<![CDATA[Collin County Genealogical Society - Blog]]>Thu, 18 Apr 2024 14:18:17 -0500Weebly<![CDATA[Miles Away From Butler: How A DNA Test Rewrote My Family History - November 11, 2020 Virtual Meeting]]>Tue, 10 Nov 2020 02:07:30 GMThttp://collincountygenealogicalsociety.com/blog/miles-away-from-butler-how-a-dna-test-rewrote-my-family-history-november-11-2020-virtual-meetingNOVEMBER 11, 2020; 6:30 PM,  WEDNESDAY Virtual Meeting

Miles Away from Butler: How a DNA Test Rewrote My Family's History" presented by Dr. Steven Butler

The Collin County Genealogical Society presents "Miles Away From Butler: How a DNA Test Rewrote my Family's History" by Dr. Steven Butler on Wednesday, November 11, at 6:30 pm. "Miles Away from Butler" is the story of how a DNA test led a veteran genealogist to discover a ninety-one-year-old family secret that not only had the effect of pruning several branches from his family tree (while at the same time rendering decades of research an enormous waste of time, money and effort), but also led him to have a crisis of conscience: Should he tell the person who lay at the heart of the secret, or remain silent for fear of potentially doing more harm than good?"

REGISTER IN ADVANCE FOR THE ZOOM MEETING (by clicking the following link): 
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIqdemrrT8sGNZrUfWRHEtK3cWqthb8V0Jo 

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. The zoom meeting will open about 6:00pm so that attendees can visit with each other before the meeting starts at 6:30 pm. 

ABOUT DR. BUTLER
Dr. Steven Butler, a Professor of History at Collin College, has been researching his family's history for nearly fifty years. Since 1971 he has traveled all the United States, as well as England, Scotland, and Wales, in an effort to learn all that he can about his family's origins. In 2019, after taking a 23 and Me DNA test, he discovered that he has previously-unknown ties to Collin County that reach back more than a century.]]><![CDATA[October 14, 2020 “History’s Role in Your Genealogical Pursuits”  Virtual Program]]>Wed, 14 Oct 2020 21:03:28 GMThttp://collincountygenealogicalsociety.com/blog/october-14-2020-historys-role-in-your-genealogical-pursuits-virtual-program
Collin County Genealogical Society
6:30 pm, Wednesday, October 14, 2020 Zoom Meeting

“History’s Role in Your Genealogical Pursuits”
presented by
John Sellers

A comprehensive look at history and its role in genealogical research, with an emphasis on social history—the history of everyday people and their lives. Learn how the history of places, events, and groups can unlock your genealogical puzzles.

John Sellers is a fifth generation native of Hopkins County, Texas and is the Mayor of Sulphur Springs. John has a teaching certificate in history and has been doing genealogical research since 1985. He has lectured at national genealogical conferences as well as over 60 state and local seminars.
Noon hour at Texas cotton mill, McKinney Texas, 1913, Lewis Hine photographer, LOC
Register for Zoom Meeting (Non-members Welcome)
Register in advance for this meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUqduCgqT0sGdIu-tHz2Sy6uOu5oNlbWBIN
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

ccgs.programs@gmail.com | www.collincountygenealogicalsociety.com | www.facebook.com/collincountygen 

​]]><![CDATA[September 9, 2020 Program Via Zoom: Orphans, Infants, and Minors: Genealogy Nuggets, and Pitfalls in Guardianship Records]]>Tue, 08 Sep 2020 06:28:03 GMThttp://collincountygenealogicalsociety.com/blog/september-9-2020-program-via-zoom-orphans-infants-and-minors-genealogy-nuggets-and-pitfalls-in-guardianship-recordsHello everyone,


The Collin County Genealogical Society is back!    Via Zoom.  Our first meeting of the year will take place September 9, 2020, at 6:30pm.  We will have a few minutes of business and then present our program -- all via Zoom.  We hope everyone will join us, especially our members who cannot normally attend meetings in person.


Details about Zoom will be forthcoming.

Our program will be a recorded presentation from the Texas State Genealogical Society's 2019 Conference:
Orphans, Infants, and Minors: Genealogy Nuggets, and Pitfalls in Guardianship Records
Speaker: Melissa Corn Finlay
What happened when an ancestor died and his heirs could not legally manage their inheritance? A guardian was appointed. But, don’t be confused or led astray by the terms used in these records such as orphan, infant, and minor! Learn more about guardianship records, the legal terms used, and the genealogy nuggets that can be found in this unique group of records.

