Lady Jane Grey was Queen of England for only nine days, but her story is a fascinating one. Full of trials and triumphs, abuse and privilege, betrayal and honor, and above all, one of deep and abiding faith, Jane Grey is an inspiration to us all. This is her story... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/lady-jane-grey-the-queens-of-england/
William Frawley is best known for playing landlord and friend Fred Mertz on the hit TV show, I Love Lucy. However, he had a long and storied career before and after that iconic role. He also had a childhood and family that is not often discussed. This is his story... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/william-frawley-i-love-lucy/
Jane Means Appleton Pierce was a remarkable woman who served as the 14th First Lady of the United States. Her life, however, was not an easy one. Jane had suffered from depression since she was a child, and things only got worse when she married a man who was not suitable for her. To make matters worse, she lost all three of her children before they even reached their teenage years. Despite all of this, Jane remained strong and resilient, and her legacy continues to inspire us today. Her story i...
Vivian Vance is best known for playing Ethel Mertz, Lucy’s landlady and best friend on the classic TV sitcom, I Love Lucy. There is so much more to her than just that, though. Vivian was part of the golden age of movies and theater in the 1940s. She also became a genuine real-life friend to Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. This is Vivian Vance’s story... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/vivian-vance-i-love-lucy/...
Joe Feeney was an Irish American singer who became known around the United States as a highly talented tenor singer. He performed for twenty-five years on The Lawrence Welk Show, where he was known as “The Irish Tenor.” A devout Catholic with ten children who performed for Presidents and a Pope and loved fishing, this is his story. Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/joe-feeney-the-lawrence-welk-show/...
DNA testing is a very popular way of doing genealogy these days. It can open doors and solve mysteries that no records exist to solve. DNA does not lie, either. It always tells you the truth about who you are and who your family is. There are three main types of DNA testing that are done in modern genealogical research. Here's what each type is and what it can tell you. You can use this information to decide which type of DNA testing is best for your own particular research purposes and goals. T...
Everyone who has been through an American public school knows the story of Plymouth Rock, the legendary first piece of dry land the Pilgrims stepped on after their long and arduous Mayflower journey across the Atlantic. As the place where our first English immigrants encountered and stood on the area that would become part of New England, the rock is a famous artifact on its own. You can even see it today in Plymouth, as it is a major tourist attraction for the town. But, the Mayflower landed in...
Memorial Day is celebrated on the last Monday of May and is meant to celebrate and honor those who fell during service with the U.S. military. The point of the holiday is clear, but its origins are not. Read along as we study the history of Memorial Day in the United States... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/the-history-of-memorial-day/
Have you heard any news stories that have made you concerned about DNA testing and your privacy? It’s been in the news recently. If you are concerned about a test you did, or about doing it at some point in the future, here is the real story you need to know on DNA and your personal privacy. Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/what-you-need-to-know-about-dna-testing-and-privacy/ #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips...
John Hancock is a name that is synonymous with the Declaration of Independence. He is known for being the first and largest signer of the document, which was a courageous act at the time. It's worth noting that for several months, John's signature was the only one on the copy of the Declaration that was available, and this was considered treasonous. However, John was far more than just a quick signer. He was an intelligent and driven man who was instrumental in the fight for independence. His un...
Check out the fascinating story of Lyman Hall, one of the three Georgia delegates who signed the Declaration of Independence. Originally a minister from Connecticut, he worked his way up to become a respected doctor and teacher. After moving to Georgia, he became a prominent citizen and earned a seat at the Second Continental Congress. Learn more about his journey to signing one of the most important documents in American history. Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/lyman-hall-the-signe...
The Lennon Sisters are a quartet of sisters who performed on The Lawrence Welk Show for more than a decade. Part of a family of twelve children, the sisters met Lawrence Welk because one of them was a high school classmate of one of Lawrence’s sons. The girls went on to have a successful and prosperous career, one they still enjoy today. This is their story. Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/the-lennon-sisters-the-lawrence-welk-show/...
Have you heard of Arthur Duncan? He’s an amazing tap dancer from America who was on “The Lawrence Welk Show” for 18 years! He’s actually one of the first African American men to be a regular on a US TV variety show. His performances were incredible and he helped make tap dancing popular again. It's such an inspiring story! Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/arthur-duncan-the-lawrence-welk-show/...
Button Gwinnett was a signer of the Declaration of Independence, although a relatively obscure one. Little was known of him prior to him placing his signature on that historic document. While he had a short political career both before and after signing it, Button was not on the historical scene for a long time. Still, his name is remembered in some places today. This is Button Gwinnett’s story. Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/button-gwinnett-the-signers-of-the-declaration-of-indepe...
