Follow Friday - Favourite Blogs from 22 February to 22 March 2013

The following are some of my favourite blog posts since my last Follow Friday post on 22 February until today, Friday 22 March 2013.

New Records Online

• IGRS launches IrishAncestors with great new records - by Claire Santry at Irish Genealogy News
• Oxfordshire wills added to Origins Network - by +Chris Paton at British GENES
• Ireland - Lord Viscount Morpeth's Roll online - by +Chris Paton at British GENES
• Welsh Newspapers Online - read all about it - by +Rebel Hand at A Rebel Hand: Nicholas Delaney of 1798

News
Please read these following posts about the insensitive destruction of gravestones in the Karrakatta Cemetery, Western Australia. Please also make sure you sign the petition: West Australian Government Bring an end to the clearing of headstones in West Australian Cemeteries.

• Heartbreak in Western Australia - by +Crissouli G at That Moment in Time
• Leave Our Ancestors Alone - by Catherine at Seeking Susan ~ Meeting Marie ~ Finding Family
• Destruction of Graves - by +Kylie Willison at Kylie's Genes
• Help Save Headstones, Sign the Petition and Follow Up to "Help Save Headstones, Sign the Petition"- by +Gould Genealogy & History at Gould Genealogy & History News

+Liz Pidgeon at Infolass has posted many useful reviews of the repositories she has visited recently in the UK and the US. She also posted reports from London for Who Do You Think You Are? Live - Day 1, Day 2 and Day 3. More reports from Who Do You Think You Are? Live:

• WDYTYA?Live: good news from the small Irish contingent - by Claire Santry at Irish Genealogy News
• WDYTYA Report 1: This Genealogy Event is BIG! and WDYTYA LIVE Report 2: Exhibitors and Experts -  by +Denise Levenick at The Family Curator
• More WDYTYA Live News - by +Chris Paton at British GENES
• Another WDYTYA Live Blog Post - by +Kirsty F. Wilkinson at The Professional Descendant

2013: Ireland's Family History Year - by Claire Santry at Irish Genealogy News

Who Do You Think You Are? Australia Season 5 Starts in April 2013 - by +Gould Genealogy & History  at Gould Genealogy & History News

Celebrating Sydney's Irish heritage: the Dictionary of Sydney goes green - The Dictionary of Sydney blog

Reviews

• The Surnames Handbook: A Guide to Family Name Research in the 21st Century - by +Emily Aulicino at DNA-Genealem's Genetic Genealogy

Genealogy Research Methods

• Grits Without Salt and Thoughts from a British Isles Researcher - by +Michele Simmons Lewis at Ancestoring's Ask A  Genealogist
• Family History Through the Alphabet - Genealogical Standards - by +Julie Cahill Tarr at GenBlog
• Lessons in Genealogy Collaboration - Crista Cowan at the Ancestry.com blog
• Family History Scanning Projects: Funeral Cards by +Thomas MacEntee at Flip-Pal mobile scanner genealogy blog

Genetic Genealogy

• Who Do They Think I Am - A Look At Four Autosomal Analyses - by +Jim Owston at The Lineal Arboretum
• Mixing it up with admixtures - by +Judy G. Russell at The Legal Genealogist
• The Autosomal Me - Testing Company Results, The Autosomal Me - Rooting Around in the Weeds Using Third Party Tools, The Autosomal Me - DNA Analysis - Splitting Up, The Autosomal Me - Start, Stop, Go - Identifying Native Chromosome Segments  - by Roberta Estes at DNAeXplained - Genetic Genealogy
• Is the Family Tree DNA 12 Marker Test Worthwhile? - by Roberta Estes at DNAeXplained - Genetic Genealogy
• Sense About Genetic Ancestry Testing - by +Debbie Kennett at Cruwys News
• Sense About Genealogical DNA Testing - by +Debbie Kennett at Sense About Science
• DNA tests - Making sense of Percentages - by SaraG at Sara's Roots: Genealogy and Family History

Some genetic genealogy posts from earlier that I missed in my February Follow Friday post.