Melissa Corn Finlay gained a passion for genealogy research at a young age, asking for rides to the Idaho State Archives before she even had a driver's license. She earned her BA in Family History-Genealogy from Brigham Young University and is an Accredited Genealogist (R). Learn more about Melissa on her website www.boundlessgenealogy.com. 

Please join us!
Janice Quick
Collin County Genealogical Society, Program Chair
www.collincountygenealogicalsociety.com 
​]]><![CDATA[CCGS Fall Kick Off Meeting - September 14th - Probate More Than A Will]]>Wed, 14 Sep 2016 20:24:10 GMThttp://collincountygenealogicalsociety.com/blog/ccgs-fall-kick-off-meeting-september-14th-probate-more-than-a-willPicture
Wednesday, September 14th, 2016,
7:00pm
Haggard Library
1st Floor Mtg. Room
2501 Coit Road, Plano, Texas 75075
 
Probate More Than a Will
Kelvin Meyers will join us for the first program of the season. His program covers probates are more than a will. Most persons in America, who lived to adulthood, left some type of an estate to be administered. Some left wills, some did not. Either way, if there was land or large amounts of personal property, this estate had to be disposed of. The records of probate can be some of the most fruitful for the genealogist. Wills, distributions, administrations, inventories, are all vital parts of the probate process and full of genealogical information. 
Kelvin is a fifth generation Texan and professional forensic genealogist since 1996, Kelvin is a frequent speaker to genealogical societies and family associations throughout the United States. Kelvin has recently published Research in Texas for the National Genealogical Society’s “Research in the States” series.
 
 
We hope to see you there!

]]><![CDATA[Support CCGS Through Amazon Shopping]]>Fri, 08 Jul 2016 05:24:38 GMThttp://collincountygenealogicalsociety.com/blog/support-ccgs-through-amazon-shopping
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]]><![CDATA[Navigating Court Records]]>Wed, 09 Mar 2016 22:14:53 GMThttp://collincountygenealogicalsociety.com/blog/navigating-court-recordsHello All, Don’t forget County Clerk Stacey Kemp will be our guest tonight. Stacy will offer insight of how to navigate County Records. As County Clerk she has been a true friend to genealogist, preserving records and creating Genealogy Corner .

Wednesday, March 9th 7:00pm
Collin County Genealogical Society
2501 Coit Plano, Texas
First Floor Meeting Room
]]><![CDATA[San Jacinto Battleground - Save the Site!]]>Thu, 11 Feb 2016 05:10:10 GMThttp://collincountygenealogicalsociety.com/blog/san-jacinto-battleground-save-the-siteSan Jacinto Battleground Conservancy ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
San Jacinto Battleground Alert! submitted by Liz Hicks
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Your help needed! Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPWD) will be holding an "information meeting" at the San Jacinto Monument on Thurs., February 11, at 6 pm, to talk to stakeholders about the "Marsh Restoration, Phase II". Your immediate help is needed! Please see "How can you help?" at the bottom of this alert. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Situation In our last email we sent you TPWD's press release - now for the rest of the story: The "Marsh Restoration Phase II" project will dump Houston Ship Channel dredged spoil on 101 acres of San Jacinto Battleground, including the historically sensitive Boggy Bayou area where Mexican soldiers fled during the battle. TPWD stated in its press release that the purpose of the project is to raise the ground surface of the lagoon in the south end of the battleground to make the lagoon look more like an 1836 marsh landscape. The spoil will be provided by a private contractor that is clearing an area near Barbour's Cut, several miles downstream on the San Jacinto River.

The SJBC supports restoration of the battleground, including the marsh area in the south end of the battleground. But, it is only common sense to expect TPWD to first make an attempt, before the project is commenced: * to locate and preserve battle artifacts at the site through an archaeological survey, * allow public consultation on the treatment of any Mexican soldier remains that could be affected, * consider the potential toxicity of the dredged spoil on humans who will be using the restored site, * and take appropriate precautions through public consultation to ensure that any changes in the current landscape will in fact restore rather than detract from the 1836 landscape. Unfortunately, none of this has occurred!
Consider the following consequences of this project: * Thousands of priceless artifacts are believed to be undisturbed at this site, but no comprehensive archaeological survey has ever been conducted to locate, preserve and protect them. TPWD's plan to cover the site will endanger these artifacts and could render any archaeological survey in the future impossible or potentially dangerous.

