G2G: Question of the Week: What genealogy gifts are on your wishlist? [closed]

Question

Is there anything genealogy-related that you would love to receive as a gift this holiday season?

Please tell us with an answer below. You could also answer on Facebook or use the question image to share your answer with friends and family on any social media.

Answer 1

At the very top of my list is Mayflower Families through 5 generations Volume 15.  (James Chilton)

Comments

This is my wish as well. It would be great if these books were on the internet for all to use. It would clean up many bad connections that folks can't prove but have made to force fit.

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That would be an awesome gift! 

Answer 2

That my two first cousins one generation removed would actually send me the family photos that they have told me for the past two years that they would send in emails.

Comments

I think we all have the same first cousins.

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Lucy, so glad to know I am not alone.

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Alexis, do you have anything they want? Maybe some sort of trade would work.

My first cousins are wonderful we share everything-about family history.

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Thank you M for your sweet comment. My only living first cousin was a real sweetheart, and we shared photos and everything.  She passed away in Jun 2020, and I miss her terribly. I am glad you have your cousins, and they are a treasure.

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Alexis, you always post great pictures and answers. We often talk about your photos and answers on Saturday Morning in the LiveCast. Thanks!

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Mags, I really enjoy your LiveCasts. I had to miss them live for the last two weeks, as I was out of town. I plan to watch tomorrow. Thank you for so many nice comments.

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Awe! Obviously I love seeing you and your contributions!!!

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Mags, and I love seeing you on LiveCast. You do a great job!

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It's funny how many of us have the same situation.  Our relatives are going to send us photos, a list of birthdays, etc.  Be patient and persistant.    

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I am in this situation also. I feel like I'm pestering people. I also feel like I need to "tone down" my geneology interest so people don't think I've lost it. Haha

Answer 3

The Big Book of answers: It is full of Sources that will answer many questions: 

What was the maiden name of William McClellan's wife? Where and when did they marry?  

Where and when in Ireland was Michael Shaughnessy born?  

Who was Henry Lello's father? 

Who was the husband of Rebecca Scott Sproule? 

Which one of the 3 Burns brothers was the father of Alexander Burns? He was the illegitimate son of Mary Crombie, she filed paternity suits against 2 of the brothers John and James, but named the child after the 3rd brother Alexander. 

It will also contain the 1851 Census for Simcoe County, Canada West, that no longer exists. 

And last but not least it will contain a magic spell that can be applied to records, henceforth enumerators and other people who wrote records will now have impeccable handwriting on all documents. 

Comments

I am with this one, to answer all my brick walls.

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Are you on discord? They just added a question of the week channel. Please post your questions with the wiki ID so we can try to answer your questions.

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Great list!  Good luck

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If I had known there was going to be the Secret Santa and elf challenge I wouldn't have chosen the 5 most difficult people on my watchlist.

3 of them are people I have been trying to find further sources for since 2011.

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To me this is the time to choose the 5 most difficult ones. For me it is always helpful to get a new sets of eyes. I couldn't find a death date/place, her husband's name or her parents names for my mom's great grandmother. By adding it to the secret Santa someone was able to find her death certificate which has the information I was looking for. I know it's her because her daughter was listed as the executor on it. I gave my mom the best Christmas present ever. The names of her great grandfather and great great grandparents.

Answer 4

The FamilyTreeDNA Bundle (Big-Y 700 + Family Finder + mtFull Sequence)

Comments

I just got mine. I now know I'm a direct male line to Eógan mac Néill (0400 - 0465) and Dobhailen mac Donnghal (d. 1060) progenitor of the Devlin Clann and a bunch of unknown Devlins between Dobhailen and my G-G Father. 

LOL now all I have to do is fill in those 800 missing years.  