• Genetic Genealogy and the Single Segment - by Steve Mount at On Genetics. I saw this blog post recommended through a post on the DNA-Newbie Yahoo Group. 
• A Visit to Family Tree DNA's State-of-the-Art Lab - by +CeCe Moore at Your Genetic Genealogist
• Bullish on Genetic Genealogy! - by +Smadar Belkind Gerson at Past-Present-Future

Stories and Photographs

• Emma Jane Weston (1839-1914) - Life on the Gold Fields and more - by +Diane Hewson   at The Other Half of My Tree - stories of my female ancestors.
• Who was Edward Nicholson? - by Jess at Finding Family

Issues in Family History Research

• Profits of misery - by Janet at Finding Family
• Stepping into the Looking Glass: Reflections of ourselves in our family trees - by +irisheyes jennifer at 'On a flesh and bone foundation': An Irish History
• Third Blogiversary: The lessons in looking back - by +irisheyes jennifer  at 'On a flesh and bone foundation': An Irish History

Technology

• Diigo Chrome Extension much enhanced, renamed as "Diigo Web Collector" - at the Diigo Blog

 © 2013. Australian Genealogy Journeys by Aillin O'Brien is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Australia License.Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at http://ausgenjourneys.blogspot.com.au/p/copyright-terms.html.

Trove Tuesday - John McCarthy's Accident, 1885

I found this very sad report about the death of my Great Great Grandfather, John McCarthy (1835-1885) on Trove recently. I already knew that John had died after being kicked by a horse, but reading the newspaper reports always make the incidents of the past more real for me. I found the line "after suffering great agony" particularly upsetting. 

Rest in peace Great Great Grandfather McCarthy. 

The McIvor Times and Rodney Advertiser, 3 April, 1885. 

SAD FATAL ACCIDENT - A very lamentable accident occurred about 5 o'clock on Saturday evening last resulting in the death of a very old resident of the place, Mr John M'Carthy, of Commissioner's Flat. Mr M'Carthy had just returned home with a load of chaff from the township, and after taking out the horse and putting it in the stable proceeded to carry in the chaff through the stable door. He was in the act of carrying in one of the bags, when the horse kicked out striking him violently in the abdomen, causing serious internal injuries from which he died about 7 o'clock on the following morning, after suffering great agony. The deceased was quite conscious to the last and stated how the accident occurred. We believe some of the children were standing by when the accident happened. Immediately after the accident Dr Clark was sent for and saw the deceased about 20 minutes after the occurrence and in company with Dr Scobell about two hours later. Under the circumstances, and inquiry was not considered necessary, thus, we are glad to state,relieving the family and friends from further pain. Very general sympathy is felt for the widow and children of the deceased, Mrs M'Carthy being left with nine children to lamest their sad loss.We understand it is the intention to start a subscription for the relief of the family in their distress. The funeral took place on Tuesday and was numerously attended.

Local and General News. (1885, April 3). The McIvor Times and Rodney Advertiser (Heathcote, Vic. : 1863 - 1918), p. 2. Retrieved March 15, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article90145303

The Heathcote community did start a subscription for the relief of John's family. The following advertisement appeared in The McIvor Times and Rodney Advertiser on 8 May 1885.

NOTICE
PERSONS having Lists of Subscriptions in aid of the Widow and Family of the late Mr John M'Carthy are respectfully requested to hand them in without delay to Mr John Long, Heathcote, or the undersigned.
Michael Manton.
Heathcote, 6th May, 1885.

Advertising. (1885, May 8). The McIvor Times and Rodney Advertiser (Heathcote, Vic. : 1863 - 1918), p. 3. Retrieved March 15, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article90145247

Thank you John Long and Michael Manton and the residents of the Heathcote district for helping my McCarthy family all those years ago. As stated in the top article, Mrs McCarthy (Catherine nee Mannix) had nine children to care for. The eldest daughter Norah was aged 20 years and the youngest Denis (Din) was under 3 years of age at the time of his father's death. My Great Grandfather, Patrick (Paddy) would have been 15 years of age.

