21 September 2017

Genea-gifts Makes For a Great Birthday

Recently, I celebrated a birthday, my 60th, to be exact and that is all I have to say on the subject.  Gift opening was particularly fun this year as I was able to add three books to my genealogy library, thanks to my hubby, Kirk.

1. Professional Genealogy, Edited by Elizabeth Shown Mills.  I have been contemplating becoming more involved in the professional side of genealogy.  I have spoken at a few genealogical society meetings and enjoyed it.  I thought it would be a good time to read this book.  I haven't decided if I want to become certified or not.  I enjoy researching my family but I don't know if I would enjoy doing it professionally.  Whether or not I become a 'professional' genealogist, this book has a lot of information on how to research professionally.

2.  Scottish Genealogy by Bruce Durie.  My dad's grandfather, David Watt, came to Canada, and then Michigan, from Methil, Fife, Scotland.  Once I have a free afternoon, I plan to explore his Scottish roots and this book will help in the process.

3.  Saxons, Vikings, and Celts: The Genetic Roots of Britain and Ireland by Bryan Sykes.  I am interested in my DNA since my parents provided the spit for their DNA tests.  I purchased more tests after a recent DNA sale at Ancestry.  My daughter and I tested.  I have one for my son, but with the aftermath of the Houston flood, I decided to wait to mail it to him.  My dad is 85% Great Britain, 5% Scandinavia, and 6% Ireland.  I tested as 46% Great Britain, 23% Scandinavia, and 9% Ireland.  My daughter, to my surprise, tested 28% Scandinavia and 27% Ireland.  I decided with that much Great Britain, Ireland and Scandinavia in our genes, this would be a good book to read.

Recent purchases include
1.  Ancestral Trails by Mark D. Herber-another Great Britain reference book.

2.  Land and Property Research in the United States by E Wade Hone.  I have been immersed in Vermont land records and trying to figure out where Daniel Fenn purchased seven lots from the seventh division in Shoreham, Addison, Vermont.  I have the record of his selling them in 1813, but cannot for the life of me find the purchase. I am guessing it has something to do with the changing boundary lines for Vermont and the New Hampshire grants and possibly New York records. I had looked at this book a few times in the library and decided it would be a good addition to my library.

The Newberry Library used book sale is held in July every year and my husband and I usually go to it with my daughter and her husband, who live in Chicago.  I look forward to it every year.  This year I was having some stress related stomach problems and I couldn't go.  My wonderful daughter went and looked at the genealogy sections.  She bought the following books.  Isn't she wonderful?

1.  Scottish Tartans-an interesting read on the clans in Scotland.  My Watts are even in the book.

2.  Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry by Katherine B. Cory.

3.  Tracing Scottish Local History-Scottish Record Office by Cecil Sinclair.This book even includes great notes from the previous owner on researching Scottish records.

It looks like I will be doing some Scottish research soon.  I am tired of Vermont land records, anyway!  My family knows me well and can never go wrong with a good genealogy book.

Are you curious about what books I have in my genealogy library? Check out "My Library" page at the top of my blog.

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