Monday, August 29, 2011

Kathleen Fanning

We move back downunder for our next GeniMates profile.

Kathleen also completed her profile about the time I was setting off overseas so I apologise to Kathleen for sitting on it for quite a while.

I have been following Kathleen's blog for some time now and really enjoy her well-researched and thoughtful posts.

It is an honour to be able to publish Kathleen's profile.

Date July 2011
Name Kathleen Fanning
Hometown NSW Australia
Are you a Hobbyist or Professional Genealogist? Hobbyist
What is your day job? Teacher

How long have you been chasing ancestors? About four years

How did you get hooked on genealogy?
My father used to tell us about his family when I was growing up and I gradually got more and more interested in my ancestry. I was lucky in that I knew exactly where in Ireland the Fannings came from. A second cousin of mine had also done a family tree and her family still live in the original homestead in Bulla Victoria. They held a family reunion there and had lots of original documents and photos. This kindled my interest. Although thinking about it ,probably the main factor has been the internet. It is now so easy and quick to trace a family history compared with a few years ago. This is especially true with Victorian ancestry.

What, if any, formal or informal studies have you undertaken that are relevant to genealogical research?
I have taught myself using internet resources and some books.

What are your areas of Expertise in Genealogy?
I have specialized in Ireland and particularly North Tipperary around Thurles where my ancestors came from.

What are the lands of your ancestors?
On my father's side they all came from Ireland: Co Tipperary, Co Limerick, Co Galway, Co Down.
On my mother's side they came from England, Scotland and Ireland.

What Family Names are you Researching?
Fannin, Fanning, Sheehan, Hayes, Darmody, Skeehan, Gormley, Collins, Gribben, Dell, McSweeney, Cook, Collier, Knighton, Ledwidge, Ryan, Canavan, Mackey, Glass and more.

Who is your favourite ancestor? Why?
One ancestor I am fascinated by is my ggrandmother on my mother's side. Growing up I was told both my ggrandparents had died during the Spanish Flu Epidemic. I had always imagined these very old fairly dowdy people in sensible coats. Then I discovered a photo of my ggrandmother, Annie McSweeney, and she was a stunner ! Nothing like I had imagined. I discovered she had an interesting and wild life having two husbands and having a child to the second while still married to the first. I wish I knew more about her.

What ancestral city or town would you like to visit? Why?
I would like to visit Thurles Co Tipperary as this is where my Fanning ancestors were born and lived and I would also like to visit Cobh which is where they left for the colonies in 1841. I am planning a trip to Ireland in 2012.

What is your favourite resource for genealogy?
Apart from the internet I use two books a lot: A New Genealogical Atlas of Ireland by Brian Mitchell and the Index to the Townlands, and Towns, Parishes and Baronies of Ireland 1851. For starting out in Irish ancestry research I recommend John Grenham's Tracing Your Irish Ancestors.

Do you keep your genealogy files on paper? Yes
Do you keep your genealogy files on a computer? Yes

What genealogy software do you use to record your family tree?
Family Tree Maker 2011

Do you have your tree posted on the internet? Yes

What Social Networking Sites do you use for genealogy?
Ancestry, Twitter, Google+

Do you have a blog? Yes
What are your blogs' URLs? www.fanningfamilyhistory.com/

What are your Other Hobbies, Activities, Interests?
Bush regeneration, gardening, kayaking, yoga, reading, photography

What is your favourite lesiure time activity apart from genealogy?
Reading

What is your favourite (non genealogy) book?
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

If you have anything else to share please add it below:

I have two trees on Rootsweb World Connect:

My maternal side, Knighton Family Tree
http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/wcus?db=knighton_torpey

and my father's ancestry, Fannings From Tipperary
http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/wcus?db=fanning-tipp

I also have these trees on Ancestry.com

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Miles Meyer

I owe Miles a huge apology, although he submitted a profile in July I didn't manage to post it before my big trip. I actually came face-to-face with Miles in a Google+ Hangout last month, this exciting tool provides a great opportunity for genealogists to discuss issues face-to-face,

Thanks Miles, for sharing your profile, I have enjoyed reading it - what an interesting and varied bunch we genealogists are!

Date: 9 July, 2011
Name: Miles Meyer
Hometown: Originally from Ft. Loramie, Ohio but now live in Jacksonville, Florida

Are you a Hobbyist or Professional Genealogist? Hobbyist

What is your day job? Biologist with the US Fish & Wildlife Service


How long have you been chasing ancestors?
16 Years

How did you get hooked on genealogy?

One day I just started when I found an assignment I did back in 3rd grade where we compiled a pedigree chart. Since then I have spent about 2-4 hours each day researching either my genealogy or that of someone else. I think I enjoy the hunt and the great stories I find no matter who's family I am researching.

