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Fruit of the Earth: Using Deed Records to Uncover Your Ancestors
20 June 2026, 1-3:30 PM, EST
Join me as I present one of my most popular webinars! Deed records are one of genealogy’s most trusted and voluminous record sets. But the legal jargon can be confusing, and besides, what if your ancestor didn’t own land? Come and learn how to use deed records in new and exciting ways and unlock brick walls about your family and the communities in which they lived. This lecture also includes content about researching potential slaveholders in deeds and African-Americans after emancipation.
The first hour will be an introduction to using deeds. After a short break, in the second hour Robyn will demonstrate how to use FamilySearch to find and research deeds. Attendees will also receive a link to re-watch this webinar for three months in about a week. This event is $10. Zoom only utilizes Paypal,which will let you use a credit card). If you want to pay by Zelle or check, please email me at msualumni33 at gmail dot com, with "REGISTRATION" in caps in the subject line.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER AND SAVE YOUR SEAT!
[PAST] Workshop: Using AI to Write Your Family Story,
July 11th, July 18th, July 25th, 6 p.m. EST
Do you want to preserve all the research you’ve done for future generations, but aren’t sure how to begin writing? If so, this workshop is for you. I will show you a way to get past all that by using the power of AI to give us a starting point. This workshop will require hands-on, real-time engagement from you. At the conclusion of this workshop, you will have an article about your family. Please read carefully the requirements for this workshop before registering. The workshop is $75. Zoom only uses Paypal registration and it will also let you use a credit card. If you want to pay by Zelle or check, please email me at msualumni33 at gmail dot com, with "REGISTRATION" in caps in the subject line.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER AND RESERVE YOUR SEAT!
[PAST] Proving Identity, Not Matching Names, 7 September 2024, 2-3:45 pm EST: Genealogical sources are full of people living in the same place with the same name as our ancestor. How can we distinguish our ancestor among others of the same name? We can’t rely on just names; we’ve got to prove identity. Join me as I discuss strategies and present guidelines for ensuring that we've got the right person.
As always, attendees will receive a link to re-watch this webinar for three months; it takes me about a week to get that link out. This event is $15. Zoom only utilizes Paypal and will let you use a credit card, or you can Cash App me at $msualumni33, but please email me with CASH APP in the Subject line so I can know who to add. Please register early; several people couldn't get in when trying to register on the day of the webinar.
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[PAST] Beyond the Search Box: Finding Family Relationships, 3 August 2024, 2-3:45 pm EST: While online databases have been a boon to genealogists over the past decades, they can obscure the analysis all researchers must do. In this session, Robyn illustrates how turning our focus away from the computer and focusing on the sources and evidence we have can lead to uncovering family relationships.
Attendees will receive a link to re-watch this webinar for three months in about a week. This event is $15. Zoom only utilizes Paypal, but if you would like to send me a check please email me using the contact form below. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER AND SAVE YOUR SEAT!
A well-written and remarkably researched work that reaches out to both the novice and experienced genealogist! The stories are intricately detailed, both historically and on a human interest level.
One is drawn back into the eras of slavery, reconstruction, Jim Crow and segregation in the United States. A great proportion ( if not the majority )of the research is drawn from actual written legal records, slave narratives,
newspapers, bills of sale for slaves, letters , records from government agencies and family interviews.from Ms.Smith;s extensive travels. This book belongs on the bookshelf of anyone who wishes to take a look back into the lives of ancestors that broke ground, and toiled to make the African American family of today.
I am looking for Kinchen Families the would be kin to us. I am a Kinchen and I married an John P.Alexa. What I am trying to find is family that was kin to the Kinchen Families. They were born in Georgia. I Know that my Great Grand Parents were, Henry and Branch Kinchen and my Grandfather was Robert L Kinchen I need some background on Henry and Branch Kinchen . They were in Florida at the time of my Granfather Robert Lee Kinchen’s death. I would like to know where they are buried! I would appericate any help! Thank you, Lois K. Alexa
Hi Lois,
I actually do not do personal research, but there are plenty of great genealogists at the Association for Professional Genealogists (APG) website, https://www.apgen.org/. I have a Florida research line and they were also born in Georgia, so I know there are rich resources to search in Florida. I wish you luck–this is a soul-satisfying endeavor.
Robyn
I am related to a Kinchen , who married my 2nd cousin , Jennet Alexander from ALA, they live their now , they met while they were in the Army .we are also related to the Haleys, My great great grandmother bertha Haley ., her husband was George Haley a Irish Scott we have pictures .
Gregory,
Well hello cousin on the Haley side! Glad you found my blog and I hope you find it helpful to your research.
Robyn
Hello Lois:
I am a white person descended from the Kinchens and would be happy to help you with my own research about my enslaver ancestors. Robyn, how can I share contact info with Lois?
Hi Suzanne,
Can you tell me which post you saw a response about the Kinchens? I can’t find it. When I can, I will forward to her your email address.
Robyn