Next Meeting of the Southwest Ohio DNA Interest Group - Debra Renard Presenter

The next meeting of the Southwest Ohio DNA Interest Group will be held on Tuesday, December 10th at the West Chester MidPointe Library.


Debra Renard, the founder of Eureka! Genealogy, is a full-time Genetic Genealogist with Legacy Tree Genealogists. She is co-leader of the Louisville, Kentucky, Genetic Genealogy Special Interest Group, a board member of the Louisville Genealogical Society, and is Secretary of the Kentucky Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists.

She is a frequent speaker at the local, regional and national level with a particular interest in the midwest. Debra has Ohio roots but makes her home in Louisville, KY.

Directions: https://www.midpointelibrary.org/page/westchester

In this presentation, "Hunting the Hunters" -- Hot on the Trail with DNA Strategies" Debra will discuss how she used Y-DNA, autosomal DNA, FAN club research and newspapers to reveal her family's truth. A hefty dose of scandal comes together resulting in the truth being WAY stranger than fiction. This presentation is designed for genealogists of all skill levels.

Debra gave this presentation at the OGS Conference 2019. It promises to be just what we need as we begin the holiday season. Hope to see you there.

Submitted by Kathy Reed
dna.interest@hcgsohio.org

Tour of the Cincinnati History and Library Archives

After a three-year closure while the Cincinnati Museum Center underwent a complete renovation, many patrons anxiously awaited the reopening of the Cincinnati History Library and Archives (CHLA). Now a few months in, the staff of the library has graciously agreed to host two tours of the new facility. Visitors will learn of the many resources available to them and get tips on how best to access them.

CHLA will sponsor two tours for HCGS members on Tuesday, November 12th and Saturday, November 16th. Both tours will take place at 10:30 am.

Both tours require a reservation and are limited to 20 people each. Complete the reservation form  https://hcgsohio.org/cpage.php?pt=197
and select your preferred date. Once the tours are filled, you will be put on a waiting list for possible future tours based on demand.

To learn more about the library, visit their website:
CHLA Website.



Submitted by: Kathy Reed
dna.interest@hcgsohio.org

2019 HCGS Heritage Luncheon Reservations Close October 2nd

Wednesday, October 2nd is the last day to make a reservation for this year's Heritage Luncheon!   It will be held on Saturday October 12th.  Clovernook County Club will again be our venue. This year marks the 200th anniversary of Ohio Medical College (University of Cincinnati.) With this in mind, our speaker will again be interpreter, Joyce Browning, this time as  "Mary Cunningham, the Body Snatcher's wife."  It is a funny/sad tale of how the earliest doctors became educated. Ms. Browning plays an amazing role!

 

 

 

Registration opens at 10:45 a.m. New member recognition will begin at 11:30 with a welcome and the presentation of awards. Lunch will be served at noon followed by Ms. Browning’s program.  Reservations are required with payment and are due by 2 October 2019.  The reservation form for the Heritage Luncheon is available:

 

• Online payable via PayPal (can use your PayPal account or just a credit card).
• Print form at bottom of the flyer

 

Reliability, Ethics and Privacy in the DNA Age with Kelli Bergheimer

What: Meeting of the Southwest Ohio DNA Interest Group (SWOHDNA)
Where:  West Chester Mid-Pointe Library
Who: Guest Speaker - Kelli Bergheimer
When: Tuesday, October 8th
Time: 7:00 - 8:45 pm

Directions: https://www.midpointelibrary.org/page/westchester

At this next meeting, Kelli Bergheimer will lead us in a discussion about some of the timely issues facing genetic genealogists. Topics discussed will include the reliability of DNA testing, ethics and privacy concerns. We will learn about the laws and terms of service that apply to this ever-changing field. Catch up on the DNA cases making the news.

In addition, Kathy Reed will discuss a proposed study that she plans to use as the basis of lectures for  the PALAM Conference – Palatines to America National Conference (June 17-20, 2020) https://www.palam.org/ and possibly the IGGP – International German Genealogy Partnership Conference (July 16-18, 2021) https://iggpartner.org/index.php. The focus of these talks will be on making DNA connections between Americans of German descent and their German ancestors. Find out how you can play a role. Don't have German ancestors? No problem. The techniques used will be applicable to any family study regardless of ethnicity.

We hope to see you at what promises to be a very interesting meeting. This meeting is especially appropriate for those new to DNA testing.

