The following is a Plus Edition article written by and copyright by Dick Eastman. 

“I found it online, so it must be true!”

Of course not. If you have been involved in researching your family tree for more than a few months, you already know the truth about online genealogy data. Or do you?

You can go to almost any of today’s online genealogy sites and find information that appears to be false. I’ll pick on FamilySearch.org as it is a free and open database, making it a good example that everyone can see. However, similar examples exist on most of the commercial (paid) genealogy databases as well.

The first example is that of Mary Allyn. According to FamilySearch at http://www.FamilySearch.org, Mary married Henry L. Brooks in Connecticut on 21 April 1564.  You can find that “record” at https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/F7G9-14N. 

As I remember from my history classes in school, Connecticut didn’t exist in those days. The only people found there in the mid 1500s would have been American Indians, and the name “Mary Allyn” sure doesn’t sound like an Indian name to me! In fact, Dutch explorer Adriaen Block first visited the area in 1614. The first settlement from the New Netherlands colony was a trading post not far from present-day Hartford, and the first English settlers arrived in 1635. It would therefore seem silly to claim marriages in the area in 1564.

In a similar vein, you can find a birth record in FamilySearch for John Smith born in Hadley, Massachusetts, on 6 May 1600, as listed at https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FHGP-ZHL. That is obviously twenty years before the Pilgrims arrived in Massachusetts and 59 years before the town of Hadley was first settled! 

A third example is for a location I know well. Again, looking at data in FamilySearch, Sophia Robinson is listed as born in Thetford Township, Orange County, Vermont, on 1 May 1604, shown at https://bit.ly/3L1LC7x. That's a neat trick considering that 1604 was many years before the first settlers arrived in Vermont and 157 years before the town of Thetford was created in 1761!

I picked on FamilySearch.org simply because it is a free site and the claims are easily found. However, if we look at most any other online genealogy database containing “records” submitted by the general public, we will see thousands of similar, obvious errors.

These are but a few of the obvious errors; there are many thousands more. In fact, most of the errors are not so obvious. I picked a few examples of births before each area was settled, but most errors sound much more plausible. A birth in Massachusetts in the 1700s or in Texas in the late 1800s might be equally inaccurate but much less obvious since those areas were well populated at the time.

Shouldn’t these so-called “facts” be checked? Isn’t the Internet increasing the amount of bad data floating around? Isn’t it a bad thing to allow false information to be posted online where others will find it?

Let’s study each of those questions:

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Canada Day is a time to celebrate the spirit and heritage of what it means to be Canadian. It’s a day to reflect on Canada’s history, diverse cultures, and the shared values that make Canada unique. In the spirit of celebration, MyHeritage is thrilled to offer free access to all 135.4 million Canadian historical records on MyHeritage for a limited time, from June 27 to July 2, 2024.

Search Canadian records for free!

MyHeritage has 183 collections from Canada, including vital records (birth, marriage, and death), census records, immigration and passenger lists, military records, and newspapers pages. Among these collections, we have recently added the 1931 Canada Census, complete with an index created by MyHeritage. These records provide a wealth of information that can help you piece together your family tree and gain insights into the lives of your ancestors.

By exploring your Canadian roots, you not only pay tribute to your family’s history but also enrich your understanding of the broader Canadian story.

Take advantage of this limited-time offer and start discovering your Canadian roots today!

Happy Canada Day! 

The following is a press release written by the folks at the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy: 

