by Tanya Teat Foreman | Oct 24, 2022 | Family History Month
As we get closer to Halloween with zombie, skeleton and mummy costumes roaming the earth, we continue our discussion about death and its importance to genealogy. Let’s add funeral programs and obituaries to the conversation. As previously stated, it is easier to find about your ancestors through death than through life.
Death Certificates
Death certificates contain a gold mine of information about your direct line relative:
- birth date
- parents’ names and birthplaces
- occupation
- informant and their relationship to the decedent
As previous mentioned in our Health History is Family History blog, death certificates can keep you informed of family medical issues. Many diseases are hereditary and knowing this information can help you monitor your health care.
Obituaries
Obituaries are another path to get you the information you need to go further back in researching your roots. The official definition of an obituary is a written notice notifying the public of a person’s death. The notification can be in a newspaper, church bulletin or online. They are a short story about the deceased life. Funeral homes now post their client’s obituaries on their websites. Some obituaries can fill an entire page of a newspaper, especially if the decedent was famous or well-known in the community.
Funeral Programs
The ultimate to learning and discovering your family history can be found in the funeral programs! Newspapers limit obituaries to a few line while a funeral program can include everything AND the kitchen sink! They can perfectly map out your family’s tree and help scale those brick walls. Funeral programs give the decedent’s biography in as many pages as needed! Unquestionably, it is less expensive than an obituary written up in the newspaper (and longer too).
African Americans seem to collect funeral programs. While looking through my grandmother’s items, I found three funeral programs of relatives that had died 30+ years ago. The State of Virginia has made a collection of African American funeral programs from 1935-2009 available on a subscription genealogy site. A family member close to the deceased is always selected and trusted to write the funeral program and condense it for an obituary because they know intimate details about the person’s life.
Content of a Funeral Program
Depending on how close one is to their relative, they can create a one page program or a six page booklet with pictures! From all the funeral programs I have seen, I have learned:
- Parents’ names
- Spouse’s full name and marriage date
- Children and stepchildrens’ full names (spouses names in parentheses)
- Siblings
- Grandchildren and great grandchildren
- Birthplace
- Schools attended
- Fraternal organizations
- Occupation and retirement date
- Hobbies and activities
- Church affiliation
- Burial location (even mentioning if it is a family plot)
This information has been a treasure trove when researching my own family as well as those of my clients.
Keep all of this in mind if you are tasked with creating an obituary for a family member. Better yet, write a autobiography NOW that includes your important mentioned in the bullet points above plus other milestones, awards, recognitions, etc. Your relatives will thank you for it.
If you want in knowing your family history but you don’t have the time or resources to do so, I have affordable packages to do the research for you. If you book the Kati or Kubwa packages during October 2022, you will get a 10% discount plus a free gift!* Click here to contact me. Hurry – you only have 1 week left in October!!
*You must book and pay the 50% non-refundable deposit before 11:59pm on 10/31/22 in order to receive the discounted services and free gift.
by Tanya Teat Foreman | Oct 18, 2022 | Family History Month
Did you know that this week is National Estate Planning Awareness Week? Yes…it’s a thing that the United States House of Representative voted on in 2008. The third week of October is the week that everyone needs to get their *bleep* together before they die. But really, they want people to understand the importance of estate planning, what it entails and how vital it is for financial wellness for yourself and your family members. How are wills and genealogy important to each other? Let’s talk about it!
The Correlation of Wills and Genealogy
We need to decide now what happens to our stuff when we die. Plus we need to talk to our older relatives about their final wishes before their time. My boss told me she wrote her own funeral program and obituary – what a great idea! She wants to make sure her children get the facts right after her death! My September blog post discussed preparedness, making a plan to designate someone to take over the job as family historian and keep the family heirlooms. Well, that is estate planning. This is how wills and genealogy are perfect pairs!
A will is a written document that states our last wishes. We designate family members to give our favorite mementos, photos and property when that time comes. We love our possessions and want to give them to family members that will love them too. This should include family photos, family bibles and any heirlooms passed down from generation to generation.
