Rhode Island

I just returned from a trip to Providence, Rhode Island where I attended NERGC 2015 (New England Regional Genealogical Consortium 2015). This year broke all attendance records and was a huge success. It was great to attend sessions by knowledgeable speakers and to make friends with geneabloggers that I follow. It was also good for me to learn more about New England research and resources. After the conference, I was fortunate to have extra days for researching.

I was able to go to the Clifton Burying Ground in Newport, Rhode Island.  Although I couldn't find a tombstone with the name of my ancestor Thomas Clifton, it was a thrill to be on the grounds.  

Another cemetery that I visited was the Common Burying Ground in Newport, Rhode Island. There I found  the tombstone of Katharin Ayars, my 8th great grandmother. The day was cold, windy and raining so finding the stone, though a challenge, was very special. 

Katherin was born in November 1642 in Cambridge, England to Robert and Marie Taylor.  She married Robert Ayars in St. Marylebone Church, Marlebone, London, England on 24 Oct 1672.

There is little information about their passage to America or their early years in the colonies.

Katherin died 22 Feb 1684 and was buried in the Common Burying Ground on Fairwell Street in Newport, Rhode Island. 

Transcript:

HERE LYETH BURIED

Y BODY OF KATHARIN

AYARS WIFE TO

ROBERT AYARS AGED

42 YEARS DEPARTED

THIS LIFE Y 22

DAY OF FEBRUARY

1 6 8 4

Ten generations later, I was humbled and proud to stand nearby to honor Katharin Ayars, my immigrant ancestor.

Meet Dave Robison

The 13^th New England Regional Genealogical Conference (NERGC) will be held in Providence, Rhode Island, April 15-18 2015. Their theme this year is “Navigating the Past: Sailing into the Future”. I was excited to interview Dave Robison, a speaker at this years conference. He is a regular panelist on “Mondays with Myrt” so I already felt like I knew him pretty well. In our conversations for this interview, he did not disappoint. He is friendly, knowledgeable, entertaining, enthusiastic, organized, active, busy, and has a great sense of humor.

1.  What first got you interested in genealogy?

      I grew up in Massachusetts and have always had an affinity with history.  For example, the “50 years ago today” column in the newspaper was particularly fascinating to me even when I was 8 or 9 years old.  But when it came to family…and I overheard plenty of juicy stories…my father and my mother held to the same mantra: “What you don’t know won’t hurt you!”  Well, they’re both gone and I now know even more than they ever could have possibly known!  Yes there are skeletons that are best left in the closet! Yet after recording interviews with about a dozen aunts, uncles and cousins there are far more stories that I’m glad to share rather than hide.  For example, one of my great aunts who was 82 years old when I visited with her around 2001 or so in Alabama, admitted to me that she, in fact, was the one who painted the neighbor’s cat blue and let her younger sister take the blame when they were 9 and 8 respectively.  Great story, Aunt Sarah…glad you shared!  I wish I could get a follow-up interview!  But that’ll have to wait….a long time, I hope!

2.  You are Vice President of the Western Massachusetts Genealogical Society and president of the New England Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists.  You also lecture, teach and do client work for your company Old Bones Genealogy of New England.  How do you find time to do your own genealogy research?

       I love to see the look on people’s faces when they learn how to efficiently conduct a research project, break through a “brick wall,” or simply find camaraderie with other budding genealogists.  Of course, I also love to bring a client a completed report that will give them insights into what we’re all looking for.  Namely, where did we come from.  Or, like the TLC program says, “Who Do You Think You Are?”  So my schedule has to be structured so that I can dedicate my time to the highest priority on a daily basis.   My problem is judging which project is actually the highest priority!  I should also candidly admit that one of my priorities is to stick to the schedule! Monday mornings are devoted to ProGen, then noontime is, as you know, “Mondays with Myrt.” Then I’ll do either some client research or touch up a presentation that may be scheduled.  Monday night is “Family Dinner Night.”  Not a big crowd but a great crowd! Tuesday through Friday I have other activities “scheduled.” It works, some of the time!  I’m just not disciplined enough to stay 100% on track. Maybe you can help me with that.

3.  Technology and the internet have had great influences on genealogy research over the years.  You are speaking at NERGC about search strategies. Without giving away your lecture, what one idea would you suggest to the researchers who might be overwhelmed with so many potential sources of information?
       Technology is by its very nature, a moving target.  But sorting through all the internet “noise,” I strongly recommend to everyone to start with Google.  And not just the conventional Google, but Google Advanced search.  Go to the Google homepage and look in the lower right corner for “Settings.” Click that link to open the menu and click on “Advanced search.”  It doesn’t make the search difficult.   On the contrary, it guides you through a structure that shows you how to craft your search.  Crafting on-line research is an art rather than a science. I could expound on the principles here, but the response would be too long to print!  I guess you’ll just have to attend session S-321 at NERGC! But I have to stress one more point: DO NOT TRY TO FILL IN EVERY SINGLE SEARCH FIELD WITH EVERY TIDBIT OF MINUTIAE!!  First, speeling duzn’t cownt….really, it duzn’t!  Then, don’t believe everything you read.  Question EVERYTHING!

