TAG Meeting Today: Patricia Flint Shared Her Story

Our TAG meetings are the second Thursday of the month, and soon to be relocated to the Indian Trail Library on the far northwest section of Spokane. Marge Mero does an over-the-top job keeping the group on track with her meeting details and email reminders. All are welcome to this group.

Today was a wonderful meeting of TAG (The Ancestry Group). Patricia Flint told the tale of finding out the details of Esther Ewer, her third great-grandmother's, life. And it was a hard one to be sure. Patricia explained some of the resources she used and how networking with Betty Ellis helped her search. 

It moved all of us when she read the affidavit from Esther that explained that her husband went off to the Civil War a strong and healthy man and came home sick with consumption and was never able to work again, leaving Esther penniless with five children to raise. 

Patricia's mother, step-father and "auntie" came to hear Patricia's talk which made it all the more special. 

June 9th, A 2-Star Learning Day for EWGS

The Ancestry Users Group (TAG), honcho'd by Marge Mero, met at the Shadle Library at 12:30 on Thursday, June 9th. After introductions and welcomes (and donut bits!) the time was turned over to Doug Floyd for the lesson on understanding what probate is and finding probate records on Ancestry. 

Doug explained that probate means "the official proving of (as in a will)," or "establishing the validity of (as a will)."  He quoted the Legal Genealogist, Judy Russell, as saying that "probate records are the best records in genealogy." Doug explained the difference in some legal terms; testament refers to disposition of personal property while will spells out personal wishes and guardianship was not necessarily for the child but for the child's property. 

Doug directed us to the Ancestry Academy where there are two specific learning videos there for us to watch. Next he directed us to the Ancestry Card Catalog to look under the topic of "probate records" or jump to doing a locality search and see what Ancestry includes for probate records in your area of focus. 

The TAG meeting was followed by meeting #2 of the Genealogy Re-Focus group honcho'd by Teresa Smick, Liz Hawn and Sonji Ruttan. Teresa gave a most thorough lesson on finding and using the basic forms needed for genealogy, namely family group records/charts/forms.  Some 25 folks, eager for a basic-beginning-restart-focus attended. 

TAG will not meet in July or August. The Re-Focus group will meet the second Thursday, 12:30, Shadle Park Library and all are welcome. 

Check out their website:  www.genealoggyrefocus.wordpress.com 

Thursday, June 9th, was, indeed, a great learning day for EWGS. 

Ancestry Users Group (TAG) has a great meeting!

The Ancestry Users Group (TAG) met again on May 12th at 12:30 at the Shadle Park Library. About 25 folks came to increase their understanding of Ancestry and learn how to better use that wonderful website. If you are nibbling around the edges of wanting to know more about using Ancestry.com, then YOU are invited to join TAG! Our next meeting is Thursday, June 9th, 12:30-2:15, at the Shadle Park Library.

At the May gathering, Oweta gave a good lesson on Finding and Using the City Directories on Ancestry. Did you know that Ancestry has city directories dating back to 1822? Not for all cities, of course, but for many. Spokane, for instance. Ancestry has city directories from 1889 to 1960 for Spokane! (Disclosure: the actual city directory books for these years are on the shelves of the downtown Spokane public library.) 

Oweta explained that city directories were the phone books of their day. (The first telephone book was published in 1878.) With a city directory, you could look up people, businesses, neighbors, and sometimes even find ads for your ancestor's businesses or a map of that city. 

To learn more about TAG, contact Marge Mero, coordinator (pink shirt/purple vest) at margemero@yahoo.com.