Treasure Chest Thursday: Home From War

As I mentioned the other day, I recently received all my grandmother's pictures when she passed. I thought I'd share some of them here.

The man on the left is my great grandfather Charles William Radcliff. The man on the right is Argial (Agg) Messenger. These two men have two connections that I'm aware of. First, Argial's aunt Isabelle Blanche Messenger was married to Charles' uncle Edward Henson Radcliff. Second, Charles' wife, my great grandmother, was a great granddaughter of Jasper D Messenger, who was Argial's grandfather.

The photo is labeled World War II 1942. It's unclear whether this picture was taken before or after these two men went to war, but given that my great grandfather was 27 and Argial was 31 at the time the picture was taken, I'm assuming this was taken after they got home since they would have most likely went to war at younger ages.

I actually met my great grandfather a couple times when I was a child, but the memories are kind of vague. While I have saw a few pictures of him in his later years, this is the first picture I've saw with him as young man. I was surprised to see that my grandfather looked like him. I see some of him in my dad as well, although to a slighter extent.

Some Genealogy Treasures Come at a Price

A couple years ago I had asked my paternal grandmother about her pictures. She had shown me a few pictures here and there over the years, but I had a feeling she had more. I wanted a chance to go through her pictures with her.

In April we found out she had been diagnosed with cancer. It was a scary diagnosis, but she had already beat cancer twice and the doctors were optimistic that she could beat it again this time. Everything was going okay until a little over a week ago when they found that the cancer had spread. Suddenly things weren't so optimistic.

Last Thursday, I got a call. My dad had talked to the doctor and they were saying she was down to just a few days. I left the next day. We drove all night to get there. Once we got to town, we visited with other family members who had already came in. We were heading out the door to see my grandmother when the call came. Despite all my efforts to get down there to see her one last time and say my goodbyes, it was too late.

The next day we went to her house to find her insurance papers and start the huge project of going through the house. My dad got the few things that were important to him and then told us we could take whatever we wanted. We were surprised to find that my grandmother had already boxed up and set aside things that she knew was important to us grandchildren.

One sister had asked about my grandmother's Aunt Jemima collection in the past. We found them already boxed up with her name on it. Another sister had asked about the family Bible and a set of Legos we had played with as children. Those were also set aside for her. We also unearthed three Uno decks. Some of our favorite memories of childhood is playing Uno with our grandparents when we were staying with them so it was nice to find three decks, one for each of us girls to treasure.

As for me, I guess Grandma remembered me asking about the pictures and being interested in our family history. She had already gathered all of them from the various rooms, taking them off the walls in some cases, and packed them away so I didn't have to hunt for them. We found a large plastic bin and two cardboard boxes about half the size of the bin. There was also a plastic shoebox full of obituaries, funeral cards and newspaper articles about various family members.

Since we needed some pictures for the funeral slideshow, we dragged everything out in the living room and my dad, my sister and I started going through them. To my surprise, I found that she had also taken the time to label many of them. They were sorted into the paper envelopes that they come back from the photo developing shops in and she had written on the envelopes the date and what was going on when the pictures were taken. For instance, one is labeled as being from my second trip to West Virginia and had the dates of our trip.

I also found pictures that my great grandmother had had, which had been passed down to my grandmother when she passed away. I haven't saw everything in the bins yet since there was three of us going through them, but it's definitely a genealogy goldmine. So far I've found:

• A picture of my great grandmother as a baby with her dad when he returned home from war
• A picture of my great grandparents as young adults (I suspect it's their wedding picture)
• Pictures of my grandmother and her siblings as children
• A picture of my grandparents from when they were dating
• A copy of a page from another family Bible (judging from the names I suspect it's the Carson family Bible)
• My dad's baby book
• Artwork my dad had done in 4th grade and won a ribbon for
• My grandfather's high school yearbook (which also has my grandmother and her siblings in it)
• Letters I had written my grandmother over the years

There's no telling what else might be in the bins since it's going to take me quite a while to go through all of them. Even with three of us doing a quick sort through them to find pictures for the slide-show, it still took several hours.

