Saddleback Valley Trails

Saddleback Valley Trails

Vol 9 No 5 ...Editor: Gail Gilbert ...May 2002

South Orange County California Genealogical Society

 P. O. Box 4513, Mission Viejo, CA. 92690

Monthly meetings are held on the third Saturday of each month from 10:00 a.m. to Noon at the Mission Viejo Family History Center Institute Building, 27978 Marguerite Parkway, Mission Viejo, between Medical Center Drive and Hillcrest Drive. Membership is open to anyone wishing to join. Yearly membership fees are $20 per calendar year for individuals, $25 for joint membership. SOCCGS is not affiliated with the LDS Family History Center.

PRESIDENT'S COLUMN

THE LIBRARY IS OPEN!

As of April 15, the SOCCGS Genealogical Section of the Mission Viejo Library has been open to researchers. It is a beautiful, light and airy area. There are lots of tables and even a reading area looking out on a fountain. Of course, we share part of the area with the general public but there is plenty of room for everyone.

Our computers are hooked up and even the telephone is working (740-8498). The downside is that we have no internet on our two research computers. We are allowed access on only the docent-desk computer and that is not for general research use. The library is providing twenty computers in the new addition for patron use. Anyone with a library card can access the internet for up to one hour at a time, no signup necessary.

We need docents for the following hours: Sundays 3 to 5, Tuesdays 7 to 9, Wednesdays 7 to 9, Thursday 5:30 to 9. If you can work even part of any of these times please call Janet Franks: 496-8428 or leave your name and phone number at the docent desk. Remember, as a docent you will have access to the internet while you are volunteering.

Due to your generosity with Penny Basket donations we have been able to buy a new printer for the docent desk, metal file cabinet and supplies for turning many Historical-Society periodicals into books. So far we have put together 24 books. Thank you!

As I mentioned at the April meeting, we are in special need of genealogy research books from several states: ie.; Montana, Minnesota, Iowa, Michigan, Nebraska, Wyoming, North Dakota and South Dakota. All donations are welcome! Also, if you know of books available for any of these states, that we could purchase, please advise.

We are still accepting donations for 50/50 books as per the following: You decide on a book and agree to pay half, SOCCGS will order the book and pay the other half plus the postage. The donor is allowed to keep the book in their possession for thirty days before putting it in the library. Such a deal!!

See you at the library. Mary Jo McQueen

SOCCGS MAY MEETING

18 May 2002 Our speaker for this meeting will be Gary Shumway whose topic will be Using Oral History To Document Family. Dr. Shumway has been Professor of History at CA State University - Fullerton (CSUF) for over 30 years. He teaches U.S. History, Westward Movement and Oral History. He was founding director of the Oral History Program at CSUF and co-authored with William G. Hartley, Oral History Primer, and he published Oral History Programs with Richard Curtiss and Shirley Stephenson. Dr. Shumway provides inspiration to students of all ages with assignments requiring techniques necessary to complete an oral history with its relationship to family history. He received his B.A. and M.A. from B.Y. U. and his Ph.D. from U.S.C. We all look forward to hearing this most qualified special speaker.

 

OTHER CA EVENTS

9 - 12 May 2002 The Utah GA will hold a conference at the Salt Palace in Salt Lake City on "Untangling Your Roots". For more info go to: www.infouga.org or call 888.UGA.INFO.

11 May 2002 The Conejo Valley GS will hold a seminar in Thousand Oaks, CA from 9-4, with the guest speaker being Henry Z. "Hank" Jones. Location is the Grant Brimhall Library, 1401, E. Janss Rd. and the charge is $35 for nonmembers at the door. Box lunch available for $6. For more info call Lois at (805) 496-0653 or Jim at (805)579-7146.

19 May 2002 The French Canadian Heritage Society of CA will hold their next meeting on Sunday from 10 -4 at the Library of the SCGS at 417 Irving Drive, Burbank, CA. Call (818) 843-7247 for directions.

25 May - 1 June 2002 The California Gen Soc will offer "Genealogists Cruise to Alaska with Patricia Law Hatcher CG, FASG and Henry Z. "Hank" Jones. For information contact Jane Lindsey, <[email protected]> or go to http://www.allcruise.com.

1 June 2002 The German Research Association in San Diego will present featured speaker Edward R. Brandt, Ph.D., co-author of Germanic Genealogy: A Guide to Worldwide Sources and Migration Patterns, at the Joyce Beers Community Center on Vermont St., North of the University. Starting time 9 a.m. Contact <[email protected].>

18-20 July 2002 The British Isles Family History Society- U.S.A. presents the 15th Annual Seminar on England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, "Celebrate Your Ancestors", aboard the Queen Mary, berthed in Long Beach, CA. A detailed schedule of speakers and information will be at our library or inquire from Linda Egan Flynn (310)539-9409 or <[email protected]>.

