Countdown to Saturday Aug.6 WCGS Special Virtual Event. 3-2-1...Reserve your spot!

There are still some spots remaining for this event. Please remember to register at our event page (linked below after description). Registration will close Saturday, Aug 6 at 10am EDT.

At this time the in-person portion is cancelled, and everyone will attend virtually via Zoom. Everyone who registered will receive the Zoom log in shortly before the event and have access to viewing on demand for 90 days after the presentation.

Whether you are a genetic genealogy novice or an experienced researcher, Dana Leeds developed a method for sorting matches that has changed the process for all comers. It is the first tool that I use when I look at a new tester's results and I am not alone in that.

Sample Leeds Chart

About Dana Leeds and the August 6 presentations -

Genetic Genealogist Dana Leeds started researching her family tree in 1998. She bought her first DNA kit in 2016 and solved her first unknown parentage case in early 2018. While working on another case that year, she created the innovative genetic genealogy tool known as the Leeds Method. This method quickly sorts DNA matches into clusters allowing the user to see which matches belong together. Dana quickly became a nationally known genetic genealogy speaker, and she enjoys helping others to easily understand and work with their DNA results. Her helpful creation has been shared widely on blogs (including her own), at Legacy Webinars, RootsTech, and other genealogy conferences.

Dana will teach her Leeds Method in the first lecture of the day on August 6. All comers will leave with a simple but powerful new skill to work with their Autosomal DNA.

For the second lecture of the afternoon, Dana will present a case study that just happened to turn her research to Wake County and involves the local Beddingfield surname. The presentation entitled “One Man, Multiple Names, an Unexpected DNA Discovery” tells the story of William Emmitt Hunter who arrived in Oklahoma around 1910 in his early to mid-30s. He married and raised eight children, but he apparently never told them about his past. Only DNA could unravel his secrets. This presentation will share the fascinating story of his family as well as the genetic and traditional genealogy methodology that was used to uncover it.

Registration is filling up. Reserve your space soon. Please join us on August 6 for an educational and entertaining experience. Visit the Events page at Wakecogen.org to start your registration.

We look forward to seeing you virtually on August 6.

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Local Learning Opportunity: July 30 Presentation - Writing Your Family History - Features WCGS President, Carla Stancil

Be sure to put July 30 on your calendar and call ahead for registration for this special event. Don't miss WCGS president, Carla Stancil team up with Lisa Lisson to offer tips to inspire, encourage and even help you over your writer's block. Share those stories. Leave a legacy!

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Wake Treasures - Vol 31, Issue 1 is Available

The latest issue of The Wake Treasures Journal is now live for reading or download at the Wakecogen website. Members should log in the member area to access it through the left sidebar. Here is a preview of what is inside from Journal editor, Donna Shackle.

In this publication you will find a vignette of President Carla Stancil's Wake County ancestors, the City of Raleigh Death registers from 1900-1901, and the first article of the Ernest Haywood Files.  I'm particularly pleased to present you a series of letters to and from Carl Stancil, Carla Stancil's beloved father, while he was in the marines from 1944-1952.  This is a series of 144 letters to be published over the next issues of Wake Treasures and we are looking forward to having you follow Carl on his journey.  Warm thanks to Carla for sharing this piece of history with us.

 

If you have any Wake County an ancestors or research, Wake Treasures would love to feature your work in a future issue.  We welcome submissions of research reports, narratives, and special articles.  If you have questions or want to learn more about being published in our award winning journal, feel free to contact me at journal@wakecogen.org.

 

Please consider joining the journal team.  In order to make the publication possible, a team of volunteers works behind the scenes and needs your help.  There are currently openings for a content curator and transcribers.  If you're interested in learning more about how you can help, please contact 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!

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Special Event from Wake County Genealogical Society - A Day with Dana Leeds - August 6 afternoon

A SATURDAY WITH DANA LEEDS

 Saturday, August 6

12:45 pm to 5:00 pm

Note change to Virtual via Zoom only

A Saturday with Dana Leeds - Creator of the LEEDS method for Autosomal DNA analysis

Where: Note this event is now virtual only see the WCGS Event page to register

What: Wake County Genealogical Society is proud to host the one and only Dana Leeds, who will present two separate talks in this Saturday afternoon of genealogy. 

