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Thursday, May 31, 2012

Who Signed this Marriage Bond?

Who signed this marriage bond from the mid-19th century in Kentucky?

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Who Delivered the Baby?

Who is the doctor on this 1881 certificate?

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Top Corner the Document

What does it say in the upper left hand corner of this document from Kentucky in the 1830s?

Monday, May 28, 2012

The Posting of Answers and a Few Other Details

I usually wait until 24 hours have elapsed after an entry has been posted to post the answer. This allows everyone who plays along to do so without getting on their email and the blog as soon as the signature posts. The original posts I can schedule in advance. The posting of answers (because I post them as a comment) cannot be scheduled in advance. Sometimes I am unable to post answers as soon as I would like.

Another frequent question is the amount of material posted from a record in a blog post. Usually the item posted is a signature of someone on a record and that signature is the only sample of their handwriting I have. That's how the site came about. Occasionally I post snippets from records and other materials written by clerks, census takers, etc.  These are done in small pieces to see how people interpret them.

The goal of Transcriber is to get readers thinking about handwriting.

Who Hitched 'Em?

What is the name of the person who is listed as the "By whom Married" on these 1815 era Kentucky marriages?

Sunday, May 27, 2012

Join Me In Ft. Wayne 1-5 August 2012


In August, I'll be leading a small research group at the Allen County Public Library in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. Our trip runs from 1-5 August. The Allen County Public Library has one of the largest genealogical research collections in the United States.


We stay at the Ft. Wayne Hilton at a negotiated special rate. For additional details about the trip see this earlier blog post

These Kentucky Bondsmen

Who are the bondsmen on this Kentucky marriage bond from the early 19th century?

Saturday, May 26, 2012

Friday, May 25, 2012

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Get "Using US Census at Ancestry.com" webinar free


We offered this to our Facebook fans yesterday and are repeating it here. You can get my webinar "Using the US Census at Ancestry.com" free by using code uscensus at http://www.casefileclues.com/webinars.htm

Simply put "Using US Census at Ancestry.com" in your cart and use "uscensus" as your coupon code.

Enjoy!

Who Is the Wife?

What is the name of the wife on this 1930 death certificate from Illinois?

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Desha County Man Registers

This 19 year old Desha County, Arkansas, resident registered for the draft in 1946.

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Arkinda Man Registers

This 18 year old resident of Arkinda, Arkansas, registered for the World War Two draft in 1943.

Monday, May 21, 2012

Family History Library Trip-Webinar Sale

To celebrate my annual trip to the Family History Library in Salt Lake, we are running our $5 special from now until I depart for Salt Lake on Monday afternoon at 4:00 PM CST. Our $5 sale concentrates on a variety of methodology items, including:

  • Creating Research Plans
  • The Genealogical Proof Standard
  • Female Ancestors
  • Making and Proving Your Case
  • Court Records
  • Seeing the Patterns
  • and more.
To see the entire list and get the linking to the discount prices, visit this page:

Original Destroyed By Fire

This Cherry Valley, Arkansas, resident apparently had to register for the draft a second time because his first registration card was destroyed by fire in 1943.

Sunday, May 20, 2012

A Red-Haired Man Registers for the Draft

This 1927 native of Arkansas registered for the World War II draft in 1945 in Saline County, Arkansas. He had a ruddy complexion and red hair---but that's not much help with his signature.

Saturday, May 19, 2012

A 160 Pound Man Registers for the WW2 Draft

This Bentonville, Arkansas, resident was born in 1902 and registered for the draft in 1942. He was 5'8" tall and weighed 160 pounds, but I doubt if that helps read his signature.

Friday, May 18, 2012

Registering in 1940

This 1916 Arkansas native registered for the World War II draft in Arkansas in 1940.

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Signing in June of 1924

This Confederate pension applicant signed his application in June of 1924 in Mississippi.

$5 Sale on Brick Wall Webinars


I have given four Brick Wall from A to Z webinars--and I'm not doing any more. These are titled:

  • Brick Walls from A to Z
  • More Brick Walls from A to Z
  • Yet More Brick Walls from A to Z
  • Brick Walls from A to Z--the Final One


The recording and handout normally sell for $8.50. From now until 7 AM CST on 18 May 2012, we're offering these at $5 each. That's a savings of 40%. Don't wait...