Answer 5

I actually have two wishes:
1. a son of my paternal grandmother's youngest brother passed away a few weeks ago and his son found in his inheritance a lot of original papers, old pictures and the old family bible of his ancestors. I hope to manage to view these documents and copy them accordingly. I have already made the first contact with the heir.
2. I have found a granddaughter of a sister of my paternal grandfather in Hamburg through my brother, who has collected all the old family documents of all three sisters and their families of my paternal grandfather. To be able to sift through and copy this fund by Christmas would be a real Christmas joy for me.

Answer 6

Getting DNA kits for my grandchildren, I have 4, all 3 of my children, have done one, being able to do the Family Tree DNA for the mtDNA , getting my photos organized need quite a few photo albums

Answer 7

Having done my Ancestry DNA last month I would love to do my Dad's too as this is likely his last Christmas and his maternal grandfather's father is my only brick wall from that generation. My hubby and I can't afford to buy another one, so I am hoping for a touch of magic from Santa.

Answer 8

It's obviously not possible, but the opportunity to talk to my oldest known paternal ancestor for an hour. He has been a brickwall for a long time.

Comments

I have often thought that a time machine would work well as a research tool. There are several ancestors that I really need to talk to.

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I still don't understand how people consult psychics and none of their brickwall ancestors come through!

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Same here. Anytime I see a movie or TV show about time travel, I wish I could go back into time prior to 1863 to see how my enslaved and free ancestors were living and coping with the events of that era. What did they talk about at supper time? How were the children cared for and entertained when they were too young to work? Crazy ,I know! This is a wish that will probably not be fulfilled im my lifetime, but it is still fun to dream about it! :-)

Answer 9

My Mayflower Society acceptance would be nice. However, my true wish is to have the energy to finish the family history of the first five generations, starting with me, I'm working on. Dad's side is sourced. Mom's side is a little more of a challenge. Those elusive Plantation of Maine records is my stumbling block.

Answer 10

I wish for the "Scanner & Organizer" fairies to visit so that I could awake on Christmas morning and find my "to scan" stacks empty and filed away properly in acid-free envelopes and the scanned documents digitally filed away on my computer. (sigh)

Comments

Virginia, after the fairies get done at your house please send them to my house, I have 10 x 14 room in my basement called the family history room, 6 bookcases and a filing cabinet, and many boxes,  it needs a lot of work.

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Your room may require 2 or 3 sets of my fairy's cousins. I will leave out a note that you are next, just in case........I hear that hope springs eternal!

Answer 11

1. To find out what happened to my paternal grandfather, William Benningfield, after he was released from San Quentin in 1949. This has been a real brick wall for me.

2. To find the mother of my maternal great-great grandfather, Robert Bold.

3. To find the roots of my paternal family in England.

4. To have the time to really learn how to use Wikitree and be more of a participant!

Comments

Yvonne, maybe the 1950 census will be a help to you in finding your grandfather. I think it is supposed to be released in April. I know I am looking forward to seeing it.

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I have a couple of well-documented 19th Century relatives who simply disappear after leaving prison. I wonder how common it was for an ex-inmate to simply change his name in order to begin a new life. Of course, it could also be that individuals coming out of prison had little in terms of property ownership or family connections and thus developed a very limited paper trail. Death records probably exist, but without a date or place (or even correct name) they are like needles in a haystack.

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Alexis, wonderful news! Thanks for sharing that!

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Yvonne are you on discord? They just added a question of the week channel. Please feel free to post your questions with the wiki ID so we can try to help you.

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Good luck in finding answers in 2022. 

Answer 12

I know this is a frivolous answer, but every year since I have been doing genealogy, I ask my two brilliant sons for a TIME MACHINE. I think if I keep asking they might make me one. Think of the " Great Genealogist " I could be. Plus I could see all of my ANCESTORS in person, as long as they didn't see me and destroy the flow of history.

Answer 13

My gggrandfather's origins! I'm almost 60 and I want to know where Charles W Howe comes from.

Answer 14

For Ancestry.com to give us DNA segment data.

