Rockwall County Genealogical Society Meetings, Projects, Events

Was Grandpa "His Brother's Keeper?" by John Sellers

A study of the Masonic Fraternity and what records may be valuable for genealogists. A short study of the history and development in the United States. Records and their access will be reviewed. Terminology and recognizing symbols of the fraternity will be discussed. Using records for proof of residence and possible death dates will be reviewed.

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John A. Sellers is a fifth generation native to Hopkins County, Texas. He graduated from Texas Tech University, with a degree in advertising/public relations and received his teaching certificate in history from Texas A & M, Commerce.

He has been doing genealogical research since 1985. His favorite area of research is in the courthouse. He has visited courthouses in several southern states and has conducted extensive research in Texas and Louisiana. He is active member of the Hopkins County Genealogical Society and served thirteen years on the executive board and as President, 1997-1998. He was a speaker at the FGS National Conference in 1997 and 2004, and NGS in 1994. He has been the featured speaker for over 50 all day seminars located in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma. He was the featured speaker at the DRT Genealogical Conference at the Alamo in 2002 and 2003, and the Louisiana Historical and Genealogical Seminar in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 2007. He has been a faculty member for Angelina College Genealogy Conference, since 1999 in Lufkin and was a featured speaker at Dallas Texas Summer Institute, 2006 John has given several programs at both local and regional conferences. He has completed both Genealogy as a Profession, and Advanced Methodology courses at the Institute of Genealogical and Historical Research, Samford University. John, was a lecturer at the Institute of Genealogical Research, Samford University, 2009 and has been invited to return in 2010. He compiled an addendum to the 1850 Census of Hopkins County. John is currently serving as 1st Vice President of the Hopkins County Genealogical Society .

