Upgraded to RM7

Christmas came a few days early for me this year, as I downloaded version 7 of the RootsMagic genealogy software.  After watching the YouTube video on What's New in RootsMagic 7, I couldn't wait to try it out and take it for a spin.  I haven't even been using all of the features in RM 6, but am eager to dig into this version right away.

Notice the screen shot above of my database in RM7 and the yellow lightbulbs.  Those are the web hints from both FamilySearch (free site) and MyHeritage (commercial site).  The software API work behind the scenes to check out these databases and show that you have possible matches in the record to the people in your database.  

I'm really impressed with the way technology can be utilized to do the searching in the background for these hints.  Playing around on Saturday morning, I jumped from family to family, seeing what types of hints the software would show me.  I haven't added them to my database yet, but RM7 will allow you to add the sources and images right into your database!  Easy as pie!

I am not a subscriber to MyHeritage, but if I find that the hints are worth it, I may be adding that to my arsenal.  With a free site like FamilySearch having so many records  (and growing all the time), having the software do the hard part of searching will make adding information to my database a snap.

The data clean feature of the software will aid in cleaning up the names and places in my tree by eliminating problems such as invalid characters, same names as spouse, etc.

After watching the video, I'm also looking forward to using the web publishing, a feature from earlier versions I didn't use.  This version looks easy to use, and will allow me to upload and update a family tree easily that can be searched by others. This will be particularly helpful for my DNA matches, many of whom do not have an Ancestry.com subscription.

Surname Saturday : Berry

The BERRY surname is in my maternal line.  The origins of the surname are likely Scots-Irish and needs much more research.

Stories and history : 

Ahnentafel #391 : Mary Berry (1748-1828).  Mary was born 1748 in Virginia.  She married Samuel Nesbit (1754-1814), probably in Augusta County, Virginia.  Samuel was born 1754 in either Scotland or Virginia.  They raised 11 children and lived in Bourbon and Harrison County, Kentucky.  Samuel died before July 1814 in Harrison County, Kentucky.  Mary died October 28, 1828 in Livonia, Washington County, Indiana.

Ahnentafel # 782 : John Berry (c1700-1771).  John was born circa 1700 in Scotland.  He died in 1771 in Augusta County, Virginia.

Surname Saturday – create a post in which you discuss a surname and mention its origins, its geographical location(s) and how it fits into your genealogy research. Surname Saturday is an ongoing series at GeneaBloggers.

What was he doing in Kansas?

Old newspapers are fun to research in because of the tidbits of information you will find.  I always enjoy the local sections, where the comings and goings of people both near and far are told - sort of like the Facebook of the 19th century.

This particular piece in the Portland, Indiana Daily Commercial regarding a cousin, John Preston Metzner (1872-1900) was particularly intriguing.  Why was he in Abilene, Kansas?  No known relatives were living there.

Portland Daily Commercial, Portland, Indiana
July 3, 1899, page 3

Press Metzner, who has been spending several weeks at Abaline, [sic] Kansas, has returned home.

 John Preston Metzner was the son of Louis Napoleon and Henrietta (Weaver) Metzner.  He didn't live a very long life, dying at 28 years old on April 7, 1900 in Bearcreek Township, Jay County, Indiana.

Perhaps he was in Kansas for his health.  I haven't yet researched the cause of death, maybe his visit was to a sanitarium.  Or, he could have been working out there or just visiting.  As yet, this is just a tidbit in the life of a man cut short.

A link to his memorial page at FindAGrave is located here.