Brick Walls from A to Z--first in the series
 Add to Cart
Brick walls from A to Z--second in the series--More Brick Walls
 Add to Cart
Brick walls from A to Z--third in the series--Yet More Brick Walls
 Add to Cart
Brick walls from A to Z--fourth in the series--The Final One
 Add to Cart

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

1918 Mississippi Application

This individual signed his application for a Confederate pension in Mississippi in 1918.What is his name?

Monday, May 14, 2012

Saturday, May 12, 2012

Signing My New York Will

This person signed his will in the mid-1800s in New York State. What is his name?

Friday, May 11, 2012

I'm the Commissioner

Who signed off as the commissioner on this county court record from Alabama in 1907?

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Don't Forget the Dots

If it is clear that the person put a dot after an initial, don't forget to include that in your transcription.

The Couple Who Signed

This couple signed an affidavit in 1920 in a Tennessee Confederate pension application.

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

My Mother-In-Law is Old

This individual signed an affidavit regarding his mother-in-law's Revolutionary War widow's pension in Ohio in the 1840s.

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

My Neighbor Deserves That Pension

Who signed this early 20th century letter in support of a Tennessee Confederate pension application?

Monday, May 7, 2012

She Died in 1855

The testator on this will died in 1855, probably in New York State and probably a few weeks before her will was admitted to probate.

Sunday, May 6, 2012

Crossing Pond and Comparison Shopping Webinar

We have just announced the remainder of our May 2012 genealogy webinars:

Crossing the Pond--10 May 2012--for help with those immigrant ancestors in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Comparison Shopping-8 May 2012--determining if you have the "right" person.

Registration and additional details are here:
http://www.casefileclues.com/webinars_neill.htm 

Charts, Google Docs, Proving Ellen, and What Is Not Written

We have just released our latest series of webinars:

  • Charts, Charts and More Charts
  • Google Docs
  • Proving Ellen
  • What Is Unwritten
You can order all four for $20.00--just put "florence" as the coupon code at checkout.
That's a savings of $11.00!


 Charts, Charts, and More Charts

Charts, Charts, and More Charts discusses a variety of charts that can be used to organize your research. No family group or pedigree charts here--I discuss a variety of customized charts that I've used for years in my own research. Whenever I'm confused or something doesn't make sense, I make a chart as readers of Casefile Clues already know. This webinar is geared towards advanced beginners or intermediate researchers. $8.50.
 Add to Cart
 Google Docs

This webinar discussed using Google Docs, particularly sharing, collaborating, and publishing your content on your blog, website, etc. We discussed the various types of documents that can be created and how to use those documents for genealogy and interact with others using those documents. The handout and presentation can be downloaded here for $8.50. 
 Add to Cart
 Proving Florence

This short--25 minutes--webinar was a part of our fundamental genealogy series and concentrated on how "proof" of a father was constructed for a women born in the 1850s in either Iowa or Missouri. Methodology and process were discussed--clearly and concisely with a detailed handout.  The handout and presentation can be downloaded here for $2.50.
 Add to Cart
 What is Not Written

This hour-long presentation discusses why what "is not written" is just as important as what is written in a document. Geared towards intermediate level researchers, it discusses ways to see what might have "really been going" on in a document or series of records. The importance of state statute, culture, local customs, and more are discussed through specific examples. This presentation sells for $8.50.
 Add to Cart


Settling Up My Worldly Affairs in 1844

Who signed this will from 1844 in New York? This is the only sample of her handwriting in the entire set of probate papers.

Saturday, May 5, 2012

Friday, May 4, 2012

My Pension Was Restored

What is the name of this Tennessee Confederate pensioner as shown on the last line of this image?

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Send Word to Me

This Ohio resident in 1820 indicated that information regarding a pension application was to be directed to him and that he would notify the pensioner.

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Signing for my Pay

These two soldiers signed that they had received their pay in the American Revolution for service in a Continental unit.