WakeCoGen Blog - news from the Wake County Genealogy Society
For those of you following UAFA, here is the latest news.
Click
on the link below to open the latest Footprints, the Upchurch and Allied Families newsletter.
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The Winter 2022 Issue (Vol.5 Issue 2) of our award winning newsletter, Wake Genealogy Watch, is now available online for reading or download. You can visit the WCGS website for access.
Features included in this issue include:
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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!
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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
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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
For those of you following the Upchurch and Allied story, here is your link to the latest news.
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.
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:
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!
Here is the latest from UAFA for those who are following along.
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To sign up for our June 22 virtual meeting (topic - Finding Your Family on Ship Manifests with speaker, Mark Arslan) and to sign up for the next virtual GenHelp session on July 1, visit our Registration page.
Members, if you are interested in exploring your German Genes and heritage, you will want to sign up for the latest WCGS Special Interest Group , "German Genes." The inaugural meeting will be this Saturday, June 19, 10:30 - Noon. Contact coordinator, Sue Olmstead.
If you are not yet a member and want to join to participate visit our Join page through the link below. Willkommen!
Visit the Wake County Genealogical Society - Homepage | WCGS Events | Join WCGS | Publications | Digital Resources | History Resources | More Links and Resources | Contact
The newest SIG under the WCGS umbrella will have its inaugural meeting Saturday, June 19 at 10:30am. The group will meet via Zoom. The SIG is open to WCGS members and registration is required. Contact Sue Olmsted via email - GermanGenesSIG@gmail.com
From Sue Olmsted, SIG Facilitator:
There are many of us in the WCGS who have German roots that we would like to explore, but may feel out of our depth. For the past year I have been working on my maternal line, almost entirely German, and have picked up some information that we can use to start the discussion.
I think a Special Interest Group will be a vehicle for us to share what we have discovered in our own research and to learn from each other. Like our other SIGs, I hope everyone will contribute, as this is not meant to be a class.
The first thing I would like to share will be to tell you about an upcoming international German Genealogy Conference , July 17-24, 2021, for which I have registered. . If you want to learn more, I hope you drop by Saturday the 19th or check out this teaser of some of the speakers : https://iggc.info/ or you can drop by the SIG kick-off meeting on June 19, 2021. The SIG meeting will be a Zoom session running from 10:30 to about noon and is open to any WCGS member.
Auf Wiedersehen,
Sue
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This post is specifically directed to our readers who receive WCGS blog posts via email. There are changes coming.
Blogger and Google have decided to do away with the service that currently delivers your blog post to you. The Feedburner service is ending "sometime this month." Yes, the devil is in the details. I am working to find another service that I hope can seamlessly pick up where feedburner service leaves off.
I am doing some testing right now which requires me to make a few posts (including this one) that will give me information on how the new service handles the emails, what they will look like to you and how timely they will be delivered. I hope this will only require a few posts over a day or two. You may find posts marked "Test" with not much in them. That is me working out a change on a system that is WAY above my expertise and paygrade!
As soon as I know that all is in order, I will post what I know so you can make any changes necessary to continue receiving by email. All this pain on me is to hopefully make the transition seamless for you. I will update as soon as I have all the issues worked out. In the meantime, if you feel like you are missing posts that you should be seeing, visit the blog directly at https://wakecogen.blogspot.com/
Thank you for sticking with us! Without you, there is no Society.
Word is that Olivia Raney Local History Library is expected to open on June 7. Contact the library for info on scheduling appointments. Subject to change. Watch their webpage.
When you visit, look for this delightful photo of the children's reading room from the original ORL location. You will find it in the new reading room!
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For those of you following along click this link for the latest newsletter.
UAFA - May 2021
Visit the Wake County Genealogical Society - Homepage | WCGS Events | Join WCGS | Publications | Digital Resources | History Resources | More Links and Resources | Contact
Of course they announce this two days after I send out the newsletter! I checked the link every day for a week. It is all good though, because access has been extended. From ProQuest:
Access to Ancestry Library Edition has been temporarily expanded to library cardholders working remotely, courtesy of ProQuest and its partner Ancestry. Remote access will be available until September 30/2021 and will continue to be re-evaluated.
