Avid family historian on a mission to unearth his roots. Skilled at pestering relatives for lore, sifting through records for hidden gems, and passing the spittoon for DNA samples. Admin of Quirke Y-DNA project. Author. https://www.familysleuther.comhttps://bsky.app/profile/familysleuther.comhttps://bsky.app/profile/familysleuther.com/post/3lgnwha57fc2lAnd just 12 days later, the VA wrote they could find no records. I'm not convinced. Following up to encourage them to conduct a more thorough search. [contains quote post or other embedded content]26 Jan 2025 17:15 +0000at://did:plc:ohmd4chu4coo7fbctariiecb/app.bsky.feed.post/3lgnwha57fc2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/familysleuther.com/post/3lfsrrwxibk2gAncestry’s CEO Deb Liu bids adieu to her post touting her work building culture, driving innovation, and growth. #Genealogy #FamilyHistory https://debliu.substack.com/p/looking-back-and-looking-ahead?r=i103z&utm_medium=email15 Jan 2025 22:09 +0000at://did:plc:ohmd4chu4coo7fbctariiecb/app.bsky.feed.post/3lfsrrwxibk2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/familysleuther.com/post/3lfgvlcgkj22wWritten confirmation came today from the VA that they received my FOIA request for my great-grandfather’s claim file. A good sign. The wait continues. #Genealogy #FamilyHistory11 Jan 2025 04:45 +0000at://did:plc:ohmd4chu4coo7fbctariiecb/app.bsky.feed.post/3lfgvlcgkj22whttps://bsky.app/profile/familysleuther.com/post/3ledb2gfkoc2tI submitted two of those thousands of FOIA requests using the lovely new system. Thank you @reclaimtherecords.org for the nifty tool! [contains quote post or other embedded content]28 Dec 2024 00:35 +0000at://did:plc:ohmd4chu4coo7fbctariiecb/app.bsky.feed.post/3ledb2gfkoc2thttps://bsky.app/profile/familysleuther.com/post/3le46pep2j22yI’m looking forward to digging into this! 🔍 [contains quote post or other embedded content]25 Dec 2024 05:04 +0000at://did:plc:ohmd4chu4coo7fbctariiecb/app.bsky.feed.post/3le46pep2j22yhttps://bsky.app/profile/familysleuther.com/post/3ldteetic6k2n139 years ago today, my second great-grandmother, Eva (Lamb) Stevens Fagan, was born in Vermont. After researching the recurring tragedies she navigated in life, I now marvel at her fortitude. https://www.familysleuther.com/2020/04/the-tumult-and-trauma-of-evas-life.html #Genealogy #FamilyHistory21 Dec 2024 16:52 +0000at://did:plc:ohmd4chu4coo7fbctariiecb/app.bsky.feed.post/3ldteetic6k2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/familysleuther.com/post/3ldacezoljs2a [contains quote post or other embedded content]14 Dec 2024 02:55 +0000at://did:plc:ohmd4chu4coo7fbctariiecb/app.bsky.feed.post/3ldacezoljs2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/familysleuther.com/post/3ld5umm36qc2qMy maternal grandmother passed away a decade ago. Today would have been her 88th birthday. After she died, we cleaned out her home and found every postcard I’d sent her from my travels tucked away for safekeeping. #FamilyHistory13 Dec 2024 03:44 +0000at://did:plc:ohmd4chu4coo7fbctariiecb/app.bsky.feed.post/3ld5umm36qc2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/familysleuther.com/post/3lcxxsfpma22qRecommend! I attended a version of this session facilitated by American Ancestors at RootsTech that was helpful when I was writing and publishing my book on my Kirk ancestry. [contains quote post or other embedded content]10 Dec 2024 19:25 +0000at://did:plc:ohmd4chu4coo7fbctariiecb/app.bsky.feed.post/3lcxxsfpma22qhttps://bsky.app/profile/familysleuther.com/post/3lcvqjir7ns26162 years ago today, Mary Jane (Andrus) Bair was born in Bradford County, PA. Her mother (identity unknown) died when she was 3 weeks old leaving her to "kindly relatives, Mr. and Mrs. Jared Beardsley, who adopted her as their own on January 3, 1863." I'm still searching for her bio mom's identity.09 Dec 2024 22:09 +0000at://did:plc:ohmd4chu4coo7fbctariiecb/app.bsky.feed.post/3lcvqjir7ns26https://bsky.app/profile/familysleuther.com/post/3lcshuftals2jFor years, we knew Edmond & Iva lost two infants, but their names & resting places were a mystery—until a #FindAGrave volunteer provided the missing link. Read how their graves were rediscovered & their memory preserved: https://www.familysleuther.com/2024/12/the-search-for-lula-may-and-forgotten.html #Genealogy #FamilyHistory08 Dec 2024 14:56 +0000at://did:plc:ohmd4chu4coo7fbctariiecb/app.bsky.feed.post/3lcshuftals2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/familysleuther.com/post/3lcnn6vfdhk2o70 years ago today, my 2nd great-grandmother, Bessie (Bair) Benedick, passed away. Raised on the Kansas prairie as one of 16 children, she had a 'very demure, very mindful' 3 kids of her own. Her funeral book is one of the few documents that names her biological maternal grandfather. #FamilyHistory06 Dec 2024 16:48 +0000at://did:plc:ohmd4chu4coo7fbctariiecb/app.bsky.feed.post/3lcnn6vfdhk2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/familysleuther.com/post/3lclw3pdxlk2wWelcome to Bluesky! The #genealogy community has been awaiting your arrival. [contains quote post or other embedded content]06 Dec 2024 00:22 +0000at://did:plc:ohmd4chu4coo7fbctariiecb/app.bsky.feed.post/3lclw3pdxlk2whttps://bsky.app/profile/familysleuther.com/post/3lc4cmduv5s2aFor years, I’ve charted and mapped my ancestry in every way imaginable. Data-driven #genealogy provides focus to research and meaning to our #FamilyHistory. https://www.familysleuther.com/2024/11/data-driven-genealogy-charting-my.html29 Nov 2024 19:24 +0000at://did:plc:ohmd4chu4coo7fbctariiecb/app.bsky.feed.post/3lc4cmduv5s2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/familysleuther.com/post/3lbxnx6ftmk2hA glimpse at the #FamilyHistory community that makes up my recent #Skircle.27 Nov 2024 23:03 +0000at://did:plc:ohmd4chu4coo7fbctariiecb/app.bsky.feed.post/3lbxnx6ftmk2h