Published: May 10, 2008 04:13 pm         

GENEALOGY: FamilySearch announces release of new research tools

TERRE HAUTE — FamilySearch of Salt Lake City recently announced the release of its two newest research tools designed to assist family researchers in discovering their British and Scottish roots. Finding Records of Your Ancestors, England, and Finding Records of Your Ancestors, Scotland, “will help take the guesswork out of British and Scottish genealogical research by simplifying the process and giving users a specific, proven strategy to use. In an inviting workbook style, the guides show users which records to search, what to look for, and what tools to use,” says the company in their recent press release.

These research guides illustrate the kinds of records available in Britain and Scotland, instruct the family researcher on how to use these records, and offer case-studies taken from real life to demonstrate the research process. They also include maps and historical dates to help the user place his or her research into a context.

The “finding records of your ancestors” series also includes previously released guides for Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Italy, Jewish, Mexico, Norway, Sweden, and African American research. Free copies of these guides can be downloaded at the www.familysearch.org Web site.

III

FamilySearch is also making preparations to release the names of deceased British soldiers and sailors who served from the 18th century to the mid-twentieth century. Working in partnership with the National Archives of the United Kingdom, FamilySearch and the FindMyPast Web site will digitize the records of the War Office’s Royal Hospital Chelsea Pensioners records (1760-1913) and the Merchant Seamen's records (1835-1844 and 1918-1941). After digitization by FamilySearch, FindMyPast will then index the records to make name searching possible.

The databases will then be placed online at both www.findmypast.com and www.familysearch.org. This project will take about three years to complete.



Queries

• David O. Ford is my brick wall in the Ford line. I think David was born in Virginia about 1807. He died in Indiana about 1872. I cannot find his place of burial. I know he went to Kentucky before July 31, 1828, where he married Catherine Borders. She was the daughter of Michael and Elizabeth (Yeast) Borders. Catherine married Isaac Voorhees her son’s father-in-law after the death of David Ford. I would be so happy to find the parents or some family members of David Ford before he married Catherine Borders. David and Catherine lived in Clark County, Indiana, with their children before moving to Sullivan County, Indiana. There are many Fords in Sullivan County who are descendants of David and Catherine Ford. The children are Elizabeth, Margaret, Mary, Michael, Nancy, John and Lemuel. Lemuel Ford married Nancy Black. I do know that Standish Ford from New York is a great grandfather but I cannot connect the families together. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks, Rose Deal, 200 SW Spartan Lane, Lake City, FL 32024, phone (386) 755-1520, e-mail fpbdeal@comcast.net.

• Researching the Riggs, Wheeler, Stephens, Butts, and McMamar families and more. I have extensive genealogy on all the above names from the 1800s on. Would love to meet up with a researcher of the same name. Too many first names and dates to place. Contact Lynne Acres, 169 Natasha Lane, Oneida, TN 37841, e-mail lynneacres22@yahoo.com.