You have a lot of work to do

YOU
2 parents
4 grandparents
8 gr grandparents
16 gg grandparents
32 ggg grandparents
64 gggg grandparents
128 ggggg grandparents
256 gggggg grandparents
512 ggggggg grandparents
1,024 gggggggg grandparents
2,048 ggggggggg grandparents
4,096 gggggggggg grandparents
8,192 ggggggggggg grandparents
16,384 ggggggggggg grandparents
32,768 ggggggggggggg grandparents
65,536 gggggggggggggg grandparents
131,072 ggggggggggggggg grandparents
262,144 gggggggggggggggg grandparents
524,288 ggggggggggggggggg grandparents
1,048,576 gggggggggggggggggg grandparents
2,097,152 ggggggggggggggggggg grandparents
4,194,304 gggggggggggggggggggg grandparents

HOW TO FIGURE A BIRTHDATE

REMEMBER THIS NUMBER: 8870

 

This is not an error: It is the number to remember when you want

to find the birthdate of someone when you only have the date of

death and age.

 

How do you figure the birthdate?

 

Suppose the person died May 6, 1889, at the age of

71 years, 7 months, 9 days.

 

1. Write the year, month, day as: ———–> 18890506

2. Subtract the age at death: —————-> 710709

3. This gives the figure: ————————> 18179797

4. Now subtract 8870: ————————–> 8870

5. The result is: ———————————–> 18170927

 

Year 1817, 9th month (Sept), 27th day or 27 Sept, 1817

 

Source: Platte Co, MO Historical/Genealogical Society

Gade / Wood Death Certificates

 

 

Cracking the Code on Cemetery Ciphers

Grave markers reveal not only names and dates, but often offer data that in many cases can be found nowhere else; ethnic origins, occupations and affiliations, beliefs and values, manner of death, names of relatives, even personal traits that survivors held dear.
However, not everything is clearly etched in epitaph – gravestones can hold intricately carved hidden clues. Use the following list of common cemetery symbols to decipher your family gravestone ciphers:

Anchors often mark the graves of sailors, but they were also employed as a clever deception by early Christians, used by to guide one another to secret places of worship, or to disguise a cross.
Animals of all kinds are depicted on tombstones, and each has it’s own connotation:
• A Dog signifies the loyalty, or that the deceased was worth loving.
• A Fish indicates faith.
• A Hart (male deer) represents faithfulness or thirsting for God.
• Horses stand for courage or generosity.
• Lion recalls the power of God and guards the tomb.
• Lambs are used to identify the grave of a child, and represents innocence.
• A Squirrel with a nut implies religious meditation or spiritual striving.
Angels symbolize spirituality. Depending upon what they carry, or how they are posed, angels suggest many different ideas.
Birds often represent the flight of the soul to heaven.
• Doves, for Christians, embody the Holy Spirit. On Jewish graves, a dove represents a symbol of peace.
• Eagles (one-headed and two-headed) are often featured on Military and imperial graves as a nationalist symbol. On Native American graves, it can represent a spirit guide.
Bibles may indicate the deceased was a cleric, or a religious lay person.
Books frequently indicate that the deceased was a scholar. Arabic characters signify that the book is the Koran.
A Broken Column can mean an early grief; a life cut short.
Butterfly The three stages of a butterfly’s life – caterpillar, chrysalis, and butterfly – correspond to the three stage of Christ’s life – birth, death and resurrection. A butterfly can also indicate that the deceased lived only a short time.
A Candle carved onto the gravestone stands for the spirit or the soul.
Chains reflect a medieval belief that a golden chain bound the soul to the body. Severing the chain meant the release of the spirit from the body. The International Order of Odd Fellows also uses a chain as their insignia. If the letter IOOF or FLT (Friendship, Love, Truth) is found inside or near the chain, you can be sure of the association.
A Chariot Wheel with six or twelve spokes is an emblem of the Buddhist faith. The U.S. Veterans Administration uses the Wheel of the Law to mark the graves of Buddhists.
Cherubs mark the graves of children.
The Circle is universally known as the symbol of eternity and never-ending existence. Extremely common on grave sites, it is usually depicted surrounding a cross. Two circles, one above the other, represent earth and sky. Three interconnected circles represent the Holy Trinity.
A Cross symbolizes Christianity.
A Crescent indicates that the deceased was a Muslim in life.
Doors and gates are passages into the afterlife.
Drapery over anything indicates sorrow and mourning.
Flame represents eternity.
Hands, whether clasping, praying, pointing, or blessing, show that the deceased’s relationships involve human beings. Clasping hands often symbolize a marriage or other close bond.
Harps may be found on the graves of musicians, and represent the joy to be found in Heaven.
Hearts stand for the affection of the living for the dead. Two joined hearts on a stone mark a marriage. (The Sacred Heart is found only on the graves of Catholics, and represents the suffering of Jesus for our sins.)
An Hour Glass is symbolic of time passing.
Keys stand for spiritual knowledge or, if held in the hands of an angel, the means to enter heaven.
A Lamp stands for knowledge and the immortality of the Spirit.
The Menorah is an emblem of Judaism that predates the Star of David.
A Pitcher is a traditional Jewish (Levite) symbol.
Plants & Trees of numerous species are depicted on headstones, and each has its own meaning. Here are a few of the most popular:
• The Dogwood represents Christianity, divine sacrifice, triumph of eternal life, resurrection.
• Roses can mean many things, including love, beauty, hope, unfailing love.
• Rosebuds are normally reserved for a child under the age of 12.
• A partial bloom normally indicates the grave of a teenager.
• A rose in full bloom normally signifies the death of someone in their early to mid-twenties.
• A broken rosebud represents life cut short, usually found on a young person’s grave.
• Grapes and Leaves indicate Christian faith.
• Lily of the Valley means a return of happiness, purity, humility.
• An Oak tree signifies honor, strength and liberty; often seen on military tombs.
• Shamrocks are a sign that the deceased was most likely from Ireland.
Scallops were a symbol of the Crusades, and a traditional symbol of the Puritans.
A Scroll is a symbol of life and time.
Ship marks the grave of a seafarer.
The Star of David is used as a symbol of Judaism.
Stars represent the spirit, piercing the darkness as an expression of their triumph against the overwhelming odds of oblivion. Five pointed stars represent the spirit rising to heaven.
A Sword signifies a military career. Crossed swords indicate death in battle.
Serpent, when shown swallowing its own tail it, represents Eternity.
A Winged face is an effigy of the soul of the deceased.
Wheat sheaves often represent the aged.
Wreath or Garland is most often a symbol of the victory of the redemption. (A Bridal Wreath may signify the grave of a young bride or groom.)
Woman hanging onto Cross epitomizes faith. Also portrayed as a woman clinging to pillar or anchor. This is a common motif on Masonic grave memorials.