 © 2013. Australian Genealogy Journeys by Aillin O'Brien is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Australia License.Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at http://ausgenjourneys.blogspot.com.au/p/copyright-terms.html.

Saint Patrick's Day - A Tribute to Patrick's in my Family Tree

A stained glass window of St Patrick in
St Joseph's Catholic Church,
Rochester, Victoria.
The memorial says: 'In memory of
Patrick and Mary Doherty, R.I.P'.
These are not my ancestors but other
ancestors were part of the
congregation at this Church.
St Patrick, pray for us.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

Twenty of my thirty-two 3 x Great Grandparents came from Ireland. I've never been to Ireland myself, but I would love to go there someday. The only one from my immediate family who had been to Ireland was my brother. This post is dedicated to him and all the Patrick's in my family tree.

Here are a selection of Patrick's from my family tree:

Direct Ancestors

• My Great Grandfather, Patrick (Paddy) McCarthy (1869-1956). Paddy was born 15 June 1869 at Heathcote, Victoria, the son of John and Catherine (nee Mannix) McCarthy. He married my Great Grandmother, Millicent Mary Chambers, on 11 February 1907 at Our Lady Help of Christians Catholic Church, Heathcote. See the photograph below. 
• My 4 x Great Grandfather, Patrick Tangney (dates unknown) of County Kerry, Ireland. Patrick Tangney and his wife Julia Cronin were the parents of my 3 x Great Grandmother Honora Tangney (c1806-1870) who married John McCarthy in 1832 in the Catholic parish of Firies, County Kerry, Ireland.
• My 4 x Great Grandfather, Patrick Colbert (c1760-1815) of Ballybraher, County Cork, Ireland. Patrick Colbert married Bridget Ahern on 22 July 1795 in the Catholic parish of Aghada, County Cork, Ireland. Patrick, Bridget, and a daughter Bridget are buried in the Bohillane Churchyard and the monumental inscription is listed on Jean Prendergast's Ballymacoda & Ladysbridge Genealogy & History web page.

My Great Grandparents, Millie and Paddy McCarthy. 

Indirect Family

• Patrick Breen (c1798-1883) of County Armagh, Ireland. The brother of my 3 x Great Grandfather Owen Breen (c1800-1875). 
• Patrick Hehir (c1800-c1880) of Killow, County Clare, Ireland, married Bridget O'Neill 1835 Newmarket on Fergus, County Clare, Ireland. Patrick is believed to be the brother of my 3 x Great Grandfather, Timothy Hehir. 
• Patrick Joyce (c1839-1915) born Whitegate, County Galway (now in County Clare) and married Adelaide Toovey in 1876 in Maryborough, Queensland. The brother of my Great Great Grandfather, Edmund Joyce. 
• Patrick Joyce (1870-1934), born Buninyong, married Margaret McInerney, six children, died Ararat. The brother of my Great Grandmother, Margaret O'Brien (nee Joyce). 
• Patrick McCarthy (c1843-1925), born County Kerry, married Ellen O'Sullivan, ten children, died Heathcote, Victoria. The brother of my Great Great Grandfather, John McCarthy (1835-1885). 

This is just a selection of the Patricks I have in my (old) Legacy Family Tree database. I just had a count and I have about 90 Patricks altogether in that database! 

How many Patrick's do you have in your family database? 

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

In loving memory of the people closest to me who had Patrick in their name:
my brother and my nephew. 

(Sources available on request)

 © 2013. Australian Genealogy Journeys by Aillin O'Brien is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Australia License.Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at http://ausgenjourneys.blogspot.com.au/p/copyright-terms.html.

Trove Tuesday - Edmund Joyce Obituary 1916

This is an obituary for my Great Great Grandfather Edmund Joyce (1833-1916). His name is incorrectly given as 'Edwin' in this obituary which appeared in both the Bendigo Advertiser and the Bendigonian. For more information about the Joyce family please see my Family History Through the Alphabet post J is for Joyce.

Bendigonian, 7 September 1916, page 20. 

