The War of 1812 records contain more than just the Name, Rank, and Serial Number (minimum information required to give in the event of capture) of the veteran. This webinar will focus on the various documents that might be found in the Pension records of The War of 1812 veterans, how they might be used to overcome brick walls in genealogical research, and about the Preserve The Pensions project (www.preservethepensions.org).

Join us and Rebecca Whitman Koford for the live webinar Wednesday, March 2, 2016 at 2pm Eastern U.S. Register today to reserve your virtual seat. Registration is free but space is limited to the first 1,000 people to join that day. Before joining, please visit www.java.com to ensure you have the latest version of Java which our webinar software requires. When you join, if you receive a message that the webinar is full, you know we've reached the 1,000 limit, so we invite you to view the recording which should be published to the webinar archives within an hour or two of the event's conclusion.  

Download the syllabus

In preparation for the webinar, download the supplemental syllabus materials here. The syllabus is available for annual or monthly webinar subscribers. Log in here or subscribe here.

Or register for multiple webinars at once by clicking here.

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Login to view your registration status for this webinar (available for annual or monthly webinar subscribers).

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About the presenter

Rebecca Whitman Koford holds a Certified Genealogist® credential.  Her focus is in American research with special emphasis in Maryland. She has been interested in genealogy ever since the age of five, when she could read her parents’ collection of old handwritten family group sheets. Rebecca has been taking clients and lecturing since 2004. She has spoken for the Maryland State Archives and for groups in Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., and Delaware. She is a board member of the Maryland Genealogical Society and volunteers at the Family History Center in Frederick, Maryland. She has published articles in the NGS Magazine and the Maryland Genealogical Society Journal. She is a graduate of the ProGen Study Group, an online peer-led study program based on the book Professional Genealogy by Elizabeth Shown Mills; she was appointed ProGen Administrator in January 2015. Rebecca is very enthusiastic about the Preserve the Pensions: War of 1812 project sponsored by the Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS). Rebecca lives in Mt. Airy, Maryland, with three active teenagers and a very patient husband.

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4. Calculate your time zone by clicking here.
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We look forward to seeing you all there!

This was the chart I created of my ancestors who came west via the Oregon Trail. I demonstrated how to make this as part of the after-webinar party the other day. If you missed the step-by-step process of how I created this in Legacy Family Tree, jump ahead to the "After-webinar party" in the Table of Contents in this webinar (Table of Contents is available for webinar subscribers).

This chart ended up being 24 inches wide by 12 inches tall, and some of you have asked me for a reminder of how to purchase this chart so it is printed on one continuous sheet of paper. Here's the steps:

In Legacy Charting, click on the Order Chart button.

Then, make any adjustments to the sizing of your chart, and then in the Order Options panel, select your paper type, size, and quantity. The exact costs are displayed so there's no guessing. Too expensive? Resize the chart a little bit and you'll be able to see the updated pricing in real time.

When you're ready, click the Purchase Chart button and fill in the information. The chart file is then sent to our chart printers, Family Chartmasters, for printing, and before you know it, the chart will arrive at your front door.

The recent Getting Started with Microsoft Word class by Thomas MacEntee has gotten such rave reviews that we've decided to keep it free - indefinitely!

Here's what people are saying:

• "Absolutely fantastic webinar. I've used Word for years on lengthy documents and learned so much today that will help me. His webinar was better than all the books I have on how to work with Word."
  
  
• "Awesome! I knew some of these tips, but Thomas has added so much more. Thank you. My Word editing will go much faster and smoother. :)"
  
  
• "Excellent webinar!! I've been using Word for 30 years and learned new things I didn't even know were possible (or never took the time to investigate), especially the Styles and Format Painter. I look forward to watching the rest of the Word webinars. Thank you for doing these."
  
  
• "I almost didn't sign up for this "Getting Started with Word" I have used Word for years and years. But I hoped for a few tips. OMGoodness. I got way more than I expected. Thomas made it seem so easy. He never talked down to us. He genuinely wants us to learn. He repeated the process (steps) after demonstrating. Great teacher. Great webinar. Thanks Geoff and Thomas"
  
  
• "Thomas never disappoints. He made using Microsoft word look so easy. The examples he provided were easy to follow. He made sure the viewer knew how to do it themselves when they left the webinar. One of the best I have watched. Thank you!"

This first introductory class provides answers to many of the most common yet frustrating challenges for every day Microsoft Word users. And as the reviews above point out, Thomas makes it easy for everyone to learn.

First in a Series

Getting Started in Microsoft Word is the first in the new Microsoft Word Series that was created specifically for FamilyTreeWebinars.com subscribers. The series will teach you everything from Formatting Basics, to Understanding Headers and Footers, to Creating and Using Templates - and much more!

Enjoy the free class on us!

We know you're going to get a lot out of this class! We're convinced that you'll like this class so much that we think you might even want to sign up for a membership. 

