Julia Anderson walk us through some difficult ancestor searches in her video " The Needle in the Haystack: Researching Women and Minorities using FamilySearch’s Full-Text Search " offered through BYU Library Family History Center.  This video is packed with tons of  information.  I found it so helpful that I  have already found two new records for my most stubborn brick wall ancestor and I have   only tried one of her many tips so far.  Julia focuses on finding women, enslaved and other minority groups using FamilySearch's Full Text Search (FTS) tool. She offers a basic intro to the FTS and strategies for finding a variety of challenging ancestor groups - women, enslaved, Native American, and immigrants. She presents many examples and suggestions to bring you success in  your own search.  Plan to watch this video at least a couple of times to absorb all the knowlege Julia is sharing.  There is also a five page handout to help you with t...

There is still time to register for this fun presentation! Hope to see you on Aug. 25. Tuesday, Aug 25, 2026 @ 6:30pm – Virtual Topic:   Doing European Research When You Don't Speak the Language Speaker:   Jessica Conklin If your ancestors crossed the Atlantic, there's no need for a language barrier to stop your research in its tracks! With my 4-step method for decoding genealogical records in unfamiliar languages, you can learn to read documents from your ancestor's country of origin. We'll also explore computer tips and useful online resources (like translation tools and even AI) that help make foreign languages accessible and understandable. Join us! Free and virtual! *Please register by 4pm day of meeting. *Please save your passcode and link for ease of entry at start time. *Presentation starts promptly at 6:30 pm. Link to register at the Wakecogen website events page .   Registration is now open! **Get the video recording to watch on-demand for 30 days and access ...

Good maps are great for genealogical research. Landowner maps are perfect tools for assisting your ancestor hunt.  Once you have a general idea of the time and place of your ancestor, you should turn your search to finding mapd that document landowners of the time period. These may be legal land administration maps, subscription county maps, or any map referred to as a cadastral map. When looking online, try to search with both "land ownership" and "cadastral" as keywords to see which produces. A cadastral map is a very specific type of map that records legal land parcel boundaries and ownership. Examples of cadastral maps would be land survey plat maps and the modern Wake County iMaps  (an interactive geographic system (GIS) maintained by the City of Raleigh).    A cadastral map is but one type of map with names included. Other maps with recorded names exist that are just as useful though they may not be considered official. Topographic maps and county subscription...

Event update from Genealogical Research Institute of Virginia (GRIVA) sharing their upcoming virtual fall conference: GRIVA 2026 Virtual Fall Conference presents: Digging Up Your Ancestors – An Introduction to Using AI Date: Saturday, October 31, 2026 | 10:00 AM – 3:45 PM EDT Location: Virtual via Zoom Featured Speaker: Diana Elder, AGⓇ, AGL™ Discover how artificial intelligence can transform your family history research! Join the Genealogical Research Institute of Virginia (GRIVA) for a full-day virtual conference covering AI fundamentals, practical research workflows, transcribing complex court records, and solving tough Southern ancestor brick walls. Registration: $35 for GRIVA members | $45 for non-members Full schedule and online registration: https://griva.org/event/2026-fall-conference-event/ Brochure link here. Visit Wake County Genealogical Society's Website - Homepage | WCGS Events | Join WCGS | Publications | Wake Cemetery Survey Images | Society Surnames | Digita...

Do you struggle with reading modern cursive writing? Do you want to run away and hide more than you want the clue that is scribbled in the old-style handwritten document in front of you? If so the Library of Congress is here to help. Their online resource, Paleography: Interpreting Handwriting in Genealogical Research   is the comprehensive tool you need to blast through those handwriting roadblocks. Most sections after the introduction contains both a bibliography and links to online resources. Categories of help include English Scripts, Early American Handwriting, Modern Cursive, Signatures, Transcription and Spelling, Latin scripts, Languages and Subject headings, General Reference and Dictionaries. Follow the link to the source to find the  signatures of some famous aviators! The English Scripts section includes information on English and Scottish document from 1500-1700 as well as a link out to an incredible Script tutorial hosted at Brigham Young University that links to...

NCPedia's Early Settlement article provides valuable context for understanding North Carolina's colonial growth. The colorful map below illustrates the frontier development from 1657-1835. The article explores the finer points that spurred that development, including the massive and rapid growth that occured after King George took NC lands back from the Lords Proprietors in 1729. Discover why this created a boom that lasted until the Revolution era.  Image source - NCpedia The article shares two other maps that provide background for understanding early settlement and migration trends. A trail map traces not only the Great Wagon Road, but also migration routes from coastal ports. It highlights which groups tended to take each path. The associated text emphasizes how the Piedmont and coastal areas were essentially cut off from each other. By the mid 1700s, the Piedmont settlers had more trade and communication with Philadelphia and their South Carolina neighbors than the coasta...

Correction***Please note that the only event supported by WCHS is the Isaac Hunter event in October.*** I thought to pull this post, but that would add further confusion. Just be aware that the other events listed are not WCHS supported. Disregard or persue  the others  as separate entities. The Wake County Historical Society October program features "Isaac Hunter and His Tavern," presented by Belle Long, a Hunter family researcher for over 20 years. I am especially interested in this one as the remains of the tavern still stood not far from our home in the late 1960's. The photo looks just like I remember it.     October 5, 7PM at Mordecai Visitor Center .  Details for these and many other events of local historical interest can be found in their newsletter. You can find all at this link .  Visit Wake County Genealogical Society's Website - Homepage | WCGS Events | Join WCGS | Publications | Wake Cemetery Survey Images | Society Surnames | Digit...

The three men who saw the colony of North Carolina through the transition from British rule to independence are pictured below. Did you know that none of these men were born in colonial NC? Each found their way here on their path to destiny. Their fate was to leave a legacy for those who came after. Portraits by Ole Erekson, Engraver, c. 1876, Library of Congress as viewed at USHistory.org These three men were William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, and John Penn.  They were the same delegates who with other local leaders outlined the NC colonists' needs and grievances in Halifax on April 12, 1776 and distilled these sentiments into the document historically known as the Halifax Resolves.  The trio presented  the Resolves to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia just months later. That document became the bones of the Declaration of Independence written in June of the same year by Thomas Jefferson and a committee of men. This timeline is remarkable. Just 83 days elapsed from...

I ran across a two part series on the Family Tree DNA blog recently. Entitled  Researching the Ancestry of Formerly-Enslaved African American Families, the series was written by two well-known and respected researchers - Paul Heinegg and Ayo Heinegg Magwood. They have been researching and documenting both formerly enslaved and early free people of color for a long time. Heinegg and Magwood are both frequently found on genealogy lecture schedules. The authors have combined all the knowledge that they have gathered over the years in this series to share and empower others taking the same research journey. Each part of the series contains extensive information and puts links to the FamilySearch Wiki convienently at your fingertips at each new step. The FamilySearch Wiki is a knowledge base known for its vast and thorough content.  Part 1: Up to the 1870 Brick Wall  - The "brick wall" being the 1870 census, part 1 includes strategies for using all the standard vital...