Mr. Edwin Joyce, a very old resident of the Pannoobamawm district, died at his residence, in Ramsay-street, Rochester, on Friday, from senile decay. For about 44 years the members of Joyce family have (says our Rochester correspondent) been esteemed residents of the district, and the news of the death of the pioneer farmer will be received with regret by a large circle of friends. The late Mr. Joyce arrived in the district in 1872 from Ballarat. He successfully followed farming pursuits till about three years ago, when he built a residence in Ramsay-street, and came with his wife and unmarried daughters to the town to reside. A widow and family of fifteen are left to mourn the loss of a kind parent. The deceased gentle-man, who was 84 years of age, came from Ireland. Two of his daughters are nuns,and two of his sons are members of the Catholic clergy in New South Wales. The remains of the late Mr. Joyce were interred in the Rochester Cemetery on Saturday, when a large number of mourners attended. The Rev. Father Griffin officiated at the grave.

OBITUARY. (1916, September 7). Bendigonian (Bendigo, Vic. : 1914 - 1918), p. 20. Retrieved March 8, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article91380967

 © 2013. Australian Genealogy Journeys by Aillin O'Brien is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Australia License.Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at http://ausgenjourneys.blogspot.com.au/p/copyright-terms.html.

Family History Writing Challenge - An Assessment

February 2013 was certainly a busy month for me with regards to genealogy and blogging. I took part in the February Photo Collage Festival and the Family History Writing Challenge. I initially decided that I would combine the two challenges and try to write 500 words a day using my daily photograph from the February Photo Collage as a prompt. However, only a day into the challenges I decided that I would attempt the two separately.
I discussed this in my post on 3 February Family History Writing Challenge - What's my plan?

I have decided to borrow an idea I saw +Alex Daw of the Family Tree Frog blog use in her final post for the February Photo Collage Festival (Fab Feb Photo Collage -Day 28). Alex made an assessment of the things she had learned from the challenge by answering the following questions:

• What have I learned?
• What have I achieved?
• Where have I been (if only virtually)?
• To do list
• Books I'd recommend are:
• Websites I'd recommend are:

I thought this was a great way to assess my experiences with The Family History Writing Challenge  and asked Alex if I could borrow the idea. Thanks Alex for the permission to do so! I have changed some of the questions just a little.

What have I achieved?

At the end of January 2013, I made a pledge to write 500 words a day for The Family History Writing Challenge. Did I achieve this pledge? The honest answer is no, I did not manage to write 500 words a day. My Word file Fullerton_Project_Draft has 24,820 words, but I didn't write all of those during February. These 24,820 words consist mostly of transcriptions of documents arranged in a chronological order. In other words, I did not manage to write beautifully detailed and creative prose, but I did managed to (begin to) create a draft, an outline that will later become the family history when I add more life to it.

A screenshot of my chronological outline in Microsoft Word. 

I took the one-source-at-a-time approach recommended by Carol Baxter in her book Family Tree Tips: Writing Interesting Family Histories. These were the steps I followed:

1. Take one source document.
2. Extract the data from that source document into Word in simple form (without worrying about how boring and factual it sounds in its first draft)
3. Create a source citation and an entry in my bibliography for that source document.
4. In a Fullerton Project folder in Evernote in a sub-folder called 'Source Analysis' I create a note for each source, with a source citation and questions about the source document and the background history. 
5. Make a note that I have extracted the information from that source document and move it to an appropriate folder on my computer hard drive.
6. Move on to the next source document.

My 'Source Analysis' sub-folder now has 87 notes for the 87 source documents I looked at during February (certificates, photocopies of archival documents and newspaper articles). 

A screenshot of my 'Source Analysis' subfolder in Evernote. I have created one note for each source document. 