Not a member yet?

Legacy Family Tree Webinars provides genealogy education where-you-are through live and recorded online webinars and videos. Learn from the best instructors in genealogy including Thomas MacEntee, Judy Russell, J. Mark Lowe, Lisa Louise Cooke, Megan Smolenyak, Tom Jones, and many more. Learn at your convenience. On-demand classes are available 24 hours a day! All you need is a computer or mobile device with an Internet connection.

Subscribe today and get access to this BONUS members-only webinar AND all of this:

• All 322 classes in the library (465 hours of quality genealogy and technology education)
• 1,385 pages of instructors' handouts
• Chat logs from the live webinars
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• Chance for a bonus subscribers-only door prize during each live webinar
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It's just $49.95/year or $9.95/month.

Genealogists have strong opinions. But are they always correct?

I've been following some online genealogy discussions recently and noticed that we genealogists often answer questions with an emphatic point of view. Very often the answer is an extreme leaning one way or the other, with no middle ground or room for a “perhaps…”

One recent discussion began after a seemingly simple question -- were there naming patterns for children in the 1800s in [fill in blank with any country].

Genealogists began to respond with their opinions. Almost all gave a simple YES or NO. Some provided reasons or rationale or examples to support their YES or NO stance.

But no one jumped in with "Maybe... Sometimes... It depends… Yes, but...."

Getting Real

Let's get real! Naming patterns existed. That is correct. Historically parents often named a child in honor of a relative – father, mother, grandfather, grandmother, or other family member.

BUT…Were naming patterns identical in all cultures? No

Did all countries have strict naming pattern conventions? No.

Did naming patterns follow the same rules over the centuries? Were naming patterns in one country during the 16^th century identical to naming patterns in the 19^th century? No.

Were existing naming patterns used by all families? No.

Our Ancestors Were Just Like Us

It's easy to forget that our ancestors were people like us. They fought, they loved, they cried, they laughed, they had good days, they had bad days, and they made decisions for many of the same reasons we make decisions – including what names to give their children.

Even if there were established naming patterns that were used most of the time, as is the case with the Dutch who settled in the 17^th century in what is now New York, as researchers we must keep an open mind as to whether or not the customs were always followed.

Reasons a Couple Might Not Follow Traditional Naming Patterns

Perhaps your ancestor fought with his father or mother and vowed to never name a child in their honor.

Perhaps your ancestor was a free spirit and loved the name Lancelot so broke with tradition even though the first born male in her family had been called James for the last ten generations.

Perhaps your ancestor wanted to cozy up to his rich great uncle so he named his first born son after that person instead of his father.... and gave his second born his father's name.

Perhaps the birth parents had died young and one of the spouses wanted to honor their adoptive parents.

If you find seven children in a family and six are named after known family members such as paternal grandparents, maternal grandparents, aunts, and uncles, then there is a good chance that the seventh was also named after a family member. However it’s important to remember that this is not guaranteed. The couple might have named that child after a good friend, or an important contemporary person, or a benefactor.

Let’s look at a different scenario. In your research you are trying to find the names of the parents of your great-great grandmother. You have a theory as to who her parents are. Then you notice what looks like a naming pattern of her siblings. This pattern fits with the parents you theorized are the correct parents. But one parent's name is missing from the pattern. What to do? That's not the time to toss out your theory! There may be a missing child, one whose existence you aren't aware of, or who died. That child may be the missing link, and may be named after that one parent who is missing from the pattern.

Wiggle Room

Think about this the next time you are tempted to accept an absolute and emphatic yes or no to the question “Do Naming Patterns Exist?” The editor of the New York Biographical and Genealogical Review told me once that absolute answers are never a good idea and that one should always leave oneself some “wiggle room”. In other words don’t back yourself into a corner by giving an absolute answer. There are often exceptions to rules.

So be sure you leave yourself some wiggle room next time you answer a question, and if you are the person asking the question, take absolute answers with a grain of salt.

Use naming patterns as a guide. That's all they are, they are not a set of rules set in stone.

Lorine McGinnis Schulze is a Canadian genealogist who has been involved with genealogy and history for more than thirty years. In 1996 Lorine created the Olive Tree Genealogy website and its companion blog. Lorine is the author of many published genealogical and historical articles and books.

A well versed genealogist told me that when you lose an ancestor in south central Virginia in the 1830’s look in Georgia. Losing an ancestor took me from the basement of the Halifax County, Virginia court house to the genealogy records of Georgia.  

Look in Georgia?

The discovery of Georgia gold in 1829 led to the Georgia Gold Rush and an influx of people seeking their fortunes. Almost every surname in Halifax County, Virginia in the 1830’s can be found in Georgia. As it turns out, I was following the ancestor who was following the gold. Without learning the history of the time and the area, looking for my ancestors in Georgia would not have occurred to me. (Tip: Know the historical and economic events that would have impacted your ancestors.)