Submitted by Kathy Reed
dna.interest@hcgsohio.org

Video on Hangouts, Podcasts, Webinars and YouTube for Genealogy Now Available

On September 7th, Nancy Chouteau did a presentation on the use of a variety of social media tools for genealogy. Nancy also provided attendees with a list of links to some of the valuable online resources she has used. The list has been posted on the HCGS website:
https://hcgsohio.org/cpage.php?pt=196

You can view the video at this link: https://vimeo.com/361203412 or on the Hamilton County Genealogical Society YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEHdY_xOeww.

October 2019 German-American Heritage Month Events

This is the 30^th Anniversary Year for Our Heritage Month

Since October 1989, German-American Heritage Month has been sponsored in the Ohio Valley by the German-American Citizens’ League, which was founded in 1895. The month is centered around October 6^th, which was the day in 1683 when the first permanent German settlement was established in Germantown, Pennsylvania.  October is also Family History Month.

September 27, 2019 - (Friday) - German Heritage Month Kick-off Party at the Sam Adams Taproom in Over-the-Rhine (OTR) - 1727 Logan Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202 - 6:00 to 11:00 p.m.

October 2, 2019 - (Wednesday) - Northern Kentucky University (Sponsored by the Department of World Languages and Literatures) - “German Immigration, Settlement and Influences in the Greater Cincinnati Area” - Presented by Dr. Don Heinrich Tolzmann - 3:30 p.m.

October 5, 2019 - (Saturday) - Downtown Public Library of Cincinnati & Hamilton County at 8^th & Vine Streets - Annual Genealogy Fair with various groups including the Germany Genealogy Interest Group where you can ask the experts German Genealogy questions and help you trace your German roots - 11:00 to 3:00 p.m. (German genealogy questions answered noon to 2:00 p.m.)

October 6, 2019 - (Sunday) - German-American Day

October 10, 2019 - (Thursday) - Covington (KY) Library (Local History Department), 502 Scott Blvd., Covington, KY 41071 - “Finding and Translating German Church Records and Newspaper Articles” - Presented by Kenton County Library staff Cierra Earl and Abby Carney - 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. (Registration required at www.kentonlibrary.org/events or 859-962-4070)

October 12, 2019 - (Saturday) - Mother of God Cemetery, 3125 Madison Avenue, Ft. Wright, KY 41015 - “A Biographical Walking Tour of  the Mother of God Cemetery” - Presented by the Local History & Genealogy staff of the Kenton County Library - (Learn about the German Catholic people and families who shaped the history of Northern Kentucky. Comfortable walking shoes are encouraged) - 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

October 13 & 20 & 27, 2019 - (Sundays) - Visit the German Heritage Museum at West Fork Park in Green Township at 4764 West Fork Road, located off North Bend Road in Monfort Heights - (phone museum on this day only after 1:00 p.m. at 598-5732 for directions if needed) from 1 to 5 p.m. (The Museum is closed October 6, 2019, please attend the Donauschwaben Oktoberfest in Colerain Township October 4, 5, & 6)

October 13, 2019 - (Sunday) - German Heritage Museum at West Fork Park in Green Township at 4764 West Fork Road, located off North Bend Road in Monfort Heights - (phone museum on this day only after 1:00 p.m. at 598-5732 for directions if needed) - Museum open 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. and attendance is free - “Gerhard Lammers: German Immigrant Church Painter in Cincinnati” - Presented by Dann Woellert - 2:00 p.m.

October 19, 2019 - (Saturday) - James A. Ramage Civil War Museum, 1402 Highland Avenue, Ft. Wright, KY 41011 - “Cincinnati Germans in the Civil War: The 9^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry” - Presented by Andrew Houghtaling - 1:00 p.m.

  

October 20, 2019 - (Sunday) - German Heritage Museum at West Fork Park in Green Township at 4764 West Fork Road, located off North Bend Road in Monfort Heights - (phone museum on this day only after 1:00 p.m. at 598-5732 for directions if needed) - Museum open 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. and attendance is free - “German Heritage Book Talk & Signing with Dr. Don Heinrich Tolzmann” - 2:00 p.m.

