Monastic cemetery find “unique”, say archaeologists

The discovery of the bodies of 15th century monks has been described as “unprecedented” by archaeologists. The monastic cemetery was uncovered earlier this week by contractors undertaking roadworks in St Andrews, Fife. Experts working on the site have been excited by the find, which they say helps pinpoint the location of a friary lost during the Reformation. They say the remains are those of Franciscan monks who once lived in the area, and have described the find as “unique” due to its town centre location.


http://www.deadlinenews.co.uk/2012/03/23/monastic-cemetery-fine-unique-say-archaeologists/

Cross and bed found in Anglo-Saxon grave shed new light on 'dark ages'

Archaeologists in Cambridgeshire have uncovered a bed on which the body of a young Anglo-Saxon woman has lain for more than 1,300 years, a regal gold and garnet cross on her breast.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2012/mar/16/cross-bed-anglo-saxon-grave?newsfeed=true

Flip-Pal Mobile Scanner Special Offer for March!

The following announcement was sent  by Flip-Pal Mobile Scanner. 

We’re Celebrating New Alliances and the Coming of Spring



We can all feel it—spring is just around the corner, literally. We’ve
sprung ahead and adjusted our clocks and feel some spring-cleaning may
be in our near future. Perhaps a little bird is harkening a call to
action to scan those boxes of precious family photos to pass on to

future generations. You can scan while sitting at the car dealer waiting for
your vehicle to be serviced, on the couch with your family who are all
doing their own thing or at your favorite Aunt’s kitchen table…with the
Flip-Pal mobile scanner.

MARCHing On—2 Coupon Codes for You to Use!                     


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When you purchase a Flip-Pal Mobile Scanner with Creative Suite
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These Coupons are Good from March 19-30, 2012—or While Supplies Last! Just use this link to Flip-Pal Mobile Scanner to order yours today. Be sure to use the coupon code(s) when you have added what you want to your shopping cart.

Featured Funeral Card: Catherine Adams June 8, 1888

This is one of the many Funeral Cards featured on AncestorsAtRest website

Funeral Card Catherine Adams June 8, 1888

Funeral Card Catherine Adams June 8, 1888, aged 57 years

Railway workers reburied with dignity 180 years later

The remains of five Irish labourers, who researchers believe were murdered in 1832 while building a Pennsylvania railroad, received a dignified reinterment Friday more than 5,000 kilometres from their homeland and nearly two centuries after their first anonymous burials.



http://www.thespec.com/news/world/article/684908--railway-workers-reburied-with-dignity-180-years-later

Coffin Plate Of Chauncy Rogers 1875

Chauncy Rogers
Died April 8th 1875
Aged 52 yrs

I went and had a hunt for Chauncy Rogers in the 1870 United States Federal Census.

Name: Chauncey Rogers
Age in 1870: 47
Birth Year: abt 1823
Birthplace: New York
Home in 1870: Bethany, Genesee, New York
Post Office: Darien

Household Members: Name Age
Chauncey Rogers 47
Almira Rogers 37
Brian Rogers 14

Want to see more Coffin Plates

WWII European Theater Army Records 1941-1946 online

New on Fold3: WWII European Theater Army Records, a collection of administrative documents compiled by the U.S. Army's Historical Division, 1941 through 1946. These records, originally marked
secret and confidential, are now available on Fold3

Created within the European Theater of Operations (ETO) during World War II, these documents are revealing, and often include personal accounts, as in this report of evacuating Allied prisoners of war.
Names of soldiers and support personnel are on many of the records, but
nowhere more prolific than in the phonebooks for U.S. Forces in Paris.

A 1945 directory admonishes users to, "Never mention secret or confidential matters over the telephone," then lists the names, ranks, addresses, and phone numbers of Paris-based personnel.

Explore the ETO Records on Fold3 to discover more about U.S. operations in World War II and how the Army effectively maintained soldiers' welfare and waged war behind the battle lines.

