Boston University Certificate in Genealogy Program

 Beginning mid January 2019 my plan is to enroll in the online genealogy program at Boston University. After a rigorous 15 week course successful students are awarded a Certificate in Genealogical Research. Prospective students should be aware that this course does NOT indicate that they are now a "Certified Genealogist." Although I have not posted regularly due to other commitments, this will be a huge time obligation considering that I work full-time. So my posts will be sparser. My goal is to successfully complete the course so that I can learn more and also fine tune my existing research and writing skills. 

 Details on the Certificate in Genealogical Research program:

• Cost: $2695, yes it is expensive. Members of AAHGS, APG, NEHGS, NGS, NYG&B, & SCGS receive a 10% tuition discount.

• Course Length: 15 weeks

• Required Reading: Professional Genealogy, by Elizabeth Shown Mills; Mastering Genealogical Documentation, by Thomas W. Jones; Genealogy Standards, by Board of Certification of Genealogists; and The Family Tree Guide to DNA Testing and Genetic Genealogy, by Blaine T. Bettinger.

• Course Program (Modules): 
• Evidence, Evaluation, and Documentation (4 weeks)
• Forensic Genealogy (4 weeks)
• Genealogical Methods (5 weeks)
• Genealogy as a Profession (2 weeks)

• Instructors: Are nationally renowned experts in the field of genealogy. See their bios.

• Semesters: Offered Spring, Summer, & Fall semesters.

 Each week I plan to write a brief review on how the course is going (unless I am told no disclosures until after the program is finished). Reviews that I have read state that the program is extremely intensive and very comparable to a graduate level college course. Let it be known that students do not gain college level credits that can be applied towards a formal degree. Former students stated that they spent between 25 and 40 hours each week on reading and assignments. 

Holiday Specials!

It is that time of the year, Holiday Season! Many genealogical companies are offering deals on their products. Below are a few of their offerings! Get something for your loved ones or for yourself.

Ancestry DNA is only $59. Regular price is $99. 

Offer expires 31 December 2020

Family Roots Publishing Company is offering Free postage on purchases of $25 or more.

Offer expires 24 December 2020

National Genealogical Society has special packages of some of its popular genealogy courses. Discounts of $25  or $30 per package.

Offer expires 05 January 2021

Genealogy Webinar : Dig Deep into Death Records and Further Your Family History

On Thursday evening, 15 October 2020, at 6:30 PM, the Troy Irish Genealogy Society will host a Zoom webinar titled Dig Deep into Death Records and Further Your Family History presented by Christopher White. 

The presentation will examine using obituaries, wills, cemetery records, death certificates, and more to help you move forward with your genealogical research. The webinar is free.

To join the Zoom webinar, please follow this link: 

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88267800779?pwd=eitLU3ZzYVgxa2JSY2NqZVV2NHQzZz09

Slingerland Vault Restoration

 If you are not familiar with the Slingerland Vault and the long process of its restoration, you should check out the website on this project. It has come a long way. Just look at the pictures below.

One last hurdle that the project needs to overcome is that the original entrance door is no longer salvageable. The vault needs a new door. Anyone wishing to donate to this worthy cause should check out the donate page on the Slingerland Vault webpage. Also, a 15 month calendar is available for purchase with all proceeds going towards the remaining items to complete this project. The calendar contains pictures both new and old and also information about sites that are along the Slingerland Historic District Walking Tour. Calendars are available at 

• I Love Books
• The Book House at Stuyvesant Plaza
• The Delmar Marketplace.

Hopkins Cemetery in Westerlo Restoration

Over the Summer, another small cemetery was restored. No, I did not do the work, my cousin and her friend did the work. Obviously when I found out about this cemetery I had to come out and check it out. 

The new gravestone conservators were well on their way. They cleared out the area of small saplings and scrub brush over a period of two weeks and then they were ready to start tackling the gravestones. Most of the gravestones were either broken or laying flat. When I came out; I just gave some simple pointers and tips and they did the rest. I must say that the work came out awesome!