October 23, 2019 - (Wednesday) - Erlanger Brach of the Kenton County (KY) Library, 401 Kenton Lands Road, Erlanger, KY 41018, in the Twain/Clemens Combined Meeting Room - “Lunch and Learn: German Immigration to Greater Cincinnati” - Presented by Dave Schroeder, Executive Director of the Kenton County Public Library - 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. (Registration required at www.kentonlibrary.org,events or 859-962-4070)

October 24, 2019 - (Thursday) - Covington (KY) Library (Local History Department), 502 Scott Blvd., Covington, KY 41071 - “Finding and Translating German Church Records and Newspaper Articles” - Presented by Kenton County Library staff Cierra Earl and Abby Carney - 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. (Registration required at www.kentonlibrary.org/events or 859-962-4070)

October 27, 2019 - (Sunday) - German Heritage Museum at West Fork Park in Green Township at 4764 West Fork Road, located off North Bend Road in Monfort Heights - (phone museum on this day only after 1:00 p.m. at 598-5732 for directions if needed) - Museum open 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. and attendance is free - “Cincinnati’s Berlin Wall Memorial in a German-American Context” - Dr. Richard E. Schade - 2:00 p.m.

Submitted by Kenny Burck

Call Kenny Burck for any other details at 513-260-0238

Introduction to the Archdiocese of Cincinnati Sacramental Records on Findmypast

Hamilton County Genealogical Society presents:

Introduction to the Archdiocese of Cincinnati 

Sacramental Records on Findmypast, by Julie Ross 

Date: Saturday, September 28

Time: 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM

Location: Symmes Township Library, 11850 Enyart Rd, Loveland, OH 45140 (map)

Cost: FREE, but RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED

Capacity: Seating is limited to 75 people. 

Parking: Please park in the elementary school parking lot next door to the library. The library has a small parking lot which is reserved for regular library patrons. 

Genealogists have waited a long time for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati Sacramental records to be available online. Earlier this year, Findmypast (FMP) released transcriptions of some digitized records on their website. Images are now available too. 

Julie Ross has volunteered at The Archdiocese of Cincinnati Archives for years, fulfilling hundreds of genealogy research requests. Julie has been very successful in finding elusive ancestors and is the perfect person to teach us how to navigate this new record set on FMP. Julie will do a live demonstration on how to find Catholic baptism, marriage, and burial records for Southwest Ohio families on FMP. She will also discuss tips, tricks, limitations and work-arounds. FMP subscribers, bring your laptops/tablets for hands-on practice. For non-FMP subscribers, you may wish to take advantage of FMP’s free 14-day trial at https://www.findmypast.com/free-trial to participate with your device during the program.

  

We hope you join us on September 28 for what promises to be very helpful instruction. Reserve your spot today! 

New Video Released on Using the Lazarus Project To Break Down Brick Walls

On August 13th, Kelli Bergheimer did a presentation for the Southwest Ohio DNA Interest Group.
As a group, we frequently discuss some of the tools that are part of Gedmatch.com. Although many of the tools are free, other tools are available with a Tier 1 membership at a cost of $10.00 per month.

One such tool is called the "Lazarus" tool. This tool allows you to use the DNA of relatives of a given ancestor, such as a grandparent, to construct a kit for that untested person. Kelli explains how this can be a "work in progress" until 1500 cM of DNA have been collected. This new kit can then be used to find additional matches within the Gedmatch database. It is a fascinating tool, and Kelli discussed several techniques for identifying potential matches that can be used in creating a new kit.

The video presentation is now available on the this link, on the HCGS site, or on YouTube. Be sure to check it out.

Submitted by Kathy Reed
dna.interest@hcgsohio.org

Utilizing Webinar, Podcast, Hangout and YouTube for Genealogy

Photo Credit: vecteezy,com

Who:  Nancy Chouteau, Presenter
What: Learn how to use a variety of tools to enhance your genealogy research
When: Saturday, September 7th, 11:00 am
Where: North Central Branch Library on Hamilton Ave.

Directions: Map to North Central

While doing your family history research, we all tend to gravitate to the obvious sites: Ancestry, Family Search, etc. You may be missing out on a gold mine of additional resources .

Join HCGS member Nancy Chouteau, as she discusses online resources that are guaranteed to enhance your research. Learn about webinars, podcasts, hangouts and YouTube that can be accessed on your time table from the comfort of home.

Did you know that the Hamilton County Genealogical Society has its own YouTube page where many of our society-produced videos can be accessed? You can even "subscribe" to the HCGS page.

No reservations are required for this event. We hope to see you there.