TPWD is aware of this, but dismisses the concern by prejudging the value of the artifacts, saying they would not be helpful in interpreting the battle. This prejudged conclusion enabled TPWD to argue that this project will have "no adverse effects" on historic cultural resources, thereby clearing the project for approvals by Mark Wolfe (the State Historic Preservation Officer), the Texas Historical Commission (THC), and the US Corps of Engineers (COE) without any required archaeological survey designed to locate and recover these artifacts. What evidence did TPWD rely upon to prejudge the historic significance of artifacts that have yet to be located and preserved? Thus far, no answer has been received, but the conclusion that this project will have no adverse effects on historic cultural resources at the site is absurd and unsupported by any credible evidence. * TPWD says it prefers to allocate resources for archaeological surveys to other parts of the battleground, but this makes no sense because the agency is refusing to allow private entities, such as SJBC, the opportunity to raise funds for any survey in the lagoon area before the site becomes potentially inaccessible for archaeology. Why is TPWD preventing privately funded archaeological surveys? Thus far no answer has been provided. * The Texas Antiquities Code (Chapter 191 of the Texas Natural Resources Code) states that it is "the public policy and in the public interest of the State of Texas to locate, protect, and preserve all sites, objects, ... and locations of historical, archaeological, educational, or scientific interest...." This includes all "archaeological sites of every character" and "treasure imbedded in the earth," located "in, on, or under any of the land in the State of Texas... within the jurisdiction of the State of Texas." Both TPWD and THC are required to comply with this law, but in this instance, both agencies are collaborating to prevent anyone from locating battle artifacts at this site while also endangering and possibly allowing their destruction underneath several feet of dredged spoil. How can this position be reconciled with the public policy of the State of Texas? Answer: it can't. *

TPWD believes the site is a "mass grave" of Mexican soldiers and it would be best to leave those bodies undisturbed and made more inaccessible than they are now, by dumping dredged spoil over them. The reality is that nobody really knows if there are human remains at that site. If remains do exist, why should TPWD be allowed make a permanent decision to treat them in this manner without public consultation? Are these remains really being respected by making them inaccessible, possibly forever? * TPWD claims it is ethically unacceptable to disturb human remains in state parks, but TPWD is in the process of implementing a 2005 cultural resources plan that calls for the exhumation and removal of two entire cemeteries in the northern section of the battleground (the De Zavala Cemetery and the San Jacinto Cemetery), solely for the sake of restoring that portion of the battleground. Why is it ethically unacceptable for the state to potentially disturb the presumed remains of Mexican soldiers in the south end of the battlefield, but ethically acceptable and desirable for the state to disturb and remove the known remains of those buried in the northern end of the battlefield? Thus far, no answer has been provided. * This project is intended to provide visitors with the commendable objective of giving them a better visualization of the 1836 landscape, but an examination of the plans reveals that it will create more "marsh" than what was present in 1836, suggesting that this project has more to do with accommodating a specific quantity of a private contractor's dredge spoil rather than an intent to restore marsh to its 1836 appearance with only the amount of spoil needed for restoration. THC has advised us that it did not review the historic fidelity of the project; consequently there has been no independent vetting to confirm that this project will be a true restoration in whole or in part. The creation of an excessive amount of marsh is not a true restoration. Is there a hidden agenda for this project? If not, why can't TPWD engage in public consultation and disclosure before the project commences, so that the project can be true to its purported restoration objective? * This project also calls for the construction of new levees at the site, a topographical feature that will result in a new intrusion on the landscape that will detract from the visual representation of the battle. In other words, a critical objective of this "restoration" project is to create levees that make the current landscape incompatible with its 1836 appearance. Why are these levees necessary? Were any alternative containment methods considered? Why was public consultation on the method and accuracy of restoration prevented? * TPWD plans to build trails in the restored marsh and encourage visitors to use the marsh under the assumption that the spoil will not be contaminated. But the Environmental Protection Agency in December 2015 admitted publicly that the Superfund Site known as the San Jacinto Tar Pits, located north of the battleground on the San Jacinto River, has been leaking deadly dioxins into the river despite a protective cap designed to prevent leakage. TPWD has not determined if the dredge spoil for this project is contaminated with dioxins or any other material that is hazardous to humans and does not intend to test the spoil for human contaminants. There is no indication that dioxins have currently spread into the project marsh area which is adjacent to the river; therefore,the dumping of dredge spoil in this area could contaminate a part of the battleground that is not currently contaminated. * THC has advised us that it did not examine the issue of whether the spoil for this project is or could be toxic. Why is TPWD avoiding this issue? And why wasn't an environmental impact statement undertaken?