7-10 August 2002 The 2002 Federation of Genealogical Societies Conference will be hosted next summer by the CA State Genealogical Alliance at the Ontario Convention Center. Details will be posted on the FGS Website at http://www.fgs.org. You can also write FGS, PO Box 200940, Austin, TX 78720-0940.

LIBRARIANS REPORT
New additions to the SOCCGS Library Collection:

From the MV Library

In Search of Your German Roots , Angus Baxter

New York & New England Families , Talcott

Notable Southern Families , Vol 1&2; 3&4; 5&6

Donated by Janet Franks

The Pilgrim Fathers: Journal of the Pilgrims

New England Frontier, Puritans & Indians , Alden T. Vaughan

Early American Inns & Taverns , Elise Lathrop

History of Hadley, MA , Sylvester Judd

Charlestown, MA; Vital Records to 1850

Records & Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex Co., MA , Vol. VI

Gregory of Tours, The History of the Franks , Lewis Thorpe

The Glascock-Glassco Saga , Lawrence A. Glassco

Scudders in the American Revolution, Hamilton Cochran

Phelps-Marshall Kinship , Mancy S. McBride

The Discovery of a Grandmother, Paine Family , Henry H. Carter

Across the Devil's Belt: William Smith Scudder , Mary Endres

Margery Scudder Johnson : Soper Manuscript

Elizabeth Scudder Lathrop & John Scudder , 3 Vol.

Soper Manuscripts from Long Island , 30 Vol.

The Hunterdon County, New Jersey Militia 1792

New Jersey Historical Society, Quarterly Magazine Nos. 242, 243, 245, 249, 250, 251, 252

Early Settlers in Trenton & Ewing (New Jersey)

Book of the St. James Church, Muncy, PA

Now & Then Quarterly (New Jersey), Vol XVII, #4; Vol XVIII, #3,4,5,6,7,8,9; Vol XV, #4

New York Historical Manuscripts, Dutch-Old First Reformed Church, Brooklyn

New York Historical Manuscripts, Dutch - Land Papers

New York Historical Manuscripts, Dutch-Register of Solomon Lachaire

New York City Court Records 1684-1760 , Kenneth Scott

New York City Court Records 1797-1801 , Kenneth Scott

New York City Court Records 1801-1804 , Kenneth Scott

Long Island Genealogical Source Material , Seversmith & Stryker-Rodda

Religious Records of New York , Carol M. Meyers

New York Genealogical Research , George K. Schweitzer

1991 Directory of New York State, County & Municipal Historians

Donated by Mary Jo McQueen

Scottish Soldiers in Colonial America , David Dobson

Scots Kith & Kin, A Guide to the Clans & Surnames of Scotland

From SOCCGS

Germanic Genealogy, A guide to Worldwide Sources & Migration Patterns : Germanic Genealogy Society, St. Paul MN

Genealogical Notes of Barnstable Families , Amos Otis

Index to Rev. War Service Records by Virgil P. White, 4 volume set

The Beason Family by Charles & Arline Peckham, Lebanon, Ohio

NOTE: We could really use a computer monitor if anyone has one they aren't using that they would like to donate.

ESSAY CONTEST ANNOUNCED
Copied with permission from the CSGA Newsletter, Vol. 20, No. 4, April 2002.

California's long history includes a unique and rich blend of cultures and nationalities. The FGS/CSGA conference in August 2002 will highlight and recognize this wonderful distinction. In an effort to identify the wealth of personal family stories, The FGS/CSGA planning committee is proud to announce the California: Goldmine of Diversity Family History Essay Contest.

FGS and CSGA are inviting you to share a personal account of why your ethnic or national background matters to you as an individual. This is your opportunity to demonstrate pride in your family history and at the same time enjoy acknowledgment of your literary efforts. Your submissions will be judged by nationally recognized genealogists.

1. Deadline for submission is 1 June 2002.

2. Submissions should be 500 to 750 words in length, typed, double-spaced, in 12-point type using Courier font. There should be 1-inch margins left, right, top, and bottom.

3. Entries should include the following information: Name, Mailing Address, current e-mail address.

4. Submission must be the original work of the submitter, or include appropriate documentation.

5. Submission of an entry constitutes permission for FGS/CSGA to publish entry (if appropriate).

6. Winners and judges to be introduced at the CSGA Luncheon at the conference.

1st Prize - Free registration to FGS/CSGA conference in Ontario, CA (Registration will be reimbursed.)

2nd Prize - $50 reimbursement for registration

3rd Prize - $25 reimbursement for registration

Winners may substitute a one year CSGA membership or a one year Forum subscription if they are unable to attend the conference.

