Week End Chat - All Members Invited!!! May 27-29, 2016

Question

This is an ongoing "Chat" post that can be added to throughout the weekend.  All members of WikiTree are encouraged to join in, especially first-timers!

 

 

Say Hello and introduce yourself... where are you from and what are your interests?

 

Leaders, Mentors, Greeters, Pilots - What tips can you share with us today?

 

What improvements can we make?

 

What do you enjoy most about WikiTree?

 

Do you have any stories to share about famous or notorius ancestors?

 

What projects are you involved in, and how are they going?

 

What's the weather been like in your neck-of-the-woods?

 

... anything that you want to talk about!

 

 

Post answers here, comment on answers, up-vote things you like or agree with and have fun!  To receive notice when future Chats are posted, add Weekend_Chat to the list of Tags you follow.  You can edit your list by clicking on "My Feed" on G2G, then click to "add or edit".  Seperate words with and underscore.

Comments

Thank you, Doug!

Answer 1

Hi everyone, I'm Summer!  I'm currently project coordinator for: the Tennessee Project, the Volunteer Coordinator Project, the Slavic Roots Project, and the Russian Roots Project. I'm also a beginning level mentor, learning the ropes on that.  I have my hands in a bunch of projects!!

I'm Tennessee born and raised, but have lived in Texas for several years for the hubby's work; we plan to move back in 2 years when he retires.  I have 3 children, ages 3, 10, and 14.  

The 3 year old is currently lying in the kitchen floor, watching his tablet and saying "No, I don't want to eat breakfast because I SAID SO!"  <sigh>

One of my developing projects is a page on the Tennessee Floods of 2010. The floodwaters from the Cumberland River stopped less than half a mile from my back yard.  You can check out some of my own personal pictures here.  

 

Comments

Thanks Summer! I just love the Cumberland River. My Grandparents had a Farm on the Ohio River in S.Illinois. Nice photos of the storm.

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Hey John, down in Nashville we call it "Cumberland Punch" as that's where Nashvilles water supply comes from. Lol!!

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The Cumberland River dumps in the Ohio just down stream from where my parents were raised on the Ohio River.

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It was really crazy when the flood happened, standing on the Shelby Street bridge and looking over it!!

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Hi Summer

Not sure if you received my email sent on the 19th May?  All I said was any particular day that suits you.

Best wishes.

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Hey there! I don't remember if I got your answer or not! I'll message you. :)

Answer 2

Happy Week End to All!

Big holiday week end in the states & the traditional start of summer in the northern hemisphere. Any big plans?

I've been traveling a lot lately....Michigan's Upper Peninsula, New England, Pinehurst....time for more genealogy.

Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

 

My Dad's plane during WWII:

http://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:City_of_Trenton_%28B-29_bomber_WWII%29

Comments

I'm so jealous!  I've always wanted to travel in the New England area, to see where all our European ancestors arrived and built lives.  Instead I'm way out in here in the rusty dusty Texas!!

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That's a nice plane Doug. What are those round things over the props.

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I'm not sure, but they are used when performing engine maintenance.

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For safety.  When one of these engines with a propeller is running the blades are nearly invisible due to the speed.

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Thanks Vincent.

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Thanks Doug and Vincent. I just never seen anything like that before.

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Great photo, Doug.  And thanks for the question & answer, John and Vincent.  I always lern so much by reading this forum.

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Spinning propellors are very dangerous! My second cousin was in the bottom plane when the other one landed on top - IN FLIGHT

Both pilots and both navigators survived and the top pilot managed to land them, stuck together, like this.

Full story is on his profile [ http://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Fraser-530  ]

(Sorry, having trouble attaching photo)

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That photo is AMAZING! I'm really impressed that they landed the planes safely like that. WOW!

Answer 3

Hello everyone

Whoops been absent lately we had a family addition - my grandson was born almost four weeks ago and have had visitors, been visiting them (yikes - they live in London) so a lot of time spent driving.

I love the fact with WikiTree - it's one big family and we can also add other family trees or in my case a One Name Study.

I was born in Cardiff, lived abroad for quite a number of years, returned to my roots and love the mystery and detective work of finding out about my ancestors, son's ancestors.

Retired at 40 and 12 years on still finding out new things all the time about the family.  Definitely keeps me out of mischief.

Comments

Congratulations on the grandson. My wife's Grandparents were from Cardiff as far as I know. His name was William John Jones and her name was Catherine Owen. Not very common names in Wales. (NOT)

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Congratulations on your new addition to our family tree!

