Meet our Members: Kathy Evans

Question

Hi everyone!

It's time to get to know another one of our wonderful WikiTreers. This week's member is Kathy Evans.

Kathy became a Wiki Genealogist last August. She's a member of our Ireland, Profile Improvement and Acadia projects and also participates as a Data Doctor and Sourcerer.

What are some of the surnames you are researching?

Hopkins, Whitmore, Cooper, and Page (all in Rhode Island), and Knightly (County Kerry).

What are some of the locations you are researching? 

Most of my ancestry is in Gloucester, Massachusetts. I have one Irish branch to Counties Kerry and Clare, and one Acadian branch to Salmon River, Digby, Nova Scotia.

When and how did you get interested in genealogy and family history?

About ten years ago, one of my cousins (I never knew her) sent a printout of the Woodbury line back to John Woodbury (PGM). It took my sister and I days to figure out what her printout meant, but we were hooked.

Who's your favorite ancestor and why?

My black sheep Samuel Knox Head. He was a very difficult ancestor to trace, however he was the gateway to a big section of my tree. Dr. Elizabeth Haven Hawley, a researcher, reached out to me for some information about Samuel, and that is when I found out about his obscenity trial in 1858.

Tell us about a brick wall you were able to break down.

It took me years to find the maiden name of my 4th GGM. DNA matches on Ancestry gave me a clue, and I was able to prove her maiden name, her husband, and her parents through Rhode Island land records. Finding that record was a milestone.

What are some of your interests outside of genealogy?

I am a Daughter of the American Revolution, through Walter Woodbury. I have 11 other Patriots I have proved, and three more Patriots waiting to be approved. It’s a tremendous organization, and I am very involved in many committees, and am the webmaster for Maine State DAR.

(Interview continues below.)

Comments

How long have you been on WikiTree and what do you spend the most time doing?

I have been involved with WikiTree since August 2020. I have joined The Ireland Project, and the Acadia Project. I am a Data Doctor and a Sourcerer. The latest involvement is the Profile Improvement Project. I wasn’t sure I was doing things properly, and when I read about the Profile Improvement Project's Voyage, I signed up right away. I learned so much during the work on my two profiles. I was asked to join the team as a guide, so now I am sharing what I learned with others.

What brought you to WikiTree?

I would search Google for some of my ancestors, and a link to WikiTree would come up. Sometimes it was a very poor profile, but other times I was amazed at the detail. So I starting searching for my ancestors, and realized this is where I want to spend my genealogy time.

What is your favorite thing about WikiTree, or which feature(s) do you like the most?

I was thrilled when I found my Suggestion report! Here was feedback on the entries I had made. It helped me tremendously in the beginning, and I check it every week. I also like the communication. The WikiTree Family News email has brought so many new (to me) items to my attention. It’s been a great read every week. 

If you could improve one thing about WikiTree, what would it be?

An automatic review of the first profiles a new member works on.  Most new members have no idea of the questions they should be asking, and a helpful review of content, format, and sources of their profiles would go a long way to having the new member feel connected to the community.

What is an example of how WikiTree has helped you with your genealogy?

I love to come across profiles that have all the disputed facts, errors, confusions, and possibilities about that person in one place. The disambiguation sections and research notes help to make it clear what can and what cannot be proved about this person.

Any tips for someone just starting out on WikiTree?

Read everything, click on everything, join everything that interests you. Use the G2G forum, (don’t be shy like I was). This truly is a helpful community.

Answer 1

Conratulations Kathy for being member of the week. That is an interesting interview.

Thank you for all you do on WikiTree.

Comments

Thank you Dieter

Answer 2

Hello Cousin Kathy! We are 10th cousins 1X removed through MRCA Thomas Lawrence! You are from his Giddings's daughter's line and I am from his Marie/Mary (Lawrence) Burnham line.

Thank you so much for your background information. And I really like your idea for improving Wikitree.

Comments

Thanks Carol.  I'm meeting a lot of cousins!

Answer 3

Hello Kathy. Congratulations on being member of the week and thank you for the interesting interview. It was nice to get to know you a bit better. 

I discovered that you and I are also cousins -- 9th cousins with Humphrey Woodbury being our common 8th great grandfather.

Thank you for helping to make WikiTree a better place.

Comments

I am so glad we are related!

Answer 4

Congratulations, Kathy, on your recognition as member of the week, and thank you for all you do for our tree.  It's interesting to learn of your activities, here.

Comments

Thank you, Mark.

Answer 5

Kathy and Ken are 8th cousins once removed

Kathy Evans and Ken Williams are both descendants of Thomas Hopkins.

My mother is a Hopkins, so I am happy to meet another cousin via Thomas Hopkins!

Kenneth W Williams

San Diego, California

Comments

It's always nice to meet Hopkins cousins, Ken!

Answer 6

Bravo cousine Kathy for an interesting interview. We are 6th cousins once removed via Acadian Alexis Thériault. I’ve heard a lot of good comments about your excellent work as a guide on the Profile Improvement Project and your contributions to Acadian profiles. Keep up the good work!

Comments

Thank you very much for your kind words, Gisèle.

Answer 7

I can testify that Kathy is a great PIP guide.  She's quick and clear when I ask questions, and is good at spotting problems and then helping me sort them out.

Congratulations, Kathy!

Comments

Thanks, Andy!

Answer 8

Hi Kathy! Congrats on being member of the week! We're 10th cousins through Nicholas Woodbury!