Now I needed to learn about the Georgia Genealogy resources.

Source: Library of Congress

Georgia Genealogy Resources

Georgia is made up of 159 counties.  Genealogical records for each county vary as is often found in the Southern states.  Fires, floods and natural disasters account for many of the record losses. Marriage and probate records were recorded by the clerk of the Ordinary Court. Land records were recorded by the Clerk of the Superior Court.  The Superior Court handled most civil cases as well. From 1805-1833, Georgia had a unique land lottery system to distribute lands that had been taken from the Cherokee and Creek Indians.  

Online Resources for Your Georgia Genealogy Research

• Georgia Archives – Your starting place for Georgia genealogy research.
• Georgia’s Virtual Vault – part of the Georgia Archives – Examples of available records include deed books, colonial wills, and death certificates.
• Digital Library of Georgia – Records from 60 institutions and 100 government agencies.
• Historic Newspapers of Georgia - part of the Digital Library of Georgia
• The Georgia GenWeb Project – A variety of resources provided by dedicated volunteers.
• Historical Georgia Maps – Historical maps dating back to the mid to late 1600’s.
• Vital Records – Site for the Georgia Department of Public Health.
• New Georgia Encyclopedia - This is a good resource on the history of Georgia.
• Family Search – Examples of Georgia records include Freedmen’s Bureau, probate and headright and bounty land records.
• Baptist Church Records – Historical Baptist church records at Mercer University. The finding aids are online, but most of the actual records are not. Contact the archivist for assistance.
• Georgia Land Lotteries – Information on each of the 8 land lotteries held between 1805-1833. If your ancestor participated in one of the Georgia land lotteries, know the eligibility rules for the participants. Clues to the participant’s age, marital status, arrival in Georgia can be gleaned.
  
  

African American Genealogy Resources

Are you researching African American ancestors in Georgia?  These resources may be of help.

• AfriGeneas - A website devoted to African-American genealogy research. Be sure and check out their online community, too.
• Low Country Africana - African American Genealogy in SC, GA and FL  - Beautiful website dedicated to African-American genealogy research of SC, GA, and FL ancestors.
• Freedmen’s Bureau Field Office Records, 1865-1872 (FamilySearch.org) – Includes records on rations, medical care, school reports and more.

Genealogical Societies of Georgia

Genealogical societies at the state, regional and local levels provide a variety of helpful resources.

• Georgia Genealogical Society
• East Georgia Genealogical Society
• Central Georgia Genealogical Society
• Southwest Georgia Genealogical Society
• Check out local county genealogy and/or historical societies specific to the locations of your ancestors. Often times, they have “an insider’s knowledge” on resources unique to an area or family.

Don't forget to the check out the Legacy QuickGuide: Georgia Genealogy by Stephanie Pitcher Fishman (PDF Edition)

Share your favorite Georgia genealogy resources in the comments below!

[Unfortunately, that gold seeking ancestor did not strike it rich and no family fortune in gold was discovered!]

Lisa Lisson is a genealogist, blogger and Etsy-prenuer who writes about her never-ending pursuit of ancestors, the “how” of genealogy research and the importance of sharing genealogy research with our families. Specializing in North Carolina and southern Virginia research, she also provides genealogical research services to clients. In researching her own family history, Lisa discovered a passion for oral history and its role in genealogy research. You can find Lisa online at Lisa Lisson.com.

The recording of today's webinar, "A Guided Tour of Cyndi's List 2.0" by Cyndi Ingle is now available to view for free for a limited time at www.FamilyTreeWebinars.com. 

This begins with a brief history of Cyndi's List, followed by an overview of how to navigate the newly updated site and how to tell when the site is updated. Learn how to effectively use this valuable resource tool as your jumping-off point onto the genealogist's Internet.

View the Recording at FamilyTreeWebinars.com

If you could not make it to the live event or just want to watch it again, the 1 hour 48 minute recording of "A Guided Tour of Cyndi's List 2.0" PLUS the after-webinar party is now available to view in our webinar library for free for a limited time. Or watch it at your convenience with an annual or monthly webinar membership.

Digital Download

This webinar recording is also available as a digital download for just $9.95. It includes the .mp4 and the syllabus for one low price. Click here to purchase. Or, subscribe for a month or a year and also have access to the recording and handouts for the duration of your membership.

Coupon code

Use webinar coupon code - cyndi - for 10% off anything at www.FamilyTreeWebinars.com or www.LegacyFamilyTreeStore.com, valid through Monday, February 29, 2016. 

