The following is an excerpt from the BYU.EDU web site:

Discover the remarkable stories of nearly 90,000 Latter-day Saint pioneers' ocean voyages to America, meticulously preserved by BYU's Saints by Sea database.

Between 1840 and 1890, nearly 90,000 Latter-day Saints immigrated to America. The stories of these seagoing Saints are often overshadowed by tales of their arduous trek across the plains.

But the stories of the pioneer trek didn't always start on land. Many Latter-day Saint pioneers recorded inspiring experiences of their voyage over the ocean towards an unknown future.

“When I arrived at Liverpool and saw the ocean that would soon roll between me and all I loved, my heart almost failed me,” wrote Priscilla Stains of her 1844 voyage across the Atlantic Ocean on the ship Fanny. “There was no turning back ... so I thus alone set out for the reward of everlasting life, trusting in God.”

Fred E. Woods, BYU professor of Church history and doctrine, is determined to keep these stories alive.

For nearly three decades, Woods and a team of colleagues, students and missionaries have collected sources and documented the experiences of convert immigrants to America in an interactive database, Saints by Sea.

The Saints by Sea website contains information about all known Latter-day Saint immigrant voyages, including names of passengers and first-hand accounts. Through a collaboration with FamilySearch and the BYU Library, visitors are guided to the ship on which their ancestors traveled to the United States, accompanied by first-hand accounts that vividly detail the voyage.

Joe Everett, senior librarian at BYU Library Family History Center, oversees the maintenance of the website for public use. Everett cherishes the moments when people connect with their ancestors.

“The actual number of unique people in the database is less than 100,000,” said Everett. “But at least a couple of million people today can connect back to those people who are in the database.”

Woods and his team meticulously indexed each immigrant name and searched for journals and memoirs to transcribe to the database. The result is an impressive resource for people to make meaningful connections with their ancestors.

During the voyages, European immigrants lived in cramped quarters on ships for weeks to months. Yet Latter-day Saint passengers were known for their joy and faith in God.

You can read more at: https://bit.ly/3Wam3pQ.

From the MyHeritage Blog:

FamilyTreeDNA has been a valued partner and friend of MyHeritage for well over a decade. Notably, since the launch of MyHeritage DNA in 2016, FamilyTreeDNA’s in-house lab, Gene by Gene, based in Houston, Texas, has provided MyHeritage with our DNA processing services.

Today, we are happy to announce the launch of a new collaboration between the two companies that we introduced in March at RootsTech 2024. This collaboration, which includes integration between the MyHeritage and FamilyTreeDNA websites, enables FamilyTreeDNA customers to transfer their family trees to MyHeritage, and to continue building them on MyHeritage. FamilyTreeDNA users can now easily transfer their family trees to MyHeritage for free, after providing consent on both FamilyTreeDNA and MyHeritage.

This collaboration expands the two companies’ longstanding partnership, and will provide FamilyTreeDNA customers with access to MyHeritage’s robust suite of genealogy tools and features, many of which are not available on FamilyTreeDNA.

This integration stems from the recognition that MyHeritage excels in family tree tools and historical records, while FamilyTreeDNA offers exceptional DNA testing services for exploring direct maternal and paternal lines (mtDNA and Y-DNA) that are unique to the market, as well as industry-standard autosomal DNA testing. This strategic decision allows FamilyTreeDNA to focus on its expertise in DNA testing services and reporting, while providing its users with access to the powerful family tree tools and technologies offered by MyHeritage.

To facilitate this collaboration, MyHeritage and FamilyTreeDNA have developed a technical integration that now enables FamilyTreeDNA users to seamlessly transfer their family tree data to MyHeritage. This process is voluntary; however, transferring the tree data to MyHeritage is encouraged, as FamilyTreeDNA will officially sunset their family tree builder on September 9, 2024. At that point, all family trees on FamilyTreeDNA will become read-only. It will still be possible to transfer trees from FamilyTreeDNA to MyHeritage after this date, but this functionality may not be available forever, so the sooner the transfer is done, the better. Access to DNA results on FamilyTreeDNA will remain unchanged.

You can read more at: https://blog.myheritage.com/2024/07/new-collaboration-with-familytreedna/

The Really Useful Family History Show will take place on August 10, 2024 at the Europa Hotel from 10am to 4pm and it's all free.

Linda Kilby from the North of Ireland Family History Society is helping to organise the event. She says “The Show will feature 10 exhibitors, each ready to offer expert advice on genealogy, research, and DNA, catering to both beginners and more advanced family historians. There will be unique family history books for sale and anyone wanting to buy a DNA test will be able to do so at a special show price.

