Tidal Wave of Online Databases Will Result

FamilySearch Unveils Program to Increase Access to World’s Genealogical Records

Tidal Wave of Online Databases Will Result

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - FamilySearch announced today its Records Access program to increase public access to massive genealogy collections worldwide. For the first time ever, FamilySearch will provide free services to archives and other records custodians who wish to digitize, index, publish, and preserve their collections. The program expands FamiliySearch’s previously announced decision to digitize and provide online access to over 2 million rolls of copyrighted microfilm preserved in the Granite Mountain Records Vault. A key component of the program allows FamilySearch and archives to team with genealogy websites to provide unprecedented access to microfilm in the vault. The combined results ensure a flood of new record indexes and images online at www.FamilySearch.org and affiliated websites.

The plan combines the assets and experience of the Genealogical Society of Utah with the state-of-the-art technology resources of FamilySearch-all under the single brand name of FamilySearch. The Records Access program allows records custodians to publish their data online by themselves or with the assistance of FamilySearch or affiliate genealogical websites and historical societies.

“Records custodians worldwide are experiencing growing pressure to provide access to their records online while maintaining control and ownership. At the same time, websites that provide digitizing and publishing services are struggling with the staggering costs,” said Wayne Metcalfe, director of Records Services for FamilySearch. “The new Record Access program takes advantage of FamilySearch’s resources and creates an economical and effective forum where record custodians and genealogical websites can work together to accomplish their respective objectives,” added Metcalfe.

Working with the records custodians, FamilySearch can leverage its extensive microfilm and growing digital image collection to create digital images for affiliate genealogical websites at a fraction of the cost. The affiliate genealogy organization will create indices of the digital images and then publish the images and the indices on its own website, the archive’s website, or a jointly published site. A copy of the index will also be made available for free on the popular FamilySearch website, which will help drive traffic to record images on the custodians’ or affiliates’ sites. Full, free access to both the indices and images will be provided to family history centers, FamilySearch managed facilities, and the archives. If the record custodian seeks revenue to sustain operations, a small fee may be required to access images outside FamilySearch managed facilities or the archive.

For archives and heritage societies, the new program benefits include:

Digitally capture, preserve, and publish records online
Increase access to records while maintaining control and ownership
Increase patronage and business viability
Over 100 years of archival and publishing experience
For genealogy websites, the new program helps them:

· Benefit from the knowledge and relationships of FamilySearch with the archival community worldwide

· Significantly lower costs associated with acquiring, preserving, or providing access to data

· Increase business viability and website traffic

· Leverage an open platform that develops value-added services around FamilySearch, the world’s largest repository of genealogical data.

Under the program, FamilySearch will also provide tools and assistance to records custodians who want to publish parts of their collection using state-of-the-art digital cameras, software, and web-based applications.

The archive can work with an affiliate, historical society, or FamilySearch to index the images or host a website for the records custodian. The index of the record collection will be available for free on FamilySearch, and the records custodian’s site will provide access to the images for free or a fee depending on the needs of the archive and those assisting in the digitization.

One example of the tools FamilySearch can provide is FamilySearch Indexing, a web-based application that engages tens of thousands of volunteers worldwide to create searchable indexes linked to the digital images created by FamilySearch. “Through mere word-of-mouth promotions, literally tens of thousands of volunteers are already joining this effort to index the world’s records by registering at FamilySearchIndexing.org and donating a few minutes a week online to the effort. Over 100,000 volunteers are expected to enlist in the initiative by year end with the numbers increasing as more projects-particularly international projects-are added,” said Paul Nauta, manager of Public Affairs for FamilySearch.

FamilySearch will announce the first collaborative projects of its new Records Access program during the National Genealogical Society (NGS) Convention in Richmond, Virginia, the week of May 14, 2007. Many more project announcements are expected in the following months.

Record custodians and archives that would like additional information regarding the FamilySearch Records Services can contact Wayne Metcalfe (metcalfewj@gensocietyofutah.org) and genealogy web service providers should contact Dave Harding (hardingdp@ldschurch.org).