For additional information on dioxins in San Jacinto River, please read this announcement from the Harris County's Attorney Office, issued December 22, 2015, and the link to the Fox 26 news story at the end of this announcement: http://www.harriscountycao.org/news/2015/12/22/epa-says-dioxin-found-in-san-jacinto-waste-pits [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=fn7xtrwab.0.5p5fwrwab.sd8xislab.0&r=3&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.harriscountycao.org%2Fnews%2F2015%2F12%2F22%2Fepa-says-dioxin-found-in-san-jacinto-waste-pits]

* Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act requires involvement of interested groups and individuals (called "consulting parties") before this kind of project is started on historic properties. San Jacinto Battleground is a National Historic Landmark that is entitled to this protection under Section 106. All that is required to trigger public consultation under Section 106 is the "potential" of the project to impact historic cultural resources. Certainly that potential exists here - TPWD admits it. But the COE (the federal agency responsible to ensuring compliance with Section 106) thus far has refused to allow public consultation, and Mark Wolfe, the State Historic Preservation Officer and Executive Director of THC, has concurred that no public consultation will be permitted. TPWD could have allowed public participation regardless of Section 106, but intentionally decided against it. (In contrast, a Section 106 review with consulting parties was permitted by the US Navy with respect to the battleship restoration project, and by the National Highway Administration with respect to the proposed TPWD visitor center.) Why wasn't public consultation allowed for this project? The COE, the State Historic Preservation Officer, TPWD, and THC have effectively managed to avoid accountability and transparency for what they are doing to the battleground. They are hiding behind the beneficial sounding "restoration of the 1836 marshes" to avoid confronting the issues that are generating so much concern. This project could result in potential long-term harm and damage to San Jacinto Battleground, battle artifacts, and other cultural resources, but the public has been denied a voice to help prevent this from happening. This does not prevent those of us who care about this site from raising hell and letting all Texans know what is occurring and how our state and federal agencies have failed to honor both federal and state historic preservation laws that are designed to encourage public consultation and that require the location, protection and preservation of historical artifacts. LISTEN to the latest episode (#127) of the "Come and Take It" podcast, a talk show about Texas history and culture, featuring this project: http://brainstaple.com/assets/audio/CATI-127-SanJacintoBattlefieldConservation.mp3 [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=fn7xtrwab.0.4p5fwrwab.sd8xislab.0&r=3&p=http%3A%2F%2Fbrainstaple.com%2Fassets%2Faudio%2FCATI-127-SanJacintoBattlefieldConservation.mp3] or visit and click home http://brainstaple.com [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=fn7xtrwab.0.4k5xyrwab.sd8xislab.0&r=3&p=http%3A%2F%2Fbrainstaple.com%2F%2520] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ How can you help? First, let your state representative, state senator, Governor Abbott, Lieutenant Governor Patrick, House Speaker Strauss, as well as your Congressman and US Senators Cornyn and Cruz know about this project and your objection to it. Send them this announcement. Call Gov. Abbott's office at 512-463-2000 or 800-843-5789 to leave a message or go to this website to see how to reach him online: https://gov.texas.gov/contact/ [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=fn7xtrwab.0.aq5fwrwab.sd8xislab.0&r=3&p=https%3A%2F%2Fgov.texas.gov%2Fcontact%2F]. Your state legislative officials' email, fax, and phone can be found on http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/ [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=fn7xtrwab.0.bq5fwrwab.sd8xislab.0&r=3&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.capitol.state.tx.us]. Our US Senators' contact info can be found at http://www.senate.gov/. [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=fn7xtrwab.0.cq5fwrwab.sd8xislab.0&r=3&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.senate.gov%2F.] Second, come to the meeting Thursday, February 11 at 6 pm, at the San Jacinto Monument and let TPWD know how you feel about this project. TPWD will control the meeting and it is possible they will not allow any questions, but being there to express disapproval will help. Third, please circulate this email to your friends and those interested in Texas history. If we cannot save this part of San Jacinto because of the wrongful actions of our federal and state government, then a movement needs to start to strengthen our federal and state historic preservation laws to prevent this from ever happening again, at San Jacinto or any other Texas historic site. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The San Jacinto Battleground Conservancy is a Section 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to preserve, reclaim, and restore the San Jacinto Battleground and build greater public awareness of the battle of San Jacinto, the culminating military event of the Texas Revolution. No other nonprofit organization is devoted entirely to these goals. In 2010, the San Jacinto Battleground was included on Preservation Texas' Most Endangered Places list. Preservation Texas is the statewide partner of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. To find out what you can do to help, visit www.sanjacintoconservancy.org [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=fn7xtrwab.0.mlmombqab.sd8xislab.0&r=3&p=http%3A%2F%2Fsanjacintoconservancy.org] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ San Jacinto Battleground Conservancy sjbc-texas@usa.net 808 Travis, Suite 1429 P. O. Box 940536 Houston, TX 77094-7536
]]><![CDATA[CCGS Program February 10, 2016 - Can a Dead Man Sign a Deed?]]>Thu, 11 Feb 2016 04:45:58 GMThttp://collincountygenealogicalsociety.com/blog/ccgs-program-february-10-2016-can-a-dead-man-sign-a-deedCCGS is pleased to present Kelvin Meyers on Wednesday February 10th 7:00pm Haggard Library Plano, Texas

