Welcome back to the Ancestral Findings
newsletter!
Hi Friends,
This week, we’ve been exploring the journeys that brought so many of our ancestors across the sea. From England and Germany to the early settlements of America, each story reminds us of the faith and courage it took to start over in a new world. We’re also featuring a special book giveaway — One in Six Million by Amy Fish — a powerful true story that blends history, genealogy, and the search for identity. There are plenty of ways to stay connected with Ancestral Findings. You can listen to the podcast (also available on YouTube) or lend your support through the site. Every visit, share, and listen helps keep the lights on and the stories coming. I hope you have a wonderful weekend and Happy Searching! Will
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Before there were colonies, before there was even a country called America, there were people who made a choice that would echo for centuries. They left behind stone cottages and hedgerows, trading…
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If your family has lived in North America for more than a few generations, chances are that part of your story began in England. For centuries, English men and women boarded ships that sailed toward…
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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.
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I’m offering another free book giveaway for our readers this month. You can enter now for a chance to win One in Six Million by Amy Fish, a remarkable true story that blends history, genealogy, and…
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The fields around Kassel shimmered in the summer light, the scent of rye and damp earth thick in the air. Johann Müller paused his plow horse and wiped his brow. His father’s land had been small when…
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November is the perfect month to dig deeper into your family’s past and turn history into something you can see, taste, and share. As the days grow shorter and the holidays draw near, it’s a natural…
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Download Your Copy Today! Fill in your name and email below to get your copy of Genealogy Helps, Vol. 1.If you’d like to support our free genealogy resources, you can donate or click “I want the free…
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The story of German immigration to America is one of the great migrations in modern history. Over five million people left the German-speaking lands between the early 1700s and the early 1900s,…
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The wind had turned sharp over the fields of County Clare. It carried the sour smell of rot—the smell of potatoes dying in the ground. Every family in Kilfenora knew that scent by now. It had haunted…
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Do you have Irish ancestry in your family? You might be surprised how often the answer is yes. Roughly one in ten Americans can trace at least part of their lineage to Ireland, making Irish ancestry…
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This giveaway has concluded. Stay tuned for our next giveaway. Winner: Barbara Swartzel If you would like to learn more or order a copy of Searching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland, you can find it on Pen…
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Every year on October 31, children walk door to door collecting candy while wearing costumes. The custom feels old and familiar, but it has a real history. Trick or treat did not appear overnight. It…
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Names are among the most personal pieces of information we can record, yet in genealogy they often become our most puzzling clues. They carry history, culture, and family identity. They also shift,…
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There’s something about the World’s Fairs that has always captured my imagination. Whenever I read about them or stumble across old photos or souvenir postcards, I feel like I’m looking into a time…
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Some of the most powerful moments in genealogy happen when we uncover something someone tried to hide. It might be a missing record, a false birth date, or a name that suddenly disappears and…
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Genealogy gives us more than names and dates. It reveals how people lived, what they valued, and how they formed the ties that made them family. Those ties are not always simple. As research deepens,…
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Columbus Day began as a national tribute to exploration and heritage. Over time, it split into two holidays—one honoring discovery and one recognizing Indigenous history.
The post How Columbus Day…
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Every postcard has its surprises, and this one from my collection is a little unusual. Instead of showing a scenic view or a tourist attraction, it shows a mural of a man who was both feared and…
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Every postcard in my collection has a story to tell, and this one takes us to Forest Park in St. Louis, Missouri. On the front, you see a lively crowd gathered at the Municipal Opera, better known…
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Every postcard has a story to tell, and this one from my collection takes us into the world of Utah mining. The front of the card is filled with colorful illustrations of mines, towns, and the people…
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When you arrive in Iceland in December, the first thing you notice is the quiet. Snow sits…
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Today, let's step into Ukraine during Christmas. Ukraine is a country where Christianity…
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Welcome back to the Christmas traditions series. Today, we’re taking a look at Christmas in…
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Welcome back to the Christmas traditions series. Today, we’re looking at Christmas in…
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Welcome back to the Christmas traditions series. Today, we’re looking at Christmas in the…
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Welcome back to the Christmas traditions series. Today, we’re looking at Christmas in…
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December in South Africa does not whisper in with cold nights and frosted windows. It…
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Christmas in Mexico is not typically celebrated on a single day. It feels more like a long…
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In Poland, Christmas takes a different form than in many places. The most significant…
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Well, two big reasons show up in history. Podcast Notes:…
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All month, we have looked at how different places celebrate the season, with food, songs,…
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Genealogy teaches you something early. The record is rarely clean. Ink blots. Misspelled…
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Genealogy has a built-in problem that never goes away. You are trying to rebuild real lives…
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January is basically the genealogist’s secret power month. The holidays are over, the…
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Marriage records are one of the three core types of vital records every family historian…
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