Family history across the seas

My genimate Jill, aka GeniAus, prompted us once again to reflect on our achievements over the past year. I quote:

“ Back in 2012 when I decided to publish the first Accentuate the Positive Geneameme I said: “At this time of year many geneabloggers take stock of what they have achieved or not achieved in the previous twelve months and set themselves goals for the coming year. I have been reading several of these posts this week.

I feel that a lot of my geneablogging friends are too hard on themselves; several have reported on their successes this year but quite a number have lamented that they haven’t achieved as much as they set out to do or that they haven’t blogged with the frequency they envisaged“.

Since I didn’t get round to doing this in 2023, though I did have a productive year, I thought I’d best try to summarise the 2024 research year for me. This is my response but you can find a summary of other responses on the Geniaus blog page here http://geniaus.blogspot.com/2025/01/responses-to-accentuate-positive-2024.html.

My Accentuate the Positive Response for 2024

1.  Google provided details on the heritage and history of Hunters Hill relevant to Maria and Ambrose Ambrosoli and Theresa and Conrad Nattey/Natly.

2.  I was the recipient of genearosity from friends who helped decipher some pages of German script.

3.  This headstone gave me some extra information: actually 2024 was largely a headstone-free zone but I was pleased to confirm the burial of Michael Krebs at St Charles Borromeo church at Ryde.

4.  Useful records I discovered were found through the Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek for my 3x great grandmother, Katharina Kunkel nee Happ later Ulrich. They’ll be even more useful when I get further translations of the multiple pages I bought.

5 and 6.  A geneasurprise I received was a newly found family member.  

7.   My post that I was particularly proud of was actually written in late 2023 but feels like it was this year. I managed to finally resolve the confusion around some of “my” Bavarian families. I called it a “Muddle of Mysteries”.

8.   DNA has helped me to narrow down where my 2xgreat grandfather, James Sherry, MAY have come from near Castleblaney in Co Armagh. Still not certain but feel it’s getting closer.

9.  I was pleased I upgraded to Ancestry Pro Tools as it helped with a few challenging matches.

10. Although Face to Face events have returned Zoom has enabled me to join overseas seminars like the wonderful ones offered by the German Genealogy Headquarters team, Ursula Krause and Ute Brandenburg. I also loved seeing my genimate Katherine R Willson as host on the seminars.

11. I dipped my toes into learning German Kurrent script…I have sooooo much more to learn until it makes more sense to me.

12. I connected in person with one of the descendants of a Dorfprozelten emigrant when they were visiting my area.

13. By dipping my toes into AI I was able to – sorry I’m avoiding AI like the plague so far, but look forward to hearing Andrew Redfern speak at Connections 2025. I am very grateful though for the AI behind translations from German to English.

14. I was honoured to be invited to speak to a number of societies through 2024 and pleased that my “Ethics, Privacy and Copyright” talk has been in demand. I was also delighted to be invited to speak at Connections 2025 and my topic is Leaving home, Finding home: Bavaria to New South Wales and Queensland.

15. I found this presentation most useful – learning more about the historical background of “Germany” through the German Genealogy Headquarters’ seminar: OUR ANCESTORS’ WORLD – German History and the Role of the Church in Everyday Life.  You can buy the video via the link on this page: https://genealogyheadquarters.com/education/

16. A great repository/archive/library I visited was, as always, the Queensland State Archives as every time there’s something new to learn there. I really need to visit more often in 2025.

17. I got the most value from this book: A history of Broadford Parish, Co Clare. The civil parishes of Kilseily and Killokennedy 1800-1850 by Pat O’Brien. Comprehensive content relevant to the times of my own O’Briens in the parish.

18. It was exciting to finally meet…2024 was a quiet year for new meet-ups but I’m really looking forward to reconnecting with “old” friends and making new ones at Connections 2025 in Brisbane in March.

19. Geneadventures have been in short supply but I’ve enjoyed spending time with my grandson who moved to Brisbane this year and other family members who visited.  

20. Another positive I have been pleased with is extending my research into the Dorfprozelten emigrants and being offered the opportunity to present about them at Connections. I also spent a significant time tagging and screen-shotting more information on my one place interest, Murphys Creek, Queensland and gave a presentation to the Cooroy–Noosa Genealogical & Historical Research Group.

My challenge: balancing competing research interests while also enjoying life and my family. Blogging has mostly taken a back-seat this year though I’ve added some posts to my Dorfprozelten blog.

Thanks Jill for pushing to think about our successes and not focusing on our “I didn’t” thoughts.