Webinar Memberships/Subscriptions

Webinar Members get:

• On-demand access to the entire webinar archives (now 320 classes, 465 hours of genealogy education)
• On-demand access to the instructor handouts (now 1,375 pages)
• On-demand access to the live webinars' chat logs
• 5% off all products at www.FamilyTreeWebinars.com (must be logged in at checkout)
• Access to all future recordings for the duration of their membership
• Chance for a members-only door prize during each live webinar
• Access to register for bonus members-only webinars
• Ability to view which webinars you are registered for
• Use of the playlist, resume watching, and jump-to features

Introductory pricing:

• Annual membership: $49.95/year
• Monthly membership: $9.95/month

Click here to subscribe.

Register for our upcoming webinars (free)

• The War of 1812 Records - Preserving the Pensions by Rebecca Koford. March 2.
• Making YDNA and mtDNA Part of Your Family History by Diahan Southard. March 4.
• How Do I Know That's My Ancestor? by Amy Johnson Crow. March 9.
• The Private Laws of the Federal and State Governments by Judy Russell. March 16.
• Introduction to German Parish Records by Gail Blankenau. March 23.
• Proof Arguments - How to Write Them and Why They Matter by Warren Bittner. March 30.
• Getting to Know Findmypast - Your Source for British and Irish Genealogy by Jen Baldwin. April 6.
• Confirming Enslaved Ancestors Utilizing DNA by Melvin Collier. April 8.
• U.S. Land Records - State Land States by Mary Hill. April 13.
• Fire Insurance Maps - The Google Maps of Their Day by Jill Morelli. April 20.
• England and Wales - Rummaging in the Parish Chests by Kirsty Gray. April 27.
• Google Drive for Genealogists by Thomas MacEntee. May 4.
• Dirty Pictures - Save Your Family Photos from Ruin by Denise Levenick. May 11.
• Messages from the Grave - Listening to Your Ancestor's Tombstone by Elissa Scalise Powell. May 13.
• Mining the Über-sites for German Ancestors by Jim Beidler. May 18.
• Discover American Ancestors (NEHGS) by Lindsay Fulton. May 25.
• Get the Most from AmericanAncestors.org by Claire Vail. June 1.
• Researching Your Washington State Ancestors by Mary Roddy. June 8.
• Introduction to the Freedmen's Bureau by Angela Walton-Raji. June 10.
• Ticked Off! Those Pesky Pre-1850 Census Tic Marks by Peggy Clemens Lauritzen. June 15.
• Digging Deeper in German Parish Records by Gail Blankenau. June 22.
• Circles or Triangles? What Shape is Your DNA? by Diahan Southard. June 29.
• Navigating Naturalization Records by Lisa Alzo. July 6.
• A Genealogist's Guide to Heraldry by Shannon Combs-Bennett. July 13.
• Finding French Ancestors by Luana Darby. July 15.
• Organize Your Online Life by Lisa Louise Cooke. July 20.
• Researching Women - Community Cookbooks and What They Tell Us About Our Ancestors by Gena Philibert-Ortega. July 27.
• The Germanic French - Researching Alsatian and Lorrainian Families by John Philip Colletta. July 30.
• Solutions for Missing and Scarce Records by Tom Jones. July 30.
• Getting Started with Microsoft PowerPoint by Thomas MacEntee. August 3.
• The Battle for Bounty Land - War of 1812 and Mexican-American Wars by Beth Foulk. August 10.
• Homestead Act of 1862 - Following the Witnesses by Bernice Bennett. August 12.
• Successfully Applying to a Lineage Society by Amy Johnson Crow. August 17.
• Using Findmypast to Unlock Your Irish Ancestry by Brian Donovan. August 24.
• The Treasure Trove in Legislative Petitions by Judy Russell. September 14.
• Clooz - A Document-Based Software Companion by Richard Thomas. September 16.
• How to Use FamilySearch.org for Beginners by Devin Ashby. September 21.
• Beginning Polish Genealogy by Lisa Alzo and Jonathan Shea. September 28.
• AHA! Analysis of Handwriting for Genealogical Research by Ron Arons. October 5.
• Time and Place - Using Genealogy's Cross-Hairs by Jim Beidler. October 12.
• Finding Your Ancestors' German Hometown by Ursula Krause. October 14.
• Social History Websites That Bring Your Ancestor's Story to Life by Gena Philibert-Ortega. October 19.
• Flip for Flickr - Share, Store and Save Your Family Photos by Maureen Taylor. October 26.
• Analysis and Correlation - Two Keys to Sound Conclusions by Chris Staats. November 2.
• Publishing a Genealogy E-Book by Thomas MacEntee. November 9.
• Dating Family Photographs by Jane Neff Rollins. November 16.
• Nature & Nurture - Family History for Adoptees by Janet Hovorka and Amy Slade. November 18.
• Multi-Media Story Telling by Devin Ashby. November 30.
• Becoming a Genealogy Detective by Sharon Atkins. December 7.
• From the Heartland - Utilizing Online Resources in Midwest Research by Luana Darby. December 14.
• Tracing Your European Ancestors by Julie Goucher. December 16.
• An Introduction to BillionGraves by Garth Fitzner. December 21.