All winning entries and as many submissions as possible may be printed in the CSGA Newsletter over the next year.

Entries may be submitted to: Nancy M. Huebotter, FGS.CSGA Essay Contest Coordinator, via e-mail: [email protected] or via U.S. Mail: 2634 Associated Road, Apt. #A110, Fullerton, CA 92835.

CONDOLENCES

We would like to express our condolences to our member, Jeanne Barrett, whose husband Jim passed away recently. Our sincere sympathies to Jeanne and her family.

BOARD MEMBER BIOGRAPHIES

Shirley Fraser, our historian, comes from Montana where she graduated from college and entered the nursing profession. She married and spent 20 years living in Ventura Co. before moving to Orange Co. in 1971. Currently single, with 4 children and 9 grandchildren, she can be found serving as a docent at the Huntington Beach Library on Monday mornings and at our library in MV Wednesday afternoons.

Shirley says that she has always known about her ancestors from three obituaries of her eight great grandparents. Because of this, she thought everyone was aware of their past. Her interest in genealogy began several years ago, while attending a political conference in San Francisco. She had noticed that one of the other attendees had missed some sessions one day and asked her, "Where were you yesterday all day? Didn't see you at the meetings." She replied "Sutro Library" and Shirley said, "What's that?" - and subsequently she spent the rest of the trip finding out all about this thing called "genealogy."

It seems like no one in Shirley's family is interested or has any family information. What she has learned came from mostly the libraries and histories of the ancestral towns. She has found no ancestors at all through the LDS Family History Centers.

Last year, at one of our general meetings, Shirley told SOCCGS about her Campbell "find". These Campbells, whom she thought were Scots, turned out to be Irish! She discovered her Norwegians by going to the town in Wisconsin five years ago and dropping the name, Hesgaard. She talked with the lady holding the records and now has the names, the year dates, and has visited the cemetery, but she still needs places for the entire group. She may still learn more as she now receives invitations to the annual Hesgaard reunions.

She went to St. Ansgar, Iowa where her Ggpa was born (a town his dad founded) and looked at the cemetery there. Ggpa had changed his name from Colbjournsen to Golberg because that is the name of the town in Norway that he came from. He went to North Dakota when he was 18 and worked a few years, came back to Iowa via Wisconsin and married the Hesgaard girl. After a few years they both went to ND and lived in Enderlin where he owned a meat market. Through the Public Records that the WPA produced in the 1930's, Shirley learned more about his family. A lady had interviewed the pioneer residents of ND in anticipation of the 50th year celebration of becoming a state, and Shirley's Ggpa was listed in the index. Unfortunately, he was Not on the film, but while winding backwards to get out of it, she ran across the name Christensen, and she read it because she knew that was a cousin's name. It turned out to be Ggpa's sister, and there were 11 pages of things like, "Why did you come to ND?" and "Who are your brothers and sisters?" This opened a big door. So, Shirley's advice to beginners is, follow your gut feelings! Look at that book or film that you're unexplainably drawn to, even though there seems to be no reason to.

Shirley says she needs to do more on the other side of the family. Germans came to NY, Chicago, Wisconsin, SD, ND (Eisenmann married Leitheiser). Bohemians married in the old country and came to Iowa, SD (Rados, Carda). Then Rados married Eisenmann. She met a distant cousin researching Rados, and one doing Leitheizer and they live in SD and do not have computers. So, she plans to go this summer to drive these areas again, this time looking at courthouses etc. She says, "Anyone wanna come along? We can help each other!"

SAFARI SCHEDULE

The May Safari will be on Wednesday, May 22 to the Los Angeles Public Library. The group will leave the LDS parking lot in Mission Viejo at 9 a.m. sharp.

RESEARCHING BURNED RECORDS
Extracted from message to EFSS List from Malinda <[email protected]>

Genealogical research on colonial families of King and Queen County, VA is very difficult due to loss of county records by fire. . . . Some time ago, I came across a written copy of a lecture dealing with research in some VA burned counties and copied a few pages. Included below are the sections dealing with research in K & Q:

Let us now turn to King and Queen, formed from New Kent in 1691 and extending from the border of Gloucester County on the north bank of the York. King and Queen at that time included the neck of land between the Mattaponi and Pamunkey rivers.

King and Queen's records, like those of New Kent, were twice burned. None of the records at the King and Queen Courthouse go back further than 1864 except for the Land Tax Books, which survive because of duplicates, as in New Kent. Probably the easiest way to use these land records is through the 4 reels of microfilm, covering the dates 1782-1863, in the Virginia State Library.