These are an amazing find from a genealogy standpoint, but they come at a high price. Losing my grandmother, one of the family members I was closest to, has knocked me to my knees. It's especially hard coming on the heels of losing four other family members, including my two grandfathers, in less than two years.

But I'd like to think she's smiling down on me from Heaven, secure in the belief that I will treasure these pictures and other items as much as she did. And that I will use them to ensure future generations will know their heritage.

1940 Census: Grandfather Found

I've been so busy looking for family in the census I forgot to post about what I was finding. It's addictive! One of my recent finds was my grandfather Charles Leo Radcliff. It was a bittersweet find because just passed away a year ago and I'm still dealing with that.

Anyway, in the census he appears as Leo Radcliff. I found this interesting because while I knew it was his middle name, as far as I knew, he had always went by Charles, Charlie or his nickname Tucker. The same could be said for his sister, who appears as Mabel, which is her middle name.

Household of Charles Radcliff, 1940 US Census,Glenville, Gilmer County, West Virginia, ED 11-10, Sheet 9A

My grandfather was just 2 years old at his first enumeration; his sister was 2 months old. They were living with their parents (and my great grandparents) Charles and Emma Radcliff. My great grandmother was the one to answer the enumerator's questions.

The family was living on a rented farm on Chestnut Bottom Run and had been living there 5 years previously (the adults anyway). My great grandfather had a 7th grade education and worked as a farmer on his own account, working 40 hours the previous week. He had worked the entire year before.

My great grandmother had made it a little further in school, going through 8th grade. She was not employed and was a homemaker. With two young kids, not to mention the era, it's not surprising.

Research Plan: James William Radcliff

Background:

James William Radcliff was my paternal great grandfather. He was married to Rebecca Schoolcraft (probable daughter of Aaron Schoolcraft and his first wife Sarah --?--). Known children include John Radcliff, William Aaron Radcliff, Abraham Radcliff, Sarah E Radcliff, James Wesley Radcliff, Barbara E Radcliff, Marietta Radcliff and Granville Anderson Radcliff.

Research Problem:

I would like to determine when he passed and who his parents were.

Known Information:

According to the death certificate of son William Aaron Radcliff, he was born in Virginia.

The only census I have located for him, the 1850 census, says he was born ca 1821 in Virginia.

In 1850, he was in Jackson County with his wife and two kids. By 1870, the family had moved to Gilmer County and he is no longer in the household. I don't know where the family was in 1860.


Suspected Information:

Based on the youngest child's birth and his failure to appear with the family in the 1870 census, I suspect he passed ca 1869. No death record has been located.

Some online family trees list an additional child named Henry Franklin Radcliff born ca 1852.

Some online family trees have his parents as John B Radcliff and Sarah Ann Thorne or Jonathan Radcliff and Sarah Castor. It's entirely possible that both of these couples are actually the same. John and Jonathan are not that big of a leap and there may be conflicting views on Sarah's maiden name.

Plan

Continue trying to locate family in the 1860 census to determine if he is still in the household.

Check probate records for Jackson and Gilmer Counties and possibly surrounding counties as well.

Check Civil War military records. While he would have been around 50, it's possible he served and that might be an avenue to find information on him.

Check census mortality schedules. If he passed within 12 months of the 1870 census, he may be listed.

Locate all Radcliffs living in Virginia near time of his birth to see if I can pinpoint his family.

Research possible parents to see if there are probate records available that name children.

Research possible son Henry Franklin Radcliff to see if I can pinpoint a birth location. If I can, it might help with locating the family in the 1860 census.

Check Family History Library catalog to see what other resources are available.

Following the Schoolcraft Trail

As you will recall, the death record for my paternal 4th great grandmother Rebecca Schoolcraft Radcliff gave her father's name as A. Schoolcraft. I set off to see if I could figure out who this was and reconstruct her family.

Since Rebecca was born in Virginia in 1829, odds are that her family was still in Virginia a year later when the census enumerator came around. With that in mind, I looked for Schoolcrafts in Virginia in the 1830 census. It turned out to be easier than I expected.