Family History Fair - Saturday October 5th - Main Library

Using the Lazarus Project to Break Down Brick Walls - Kelli Bergheimer

The next meeting of the Southwest Ohio DNA Interest Group will be held on August 13th. The above image was copied from the HCGS July issue of the Gazette. Kelli Bergheimer has once again agreed to come from Columbus and share some of the new information that is available on Gedmatch.

Please make sure you are aware of other upcoming events. Shelley Bishop will be presenting a workshop on how to share your family research in a variety of creative ways. Information is available on the HCGS website under "Events" It also contains a link to a blog post with more details. Members will be sent a direct email during the week of 7-21.  I hope many of you can make it there. Reservations are required!

Enjoy the rest of your summer.

Kathy Reed
dna.interest@hcgsohio.org

How to Share Your Family History -- with Shelley Bishop

What:   Honoring Your Past with a Gift to the Future

             A Writing Workshop led by Shelley Bishop

When:  Saturday, August 17, 2019 - 11:00 - 4:00

Where: SymmesTownship Library

             11850 Enyart Rd,

             Loveland, Ohio  45140

Directions: https://www.cincinnatilibrary.org/branches/symmes.html

RESERVATION REQUIRED

It's almost here! If you are typical, you've probably collected a lot of research, but are probably overwhelmed with the thought of preserving it and putting in a format that can be shared with others. If this describes you, you may want to attend an event that promises to provide you with many possibilities for getting your research "out of the cabinet."

Shelley, a nationally-recognized speaker, specializes in family history research in Ohio, as well as writing about topics of genealogical interest for magazines and journals. Here is a broad outline of the day:

Session 1: Writing to Preserve Your Family History

Lunch: Following lunch, you will have the opportunity to see samples of a variety of ways our members have shared their family histories through books, blogs, journal articles, etc.

Session 2: There are many ways to share your family history. Shelley will discuss several options.

Session 3: In this day of online publishing, Shelley will discuss her use of MyCanvas as a tool for sharing her research with family members. She will provide tips on how to engage your reader and keep them wanting more.

Additional Information:

• Attendance is limited to the first 75 registrants.
• Lunch is optional -- you may choose to bring your own. If you are an HCGS member, you will receive an email with the reservation form. Otherwise, it will soon be linked to the Events section on our website at http://hcgsohio.org.
• The library requests that you park at Symmes Elementary (next door) as there is limited parking in their lot. 
• It is suggested that you dress in layers, as the meeting room has been known to get cold.
• All orders for lunch MUST be placed by Monday, August 12th. Checks must be received by that date.

Questions? Contact Kathy Reed, Director At Large dna.interest@hcgsohio.org

German Resource - Ortssippenbücher

Have you heard of Ortssippenbücher? A recent guest post on the SK Translations blog (link below) from Scott Holl, manager of History & Genealogy at St. Louis County Library in St. Louis, Missouri, explains these books. These German community based family books include genealogical information about residents of a specific village or parish, generally from surviving local church records. Some begin as early as the mid-1500s and run through about 1900. If you find one for your ancestor’s village, they can be a great resource.

Another great resource is the SK Translations website. Katharine Schober, a professional translator, offers a newsletter with translation tips and German research sources I have found useful. You can read the Ortssippenbücher article and find out more about SK Translations newsletter at Katharine’s website https://sktranslations.com/. Find out what these books are, where you can find them, and how to use them in your research!

Here's an example from Archive.org of the Ortsippenbuch Schmieheim (Baden).

(Note: Neither the author or HCGS has any relationship with Katherine Schober or SK Translations. As an avid researcher with multiple (7 at last count) German family lines, she passes along useful resources from time to time.)

New Date!!

Cincinnati Roman Catholic Records Talk RESCHEDULED!!!

What: Researching Roman Catholic Church Records

When: Thursday, July 11th, 2019, 7:00 pm

Where: Kolping Center, 10235 West Mill Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45231
Directions: Map to the Kolping Center.

Who:  Jeff Herbert, HCGS Treasurer

The Archdiocese of Cincinnati Roman Catholic sacramental records have recently been released through Findmypast. Transcripts are currently available and record images will be posted in the future. 

On July 11th, Jeff Herbert will discuss effective use of these records for researching your Hamilton County ancestors.  Tips will include how to navigate through the records in Latin, the prevalence of ethnic parishes in the 19^th Century, and strategies for using information contained in these records to overcome those difficult family research barriers.

