Conference September 2013
30 June 1922 - Did Everything Blowup?
Eileen M. Ó Dúill
Researchers involved in Irish research heard of the devastating fire in June of 1922 which destroyed the Public Records Office in Dublin. This lecture provided some background to the history of the Public Records Office of Ireland and an examination of the record groups which were deposited there prior to June 1922, including the structure and content of the PRO at the Four Courts. Contemporary accounts provided the details of the explosion on 30 June 1922 and a discussion of the reaction of the Irish people of the time was explored. A list of documents that were lost as well as those which survived were provided. A report on the rebuilding of the Public Records Office collection into what is now the National Archives of Ireland encouraged researchers not to assume that all Irish documents blew up in 1922.
Are They Really my Ancestors? Using Autosomal DNA to Tests to Confirm (or Deny) Relationships and Ancestors
Linda L. Reid
The ancestors on our family trees may not be accurate despite the paper trail. Testing cousins and second cousins of ourselves or our parents can confirm related ancestors (or cast doubt). The Family Finder test of Family Tree DNA uses autosomal DNA to look for relatives on all branches of the family. It compares your test results with others tested and posts on your online account a list of your potential matches and suggestions of how the people might be related (e.g. 3rd cousin). Many people use this test to hunt for distant unknown relatives. Linda has used it to confirm the ancestors on her documented (legal) family tree and will share her results in this presentation.
Around the Brick Wall: Tracing Back an Irish Family Through Collateral Lines
Linda L. Reid
Using siblings’ records may be the route to finding earlier ancestors. The three case studies in this presentation involve a marriage settlement in the Registry of Deeds (Dublin), a will, and a visiting Irish niece in an English census—all investigated to find earlier generations of the Irish family when the direct path seemed to end.