Details are at this ProQuest link.
The Summer 2021 Issue (Vol.4 Issue 4) 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, Summer, 2021
This issue contains the following topics:
·
Get details on our newest Special Interest Group
for WCGS members - Family Tree Maker 2019.
·
Ted Bainbridge offers several solid tips for
tracking ancestors that disappear from one census to the next.
·
Sometimes you need a large space to expand your
tree drawing efforts - either your own or your DNA matches and shared ancestors.
You will want to read the ideas on budget friendly white board alternatives
including some easy-to-use Microsoft tools.
·
Meet WCGS Webmaster - Cynthia Gage.
·
Read about clever ideas to foster appreciation of
family heirlooms in our younger generations with books, albums and other media
that create an interactive experience.
·
Meet our board members. The final installment
spotlights our President in Training, Monique Bunch and our Past President,
Kathy Ruse.
·
As always, stay updated with our packed events
calendar and links to so very much online content.
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.
Dear Readers,
Spring is upon us, the coronavirus vaccine is here, and life is slowly returning to normal. The pandemic is sure to have honed our online research skills, and I’m sure you’ll be glad to be able to research in person once more as the archives and state library are now offering appointments for in-person research. It is also conference season, with the National Genealogical Society hosting its annual conventionon virtually in May. Wake County Genealogical Society’s own Diane L. Richard and David M. McCorkle will be presenting and are not to be missed!
As you may have noticed, this issue has a new cover that we are proud to debut, along with our new logo. This issue of Wake Treasures is full of continued series, such as the final part of Carey Faisons “Railroads, Hortons, and Faisons,” the 1897 Raleigh Colored School Census, Wake County Records Batch #3, Wake County Records of Slaves and Free Negroes, 1721-1829 and Soldiers Home records, while also introducing new content from Debra Blake, a secretary’s report from the Mordecai family, and Trade Licenses of 1876.
Without the help of an array of volunteers this journal wouldn’t be possible. Please consider submitting your Wake family history, transcribing, or selecting content as the Content Curator. If you are interested in contributing to the journal, please contact me at journal@wakecogen.org. Many thanks to our contributors, transcribers, indexer, and proofreader!
Hope you enjoy,
Donna Shackle, Editor
Raleigh Senior Tech Ed's schedule has been updated with classes through June 2021. All are offered virtually via Zoom.
Classes in Genealogy, Tech and more. Visit the links for class descriptions, times and fees.
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If you are a WCGS member who uses Family Tree Maker 2019 and you are looking for a collaborative experience to boost your skill level, you will be interested in this upcoming effort from Cynthia Gage, WCGS Webmaster and FTM SIG facilitator. Details from Cynthia:
I want to sandwich this between our two Native American centric Society Virtual Meetings for March and April 2021. I think some will find the information and links helpful if you are working with NA research. This post is one I originally wrote for the Winter 2020 issue of the Wake Genealogy Watch newsletter. - Cyndi Deal
"But her name is Kizzie and it says she is Native American…," said the friend I am helping to build a DNA family tree. "Does that mean I am Native American? There were rumors about my father being Native American!" Such hope. Such excitement. This in regards to a person purported to be her great grandmother labeled as such in someone else's undocumented tree… - CD
I gingerly explained that though there may have been someone at some point in the distant past that was Native American (NA), there are currently no known records and no NA showing in her DNA ethnicity results to confirm that story. A sister also did not have NA register in her ethnicity.
I also pointed out that anyone claiming NA ancestry in the last three or four generation yet not living on or near a Reservation, was not likely to be full or even halfblooded NA unless they had family documented in the Federal Indian Rolls. Thinking back on the history of our country, the time period most likely for NA and nonNA intermarriage and admixing of DNA to occur was very early (especially true for the east coast and southern states), and most likely involved 4-7 great grandparents or further back. Any traces of NA ethnicity could have long since been whittled down to the level of noise. One per cent or less puts you back 6 generations or more.