We want everyone who comes to discover lots and also to have fun. So, for those that visit in the morning, we are holding a free prize draw with fantastic prizes, including DNA kits, society memberships, personal consultations with genealogy experts and much more! Everyone can enter and you just have to be there at midday to claim your prize.

Then, later in the day at 2pm there will be a presentation titled 'We know you are, Tim McGarry!' when this much loved local comedian and tv presenter will discover for the first time what DNA and research have uncovered about his ancestry. There could be a few surprises!”

The Really Useful Family History Show is sponsored by the Family History Federation who supports family history worldwide and is looking forward to welcoming anyone with an interest in their ancestry to this fantastic show.

The following is an announcement from Florida A&M University (FAMU): 

On July 1, Florida A&M University (FAMU) announced that the distinguished Meek-Eaton Southeastern Regional Black Archives Research Center and Museum (MEBA) is now on a global stage. 

The Meek-Eaton Black Archives was a dream realized in the early 1970s with the legislative efforts of Florida’s first African American legislator since the Reconstruction era – and FAMU alumnus – Representative Joseph “Joe” Lang Kershaw, Sr. 

Now, as the museum nears its 50th anniversary, there’s a push to expand its visibility. 

Through Meek-Eaton’s collaboration with FAMU, the Smithsonian, the Institute of Museums and Library Services (IMLS) and the Mellon Foundation, two new platforms will be accessible through MEBA’s official website, www.famu.edu/meba. This will serve as a digital archive that makes MEBA’s expansive collection of African American history and culture available internationally. 

Powered by Omeka open-source software, the “EXPLORE” portal allows users to dissect the museum’s vast collection of artifacts and exhibits at will. This section will feature collections with physical artifacts, with the homepage even highlighting a select “Featured Collection of the Month” that updates periodically. The “LEARN” portal, programmed by the open-source software AtoM (Access to Memory), will allow users to access digital files and find aids.

Dr. Reginald J. Perry, the associate provost for Academic and Faculty Affairs, believes the digital archive holds exponential research value for students and the public. 

“I think it is a great idea. I had a chance to take an in-person tour of MEBA a few weeks ago. Although I passed by there often, I hadn’t been inside in several years. It is packed with so much history, and I’m sure the increased visibility from the website will lead some to come visit MEBA in person,” Perry said. 

A digital database is not new to MEBA’s current director of museum operations, Timothy A. Barber. In Miami, Barber previously served as the director for the Black Archives History and Research Foundation of South Florida. But, it was his tenure as an archivist there that showed him the impact of a museum’s digital footprint. 

“I remember the first database that I built back in 2009, and I was excited when someone from France sent me an email that said that they were researching the Chitlin Circuit and […] because we had that database, they were able to find our archives all in the way in France,” Barber said. “I’m looking for that to happen for the Black Archives here at Meek-Eaton so that […] the database will advertise what we have and open the door for people across the world to be able to explore, learn and connect with what we do.” 

Meek-Eaton currently holds more than 500,000 individual archival records, but a small team manages this website. Incidentally, not all collections are available to view. Some are currently labeled as “closed to the public” or ‘in progress.” As the team works to populate the website, director Barber hopes that users will check in routinely to view new collections. 

Autumn Heatrice is an MEBA employee working under a grant provided by Mellon. Her role is to help the museum retain intellectual control of its archival holdings; thus, she is also a part of the team that updates the website, focusing more on the “EXPLORE” portal. 

“Without the help of grant-funded individuals, these websites would still be in process instead of in action. I think that this not only encourages funding, but it also entices newer individuals to want to be a part of this necessary groundwork, which will soon allow MEBA to become the shining gold mine of a resource that she is,” Heatrice said. 

Director Barber echoes these sentiments. 

“Meek-Eaton desires to help the university reach its R1 status strategic priority goal. This step-in digital access is only the beginning; the real work starts with finding the funding to help build the capacity at Meek-Eaton, which will provide the staff needed to populate the digital sites with the archival material daily,” Barber said in a prepared statement.

Despite this, Barber emphasizes that the physical records for these “in-progress” collections are still available at the museum. Researchers can request them online through the research and archival access forms. 

The National Park Service (NPS) may have granted Barber’s wishes regarding funding. Under the Park Service’s Historic Preservation Fund, FAMU is receiving $749,997 to rehabilitate Carnegie Library, the building attached to the front of MEBA. 

To dive into the Meek-Eaton Black Archives’ digital archive, visit www.famu.edu/meba. For further questions on this venture, contact Timothy Barber at timothy.barber@famu.edu, 850-599-3020, or visit MEBA at 445 Robert and Trudie Perkins Way. The museum is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Recommended reading:

Tony Burroughs is an internationally known genealogist, author and lecturer. He is frequently interviewed in local, national and international media for his genealogy expertise. His latest interview has been transcribed and is now available online. In the interview, he talks about Black American genealogy, changes in recent years in genealogy research, changes in technology in recent years in genealogy research, and several related topics.