4.  You are actively involved in generating interest in genealogy on many levels.  Can you give any ideas on how you would get younger generations involved as well?

      Younger generations don’t want to hear about the 7^th cousin of their 4^th great uncle’s wife’s son-in-law 3 times removed.  YAWN!! Find a real story.  As I say in some of my beginner’s classes, you have to pull the person out of the paperwork.  Find out if that 7^th cousin, etc worked on the railroad, helped build a bridge,  raced cars, served in the Civil War, invented something, was a merchant marine or, and this is the best, was a criminal, that’ll get their attention!  Truthfully, one of the easiest ancestors to research are what Judy G. Russell refers to as “Rogues, Rascals and Rapscallions.”  Their names are probably spread out all over the newspapers, police arrest records, court records, a census taken when they were in jail….and the list goes on.  Approach the Boys Scouts and the Girl Scouts.  They have merit badges in Genealogy!  I never knew that until last year.  I’m waiting for a beginner’s class that can be scheduled at a mutually convenient time with some of the troops around here.

5.  Tell us a little about yourself.  What do you do in your spare time?  Hobbies, interests, etc.?
       Question number 5 refers to “spare time.”  Can I get a definition on that!!  But honestly, we have grandchildren that are a blessing to see and watch grow, we are homeowners so there’s always plenty of fixing up and gardening.  I’m not really all that good at either, but I try.  My wife and I really enjoy going to Red Sox games, hockey games, and an occasional basketball game, finding a really good restaurant and I support my wife’s activities at church.  I think she’s on just about every committee you can think of!  And sometimes we just take a long ride and see where we end up.  You may not consider this a spare time activity, but I’ve also become the accidental program committee for Western Massachusetts Genealogical Society.  We intermingle live speakers or activities with Google Hangout presentations with live, interactive virtual programs. We’ve had some very “big name” genealogists such as Dick Eastman, Maureen Taylor, “Dear Myrtle” alias Pat Richley-Erickson and in February, Judy G Russell. 

Passionate about Childhood Literacy

I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Christine Sharbrough, librarian, researcher, writer and artist. She will be speaking at the New England Regional Genealogical Conference (NERGC 2015) in Providence, Rhode Island in April.

Christine holds a Master's degree in Library and Information Science with a concentration in Archival Studies and a Bachelor's degree with a dual major of Art History and Legal Studies. She is a Certified Genealogist(sm) and a contracted genealogical researcher for ProGenealogists in Salt Lake City, Utah. Christine is the Head of Readers' Services at the Chelmsford Public Library, and a Christian Fiction Columnist for Library Journal. Christine enjoys painting, running, yoga and being with her family.

When did you start doing family history research?
       I am the 5th generation female to inherit the family history.  I learned at my grandmother's knee as they say, way back in 1983.​ 

What inspired you to get into genealogy?
       I love history.  My first set of books were children's encyclopedias and I pored over them for hours soaking up info like a sponge.  Inquisitive by nature, I spent many hours listening to the stories in my family and writing them down.  When I was older, I began to try and prove what I had heard. ​ 

You have been doing family research for many years, do you have any words of wisdom to the beginner  genealogist?​
       Talk to your family.  Records will be there, but family die and their memories go with them.  The other thing is not to be afraid or intimidated.  Genealogists love to talk about family history, try going up to someone and starting a chat.  I did that with Tony Burroughs a few NERGC's back and learned a ton about African American history.  He even introduced me to Sonia Bontemps who became a friend until her death about two years later.  Her father-in-law and Langston Hughes were very close.  So, as you can imagine, we had much to talk about - he's my favorite writer ever. 

As a librarian working with children, how do you encourage them to spend more time reading and less time playing games on their electronic devices?
       I think it all comes down to balance.  The thing that electronic games provide is fun.  ​Kids are lectured all day at school, more lecturing out of school is really not what they want to do. You need to bring history home to them.  For example, I have colonial relatives in North Carolina.  Am I going to bring my kids in telling them about how it was settled or the crops they produced?  Nope.  Snooze-a-roo.  Instead, I tell them that our ancestors lived at the time of Blackbeard the pirate!  He lived and sailed right near where the family resided.  Show them a picture of him with his smoking hat and long beard.  They're hooked.  

      As far as the librarian piece, ​working in a public library, it is not my job to tell them what they can and cannot do.  Unlike schools, public libraries are not in loco parentis.  However, I may suggest some books on the strategy of Minecraft, or perhaps adventure stories for those children who love a good adventure show.  You would be surprised how many books are of interest to children.  Many mirror shows on TV, movies, games, etc.  Pretty soon, they're learning all sorts of things.  

Can you give us one idea that would inspire younger generations to become more involved with family history?

​      If the parents are involved, the kids will be involved.  If the parents are excited about something , usually it piques the kids interest.  I believe that family can really have an impact on what is passed on to children.  For example, I have Rev War ancestors, when we attend the parade in Arlington, MA (formerly Menotomy) and the reenactment on Lexington Green and the Jason Russell House, I tell the kids that our family was THERE...and they lived to tell about it!  Imagine the stories!  What do you think they thought?  Etc.  It puts a whole different spin on things.