Genetic Genealogist Dana Leeds started researching her family tree in 1998. She bought her first DNA kit in 2016 and solved her first unknown parentage case in early 2018. While working on another case that year, she created the innovative genetic genealogy tool known as the Leeds Method. This method quickly sorts DNA matches into clusters allowing the user to see which matches belong together. Dana quickly became a nationally known genetic genealogy speaker, and she enjoys helping others to easily understand and work with their DNA results. Her helpful creation has been shared widely on blogs (including her own), at Legacy Webinars, RootsTech, and other genealogy conferences.

Presentation One: The Leeds Method of Organizing Your Autosomal DNA Matches
Dana will introduce participants to the nuts and bolts of her “Leeds Method” of sorting matches into “grandparent” lines. Dana's method of sorting matches requires no prior knowledge of  DNA jargon or techniques, and even better, no prior knowledge of the focus tester’s matches. It is widely used to help solve unknown parentage cases. It is a simple, approachable method that is available to the novice and expert alike.

Presentation Two: One Man, Multiple Names: An Unexpected DNA Discovery
Dana will present a case study that just happened to turn her research to Wake County and involves the local Beddingfield surname. The presentation tells the story of William Emmitt Hunter who arrived in Oklahoma around 1910 in his early to mid-30s. He married and raised eight children, but he apparently never told them about his past. Only DNA could unravel his secrets. This presentation will share the fascinating story of his family as well as the genetic and traditional genealogy methodology that was used to uncover it. 

There will be a 45 minute break between presentations.  Light snacks will be offered for on-site participants.

Cost (for either in-person participation or virtual participation):

WCGS Members: $10  (Sign into the member's area before making your selection in the store.)

Non-Members: $20

Learn more about the Leeds Method of working with your family DNA here.  Questions? Email George Thomas, Program Manager for the Wake County Genealogical Society.                 

Advanced registration strongly recommended.  Limited seating for both in-person and virtual participants.  On-site registration (cash or check only) will be an option if any in-person slots remain after advanced registration.

Visit our Events Page to register.

 

Visit Wake County Genealogical Society's Website - Homepage | WCGS Events | Join WCGS | Publications | Wake Cemetery Survey Images |Digital Resources | History Resources | More Links and Resources | Wake Cemetery Survey c. 1978 online | Contact

Reminder: Next Wakecogen Virtual Meeting - June 28 - NC Moravian Culture in Early - Mid 1800's

There is still plenty of time to sign up for our next virtual Society Meeting. Mark your calendar for Tuesday, June 28, 6:30pm.

Topic: Wachovia, Where German Moravians Became Slaveholding Americans and Avid Confederates

Speaker: Dr. Larry E. Tise, Author, Educator, Historian

I grew up as a Methodist in the Moravian religious preserve originally denominated as Wachovia in 1753. Despite the demise of its best-known homemade namesake Wachovia Bank and Trust Company, the metes and bounds and symbolic power of the name Wachovia has remained a looming presence in the land where Moravian ideas, ideals, and customs were established. Some of those traditions can still be observed in Winston Salem today. We grew up listening to Moravian bands, eating Moravian buns and cookies, and flocking to Moravian love feasts. Austerity, love, and religious ceremonies set the Moravians apart for us. The story of how they came into the backcountry wilderness to practice their gentle religion set them apart from all other Christians for us. We were in awe of their gentle ways and their spirituality. They were pacificists during the American Revolution.

Moravians were for us a holy people. Thus, imagine how difficult and shocking it was for us as citizens of an imperfect nation and a complicated world to learn that our beloved Moravians were slaveholders. Not just owners of slaves, but adroit managers of enslaved peoples. Sometimes traders in flesh. Embracers of the notion that white and black Christians should be separated one from the other. Proud employers of black slaves in every trade and in factories fabricating uniforms for Confederate soldiers. Even progenitors of well-clad young men who volunteered enthusiastically to defend the Confederate States of America from Bull Run in 1861 until the surrender of Confederate officers and beleaguered warriors at Bennet’s Place near Durham Station in North Carolina in 1865. This is the story of how this transformation began in colonial America and flourished in the land known as Wachovia from its Moravian founders until the emergence of the Old South.

This virtual meeting and presentation is open to all, but registration is required.  Visit the WCGS Events page to access the registration link.

 

To learn Zoom tips for successfully joining the meeting, please read Important ZOOM Tips.

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Wake Cemetery Survey c. 1978 is now Live at the Wakecogen Website!

Just in case you are following along at home, ALL 20 townships of the Wake Cemetery Census c.1978 are published* and live at our website.

Come check out the Survey. You may just find some new insight there.

https://wakecogen.org/cpage.php?pt=49

*This is just the first pass there will be future updates and additions.