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Thanks :)

Well add Davies, Davis, Harris etc, to the list of names in Wales lol yes it's a nightmare researching these type of names and add to it their first names - umm Ann, Mary, Elizabeth etc everyone seemed to have the same first, middle and last names - oh happy days lol.

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Congrats!

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Thanks for the congrats - I'm still shocked - yikes a grandma lol.

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I'm curious if there's an outside chance you're related to the American actor, Ted Cassidy (who played Lurch in The Addams Family).

http://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Cassidy-785

I took his line back to 1874 in Pennsylvania, but his family had to cross the pond at some point. Just not sure where that might be.

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Hi Scott, no - Cassidy is only through marriage, they originated from Ireland. 

Sad to say but going back to 1835, most of the offspring either had no children or one solitary child.  Not surprising the men became Doctors, their specialism of research - childbirth.  Three doctors, one male child to carry on the name.

I too only had one child, his father was a doctor, his grandfather was a doctor.  Who knows my grandson (recently born) may become a doctor to follow on the tradition :)

Answer 4

Hello, I'm John! I'm in the process of moving right now. I live in Lowell, In. right now. I also have a house in Englewood, Fl. Not that I have a lot of money. We had been spending the winters in Florida, and it was starting to eat up my savings, so I thought it would be better to purchase a home. Then I found out it is just to much to work. The house in Indiana is just to big and has to much land to keep up. So we are moving 20 mile south on land that my daughter owns. We have a travel trailer and we are going to live in it for a few weeks in the summer. The rest of the time we will travel and live in Florida. Right now I can't find anything. We have things in Florida, our house in Indiana & in my daughters barn.

Have a Happy Holiday Weekend.

Comments

I'd definitely choose Florida too!  I LOVE Florida!  It's one of my favorite places other than Tennessee.

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I can only imagine how hard it must be to find anything when it could be in any one of three different states!

Answer 5

Well, I guess my wife and I are now truely retired.  She went online and signed up for Social Security.  Today is also her late father's 120th birthday.  We never had children, but are still open to becoming adopted grandparents.  OTOH we have friends who have two young foster children and today they're at the hospital as both of the children have ear problems.  So we don't feel too bad about not having descendants.

Comments

Dave,

There are many organizations that would love to have you volunteer to be grandparents.  I'm not sure if you meant for friends to ask you or how to do  the volunteering role.  Your communication skills in g2g  make me think you would make an excellent adult model for some lucky picked child!!  Go for it when you feel the situation is right.

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I second that emotion. I have two kids who live next door that I've kind of adopted as grandchildren. Maybe God Mother is a better description. I'm always dropping off little gifts. It's too much fun.

Betty

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You can definitely live vicariously through others. My aunt and uncle never had children, they have so many Godchildren and nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews and dogs....they say they couldn't afford to be parents!  LOL.

Answer 6

Happy weekend!!!! My eldest son just got out of the Navy so the week has been busy unloading moving trucks and making room in the garage for his paraphenalia <------ love that word. He's thinking about plumbing or personal training work. I say plumbing. My tub is always backed up. Since his junk is clogging up the garage (plumbing reference) I haven't been able to do any woodworking this week. I'm suffering from withdrawal.

Betty

Comments

Thanks Betty, Maybe you should have him practice by putting in a drain in the garage, or maybe unclogging the one you might already have. You have a Happy Holiday Weekend!!

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Happy weekend to you too, sounds like you've had a busy time.  Nice to have him back though 'safe and sound'.

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I wish we could "like" comments too!!

Answer 7

Hello All! I'm Scott Fulkerson - aka Dennis Scott Fulkerson - it always seems to confuse people that I go by my middle name, but I can thank my parents for sharing my father's middle name as my first name. I passed along the favor to my son as well.I'm born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana - and interests? Besides Genealogy, I enjoy reading biographies and playing games on the computer.

I'm a new Leader of the Notables Project, so I'm probably more likely to turn this around a bit - any suggestions or tips for the Notables Project?

Comments

I have several family members on my Dad's side that go by their middle name.  In fact, I have to be aware of that because I often find records with their first and middle name switched.  My grandfather was born Melvin Virgil Stills but went by Virgil and I have Virgil M records for him.