In the process of sorting through my Fullerton information on my computer hard drive I also came across other little bits of data relevant to my Fullerton writing project which didn't quite fit into my chronological Word document. So I created other sub-folders in my 'Fullerton Project' folder in Evernote including:

• 'People' (a place to store notes about other people related to the Fullerton story: neighbours, baptism sponsors, employees etc.)
• 'Kildare Immigrants to Victoria' (similar to the 'People' folder, a place to store references to other immigrants from County Kildare Ireland who came to Victoria)
• 'To Do: Images' (a place to store a copy of images I might use later when I create my book e.g. photographs from library collections found via Trove)
• 'To Do: Newspapers' (a place to store newspaper references I have not yet followed up)
• 'To Do: Archives' (a place to store references and ideas for further research in archives)
• 'To Do: Libraries' (a place to store references and ideas for further research in libraries - local, state, national, genealogy and historical societies)
• 'To Do: Places to Visit' (a place to store notes about ideas for location research e.g. cemeteries) 
• 'To Do: Web' (a place to store ideas for further research online)
• 'To Do: Documents to Obtain' (a place to store reminders about documents I should obtain e.g. certificates)
• 'Plans' (chapter plans)
• 'Previous Writing' (previous writing relevant to my Fullerton project e.g. University assignments, blog posts, articles written for journals etc.)
• 'Timelines' (previous timelines I created)
• 'Style Sheets' (information about how to cite and analyse different sources)
• 'Bibliography' (source citations for all documents etc.)
• 'Writing Ideas' (notes about writing ideas from books, articles on the web etc.)
• 'Publishing Resources' (notes about publishing a family history book)

This is a screenshot of the folder structure of my Fullerton Project information stored in Evernote.
I need to find out how to sort sub-folders alphabetically. 

I also created a spreadsheet in Excel called 'Other Fullertons' (with fields for surname, given names, year, place, source and notes) so I could store any references I have saved that refer to other Fullertons/Fullards/Folliards in Australia. 

I have also created two other main folders in Evernote called 'History Topics' and 'Repositories'. 

What have I learned?

• To make more realistic word count pledges.
• I have a lot of information already, but there are still gaps in my knowledge.
• I should have started this organising and writing when I first started researching 10 years ago.

What tools have I used? 

• Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel
• Evernote
• I am still hoping to learn more about Personal Historian 2 and Scrivener.

What do I still need to achieve (To Do)?

• I have found references to documents, books and places I had hoped to go to research but have not yet. I have stored all these ideas in 'To Do' folders in Evernote.
• I need to read lots and lots of history! Local, state, national, Irish, histories of immigration, histories of the Irish in Australia etc. 
• I need to use newspapers and local histories to fill in the gaps in the story and bring it to life: e.g. events of the time, weather etc. 
• I need to read more books on writing history and I need to practice writing in different creative styles. 
• I need to keep motivated and keep writing. 

Recommended Books:

• Carol Baxter's Family Tree Tips: Writing Interesting Family Histories
• Noeline Kyle's Writing Family History Made Very Easy

Recommend Websites:

• The Family History Writing Challenge
• The Armchair Genealogist Blog
• Family History Writing Blog
• State Library of Victoria Guides: Publish Your Family History

 © 2013. Australian Genealogy Journeys by Aillin O'Brien is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Australia License.Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at http://ausgenjourneys.blogspot.com.au/p/copyright-terms.html.

Trove Tuesday - South Elmore Annual Picnic and Sports, 1907

Bendigo Advertiser, Friday 25 October 1907, page 5. 

SOUTH ELMORE, 24th October. 