In 1830, there were only six Schoolcraft (or similarly named) families in Virginia. Of those six, only one started with an A-Aron Schoolcraft who lived in Lewis County. The household includes

• 1 male 10-14
• 1 male 20-29 (probably Aron)
• 2 females under 5 (one possibly Rebecca)
• 2 females 5-9
• 1 female 10-14
• 1 female 30-39 (possibly his wife)

Strengthening the possibility this is the right man is Rebecca's later residences. Most census records found to date for her place her in Gilmer County, which was formed from Lewis and Kanawha Counties in 1845. Many of her children (if not all of them) were also born in Gilmer County. It stands to reason that even after her marriage, she stayed close to home.

Also in Lewis County in 1830 were two John Schoolcrafts and a James Schoolcraft. These were possibly family members of Aron.

I decided to follow Aron through the census to see what other clues I might find. I found him in Lewis County again in 1840 as Aaron Schoolcraft. His was the only Schoolcraft family in the county. It appears that one of the Johns and James from the previous census moved to the neighboring Kanawha County. Aaron's household is made up of

• 1 male 30-39 (as the only male in the household, this has to be Aaron)
• 2 females 10-14
• 2 females 15-19
• 1 female 40-49 (again, probably his wife)

It isn't until 1850 that I get any names. Aaron appears as A Schoolcraft in Gilmer County. Since Gilmer was formed from Lewis in 1845, he probably didn't actually move, but the border changed. He is listed as age 42, born in Virginia. The birthplace matches the birthplace for Rebecca's father in later censuses and the age is right to be her father. Also in the household is Sally Schoolcraft (45, VA), Mahala Schoolcraft (17, VA) and John E Ratliff (4, VA).

John's name definitely caught my eye. This brings up a couple possibilities. I know Rebecca and her husband James William Radcliff had a John E Schoolcraft in their household also in the 1850 census. It's possible this is the same child who just happened to be at his grandparent's house when the enumerator came around.

The other possibility is that one of Aaron's other daughters married a Radcliff as well, possibly even a brother of Rebecca's husband since it wasn't uncommon in those days. I checked Lewis County marriage records and found a marriage record for Thomas Radcliff and Lucinda Schoolcraft. This John may be their son. When I searched for Thomas and Lucinda Radcliff in the census records, I wasn't able to find them which makes me think they may have passed and her parents took the child to raise.

John is still with the household in the 1860 census, which strengthens this possibility. By 1860, the Schoolcrafts had moved to Ritchie County. As with Gilmer, Ritchie was formed from a portion of Lewis and other counties. At this point, the household consists of only Aaron Schoolcraft (50, VA), Sarah Schoolcraft (60, VA) and John E Rot Cliff (12, VA). John's name was not transcribed well. If you look at the actual image, it clearly says John E Ratcliff.

It appears that Sarah or Sally may have passed at some point after 1860, but before1866. I located a 1866 marriage record for Aaron Schoolcraft and Sarah Rollins in Ritchie County. The marriage record lists Aaron as a widower.

The marriage to another woman named Sarah would explain why Sarah suddenly appears younger than Aaron starting in the 1870 census even though she was always older in other census records. Apparently this marriage has been missed by other Schoolcraft researchers because most family trees I've found for the family online have only one marriage for Aaron, although they seem to be divided on what her maiden name was.

Aaron and his second wife Sarah appear in Ritchie County in 1870 and 1880, at which point they disappear. Since Ritchie County death records don't start until 1889, presumably they passed at some point in the 9 years between their last census appearance and the point when they started keeping death records. I've checked on FamilySearch for a will for Aaron in the counties I know he lived in (Ritchie, Gilmer and Lewis), but have came up dry so far.

Short of going through all Schoolcraft vital records in Virginia (and West Virginia after 1863) and hoping some name Aaron and Sarah as parents, I can't really reconstruct the family at this point. I may end up doing that before it's over.

Making Some Progress on the Radcliffs

Since I've spent the majority of this year on my maternal lines, I decided it was time to switch gears and see what I could find out about my paternal line. So I went looking for an individual or family on that side that I didn't know much about. That turned out to be my paternal 4th great grandparents James William Radcliff and Rebecca Schoolcraft Radcliff.

