Wake County Genealogical Society Blog

Friday, October 22, 2021

Heads Up: There are some really interesting learning opportunities happening soon!

We are grateful for our Genealogy Friends! It took an email trail of several people for these great opportunities to reach my desk so that I could share with you. Thanks to Richard Ellington of the Durham-Orange Genealogy Society for starting that chain.

Events:

Lisa Kobrin will present a program on Pine Hill Cemetery and the general history of Alamance County cemeteries via Zoom on Tuesday October 26 at 2:30 pm. This is sponsored by the Alamance Community College history club and is open to the public. The Zoom link is available at the following Facebook events page https://www.facebook.com/events/851109758911384/

The State Library of NC will sponsor an online program about using the State Library and State Archives in genealogy research on Thursday October 28 at 1 pm. See the details and register online at https://statelibrary.ncdcr.gov/news/events/family-history-starts-here-using-state-library-and-state-archives-your-research

The program will be recorded and may also be watched after the event on the State Library’s YouTube channel youtube.com/statelibrarync<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.youtube.com/channel/UCC-ClbdzAy9XFi1pJem1FSQ__;!!HYmSToo!ME1GP01Vqgr2CIKnhc2yr2UtWziZ316XbglBE8YWlECOwCk7KNLB8gv_qpOfakSf_zy4Jw$>

Join Rich Thompson, manager of Town Creek Indian Mound, and Lawrence Dunmore, Tribal Historian and renowned storyteller of the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation on Tuesday November 2, 7 PM as they discuss the history of Town Creek Indian Mound and Native American Creation Stories.

This session is free and open to the public via Zoom. It's part of a week-long series of events highlighting the launch of the James Webb Telescope sponsored by Alamance Community College, Alamance County Public Libraries, and Alamance Parks.

Email eweislak@alamancelibraries.org to register and receive a Zoom invite.

These are fantastic topics. Hope you find something you like!

Wednesday, October 20, 2021

Wake Wednesday: Perfect for the season, missing cemetery, buried treasure!

Thanks to Heather Leah at WRAL for bringing this great story to our attention.

High House (as in High House Road in Cary) and the buried treasure of Fanning Jones. Great read.
https://www.wral.com/buried-treasure-in-cary-the-ghostly-legend-of-the-abandoned-high-house/19933263

PS. - (update 10-20-2021 1pm)
As I read this fascinating story, near the end of it I was directed to another article written for the Friends of Page-Walker Hotel in Cary. This one is equally interesting and a bit broader in scope. Fascinating if you live in Wake County. Even more so if you have Jones, Alford, Liles, Williams and other associated Cary area families in your tree. Grab a coffee or hot tea and check it out.

https://friendsofpagewalker.wildapricot.org/Cary-Me-Back/9342448

Sunday, October 17, 2021

Wake Treasures - Vol 30, Issue 2 is available at the wakecogen website

Congratulations to Wake Treasures editor Donna Shackle and her team. Wake Treasures is the recipient of the 2021 North Carolina Genealogical Society’s Award for Excellence in Periodical Publishing (Journal). This is a fantastic accomplishment. Donna and her group of volunteers certainly represent WCGS well.

Here is a note about what you can expect in this latest edition of the journal from Donna:

Fall is here as is the newest issue of our journal. In this issue, Wake County Genealogical Society’s President, Carla Stancil, has written two articles: “How the Goat Cart Became a Photo Prop”; and “Remembering Mamie Allen”, a recollection regarding her dear aunt. Over the next year Wake Treasures will be featuring a short series on the Wake-County-based Allen family. This issue includes the completion of the 1897 Raleigh Colored School Census and highlights items from the Crowder Collection held at the State Archives of North Carolina. This collection includes several diary entries from an unknown male that gives us a glimpse into the past. Following these articles are the Wake County Civil Action Papers Concerning Land, 1814.

It is my hope that you enjoy this issue, and as always, I want to thank the volunteers who keep the journal in publication. If you enjoy the journal and would like to become a part of the journal team, please reach out to me at Journal@wakecogen.org and I will be happy to discuss volunteering opportunities.