A final word of caution; take these explanations with a grain of salt. While headstone carvings can provide valuable insight into the deceased’s life and death, they should not be taken as incontrovertible evidence. In other words, if your Great-great-grandfather’s tomb is adorned with a pitcher encircled with a wreath of rosebuds and shamrocks, don’t be too quick to assume that, at the time of death, he was a Jewish child from Ireland. That said; good luck cracking the code on your family’s cemetery ciphers!

Article Source: http://www.familyhistoryarticles.com

Written by Renee Huskey, of Photoloom LLC, creators of Family Photoloom. Family Photoloom is a ground-breaking online family photo-history service that provides the tools you need to organize your photos, stories and other files around your genealogy, and create truly seamless family history. Please visit www.photoloom.com to learn more.

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More on Symbol Meanings

Plan a Trip to the Cemetery

Plan a Trip to the Cemetery

Cemeteries provide a valuable, tangible link with the past, and often offer an opportunity to gather data that in many cases can be found nowhere else.

If you plan a visit to an ancestral cemetery on your own, or with a single research companion, there’s no need to make special arrangements. However, if you plan to make it part of a family reunion itinerary, it’s a good idea to schedule excursions to active cemeteries for the early morning hours, from 8:00 to 11:00am, to avoid any services that may be held. Check the day before your trip with the cemetery office or caretaker just to be certain, and allow at least one and a half to two hours for your cemetery visit. For older, inactive cemeteries, secure permission from the cemetery authority if possible.

Upon arrival at the cemetery, take a few moments to orient your group, especially young children and teens, reminding all to show proper respect for the dead and practice appropriate cemetery etiquette. Younger children should be supervised while on cemetery grounds.

Cemeteries offer plenty of activity for family members of all ages. Allow time for generations to wander the gravestones together: For older relations, gravestone inscriptions can supply sparks of inspiration, kindling long-forgotten memories. Out-of-town visitors may wish to research the family in old church records, so be sure to schedule this with cemetery authorities in advance. You may even want to recruit your clan to clean up the ancestral plots. And everyone, young and old, will enjoy making gravestone rubbings to take home as a keepsake of their trip. (See “How to Make a Gravestone Rubbing” below.)

If you aren’t sure where your ancestors are buried, a cemetery directory, such as Cemeteries of the U.S.: A Guide to Contact Information for U.S. Cemeteries and Their Records can assist you in determining which cemeteries are in the area of your ancestors’ last residence. Once the burial site has been located, the cemetery, if still in existence, can be contacted to schedule a visit and request copies of burial records. And when gathering data at the cemetery, be sure to record accurate source information for future researchers.

