeon, Richardson, Boody, Barnes, Wiggett, Thompson, Downing, Hebert, Lavoie(DeLavoie), Tremblay(Tremble), Landry, LaRoche, Lafetier, Dupuy(Dupuis), Demers, Duval, Phaneuf, Farnsworth.
I wish you all happy hunting with your family names and all their variations!!