Featured Funeral Card Willie E Adams, 1888 - 1889

This is one of the many Funeral Cards featured on AncestorsAtRest website

Death or Remembrance card for Willie E Adams, 1888 - 1889

Death or Remembrance card for one Willie E Adams, died April 15, 1889, aged 7 months. 10 days

FamilySearch Adds New Genealogy Records

FamilySearch added just over 20 million new, free records online this past week for
Canada, Chile, New Zealand, Portugal, Sweden, and the U.S.

The 9 million new California death records and 5 million Nevada marriage
records should be a boon for those looking for ancestors in the western
U.S. Records were also added for 11 other states.

Search these and 2.5 billion other records now for free at FamilySearch.org.

Searchable historic records on FamilySearch.org are made possible by thousands of volunteers from around the world who transcribe (index) the information from digital copies of handwritten records to make them easily searchable online.

More volunteers are needed (particularly those who can read foreign languages) to keep pace with the amount of digital images being published online at FamilySearch.org. Learn more about how to personally help provide free access to the world’s historic genealogical records as a volunteer indexer at  FamilySearch.org

Coffin Plate Of Ruth Jones 1800~1871

I found 2 Ruth Jones in the 1870 United States Federal Census. Ruth Jones of Pine Grove, Warren, Pennsylvania and Ruth Jones of Berlin, Rensselaer, New York. So not knowing who is the right Ruth Jones I went and had a look in 1880 Census. I found the Ruth Jones of Warren, Pennsylvania was still alive in 1880 so it looks like Ruth Jones of Berlin, Rensselaer, New York is our best candidate so far.

I have 500 more Coffin Plates at AncestorsAtRest.com

Headless Romans found in York were gladiators

80 skeletons of well-built young men, gradually exhumed from the gardens of a York terrace over a decade, suggests that the world's best-preserved gladiator graveyard has been found.




http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2010/jun/07/york-gladiator-graveyard?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487

The Coffin Plate Of John F Rebstock

This coffin plate for John F Rebstock is fairly standard for the time. It is constructed from silver plated cast metal. Before about 1890 most coffin plates were constructed from thin plate metal.

I went and had a look for John in the 1900 United States Federal Census.



1900 United States Federal Census

Name: John F Rebstock
Age: 11
Birth Date: Sep 1888
Birthplace: New York
Home in 1900: Tonawanda, Erie, New York

Relation to Head of House: Boarder
Marital Status: Single
Father's Birthplace: New York
Mother's Birthplace: New York

RootsTech 2012 Videos online for Some Sessions

RootsTech 2012 recorded sessions are now available on the RootsTech website.

Do I Trust the Cloud?

By

D. Joshua Taylor

Effective Database Search Tactics

By

Kory Meyerink

Twitter – It’s Not Just “What I Had For Breakfast” Anymore

By

Thomas MacEntee

Eleven Layers of Online Searches

By

Barbara Renick

Exabyte Social Clouds and Other Monstrosities

By

Josh Coates

Publish Your Genealogy Online

By

Laura Prescott

Optimizing Your Site for Search Engines

By

Robert Gardner

Genealogists “Go Mobile”

By

Sandra Crowley

Google's Toolbar and Genealogy

By

David Barney

Making the Most of Technology to Further the Family History Industry

By

Tim Sullivan

Genealogy Podcasts and Blogs 101

By

Lisa Louise Cooke

Privacy in a Collaborative Environment

By

Noah Tutak

The resting place of Jesus

Archaeologists exploring a 1st century Christian burial chamber have discovered an ancient inscription on a coffin lid which they believe could prove the site is the final resting place of Jesus.
Using a remote-controlled camera connected to a robotic arm to probe below a tower block in Jerusalem, the archaeologists were staggered to discover a set of 1st century 'bone boxes'.



Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2107591/Jesus-discovery-Does-1st-Century-coffin-lid-Jerusalem-reveal-Jesus-resting-place.html#ixzz1oYmzK2bP

Featured Funeral Card for Fletcher Able

This is one of the many Funeral Cards featured on AncestorsAtRest website

Funeral Card for Fletcher Able, died November 16, 1912

In Loving Memory of Fletcher Able, died November 16, 1912

Are you related to the Iceman

In what I think is really cool news researchers have now conducted DNA studies on Oetzi the iceman. Oetzis well-preserved, 5,300 year old mummified body was found in 1991 on the Tisenjoch Pass in the Italian part of the Oeztal Alps. The DNA analysis shows us he had brown eyes, type O blood, and was lactose intolerant. He was also genetically predisposed to coronary heart disease and shows signs of the earliest known infection of Lyme disease.

But what I think is really cool is the possibility that researchers may be able to find living descendants using DNA testing. Of course we don't know for sure if Oetzi fathered any children. His DNA test did show mutations typically found in men with reduced sperm function that can render them infertile. But even if Oetzi had only one or two sons, after 5,300 years he could literally have millions of descendants. You could be one. How cool would that be.

The Coffin Plate Of Rebecca Starkie 1797~1868

Today I am adding the coffin plate of Rebecca Starkie 1797~1868. From what I can find it looks like Rebecca lived in Keene, Cheshire, New Hampshire. She is living with Benjamin P Starkey age 53. This Benjamin is probably her husband but he is 10 years younger so one would need to look for more info.

1860 United States Federal Census

Name: Rebecah L Starkey
Age in 1860: 63
Birth Year: abt 1797
Birthplace: Massachusetts
Home in 1860: Keene, Cheshire, New Hampshire
Household Members: Name Age
Benjamin P Starkey 53
Rebecah L Starkey 63

I then went and had a look at the 1850 United States Federal Census
and found them in Quincy, Norfolk, Massachusetts.

1850 United States Federal Census

Home in 1850: Quincy, Norfolk, Massachusetts
Household Members: Name Age
Benjamin P Starkie 44
Rebecca L Starkie 53
Eliza A Starkie 11
Simeon S Page 25

I have more Coffin Plates on AncestorsAtRest.com

Fold3 Adds Civil War Records for Union Soldiers

Fold3 has added more Civil War Records for Union Soldiers for genealogists. Here's their announcement:

Index to Compiled Service Records of Union Soldiers

Fold3 is excited to announce the expansion of the Civil War Collection by adding the Index to Compiled Service Records of Union Soldiers. The first four states available in this collection are Ohio, New York, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania.

Each index card
gives the name of a soldier, his rank, and the unit in which he served.
Anyone looking for a Union soldier in the Civil War will find these
cards useful in identifying the state and regiment in which a man served
and how his name appears in the military records. You can then locate
his records to learn about his service in the war and the battles in
which his regiment fought.

This new index, viewed as card images on Fold3, may be familiar to some.
The National Park Service transcribed these cards, referred to as
"General Index Cards," and placed the data online in its Civil War
Soldiers and Sailors System. When searching for a soldier there, you are
provided with a transcription, while Fold3's images allow users to view
the original card as well as determine the accuracy of the
transcription. Once you find the soldier you're looking for, you can
connect his index card to his service record on Fold3, or contact NARA
for copies of his documents.

Sunken Cemetery

The eruption of Mt. Vulcan Daan in 1870s left an extraordinary, never-missed tourist attraction site famously known as the “Sunken Cemetery,” marked by a huge cross rising from the waves.


Read More about this Sunken Cemetery

Who Do You Think You Are? With Blair Underwood

Season 3 of Who Do You Think You Are? sponsored by Ancestry.com takes you all over the world and inside the fascinating family histories of 12 celebrities.

The celebrities that WDYTYA will take on a journey to find their ancestors are Martin Sheen, Marisa Tomei, Blair Underwood, Reba McEntire, Rob Lowe, Helen Hunt, Rita Wilson, Edie Falco, Rashida Jones, Jerome Bettis, Jason Sudeikis and Paula Deen.

Next is Episode 3 on February 24th with Blair Underwood who travels to Africa to uncover his roots.