Scheduled Meetings Held the second Thursday of the month at 7:00pm unless otherwise noted.
*November 11, 2010*	Our annual visit by retired Dallas Central Library Genealogy Section's Lloyd Bockstruck.
*October 14, 2010*	In planning stage, please check back soon!
*September 9, 2010*	In planning stage, please check back soon!
*August 12, 2010*	In planning stage, please check back soon!
*July 8, 2010*	In planning stage, please check back soon!
*June 10, 2010*	In planning stage, please check back soon!
*May 13, 2010*	Speaker confirmation pending, please check back soon!
*April 8, 2010*	Meeting canceled due to member/speaker scheduling conflicts
*March 11, 2010*	Genealogy workshop. Bring all the questions you've been needing to ask.
*December 2009 - February 2010*	Winter break, no meetings
*November 12, 2009*	Our annual visit by retired Dallas Central Library Genealogy Section's Lloyd Bockstruck.
*October 8, 2009*	Was Grandpa "His Brother's Keeper?" by John Sellers A study of the Masonic Fraternity and what records may be valuable for genealogists. A short study of the history and development in the United States. Records and their access will be reviewed. Terminology and recognizing symbols of the fraternity will be discussed. Using records for proof of residence and possible death dates will be reviewed. ----- John A. Sellers is a fifth generation native to Hopkins County, Texas. He graduated from Texas Tech University, with a degree in advertising/public relations and received his teaching certificate in history from Texas A & M, Commerce. He has been doing genealogical research since 1985. His favorite area of research is in the courthouse. He has visited courthouses in several southern states and has conducted extensive research in Texas and Louisiana. He is active member of the Hopkins County Genealogical Society and served thirteen years on the executive board and as President, 1997-1998. He was a speaker at the FGS National Conference in 1997 and 2004, and NGS in 1994. He has been the featured speaker for over 50 all day seminars located in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma. He was the featured speaker at the DRT Genealogical Conference at the Alamo in 2002 and 2003, and the Louisiana Historical and Genealogical Seminar in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 2007. He has been a faculty member for Angelina College Genealogy Conference, since 1999 in Lufkin and was a featured speaker at Dallas Texas Summer Institute, 2006 John has given several programs at both local and regional conferences. He has completed both Genealogy as a Profession, and Advanced Methodology courses at the Institute of Genealogical and Historical Research, Samford University. John, was a lecturer at the Institute of Genealogical Research, Samford University, 2009 and has been invited to return in 2010. He compiled an addendum to the 1850 Census of Hopkins County. John is currently serving as 1st Vice President of the Hopkins County Genealogical Society . He is an AVP- Director of Marketing with City National Bank of Sulphur Springs.
*September 10, 2009*	Meeting in the Rockwall County Library Genealogy room, getting better acquainted with our library resources.
*August 13, 2009*	Genealogical Workshop, bring your hard to figure out issues and we'll put the collective heads together and try to get you on track.
*July 9, 2009*	"War of 1812 Records and Resources" by Marynell Bryant Marynell is a professional researcher & lecturer, Editor and publisher of a family surname publication, Rainey Times, for 22 years, Administrator for the national Rainey/Raney DNA Surname project, President of Texas State Genealogical Society, third term, Librarian for Hopkins County Genealogical Society Research Library, Past President of the Hopkins County Genealogical Society, 3 years, Member of Daughters of the American Revolution, Daughters of the Republic of Texas, United States Daughters of 1812, Daughters of American Colonists, Colonial Dames of the 17^th Century, United Daughters of the Confederacy
*June 11, 2009*	"Interlibrary Loan Resources for Genealogists" by Judy Knight Learn how to take advantage of little known resources, and what is available beyond the normal interlibrary loan program.
*May 14, 2009*	"Using Libraries Online" by Tami Glatz Finding Hidden Treasure in Online Library Websites. Tami brings her excitement and infectious enthusiasm for genealogical research to all her lectures. Her presentations are based on sound genealogical standards and principles, as set forth by both BCG and APG. Covering much, much more than the usual suspects (ie,Ancestry, Rootsweb, FamilySearch), if its out there on the internet, she will show you ways to find it.
*April 9, 2009*	"Reconstruction Texas" by Carol Taylor Reconstruction Texas and what our ancestors went through during that time in North Texas which made that time period so difficult for everyone. It was a time of horror for everyone concerned. Covers the period from the spring of 1865 until the summer of 1869, focusing on Cullen Montgomery Baker, Ben Bickerstaff and Bob Lee. Carol is active in the Hunt County Historical Commission where she served as chairman for ten years and led the 150^th Anniversary Celebration for the creation of Hunt County. She is Manager of the Northeast Texas History and Genealogy Center at the W. Walworth Harrison Public Library in Greenville. She is a member of the Texas State Genealogical Society and the Association of Professional Genealogists. Carol completed the NGS American Genealogy, A Basic Course. She has attended two national genealogical conferences and several week-long sessions of the Institute of Genealogical Studies twice.
*March 12, 2009*	"footnote.com, A complete presentation of this excellent genealogical resource site" by Judy Knight North Texas area genealogical speaker and teacher with over 30 years experience researching family history. Teacher of Genealogy at Tarrant Community College, Southeast Campus President of Historic W.V.S. Allen Cemetery Association Past President of Mid Cities Genealogical Society in Euless, Texas Past District 11 Representative of Texas State Genealogical Society