Suppose it is not just noise…
Where do you go to research NA ancestry with records that could prove a connection exists? I give you fair warning—
This is not going to be a project where you can ante up a few names and dates and locations, type them into an search engine, then Bam! There’s your answer.
This will require some solid traditional records research with a side of historical context and a concurrent deep dive into the full spectrum of DNA and Genetic Genealogy as related to Native American ancestry. In other words, unless you have close kin living on a Reservation in the 1900s, this is going require a huge investment of time and effort.
I was midway through writing this article when I had the good fortune to hear Roberta Estes speak on this very subject at the NCGS 2019 conference. In her presentation, “Investigating Whether You Have Native American Ancestry,” Roberta told us of her ongoing Native American DNA research projects and her search for the NA in her own ethnicity. She provides a wealth of resources on line at her two blogs and even explains how to access your ethnicity segments at 23&Me and paint them to your chromosomes at DNA Painter.
You will want to check out Roberta’s blogs and resources as a starting place in your DNA research.
DNA Explained - Native American Resources Tab
Native Heritage Project
Native American & Minority Ancestors Identified Using DNAPainter Plus Ethnicity Segments
Your first step - Prove the family line
Use records research and dna matchesto prove parentage for all relations back to the suspected NA ancestor. Gather all records and written information you can find. Document your sources. Seek out as many DNA matches as you are able and look for possible future target testers.
Research Federal Indian Rolls
If, in your records research, you find links to NA Rolls at this point, you are lucky. You have landed on the doorstep of the proof you seek.
The NA Rolls are held at the The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) and can be viewed with subscription on Fold3.com. If you do not have a subscription, check to see if your local library has one that you can access with your library card. You may be able to research from home or from your local library or state archives.
From NARA:
"The BIA (Bureau of Indian Affairs) gathered, collected, and/or created numerous rolls involving American Indians to identify members of various tribes and bands, including Freedmen. These rolls were created as a result of allotments, legislation, removals, treaties, and other activities. The BIA then used these rolls to create additional documentation--often using the same rolls for multiple purposes. Since the purpose of the rolls vary; the information collected also varies.
They can contain names, enrollment numbers, ages, family relations, locations, and more.”
If you do not find your ancestor directly linked to the Rolls, you will still want to check the Applications for the Rolls. Many applied but were not accepted. Finding your ancestors rejected application gives you more information for your story. So still a win. Just not the one you expected.
The Rolls currently digitized and available thru Fold3 are:
Baker Rolls, 1924-1929 Eastern Cherokee
Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 Multiple Agencies and Tribes
Roblin Roll, 1911-1919 Indians in Western Washington not enrolled or allotted to an Indian Agency
Kern-Clifton Roll of Cherokee Freedmen, 01/16/1897
Revised Copy of the Wallace Roll, ca. 1890 - ca.1896
Dawes Rolls, 1896-1914 Five Civilized Tribes of Oklahoma
Guion Miller Rolls, 1906-1911 Eastern Cherokee
It is worth noting that when you are checking a particular Roll's detail page, it is useful to scroll down to the bottom of the page where there is a section detailing the earlier rolls used to compile the final Roll of interest.
Indian Rolls not yet digitized include:
Cherokee Emigration 1817-1838
1830 Armstrong Roll (Census concerning Choctaw Removal)
Muster Rolls Concerning Indian Removal 1832 - 1846
Eastern Cherokee Census Rolls Compilation 1836 - 1884
All of these records are held at National Archives in Washington, D.C.
The Osage Annuity Rolls 1870-1960 are held at National Archives in Fort Worth, Tx.
The Grazing Payment Rolls 1923 - 1928 are held at National Archives in Seattle, Wa.
Consult the Bureau of Indian Affairs Records page at NARA for further details.
While you are researching at Fold 3, take a look through the Native American Records Collection. In addition to Rolls files, you will find an index to Indian Wars Pension Files 1892-1926, Indian Wars Service Records, War of 1812 Service Records for Chickasaw and Creek soldiers.
Will a Census help?
