Your Genetic Genealogy~ Is It As Accurate As You Think?

Good morning and Aloha!  It has been breezy but also rainy here on Oahu this morning and it makes for great sleeping weather, so what am I doing up? It's 9 a.m. that's why; I cant sleep in like my husband can, he can sleep through a tsunami! If I were only that lucky...but anyway, I have been wondering about the accuracy of DNA in our genealogy.  Image Source: DNA Genetics How do we know this is truly accurate, as DNA is taken...

Read More

Family Genealogy Package

Yesterday, I received my genealogy package in the mail from my Aunt Evelyn! I was so excited to open it, that it was like opening a birthday gift except there wasn't any frilly bows or paper to unwrap. In this package came two thick stacks of family history, stapled together, one for Lucia Cornett, (my grandmother's side of the family) and another packet of information for Walter Cornett's side of the family, (my grandfather).  One packet...

Read More

Through The Looking Glass

Our ancestors of past generations would probably think that living in today's digital world of computers, the iPad, and even our smart phones, as alien. In their days, they were lucky if they even had a land line! Knowing what I know now, depending on Internet and my iPhone on a daily basis, I would be lost without them; I couldn't imagine living life day to day without these items which have become so common in our world today.  Image...

Read More

And the Plot Thickens!

This past week, I've been researching and reading on my Cornett relatives even though I haven't been posting new articles as I go along. In the beginning of the week I received a book that I purchased on Amazon's web site, entitled, "Grayson County: A History in Words and Pictures". I found a few things about my family personally inside and a couple of photos also, which was very exciting. I can actually put a face to the name now. The book explains...

Read More

My Sutherland Family~ Did They Live In Dunrobin Castle?

A thought I have been pondering~ Did any members of my Sutherland family ever reside in Dunrobin Castle? Being that said castle is magnificent in its' own right, it is also a castle, which is located in Golspie, Scotland and was built and still owned by the Sutherland family. (The Sutherland Family) It is only that several hundred years later that Sir Charles Barry did an extensive remodel, which he is famous for designing the Houses of...

Read More

Are Your Children Interested In Genealogy?

Good afternoon! I have been trying to figure out a way to get both of my sons, ages 20 and 14 to have an interest in their family tree. I have had some success with my oldest son John, but Dakota, well that's another story entirely. All he is interested in, is playing basketball! So how can I get him involved and actually start liking "the hunt"? I have a few ideas that I have been thinking about but have come to realize that he may never really...

Read More

Saturday Shout Out

A few days ago, I thought about taking a few college courses in Genealogy to further my research and put my thirst for knowledge to work. Then life intervened and I got side tracked and it just slipped my mind to investigate it any further. That is, until I read a blog called Family Cherished written by Valerie, a very talented and inspiring writer I might add. The particular blog article I am referring to is called, "Getting a Great...

Read More

Happy Aloha Friday!

It's such a beautiful day here in Kailua! The birds are chirping, the sun is shining brightly, and how I love the ocean breeze. Such a perfect beginning to a wonderful weekend ahead! As I sit here, I am debating on the content of today's blog post. To all my fellow blogger's out there: Do you ever get "Blank Screen Syndrome"? For me, it's almost like writer's block!  But anyway, I want to tell you about my most recent 'jump for joy'...

Read More

Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness

As I am researching my Cornett surname, I happen to come across another web site that I had to share! It's called Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness, where select volunteers offer to do look ups for people like myself, that cannot locate a particular document. In my case I was looking for a marriage record, which I couldn't find for my grandparents. After searching Ancestry.com and not really wanting to pay the price, at least not at...

Read More

Learning "Legacy" Family Tree Software

Good morning all! This morning I am finally learning and teaching myself more about the Legacy software created my Millenia. What's so great about this program versus others out there? I have tried many different ones, but I seem to get along with this one the best, and it has come in under the #2 spot in the Genealogy Software Review for 2011! But just to let you know, I tried the standard version, which is free by the way; but I absolutely love...