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Focus on Mount Hope, Raleigh's oldest Black municipal Cemetery May 29 - at City of Raleigh Museum

Mark your calendars for May 29. In addition to the exhibit "Sacred Spaced, Sacred Stories," honoring Raleigh's first African American burial ground, Mount Hope Cemetery, Raleigh City Cemeteries Preservation, Inc. and City of Raleigh Museum will present a talk on Sunday, May 29. The talk is presentation by Jane Thurman and Edna Rich-Ballentine on Mt.Hope Cemetery, the oldest Black municipal cemetery in Raleigh. In addition, Alan Welsh, a local historian will discuss and share slave narratives of several people interred at Mt.Hope. This evocative storytelling is part of our focus on the African American history of Raleigh told through the heritage of this Black municipal cemetery.

Mark your Calendar -

Sunday, May 29, 2022 from 1:00 to 2:30

at the Raleigh City Museum

220 Fayetteville St.

Contact City of Raleigh Museum, 919-996-3000, or Raleigh City Cemeteries Preservation, Inc., 919-996-6548 for futher details.

Visit Wake County Genealogical Society's Website - Homepage | WCGS Events | Join WCGS | Publications | Wake Cemetery Survey Images |Digital Resources | History Resources | More Links and Resources | Wake Cemetery Survey c. 1978 online | Contact

Reminder: Upcoming Wake Co Gen Soc Events in the next few days!

 Come visit with us on Saturday and enjoy a great learning opportunity next Tuesday!

Wake County Genealogical Societ Meet up - Saturday, May 21 (in-person event)

When:  Saturday, May 21, 2022

Time:  1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Where:  Oak View Historical Park, 4028 Carya Drive, Raleigh, NC  meet on the front porch of the Main Farm House @ 1pm

Come join WCGS members for some fresh air and fresh faces. Bring your questions. Come compare ancestors and  sleuting tips, or just enjoy meeting like minded curious souls who love family history and stories! No registration required. Open to members, potential members and those who are just plain curious.

Wake County Genealogical Society Monthly Meeting - Tuesday, May 24 (Virtual Event)

When: Tuesday, May 24, 2022 @ 6:30pm - Virtual

Topic:  The 1950 Census - A Glimpse Inside Mid-Century America 
Speaker: Lisa Lisson

The 1950 Census is here! For the first time, the census record gives researchers a glimpse into the lives of their ancestors in post-WWII America. From war brides to suburbia to baby boomers, we'll find it all in the 1950 census. 

This virtual meeting and presentation is open to all, but registration is required.  Registeration details on Wakecogen.org Events Page.

We look forward to seeing you live or virtually this week!

Visit Wake County Genealogical Society's Website - Homepage | WCGS Events | Join WCGS | Publications | Wake Cemetery Survey Images |Digital Resources | History Resources | More Links and Resources | Wake Cemetery Survey c. 1978 online | Contact

Share with us for the May 24 Meeting - your Fabulous, Famous and Infamous finds from the 1950 census!

We are planning a special little preview activity for our May 24 virtual meeting. Prior to the meeting during the open chat time, our program chair, George Thomas is planning a fun feature and we need your help. Please submit any Fabulous, Famous and Infamous folk you have found while perusing the 1950 Census images. I have seen what George Thomas, program director,  has planned and I think it will be highly entertaining. Forward thes following details for what you find - the name, state, county, and enumeration district  to George's email - geothos@bellsouth.net  and he will take your findings and create a slide show that should prove to be a lot of fun as we warm up for the evening's presentation. 

Imaging finding this! A very young Bruce Springsteen was residing in the home of his grandparent's New Jersey home in 1950 along with his parents! 

Are you up for the thrill of the hunt? 

Hint: Steve Morse's Unified Enumeration District Finder for 1950 may be of some help.

Send your Fabulous, Famous and Infamous finds to George so we can all marvel at your sleuthing skills.

Spoiler Alert! George's slides are way better than mine!

After we settle in for the evening, Lisa Lisson will present "A Glimpse Inside MidCentury America."  The 1950 Census gives researchers a glimpse into the lives of their ancestors in post-WWII America. From war brides to suburbia to baby boomers, we'll find it all in the 1950 census.

We hope you will join us and wish you Happy Census Hunting!

Visit Wake County Genealogical Society's Website - Homepage | WCGS Events | Join WCGS | Publications | Wake Cemetery Survey Images |Digital Resources | History Resources | More Links and Resources | Wake Cemetery Survey c. 1978 online | Contact

Wake County Genealogy Society - Planning for the Future: Who is the next President in Training?