Click here to register.

Print the 2016 webinar brochure here.

See you online!

Tuesday's Tips provide brief how-to's to help you learn to use the Legacy Family Tree software with new tricks and techniques.

Stripping a Gedcom File for DNA Purposes

In last week's Tuesday's Tip we talked about "Keeping Track of DNA Contacts in Legacy." This week we're doing the reverse by discussing the export of Legacy data for DNA purposes.

I needed to upload new gedcom files for 23andMe, FTDNA, Ancestry and GEDMatch today. I needed to do this for myself, my mother and my uncle.

When I upload a gedcom for DNA I strip it of everything except Births, Marriages, and Deaths (BMD). I export the direct line ancestors, siblings of the direct line and the spouses. Setting this up can take some time but there is a nifty little trick. On the EXPORT ITEMS screen there are two handy buttons, SAVE LIST and LOAD LIST. I set up the options exactly like I need for my DNA export and then I click SAVE LIST. I named the settings file "Stripped gedcom for DNA.gl8" You want to give your custom settings a descriptive name in case you save multiple sets of settings. In the screenshot you can see that I have checked all of the boxes excluding all of those items and in the "Export these items" box I have used the "Remove" button to take everything out of there except the BMD info.

Don't forget the Privacy Options button to either exclude living people or change their name to Living.

HINT: You will want the anchor person's name to show up (the person that took the DNA test) but you don't any additional personal information to upload. You can do this two ways. You can kill yourself off (figuratively speaking by entering a death date) and then remove the BMD info from the gedcom or you can let it print LIVING for yourself and simple go into the gedcom and change the name.

This requires you to open the gedcom in Notepad and make the edits there which is a bit of an advanced skill. To make it easier, you can kill yourself off (so that your name will export) and then temporarily put privacy brackets around the BMD info you don't want to be made public.

BMD = Births, Marriages, and Deaths.

Find tech tips every day in the Facebook Legacy User Group. The group is free and is available to anyone with a Facebook account.

For video tech tips checkout the Legacy Quick Tips page.  These short videos will make it easy for you to learn all sort of fun and interesting ways to look at your genealogy research.

Michele Simmons Lewis is part of the technical support team at Millennia, the makers of the Legacy Family Tree software program. With over 20 years of research experience, Michele’s passion is helping new genealogists get started on the right foot through her writings, classes and lectures. She is the former staff genealogist and weekly columnist for the McDuffie Mirror and now authors Ancestoring, a blog geared toward the beginner/intermediate researcher.

This begins with a brief history of Cyndi's List, followed by an overview of how to navigate the newly updated site and how to tell when the site is updated. Learn how to effectively use this valuable resource tool as your jumping-off point onto the genealogist's Internet.

Join us and Cyndi Ingle for the live webinar Wednesday, February 24, 2016 at 2pm Eastern U.S. Register today to reserve your virtual seat. Registration is free but space is limited to the first 1,000 people to join that day. Before joining, please visit www.java.com to ensure you have the latest version of Java which our webinar software requires. When you join, if you receive a message that the webinar is full, you know we've reached the 1,000 limit, so we invite you to view the recording which should be published to the webinar archives within an hour or two of the event's conclusion.  

Download the syllabus

In preparation for the webinar, download the supplemental syllabus materials here. The syllabus is available for annual or monthly webinar subscribers. Log in here or subscribe here.

Or register for multiple webinars at once by clicking here.

Not sure if you already registered?

Login to view your registration status for this webinar (available for annual or monthly webinar subscribers).

Test Your Webinar Connection

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Can't make it to the live event?

No worries. Its recording will be available for a limited time. Webinar Subscribers have unlimited access to all webinar recordings for the duration of their membership.

About the presenter

Cyndi is the creator, owner and “webmaster” of the award-winning web site Cyndi’s List of Genealogy Sites on the Internet,www.CyndisList.com, a categorized index to more than 335,000 online resources. In its first three years, Cyndi’s List was three times voted the best genealogy site on the World Wide Web. It helps millions of visitors worldwide each month and has been featured in the media and diverse publications, including ABC News, NBC News, USA Today, Time, Newsweek, Parade Magazine, Wired, Family Tree Magazine, Family Chronicle, and Internet Genealogy magazines. Cyndi has been interviewed for many television and radio broadcasts including ABC News, NBC News, the BBC, and National Public Radio. She has also participated in the Ancestors II television series on PBS. Cyndi, a genealogist for more than 35 years, is a past-member of the board of directors for the National Genealogical Society. Cyndi is an internationally known guest lecturer for various genealogical society meetings and seminars (http://www.CyndisList.com/speaking-calendar/). She has lectured for the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy, GENTECH, Brigham Young University, the Federation of Genealogical Societies, the National Genealogical Society, the Washington Library Association, the Florida Library Association, the American Library Association and numerous local genealogical societies in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Cyndi has authored numerous articles and three books. Before her life on the Internet, Cyndi worked as an international banker specializing in foreign exchange and computer networks. Cyndi, her son, Evan, and three Boston Terriers live in Edgewood, Washington.

