RootDig.com

Michael John Neill's genealogy website. Things that cross my path, general research suggestions, and whatever else ...with a little bit of attitude. I don't post "news" just to post it, never post a press release (edited or otherwise), don't feign excitement, and pretty much say what I think.

31 May 2011

Making a "Bee" to Move the Fence

In reviewing material from a Civil War pension file, I came across a deposition that partially confused me. Ira Boyd is making testimony in...

30 May 2011

Back From Salt Lake

I've just returned from my annual research trip to the Family History Library in Salt Lake . I had a really great time and made a few mi...

28 May 2011

Ancestry.com's Search Comments, etc.

Here's my take on Ancestry.com's search: 1) I like the proximity feature. However, I do wonder what map or database they used to det...

24 May 2011

2012 Family History Library Trip

We have set the dates for our 2012 Family History Research Trip to the Family History Library in Salt Lake City--start at 6:30 on Wednesday ...

13 May 2011

1900 US Census Occupations

Made this discovery on Google Books today. Not time to prattle on about it, but it is a listing of occupations as sampled from the 1900 cens...

11 May 2011

Casefile Clues for Beginners

At the request of some readers and survey takers, we are trying out a "beginning" version of Casefile Clues, yet unnamed. More det...

Memory Medallions, etc.

Mark me down on the cynical side, but I don't think I want someone sticking one of these on my ancestor's tombstone. 1) Who decides ...

NGS Casefile Clues Offer

You can still take advantage of an NGS offer on Casefile Clues even if you are not at the conference. Through the conference, you can subscr...

10 May 2011

Family Search's Civil War Database Search

Family Search has a special site to search just their Civil War materials . I'm a little bit confused. This is the search screen I got w...

Family Search Releases Draft Registration Cards, compiled 1948-1959

Just for these two states, FamilySearch released Draft Registration Cards, compiled 1948-1959 : Arkansas Louisiana

Why To Transcribe Exactly

There are many reasons to transcribe a document exactly. This letter taken from the Georgia Confederate Pension application of H. W. Rucker ...

05 May 2011

Ancestry.com's Updating of Databases

I wish the Ancestry.com blog had some real information about their new or recently updated databases in it--instead of being vastly marketin...

04 May 2011

All Have A Leaf But The Guy I Want

I have several private trees at Ancestry.com . I largely use them to keep track of things I have already found on Ancestry.com , particularl...

02 May 2011

Free Copy of article "Brick Walls from A to Z"

I'll send a free copy of my article "Genealogy Brick Walls from A to Z" to anyone who wants it. Requests can be sent to brickw...

Don't get me wrong. I get a great deal of good information from the Family History Library in Salt Lake. But their catalog was created b...

01 May 2011

Casefile Clues Subscription Palns

These are the current subscription plans on Casefile Clues. Subscribe now to one of the best genealogical eduational values around. Orders ...

28 April 2011

The Long Form Versus the Short Form

Years ago, I got an exact certified photocopy of my birth certificate from the vital records office in the county where I was born. It had a...

27 April 2011

I'm My Own Cousin

Roolf Alberts Fecht, born 1710 Wiesens, Ostfriesland, Germany: Gerjet Albers Fecht, born 1747 Wiesens Tjark Gerjets Fecht, born 1803 Wiesens...

William Sartorius in the Army in 1902-Regular US Army Infantry Regimentsrmy

I'm fairly certain the William A. Sartorius (number 26) on this U.S. Returns from Regular Army Infantry Regiments, 1821-1916 is the Wil...

19 April 2011

Revolutionary War Court Appearance

The devil is in the details. Don't get me wrong--I really love Footnote, but it is irritating when promotional materials get factual det...

18 April 2011

My Blogs, Blogging Philosophy, Etc.

Sometimes I think I have too many blogs. I have Genealogy Tip of the Day , where each day a research tip is posted. These usually come from ...

15 April 2011

Illinois Marriage Records Index On FamilySearch

FamilySearch added Illinois Marriages 1810-1934 to their list of databases. Currently it only contains Adams, Alexander, Bond, Boone, Brown,...

12 April 2011

They Were Sailors Who Deserted

Stories of relatives who "left the German army" are common--proving them is usually a bit more difficult. A search of This is an i...

11 April 2011

UK Incoming Passenger Lists, 1878-1960 on Ancestry.com

Virgil A. Rampley, private, arrived in Liverpool, England in September of 1918 on the S.S. Lancashire. He lists an address of West Point, Il...

07 April 2011

Civil War Draft Registration Riley Rampley

This is part of the Civil War Draft Registration for Riley Rampley which was recently released on Ancestry.com as their the in their collect...

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