Comments

You could upload your raw dna data to gedmatch to get your segment data.

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But not for our tens of thousands of DNA matches on Ancestry.

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DNA GEDcom...

Answer 15

I also have 3 wishes, 1.) that I could find out who my grandfather on my mother's side is/was; 2.) find out where my dad's grandfather went and with whom when he left is son at age 3; 3.)that my younger brother would take a DNA test to help solve the 2 issues above.

Comments

Maybe you could get your younger brother a DNA kit for Christmas. ;-) Make it easier for him to do.

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Unfortunately, I have purchased a kit, but he won't use it. He is afraid someone is going to use his DNA mix against him - insurance or something like that.

Answer 16

The latest 5 books by Nathan Dylan Goodwin, the Forensic Genealogist series

Comments

Oh, they are so good!

Answer 17

Having worked on my tree since 1973, my most stubborn wall has been a paternal great grandfather.  Two years ago i discovered his probable name from a small 1864 newspaper clipping, where my great grandmother had summonsed him for child maintenance!    I thought the wall was down. Apparently there's no trace of him after that date.  The name stated was Thomas BULWER age 16.  The only male Bulwer of the right age I have found was an Edwin BULWER, and then a light went on, my grandfathers name at Birth was Meredith ROGERS, but at some point in the next 3 years, his name became EDWIN Meredith.  Could it be that the the person known as 'Tom' was actually Edwin and it was assumed his name was Thomas?  According to the clipping the proceeding was not completed  as the witness was unwell and unable to attend.  I cannot locate any further information on Thomas/Edwin  or further court information.  

The estate where they both worked was "near Baschurch", which I believe is in Shropshire.  My gtgrandmothers home was in North wales, next door to Shropshire and the clipping is from the Wrexham Leader.  

I think what would be helpful - and a wonderful Christmas gift - would be investigation by a local researcher but sadly their rates are beyond my retirement budget.Living in Canada, and being somewhat decrepid these days, I am unable to fly over the pond and visit record offices myself (though I would love to do so!!)

Comments

Mary, I might have someone in my extended family who could do some Shropshire research for you. My father's maternal history is all Shropshire.

You can send me a PM with the details and I will see what he can do.

No promises.

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Thank you so much, I will message you later today.Much appreciated.

Answer 18

All I want for Christmas is...the 1776 census (tax list) of Eden Hundred, Harford County, Maryland. Some counties, including Harford, noted each member of every household by name and age - yes, both free and enslaved, male and female, young and old. Though there are several mentions of data from Eden Hundred in a published history of the area, and in old posts/articles on genealogy sites, it isn't included in any compilation or database I can find.  The published history did include a footnote that cited an 18-folio collection of Harford data held by the Maryland State Archives. 

Unfortunately, I live on the other side of the country, so I need to hitch a ride to Maryland on Santa's sleigh. If he could just drop me off in Annapolis and provide me with the keys to the Archives, I believe I'd be able to identify my 3rd g-grandmother's parents, and maybe a sibling or two if I'm lucky.

I have been a very good girl. I observe the WikiTree Honor Code, cite my sources, and leave milk and cookies out for Santa every Christmas Eve!

Comments

I live in Maryland, although not very close to Hartford Co. Where would I find such a record? I may find the time to go look at a physical book sometime, COVID willing.

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Thank you so much for the offer! I really didn't expect anyone to respond, as I know this is a tough one. I don't yet know where to find the information, but truly appreciate your offer. Have a very happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year!

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Let me know if you figure out where to look. I'm much closer to Annapolis than Harford.

Answer 19

Advanced Genetic Genealogy: Techniques and Case Studies (sold at Walmart)

Answer 20

Time. Time to do all the research that has yet to be done. Time to go back to ask the questions of the the people who have died and who had the answers to the questions I didn't ask and the stories I didn't retain. Time to organize and file the things I have in various boxes.