Read More

Family Heirlooms~ Preserving The Past For Future Generations

When you think of the word "heirloom", do you think of the old doilies your grandmother hand crocheted so long ago, but now look yellow and dingy? I do. When I think of heirlooms, I think of useless objects that have seen better days. Old sienna photos in antique silver frames, handkerchiefs with flower embroidery that my grandmother used to carry around with her, family albums, quilts, baby blankets, family Bibles, and my own wedding dress,...

Read More

Family Stories That May Be Lost Forever

Thank you Ancestry.com! I have made contact with family members I didn't even know existed. By researching the Cornett/ Sutherland heritage on the web site, I have connected with others who are researching the same family as I am and what do you know? They're actually family. This is very exciting! The branches of my tree have become so tangled and intertwined, but in such a good way. What a great way to share data gathered through web sites such...

Read More

John Hits the Big 2-0! Happy, Happy Birthday Son!

In just under a week, my oldest son John, will be 20 years old! How time flies by. Did I ever think about this day almost twenty years ago? Certainly not! I always felt that he would be my little boy forever. Now, he has grown into a handsome man, who I love dearly. I still remember those little brown eyes staring up at me, the coos and smiles, and his baby laugh. I am now the proud mother of an adult child! A child who can get married, have children...

Read More

Thinking About Acquiring An Education In Genealogy? Read This First!

I love learning new things and furthering my education and knowledge. I was even thinking about taking some classes in Genealogy. I thought that maybe acquiring additional knowledge or procedures might just help me in my own research. Below is an article I found on the Genealogy.com web site in regards to certain institutions offering a beginners genealogy course. If you are interested in these types of classes, please check the qualifications and reputations of the instructor and the educational institution! Granted some may be free, but why...

Read More

The Mystery of My Grayson Family Heritage~ Will It Unfold or Be Untold?

This past week has been all about making new contacts that would eventually help me in researching my Cornett ancestry and understanding exactly who they were. I found a connection and a book entitled, "Bicentennial Heritage Grayson County, Virginia 1793", which was published in 1995 by the Grayson County Bicentennial Foundation. This book is no longer in print, unless you are lucky enough to have a copy of it in your possession already. Image...

Read More

Where Do I Go From Here?

A college friend of mine found me on Twitter today through my blog on Genealogy. It was a surreal moment, because I had just been thinking about her only two days ago. Monete and I had the same classes, and had similar dreams of making it big in the graphic design world. It was kind of funny, remembering her passion for Photoshop while my own passion was geared more towards vectors and I loved Adobe Illustrator. She would help me in Photoshop and...

Read More

What's The Deal, Lemon Peel?

Searching high. Searching low. I've been researching Alexander Sutherland for some time now; I can't seem to get the man out of my head. I have been scouring the internet for anything to do with the Sutherland surname. Alexander would be my 4th great grandfather who was born June 3,1743 in Sutherland, Caithness, Scotland, and died in the year 1843 in Grayson County, Virginia. I know that he married Margaret Elizabeth Bryan, who was from Culpepper,...

Read More

A Rough Week

So, it has been a rough week for research. I have hit many brick walls when it comes to searching for my elusive ancestor, Alexander Sutherland. I may have to try a different avenue, other than the online searches I have been doing. As a member of Ancestry.co.uk, I still have been unable to get an exact match as far as retrieving any documentation on him. I have tried Scotland's People, Family Search and many other genealogical sites, and sad to say, have come up empty handed! I have been making new contacts and sending out emails all week....

Read More

Now Where Did I See That Surname?

Have you ever thought about how much genealogy research you accumulate over time? I have papers, personal notes, photos, and other documents that just keep piling up and thrown into a folder, then filed away into my filing cabinet. How will I ever stay organized and find what I need without having to search each paper individually for a particular surname or date? I found it! A program called Evernote; I'll only have one account and can use it on a multitude of devices!  Evernote works by connecting all the computers and phones you use...

Read More