When I started out, all I had was their names, which I got from the death certificate of their son, William Aaron Radcliff (b 1846 in Bath County, VA per record). After doing a little digging in the West Virginia Vital Research Records site, I turned up birth records for two other children, James Wesley Radcliff (b 1857 in Gilmer County per record) and Sarah E Radcliff (b 1854 in Gilmer County per record). Sarah's death certificate was also available under her married name Sprouse and listed only her mother's name.

A little more digging turned up Rebecca's death record as well under the name Rebecca Rattliff. She passed in 1897 in Gilmer County and her age is given as 73 which would put her birth at around 1824. Her father is listed as A Schoolcraft, which gives me another avenue to check. Interestingly, her husband is listed as James G Rattliff. Since I haven't found any other marriages for her, I'm assuming the middle initial was an error.

Armed with the names of some of their children, I moved to census records. I started with the 1860 census, figuring that all three of the children I had found were minors and probably living with their parents at that point. Unfortunately, I didn't have much luck finding the family.

I had a little more luck with the 1850 census. The family was in Jackson County, Virginia at that point. The household is made up of Jas W Ratliff (29, b in VA), Rebecca Ratliff (23, b in VA), John E Ratliff (4, b in VA) and Wm Ratliff (2, b in VA). The age for William is a little off from his death certificate, but since it's closer to the event, I'm inclined to think it's probably more accurate.

1850 US Census, population schedule, District 27, Jackson County, Virginia, Household of Jas W Ratliff, Page 215B; Citing NARA Microfilm Publication M432, Roll 953

With another person to research, I went back to the vital records site. I found two marriages for John and his death certificate. Both of the marriages give his middle initial as T and give his birth as ca 1847 in Gilmer County.

There are actually two death records for him. The first is a death register which gives his middle initial as F and his birth as 1 Mar 1846 in Virginia. The space for parents is blank. The second is a death certificate. His middle initial is given as T. The date and place of birth are the same as the other death record. Parents are listed as unknown. So aside from his placement in the 1850 household which doesn't list relationships, I can't be positive he's a child of James and Rebecca. I needed more records.

Since I haven't been able to find the family in the 1860 census, I skipped ahead to the 1870 census in Gilmer County. The surname was given as Ratliff again. Rebecca is now head of the household. Also in the household were Aaron W (22, VA), Abraham (19, VA), Sarah E (15, VA), James W (12, VA), Barbara E (9, VA), Mary E (6, WV) and Granville A Ratliff (1, WV). Since James William Radcliff isn't with the household, I suspect he has passed at this point, probably around the time of Granville's birth.

1870 US Census, Population Schedule, Glenville, Gilmer County, West Virginia, Household of Rebecca Ratliff, Page 220B; Citing NARA Microfilm Publication M593, Roll 1686

I haven't been able to locate birth records for any of the other children listed, but I did find death records for one of them. Based on Abraham's death certificate, he was born around 1848. Since he didn't appear in the 1850 census with the family and the 1870 census record puts his birth around 1851, I'm inclined to think it's an error. The record doesn't have a place for parents so there's nothing to prove James and Rebecca were his parents.

Based on Granville's death certificate and entry in the death register, he was born around 1871. As with the other children, I think this is an error since he appeared in the 1870 census with the family. His birthplace is given as Gilmer County. Unfortunately, his parents are listed as unknown. However, this makes sense because his marriage occurred in 1899, two years after the death of his mother and nearly 30 years after when his father probably passed so his wife may have never met them.

The last appearance for Rebecca is in the 1880 census for Gilmer County. It took a while to find it because the surname had been written and transcribed as Rottiff, which wasn't a variation I had came across before. Again she is listed as the head of household. Also in the household is son Wesley (22, VA), daughter Marietta (16, VA) and son Granville A (12, WV). A Peter Smith, no relationship given, is living with the family.

1880 US Census, Population Schedule, Glenville, Gilmer County, West Virginia, ED 139, Household of Rebecca Rottiff, Page 155D; Citing NARA Microfilm Publication T9, Roll 1502

While you can't see it here, some of the children were nearby. William Aaron Radcliff was 7 houses before her and Abraham Radcliff was 4 houses past her. Sarah is living in the same county as well.