I found the interview by Mark Hallett to be one of the more interesting that I have read recently. You can also read the interview at: https://ilhumanities.org/news/grantee-partner-spotlight-tony-burroughs.

The following is a Plus Edition article written by and copyright by Dick Eastman. 

Warning: You might want to hold your nose before reading this.

We all have read history books about the brave and noble heroes who helped shape today's world. Hearty explorers, brave immigrants, exemplary church-goers and the like did indeed create today's modern world. Yet these same history books rarely describe the everyday world of those heroes and heroines. Sometimes their lives were not all fame and glory. In fact, their lives were often repulsive by today's standards. I thought I would focus for a bit on everyday life in the 1600s in Europe, in England, and in the newly-created colonies in North America.

In fact, knowledge was a scarce commodity in the seventeenth century. It is difficult for us to comprehend just how ignorant people were. Most Europeans knew nothing about geography and didn't know or care what happened on the other side of the horizon. The majority of people never traveled more than five miles from their place of birth although there were a few more adventurous soles in those days. 

Only a small number of people could read or write or even count beyond one hundred. Even the kings of the seventeenth century were mostly illiterate. Most common citizens could not tell the time of day, and only a few could read a calendar. Most of our ancestors of those times did not know what year it was, much less when their own birthdays occurred. You will notice that official documents of the day usually refer to a person as being "about 45 years old," for example. The reason is that few people knew their exact age. Birthdays went unnoticed by a population that could not read a calendar.

Symbols were used to identify status and trades in the days before many people could read or write: eminent people had coats of arms to identify themselves, especially in battle, where it was important that they didn't get skewered in mistake for someone else. Tradesmen had more-or-less standardized signs; the barber/surgeon's red-and-white striped pole, for example, identified his calling. Pawn shops (very common in those days) displayed three spheres suspended from a bar. A tailor shop/clothier often had a wooden scissors and large needle carved in a wood panel for a sign.

The same people knew nothing about almost everything. They had no idea how their bodies worked - why they breathed, urinated or defecated, felt hungry or sick, or had a temperature. No one understood why they gasped for oxygen after heavy exercise. In fact, no one knew what oxygen was, not even the most learned men of the time. 

People lived a cold, hungry, and uncomfortable existence. Central heating was unknown, even amongst the wealthy. Kings, queens, and members of the nobility lived in cold, drafty, stone castles. The peasants lived in equally cold and drafty huts.

Filth lay all around, and disease lurked in the hovels that most people called home. In cities such as London and Paris, raw sewage ran in the streets. Chamber pots were emptied into the streets in front of homes and shops or in the side alleys. There were no sewers. Horses were everywhere, as was horse manure. One can only imagine the aromas on a hot summer day. 

For just one example, read the Wikipedia entry about “The Great Stink” in the summer of 1858 in London at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Stink. Keep in mind that 1858 wasn’t all that long ago; things were much worse in earlier years.

The remainder of this article is reserved for Plus Edition subscribers only. If you have a Plus Edition subscription, you may read the full article at: https://eogn.com/(*)-Plus-Edition-News-Articles/13384291 (A Plus Edition password is required to access that article.)

If you are not yet a Plus Edition subscriber, you can learn more about such subscriptions and even upgrade to a Plus Edition subscription immediately at https://eogn.com/page-18077. 

Black Artist Database have announced a fundraiser for organisations providing Hurricane Beryl relief in the Caribbean.

It will take place at Moko Tottenham this Saturday (20 July), and will feature the likes of ELLADHC b2b Chey Selecta, T Dunn, Isaac Carter and some yet-to-be announced special guests.

All the proceeds from ticket sales will go towards organisations working on the ground in the Caribbean, with many parts being left wrecked by the Category 5 Atlantic storm – the earliest ever in hurricane season, and the most severe designation on the scale.

“The impact of Hurricane Beryl in the Caribbean has been catastrophic, and as a venue deeply connected to the Afro-Caribbean community, we feel a profound responsibility to contribute to the relief efforts. Despite the challenges in identifying reliable channels for aid donations, our collaboration with organisations like Black Lives Matter and Passa Production, which have teams on the ground, has been instrumental,” the team behind Moko said in an email.

“We are committed to supporting five grassroots organisations through the funds we raise. Last weekend, the door sales from our sister venue, Jumbi, generated £3,000, which we’ve already donated. Our aim is not only to provide immediate relief for those affected by Hurricane Beryl but also to bring attention to the ongoing threats of the hurricane season. Our contributions, though modest, reflect our dedication to aiding the community in these trying times. Even if you can’t make the event we encourage people to donate by buying a ticket. If you want to help in another way, links to relief efforts are in ours and BLM’s Instagram bios.”