*December 2008 - February 2009*	Winter Break, no meeting.
*November 13, 2008*	Our annual visit by Dallas Central Library Genealogy Section's Lloyd Bockstruck. “Lloyd Bockstruck has been with the Dallas (TX) Public Library since 1973 and currently serves as the Supervisor of the Genealogy Section. From 1969 to 1971 he served in the Missionary Journeyman Program of the Southern Baptist Convention with assignment to the Baptist Mission of East Africa where he served as teacher and librarian in the Mombassa (Kenya) Baptist High School. He has been on the faculty of IGHR since 1974 and was the first recipient of the Institute’s Outstanding Alumni Award. Mr. Bockstruck is the author of Bounty and Donation Land Grants in British Colonial America; Denizations and Naturalizations in the British Colonies in America, 1607-1775; Naval Pensioners of the United States, 1800-1851; Virginia’s Colonial Soldiers; Genealogical Research in Texas; Revolutionary War Bounty Land Grants Awarded by State Governments; and Family Tree: Weekly Newspaper columns from the Dallas Morning News 1991–1996. He received the Award of Merit from the NGS in 1982 and was named a Fellow of the society in 1993. In 1999, he was named the first recipient of the "Filby Prize for Genealogical Librarianship" offered by Scholarly Resources and the National Genealogical Society. In 2003, Mr. Bockstruck was recognized by the North East Texas Library System with the Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2004, he was named an Honorary Member of the Hereditary Society Community. Mr. Bockstruck is active in numerous lineage societies and is featured in Who’s Who in America among others. His genealogical interests include Southside Virginia, Colonial America, and Germany.” (IGHR Faculty) Active in numerous hereditary organizations, he has been the Librarian General of the National Society Sons of the American Revolution and the Registrar of both the Order of Americans of Armorial Ancestry and the Order of Founders and Patriots of America. A sought-after public speaker on a number of topics, Mr. Bockstruck is widely recognized as one of our leading authorities on the genealogical sources of the American Revolution. In 1983 the National Genealogical Society recognized him with its Award of Merit and in 1989 the Daughters of the American Revolution gave him the History Award. His other publications include Virginia's Colonial Soldiers and Revolutionary War Bounty Land Grants. And if that wasn't enough accomplishment Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter, an online publication available at www.eogn.com, announced the addition of Lloyd Bockstruck as another writer to the newsletter's staff. Lloyd will be writing a weekly column featuring a wide variety of genealogical and history related topics.
*October 9, 2008*	"Cemetery Research" by Barbara Tsirigotis You may know where your ancestors are buried, but there are far more clues in a cemetery than names on a tombstone. Clues can be found in those buried nearby, in the material the tombstone is made of, and its artwork. Barbara is a native Texan, she began researching her family history in the late 1980s. As the years past, she became more & more passionate about her research, and focused on cemetery research. She learned that burial practices have changed over time and that much can be learned from a grave site, the grave stone, stone carvings, position of the grave and more. It is these hidden clues that bring out the Sherlock Holmes in genealogy researchers
*September 11, 2008*	First familiarization visit to the brand new Rockwall library, we will have a short meeting from 7:00pm-8:00pm in the genealogy room.
*August 14, 2008*	Genealogy workshop. Bring all the questions you've been needing to ask.
*July 10, 2008*	"PERILS, PARADOXES AND PITFALLS IN PROBATE RECORDS" by GLENN KINKADE Probate records can be the most valuable records a genealogist can find: however, they can also be misunderstood, scattered in several places, and confusing. This presentation will cover the probate process from the colonial period to the mid-19th century. Participants will learn techniques in locating, reading, understanding and analyzing probate records. Examples of unusual, humorous and misleading wills will be reviewed. Glenn Kinkade is an experienced genealogical researcher, lecturer, author, and college instructor. He graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Wichita State University. After serving as an officer in the United States Air Force, he joined IBM in 1960 in Kansas City. Mo. In 1990 he retired from IBM in Dallas, Texas. Since his retirement he has been an active volunteer in several community organizations. His hobbies include travel, photography, and genealogy. Glenn and his wife Ann live in Dallas land have two married sons.
*June* 12, 2008	"Was Your Grandmother a Relict?" by Barbara Wylie What Do Those Old Words Mean? If your ancestor had a "good sister," were his other sisters bad? How could a woman have a father-in-law if she never married? Some terms describing kinship, legal status and occupations don't mean now what they meant then.

Projects
Cemetery Headstone Transcription and Photography	Chisholm almost completed, only 22 more cemeteries to go. Once completed we will publish a book with the results.
Deed Books Transcription	A few of the over 30 deed abstract books have been completed.
Pioneer's of Rockwall Book	This will be a book with the names and stories of individuals obtained from the Pioneer Certificates project. These are Pioneers that created Rockwall County from 1900 and prior. RCGS member Mary Keene is heading this up and needs any assistance she can get, if you can help please email her at mhkeene @sbcglobal.net <-(remove space when emailing)
Historic Texas Cemetery Program	Need volunteers to submit cemeteries for this program. Go to: http://www.thc.state.tx.us/cemeteries/cemhtc.html
Nathan Butler Cemetery Restoration	Need headstones aligned, needs a fence. (NEED UPDATED STATUS) A few years ago about a dozen headstones turned up missing, the rumor was they had been taken to be restored, if anybody knows were the missing headstones are please email jeff @txlowe.net <-(remove space when emailing)

Events
To be announced	Annual yard sale fundraiser. Gather up your items you can live without to help support one of the only yearly fund raising events we have. Usually held on the corner of the Rockwall square in the parking lot next to the Lofland office.