Tracking Down the Enslaved
Not only are they important for this reason, wills are important for tracking our own family members. As a genealogist, I use them to find an African American family enslavers. The enslaved were considered property and included in wills as gifts to family members or pay off the debts of the deceased. Sometimes, a list of the enslaved were included as part of the estate’s inventory and a value listed for each. Other times, the enslaved were listed by name as well as a relationship and occupation. They might use an occupation to distinguish between two slaves with the same name. A relationship might distinguish separated family members. For example, I found a will that listed Mary, Jincy’s daughter to go to Emily, the daughter of the decedent. Jincy’s husband, Caesar, would stay with the widow and her younger sons to help her manage the farm.
Status Symbols
As far as property, some wills state the size and location of the farm, plantation or estate. One could tell the wealth of the deceased by knowing the amount of land distributed to his relatives. Sometimes the name of the property is listed, making it a gold mine for someone looking for enslaved ancestors. If you are lucky, the boundaries of the property name neighboring planters. Giving you an example of this: “Matthew Johnson’s plantation borders Wyatt Jamison’s farm to the North and Mrs. Smith’s property to the East.” This lets you know who the neighboring planters were and who could have possibly enslaved other family members.
No matter who you are looking for, wills could name all your family members, including the husbands of the decedent’s daughters. You can follow your ancestrial lineage by the familial relationships listed in a will.
Where There’s A Will, There’s A Way
If you don’t have a will, your items will go up for auction to pay off debts or to the flea market. The money in your bank and investment accounts will go to the state as unclaimed funds. After a certain amount of time, the government keeps the funds. I have seen several family bibles and heirlooms at thrift shops. The best thing to do is go through your items while you still can, decide who you want to give them to and give them as a gift now. My aunt had me take pictures, inventory her items and she designated who she wants certain items to go to. Anything else, she has us put our names on the back of the item. She does not want anyone fighting over her things after her death.
So what will you be doing this week? Hopefully you’ll be getting your affairs in order for the inevitable…but hopefully that won’t be anytime soon!
If you want in knowing your family history but you don’t have the time or resources to do so, I have affordable packages to do the research for you. If you book the Kati or Kubwa packages during October 2022, you will get a 10% discount plus a free gift!* Click here to contact me. Hurry – you only have 14 more days left in October!!
*You must book and pay the 50% non-refundable deposit before 11:59pm on 10/31/22 in order to receive the discounted services and free gift.
by Tanya Teat Foreman | Oct 13, 2022 | Family History Month
We all had that one relative in our family that told outrageous stories about our ancestors! These stories were knee slapping, comical tales about how the family came into existence. These stories are important to the development of who we are – it instills a pride in us about our race and nationality. Have you determined if these stories are legacy, legends or lies? Let’s talk about it!
Legacy
Family historians know the facts because we have the documentation that proves who we are and where we come from. Additionally, we obtained physical items passed down to family members before and after death – photos, trinkets and heritage items like quilts, dolls and items that go waaaay back. We know the stories of the ‘old country’ or living ‘down South,’ telling the history of the family, happy or tragic, completely unsugarcoated. These stories never change, no matter who tells them. The proof is in the pudding.
Legends
The Griot
The technical definition of a griot is a West African historian, storyteller, poet and musician. This person tells the stories of the family that have been passed down from generation to generation. These stories might have some truth to them but there might be a mixture of facts and fables. They might be true but sometimes the details change over time because of who is telling the story or memories haved faded.
Lies
The Storyteller
You never know what you’re going to get with the family storytellers! You are hoping that the truth comes out in the end. The exaggerated stories are funny and hold your attention but easily refuted by other family members. These far fetched stories usually teach a lesson to the younger generations but the details change over time.
Your Family’s Oral History
Many family stories are passed down through the years but now is the time to stop and write them down. Have a conversation with your oldest family members and record them to transcribe later. Ask them memories of their childhood or family stories that they heard as children from family members. Make sure you follow these quick tips:
- Ask questions that require more than a “yes” or “no.”
- Start out with “tell me about your childhood,” it will lead to more questions about their siblings, their parents, grandparents, aunts & uncles, etc.
- Ask them what was going on historically at the time – civil rights movement, wars, presidents, etc.
