February 2021
Beware of same-named couples
All genealogists know (or should know) to beware of same-named individuals; living in the same time & place. Genealogy is a matter of identity and relationship, not just names, and it's important to get the identity correct right from the start. However, we should also be aware of same-named couples.
Many years ago, before I decided to become a professional, I was researching for a friend and very nearly assigned the wrong ancestral couple to her family tree. Who knew there were THREE couples named Fred and Maude Pease, of about the same age, living in the same state during the same time period?
And just recently I stumbled upon another example, and had to look at several records to identify the right couple. Two couples named Harry and Lila Jewett were living in the Northeast, and distinguishing between them involved looking at every record available. In the end, it was the marriage record that provided Lila's maiden name that decided the matter.
What I've Been Doing
* Immersed in homework, writing and reading for my SLIG Academy class, Writing and Documenting for Peer Review. This takes place one day a week for the next 11 weeks. I'm loving it!
* Watching the snow fall
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What I'm Reading
Last week I told you about discovering the NPR Book Concierge, and this is one of the books I chose from that. The House Girl takes place in two time periods: 1850s Virginia, which follows the slave girl Josephine, caring for her dying mistress while planning to run away, and present-day New York City, where Lina is an attorney working on a slavery reparations case. It's fascinating to see these two threads come together! This book will stay in my mind for a long time.
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Valentine's Day Special: buy 5 hours of research, get 1 free! (Must be redeemed by February 28.)
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Upcoming (Online) Presentations
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Introducing Kolson Reed, my other "grandchild"! He's actually my great-nephew, son of my nephew Jason Reed. He just turned one, and I have yet to meet him in person.
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