RELEASE DATE: MAY 28, 2006

KINSEARCHING

by

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

      As we enjoy this long weekend, we should not lose sight of why we celebrate Memorial Day. Genealogists are usually proud of their ancestors who fought in various wars and want to discover more about them and their service record. On page 52 of the April/May 2006 issue of REUNIONS MAGAZINE, the USS Rankin Association tells about its efforts to locate former shipmates. The result is a 20-page publication HOW TO GET COPIES OF NAVY CREW LISTS AND WHAT TO DO WITH THEM ONCE YOU HAVE THEM by Louis F. Sander. A comprehensive guide regarding lists of crew members of U. S. Navy ships, 1941 - 1970, it can be downloaded free of charge in PDF format at www.ussrankin.org/crewlists.htm. The website also tells how you can purchase bound copies.

     Experienced genealogists who are tracing Scottish pedigrees in North America, Ulster, and Scotland have undoubtedly come across the extensive output of books on the subject by David Dobson. His latest publication is SCOTS-IRISH LINKS, 1575 - 1725, PART FIVE. Like the previous segments of the series, the fifth installment tries to connect individuals first to Ulster and then to Scotland prior to 1725.

     Constantly delving into an assortment of records, Dobson has discovered the names of an additional 1,700 people, primarily Lowland Scots, who lived--at least for a time--in the northern part of Ireland. Many of these settlers had descendants who later became known as the "Scotch-Irish" pioneers in the North American colonies.

     The compiler gathered data from primary and secondary materials, most of which were not consulted during his previous research. For this volume, Dobson used such resources as the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland, the ACTS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF SCOTLAND, 1648 - 1842, the CALENDAR OF STATE PAPERS, IRELAND, and RECORDS OF THE GENERAL SYNOD OF ULSTER, 1691 - 1820, as well as a few other sources.

     A special feature is the inclusion of the names of shipmasters from Ulster who traded in ports in the west of Scotland. It is highly likely that these men were residents of the port to which the ship belonged and that the skipper owned part of the vessel.

     Although details vary about individuals, entries generally furnish the man or woman's name, occupation, place of residence, a date, and the source citation. Some recurring surnames are CUNNINGHAM, DUNBAR, DUNLOP, EDMONSTONE, FLEMING, HAMILTON, GLENDENNING, HUME, MAXWELL, and STIRLING. Anyone tracing Scottish ancestors in Ulster will want to look at SCOTS-IRISH LINKS, 1575 - 1725, PART FIVE.

     Like the other volumes in the series, the 130-page paperback uses a map of  part of Ireland for its attractive cover. Names of main entries are arranged alphabetically but there is no index to additional names appearing in the material. The volume is priced at $18.50 plus handling charges. (For U. S. postal mail, the cost is $4 for one book and $2.00 for each additional copy; for UPS, the cost is $6 for one copy and $2.50 for each additional book). The volume (item order #9895) may be purchased by check, MasterCard, or Visa from Clearfield Company, 3600 Clipper Mill Rd., Suite 260, Baltimore, Maryland 21211 (for phone orders, call toll free 1-800-296-6687; fax 1-410-752-8492; website www.genealogical.com).

     Sponsored by the Timen Stiddem Society, the seventh national STIDHAM family reunion has been set for August 18-20, 2006 in Nashville, TN. Variant spellings of the surname include STIDAM, STIDDAM, STIDOM, STEDHAM, STEADHAM, and STEDDOM.

    Timen Stiddem, born about 1617 and died in 1686, was one of the first Swedish immigrants to America. In 1654 he settled in New Sweden (now Wilmington). Anglicizing his name to Timothy Stidham, he was employed by the Swedish crown as a barber-surgeon and is recognized as the first physician in what is now the state of Delaware.

   Besides attending the reunion, interested persons are invited to become members of the Timen Stiddem Society. The annual dues include a subscription to the organization's award-winning quarterly newsletter. Topics in the Spring and Winter 2006 issues include Stidhams who made their mark in the Pacific Northwest, the DNA project update, and the Friends of the House of Sweden.

     To join the association, a dues check for $20, payable to the Timen Stidden Society, 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 reunion or the society, go to the website at http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~tstiddem.