Tags
cemetery, family, familysearch.org, genealogy, indexing, journey, milestone, Newell, news, photographs, Whittaker
In my email today, I received a note from FamilySearch Indexing. Apparently, last night, I indexed my 50th batch of information. Most of the batches that I’ve indexed have been for the 1940 US Census. I’ve indexed over 1,700 names since I started. It’s probably not all that much, but every bit counts.
If you don’t believe that, check out the numbers from a few weeks ago on July 2nd:
Over 46,000 people indexed and arbitrated over 10 million records in one day! Pretty impressive, especially considering that they had set the goal at 5 million. In 16 hours, we had surpassed that goal. Yes, I participated that day, and I was able to post 400 names that day, all from the 1940 Census. So far, I’ve indexed records in 11 states, as well as in the District of Columbia. Most of the states I have indexed are those in which ancestors of myself or my husband have lived.
If you’re a regular visitor, you may see that the picture of my header has changed. The person that took the photo is Bobbie Creech, my first cousin, once removed. He has been a wonderful ally in my genealogical journey. We have shared many pieces of information back and forth, primarily on the Newell and Whittaker lines. In an email the other night, he said, “I think all this Genealogy should be open to all and you do have my permission to reproduce any and all of the photos I send to you.” I am very excited about this! I really don’t have any of the family photos myself, other than what my Dad or others have sent to me via email. Bobbie allowing me to share photos he has shared with me allows me to introduce other family members to you in both words and pictures.
The cemetery above is Henry Cemetery, located in Putnam County, Tennessee. Many of my relatives are buried there, including two of my great-great-grandparents, and several of their family members. It sounds like it’s not an easy place to get to. According to Bobbie, “It was so far back in the woods they had to pipe sunlight in…” It looks like such a wonderful place though; I’d love to visit it one day.
I’m going to post a Wordless Wednesday this week. I plan to introduce you to my Mom’s oldest sister, whom I’ve mentioned a few times before. So get ready to meet Anna Mae shortly.
Adventuring in Ancestry 
I like your new header look. Your cousin is a wonderful photographer.
And, thank you for doing the indexing. It is such an important task.
Sheryl, that he is. He sent me quite a few pictures of the grave markers in Henry Cemetery, and there will be some that I will share soon.
As to the indexing, I like the idea of “paying it forward”. If I can help another researcher by a suggestion, or indexing, or finding a record, I feel at some point when I’m at a dead end, another researcher will point me in a new direction.
Indexing has also made me curious about the lives of some of the people I’ve indexed, especially some of the young men that were old enough to be drafted or volunteer when the US became involved in World War II. Did they serve? Did they survive? What were their lives like during/after the War? Perhaps on a day when I want to set aside my own family research, I might see if some of those questions can be answered.