Happy Reading, Donna, editor

To download this new edition, log into the Members Area and go to the Wake Treasures webpage. And if you have personal stories of people, places, and events connected to Wake County, please consider sharing them for inclusion into future editions!

Saturday, October 16, 2021

Upchurch and Allied Family Newsletter - Oct 2021

For those of you following the Upchurch and Allied story, here is your link to the latest news.

Footprints, Oct 2021

Friday, October 15, 2021

Registration Open for October 26 WCGS virtual Meeting and Nov 8 GenHelp session

We are so lucky to have nationally renowned genealogy lecturer and blogger Judy Russell with us in October. There is still time to register for her presentation and for the November 4th GenHelp session. Please visit our Registration page.

October 26, 6:30pm - WCGS virtual meeting
Topic - Finding the Law
speaker - Judy G. Russell, JD, CG, CGL
The Legal Genealogist

Time and time again, we're told as genealogists that we need to look at records in the context of the law at the time and in the place where the records were created. Easier said than done! With 50 states and the federal government all passing laws, how do we find the laws we need, for both North Carolina and beyond?

This presentation is open to all, there is no cost to attend.
Registration now open.

Next GenHelp Session - November 4, 6:30pm
Got a burning research question that you just can't seem to find an answer for? For research tips and clues, sign up for our next virtual session.
Click here to register to for GenHelp. Scroll down to the GenHelp registration section.

Both these event are free and open to all.
Register for both!

Monday, October 11, 2021

Wake County Genealogical Society Meetings for 2021 - Virtual

Upcoming WCGS Meetings (all meetings virtual through the end of 2021) -

October 26 @ 6:30pm - Virtual

Topic: Finding the Law
Speaker: Judy G. Russell, JD, CG, CGL, The Legal Genealogist

Time and time again, we're told as genealogists that we need to look at records in the context of the law at the time and in the place where the records were created. Easier said than done! With 50 states and the federal government all passing laws, how do we find the laws we need, for both North Carolina and beyond?

This virtual presentation is open to all, there is no cost to attend.

Registration link for Oct 26

December 7 @ 6:30pm - Virtual

Topic: Finding Clues to Your Ancestors Hidden in Social History
Speaker: Lisa Lisson

Social history tells the story of our ancestors’ lives and fills in the gaps in our genealogical research. Understanding how our ancestors lived and the events that impacted their lives leads to sharing their full stories and connections. This lecture explores how to find and include social history into your genealogy research.

This presentation is open to all, there is no cost to attend.

Registration link for Dec 7

**WCGS will meet virtually through December 2021**

Visit the Wakecogen Events page for more details.

Wednesday, September 1, 2021

Wake Wednesday: What did Wake County look like before all the development?

Just look at this wonderful postal map of turn of the century Wake County. It will certainly help you visualise a quiter, more pastoral Wake County. I used this map recently to determine the location of a cemetery in the relocation zone of Falls Lake. Things look so different now.

Roads displaced by Falls Lake

This map is available online from the North Carolina Collection at UNC. This is a rural delivery route map circa 1910 - 1919. It covers the whole county and provides a context that is just not available to us today. Take a look. Keep a link handy.

Source: Wake County c.1910-1919, US Postal Delivery Routes

I bet you will be visiting this map as often as I will.

Wednesday, August 25, 2021

WCGS - Wake Genealogy Watch - Fall 2021 - Newsletter now available

The Fall 2021 Issue (Vol.5 Issue 1) of our award-winning newsletter, Wake Genealogy Watch, is now available online for reading or download. You can visit the WCGS website or access through this link - Wake Genealogy Watch, Fall, 2021

This issue contains the following topics:

Cynthia Gage shares some great strategies for finding family information in small town newspapers. It is truly a great untapped resource.
Get more great research ideas and suggestions from our GenHelp panelists who regularly (monthly first Thursday) provide ideas which are fresh and out of the box.
We have a very full rosters of volunteer opportunities outlined in this issue including a Content Curator position for the Journal team.
A quick mention of changes at the Wakecogen blog that may affect you if you are subscribed to receive updates to your email.
Christopher Hunt Robertson shares a profile of local railroad magnate, Alexander Boyd Andrews (1841-1915)
An overview by Cyndi Deal of the two Cemetery Surveys that have been conducted since the mid-1930s with some exciting news about the most recent survey.
A packed virtual event calendar that includes a presenter well known on the national genealogy circuits.