- Ask them about their education.
- Ask them about their spouse and his family.
- Ask them about a hardship they are willing to share; this usually leads to family medical history, a family secret, family feuds, etc.
Generally, people like to talk about themselves and their families so just listen attentively and pay attention to everything – voice inflection, body language, facial expressions. You will know what to ask next if you recognize these indicators. Don’t worry about what is legacy, legends and lies…record it all and determine what the facts are later.
The most important part of this – genealogy is a family affair. When you transcribe these stories, make a book or add it to the family reunion journal to share with other family members. You never know, you might find out that someone has other pieces to the stories or has supporting documents or photos to prove a legend or lie true! Every family member has a contribution – don’t hog all the information to yourself!
If you’re interested in knowing your family history but you don’t have the time or resources to do so, I have affordable packages to do the research for you. If you book the Kati or Kubwa packages during October 2022, you will get a 10% discount plus a free gift!* Click here to contact me.
*You must book and pay the 50% non-refundable deposit before 11:59pm on 10/31/22 in order to receive the discounted services and free gift.
by Tanya Teat Foreman | Oct 10, 2022 | Family History Month, Uncategorized
True Story
Family health history is as important as a family’s genealogy. In 1997, I was pregnant with my first child. Prior to scheduling my first OBGYN appointment, I received a form in the mail to fill out. One question sent me into a tizzy…Family History. I panicked.
My maternal side never talked about ailments and diseases and I did not know about my paternal side (side note: my parents divorced when my brother and I were very young and we had no contact with my paternal family). When I called her to discuss it, she said, “I don’t know.” I explained how important this information was. She mentioned a great aunt who was senile and a cousin who had cancer (type unknown). I pressed my aunts for info and no one knew or would say. It upset me but I let it pass – you can’t get blood from stone. I expressed my concerns to my brother and he became just as curious as me.
A few months later, my brother came to visit me and brought me a surprise – some death certificates! For some people, this would be a strange present however this was a godsend for me. The death certificates were from the paternal side of my family for our direct line ancestors. It was shocking and sad – there was heart disease and cancer for the men and women in our family. I started pulling the death certificates of all my older relatives and noted the cause of death for each.
A Scary Moment
Until this point, I was not big on going to the doctor so visits were few and far between. To be honest, I did not go unless I was on death’s door. After the scariness of this news, I scheduled annual checkups and became an advocate for my own health and that of my family.
Sometime between 2010 and 2015, medical insurance companies decided that women’s health was not important enough to require an annual exam or mammograms at certain ages and increased the amount of time between each. Knowing my paternal grandmother died of ovarian and breast cancers, I always stated on my medical forms that I was predisposed to these diseases, making it important for me to continue the annual exams. Sometimes they indulged me and sometimes they insisted that I wait.
Fast Forward Several Years
Picture it…North Carolina August 2019 (in my Sophia voice from The Golden Girls). After my February 2019 tri annual exam and mammogram, I went to the doctor for another issue. I told her I felt a little lump during my monthly breast self-exam. She felt it and noted that I had just had a mammogram. Thankfully, my doctor was a breast cancer survivor and submitted a referral for me to have another mammogram. It took over one month for my medical insurance to given their approval; they wanted me to wait 6 months. However, my doctor pushed for it and got it approved.
I went from a mammogram to biopsy to a scheduled lumpectomy within thirty days. Afterwards, I had three months of chemotherapy and four weeks of radiation. Thank God for me knowing my own family health history. I was Stage 1a (the earliest stage) and caught it before it became serious.
All that to say, we share genes with our family members and there are certain diseases that are hereditary. Down Syndrome, cystic fibrosis, Huntington’s disease, muscular dystrophy, sickle cell anemia, hemophilia, thalassemia, heart disease, certain types of cancer and fragile x syndrome, breast cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer, ovarian cancer, uterine cancer, melanoma, and pancreatic cancer are genetic. Most African American families don’t talk about their medical issues and illnesses; they consider it “too personal.” Most of the time, we would find out through whispers and family gossip how a person died. Family health history should not be a family secret. We need to share this information because so many diseases are genetic. If you are a family historian, you will look closely to see how your ancestors died and if there is a pattern. And just like me, it will help you navigate your own health care.
