Welcome! Thanks for stopping by to check out my first blog post. I’d like this blog to be a place for conversations about genealogy research in Vermont and beyond.
I’ve been researching quite a few brick wall cases for clients with ancestors who lived in Vermont during the early settlement boom after the Revolutionary War. Many of these folks came from Connecticut and Massachusetts where record keeping was established, but didn’t continue the practice in the wilds of Vermont. When there is no document to be found that states relationships explicitly, I collect indirect evidence regarding the people the ancestor associated with to try to draw conclusions regarding kinship. I’ve just finished a lengthy (245 page) family history album for a couple with fascinating roots in colonial New England and French Canada. I also love doing forensic work to trace living descendants. These cases often have the most interesting twists and turns. I’ve really enjoyed the Army repatriation cases that I’ve been working on recently. They’ve introduced me to new locations and record sources from the mid-Atlantic states to Hawaii. There have been frustrations, but I’ve had the pleasure of speaking to some wonderful relatives of the soldiers I’ve researched. For my personal family research, I’ve been immersed in Irish valuation records and German parish records. The depth and breadth of these various projects never let me become bored.
So why did I decide to start a blog when I already don’t have enough hours in the day? Good question! I’m still asking myself that. I can narrow it down to two primary reasons.
The first is that professional genealogy is a solitary job. I often run across particularly interesting documents while I was looking for something else and have no one to share them with. Or I learn about something that I think other researchers might want to know about, whether it is a record source or new bit of technology. Or I just feeling like talking about genealogy and there’s no one around to listen. There’s only so much I can post in a Facebook status update! I’m hoping this blog might be a way to create conversations about genealogical research in Vermont an beyond.
My second reason is that I need to learn to write more spontaneously. I tend to over -think what I write. It takes me forever to get started, then I revise, revise, revise. I’ve come to realize that this is really limiting what I can accomplish. I’m hoping that having a blog helps me learn to “Just Write It!” (Sorry, Nike.)
Does anyone have any advice for me as a new blogger?
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Welcome to the wild, wonderful, wacky world of blogging, Catherine! Looking forward to reading this blog!
Thanks, Judy. I’m looking forward to writing some posts about Vermont courts on furlough, and Vermont 1798 Direct Tax records.
Pace yourself and stick to the pace. If you don’t have something to say, aggregate!
One set of my early Vermont ancestors, Ezra Mead and family and some brothers, appear to have come from Connecticut by way of New York over some years. Is that another usual path?
Harold, I’ve seen more folks come through Vermont on their way to New York, but the other way happened too. Thanks for commenting.
Cathi
So happy for you to start this new endeavor. I look forward to future posts!
Thanks for stopping by, Noreen!
Cathi Dahling! You did it! No one knows Vermont like you do and the area is woefully under-represented in the genealogy blogging world. I have been trying to find marriage and death records for the town of Benson in Rutland County or just for Rutland County itself. Actually any vital records for the the time period 1780 to 1830.
My advice about blogging? Some people are disciplined enough to stick to the theme of their blog and write several times a week if not daily. Kudos to those who can do this.
I tend to write about whatever strikes me as interesting or funny or curious at any given moment. The beauty of blogging is that there are no rules! As you go on, you’ll find what works for you and I’ll be here reading every word of that journey!
Thanks, Sheri! I’m hoping to post about once a week. It’s a goal, anyway. 1780-1830 is a tough time period for vitals. I’m going to the Vermont State Archives this coming week, so let me know if you want me to check probates or anything else.
Love your two reasons for blogging. You’ve picked a great blog title, and it’s clear you’ve got a “readable” writing style. My only advice is “be yourself” and the words will flow smoothly. Each post you make will help someone out there. Thanks to Google and other search engines, they’ll find you.
WELCOME and have a ball!
Thank you, Myrt! That means a lot coming from you. I will try my best to be myself. I’m not much good at being anyone else. 🙂
You took the plunge! Your first post was great!
Congratulations, Cathi! I’m looking forward to hearing more.
You’re off to a great start Cathi! Just keep writing!
Thanks for the encouragement, Melanie, Diane and Marian!
All ready have you bookmarked!
Good luck to you! Just be yourself and the rest will fall into place. I’m a relatively new blogger as well and I know the readers will come with time. I’ll be one of your readers. I can’t wait to see what’s next! Congrats!
Congrats on the new blog Cathi. I do have a question. What do you mean by the ‘beyond’ part?
Congratulations on setting up your blog, Catherine, it looks great! If you join GeneaBloggers you will probably never feel isolated again 😀
Hi Catherine – Welcome to blogging! I started my blog last year but have been lagging some these last few months. I think I will try to commit to the one post a week idea too.
I have not found any Vermont folks in my lineage but I love the state anyways. Looking forward to seeing what you come up with.
And a late congrats on the CG!
Hi Rondina. Thanks for stopping by. By ‘beyond’ I meant that I won’t be limiting myself to just posting about researching in Vermont. Hopefully we also can have conversations about things in the big world beyond Vermont.
Thanks also to Ann, Andrew, Brenda and Wendy. I really do want this to be a place we can have conversations and I am happy to see so many comments.
Hi Cathi,
Thanks for starting this blog. I have sooo many Vermont ancestors. The 1/2 week I spent last year in Rutland and Addison counties just wasn’t enough.
Hi Cheryll – Feel free to ask a question any time. I will need ideas for blog posts! Next time you come to Vermont we’ll have to plan to meet at one of the repositories.
Most definitely!
Hi Catherine,
I have bookmarked your Blog. It is exciting to have someone writing about Vermont. My husband has Vermont relatives, Flintom, and mine, Leonard, were right next door at Granville, NY after the Revolutionary War. Someday I hope to get there for research.
A great start with your Blog!
Hi Evie, thanks for bookmarking my blog. You can also subscribe via email. Do you know where your Leonard ancestors were before the war? A lot of folks moved from what is now Vermont to Granville, NY. For a time, New York and New Hampshire both claimed Vermont land as their own. I hope you can get here to research in person, but in the meantime let me know if I can ever do anything to help. I’d also love any questions about Vermont research that I might be able to answer in a blog post.
Glad to see this new blog. I will definitely follow it. I research (from afar) post-Revolutionary War settlers of Townshend, Newfane and Wardsboro (who moved up from Warwick, MA).
Hey, Cathi!
Nice start and congratulations! I’ve linked to you, and I’m looking forward to reading your blog even though I have no ancestors at all in Vermont….
And I love what you said about just wanting to be able to tell another genealogist about what you’re thinking, or what you’ve just found, as a reason for blogging.
Hi,
My husband has Vermont roots that I have researched. I am always open to what is new etc. in the Vermont genealogy world! So glad you are giving us this opportunity!
You my “pain” when you said “I tend to over -think what I write. It takes me forever to get started, then I revise, revise, revise. I’ve come to realize that this is really limiting what I can accomplish”.
Wow! how did you know? Are you and oldest or any only child? Anyway I’m here to learn and simplify. . .
Regards
Nancy in Delaware
Glad you found the blog, Nancy. And you guessed it – I was pretty much raised as an only child because my sisters were adults by the time I was born. You’ll have to share any hints you’ve learned to avoid being a perfectionist when you write!
Cathi