Genealogy Tips Quips

FROM USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR AND GENEALOGIST ELIZA WATSON! "A gold mine of ancestral research information!" —5-Stars by JBee "I was expecting a dry, fact-oriented book about genealogy, like so many I've seen, but couldn't be farther from the reality. Not only does this portray real-life searches but it does so in a fun and funny way. Her writing is so down to earth and she makes it fun and easy to delve into your family history." —5 Stars by Sharie Breihan-Groot In 2007 a twelve-day trip to Ireland—my ancestors’ homeland—turned out to be the most significant turning point in my life. I never dreamed when I embarked on my adventure it would lead to me becoming a genealogist, meeting dozens of Irish rellies, writing two fiction series set in Ireland, and buying a renovated 1887 schoolhouse in my Coffey ancestors’ townland. Since that trip, I’ve researched more than twenty-five of my maternal and paternal Irish lines as well as several Scottish ones. I’ve also assisted friends and family members with ancestry research in Austria, Canada, England, Germany, Hungary, and the US. Besides conducting online research, I have visited numerous historical archives, traipsed through hundreds of cemeteries (many now situated in sheep-filled fields), and located several family homesteads. In 2018 I began writing a genealogy column for my monthly author newsletter about my personal research experiences. Because I was writing articles faster than I was publishing newsletters, I compiled them into a book. Genealogy Tips & Quips includes: · twenty-five newsletter articles · twenty-five brand-new articles · a case study about how a paternal DNA test revealed my family’s royal lineage and my quest to uncover our family secrets · an extensive case study on tracing my most difficult family line Be prepared for unexpected twists and turns as I share my mistakes, lessons learned, and tips for getting to the roots of your family tree! About the Author Eliza Watson is a USA Today bestselling author and genealogist. Eliza's genealogy adventures have inspired two fiction series set in Ireland, Scotland, and England. She also writes a genealogy column for her monthly author newsletter and has written feature articles for genealogical societies. In 2013 she fulfilled her dream of owning a home in Ireland when she and her husband bought a renovated 1887 schoolhouse in her Coffey ancestors' townland. When Eliza isn't tracing her ancestry roots through Ireland or Scotland, she's at home working on her next novel, bouncing ideas off her husband, Mark, and her cats, Frankie and Sammy. Topics: Genealogy Research, Genealogy How To, Family Trees, Irish Genealogy, Scottish Genealogy, Irish Roots, Ireland Ancestry Research, Ancestry Research, Family History, Scottish Ancestors, Irish Ancestors, English Ancestors, Tracing Irish Ancestors, Researching Scottish Ancestors, Family DNA Research, Irish Research Records, Scotch Irish, Tracing Your Ancestry Roots, Ireland Cemeteries, Ireland Church Records, Writing Ancestry Biographies, Genealogy Humor

A compilation of brief quotes and aphorisms for genealogists and family historians, sorted into topical categories for referral.

Last Christmas genealogist Mags Murray organized her grandmother’s wake. This year she’ll be spending her holiday with her dad, and for the first time, her recently discovered biological father. To add to her stress, Mags offers to help her friend Gretta locate her grandson, who was adopted thirty-one years ago. Having uncovered her own paternity thanks to a DNA test, Mags is prepared for the surprises Gretta’s test may reveal. Or so she thinks. Within twenty-four hours of Gretta receiving her DNA results, a police detective requests Gretta’s assistance in identifying her closest match, a wanted criminal. Devastated by the shocking news, Gretta refuses to disclose the match is her grandson. Mags soon suspects the police aren’t the only ones searching for the man. Fearing Gretta’s grandson might be in danger, Mags and her best friend, Biddy McCarthy, attempt to track him down so they can warn him and hopefully prove his innocence. Over the past year, Mags and Biddy have encountered a forger, kidnapper, murderer, and other dodgy characters. Who knows what they are up against now!