The annual picnic and sports in connection with the local State school were held in Mr. Holmes's paddock, about a mile from the township. There was a good attendance of parents, accompanied by their children, who were laden with all sorts of edibles etc. The headmaster (Mr. D. P. Kelly) assisted by the elder folks, did all in their power to promote the enjoyment of the children. During the afternoon a capital programme of races, etc. was carried out. Results: - Handicap Trot - Mr. B. Sullivan's Tommy (R. Dawson), 1. Mr. W. Fullerton's  Tariff (Owner), 2. Young Men's Race - P. Cleary. 1: D. McCormick, 2: J. McCormick. 3. Nail-driving (ladies) - Miss A Dawson. Gents' Hat Trimming - G. Fullerton, 1: G. Gleeson, 2; J. Fullerton. 3. Married Ladies' Race - Mrs Millman. 1: Mrs. Fullerton, 2: Mrs. Boyd, 3. At the conclusion of the sports refreshments were laid out on tables etc., and those present partook of a splendid repast. After tea an adjournment was made to the local hall where a dance was held for the elder people. Mr. P. Cleary acted as M.C. while the music for the dance was supplied by Messrs J. McKee, J. Harney and J. Murray. During the interval Misses A. and F. Simmie with bagpipe accompaniments by Mr. J. Murray, danced the sailor's hornpipe and Highland fling. At midnight supper was provided by Mr. A. Vanthoff, of Elmore, and about 60 couples sat down to partake of the good things provided. After supper dancing was resumed, and continued   until an early hour in the morning. The secretarial arrangements were capably carried out by Miss A. Dawson.  Measles are very prevalent in this district, numbers of school children being affected.

Now I have learnt that:

• My great great uncles George Fullerton and James Atkinson Fullerton took part in the 'Gent's Hat Trimming' contest (George won and James came third!)
• My great great uncle William Peter Fullerton, riding his horse named Tariff, came second in the Handicap Trot.
• And because there would not have been any other 'Mrs Fullerton' in the area at that time, I now know that my Great Great Grandmother, Dorothea Fullerton (nee Atkinson), aged 50, came second in the 'Married Ladies' Race'! (I obviously didn't inherit my athletic abilities - read non-abilities - from this branch of my family!!)

Trove Tuesday is a blogging prompt created my Amy of the Branches Leaves & Pollen blog.

 © 2013. Australian Genealogy Journeys by Aillin O'Brien is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Australia License.Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at http://ausgenjourneys.blogspot.com.au/p/copyright-terms.html.

Motivation Monday - Goals for March 2013

My goals for February 2013 were:

1.  The Family History Writing Challenge (Goals for 2013 Writing Goal). Achieved, but not to the extent I pledged. I did not manage to write the equivalent of 500 words for each of the 28 days in February. However, I think I have made a good start with organising my Fullerton family history book. Soon I will write a post regarding my experiences with The Family History Writing Challenge.
2.  The February Photo Collage Festival (Goals for 2013 Writing Goal). Achieved. But I did not manage to write as much about each photograph as I would have liked. I still hope to write comments on many of the other participants blogs. Please see my February Photo Collage posts.
3.  Finish scanning the photo album I have already half scanned (Goals for 2013 Organisation Goal). Not achieved. I did scan about 100 more photographs from the album but I did not manage to finish scanning the complete album.
4.  Read up to at least page 140 of Getting the Most From Family Historian 5. I am currently up to page 117 (Goals for 2013 Education Goal). Not achieved.
5.  Check my remaining Starred items in Gmail, and reply to 2-3 overdue emails. (Goals for 2013 Correspondence Goal) Partially achieved. I still have a few more emails and one letter I need to reply to.
6. Correct the text of 5 articles tagged at Trove and then post at least one Trove Tuesday post to this blog. (Goals for 2013 Writing, Research and 'Giving Back' Goal). Achieved.

My goals for March 2013 are very similar to February:

1. Continue organising and writing my Fullerton family history (a continuation of last months Family History Writing Challenge) (Goals for 2013 Writing Goal)
2. Finish scanning the photo album I have already half scanned (Goals for 2013 Organisation Goal)
3. Read up to at least page 140 of Getting the Most From Family Historian 5. I am currently up to page 117 (Goals for 2013 Education Goal)
4. Check my remaining Starred items in Gmail, and reply to 2-3 overdue emails. (Goals for 2013 Correspondence Goal)
5. Correct the text of 5 articles tagged at Trove and then post at least one Trove Tuesday post to this blog. (Goals for 2013 Writing, Research and 'Giving Back' Goal)

 © 2013. Australian Genealogy Journeys by Aillin O'Brien is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Australia License.Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at http://ausgenjourneys.blogspot.com.au/p/copyright-terms.html.