If you’re interested in knowing your family history but you don’t have the time or resources to do so, I have affordable packages to do the research for you. If you book the Kati or Kubwa packages during October 2022, you will get a 10% discount plus a free gift!* Click here to contact me.
*You must book and pay the 50% non-refundable deposit before 11:59pm on 10/31/22 in order to receive the discounted services and free gift.
by Tanya Teat Foreman | Oct 6, 2022 | Family History Month
Welcome Back! Family History Month is causing a stir! People are reading my posts and looking into their family’s genealogy. That makes my heart sing! In the last post, we discussed finding your ancestors with little available information. I helped a Facebook friend find several great grandparents, 2x great grandparents and one set of 3x great grandparents with only her mother’s information and limited maternal grandparents’ information. I discovered that several of her 2x great grandparents were born abroad. What now? How do you conduct international family research? Let’s talk about it!
Census Records
If you know your ancestors were born in a foreign country, look for the first census record they appeared on. Immigration came in waves depending on the nationality. Most came in the mid 1800s to 1920s for various reasons – religious persecution, industrialization, national tragedies and economic opportunity. Look for their birthplace on the census record; this is the first clue. The 1900 census noted citizenship status in columns 16 (year of immigration), 17 (number of years in the United States) and 18 (year of naturalization). This information is important so write it down for future reference.
Immigrant Intake Centers
In my April 2022 newsletter, I wrote that Ellis Island did not process all the immigrants that came to America. Actually, there were 300 immigrant processing centers in America during the 1800s and early 1900s. Country of origin, financial status, labor force and cultural communities determined which port of entry an immigrant would arrive.
Other immigration centers included New Bedford (MA), Castle Garden (Battery Park, NY), Angel Island (San Francisco, CA), Boston (MA), Providence (RI), Port of Philadelphia (PA), Port of Baltimore (MD), New Orleans (LA) and Key West (FL) to name a few. Above all, Ellis Island was well-known due to the Statue of Liberty and the fee for transport was the most affordable. If you are certain that your ancestor came through Ellis Island, you can research their passenger lists here.
Passenger Lists
Passenger ships were required to have manifest lists from their country of origin. Those lists are a wealth of information! They contained the place of origin, place of arrival, final destination, the name of the ship, occupation and family members they were traveling with and their ages. Although immigrants arrived at these centers, some had other destinations to travel to. Usually a family member or friend sponsored them while in the United States, giving them a place to stay or finding them a job. These manifests often contained their final destination, including an address. From there, you can track your ancestors from census records.
Border Crossings
International family research also applies to our northern and southern neighbors, not just overseas countries. Mexican border crossings into the United States were recorded through a registry. Similar to the ship manifest records, immigrants had a record of registry upon arrival to the Uinted States from Mexico at the border crossings in Texas, Arizona, New Mexico and California. The same goes for Canada who had border crossings in Massachusetts, New York, Vermont, Michigan, Wisconsin and several other northwestern states.
Naturalization Records
Naturalization records contain the most important information to trace your ancestor to their country of origin and the city where they were born. This leads to baptismal records. Prior to birth certificates, church records were used to record all major events – the birth of a child, marriage and death. Baptismal records are the key to bring you to your international ancestor. Most churches have their baptismal records online. This is where the digging beginnings – genealogy websites, google searches for libraries, genealogical, regional and cultural Facebook groups, and historical societies can help you retrieve this information. DON’T GIVE UP! International family research can be done! Finding your family will pay off in the end.
For those interested, AncestryDNA is having a sale on DNA kits. The kits are regularly $99 but they are on sale for $59 until October 10, 2022.
If you’re interested in knowing your family history but you don’t have the time or resources to do so, I have affordable packages to do the research for you. If you book the Kati or Kubwa packages during October 2022, you will get a 10% discount plus a free gift!* Click here to contact me.
*You must book and pay the 50% non-refundable deposit before 11:59pm on 10/31/22 in order to receive the discounted services and free gift.