Answer - It depends on the time frame.
Decennial Federal Census
From NARA:
"Prior to 1900, few Indians are included in the decennial federal census. Indians are not identified in the 1790-1840 censuses. In 1860, Indians living in the general population are identified for the first time. Nearly all of the 1890 census schedules were destroyed as a result of the fire at the Department of Commerce in 1921. Beginning with the 1900 census, Indians are enumerated on reservations as well as in the general population."
Indian Census Rolls 1885 - 1940
There are also extant yearly reservation census rolls submitted by the agent or superintendent in charge to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs starting after 1884.
From NARA:
"The data on the rolls vary, but usually given are the English and/or Indian name of the person, roll number, age or date of birth, sex, and relationship to head of family.
Beginning in 1930, the rolls also include the degree of Indian blood, marital status, ward status, place of residence, and sometimes other information. For certain years--1935, 1936, 1938, and 1939--only supplemental rolls of additions and deletions were compiled. Most of the 1940 rolls have been retained by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and are not included in this publication.
There is not a census for every reservation or group of American Indians for every year. Only persons who maintained a formal affiliation with a tribe under federal supervision are listed on these census rolls." View the details and limitations of this record set here.
Visit the Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness site for a very good summary about how NA persons were included in the decennial census records from 1850 going forward. It changed quite a bit over time.
Many boarding schools were set up in the 1800s to teach a skill and assimilate NA youth into the predominate culture. There are many record sets existing from these schools. The students were often given American names to replace their Native ones and then reverted back to their Native names once they returned home making them challenging to track but their records may be useful. Cyndi's List has a page dedicated to these school records.
Contact the tribe
Bear in mind that there are scores of small tribes that are recognized only at state level, like the Lumbee tribe of North Carolina. You should check for records at state level and if you know which tribe the ancestor is affiliated with, contact the tribe directly to see if there are any records that include your ancestor. The National Congress of American Indians maintains a website with a directory of Tribes and Associations. Many have websites.
DNA testing
DNA testing "may" indicate some Native American heritage but cannot prove it. As explained earlier, in most cases, the NA ancestor is so far back that all that remain to be inherited are trace amounts at best. Beyond that Y and Mitochondrial DNA can indicate a Native connection if your results turn up certain haplogroups, but not without full sequence testing according to Roberta Estes. She feels that the best strategy for Y and mt testing is to test as many lines on your DNA pedigree as possible. Autosomal can help connect you to possible NA cousin matches in your close pedigree, but is not reliable beyond six generations. An Autosomal test will give you an ethnicity estimate that may reference an NA percentage. Like the rest, it can give you clues but no proof. I refer you to Roberta Estes' blog post for further insight - Proving Native American Ancestry Using DNA
NA specific Facebook Groups
There are groups on Facebook that are dedicated specifically to research of Native ancestry. They offer a place to network, brainstorm, and collaborate with others to further the research. I especially recommend the Native American Ancestor Explorer: DNA, Genetics, Genealogy & Anthropology group. This is the best group that I have found that is trying to solve the problems using DNA in tandem with records research. There are many knowledgeable members here.
To find other Native American specific groups use the search bar at the top of your facebook page using “native American” or specific tribe as your keyword.
Casting about for other ideas
When all else fails, return to tried and true finding aids. In addition to previously mentioned Cyndi's List, be sure to check FamilySearch wiki - American Indian Genealogy, and Google. A Google search for “Native American Genealogy” turned up this page with a lot of promising links - Tracing Native American Family Roots offered by the National Indian Law Library.
Corralling the Data
As you progress with your research, be sure to keep good notes and record sources. As you begin to collect DNA matches to your potential ancestor, you may need ways to collate and review this data and incorporate it into your traditional research. I recommend the book, Advanced Genetic Genealogy: Techniques and Case Studies, edited by Debbie Parker Wayne. Its breadth of coverage of DNA in tandem with Records research and the many case studies, description of workflow, visualization tools and charts can help you stay on a narrow path as you work through your discoveries, hypotheses and findings.
Best of luck with your ancestor search!
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