What is Happening in the Genealogy Department

I am lucky enough to have collected a group of internet cousins along the research path. One of them is an especially meticulous researcher, who uses (heaven forbid) older methods and new technology to produce amazing results. Let me say that again, she uses all the avenues available to her to facilitate her research. I like that, since I also combine the newer internet sources with my tried-and-true, library, archives, cemetery and courthouse investigation, letter writing techniques.

I found her on a message board, when she was looking for Mary E. Ackert. Mary was the first wife of James Askey/Askie/Ascha. Their oldest child was William Henry, who was adopted by Platt and Angeline Palmer as Orlando William Palmer. Orlando was my great-grandfather, and the super researcher is a cousin of mine through Mary Ackert, who married again and had another family. The exact description of our relationship is half first cousin, twice removed. I really can not even say it, never mind calculate it.

My cousin and I have crossed paths in amazing ways over the years we have been in touch. I found her message board post about Mary Ackert when I was traveling for my job, and that evening, I was at a hotel very close to Cousins home. (I found that out later). Recently, Cousin ran across my blog, and sent me an e-mail. She had new information on our common relative, Mary Ackert, and a new spelling for James. Even more recently, she sent me a letter containing information on burials for some Aschas, descendents of Mary and James.

Wow, I had almost forgotten I had ancestors to research, as I worked through the information I have amassed for Papa’s family. My nose is to the grindstone again. I have a lot to learn, since I rarely do research in the east. These families lived in Columbia and Rensselaer counties, New York, Rutland and Bennington Counties, Vermont, and Berkshire County, Massachusetts. All my mother’s family is from that area, but I have researched there only in spurts.

Onward and upward, with a big boost from a kind, caring researcher!