Based on the clues gathered from vital and census records, I've formed a tentative family although more evidence is needed to prove it.

Children of James William Radcliff and Rebecca Schoolcraft
John T Radcliff
William Aaron Radcliff
Abraham Radcliff
Sarah E Radcliff
James Wesley Radcliff
Barbara E Radcliff
Marietta Radcliff
Granville Anderson Radcliff

Judging by the children's estimated birthyears, I suspect there are more children, although they might not have made it to adulthood. There is a 6 year gap between Barbara and Marietta and a 5 year gap between Marietta and Granville. There are 3 year gaps between some of the other children as well.

To be continued...

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun: Heritage Pie Chart

16 Great Grandparents

• William Merch Radcliff, born 1 Nov 1881 in Gilmer County, WV, died 15 Sept 1974 in Weston, Lewis County, WV. He married Bessie Ethel Collins 27 May 1910 in Oakland, Garrett County, MD.
• Bessie Ethel Collins, born 10 Nov 1891 in Gilmer County, WV, died Oct 1980 in Weston, Lewis County, WV.
• Riley Neal, born 15 May 1887 in Lewis County, WV, died 16 Nov 1968 in Linn, Gilmer County, WV. He married Aulda Jane Messenger 13 Aug 1911 in Gilmer County, WV.
• Aulda Jane Messenger, born 13 Aug 1891 in Gilmer County, WV, died 16 Jan 1973 in Weston, Lewis County, WV.
• Francis Scott Carson, born 20 Aug 1878 in Gilmer County, WV, died 23 Dec 1946 in Gilmer County, WV. He married Dora C Grose 29 Mar 1914 in Gilmer County, WV.
• Dora C Grose, born 10 Feb 1894 in Sand Fork, Gilmer County, WV, died ?
• Frank Elman King, Sr, born 19 Dec 1891 in Wetzel County, WV, died 21 Sept 1966 in Weston, Lewis County, WV. He married Alta Edith Smith 6 Jan 1918 in Wetzel County, WV. He married Anna Belle Jones 10 Dec 1921 in Gilmer County, WV.
• Alta Edith Smith, born 31 Mar 1895 in Green District, Wetzel County, WV, died 1919 in WV.
• James Walter Sweat, born 6 Nov 1874 in Ware County, GA, died 18 Feb 1940 in Nashville, Berrien County, GA. He married Addie Mae Deen 1 Nov 1896 in Pierce County, GA.
• Addie Mae Deen, born 8 Sept 1881 in Blackshear, Pierce County, GA, died 13 May 1966 in St. Cloud, Osceola County, FL.
• James Thomas Hayes, born 5 Jun 1889 in Valdosta, Lowndes County, GA, died 13 Feb 1960 in Nashville, Berrien County, GA. He married Minnie L Rice 27 Oct 1912 in Berrien County, GA. He married Charlotte Jane LNU
• Minnie L Rice, born Nov 1897 in GA, died ca 1931 in GA.
• William Walter Vanzandt, born 30 Jan 1884 in Kentucky, died 19 Jan 1963 in Chandler, Warrick County, IN. He married Martha Matilda Elizabeth Davis 20 Oct 1905 in Boonville, Vanderburgh County, IN.
• Martha Matilda Elizabeth Davis, born 19 Nov 1881 in Chandler, Warrick County, IN, died 22 Oct 1961 in Evansville, Vanderburgh County, IN. She was previously married to Thomas Huggins.
• Lora D Boling, born 7 Nov 1897 in Pellville, Hancock County, KY, died 26 Sept 1961 in Evansville, Vanderburgh County, IN. He married Eva Mae Sanders ca 1897 in Pellville, Hancock County, KY.
• Eva Mae Sanders, born 13 Jul 1907 in Pellville, Hancock County, KY, died 31 May 1988 in Evansville, Vanderburgh County, IN. She later married Andrew Cooper.