Can a Dead Man Sign a Deed?

His tombstone says he died in 1928 his name is on a deed in 1932, did a dead man sign a deed? When given conflicting evidence how do you resolve the issue at hand? This lecture will look at the five point formula of the Genealogical Proof Standard (GPS) and how it helps resolve conflicting evidence with a fascinating case study Kelvin L. Meyers A fifth generation Texan and professional forensic genealogist since 1996, Kelvin is a frequent speaker to genealogical societies and family associations throughout the United States. As a graduate of Texas Tech University with a history major, he is an avid research-historian. After being employed for ten years in the Genealogy Department of the Dallas Public Library, Kelvin now has a solo practice as a forensic genealogist serving clients that include probate attorneys, trust department of banks, the US Immigration Service and energy companies. Kelvin is a 1989 and 1990 alumni of the Institute of Genealogical and Historical Research at Samford University and has returned to IGHR as lecturer. He is a past board member of the Association of Professional Genealogist, a past President of the Lone Star Chapter of APG, and a founding member for the Council for the Advancement of Forensic Genealogy (CAFG). Kelvin currently serves as the chairman of the history and archives committee for First United Methodist Church in Dallas. *LOCATION* Plano Haggard Library First Floor Meeting Room 2501 Coit Rd, Plano, TX 75075
]]><![CDATA[CCGS Annual Holiday Social & Sharing Session December 9]]>Wed, 09 Dec 2015 07:02:31 GMThttp://collincountygenealogicalsociety.com/blog/ccgs-annual-holiday-social-sharing-session-december-9Picture
Annual Holiday Social & Sharing Session

Join us to enjoy wonderful Holiday Treats and share your genealogical finds of the year.   Please bring a Holiday Treat to share.  CCGS will provide drinks. This has always been a festive, casual and fun get together, you won't want to miss it!

Hope to see everyone there!

 

Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah!

 

]]><![CDATA[CCGS Program November 11 - African American Research]]>Mon, 09 Nov 2015 04:14:48 GMThttp://collincountygenealogicalsociety.com/blog/ccgs-program-november-11-african-american-researchPicture
Challenges of African American Genealogy Research

The presentation will outline the initial preparation and requirements for successful research and documentation.  Larry will also provide information on how he started his Journey of family research and identify some of the road blocks and actions taken to overcome those obstacles. 

This presentation is designed to provide the-how to, tools and provide motivation for new and seasoned Genealogist. 


Bio:
Larry W. McCarty is a native Texas, born in Houston and raised in Midland.  He served our county in Vietnam as a member of the U.S. Army and retired fromIBM after thirty years.  
Larry’s presence has been anticipated yearly as a guest speaker on Culture and Communications of African Americans at the University of Texas at Dallas.  He has participated in the ongoing Archaeological Dig at “the Farm” of Johan A. Quarrels’ homestead in Florida, Mo.  Larry was the inaugural speaker at the dedication of the Huck Finn Freedom Center and Museum in Samuel Clemens’ boyhood home town of Hannibal, Mo.  This was a dedication to “Jim”, a character in Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer.  Larry has been a quest speaker on Cable TV  during Black history Month,  presented at multiple local library events, genealogical societies and family reunions across our state of Texas.News of his research has been published in the Hannibal Courier-Post, Hannibal Mo, the Illinois Quincy Herald-Wig, the Lake Gazette of Monroe, Mo and the Irving Rambler-Irving Texas.
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