FamilySearch (historically known as the Genealogical Society of Utah) is a nonprofit organization sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. FamilySearch maintains the world’s largest repository of genealogical resources accessed through FamilySearch.org, the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, and over 4,500 family history centers in 70 countries.

 

Phoebe Featherstone

Hi, My great great grandmother was Phoebe Jane McAllum (maiden name Fenwick) her parents were William Fenwick and Ann Bainbridge ( sister of Emerson Muschamp Bainbridge) and daughter of Cuthbert Bainbridge and Mary Muschamp.William Fenwicks parents were William Fenwick,Merchant of Stanhope and Phoebe Featherstone born abt 1750,died 11th June 1838 at Weardale.I would be very interested in finding out more about Phoebe Featherstone and Mary Muschamp

 

South Australia

I am writing to you in an attempt to find out some information regarding the marriage record of a John Featherstone (bc 1823 of SA) to a Mary Jane Hagen (bc 1829 of SA) , on 18 Nov 1847 in Adelaide SA. This record was found in both the SA BDMs and also on the LDS Family Search website.

My interests lie in the Hagan side (not spelt Hagen). We have a John Hagan, soldier of the 1st/11th North Devonshire Regiment arrived Tasmania in 1845 with wife Mary, and children Mary Ann, (per 1841 census), Sarah, William and John.

We believe that through the movements of the 11th Regiment of Foot, father John and perhaps family moved from Tasmania to NSW and also perhaps Victoria and SA. Son William Hagan was married in Vic in 1860, daughter Sarah also married in SA. We cannot find whereabouts of daughter Mary Ann bc1830 (per 1841 census) but have found a marriage record in SA BDMs (as mentioned above) which could be her. We have already searched in NSW & Vic. Tasmania is impossible to search unless you have $82 to throw away.

It has also recently come to our attention that there was indeed a J. H. Featherstone in the 11th Regiment of Foot.

We have also located an LDS Family Group Record of John & Mary Jane (or Ann) having 8 children, all in Adelaide between the years 1851 and 1868.

I am wondering if you might know of any families who have this family tree. I would like to find out if they have a death certificate or marriage cert for Mary Jane Hagen (or Hagan- could be just a transcript or spelling error) to confirm that this Mary Jane (or Ann) is indeed the daughter of John Hagan and Mary Adams, both born in Ireland. She was also born in Ireland bc 1830 (per 1841 census).

Thanking you in advance,

Regards,

Kerry Pomroy

 

Nancy Anne Featherstone

Dear Mr. Featherstone:

I am a newspaper reporter in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. I am trying to track down whatever happened to a Nancy Anne Featherstone. She was born on May 24, 1929, and grew up in the Toronto area. I do not know her parents’ names or Nancy Anne’s married name.

I am looking for her because she was the model for the girl on a local corporate logo that’s been used since 1940.

Do you have any suggestions for how I might be able to find her? Unfortunately, marriage and census records here do not become public until a very long time has elapsed. Perhaps one of your contacts in Canada might know a bit about her family.

Any information you could provide on Nancy Anne would be helpful.

Thanks — Matt

Matt Walcoff
Business reporter
The Record
160 King St. E.
Kitchener-Waterloo, ON N2G 4E5
(519) 894-2231 x. 2662
(416) 213-5631 x. 2662 (Toronto)
(800) 265-8261 x. 2662 (Guelph, London)

 

New Website for Burkes Peerage

A brand new website for Burke’s Peerage has just been launched. Specialists in Irish and British online genealogy,
The Origins Network (www.originsnetwork.com) have totally
re-designed the Burke’s Peerage Online service
(www.burkes-peerage.net), making it much easier to search
the rich genealogical database and to access an extraordinary range of detailed articles and essays on many aspects
of the culture and traditions of the British Isles.