 

A message from the WCGS Nominating Committee:

As genealogists, we are always planning for the future and legacy of our research.   As members of the Wake County Genealogical Society, we too are planning for the future and legacy of the Society.  As the Society’s 40^th anniversary approaches, we are looking forward to the next 40 years.

 In May of each year, about half of the positions on the Board of Directors are scheduled for election/re-election.  In 2022, those positions are as follows:

--President

--President-in-Training

--Recording Secretary

--One of the two Director positions

Currently, we have three incumbents who have agreed to serve again:

Carla Stancil – President

Barbara McGeachy – Recording Secretary

Ed Webb – Director

The Nominating Committee’s primary responsibility this year is to seek candidates to fill the position of President-in-Training. 

Members can nominate other members or themselves.  The newly elected member will become familiar with the role of President by shadowing the current President.  This path to leadership has served well in the past with Board members usually serving for a minimum of two years.

If you are interested in serving in this capacity or helping in any other way, please let us know.  Nominations can be given to the following Nominating Committee members:

Carol Kimball Stahl, Membership Chair – membership@wakecogen.org

Saundra Cropps, Volunteer Coordinator – saundracropps@gmail.com

George Thomas, Program Chair – geothos@bellsouth.net

Kathy Ruse, Past President – kathleen.ruse@gmail.com

The WCGS Board of Directors looks forward to welcoming new members to our team.  Through these “interesting times,” we have survived and even thrived.  We all came to serve on the Board simply as members who wanted to ensure the future of the Society.  Although initially unknown to each other, we brought unique insights and perspectives to build a stronger Society.  We want you to consider joining this team.  And we all agree that shadowing Carla would be a wonderful opportunity for anyone!

Who will be our next President in Training? I hope you will consider this request from the Nominating Committee. I can promise you won’t regret it. The years I have spent working with the WCGS team have been most entertaining and rewarding. We can’t wait to welcome you to the team! - Cyndi Deal

Join us at the first Wake County Genealogy Society Meet up of 2022 - April 9 - 9AM-Noon

Calling all WCGS members and interested parties for our first face to face meet up of 2022. As we are a service organization, this first one will involve a service project!

Please join the Wake County Genealogical Society as we participate in the Raleigh Day of Service: Historic Oberlin Cemetery Clean Up on April 9, 2022 from 9am to noon. This is a perfect opportunity for us to gather in a way we have not had an opportuity to in over 2 years!  Perhaps we can even go to lunch after, if a group would like to do so. 

This is a regular activity and so is well organized by the Friends of Oberlin Village.  Bring your own work gloves, closed toe shoes, garden cutters, and perhaps a tarp. And don't forget your water bottle! No need to register, just show up ready to help preserve history - rain or shine!

If you don't live locally or cannot participate, the Friends of Oberlin Village is always grateful to receive donations to further their cause as well as materials (such as tarps, etc) to aid in the clean up effort.  

Oberlin Village is an African American reconstruction settlement established in 1866 in Raleigh, NC. Despite their suffering from slavery, segregation, discrimination and gentrification, the residents of Oberlin Village established a strong community bond and always exhibited pride, purpose and prosperity. In a News & Observer article dated August 8, 1948, Willis Briggs stated the residents of Oberlin “were esteemed by both races for their industry, frugality and high character.”

 

More information here:  https://friendsofoberlinvillage.org/

Visit Wake County Genealogical Society's Website - Homepage | WCGS Events | Join WCGS | Publications | Wake Cemetery Survey Images |Digital Resources | History Resources | More Links and Resources | Wake Cemetery Survey c. 1978 online | Contact

WCGS - Wake Genealogy Watch - Spring 2022 issue now available

The Spring 2022 Issue (Vol.5 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 2022

  Features included in this issue include:

• WCGS Website news including several updates, some volunteer requests and a briefing from our program director, George Thomas.
• Get ready for the release of the 1950 Census with information pulled from NARA, History Hub and the US Census Bureau, including an interesting sidebar on how census data crunching needs drove early tech development.
• Visit Facebook nostalgia groups for novel ways to gather information and connect with others – old friends, cousins and researchers.
• We have a Wake Cemetery Survey Project update for you.
• We review a new website - Early American Sources.
• Handy Zoom tips will help you navigate meeting entry easier.                    
• Our events calendar highlights some really fun upcoming topics.

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.



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