Hey, Pilgrim!!

Here it is November again. And that means that families all over America are gathering to feast on turkey, mashed potatoes and gray, dressing, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie. Oh, forgive me, I forgot the Green Bean Casserole!

But some of us are looking beyond Turkeyfest. We are searching for Pilgrim ancestors. Once again it is the same thing as the Salem Witches. You will be doing backwards genealogy. Fortunately, when you want to find ancestors who came over on the Mayflower, your odds are a lot better -- just because there are more resources. Let's face it, the Pilgrims were a little bit more popular that the Salem Witches.

So where do you go?http://www.themayflowersociety.com/  This is your initial source and also your best source. This website will give you the surnames of all the Mayflower Pilgrims who landed at Plymouth Rock in 1620. Even though I probably don't have any ancestors who arrived on this particular ship, I am so impressed by this website. It is a wealth of information, full of history and interesting facts -- including many celebrities who are descended from the Pilgrims.

FYI: George Washington declared a National Day of Thanksgiving in 1789.
President Lincoln proclaimed an annual Thanksgiving Day in 1863 during the Civil War. President Franklin Roosevelt established our present day Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday in November. 

Happy Thanksgiving to all.

Who Do I Thnk I Am

I have been working on my lineage papers for Century Families of Ohio. Just a little labor intensive! In my mind, I know who everyone is and I know  how I am related to all of these people whose names I am entering on all of these forms. So, not a problem -- right? I am beginning to realize that sometimes it is easier to prove ancestors in your family who existed 100 years ago than it is to prove a relative who was in your life 50 years ago. 

I read somewhere that Genesis, the first book of the Bible, is a primary source. Everything after that is hearsay and therefore, a secondary source. I always keep this in mind when looking at the records I am using for lineage papers. How far back does this record go. Can I go back any further to prove this date. If you can't, you have a primary source.
 
You have to put yourself in the place of the person who is reviewing your application And that is difficult. You have to become someone who never heard of you or your family. Then you prove to yourself that you are who you think you are. Yes! Who do you think you are!!

My papers are ready to be mailed. I will let you know what mistakes I made. I don't know anyone who got it right the first time.  Next in line before the New Year will be Settlers and Builders of Ohio.