WieWasWie, the website where many Dutch archives publish their indexes and scans of genealogical sources, has a new website. It is in beta, which means that they are looking for user feedback. Try the beta version of WieWasWie … [Read more...]
Quick tip – Civil Cases can Contain Earlier Records
8 February 2017 by Leave a Comment
Civil court cases can be a treasure trove of information. To support their claims, the parties may have had copies made of records that were kept in their family, or perhaps drew maps to show a boundary dispute. In my own tree, I was able to prove the parents of a woman who married around 1677 by going through a civil case involving the inheritance of her grandson in 1710. The case file included prenuptial records of several family members, including the woman I was looking for. The … [Read more...]
Quick tip – How did they get that property?
25 January 2017 by 1 Comment
If your ancestors owned property, that might help you find out more about them. If you cannot find the original purchase, they may have inherited it from a family member. By tracing the property, you may discover an earlier generation. The names of properties are rarely indexed, but perhaps you can find the neighbors, and check their deeds. Otherwise, browsing the whole register can sometimes be helpful. … [Read more...]
Quick tip – How to Find out Which Church Records Survive
18 January 2017 by Leave a Comment
Church records of baptisms, marriages, and burials are among the most popular genealogical sources to use. If you can't find a record, how do you know if the records don't exist anymore, or if you simply haven't found the person? In 1981, a book was published to help researchers, the Repertorium DTB. For each town, it lists the surviving records per denomination. Where to find the overview of Dutch church records The book is available online at the website of the Centraal Bureau voor … [Read more...]
Quick tip – Amsterdam Scans now Free
11 January 2017 by 3 Comments
The Amsterdam City Archives will no longer charge for their online scans. That means that you do not need pay-per-view credits anymore to consult the scans that are attached to their indexes or finding aids. Available indexes include: Church records of baptisms, marriages, and burials before 1811 Conveyance records of property transactions before 1811 Criminal confessions 1535-1732 Patient records from 1818-1899 Population registers since 1851 Police records from … [Read more...]
Quick tip – Finding the Current Name of an Old Place
4 January 2017 by 3 Comments
When reading old records, you will often come across place names that cannot be found on a modern map. The spelling or the entire name may have changed. For example, the capital of Indonesia, Jakarta, was known as Batavia under Dutch rule. Former Amsterdam City Archivist Simon Hart researched the places of origin that were mentioned in the Amsterdam marriage records. He compiled a list of these places and their old spellings, and the probable place that it refers to. Some examples: … [Read more...]
Quick tip – Did the family hop the border or vice versa?
28 December 2016 by Leave a Comment
The borders of the Netherlands have not always been what they are today. The borders were much different before 1839. Several towns that are now in Germany once belonged to the Netherlands, and several Dutch towns were once part of the German states. Also, what used to be the southern part of the Netherlands is now Belgium and Luxembourg. Records of the same town could be in repositories in different countries. It helps to research the history of the town to know where to look. … [Read more...]
Quick tip – Improve a Life, Join Kiva
21 December 2016 by 2 Comments
Are you looking to reach out and help somebody? I am a member of a team of genealogists who lend money on Kiva. The money is used by entrepreneurs and students all over the world who need help to improve their lives. After they repay the loan, you can lend it again. Our team "Genealogists for Families" has 330 members and has already lent more than $200,000. It's humbling to realize how many lives we have affected. We have helped farmers purchase cattle and seeds, helped to pay for … [Read more...]
Quick tip – Create a Town Timeline
14 December 2016 by 2 Comments
To understand your ancestors' lives better, it can help to create a town timeline showing you what was going on at the time. Here are some samples from my own research projects that show how understanding local history can help: During the Eighty Years' War, the Dutch Republic recruited regiments from all over Europe to help fight the Spanish. Some of these foreign regiments were stationed at a town where my ancestors lived. One of the Scottish mercenaries married a local … [Read more...]
Quick tip – What Organizations Was Your Ancestor Involved in?
7 December 2016 by Leave a Comment
In the 1800s and 1900s, there were many organizations for every aspect of a person's life. Here are some examples I encountered in my research projects: Honorary member of the Society for the Promotion of the Musical Arts. Chairman of a local branch of the Anti-Revolutionaire Partij [Anti Revolutionary Party], a Christian political party. Deacon of the Dutch Reformed Church. Secretary of the Teacher's Association. Guardian of the Weavers' Guild. Director of the … [Read more...]