Claudia Gibb Sudweeks is the research manager for a small genealogy company. She loves the challenge of using records around the world, from a variety of cultures. She is finishing her AG credential in the US Mid-Atlantic region and has earned her certificate with the GenProof 83 group. Formerly the secretary for the Utah Genealogical Association, Claudia is now a member of the UGA board, serving as the NGS delegate. She is also the president of her local community historical society in Highland, Utah. Claudia grew up in the Washington, D.C. area, where she learned to love history and historic preservation. She has loved genealogy as long as she can remember and is grateful for school assignments and family trips to reunions, cemeteries, and libraries, which amplified her interest. Claudia took genealogy classes in college and has helped others with family history in the 30+ years since, professionally taking clients since 2013. She and her husband, Sterling, also ran a small video biography company. They have six children, plus four gained by children's marriages, and several bonus children who have lived with them over the years. They also have seven wonderful grandchildren, plus some extras. About the UGA Jimmy B. Parker Scholarship Named in honor of Jimmy B. Parker, whose legacy of service to the genealogical community covered more than 50 years, this full-tuition scholarship is awarded to an individual who has demonstrated commitment to genealogical excellence and community involvement. The scholarship originated in 2012. As the scholarship recipient, Claudia will receive full tuition to one Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy 2025 or SLIG Spring Virtual 2025 course. Congratulations, Claudia!

The research from EPIC the Irish Emigration Museum has discovered the US singer has Irish heritage on both sides of her family. You can read much of her Irish ancestry at: https://www.newstalk.com/news/taylor-swifts-love-story-irish-roots-of-singer-revealed-1736809. 

There is an interesting article article by Cassondra Feltus available on WatchMolo.com that will interest many genealogists. According to the article,  "Finding your next "Finding Your Roots" fix. Welcome to MsMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for TV series about the fascinating world of genealogical research and ancestral histories. Our countdown includes "Long Lost Family," "The Genetic Detective," "A New Leaf," and more!"

Note by Dick Eastman: depending upon which country you are in, you may need to use a VPN to access some of these TV series that are normally not available in your country.

The following is a press release written by the folks at the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy: 

Here is an article that is not about any of the "normal" topics of this newsletter: genealogy, history, current affairs, DNA, and related topics. However, I suspect that many U.S. military veterans will be interested in this press release issued by U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.):

U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) this week introduced the bicameral Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry 2.0 Act and the bipartisan, bicameral Burn Pit Elimination Act, bills that would improve, expand, and enhance protections for veterans under the PACT Act in addition to eliminating burn pits to prevent future toxic exposure cases. Representatives Raul Ruiz (D-CA-25) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL-12) introduced companion legislation for both bills in the House. 

The Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry 2.0 Act would direct the U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to report to Congress on the status and timeline of when the redesigned Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry 2.0 will be completed. The redesigned registry, which was planned to launch in October 2023, will enhance veterans’ experience with documenting their exposure to airborne hazards during military service and tracking the health effects of toxic exposure. This bill asks the VA to provide Congress with an update on their new registry, including expected completion date. 

The Burn Pit Elimination Act is cosponsored by Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and would redirect funding from existing open-air burn pit contingency operations to additional U.S. Army Expeditionary Solid Waste Disposal Systems, currently under prototype as an alternative to burn pits. The bill builds off of Sen. Welch’s bipartisan Reducing Exposure to Burn Pits Act, which directs DOD to issue a report on their efforts to develop alternatives to burn pits. The Reducing Exposure to Burn Pits Act was included in part in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) last year. 

“Those who have served our country deserve our support and commitment when they return home. The PACT Act was a significant step toward ensuring that veterans exposed to burn pits are adequately protected.  However, we still have a long way to go to mitigate the risk of toxic exposure to servicemembers,” said Senator Welch. “These bills will improve protections for veterans exposed to toxic substances and invest in waste disposal alternatives that will eliminate burn pits.” 

“As the co-founder and co-chair of the Congressional Burn Pits Caucus, I am honored to champion the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry (AHOBPR) 2.0 Act and Burn Pit Elimination Act alongside my colleague, Senator Peter Welch,” said Rep. Dr. Raul Ruiz. “These bills are the next step to ensure that the VA will complete the new burn pit registry and work on eliminating the remaining burn pits, ensuring our servicemembers are no longer exposed to harmful airborne hazards. It is crucial that we continue to advocate that our nation’s veterans receive the care they need, have earned and deserve.”

“While we’ve made significant strides with the PACT Act, we still have a long way to go when it comes to understanding the full impact of burn pit toxic exposure, ensuring all Veterans exposed received the support they deserve, and preventing future exposure to these toxins,” said Rep. Gus Bilirakis.  “These bills are an important step in the right direction as we work toward those goals.” 