All of the accompanying footstones were present with the gravestones.

Overall cemetery photos are below:

Some before and after photos of individual gravestones including inscriptions:

David & Lydia Lockwood

DAVID LOCKWOOD

DIED

Dec. 12, 1841.

aged 45 years

2 m's & 23 d's

LYDIA.

wife of 

David Lockwood Jr.

DIED

March 6, 1847.

aged 51 years

10 m's & 13 d's

           

JOHN HUDDLESTON

DIED

Feb. 13, 1849

aged 32 years

11 m's & 13 d's

  

JOHN LAUPAUGH

DIED

March 25, 1849.

in his 76 year.

  

PHEBY,

wife of

John Laupaugh

DIED

April 20, 1860

aged 77 years

  

RICHARD HUDDLESTON

DIED

Nov. 27, 1852.

in his 62 year.

  

MARY

wife of

Richard Huddleston

DIED

April 29, 1848.

aged 49 years

10 m's & 25 d's

  

MARY ELLEN

daughter of

Lewis C. & Elizabeth

Lockwood

died. May 16, 1845

aged 3 mo. & 6 days

New York Chapter of Palatines to America German Genealogy Society hosts Dr. Michael D. Lacopo

The New York Chapter of Palatines to America German Genealogy Society is hosting Genealogist Dr. Michael D. Lacopo as he presents four lectures on German genealogy over two days. 

Video of Michael introducing his upcoming lectures.

October 17th Agenda

• Methods for Identifying the German Origins of American Immigrants, 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
• Finding & Using German Church Records, 1:00 - 2:00 PM

October 24th Agenda

• How to Overcome Brick Walls in German-American Research, 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
• The German Immigrant Experience in the 18th Century, 12:30 - 1:30 PM

These lectures will be conducted over ZOOM on Saturday, 17th & 24th of October.

Please see the flyer for details.

The Palatines to America German Genealogy Society is not just for research Palatine ancestors. The organization is for anyone researching their German speaking ancestors anywhere! Check them out!

Please find us on Facebook.

Couse Corners Cemetery

For the past five years I knew of a hidden cemetery, the Couse Corners Cemetery in East Greenbush. However I did not know where it was located. Many times I drove by the area looking for it and also peered into the woods hoping to find it. It was a mystery.

This past Winter during one of my jaunts I saw a man working in his front yard so I stopped my truck and asked him if he was aware of this cemetery. He said "yes" and brought me to it. All of the gravestones were toppled and covered with dirt and leaves. I asked if he would mind if I restored the cemetery when the weather became warmer. He said that he would like that. The rest is history now and the cemetery is restored.

When this project began I was aware of four burials in this cemetery from data found in the rensselaer.nygenweb.net website. The four gravestones were transcribed in November 1978 by a local historian. The area around the toppled gravestones was cleared and probed. Luckily an additional gravestone and a footstone were found.

All of the gravestones were cleaned with D2 Biological Solution and reset upright proximate to where they were unearthed. Three of the gravestones were broken and one of them was broken into six pieces that I could find. A sizable portion of the left side and top of the gravestone was missing. Those pieces could not be located; so those parts of the gravestone needed to be fabricated with a lime-based mortar.

Below are pictures of the project after the gravestones were uncovered.

As work progressed, Lany's and Jane Ann's gravestone in repair.

The gravestone of Dorrithy D. Pool was transcribed in November 1978. Today much of the left side of her gravestone was missing including the beginning of her name. Her stone was broken in numerous pieces.

[DO]RRITHY POOL

wife of

Daniel D. Lansing

died

June 13, 1841

aged 26 yrs. 3 mos.

& 8 days.

LANY C.

wife of

Stephen Ostrander

DIED

Jan. 8, 1846

aged 18 years

& 17 days.