St. Francis Xavier Church
Traditionally ethnic Irish Church

Old St. Mary Church
Traditionally ethnic German

An example of a Hamilton County Irish family will demonstrate the use of all available resources to successfully trace the family back into their ancestral homeland in Ireland.

This event is free of charge and no registration is required. Beer, soft drinks and snacks will be available.

Submitted by Kathy Reed
Director-at-Large


Photo Credits:  Wikimedia Commons, Old St. Mary Church bulletin

Talk has been postponed!!! PLEASE READ and SPREAD THE WORD!

Cincinnati Roman Catholic Records Unleashed

What: Researching Roman Catholic Church Records

When: Thursday, July 11th,2019, 7:00 pm

Where: Kolping Center, 10235 West Mill Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45231

Who:  Jeff Herbert, HCGS Treasurer

The Archdiocese of Cincinnati Roman Catholic sacramental records have recently been released through Findmypast. Transcripts are currently available and record images will be posted in the future. 

On July 11th, Jeff Herbert will discuss effective use of these records for researching your Hamilton County ancestors.  Tips will include how to navigate through the records in Latin, the prevalence of ethnic parishes in the 19^th Century, and strategies for using information contained in these records to overcome those difficult family research barriers.

St. Francis Xavier Church
Traditionally ethnic Irish Church

Old St. Mary Church
Traditionally ethnic German

An example of a Hamilton County Irish family will demonstrate the use of all available resources to successfully trace the family back into their ancestral homeland in Ireland.

This event is free of charge and no registration is required. Beer, soft drinks and snacks will be available.

Submitted by Kathy Reed
Director-at-Large


Photo Credits:  Wikimedia Commons, Old St. Mary Church bulletin

The Secrets Revealed by DNA - SWOHDNA Video Release

On April 9th, Natalie Boyer spoke to the members of the Southwest Ohio DNA Interest Group.We had the chance to take a step beyond the science of DNA and explore its application. Natalie told us that, at the age of 13, her mother let her know that the "Dad" who was raising her was her adoptive father. Her mother also let her know who her biological father was. The surprise came later when a DNA test proved that that man was not, in fact, her father. Hence, the "three Dads."

As the story unfolded, one story led to another -- and that led to yet another! Natalie had to use autosomal, mitochodrial and Y-DNA to put together all of the pieces of the puzzle.

We are happy to announce that this presentation is now online. Please excuse the audio which is a little out of sync. I promise you that you will be entertained. Who knew that so many brick walls can be knocked down if you have the skill to utilize the various types of DNA. 

Click on the link: https://vimeo.com/335981997 to view. This video can also be found on our chapter's YouTube channel.

Submitted by:  Kathy Reed

SWOHDNA

Email: dna.interest@hcgsohio.org

Cincinnati Roman Catholic Records Unleashed

What: Researching Roman Catholic Church Records

When: Tuesday, May 28, 2019, 7:00 pm

Where: Kolping Center, 10235 West Mill Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45231

Who:  Jeff Herbert, HCGS Treasurer

The Archdiocese of Cincinnati Roman Catholic sacramental records have recently been released through Findmypast. Transcripts are currently available and record images will be posted in the future. 

On May 28th, Jeff Herbert will discuss effective use of these records for researching your Hamilton County ancestors.  Tips will include how to navigate through the records in Latin, the prevalence of ethnic parishes in the 19^th Century, and strategies for using information contained in these records to overcome those difficult family research barriers.

St. Francis Xavier Church
Traditionally ethnic Irish Church

Old St. Mary Church
Traditionally ethnic German

An example of a Hamilton County Irish family will demonstrate the use of all available resources to successfully trace the family back into their ancestral homeland in Ireland.

This event is free of charge and no registration is required. Beer, soft drinks and snacks will be available.

Submitted by Kathy Reed
Director-at-Large


Photo Credits:  Wikimedia Commons, Old St. Mary Church bulletin

Exploring the New Tools at AncestryDNA - SWOHDNA Meeting

Who: Video by Blaine Bettinger
          Related examples by Kathy Reed
What: Exploring the New Tools at AncestryDNA
Where: MidPointe Library West Chester
When: Tuesday, June 11th, 2019
Time: 7:00 - 8:45 pm
Directions: MidPointe Library West Chester

If you have taken a test through AncestryDNA, you may be interested in this topic. It is appropriate for both newbies and veterans of DNA research. Blaine Bettinger, founder of DNA-Central.com and nationally-recognized speaker, has prepared a video on the new tools that are available at AncestryDNA. These include a "New Match Listing" and "ThruLines."