Senator Welch has championed efforts to limit toxic substance exposure among veterans in the Senate, including supporting legislation to educate servicemembers on the impact of burn pits and other airborne hazards and improve data collection on veterans affected by toxic exposure. This Congress, Senator Welch led the Vermont and New Hampshire congressional delegations in sending a letter to Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis R. McDonough urging the VA to use authority granted under the bipartisan Honoring Our PACT Act of 2022, to make it easier for veterans stationed in Kosovo from 1999 onwards to access health care and disability benefits for conditions related to toxic substance exposure during their service.  

Last year, a bipartisan amendment led by Sens. Welch, Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) requiring the VA to conduct a review on mortality and toxic exposure data for veterans who served in Kosovo passed with bipartisan support in the Senate. Senator Welch is a cosponsor of the Burn Pit Registry Enhancement Act, Reducing Exposure to Burn Pits Act, and Toxic Exposure Education for Servicemembers Act, bills that build on the PACT Act to provide increased support for veterans exposed to burn pits, improve data collection on burn pit and toxic substance exposure, and help mitigate future toxic substance exposure for servicemembers. 

Read the full text of the Burn Pit Elimination Act. 

Read the full text of the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry 2.0 Act.

One warning that has been circulation for a number of years: “Don’t open the closet because it might contain a skeleton” appears to be true in a recent case. If you are thinking about having your DNA analyzed, you might pause to consider a recent case in England:

A woman has been left heartbroken after a DNA test revealed a harsh truth about her family - shattering her bond with them forever.

Speaking on her behalf, her auntie explained how she ordered a 23andMe test because she was curious about her genealogy and family heritage.

But when the results came in, her entire world started crashing down around her as she came to realise her 'life was a lie'. She said on Reddit: "I know that everyone is curious about their genealogy and it seems a harmless (and could be useful in the case of genetic health issues) test – but it's also important to remember that DNA testing can unearth family secrets that it serves no one to unearth.

"I saw this in my family when a niece did a 23andMe and found out her father was not her bio-father. The mom was shocked although she had been having an affair, she had made a conscious decision to end it because she wanted a stable family for her child. She had no idea that she was pregnant with the other person's child. She was deeply in love with the man but refused to break up the marriage over it."

Yes, it could happen to you.

The moment the Church of Scotland defied King Charles I is among a vast number of historical documents now available to view on the ScotlandsPeople website.

As part of a wider release of almost 4,000 volumes of church court records, National Records of Scotland has added papers from the church’s governing court, the General Assembly, for the first time.

This includes the minutes of the meeting held in Glasgow in November 1638 when delegates representing Scotland rejected the monarch’s rules for worship.

NRS archivist Jessica Evershed said: 

“The 1638 meeting of the General Assembly is a turning point in Scottish history. 

It sees the ministers disobey the King to remove the bishops and the new common prayer book he had introduced.

As part of the wider Covenanters’ movement, this led to 50 years of war and upheaval. 

This is just one item among the church court records available on ScotlandsPeople. The latest release includes approximately 300,000 digitised images of mostly handwritten historical records dating from the 1500s to 1900.

These records are a treasure trove for professional historians and amateurs working on their family tree. The records of local church courts contain details of parish work such as grants for the poor, mediating family disputes, payments for services and issuing punishments for minor offences.” 

Reverend Fiona Smith, Principal Clerk of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, said: 

“I am delighted that National Records of Scotland are making further Church of Scotland records available in a digitised format, providing a unique window into the history of Scotland itself, as well as aspects of daily life in our parishes, unfolding over the course of hundreds of years.

We hope it will allow many more people to access these meticulously written documents, which tell the stories of local communities from across Scotland.”

ScotlandsPeople is run by National Records of Scotland. It offers access to a wide range of official records including births, deaths, marriages and census records from the 16th century to modern times. Modern records are restricted but older records can be searched free of charge and viewed online on payment of a fee. Church court records are among those available to search and view free of charge.