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Webinar time

The webinar will be live on Wednesday, February 24, 2016 at:

• 2pm Eastern (U.S.)
• 1pm Central
• 12pm Mountain
• 11am Pacific

Or use this Time Zone Converter.

Here's how to attend:

1. Register at www.FamilyTreeWebinars.com today. It's free!
2. You will receive a confirmation email containing a link to the webinar.
3. You will receive a reminder email both 1 day and 1 hour prior to the live webinar.
4. Calculate your time zone by clicking here.
5. Make sure you have the latest version of Java installed on your computer. Check at www.java.com.
6. Check your GoToWebinar connection here.
7. Click on the webinar link (found in confirmation and reminder emails) prior to the start of the webinar. Arrive early as the room size is limited to the first 1,000 arrivals that day.
8. Listen via headset (USB headsets work best), your computer speakers, or by phone.

We look forward to seeing you all there!

The recording of today's webinar, "Problem Solving with FANs" by Beth Foulk is now available to view for free for a limited time at www.FamilyTreeWebinars.com. 

Often the answer to climbing a genealogy brick wall is simply to go around it. By broadening our research to include our ancestor’s friends, associates and neighbors, we can find answers that were previously elusive. Further, we paint a much broader, richer story of the ancestor's life by including their FANs. This class deconstructs the FAN concept then demonstrates how to use them in analysis through multiple examples. 

View the Recording at FamilyTreeWebinars.com

If you could not make it to the live event or just want to watch it again, the 1 hour 50 minute recording of "Problem Solving with FANs" PLUS the after-webinar party is now available to view in our webinar library for free for a limited time. Or watch it at your convenience with an annual or monthly webinar membership.

Digital Download

This webinar recording is also available as a digital download for just $9.95. It includes the .mp4 and the syllabus for one low price. Click here to purchase. Or, subscribe for a month or a year and also have access to the recording and handouts for the duration of your membership.

Coupon code

Use webinar coupon code - fans - for 10% off anything at www.FamilyTreeWebinars.com or www.LegacyFamilyTreeStore.com, valid through Monday, February 22, 2016. 

Webinar Memberships/Subscriptions

Webinar Members get:

• On-demand access to the entire webinar archives (now 319 classes, 463 hours of genealogy education)
• On-demand access to the instructor handouts (now 1,371 pages)
• On-demand access to the live webinars' chat logs
• 5% off all products at www.FamilyTreeWebinars.com (must be logged in at checkout)
• Access to all future recordings for the duration of their membership
• Chance for a members-only door prize during each live webinar
• Access to register for bonus members-only webinars
• Ability to view which webinars you are registered for
• Use of the playlist, resume watching, and jump-to features

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• Annual membership: $49.95/year
• Monthly membership: $9.95/month

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Register for our upcoming webinars (free)

