Hi everyone!
It's time to meet another of our Wonderful WikiTreers. This week's member is Joelle Colville-Hanson.
Joelle became a Wiki Genealogist in May of 2017. She is the team leader for the Illinois Project as well as the Argyll team for the Scotland Project. She's also one of our Cemeterists.
What are some of the surnames you are researching?
Colville, Breckenridge.
Most of my mother’s family (Crawford) was already on WikiTree when I joined. I’ve filled in the gaps but there’s really not much more to do there. Now I mostly work on my father's side.
What are some of the locations you are researching?
Argyll, Scotland: The area of Kintrye was very insulated and there was a lot of intermarriage so nearly everyone from there is connected to my tree in some way.
Winnebago County: My great grandfather Robert Colville immigrated from Campbeltown, Scotland to Ohio in 1837. He ended up at the Scotch Settlement in Argyle, Illinois. I have a free-space page about the settlement.
Washington County, Ohio. This is where my family first settled as well as many others from Argyll.
When and how did you get interested in genealogy and family history?
My Uncle Fred Crawford was an amateur genealogist before the days of the internet. He traveled to Scotland and copied records directly from the churches there. It’s a big family and I’m fairly sure much of what we know about those Crawfords is a result of his work.
His widow gave me his notes when I was a teenager but it got put away safely and I didn’t really take a real interest again until a few years ago.
Tell us about a brick wall you hope to bust through.
I can’t seem to get past my second great grandfather. I’m not even certain the father he is connected to is correct. It’s very difficult because everyone in Kintrye has the same names. I have a family tree from relatives that goes farther but so far have not been able to connect sources with it.
What are some of your interests outside of genealogy?
I enjoy history, gardening and cooking.
[Interview continues below.]
