RELEASE DATE: JANUARY 29, 2006

KINSEARCHING

by

Marleta Childs
P. O. Box 6825
LUBBOCK, TX 79493-6825
[email protected]
 

     Betty C. Wiltshire has completed the first volume in her valuable new series concerning the Magnolia State: MISSISSIPPI MARRIAGE RECORDS THRU 1900, A'S (MALES). Pertaining to records for the entire state, this work lists marriages for more than 6,500 males with surnames beginning with the letter A. Surnames of the grooms are arranged alphabetically while surnames of the brides are indexed. Dates for the records range from 1800 through December 1900. Each entry provides the names of the couple, the date of the event, and the county where the ceremony took place. Priced at $18.00 postpaid, the 180-page paperback may be purchased from Pioneer Publishing Co., P. O. Box 408, Carrollton, MS 38917 (phone 662-237-6010).

     Do you have family ties to Cherokee County, Texas? If you do, you may be interested in joining the Cherokee County Genealogical Society (CCGS). The organization publishes the quarterly, Tree Talk, which carries genealogical extracts of county records, family histories, articles about research and resources, and free queries for members. A sample issue of the periodical may be purchased for $3.50. Annual dues of $12 for individuals or $16 for families may be mailed to CCGS, Box 1332, Jacksonville, Texas 75766-1332. You may also want to visit their website at https://sites.rootsweb.com/~txcherok/default.html.

     Anyone interested in STIDHAM/STEDHAM/STEADHAM/STEDDOM/STIDDAM genealogy is invited to join the Timen Stiddem Society. The organization, which publishes a prize-winning quarterly newsletter, focuses on one of the first Swedish immigrants to America--Timen Stiddem--and his descendants. In 1654 Timen settled in New Sweden (now Wilmington), Delaware. Anglicizing his name to Timothy Stidham, he was a barber-surgeon employed by the Swedish crown and is recognized as the first doctor in what is now the state of Delaware. Annual membership dues of $20 may be mailed to Leslie Shamus, TTS membership secretary, 4905 Vireo Dr., Flowery Branch, GA 30542 (e-mail [email protected]). For more information about the society or the organization's annual family reunion, go to the website at http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~tstiddem.

     Because Americans have usually been a "people on the move" and federal population counts are only taken every ten years, genealogists often have a difficult time locating individuals between censuses. This is particularly true in the years between 1880 and 1900 since most of the 1890 federal schedule no longer exists. To fill in the gaps, family researchers must delve into other resources. Even unlikely materials may hold interesting and worthwhile data.

     An example is the pamphlet CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAW OF SOLOMON'S REFORMED CHURCH, MACUNGIE, PENN'A (no publication date or place given). By furnishing names of several individuals on page 8, the booklet helps to place them in a specific locality in Pennsylvania on a definite date.