In addition to these tools, Kathy Reed will demonstrate the MyTreeTags tool and how to access it. She will also show how ThruLines has assisted her in identifying other potential "cousins." If you bring a laptop, any remaining time will be used for individual collaboration on the use of these tools.You may want to read Roberta Estes' blog post on ThruLines. She gives a very detailed explanation of the potential payoffs and pitfalls of using this tool. Users should understand the following: 

Excerpt from Roberta Estes' Blog Post

So you will need to decide if you want to post a tree on family tree that is searchable on Ancestry. I, personally, have had some wonderful new clues as a result of these tools.

Submitted by Kathy Reed
SWOHDNA
dna.interest@hcgsohio.org

The Secrets Revealed by DNA - SWOHDNA Meeting

Who:  Natalie Boyer
What: The Secrets Revealed by DNA
Where: MidPointe Library West Chester
When: Tuesday, April 9th, 2019
Time: 7:00 - 8:45 pm
Directions: MidPointe Library West Chester

Background:

Autosomal DNA, Y-DNA, and Mitochondrial DNA all have family secrets hidden in their results from testing.  You just have to know where to search for the clues that might lead to some amazing discoveries! 

In Natalie Boyer’s presentation, she reveals stories of unexpected ethnicity results, surprising paternal results and how DNA proved a relationship 8 generations back.  There are surprising stories around every corner and twists to most everyone’s DNA results.  Find out how she used these results to break down brick walls and help other’s reveal their true parental path. 

Bio:

Natalie is an avid genealogist who has been searching her roots for 40 years.  At the age of 10, she would spend hours at the local library combing through books and microfilm in search of just one more ancestor and then maybe, just maybe, one more after that.  Her husband, Rick, equates genealogy to the online gaming industry where every generation you go back is another level achieved.

Her love of genealogy and family history grew even more when online records began to surface.  When her husband renewed her subscription to Ancestry.com about 6 years ago, she developed a love of genetic genealogy and has been on a quest to break down brick walls and unravel mysteries long hidden in the past, both for herself and others.

Professionally, she works at Procter and Gamble but dreams of the day when she can retire and focus her attention on genealogy and genetic genealogy. 

Submitted by: Natalie BoyerMidPointe Library West Chester

New Video on DNA Painter

At the February meeting of the Southwest Ohio DNA Interest Group, we discussed the chromosome mapping program developed by Jonny Perl, a family history enthusiast and web designer from the UK. His software won the Roots Tech DNA Innovation Award in 2018. The presentation was recorded and is available on both vimeo and YouTube.

DNA Painter is a website that you can use to visualize and make notes on your DNA ancestors. The goal is to be able to assign specific DNA segments to the individual or couple from whom you inherited it. The software is available at http://dnapainter.com.

Here is a sample of the chromosome mapping I've been able to complete on my family so far.

Happy painting.

Submitted by Kathy Reed
dna.interest@hcgsohio.org

Oldenburg Church Books Now Available on Matricula

I am beyond excited! As one who has spent numerous hours in the Family History Library in Norwood looking up baptismal records for my ancestors, imagine my joy in learning that they are now available to all of us on Matricula - an online database of church records. There is no charge for accessing this database. They have an English version of the website, but the records, of course, are in German.

I immediately looked for the baptismal record of my great-grandfather, August Vonderheide, as I know his date of birth and already have a copy of the record. I've outlined the steps I took to find the record.

Log on to the website: https://icar-us.eu/en/cooperation/online-portals/matricula    Go "To the archive"

If you know the name of the town, you can search for it. In my case, I searched on Holdorf.

If you do not know, click on the box highlighted with number 3.

You can then either search places or open up a map and search an area.

Since I knew my ancestor came from Holdorf, I searched on that place. This generated a list of three parishes connected with Holdorf.

I knew my parish of interest was St. Peter and Paul. Clicking on the link brought up a wonderful summary of information about the church, including the fact that this parish was once part of the church in Damme before the new parish was formed in 1827. This is important to know if your ancestors lived in the area before 1827.

Scrolling down on the parish page, I was able to locate a list of the available registers and two maps of the area. Clicking on the top map allows you to zero in on the present-day parish.