Again as in New Kent, there are the processioner's Reports, dated 1867-1868. Fortunately for the researcher the deputy clerk, Mrs. Martee Owen, has indexed this unique county record, as she has the marriage register, which begins at 1864.

At the State Library are six reels of microfilm. These include a will book dated 1864-1893 and certain court records as early as 1831 which are not at the court house.

Also while you are at the Library, I recommend that before you delve into the manuscripts on microfilm, you consult the very valuable abstracts compiled in 9 volumes by Beverley Fleet before his death in 1950. He issued these "collections" in mimeographed volumes between 1939 and 1946 under the general title, "Virginia Colonial Abstracts," which cover other counties besides King and Queen.

There are helpful secondary sources for King and Queen, beginning with Dr. Malcom Harris's "Old New Kent County." Among others are the "Recollections" of the Rev. Alfred Bagby and the files of the King and Queen Historical Society. I believe you are better off using the "Bulletin" at the State Library than trying to use it at the Courthouse.

The researcher may also want to check into the surviving records of adjoining Gloucester County, though Gloucester itself is a burned out county as a result of destruction by fire in 1820 and 1865.

The State Library has a few colonial records of Gloucester tax accounts covering 1770-1771 and surveyors' books as early as 1733.

There are also in the State Library Polly C. Mason's abstracts, entitled "Records of Colonial Gloucester county (2 volumes, 1946) and, what I believe is unique among the York River counties, "A Guide to Gloucester County, Virginia, Historical Manuscripts, 1651-1965 (Richmond, VA 1976) by Charles A. Bodie and William H. Siener. Their book lists and describes all sources of early county history in the major archives of Virginia. Truly a great bicentennial contribution!"

Malinda goes on to offer the following resource tips:

The Virginia Land Patent Books have been abstracted in the series by Nell Nugent called "Cavaliers and Pioneers." You can now search the patent books on-line via the Virginia State Library's (VSL) digital holdings web page. Other potential sources of information on early K & Q inhabitants include Bible and genealogical charts and papers, and the Virginia Colonial Records Project, all available on-line at the VSL. The Virginia Historical Society also has a number of digital records that can be searched on-line. Another source of information is the vestry book of Stratton Major Parish in K & Q, which has been published. In addition, the annual land and personal property tax records still exist and digital images may be found on-line. . . . The VSL has copies of all the King and Queen Historical Society bulletins, and an index. A partial index is available for purchase from the Society. The book by Malcolm Harris is out of print, but . . . can be located via web searches.

AVAILABLE CLASSES

A roster of all the current courses is maintained at our library. Be sure to check at the desk for details.

1. Continuous classes are offered at the Mission Viejo Family History Center at 27976 Marguerite Parkway. For a current schedule or to register call (949) 364-2742.

2. For information on classes held at the Orange FHC, 674 S. Yorba St., Orange, call Beth McCarty at (714) 998-3408.

3. Classes for beginners and intermediates in Computer-assisted Genealogy are offered each month by the Orange County CA Genealogy Society in the General Meeting Room of the Huntington Beach Central Library, 7111 Talbert Ave., Huntington Beach, CA for a fee of $4 for non-members, payable at the door. See http://occgs.com for schedule.

4. The schedule for NARA workshops is available by calling (949) 360-2641.

5. The British Isles Family History Society (BIFHS) holds classes monthly at the LA FHC of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 10741 Santa Monica Blvd., W. LA. Classes and parking are free. For information contact Dorothy Losee at (310) 838-6085, [email protected].

6. Classes are offered monthly by the LA Family History Center, 10741 Santa Monica Blvd. Los Angeles which offer a wide variety of topics. To see the schedule for the current month, go to their website at http://www.lafhc.org or call (310) 474-9990.

7. Brigham Young University's Department of Independent Studies offers two free online genealogy courses, Finding Your Ancestors and Providing Temple Ordinances for Your Ancestors. See http://ce.byu.edu/is/dept/famhist.htm for details.

8. Community College genealogy courses, such as the one being conducted currently by our society member Doug Mason at Orange Coast College, can be found listed at the website: http://www.ed2go.com/colleges.html. Many of these are also free online. For Doug's class, call him at (714) 432-5072, email <[email protected]>.

 

South Orange County California Genealogical Society

Membership/Renewal Application

( ) New 1 Year ( ) Individual, $20 ( ) Jt. Members, same address $25

( ) Renewal Membership Number(s) _______________ ___________________

Name(s) ________________________________________________________________

Address _________________________________________________________________

City ____________________________ State_____Zip__________Phone ___________________

Make check payable to: SOCCGS (South Orange County CA Genealogical Society) Check No. __________________

Mail with application to: SOCCGS, P.O. Box 4513, Mission Viejo, CA 92690-4513 Date Rec'd__________________

 

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