Welcome back to the Ancestral Findings newsletter!
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Hi friends,  It’s Friday evening, and we’re heading into the weekend after a great week of genealogy research. I had the chance to answer some thoughtful genealogy questions, and hopefully, those replies helped point a few people in a new
direction that’ll benefit their research.  Got a stubborn ancestor who’s hiding in the records? Send those details to me. Just head over to AncestralFindings.com and click the Contact link at the top of the page.  I’ll take a look and pass along some suggestions to help you out.  And if you haven’t had a chance to check out this week’s series, Tracing Dirty Jobs of the Past, it’s worth a look. It’s been a really fun one to put together. I’ve covered everything from gravediggers and the rag-and-bone collector to the tanner’s trade, coal dust and danger in the mines, and even the night soil man. These were tough, messy jobs—often overlooked—but they helped build the world our ancestors lived in.  And we finally have a winner for the Puzzle Your Past book giveaway! It took a while—some of the original picks never got back to me, and without
a mailing address, I had to move on to the next person. However, I’m pleased to announce that we now have a confirmed winner. Congratulations to Kristi Blankenship! I’m so thankful we were able to connect, and Kristi, I’ll have the book in the mail next week.  I hope you have a wonderful weekend, and as always, Happy Searching!  Will  P.S. Don't forget to check out this week's Free Genealogy Lookups. Â
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Of all the jobs people avoided, feared, or whispered about, the gravedigger stood near the top of the list. Working in quiet corners of churchyards, behind iron fences, or in the shadows of city…
July 11, 2025
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Long before cities had garbage trucks and recycling centers, there were the rag-and-bone collectors—wandering figures with pushcarts, sacks, and sharp eyes trained on the gutters and alleys of the…
July 09, 2025
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Unlock family history with This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups. Perfect for first-time users and seasoned researchers.
The post This Week’s Free Genealogy Lookups appeared first on Ancestral Findings.
July 07, 2025
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Of all the historical occupations that could be found in a family tree, few were more pungent, more physically difficult, or more socially isolating than tanning. While farmers, blacksmiths, and even…
July 07, 2025
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As the United States marks its 249th year of independence, it’s a fitting time to pause and reflect—not just on fireworks and parades, but on the remarkable clarity of vision held by those who signed…
July 04, 2025
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Coal built the modern world. It powered trains, lit homes, fueled factories, and kept furnaces burning during the coldest winters. But that power came at a steep cost. For every train that ran and…
July 02, 2025
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Before the comforts of indoor plumbing and municipal sewage systems, someone had to do the dirty work. And by dirty, we mean truly revolting. The Night Soil Man was the one tasked with removing human…
July 01, 2025
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Of all the jobs people avoided, feared, or whispered about, the gravedigger stood near the top of the list. Working in quiet corners of churchyards, behind iron fences, or in the shadows of…
July 11, 2025
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Long before cities had garbage trucks and recycling centers, there were the rag-and-bone collectors—wandering figures with pushcarts, sacks, and sharp eyes trained on the gutters and alleys…
July 9, 2025
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Of all the historical occupations that could be found in a family tree, few were more pungent, more physically difficult, or more socially isolating than tanning. While farmers, blacksmiths,…
July 7, 2025
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As the United States marks its 249th year of independence, it’s a fitting time to pause and reflect—not just on fireworks and parades, but on the remarkable clarity of vision held by those…
July 5, 2025
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Coal built the modern world. It powered trains, lit homes, fueled factories, and kept furnaces burning during the coldest winters. But that power came at a steep cost. For every train that…
July 2, 2025
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Before the comforts of indoor plumbing and municipal sewage systems, someone had to do the dirty work. And by dirty, we mean truly revolting. The Night Soil Man was the one tasked with…
June 30, 2025
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As we continue our journey through The Forgotten Seconds, we pause to examine the life of Schuyler Colfax—a name once associated with optimism, eloquence, and the future of the Republican…
June 28, 2025
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As we continue our series, The Forgotten Seconds, we take a closer look at those vice presidents who, despite standing one heartbeat away from the highest office, never became president…
June 27, 2025
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I found this old postcard the other day, and something about it pulled me right in. It shows a dimly lit room, heavy with shadow and curiosity. There’s a man standing with a bird—maybe a…
June 26, 2025
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This one caught my eye for a completely different reason than most of the postcards I’ve written about. It’s not a quiet street scene or a charming old building—it’s people. A whole lineup of…
June 24, 2025
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Some postcards you flip past quickly. Others make you stop. This one made me stop. It’s not flashy—there’s no massive landmark or postcard-perfect sunset. Just a simple church nestled among a…
June 22, 2025
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Every June, many of us pause to honor the fathers in our lives—the ones who taught us how to change a tire, tied our fishing lines, and maybe even showed us how to be brave in the quietest of…
June 15, 2025
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The 1925 New York State census holds a prominent place in the lineup of state enumerations. This is not only because it was the last one conducted by the state but also because of the…
June 13, 2025
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By the time New York took its 1915 state census, the state was in the midst of dramatic social, political, and demographic shifts. The five years since the 1910 federal census had brought…
June 12, 2025
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The 1905 New York State census is a cornerstone resource for anyone researching individuals or families who lived in New York at the beginning of the 20th century. Coming just five years…
June 11, 2025
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The 1892 New York census is an essential source for family history researchers working in the late 19th century. With the destruction of the 1890 U.S. federal census, the 1892 state count…
June 9, 2025
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This postcard brought it all back. The steel-gray tones, the Point Bridge stretching across the Monongahela, and Pittsburgh’s unmistakable skyline—narrow, bold, and rising up from the meeting…
June 6, 2025
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Among the many state censuses conducted across the United States, Iowa’s 1925 enumeration stands apart. Genealogists frequently cite it as one of the most detailed and valuable non-federal…
June 5, 2025
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While most genealogists rely on the federal census as a foundational tool, those researching ancestors in New York State have a distinct advantage. In addition to appearing in the federal…
June 5, 2025
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If you’ve spent any time researching your family history, you’ve probably developed a familiar rhythm. You track your ancestors through the federal censuses, taken every ten years like…
June 2, 2025
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