I clicked on the "camera icon" for the baptismal register for 1827-1876.  The menu on the right listed year was subdivided into 10-year segments. From there I had to guess which page would represent the year 1873, going forward or backward until arriving at the correct date. (Note: If you don't know the exact year, you will have to scroll though each page individually. This is much easier done here than scrolling through microfilm at the Family History Center. I found my record on p. 147).

Here is my great-grandfather's baptismal record. Often people in this region were often given multiple names, but were "known by" the last name in this list. My great-grandfather, for instance, was known as August Henry Vonderheide in the U.S. in contrast to Heinrch August von der Heide in Germany. The record also includes his date of birth, date of baptism, names of parents and names of the witnesses.

I want to acknowledge Jeff Herbert who has been working with the archives in Vechta to get many of these records digitized. I anticipate more records in the future. It's a great day for genealogy.

Update from Don Meyer:

I asked Don Meyer (who made me aware that these records were available) to review this post and make suggestions. Here are a couple of his observations.

Click to enlarge.

Thanks, Don.

Submitted by:

Kathy Reed
Director-at-Large

Understanding Your DNA Health Reports

In December 2018, Kelli Bergheimer of the Central Ohio DIG, once again agreed to share her expertise with her southwest Ohio brethren. It seems like more and more of the DNA companies we have used to explore our ethnicity and to identify "cousins" have begun to offer a health component.

Before you take the plunge into this fledgling field, it is important that you educate yourself about what you can and cannot expect from health reports. Are they reliable? Do they take the place of what you might expect to get from a medical professional?

Kelli did a wonderful job of spelling out the pros and cons. You can access this video through the Hamilton County Genealogical Society website or by clicking on this link: https://vimeo.com/313559534 You can also view it on the HCGS YouTube channel at https://youtu.be/MrP22390wiQ.



Submitted by Kathy Reed
Southwest Ohio DNA Interest Group
dna.interest@hcgsohio.org

SWOHDNA Meeting - How to Use DNAPainter for Chromosome Matching

Who:  Kathy Reed, SWOHDNA
What: How to Use DNAPainter Software for Chromosome Mapping
Where: MidPointe Library West Chester
When: Tuesday, February 12th, 2019
Time: 7:00 - 8:45 pm
Directions: MidPointe Library West Chester

If you are a "Genetic Genealogy Nerd," then this is the software for you. Most of us are familiar with Gedmatch and its ability to help us identify relatives who share DNA with us. We can determine how much DNA we share and on which chromosomes. There is a tool that enables us to identify people who match one of both of two kits.  So you have to wonder? Why would I need this tool?

This software does have some nice features if you are interested in assigning specific segments of DNA to a specific ancestor i.e. Great-Grandfather. Initially, the software was free, but as bells and whistles have been added, you now must subscribe to really take advantage of its features. The cost is $30 for six months or $55 for a yearly subscription. There is no cost to set up a profile and try the software out. This should help you decided if it is a tool you want to add to your tool box or not.

Additional information:

Jonny Perl, the developer of this software, received an Award at the 2018 RootsTech Conference. 
For a great story about how this tool came about, click on the link: 
2018 RootsTech DNA Innovation Award Winner

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If anyone is looking for an opportunity to learn more about using your DNA testing for genealogy research, Family History Fanatics will be producing "A Winter of DNA" eConference on January 26th.  Speakers and topics will include:

Tim Janzen - Maximizing Your Use of GEDmatch
Richard Hill - Finding Family with DNA Testing: A Genetic Detective Story
Andy Lee - DNA Tree Building: What to Do When GEDmatch Matches Don't Respond
Maurice Gleeson - Using Y-DNA in Your Family Tree Research

The online sessions will begin at 9am Central Time on January 26th. A final panel discussion will end the day.  All registrants will be able to view the conference for 30 days.  Register and get your questions answered by some of the most popular genetic genealogy educators! Presentations are live, not pre-recorded, and you can ask questions throughout.

Price is only $19.99 until January 18th and then it will be $24.99.  Also, we will be having DNA kits and other stuff as door prizes that will be given away.  You don't have to be present to win, but you do have to register.

More information is available on the website: http://www.familyhistoryfanatics.com/winterdna

Feel free to let any friends, family, or genealogy society members (or anyone else who may be interested) know about this great opportunity. 

Kathy Reed
dna.interest.org