Long time readers of the Wake County Genealogical Society blog will have noticed a few changes over the last few weeks. Starting with a newish name (that is not so new...) and a new look. These changes were in preparation for a larger change necessitated by ever-pressing progress. This blog space is our new home! After nine years as editor of the Wake Genealogy Watch newsletter I find I must transition to a new delivery platform. This is necessitated by Microsoft's discontinuation of Publisher in October 2026. After testing several alternatives this year, I've determined that the most efficient solution is to move our newsletter to an online format. This change is happening now, ahead of the Sept. 1 start date of our new calendar year. Since this space is already up and running it will become the official new home of the online newsletter. Longtime readers won't notice too much change. You'll continue receiving the same quality content—articles, announcements, and event...

  This post is one I originally wrote for the  Fall 2020 issue of the Wake Genealogy Watch newsletter . The topics are still pretty fresh. I hope you find something useful here.  - Cyndi Deal DNA for genealogy is a big topic and there are no shortcuts on the learning curve, but there is so much DNA education at our fingertips right now. With so many great genetic genealogy webinars available on line, why not sharpen your skill set?  (Bonus - All but two of these are free!) - CD Beginner  You Can Do DNA (series 2024) , presenter - Diahan Southard.   (Updated and expanded to a series in 2024.  Parts 1-4 are here, Part 5 can be viewed on YouTube) New to DNA? Start here. This covers test types, test companies, testing strategies, best explanation of ethnicity estimates ever, and basic concepts in a very beginner friendly format.  What Exactly is a Centimorgan? An Introduction to the Science of DNA Testing , presenter - Ran Snir.   W...

The Winter 2025 issue (Vol. 8, Issue 2) of our award-winning newsletter, Wake Genealogy Watch , is now available online for reading or download. Visit the WCGS website or click the link here: Wake Genealogy Watch, Winter 2025 .  This issue features: Genealogy New Year's Resolutions: Three engaging group activities to make 2025 your year of genealogy! Barbara McGeachy introduces an important record service for finding Union Soldiers’ pension records. Details about the Feb. 10 WCGS Meetup, including a tour of the NC Archives and State Library. A heartwarming story of a WCGS member reuniting a family with their lost Bible—read the nationally published account! Instructions for joining our new Facebook group. We’ve moved—don’t miss our updates! Tips from Olivia Raney Library on preserving local memorabilia. Meet Jessica Conklin, our newest Board Member. Lynne Deese highlights a local woman military veteran buried at Rale...

The Summer 2024 Issue (Vol. 7 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 2024 .    Features in this issue include: Our updated slate of officers for the WCGS Board of Directors Past president Carla Stancil reflects on the progress and challenges faced by our society during her tenure. Ed Morris, retired executive director of the Wake Forest Historical Museum, shares his vast knowledge of Major General Calvin Jones, M.D. of Wake Forest. You will be amazed at his many accomplishments and contributions to Wake County. Cynthia Gage made some very special discoveries about her ancestors using the resources at places of higher learning. She shares her tips with us. A clean up and preservation guide to help you know what to do and who to c...

The Spring 2024 Issue (Vol. 7, Issue 3) 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, Spring 2024.   Features in this issue include: Read details of the recent unveiling ceremony for a new Historic Marker in Holly Springs. We are seeking a webmaster volunteer. Read the details and volunteer information here. Find RootsTech 2024 highlights including links to selected presentations, and the whole on demand schedule. Research tip – Finding Prisoners and other special populations in post-1900 Census Records Have fun exploring selected topics from the Wake Treasures Journal contents, now available to all. Featured collections are linked in this issue. Explore the Biofile image collection online at Allied Families. This vast collection comprises yea...

Reprinted from Wake Genealogy Watch, newsletter of the Wake County Genealogy Society, Summer 2019, v2.4. I can figure cousinship fine when I am at my desk with all kinds of handy charts, but never when I am out and about. Here are two easy tips.—CD Trick 1: Count the number of Greats and add 1. Shared 4th great grands + 1 = 5th cousins. Shared 5th great grands + 1 = 6th cousins. Grand parents + 1 = 1st cousins. (0 grands to add!) For a another tip see this Family History Daily post.   Trick 2: Draw it out, as Roberta Estes did for her blog post on calculating cousins easily.  See Roberta’s post here for more tips.   Visit Wake County Genealogical Society's Website  -  Homepage  |  WCGS Events  |  Join WCGS  |  Publications  |  Wake Cemetery Survey Images  |  Society Surnames  |  Digital Resources  |  History Resources  |  More Links and Resources  |  C...

Hello Wake researchers,  The Winter 2024 Issue (Vol. 7 Issue 2) 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, Winter 2024   Features in this issue include: A big change to our Wake Treasures Journal sharing policy that is sure to please members and new visitors alike! An in-depth article about creating a family history in scrapbook style from Christopher Hunt Robertson. Chirstopher has shared several of his engaging ancestor scrapbooks with us in the past. A feature article on the Shiloh Community near Morrisville. Shiloh started as a freedmen’s village in the 1830’s. One of our WCGS members has strong family ties to this community. Focus on a little known and often overlooked resource – Historic and Architectural Resources of Wake County, North Car...

The Fall 2023 Issue (Vol. 7 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, Fall2023 .  Features included in this issue include: Several updates including news about our Homepage, Journal, and a new Board Position – Diversity & Inclusion Officer. The Reading Room features a review and link to an amazing family history book written by Brian Griffis. You will want to read The Life and Times of Lucius Griffis (1839 – 1918) to see what Brian accomplished with his strategy of searching way beyond the expected sources for his Wake County ancestor who lived through the Civil War and Reconstruction. Barbara McGeachy shares an important FamilySearch tip for location resources. Instructions to access the Upchurch Enrolled Family files online. These files hold ...

The Spring 2023 Issue (Vol.6 Issue 3) of our award-winning newsletter, Wake Genealogy Watch, is now available online for reading or download. You can download the latest newsletter through this link –   Wake Genealogy Watch, Spring 2023 Features in this issue include: RootsTech Roundup 2023: All the Tools, All the DNA, All the AI, All the Stories A review of our February Meet Up at Johnston County Heritage Center Brenda Carbon has shared a great case study exploring Ancestry’s new ethnicity SideView feature. Several Cemetery queries and cleanup projects in our area looking to make local connections Pointers to two really good blog posts that cover some basic yet fundamental concepts for working with Genetic Genealogy Our handy events calendar will help you save the dates, so you don't miss a single moment of WCGS excitement. 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 refe...

The Winter 2023 Issue (Vol.6 Issue 2) 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, Winter 2023 Features included in this issue include: Details on a super OLLI class that will be taught by WCGS Member, Barbara McGeachy – Genealogy:   Starting with the Basics Links to a host of online resources that are outside the traditional research sites A super timeline/map visualization video packed with historical context for the American First Colonies (1565 – 1700) Family History Guides to each state that provide rich access to a world of records and research strategies from your pc or cell phone The latest Enslaved Persons research resources International research groups and blogs for Germany and France Wake County Civil War Pension File li...