Welcome to The Past Lane.

Fair Warning: Forever, I have had a strong desire to be connected with my ancestors. My forbears are all pioneer stock who either came through Nauvoo, Illinois or immigrated shortly after settlement started in Utah. My husband's lines are the same. I began research when there were no census indexes, computers, or other aids like those available now. Because I copied my older family member's information by hand, their names and relationships became imbedded in my memory. As my own family grew, time was more limited, but there has always been an attraction to conferences and classes to help learn more. In the late 1980's, I was able to earn a one year BYU Certificate with emphasis in British research and a bit of German. In the 1990's I worked for Ancestry.com long enough to polish my skills in US Research. Now, in 2010, I bask in the opportunity to learn more - either enough to earn accreditation, a degree, or both.

So, Why the Blog? Well, to start with, it is an assignment :-). and, a focus is necessary. With experiences in research to record and share, I have chosen a focus on research tidbits. Unfortunately, most are exciting at the time, but quickly forgotten.



Friday, January 15, 2010

Whatcha doin?

Currently I am working on a line that has lived in New Mexico since it was a territory of Mexico. The initial gathering of family information has provided names and basic information for four generations past the living descendant. That generation is born about 1800, mostly living in the New Mexico territory as Mexican citizens from Spain. I have been able to find a good portion of census records for at least two of the lines. The amazing/confusing find of the day is for Onecimo Chavez b.1875 in 1900.
  • Onecimo Chavez in the 1900 census in the right place with the right father and in the right year. When I continued searching, there was another Onecimo in the same county, different district, who was born in 1801!
  • Onecimo's father is listed in census and family records as: Jose Maria Chavez b. 1831. Onecimo is living with Jose Maria Chavez in 1900, with several siblings.
  • The Onecimo Chavez who was born in 1801 was living next door to J. M. Chavez, born 1848. In the list of children living with J. M. Chavez, was .............continued another time:-)
  • Back again. Onecimo Chavez born in 1801 would be a very good possibility for the father of J. M. Chavez. Onecimo, born 1875, was the son of Jose Maria Chavez. He would have been the namesake of the Onecimo born in 1801, if it all fits together, that is.
  • A few hours at the library in some transcribed christening records in the County of Rio Arriba, New Mexico, showed me how many of the pieces of the puzzle might be in those church records. The Catholic records are amazingly complete with the child's birth and christening dates and location as well as the parents full names. The mother is listed under her maiden name!
  • I learned that the transcribed records have gaps in coverage and I will need to do the films to verify what I hope is there.
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