Most genealogists can recite the bare-bones facts about an ancestor. I call them the “begats” — providing the birth, death, marriage, children, and perhaps a nice chart.
That information is important, but it does not make them interesting to those not steeped in research, especially children and cousins you might be trying to get interested in genealogy — or, at least, in not tossing your stuff in the trash once you are gone.
Writing a biographical sketch of an ancestor can help round out the information and force you to figure out more about them. Include their occupations, religion and church affiliation. Is their church still operating? Is there a historic building standing that they might have attended?
Do any historic houses survive that they were associated with? Were they in the military, an armed conflict or the home guard? What organizations did they belong to, such as the Masons, Odd Fellows or Eastern Star?
Do you know whether they had any leisure activities or hobbies? Did they travel and, if so, where to?
If you can learn their political leanings, that can add to the story; that kind of data and other civic activities show up more now via online digitized newspapers.
Putting flesh back on the bones of our long-dead ancestors can be helpful when you get ready to share these ancestors with family members. A story, even if it’s brief, can continue their memory within your family and help others understand your passion for genealogy and local history.
Jewish articles online
Avotaynu, the International Review of Jewish Genealogy, has been digitized and back issues for 2007 through 2011 soon will be available free at avotaynuonline.com. Other issues are available by subscription. Anyone with Jewish heritage should check the site, since it covers Jewish heritage and genealogy sources from all over the world as well as current research and indexing projects.
Homestead exemptions
Georgia counties allowed applications for homestead exemptions (not the same as today’s records with the same name) from 1868 to 1885. These are on microfilm at the Georgia Archives and originals are at courthouses. They provide good information about an ancestor’s property — and sometimes their minor children — immediately after the Civil War. The Augusta Genealogical Society lists those for Richmond County in its May newsletter, with originals found at their library.