You can read more at: https://crackmagazine.net/2024/07/black-artist-database-hurricane-beryl-fundraiser-moko/.

The Wyoming State Archives is launching a collaborative initiative aimed at bolstering archival practices across the state through a Roving Archivist Program.

This project, pioneering for Wyoming, was developed in partnership with the Wyoming State Records Advisory Board and the American Heritage Center at the University of Wyoming. It seeks to enhance the management, preservation and accessibility of historical materials in Wyoming’s small cultural heritage institutions.

You can read more in the Roving Archivist Program's web site at: https://rovingarchivist.wyo.gov/home.

Since 1974 The Black Archives of Mid America has served Kansas City as the custodian of Black history in the metro. This year, it adds to that mission by offering courses to assist Black residents in uncovering their roots. 

“We had lots of people constantly calling us over the years to ask us if we could help them find records on their family,” said Carmaletta M. Williams, CEO at the Black Archives. “We don’t have the staff, but now we can show them how to find it.” 

The course provides novice researchers with information on navigating the daunting task of sifting through generations of records. 

The organization’s archivist, Laura Dillard and Preston Washington from the Mid-West Genealogical Interest Coalition (MAGIC) lead the courses. The archives asks that those attending bring as much research information as possible to help them with their search. Often people are starting at square one, with only a few names and dates of births. 

Representatives at the Black Archives know firsthand the challenge of trying to piece together a story with missing pieces. Because of hundreds of years of slavery and record keeping that reflected Black slaves as property instead of people, the information some are tracking can only go back so far. 

“A lot of folks come to us and tell us they have always wanted to do it but just don’t know how,” said Dillard. “If you are coming in and want to use our computers we can show you the programs and our instructor from MAGIC will help lead them through certain things and help them to learn what to use to find specific information.” 

Using online resources, researchers can look at census records, birth certificates, obituaries, year books and cemetery cards. The courses, a recent endeavor, are made possible from grants from Country Club Bank, The Hall Family Foundation and the Kaufman Foundation. 

Those grants cover the cost of genealogy software that carries an annual subscription price of more than $4,000. Though the endeavor is a pricey one, Williams believes that as the keepers of Black Kansas City history, the task goes hand in hand with the purpose of the Black Archives.

You can read more in an article by J.M. BANKS published in the Kansas City Star web site at: https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article290153929.html.

 

Millions of Irish Americans, especially those in New York, might be directly descended from Niall of the Nine Hostages, the most prolific warrior in Irish history.

A team of geneticists at Trinity College Dublin led by Professor Dan Bradley discovered that as many as 3 million men worldwide may be descendants of the Irish warlord, who was the Irish “High King” at Tara, the ancient center of Ireland from A.D. 379 to A.D. 405.

The legend of Niall of the Nine Hostages

The story of Niall of the Nine Hostages is already the stuff of legend, passed on to countless Irish schoolchildren over the years.

The supposedly fearless leader battled the English, the Scots, the French, and even the Romans, and struck fear into the heart of his enemies. His dynasty lasted for centuries, continuing up until the Elizabethan conquest of Ireland at the end of the 16th century.

Legend has it that it was Niall of the Nine Hostages who, on a raid in Wales, captured a young slave and brought him to Ireland. That slave would later escape and go to become Ireland’s patron saint, St. Patrick.

But one story not told to most Irish elementary schoolchildren was Niall’s prolificacy.

When it came to the bedroom, it seems that Niall of the Nine Hostages was even more fearless and energetic than he was on the battlefield.

This warlord was responsible for the very common Irish surname “O’Neill” (“Ui Neill” in Gaelic), which literally means ‘descendant son of Niall.'

One in 12 men in Ireland

The researchers also found that as many as one in 12 men in Ireland have the same DNA as the Irish king and in Ireland’s northwest, that figure rises to one in five.

"We sampled 60 people with these names and found the strongest association was with them,” Bradley told the UK Independent in 2006.

“Before this, everything was mythology, but now there does seem to have been a single male ancestor of this group of powerful dynasties."

"In many countries, powerful men historically have more children, and it's not that hard to believe that it happened in Ireland too.

"We estimate there are maybe two to three million descendants in the modern age, with a concentration in Ireland, obviously. Then there are Scotland and New York  - you find the particular chromosome in reasonable frequency in New Yorkers of European descent.”

You can read still more in an article in the IrishCentral web site  at: https://www.irishcentral.com/roots/genealogy/niall-nine-hostages-descendants.