Photo Note: If you choose to read a printed version of this newsletter, some of the photos will be difficult to view due to size constraints. Please refer to the online edition where you can enlarge the photos to accommodate better viewing.

Click this newsletter page link to view this and all past newsletter content.

We welcome your feedback, input, and submissions for inclusions in future editions. Please address all concerns to newsletter@wakecogen.org.

Visit the WCGS Blog for more events, late breaking news, tutorials, updates, and other special posts.

Sunday, August 15, 2021

Mark your calendars for the last WCGS events of the summer

The late summer event offerings from WCGS are just around the corner. There is still time to register. Please visit our Registration page.

Next up -

August 24, 6:30pm - WCGS virtual meeting
Topic - Research and Resources at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania
speaker - Dr. Lee Arnold, Senior Director of the Library & Collections, Chief Operating Officer

Founded in 1824, the Historical Society of Pennsylvania (HSP) is one of the largest family history libraries in the nation, has excellent collections on local and regional history and offers a manuscript collection renowned for its 17th-, 18th-, and 19th-century holdings. HSP houses many national treasures, such as the first draft of the United States Constitution, an original printer’s proof of the Declaration of Independence, and the earliest surviving American photograph. But the true strength of the Society' collection is the overall breadth and depth of materials that together offer a rich, complex portrait of U.S. history and society from the 17th century to the present.

Next GenHelp Session - September 02, 6:30pm
Got a burning research question that you just can't seem to find an answer for? For research tips and clues, sign up for our next virtual session.

Both these event are free and open to all.

Register for both!

Thursday, August 12, 2021

WCGS GenHelp - Events for 2021 - Free Help for Genealogists - September thru December sign up

More virtual help sessions are planned for 2021. The next session is July 1 at 6:30pm EDT. See additional dates below.

The goal of the monthly virtual sessions continues to be to provide free genealogy assistance to hobbyists. Mark your calendars for the first Thursday of the month at 6:30pm ET.

It is not necessary to be a member of WCGS to participate and there is no cost. You will have an opportunity to ask questions and share knowledge during the 90-minute session. The session will be moderated. Please note this program will not include research requests or queries; all assistance will be given only within the time constraints of the monthly virtual session.

Dates remaining for 2021:

Thursday, October 7, 2021 @ 6:30pm

Thursday, November 4, 2021 @ 6:30pm

Thursday, December 2, 2021 @ 6:30pm

Time: 6:30pm ET (this is an open session; you may enter the Zoom at any time during the 90-minute session or drop once your question is answered)

Please submit your queries in advance. It gives the panelists a chance to mull and ponder and come up with better suggestions for you. Submissions should be sent to jhawkgenealogy@gmail.com

Please note this program will not include research requests or queries; all assistance will be given only within the time constraints of the monthly virtual session.

Click here to register to for GenHelp. Scroll down to the GenHelp registration section.

Tuesday, August 3, 2021

Upchurch and Allied Families Newsletter - July 2021

Here is the latest from UAFA for those who are following along.

July 2021

Tuesday, July 13, 2021

Volunteer Opportunity - Content Curator for the WCGS Journal Team

Have you ever wanted to be a real live History Detective? (cue music!)

We have a super exciting request for a volunteer Content Curator from our Wake Treasures Journal editor, Donna Shackle. Details:

Are you interested in Wake County history and family stories? Do you enjoy the thrill of the hunt? Do you love hanging out in libraries, archives and other repositories of local historical lore? If so, we have a volunteer opportunity for you.
Our journal editor, Donna Shackle is looking for a Content Curator to work closely with the WCGS journal team. This person would canvass libraries, repositories, and other sources for content for the journal. They don’t need to worry about transcription, although that’s a bonus. Our journal requires content be focused on Wake County unless a neighboring county lacks a genealogy society and material must be previously unpublished. If you are interested in this position, please contact Donna Shackle via email - Journal@wakecogen.org

This looks like so much fun. I wish I didn't have so many ongoing commitments. I think I would be all over this one!

PS- I have had the History Detectives theme song stuck in my head since we started talking about this!

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