Elbridge Gerry is probably a mid-rank Signer when it comes to being remembered by history. Yet, he played a huge role in the cause of American independence and had a political career that touched almost every part of the government of the new United States. His contributions to the colonies during the American Revolution cannot be underestimated, either. This is his important story. Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/elbridge-gerry-the-signers-of-the-declaration-of-independence/...
Probate records come in many different forms and types. There are the more traditional types, and the less so. If you can’t find traditional probate records in your genealogical search, there are excellent substitutes you can use, in many cases. These are some records to look for in your genealogical quest. Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/a-closer-look-at-probate-records-2/ #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips...
A truly potentially rich source of genealogical information is probate records. Whenever an ancestor crossed over to the other side, they usually left behind some sort of record of their estate. This could be in the form of a will, an inventory of their estate, or court records of relatives or other potential heirs who believed they had a claim on the estate. Sometimes, you will even find old newspaper records of people petitioning the court to be named the executor or heir of someone's estate w...
John Hart is a little-known signer of the Declaration of Independence. In fact, he only served at the Continental Congress just long enough for him to vote on and sign the Declaration. Yet, he had a long and distinguished career in New Jersey politics for most of his adult life, both before and after signing the Declaration. This is the interesting story of John Hart. Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/john-hart-the-signers-of-the-declaration-of-independence #Genealogy #AncestralFindin...
Benjamin Harrison was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. This was not the future president of the United States of the same name, although the future president was a great-great grandson of Benjamin the signer. In fact, Benjamin the signer was the fifth Benjamin of the same name in his family. This was a family of politicians for generations. This is his unique story. Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/benjamin-harrison-v-the-signers-of-the-declaration-of-independence #Geneal...
Wallace Nutting was once a household name—and he’s still an example of deep creativity and entrepreneurship. Read his photographic history here. Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/wallace-nutting-the-great-artists #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips
Robert Doisneau is an artist who sought to portray life as he wanted it to be. Learn more about his history and philosophies that went into his art here! Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/robert-doisneau-the-great-artists #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips
Benjamin Franklin is one of the best known of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and one of our most celebrated Founding Fathers. Most of his life is well-documented, and there is much to tell, as it was one of achievement and adventure. These are some of the lesser-known facts about this most famous of founders. Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/benjamin-franklin-the-signers-of-the-declaration-of-independence #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips...
George Clymer was a signer of the Declaration of Independence who is not as well-remembered as some of the others. Yet, he was a remarkable and busy politician in colonial and early American history, as well as a philanthropist, merchant, and advocate for civil rights for all. This is George Clymer's story... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/george-clymer-the-signers-of-the-declaration-of-independence #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips...
MyHeritage.com is a subscription genealogy website that focuses on European ancestry. It offers a DNA testing kit, a large collection of scanned genealogical documents from European countries, and even animation of ancient family photos. Is it worth the money? This article lets you know. Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/is-myheritage-com-worth-the-money-for-your-genealogy-research...
Newspapers.com is a well-known genealogy research website. It includes hundreds of millions of scanned and indexed pages of newspapers from around the world. Lots of people use it. Is it worth your money, though? This article examines the merits of Newspapers.com for genealogists of every level. Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/is-newspapers-com-worth-the-money-for-your-genealogy-research...
Are you looking for some productive genealogy projects to do for April? As the first full month of spring, April offers some interesting and unique genealogy opportunities that just don't fit in as well during other months of the year. If you want to stay on top of things in your genealogy research, these are the projects that should definitely be on your “to do” list this month. Enjoy them. Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/10-must-genealogy-projects-april...
Much of Vivian Maier’s life is shrouded in mystery. What we know of her paints a picture of diversity and unique thinking that led to some of the world’s finest street photography. Hers is a tale of a lifetime of creating photographs that led to a posthumous discovery. The details of Vivian Maier's (The Great Artists) life are every bit as fascinating as her photography. Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/vivian-maier-the-great-artists...
Julian Francis Abele is one of America’s very first prominent African American architects and is responsible for the design of the modern campus of Duke University. Here is the story of a remarkable man who was talented in many different ways, and contributed to the beauty of America with the buildings he designed... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/julian-francis-abele-the-great-artists...
If you are researching your incarcerated ancestors, or are curious as to whether you have any that you didn’t know about before, these are some excellent online resources that can assist you in locating the information you need. Make use of them. They will get you where you need and want to go with your genealogy. Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/a-closer-look-at-prison-records-2...
Do you have a black sheep ancestor? Are you sure? There were all kinds of reasons a person might have been incarcerated in times past that seem completely innocent today. Whether you know that you have an ancestor who was incarcerated or are just curious if you do, this is what you need to know about prison records and your genealogy. Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/a-closer-look-at-prison-records-1/...