FROM USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR AND FAMILY HISTORIAN ELIZA WATSON! A Cozy Mystery Set in Ireland Mags Murray’s genealogy career has taken off. She’s making great strides with the repairs on her late grandmother’s quaint Irish cottage, the historical Ballycaffey National School. She’s overcoming her fear of sheep. And she and childhood friend Biddy McCarthy are enjoying a few harmless shenanigans. Life is grand. That is, until a family heirloom, a gold locket, is stolen when Mags holds a school reunion in her grandmother’s memory. Mags soon discovers the thief when she stumbles across his dead body on her family’s cemetery plot—the man had been burying a velvet pouch containing cremains and Mags’s stolen locket. Eeewww. While seeking the identities of the deceased persons, Mags and Biddy uncover family secrets that may be best left hidden. However, Mags’s grandmother had believed that everyone deserved to know the truth about their family history. So why hadn’t she told Mags about hers? *Genealogy research tips included." Other readers of Eliza Watson’s books enjoyed books by: Addison Moore, Alyssa Maxwell, Angie Fox, Carlene O'Connor, Cate Martin, Catie Murphy, Ellery Adams, Fiona Grace, Jana Deleon, Janet Evanovich, Joanne Fluke, Kennedy Layne, Laura Durham, Lee Strauss, Leighann Dobbs, Paige Shelton, Rhys Bowen, Shanna Swendson, Sheila Connolly, and Tonya Kappes. Topics: Cozy Mysteries Amateur Sleuth, Mysteries Amateur Sleuth, International Cozy Mysteries, Cozy Mysteries Women Sleuths, Genealogy, Family History, Ancestry, Family Trees, Fiction Set in Ireland, Humorous Cozy Mystery, Humorous Beach Read, International Mysteries, Chick Lit Mystery, Friendship Fiction, Witty Fiction, Humorous Fiction, Cozy Mysteries Set in Europe, Cozy Mysteries, Funny Beach Read, Cozy Mysteries How To, Cozy Mysteries like Stephanie Plum, Cozy Mystery Series, Cozy Mysteries in Ireland, Cozy Mystery Humorous, Cozy Mystery Funny, Cozy Mystery Amateur Detective, Mysteries like Stephanie Plum

Discover your roots! The answers to all your genealogy questions in one place! This convenient, timesaving collection of genealogy hacks gathers the best resources, tips, lists, and need-to-know facts from the experts at Family Tree Magazine. Inside, you'll find fast facts about a variety of family history topics, such as important dates in US history, the different kinds of DNA tests, and how to use the best genealogy websites. Inside, you'll find: • Key genealogy lists and statistics: common genealogy abbreviations and acronyms, a glossary of genetic genealogy terms, genealogy pitfalls to avoid, and more • Strategies for tracking your ancestors in important documents (including census records, passenger lists, and military records) and performing important genealogical tasks (such as searching Ancestry.com) • A size perfect for carrying with you wherever your research may lead

FROM USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR AND GENEAOLOGIST ELIZA WATSON! A Cozy Mystery Set in Ireland Mags Murray is still recovering from the shock of meeting her biological father. When he and his family invest in renovating a Scottish castle hotel, Mags offers to oversee the property’s cemetery restoration, hoping to find some common ground with her newfound relations. But if the castle’s business isn’t booming soon, the family will be out of funds and the medieval landmark might crumble to the ground. When Mags and her best friend, Biddy McCarthy, appear on an episode of Rags to Riches Roadshow, they discover a buried skeleton at the filming location—the family home of the show’s appraiser. A media frenzy ensues. The appraiser agrees to film a future episode at the Scottish castle in exchange for Mags using her genealogical research skills to quickly determine the skeleton’s identity and put an end to the wild theories. Mags jumps at the opportunity for millions of viewers to learn about the castle! Mags and Biddy’s investigation uncovers skeletons in the appraiser’s family closet—as well as many locals’. As a genealogist, Mags feels obligated to identify the deceased even if the truth might be best left buried. **Genealogy Research Tips Included** Topics: Cozy Mysteries Amateur Sleuth, Mysteries Amateur Sleuth, International Cozy Mysteries, Cozy Mysteries Women Sleuths, Genealogy, Family History, Ancestry, Family Trees, Fiction Set in Ireland, Humorous Cozy Mystery, Humorous Beach Read, International Mysteries, Chick Lit Mystery, Friendship Fiction, Witty Fiction, Humorous Fiction, Cozy Mysteries Set in Europe, Cozy Mysteries, Funny Beach Read, Cozy Mysteries How To, Cozy Mysteries like Stephanie Plum, Cozy Mystery Series, Cozy Mysteries in Ireland, Cozy Mystery Humorous, Cozy Mystery Funny, Cozy Mystery Amateur Detective, Mysteries like Stephanie Plum, Cozy Mysteries Halloween