In Memory of the Ancestors I Have Lost in My Lifetime

I spent the end of last month in Florida attending the funeral of my paternal grandfather. I lost my maternal grandfather just six months ago so it was difficult. On the drive back home, I was thinking about the ancestors I have lost in my lifetime.

Some I knew quite well, having spent a lot of time with them growing up. Others, like most of my great grandfathers, I don't really remember. They either passed away when I was really young or I didn't get to spend a lot of time with them. From the time I was born in 1982, I have lost:

Paternal great grandfather Argial Waitman Carson (1916-1985)

Maternal great grandfather Clifford Eugene Sweat (1911-1986)

Maternal 2nd great grandmother Eva Mae Sanders Boling Cooper (1907-1988)

Paternal great grandfather Charles William Radcliff (1915-1992)

~picture coming~

Maternal step great grandfather Clark L Sutter (1906-1994)

Maternal great grandfather Clyde Thomas Vanzandt (1922-1994)

Maternal great grandmother Virginia Leigh Boling Vanzandt Sutter (1925-2000)

Paternal great grandmother Evelyn Edna King Carson (1919-2007)

Maternal great grandmother Alice Isabel Hayes Sweat (1920-2009)

Maternal grandfather Thomas Walter Sweat (1941-2010)

Paternal grandfather Charles Leo Radcliff (1938-2011)

Assumptions are Dangerous

I recently had a reminder of how assumptions are dangerous in genealogy. I always knew my dad was born in West Virginia. I had assumed he was probably born in Gilmer County since that was where my grandparents married and I believed they had lived after their marriage.

Recently, I drove over to see my family. While I was there, I asked my mom for copies of her and my dad's marriage certificate, as well as their birth certificates. Everything looked just like I had thought, with the exception of my dad's birth certificate. It turns out he was born in the neighboring county of Lewis.

Granted, this wasn't a huge change from my assumption. However, if I didn't have the birth certificate or someone I could ask, I could have ended up wasting my time searching records in the wrong area. I would have eventually branched out into the neighboring counties and found him, but my false assumption would have delayed my research.

It could have been worse. I had always believed that my dad's mother was born in West Virginia. As far as I knew, her parents had always lived there, she married there and at least one of her children was born there. Imagine my surprise when I found out that she was born 300 miles away in a different state.

So far, my research hasn't shown any connection to where she was born. As it turns out, she told me and it's also listed on her marriage certificate. If I didn't know, I probably would have found out next year when the 1940 census is released.. However, without these clues, I would have first searched my assumed West Virginia counties, then branched out to the surrounding counties. It would have been a while before I checked the surrounding states for her birth certificate..

These aren't the only false assumptions I've made in my research. My paternal great grandparents, Charles William Radcliff and Living Neal, were married in Maryland, 250 miles from where they lived. My paternal 2nd great grandparents were married in the same place. One could assume that my great grandparents married there because my 2nd great grandparents did, but why did the original pair go there?.

On my maternal side, my 3rd great grandparents Aaron Hiram Rice and Martha Jane Register, disappeared after the 1920 census. Both were born in Georgia in 1872 and lived there up until that point. I searched the entire state of Georgia without success before moving to neighboring state. They turned up Florida where they appeared in the 1930 federal census, as well as the 1935 and 1945 state censuses.

Then, they threw me for another loop. Aaron died in Georgia in 1958. I'm still trying to figure out when and where Martha passed away.

While it's easy to jump to a conclusion based on known facts, sometimes you have to throw everything you know (or think you know) out the window to find the truth.

Bonnie Lee Radcliff and Lenia Pearl Radcliff

One of my 2011 genealogy goals was to solve the mystery of Bonnie Lee Radcliff and Lenia Pearl Radcliff. While searching for Radcliff birth records on the West Virginia archives website, I came across a birth record for Bonnie Lee Radcliff. She was born in Linn, WV on 26 Feb 1913 to my paternal 2nd great grandparents, Merch and Bessie Radcliff. The informant was listed as Dr. John E Corkrean.

Upon scrolling farther down the image, I came across Lenia Pearl Radcliff. She was also born in Linn, WV on 26 Feb 1913 to Murch and Bessie Radcliff. Murch Radcliff, father, was listed as the informant on this entry.