• A Guided Tour of Cyndi's List 2.0 by Cyndi Ingle. February 24.
• The War of 1812 Records - Preserving the Pensions by Rebecca Koford. March 2.
• Making YDNA and mtDNA Part of Your Family History by Diahan Southard. March 4.
• How Do I Know That's My Ancestor? by Amy Johnson Crow. March 9.
• The Private Laws of the Federal and State Governments by Judy Russell. March 16.
• Introduction to German Parish Records by Gail Blankenau. March 23.
• Proof Arguments - How to Write Them and Why They Matter by Warren Bittner. March 30.
• Getting to Know Findmypast - Your Source for British and Irish Genealogy by Jen Baldwin. April 6.
• Confirming Enslaved Ancestors Utilizing DNA by Melvin Collier. April 8.
• U.S. Land Records - State Land States by Mary Hill. April 13.
• Fire Insurance Maps - The Google Maps of Their Day by Jill Morelli. April 20.
• England and Wales - Rummaging in the Parish Chests by Kirsty Gray. April 27.
• Google Drive for Genealogists by Thomas MacEntee. May 4.
• Dirty Pictures - Save Your Family Photos from Ruin by Denise Levenick. May 11.
• Messages from the Grave - Listening to Your Ancestor's Tombstone by Elissa Scalise Powell. May 13.
• Mining the Über-sites for German Ancestors by Jim Beidler. May 18.
• Discover American Ancestors (NEHGS) by Lindsay Fulton. May 25.
• Get the Most from AmericanAncestors.org by Claire Vail. June 1.
• Researching Your Washington State Ancestors by Mary Roddy. June 8.
• Introduction to the Freedmen's Bureau by Angela Walton-Raji. June 10.
• Ticked Off! Those Pesky Pre-1850 Census Tic Marks by Peggy Clemens Lauritzen. June 15.
• Digging Deeper in German Parish Records by Gail Blankenau. June 22.
• Circles or Triangles? What Shape is Your DNA? by Diahan Southard. June 29.
• Navigating Naturalization Records by Lisa Alzo. July 6.
• A Genealogist's Guide to Heraldry by Shannon Combs-Bennett. July 13.
• Finding French Ancestors by Luana Darby. July 15.
• Organize Your Online Life by Lisa Louise Cooke. July 20.
• Researching Women - Community Cookbooks and What They Tell Us About Our Ancestors by Gena Philibert-Ortega. July 27.
• The Germanic French - Researching Alsatian and Lorrainian Families by John Philip Colletta. July 30.
• Solutions for Missing and Scarce Records by Tom Jones. July 30.
• Getting Started with Microsoft PowerPoint by Thomas MacEntee. August 3.
• The Battle for Bounty Land - War of 1812 and Mexican-American Wars by Beth Foulk. August 10.
• Homestead Act of 1862 - Following the Witnesses by Bernice Bennett. August 12.
• Successfully Applying to a Lineage Society by Amy Johnson Crow. August 17.
• Using Findmypast to Unlock Your Irish Ancestry by Brian Donovan. August 24.
• The Treasure Trove in Legislative Petitions by Judy Russell. September 14.
• Clooz - A Document-Based Software Companion by Richard Thomas. September 16.
• How to Use FamilySearch.org for Beginners by Devin Ashby. September 21.
• Beginning Polish Genealogy by Lisa Alzo and Jonathan Shea. September 28.
• AHA! Analysis of Handwriting for Genealogical Research by Ron Arons. October 5.
• Time and Place - Using Genealogy's Cross-Hairs by Jim Beidler. October 12.
• Finding Your Ancestors' German Hometown by Ursula Krause. October 14.
• Social History Websites That Bring Your Ancestor's Story to Life by Gena Philibert-Ortega. October 19.
• Flip for Flickr - Share, Store and Save Your Family Photos by Maureen Taylor. October 26.
• Analysis and Correlation - Two Keys to Sound Conclusions by Chris Staats. November 2.
• Publishing a Genealogy E-Book by Thomas MacEntee. November 9.
• Dating Family Photographs by Jane Neff Rollins. November 16.
• Nature & Nurture - Family History for Adoptees by Janet Hovorka and Amy Slade. November 18.
• Multi-Media Story Telling by Devin Ashby. November 30.
• Becoming a Genealogy Detective by Sharon Atkins. December 7.
• From the Heartland - Utilizing Online Resources in Midwest Research by Luana Darby. December 14.
• Tracing Your European Ancestors by Julie Goucher. December 16.
• An Introduction to BillionGraves by Garth Fitzner. December 21.

Click here to register.

Print the 2016 webinar brochure here.

See you online!

Many of us use Microsoft Word but how many of us know how to use it well? In his new Microsoft Word series on Legacy Family Tree Webinars, Thomas MacEntee makes using Word the right way easy for all of us. It's no mistake! Thomas has over 25 years experience working in the Information Technology field; this includes many years as a Microsoft Certified Trainer for Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint. And the Thomas we know and love always makes learning seem so easy. Take advantage of this series to learn how to use one of the most under-rated tools in our genealogy toolbox!

The new Microsoft Word classes include:

• Getting Started with Microsoft Word
• Formatting Basics
• Formatting Tips and Tricks
• Solving the Mystery of Styles
• Understanding Different Types of Breaks
• Understanding Header and Footer Behavior
• Mastering Numbering and Bullets
• Mastering Tables
• Creating Drawings and Graphics
• Creating and Using Templates
• Customizing Settings and Menus

We're working hard to give our webinar subscribers the educational classes they need to maximize their genealogical research! All of these new classes are bonus webinars in the FamilyTreeWebinars.com library. The webinar previews are always free.

Microsoft Word Series - #2 Formatting Basics

Do you struggle with simple formatting in Microsoft Word including bold, italics and underlining? In this presentation, you’ll learn the three main categories of formatting in Microsoft Word (character level, paragraph level and page level) as well as the best ways to apply formatting efficiently. (Microsoft Word 2010 is the version used during the webinar. Many, if not all, of the features are the same or similar on other versions of Word including 2007 and 2013.)

Microsoft Word Series - #3 Formatting Tips and Tricks

Are you spending most of your time in Microsoft Word applying various formats to headings, paragraphs and more? What if you could pick up a few tips that could speed up the process? In this presentation you’ll learn the most efficient ways to apply formatting, including the use of the Format Painter. (Microsoft Word 2010 is the version used during the webinar. Many, if not all, of the features are the same or similar on other versions of Word including 2007 and 2013.)

