Hi all, my name is Corleen Paiva. I'm fairly new to this whole genealogy thing. I've always been a little curious about my family's families', but my curiosity piqued last September when I attended the Irish/Scottish Highland Festival in Estes Park, CO. Standing in my best friends' clan's tent, I saw my great grandmother's married last name on a poster saying that these names were confirmed to be or were probably a part of their clan or something along those lines. So it got me to thinking, where did my mom's family hail from, and who were they as individuals, as a family, what role did they play in their community?
Unfortunately, there are very few people still alive in my mother's family, and the ones that are I haven't spoken to in decades if at all. I know my great grandparent's names' and I've found info on my great grandmother's parents, but I seem to be stuck there.
I want to learn more about some of the things I've seen or read about on various sites. One of these is GEDCOM? What is it, how does it work? Can anybody get it, does it cost, ? And I've got so many questions, but of course now I can't remember.
I welcome any and all feedback, information, constructive critisism, guidance, and or general directions.
The surnames that I have interests in are: 1) "Bowers"- from Oregon and Washington States areas. (Late 1800s to current). 2) Bench- from the same locals, Washington and Oregon States. Early 1900s to current.) 3) Paiva- in the Plymouth County and surrounding areas in Massachusetts . Any century. And last but not least: Benton- Plymouth County and surrounding areas, Massachusetts.
