INCREDIBLE geneology link

[Alan H]

http://www.shahall.com/alpha.html

In one hour I filled in the entire background of my paternal grandmother, Myrtle Viola Snyder by perusing this magnificent database. It focuses on Pennsylvania and North and South Carolina. This is an INCREDIBLE RESOURCE, and it is accessible for Free!

It took me about an hour, plus doing a little bit of googling, to pin down two Revolutionary War ancestors, and establish a link to Willam Bryson, who emigrated from County Antrim in around 1740. A family tradition, documented in a family bible says that William Brysons mother was Scottish.

So I now have two validated links to Northern Ireland...

William Bryson, who emigrated in 1740

....and John McKnight, who emigrated in 1733

By starting with that database, I went from knowing my paternal grandmothers name (Myrtle Viola Snyder) and her date of birth and state of birth and my grandfathers name, to a family history going back over 200 years.

WOW....just WOW.

[way2fractious]

Congratulations! But be careful, that genealogy stuff can be as addictive as kiltwearing. Of course, you can do both at the same time, but there still would be no time to make any more kilts...

[Alan H]

Congratulations! But be careful, that genealogy stuff can be as addictive as kiltwearing. Of course, you can do both at the same time, but there still would be no time to make any more kilts...

I'm lucky, though. I have a couple of books that my Dad acquired before he died, documenting the "Hebert" side of the family. All that has been entrenched in French-speaking Canada since, like forever.....

My maternal grandmothers family history was done up by Grandmother Katherine in the 1940's so that she could join the DAR. So I have a family tree from her side going back to the 1750's, done for me., with links to England and Scotland.

I know that my maternal grandfather emigrated from Sweden, and that his name is one of those "made up" names that they'd pin on you when you joined the Army. No chance of tracking that back. That just left Myrtle Viola and her background as the big question.

...and in one afternoon...WHAM, got it done. It's entirely complete going back 5 generations, almost all of it in North Carolina. There are documented entries , WELL documented entries going back another generation, to people born in the 1760's - 1780's in both North Carolina and Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

It's just incredible. I've corresponded now with the database curator, who is very helpful and friendly. I HIGHLY recommend this database if you have links to early American families.

[MacWage]

Well, no Wages there at all.

But found this interesting name:

Wahhoohoo, Moses

Anyone ever heard of that one before?

[Steeplechase]

No Newmans, or Eubanks. Also none of the Robinsons or Paynes are our set. I was really hoping to find something on either the Robinson or Payne families, we have only trace them to the mid 1800's. Newman to late 1700's and Eubanks to the mid 1700's. Still looking for those that came across the pond.Although the site didn't help me, I'm sure it could be a fine resource for others. Thanks for sharing Alan.

[Scottish Chi]

Well, I tried 4 surnames names from my mothers side that lived in NC with no luck. Fortunately I have access to a book on that side of the family that will go back to GB 1590.

Glad it worked so well for you. This genealogy stuff is a great entertainment like looking for buried treasure.

Cheers! Bill

[Alan H]

I'm stunned. William Bryson, who emigrated...well.... "Bryce" and "Bryson" are septs of Clan MacFarlane. YAY!!!!

I'm sorry it didn't helop out some of you guys who looked through th elistings. Maybe I just got incredibly lucky with Myrtle Viola Snyder.

[clancelt]

Don't know if you know about this one or not. It the LDS database, you can get lost in it for hours:

LDS Database

[Rex_Tremende]

I cannot find a thread to follow from any of my obscure family on the site you mention. However, I managed to trace one branch of my family tree back to Switzerland circa 1600 on RoostWeb.com. Like most of these sites, it relies on the research of others.

In the 70's, I spent some time with my father in Washington, D.C., at the National Archives, where I dug up some records documenting my paternal lineage. There is nothing like the joy of making one's own discoveries, but it is a time-consuming pursuit. I suppose if I spent less time here, I'd have more time for that sort of thing.

Regards,
Rex, avoiding his real work.

[Big Paul]

Lots of Murray's! But none from my line..