 

Theobald Fetherstonhaugh of Mosstown B.1808

Dear Paul,

My grandmother’s maiden name was Fetherstonhaugh and I have spent many years researching the family. I have come to the belief now that we are descended from Theobald Fetherstonhaugh of Mosstown B.1808 . My enquiries however have him marrying Jane Barlow in 1849, and AJ Fetherstonhaughs book has him desribed as a coroner in Westmeath.

I have a death certificate from a William Fetherstonhaugh (B. 1840 Westmeath Ireland) who was my G.G.G.Grandfather. His parents were Theobald Fetherstonhaugh and Mary Kelly. The occupation listed for Theobald on the cert. is Sugar Planter.

I have many reasons for believing these to be one and the same person, not the least being that he is the only Theobald in the right place at the right time to have been the father of this child (William). Cuthbert Fetherstonhaugh’s “After many days” talks about a “house full of pretty cousins” who were Kellys, I wonder if this is where Mary fits in? Further to this, Theobald was 41 years old before he married Jane. I wonder what he was up to prior to this?

Mary Kelly was born around 1821 so was quite a bit younger than Theobald but I doubt that this was uncommon. She married John Murphy and came to Australia with her husband and William (17) and his young wife Mary Tone.

I can only imagine two possibilities for her having a new husband and a child by a different father.

1. She and Theobald were married and then he disappeared presumed dead. This was my first thought because his occupation of sugar planter would have taken him overseas. Perhaps he was one of the Fetherstonhaugh men described in After Many Days who left for Eldorado in 1853.

2. She was seduced by an older and powerful relative (Theobald) and was left holding the baby, so to speak. An unmarried mother might think that leaving for Australia would be a good solution.

I have had no luck in finding

Birth records for William

Marriage records for Theobald and Mary Kelly

Marriage records for Mary and John Murphy or

Marriage records for William and Mary Tone

Can you shed any light on this. I have no doubt, given the family names that we are descended from the Mosstown family of Fetherstonhaugh but I am frustrated beyond belief that I cannot prove this one last link.

Any direction that you can offer would be most appreciated.

Yours faithfully,

Robyn

 

Family Tree- Farndale

My mother-in-law purchased a family tree from an estate sale some years ago,

with the intent of aiding my wife in producing her own family tree (which

hasn’t really happened). I noticed the family tree around our house, which

is about a 30″ tall roll drawing, and thought I’d look online to see if it

would be beneficial to anyone since it contains no information about my

family. (Behold, I found a website all about the Featherstones!) What I have

is the “Family Tree of William & Sally Featherstone of Farndale England”.

It’s obviously not an original, but I thought I’d ask to see if its of any

use to you.

Shalom,

-Matthew A Brennan

 

Ancestry is shutting down free access to their site in all LDS Family History Libraries

Here’s the announcement from the LDS Family History Directors::

Discontinued Access to Ancestry.com Databases
The following email was sent today to Family History Center Directors from the Family History Support Center.

Discontinued Access to Ancestry.com Databases

For many years, Ancestry.com has provided free access to patrons of family history centers around the world. Ancestry has informed the [LDS] Church that as of April 1, 2007, it will discontinue this free access to the full Ancestry.com service.

Free access through Ancestry.com to the following databases will continue:

1. Index and images for the 1880, 1900 and 1920 U.S. censuses
2. Full name indices for the British 1841-1891 censuses (England and Wales)
3. World War I draft cards indices as created and miscellaneous other databases

Free access is likely to be discontinued for the remainder of the Ancestry.com databases including:

1. Index and images for the 1930 U.S. census
2. Index and images for the 1901 British census (England, Scotland, and Wales)

At this point, Ancestry.com is not offering an option for family history centers to independently purchase commercial or library site licenses. Patrons, of course, may choose to subscribe directly to Ancestry.com.

Free access to online databases is important and we therefore intend to add many new databases to FamilySearch.org. Much of the data preparation will be accomplished through the online indexing program available at FamilySearchIndexing.org. We encourage you to visit the website to learn more.