Footstone of Lany C. Ostrander

JANE ANN POOL

wife of 

George Bishop

died

Sept. 30, 1838;

aged 31 y'rs & 22 days.

FREDERICK

ALBERT

son of Isaac &

Eliza C Birch

died

July 14, 1840

aged 11 m's

& 15 d's.

DAVID HENRY

son of 

Isaac & Eliza

C. Birch died

Sept. 3, 1838

aged 1 yr.

2 ms. & 7 ds.

Below is an overall view of the finished cemetery.

AncestryDNA for Dad on Father's Day

Father's Day is around the corner. If Dad or Grandpa has not yet taken an AncestryDNA kit now is the time. The cost is only $59 and the sale ends on 21 June 2020. See what you can discover in your family tree with DNA!

Free Record Collection During the Month of June

MyHeritage will open one of its subscription record collections to the public for free everyday during the month of June!

Below is a list of the record collections that will be available for free during June.


Collection               Country                  Number of Records                        Day

Sweden Household Examination Books, 1840-1947	Sweden	125,672,162	1st
1940 Denmark Census 1921 Denmark Census	Denmark Denmark	3,356,937 3,950,454	2nd
Denmark Church Records, 1576-1919	Denmark	48,076,879	3rd
1900 Norway Census	Norway	2,313,871	4th
1865 Norway Census	Norway	1,688,076	5th
Finland Church Census and Pre-Confirmation Books, 1657-1915	Finland	33,342,964	6th
U.S. City Directories	United States	545,346,857	7th
U.S. Social Security Applications and Claims, 1936-2007	United States	240,604,239	8th
Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers, 1836-1922	United States	10,186,647	9th
Ellis Island and Other New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957	United States	113,439,590	10th
1940 United States Federal Census	United States	134,437,293	11th
Massachusetts Newspapers, 1704-1974 Florida Newspapers, 1901-2009	United States United States	6,072,876 8,084,846	12th
Historical Books - Index of Authors and People Mentioned, 1811-2003	United States + Worldwide	494,096,284	13th
Compilation of Published Sources	United States + Worldwide	84,206,879	14th
Canada Newspapers, 1752-2007	Canada	6,961,070	15th
1921 Canada Census	Canada	8,683,491	16th
France, Nord Civil Marriages, 1792-1937	France	5,423,678	17th
France Death Index, 1970-2019	France	24,725,675	18th
Netherlands, Civil Births, 1811-1915	Netherlands	31,860,820	19th
Netherlands, Civil Marriages, 1811-1940	Netherlands	28,131,957	20th
England & Wales, Death Index, 1837-2005 England & Wales, Marriage Index, 1837-2005	United Kingdom United Kingdom	87,011,471 95,986,805	21st
1939 Register of England & Wales	United Kingdom	33,094,734	22nd
Hungary Catholic Church Records, 1636-1895	Hungary	52,294,424	23rd
Spain, Marriages, 1565-1950 Spain, Baptisms, 1502-1940	Spain Spain	8,303,137 25,055,776	24th
Australia Electoral Rolls, 1893-1949	Australia	16,306,739	25th
Mandatory Palestine Naturalization Applications, 1937-1947	Israel	206,731	26th
Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, Immigration Cards, 1900-1965 Brazil, Pernambuco Deaths, 1930-2017	Brazil Brazil	4,776,216 3,138,427	27th
Greece, Electoral Rolls 1863-1924 Greece, Corfu Vital Records, 1841-1932 Greece, Sparta Marriages 1835-1935	Greece Greece Greece	1,006,594 646,880 179,411	28th
Germany, Hesse Marriage Index, 1849-1931 Germany, Hesse Birth Index, 1874-1911	Germany Germany	4,770,560 3,784,938	29th
Germany North Rhine Westphalia Death Index	Germany	2,355,301	30th

Access to these collections on the specified days will be completely free, but free registration to MyHeritage will be required for non-MyHeritage users.