FROM USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR AND GENEALOGIST ELIZA WATSON! A Cozy Mystery Set in Scotland Genealogist Mags Murray is off to a Scottish castle for her first Murray Clan reunion. Even though Mags recently discovered her dad is not her biological father and she doesn’t have Murray DNA in her blood, it’s in her soul. She and her dad share a special bond, and their trip to Scotland is sure to be a fun adventure. That is, until the castle’s treasured Robin Hood arrow is stolen. Mags’s best friend Biddy McCarthy is eager to investigate, but Mags prefers a vacation from solving mysteries. When the arrow is found in the chest of a despicable cousin the entire family loathed, the Murrays refuse to cooperate with the authorities for fear of implicating a beloved relation. Mags plans to leave the investigating to the police—until her father becomes their prime suspect. Can Mags identify the killer and prove her dad’s innocence before he’s arrested for murder? **Genealogy research tips included!** Other readers of Eliza Watson’s books enjoyed books by: Addison Moore, Alyssa Maxwell, Angie Fox, Carlene O'Connor, Cate Martin, Catie Murphy, Ellery Adams, Fiona Grace, Jana Deleon, Janet Evanovich, Joanne Fluke, Kennedy Layne, Laura Durham, Lee Strauss, Leighann Dobbs, Paige Shelton, Rhys Bowen, Shanna Swendson, Sheila Connolly, and Tonya Kappes. Topics: Cozy Mysteries Amateur Sleuth, Mysteries Amateur Sleuth, International Cozy Mysteries, Cozy Mysteries Women Sleuths, Genealogy, Family History, Ancestry, Family Trees, Fiction Set in Ireland, Humorous Cozy Mystery, Humorous Beach Read, International Mysteries, Chick Lit Mystery, Friendship Fiction, Witty Fiction, Humorous Fiction, Cozy Mysteries Set in Europe, Cozy Mysteries, Funny Beach Read, Cozy Mysteries How To, Cozy Mysteries like Stephanie Plum, Cozy Mystery Series, Cozy Mysteries in Ireland, Cozy Mystery Humorous, Cozy Mystery Funny, Cozy Mystery Amateur Detective, Mysteries like Stephanie Plum, Cozy Mysteries Set in Scotland

Robin R. Foster, a member of the South Carolina Genealogical Society, Columbia Chapter, is an experienced researcher who has given numerous presentations and answered thousands of questions from researchers around the globe. She had seen people make common mistakes like using family trees rather than historical records and not remembering to include important things in their research. So, she wrote My Best Genealogy Tips: Quick Keys to Research Ancestry, Book 2 with the intention of helping beginners and seasoned researchers alike to avoid these common pitfalls. In her book, Robin outlines the steps for conducting an oral history interview, detailed the information available on FamilySearch, and suggested resources for researching ancestors in different regions. She also stressed the importance of telling your own family history and shared insider knowledge that even expert researchers often forget about. Finally, she provided helpful tips on obtaining permission to use photos you find during your research. From Robin: I love to teach people how to do their family history. I wrote this book to try to give my patrons another way to find historical records after they talk to living relatives. They all want some of the things I included below: Why Would You Want to Trace Family History? Everyone has special reasons for the efforts they make to learn more about their family history. Do any of the following reasons resonate with you? I want to learn about our ancestors. For some, their family was never discussed while growing up. Others are trying to make connections because they never knew a parent or grandparent. I want to be able to share my history with my children. So many have committed to finding, preserving, and sharing family history with future generations because they feel a moral obligation to do so. I love discovery; it is a fun thing to do. You may have begun researching because you love the hunt, and you are curious about what you may uncover. I want to understand more about myself. Do you suspect that some of the qualities that make you who you are can be attributed to an ancestor? Do you wonder which decisions they made concerning education, where to live, or employment had the most effect on your life? Do family members say you remind them of an ancestor? I want to learn about the place where my ancestor lived. It is wonderful to pass on the traditions that your ancestor brought from their native land. I want to know about the challenges my ancestors faced. Did you grow up hearing family stories about the war or depression that made you want to know more about how your ancestor was impacted? Delving into the past helps you to understand more about how they handled struggles. I am looking for living relatives. Some researchers are looking to connect with living descendants to discover what they can share about ancestors. They invite the newly discovered to family reunions and share stories and photographs.