 Image from WV Archives

The same parents, birth date and birth location would seem to indicate that these two girls were twins. However, I'm not so sure that this is the case. I suspect that these two entries are actually the same child.

In my experience looking at the birth records available on the website, twins are usually marked as such. In the case of these two girls, they are both marked as single births.

I also have to wonder about the different informants for the births. If the girls were twins, why would the doctor only report one of their births while their father reported the other child's birth?

Other than the birth record, I have found no other record of Bonnie Lee Radcliff. The 1920 and 1930 censuses list only Lenia Pearl Radcliff. I haven't found a death or marriage record for Bonnie. A search of all available cemetery transcriptions for the area did not find mention of her.

I even considered the possibility that there was another couple in the area with the same names as my 2nd great grandparents. A search of the census did not reveal a couple with these names. A search of marriage records reveals a March Radcliff who married a Floda M Shoales. However, the marriage date is 1915, 2 years after the birth and the female's name is wrong.

February Genealogy Goals

Research

Extract all Radcliff (and variations) vital records for Wetzel County.

Extract all Neal (and variations) vital records for Gilmer County.

Visit local library to explore genealogy-related holdings.

Develop research plan for determining parents and burial location of James Thomas Hayes.

Organization

Continue going through my sources to make sure I have citations for everything.

Continue building timeline of vital events for individuals in my family tree.

Writing

Write 12 posts a month for both blogs.

Write a few evergreen blog posts for both blogs for use when I don't feel like writing or am too busy to post.

Education

Make a list of genealogy societies to research for possible membership.

Other

Index at least 2,000 names for FamilySearch

January Genealogy Goals

Continuing with my breakdown of my 2011 genealogy goals, there are my goals for January.

Research

• Transcription project-Finish all Radcliff (and variations) vital records for Gilmer County.
• Make list of all individual's who I don't have date of death or parents for.
• Search General Name File on Georgia State Archives website for all Deens.

Organization

• Check all source copies for citations. For those without citations, try to add them.
• Set aside one day to scan in pictures and documents.

Writing

• Write 12 blog posts for each of my blogs.

Education

• Take one of the free genealogy courses offered on Brigham Young University's website.

2011 Genealogy Goals

It's that time again, the time to set goals for the coming year. Unlike my previous goals, which focused on research, I will be setting goals in multiple categories. These are research (obviously), organization, writing and education.

Research

• Determine who the parents of my great great grandfather James Thomas Hayes are and where he is buried.
• Determine exactly when my great great grandmother Minnie L Rice Hayes passed and where she is buried.
• Determine if Bonnie Lee Radcliff and Lenia Pearl Radcliff were actually twins or if there was an error in the birth records.
• Determine who the parents of Thomas Vanzandt were as well as his exactly date of death. 
• Determine parents of husband's great great grandparents Joseph Koch Sr and Therese Ospelt Koch.
• Continue transcription project of all vital records for my WV surnames.
• Look into ordering death certificates for those individuals in my tree that I do not have a date of death or am missing information on parents. 
• Look into alternative record sources instead of only census, immigration, military and vital records.
• Visit at least one archive or genealogy library.
• Visit local libraries to see what they have to offer that may be helpful in my genealogy research.

Organization

• Continue with project to rebuild family tree from scratch adding only those people that I have sources to back up their addition.
• Make sure I have copies of all sources with citations.
• Make sure all sources I already have copies of have citations.
• See if there is a way to do a timeline for the entire family tree with one of my family tree programs. If not, begin compiling one.
• Get all photographs scanned in and labeled.
• Consistently use my research logs to avoid repeating searches.

Writing

• Write at least three blog posts a week for both of my blogs. One of the three posts here at Ancestrally Challenged can be a daily blogging theme.
• Participate in a genealogy blog carnival.

Education

• Attend at least one genealogy conference.
• Take at least six family history-related classes or webinars.
• Look into joining a genealogy society.
• Look into professional certification.

I know it seems like a lot, but I plan to break these goals down into more manageable chunks for my monthly goals. With luck and some perseverance, by this time next year, I will hopefully be able to check everything off.