Microsoft Word Series - #4 Solving the Mystery of Styles

Ask the typical Microsoft Word user if they know about Styles and you’ll get a variety of answers – most of them wrong. In this presentation you’ll learn the most important skill for working in Word: Styles. Understand how to use styles, update styles and apply them effectively. You’ll be amazed at how much time you can save by learning some of the most basic Styles functions. (Microsoft Word 2010 is the version used during the webinar. Many, if not all, of the features are the same or similar on other versions of Word including 2007 and 2013.)

Microsoft Word Series - #5 Understanding Different Types of Breaks

One of the mysteries of Microsoft Word, effective use of Breaks is essential to understanding how Word works. In this presentation you’ll learn the difference between page breaks, column breaks and section breaks. Learn how to effectively use breaks to change page formatting within the same document. (Microsoft Word 2010 is the version used during the webinar. Many, if not all, of the features are the same or similar on other versions of Word including 2007 and 2013.)

Microsoft Word Series - #6 Understanding Header and Footer Behavior

The key to a successful family history book is the proper use of headers and footers for chapter headings and pagination. Used properly, your manuscript can look professional instead of “homespun.” In this presentation you’ll learn how Microsoft Word headers and footers “connect” and how to get them to “behave” properly. (Microsoft Word 2010 is the version used during the webinar. Many, if not all, of the features are the same or similar on other versions of Word including 2007 and 2013.)

Microsoft Word Series - #7

Frustrated with using the Numbering and Bullets feature in Microsoft Word? Is it just easier to manually number paragraphs? In this presentation you’ll learn the basics of the Numbering and Bullets feature including how to restart numbering, change spacing and formatting and more. No longer will you need to suffer through numbering or bullet mistakes! (Microsoft Word 2010 is the version used during the webinar. Many, if not all, of the features are the same or similar on other versions of Word including 2007 and 2013.)

Microsoft Word Series - #8 Mastering Tables

Understanding Tables in Microsoft Word is a “powerhouse” skill that every user should have under their belt. Tables allow you to depict data in easy-to-understand formats. In this presentation you’ll understand the basics of creating and editing tables as well as some of the tricks and tips used by experts to format tables to perfection. (Microsoft Word 2010 is the version used during the webinar. Many, if not all, of the features are the same or similar on other versions of Word including 2007 and 2013.)

Microsoft Word Series - #9 Creating Drawings and Graphics

Learn how to bring various concepts in your Microsoft Word document to life with illustrations and by using the Drawing and Graphics toolbar. In this presentation you’ll see why using “copy and paste” for images can actually be detrimental to your Word file! In addition, you’ll see how to manipulate image formatting for the best visual effect. (Microsoft Word 2010 is the version used during the webinar. Many, if not all, of the features are the same or similar on other versions of Word including 2007 and 2013.)

Microsoft Word Series - #10 Creating and Using Templates

Save time and increase efficiency by using the template feature in Microsoft Word. In this presentation you’ll learn how to create .dot and .dotx files as well as “fill in the blank” forms. (Microsoft Word 2010 will be the version used during the webinar. Many, if not all, of the features are the same or similar on other versions of Word including 2007 and 2013.)

Microsoft Word Series - #11 Customizing Settings and Menue

Are you plagued by “annoyances” when using Microsoft Word? Do you find yourself saying “I wish there was a way to change ________?” In this presentation you’ll learn the structure of the Microsoft Word menu system, how to add the most used features and remove those you don’t use, and more. Also, we’ll cover common problems that can be solved by making changes to the AutoCorrect and AutoFormat As You Type features. (Microsoft Word 2010 is the version used during the webinar. Many, if not all, of the features are the same or similar on other versions of Word including 2007 and 2013.)

These webinars join the introductory webinar in this series:

Microsoft Word Series - #1 Getting Started with Microsoft Word

While Microsoft Word – part of the Microsoft Office Suite – is one of the most dynamic software programs for document creation, various features can quickly frustrate even the most patient user. Learn the basics of Microsoft Word including “why” certain functions and features operate the way they do. Topics to be covered include basic document setup, styles, formatting and more.

Not a member yet?

Legacy Family Tree Webinars provides genealogy education where-you-are through live and recorded online webinars and videos. Learn from the best instructors in genealogy including Thomas MacEntee, Judy Russell, J. Mark Lowe, Lisa Louise Cooke, Megan Smolenyak, Tom Jones, and many more. Learn at your convenience. On-demand classes are available 24 hours a day! All you need is a computer or mobile device with an Internet connection.

Subscribe today and get access to this BONUS members-only webinar AND all of this:

• All 318 classes in the library (451 hours of quality genealogy education)
• 1,371 pages of instructors' handouts
• Chat logs from the live webinars
• Additional 5% off anything at FamilyTreeWebinars.com
• Chance for a bonus subscribers-only door prize during each live webinar
• Additional members-only webinars

It's just $49.95/year or $9.95/month.

 We've got a brand new line up of speakers for 2016! All live webinars are free to watch.

Print the 2016 webinar brochure here.