Volunteers have already begun indexing the 1900 U.S. census and other projects. Other censuses and vital record collections will be indexed as soon as the 1900 U.S. census project is completed. The more volunteers that participate, the sooner access can be provided. Since access to databases on FamilySearch.org is free to all, we anticipate that this will be of great interest to individuals around the world. We are also exploring opportunities to provide broader access to additional databases from other online service providers.

Please inform patrons regarding our plans to provide access to records and invite them to help by participating in the FamilySearch Indexing projects. We will communicate as more information becomes available. Thank you for all that you do on behalf of our patrons.

Family History Center Support

 

Latest News on Civil Registration

FFHS representatives met recently with the GRO (General Register Office)
management team for the DoVE (Digitisation of Vital Events) project to review
progress on the project. The most important news we learnt was that a system is
now being developed to enable the indexes to the digitised records to be
searched via the internet, and these should be made available progressively from
April 2008.

Work is well advanced on digitising the historic birth records (those from
1837-1934) and over 40 million of the 70 million records have already been
processed. These have been loaded on to the EAGLE (Electronic Access to GRO
Legacy Events) database. The EAGLE project will introduce a more efficient
system of recording and tracking customer orders within the GRO at Southport, and
its implementation is imminent.

Yet another bird’s name has been chosen as the acronym for the third project
- MAGPIE (Multi Access to GRO Published Index of Events). This will provide
online indexes to the newly digitised records, and will be accessible via the
internet, hopefully by April 2008. The FFHS has accepted the GRO’s invitation
to take part in user testing this new internet facility, although its search
capabilities may be more restrictive than the wide-ranging possibilities we
have asked for.

By April 2008, the historic birth indexes will have been loaded onto EAGLE
and the historic death records (those from 1837-1957) should also have been
loaded. This means that those indexes will be accessible via the MAGPIE system
on screen terminals at TNA at Kew (as well as via the internet) when the ONS
facilities at the Family Records Centre close. Subsequently, the loading of
the historic death records will be followed by the modern birth and death
records, then the historic marriage records (those from 1837-1945) and the
modern marriage records.

For those records that have not been added to the MAGPIE project by April
2008, access will be available at Kew, as an interim measure, to the images of
the existing indexes on microfiche and on computer. The original vellum and
paper indexes will be moved to TNA at Kew, but will not be on open access.
As a separate process, the Registrations Online project that deals with
current registrations (2007 onwards) will provide indexes of these on terminals
at the FRC by July of this year, with an interim search capability that will be
more basic than that eventually offered by MAGPIE.

We will continue to keep you informed of developments in this important
area.

Geoff Riggs,
Chairman,
Federation of Family History Societies
6 February 2007

 

The search for Robert 2

Roberts birth date in 1848 (from Census 1861)
There is one Robert born in the Dec Quarter of 1846 registered in Worcester District which would mean the record from the Census is at least 1 or 2 years out by date. If this is the correct Robert.
From death records in Worcestershire we have a list of all after or just before Roberts Birth date
From Death records
GEORGE FEATHERSTONE Dec 1841 Worcester WOR 18.382 272
GEORGE FEATHERSTONE Mar 1842 Droitwich WOR 18.255 274
THOMAS EDWARD FEATHERSTONE Sep 1845 Worcester WOR 18.333 759
ROBERT FEATHERSTONE Mar 1847 Worcester WOR 18.509 676 (could this be Robert’s father or even the Robert born in 1846)
BETSEY FEATHERSTONE Mar 1848 Worcester WOR 18.502 1209
EDWARD FEATHERSTONE Sep 1849 Pershore WOR 18.328 193
MARY ANNE FEATHERSTONE Sep 1849 Worcester WOR 18.405 579
PHILLIP FEATHERSTONE Sep 1849 Worcester WOR 18.403 664
ALBERT FEATHERSTONE Jun 1850 Worcester WOR 18,388 72