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I too went by my middle name until my late teens and to really confuse everyone at that age reverted to my first name.  Some members of the family still use my middle name.  When in company it can be even more confusing some call me one name and older family refer to me by my other name - Chameleon comes to mind :)

I must find out more about the Notables Project.  Come across a few but have yet to 'add' or research the requirements.

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I have a friend whose family calls her Brooke (her middle name) while her friends and acquaintances call her Jennifer (first name). I call her Jimbo, personally.

Answer 8

Good morning, I am Jennifer. I joined back in 2011,but life got in the way(kids that suddenly became teenagers overnight,etc),I sort of forgot about my profiles here,but I am back trying to clean up the mess I left behind.

I am an adopted genealogist who has been trying to find my great grandfather Lykins for 20 plus years and unravel my many multiple lines of decent from the Slones and Johnsons of eastern Kentucky. I am firmly moving away from the pay for profit sites and hope to make a small contribution here.

 

Slone,Johnson,Lykins,Smith,Dyer,Hammonds,=East Kentucky

Waugh,Payne,Leffingwell,Higgins=Ohio

Comments

Hi Jennifer,   I agree...I am moving away from the pay sites as well. I'm tired of having inaccuracies.  While I do like the convenience of "tree hints" and other things, I find that they are more often inaccurate than accurate.  

Welcome back!  And don't feel bad...I'm still cleaning up messes too.  Rome wasn't built in a day and neither will be our WikiTrees.  :D

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Welcome back, Jenn!  I understand how you feel about the inaccuracies that spread like a virus on the internet.  I am thankful for the dedication of the WikiTree genealogists who strive for accuracy, list sources, and help to edit any profile where they see a potential error.

Answer 9

Hi Everyone,

 

I have been out for most of the month of May. My Grandson graduated from Louisiana State University and got married.

It was a great family reunion, I got lots of great family stories and old photos.

My son and I photographed over 1000 headstones in 4 Louisiana cemeteries. I will be working on that for a while.

It is great to be back, Now I have to get to work on updating profiles and uploading photos.

Happy Memorial Day to all!

Comments

That's amazing work! You cemetery photographers must have nerves of steel.  I'd be scared to death. I'm superstitious and I try to avoid places like that where dark things may lurk around...you just never know.

Answer 10

I recently volunteered as a member of the Profile Improvements Project. I'm touching so many profiles as part of the cleanup effort on my regrettably large GEDCOM import. I figured I might as well try to make WikiTree at large better while I'm at it.

As part of my process, I'm reviewing every document in my files, searching for profiles which already exist on WT. If I find an existing profile that I'm sure is a match, I add the source, either inline, in See Also, or in a comment.

While I'm reviewing a profile to see if it matches, I'm either doing GEDCOM cleanups on easy profiles or adding them to the gedcom cleanup needed category; as well as adding templates for unsourced and unverified parents.

Sometimes I fall down a rabbit hole as a result of this process. Last night I finally finished a massive merge, cleanup, and sourcing effort on the Mena Catherine (Armagost) Smith and John Cornelius Smith family. 10 days; 22 pre-merge / 16 post-merge profiles; lots of sources and research notes. Not my family; not even a collateral line. Hope it helps someone someday.

Answer 11

Hi Everyone!  I am Diane and have been working on finding resources for the profiles on my family Watched List.  I find so many mentors and volunteers have been helping me find and add sources for me.  I have only been on WikiTree since August 2015 and had alot to learn about resourcing the profiles.  I was adding all family members I knew about and then was going to add resources later as I found them.  Now I put additional profiles on the back burner and find resources for those I have added to WikiTree.

We homecare on some weekends for my mother in law and this is one of them.  I use that time to catch up with WikiTree.  I am almost done with my Sell Family and that brings in my Couts Family too.  I have found cousins I don't know doing research on WikiTree too.  I love WikiTree when I find a new living cousin!!

It is quite warm here in Michigan so I am not complaining since Spring has finally arrived.  My husband also has Parkinson's so very little gets done at our house.  His mom has dementia.  I think a nursing home is in the very near future.  I need to let the family know my hubby can't do this much longer.  The effects of the stressor has made his regress.  Our daughter and I have noticed it quite a bit lately.

We don't have plans for the holiday weekend since it is homecare weekend.  We rarely leave town or camp now.  Have a great and safe weekend everyone.  I love reading all your posts on the weekend.

Comments

I too have Parkinson's and it can be painful and frustrating. It certainly slows me down. But I am glad of the genealogy yet to be done which occupies much of my time.