What are your areas of Expertise in Genealogy?
Internet & new technologies. I have been an early adopter of many of the new tech toys. I am also a beta tester for several companies so I get to try out the new bells and whistles before others.

What, if any, formal or informal studies have you undertaken that are relevant to genealogical research?

I am basically self taught. My profession as a scientist has provided me with the skills to do research and look for detailed information. I began learning more detailed genealogical research techniques when I was called as a Family History Consultant. After that I began learning by teaching.

Please outline your involvement in Genealogy Societies and Groups.
I haven't formally become a member of any genealogy groups or societies. I frequently attend meetings of the local groups as an invited guest to talk about new products that are being tested.

What are the lands of your ancestors?
All my ancestors come from Germany.

What Family Names are you Researching?
I always enjoy this question since I don't have that many common names. Some of the names I am researching include: Westerheide, Garman, Mescher, Bielefeld, Aufderhaar, Wierwille, Gaier, Stueve, Mescher, Wesner, Bornhorst, Leugers, Schweiterman, Sacksteder, Roetgerman, and Meyer along with others.

Who is your favourite ancestor? Why?
My favorite ancestor is my great grandfather Raymond Bernard Westerheide. Mainly becuase he was a booze runner during Prohibition in the US. There are some great stories from his life. Additionally, my favorite ancestor on my wife's family line is either Corydon Reeder or Willie Mae Harris. Corydon is interesting because he travelled from Ohio to Oregon, got married in Indiana and Iowa and then in Oregon, then moved to Wyoming during the 1800s. He must have had an interesting life. Willie Mae Harris is interesting because she had been married 4 times before she died at the age of 45.


What ancestral city or town would you like to visit? Why?
Many of my wife's ancestors come from St. Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands. I think that would be an interesting place to visit with all of its history.

What is your favourite resource for genealogy?
My favorite resource currently is the FamilySearch.org website. The amount of information that is being added to this site each month is impressive. I know it is not as large or as user friendly as Ancestry.com but I always direct people to it if they are starting since it is free and there is a wide variety of information there.

Do you keep your genealogy files on paper?
No
Do you keep your genealogy files on a computer?
Yes

What genealogy software do you use to record your family tree?
I currently use Ancestral Quest. My wife uses Legacy. But I also have Roots Magic, PAF, My Heritage Family Tree, Family Insight, Family Tree Maker, and several other programs installed so I can test them and speak about them.

Do you have your tree posted on the internet? Yes
If Yes What is the URL? It is posted in so many places that I have forgotten most of them. just google me and you will find some of them.

What Social Networking Sites do you use for genealogy?
Ancestry, Facebook, GenealogyWise, LinkedIn, MyHeritage

Do you have a blog? Yes
What are your blogs' URLs?
http://milesgenealogy.blogspot.com/http://ourancestories.blogspot.com/

What are your Other Hobbies, Activities, Interests?
I enjoy doing things with the Boy Scouts. I teach several BSA merit badge classes including Genealogy, Environmental Science, Fish & Wildlife Management, Plant Science, Bird Study, Soil & Water Conservation, and many others. I enjoy outdoor activities like hiking (no hills here in Florida), camping, canoeing. I also am a part time professor and enjoy teaching people about their environment.

What is your favourite lesiure time activity apart from genealogy?
I like to take nature walks.

What is your favourite (non genealogy) book?
Orson Scott Card's "Ender" Series

What is your personal philosophy in a few words ?
"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not." - Dr. Seuss, The Lorax

If you have anything else to share please add it below:
 
I try to take every chance I can to continue learning.

GeniMates News.

I've had a wonderful five week break visiting Europe and the US. I had intended sourcing and publishing some GeniMate profiles while I was away but visiting and learning about new places just got in the way.

While dining with an American couple one night on board ship I mentioned that I was obsessed by genealogy. The wife of the couple said that she wanted to get started but that it would be difficult because of her Japanese Heritage. I mentioned that I had a contact that might just be able to give her some assistance so I found Valerie Elkins' details from her GeniMates Profile, sought out the lady and passed them on. The lady was most grateful - I do hope she contacts Valerie.

On my return from overseas I was thriled to hear that my proposal to present on an International Panel with three of my GeniMates, Amy Coffin (USA), Audrey Collins (UK) and Joan Miller (Canada) at the Rootstech 2012 conference was accepted. I look forward to collaborating with these ladies on the presentation.

Early  in my trip I spent 2 1/2 days researching at The National Archives in Kew. I was so thrilled that  Family History Specialist, Audrey Collins, took time out of her busy day to have lunch with me and to seek me out for a second lunch  date. I enjoyed being able to share my enthusiasm about the finds I had made with the chirpy and friendly, Audrey. Having a friend in such a big institution enhances the experience of the visit.