How to Make a Gravestone Rubbing*

You will need:
• Tracing Paper or Freezer Paper (works well even if stones are damp or wet), or Acid-free Vellum(for archival-quality rubbings)
• Thick dark-colored crayons with the labels removed
• Soft bristle brush
• Small spray bottle of water
• Hand towel
• Partner
• Cardboard tube – for storing paper and finished rubbings

Procedure:
Select a solid gravestone and gently clean dirt and debris from the face using a soft bristle brush, and water if necessary. Have your partner hold the paper over the gravestone. (If using freezer paper, put the shiny side down.) With the flat side of the crayon, rub the entire area using gentle, even strokes. Before removing the paper, step back and check to see if you have completely rubbed all areas. When finished, it is a good idea to note somewhere on the rubbing where it was taken. Roll your paper up carefully so you don’t crease it or smudge the tracing.

* Always gain permission to do rubbings before you begin. Do not do rubbings on thin or unstable stones. Carelessness can cause damage to gravestones, and for this reason, some cemeteries do not permit gravestone rubbing.

Article Source: http://www.familyhistoryarticles.com

Written by Renee Huskey, of Photoloom LLC, creators of Family Photoloom. Family Photoloom is a ground-breaking online family photo-history service that provides the tools you need to organize your photos, stories and other files around your genealogy, and create truly seamless family history. Please visit www.photoloom.com to learn more.

Eight Important How-to Tips in Searching Census Records

Eight Important How-to Tips in Searching Census Records

Census records may be the single most utilized search tool online for family tree research. From 1930 back to the founding of the country, the records of every census are available online. By using census records you may be able to trace your family tree back to when your ancestors first came to this country, whether they were immigrants who came ashore at Ellis Island, or were here to fight the British during the Revolution, the census records may well show you a piece of their lives.

Census records are available online and have truly aided the search of the genealogist, whether amateur or professional, since their introduction. Using the combined power of the internet, high speed computers, and the extensive research of the federal government, all at your fingertips can make research a breeze.

When searching census records, there are several things to remember. First, have a good idea of alternative spellings of your family name. Many family names had the spelling changed to make the names seem more American, and help the individuals blend into American society without standing out, with what seemed like foreign sounding names. Other names were changed because the immigration officials made typographical errors, or could not spell or pronounce the names involved. And many names simply had multiple spellings that were all considered correct at the time, especially since so many people didn’t read or write at the time. Also, trying to decipher other people’s handwriting can cause anyone problems. A person may make an r that looks like an n or any one of dozens of other mistakes from bad handwriting. With that in mind, know all of the alternative spellings.

Next, make a list of all of the family names you are looking for, and all of the information you have relevant to the ancestors you want to learn about. Keep this information in a notebook handy, or in an online data base. And be prepared to write in the notebook or add to the data base as you acquire more information. When making a list of names, remember that Smith for instance is sometimes written at Smithe, or Smythe. Johnson can be Johnston or Jonson. Madux can be Maddux or Maddox. Know the combinations and alternatives and you will aid your search.

After that, know what states your ancestors were probably living in. If your ancestor lived in New Jersey that is the census you want to check out, not New York. And know the geography. If you can’t find your ancestor in New Jersey, but believe he was in the area at the time, then New York as an adjourning state is the next place to check, followed by Pennsylvania and all of the other states in the area where the ancestor could have lived.

Know something about the spouses and the spousal families. If you can’t find your great, great, great grandfather, but you know whom he married, then you can check out the spouse’s family and perhaps find some information there. The more information you have to start with in your research, the better for you, the more extensive the research will be, and the less time it will take.

Then have a good idea of the time period in which the ancestor lived. If your ancestor lived in New York in 1900, then that is the first census to check. Then checking the 1890 and 1910 census records will help determine when he moved there and when he left. But, there is no need to check the 1920 census or the 1880 census if the time periods don’t match.

There has never been a better time in history to do genealogical research for many reasons, one of the main ones being census records availability online. Other things that help the genealogical researcher these days include the popularity of the hobby, the abundance of good software to help in the research, and the Internet itself. With the Internet it is possible to find online chat rooms, groups, message forums and other places to meet like minded people researching their own families. And as these things go, many people start their research on one branch of their own family and then tie into other branches, tying into other people’s research, and helping everyone along the way.

Article Source: http://www.familyhistoryarticles.com

About the Authors Paul Duxbury and Kevin Cook own www.amateur-genealogist.com and www.our-family-trees.co.uk two of the leading Genealogy Websites. In addition Paul owns a wide range of exciting websites which can be viewed at www.our-family-trees.co.uk