As a reminder, you can access the GenealogyBank blog at blog.genealogybank.com and on Facebook or Pinterest. From there you can search for Sesniak to find my blogs. Google has reminded me that it is in compliance with European laws.

GenealogyBank and RootsWeb Review Blogs

Since 2012, I've been a guest blogger with GenealogyBank, after having been a columnist with RootsWeb Review from 2007 - 2011.  It's been a pleasure working with these two companies, as well as reading the great feedback of my followers.

GenealogyBank blogs published in 2015

These are some of my published blogs, and you can look for more on a regular basis on the GenealogyBank blog. 

Some of my blogs have quizzes, which you are welcome to share (but not modify) with friends and genealogy societies. They are preceded with a dash.

Ghost Stories & Séances: History and True Life Paranormal Events (12 March 2015)

The Wizard of Menlo Park, a.k.a. Inventor Thomas Edison (18 Feb. 2015)

What Were the Real Last Words of These U.S. Presidents? (16 Feb. 2015)

Valentine’s Day History & Traditions: How Our Ancestors Celebrated (13 Feb. 2015)

What Were Your Ancestor’s Last Words? (3 Feb. 2015)

Wedding Belles! How to Find Your Ancestors’ Marriage Records (21 Jan. 2015)

GenealogyBank blogs published in 2014

Funny Genealogy Quotes: End-of-the-Year Fun for Genealogists (30 Dec. 2014)

Kids Holiday Gift Ideas: Craft Projects from Newspapers (16 Dec. 2014)

DIY Project: Your Own Holiday Family Advent Calendar (1 Dec. 2014)

Native American Genealogy: Research Tips & Resources (24 Nov. 2014)

Holiday Genealogy Gift Ideas Pt. 2: Old Fashioned Recipe Book (18 Nov. 2014)

Holiday Genealogy Gift Ideas Pt. 1: Visual Family Timelines (13 Nov. 2014)
 
Your Top Genealogy Challenges & Frustrations (28 Oct. 2014) 

Are You Celebrating Mother-in-Law Day? (24 Oct. 2014)

Do You Share Any Birthday Traditions with your ancestors? (20 Oct. 2014)

Oh Baby! News about Twins, Triplets, Quadruplets & More (7 Oct. 2014)

Babies are the Key to Making Us Ancestors: Genealogy Tips for Baby Research!  (22 Sep. 2014)

How to Use a Thesaurus as a Genealogy Keyword Tool (15 Sep. 2014)

How to Research Old Newspaper Headlines for Family History (12 Aug. 2014)

Vintage Ads & Our Ancestors’ Shopping (8 Aug. 2014)

Why do You Love Genealogy? (5 Aug. 2014)

Musical Discoveries - "Old Music in Historical Newspapers" (24 July 2014)

Meanings of Family Surnames: Exploring Origins of Last Names (7 Juls 2014)

--Fourth of July Trivia Quiz (4 July 2914)

A Genealogy Quotes ‘How-To’ Guide: Ideas, Creating & Sharing (30 June 2014)

Westward Ho! How to Trace the Trails of Your Pioneer Ancestors (19 June 29149)

GenealogyBank Cheat Sheets: Shortcuts to Key Website Resources (9 June 2014)

Funeral Sermons: How to Research These Old Funeral Records for Genealogy (29 May 2014)

How to Research Old Diaries & Personal Journals for Genealogy (19 May 2014)

Where to Find Passenger Lists to Trace Your Immigrant Ancestors  (15 May 2014)

30 Activities, games & Ideas for Family Reunion Fun! (6 may 2014)

Are You Related to John Chapman, a.k.a. Johnny Appleseed? (25 April 2014)

A Genealogist’s Guide to Old LatinTerms & Abbreviations (23 April 2014)

101 Genealogy Proverbs: Family Sayings from around the World (21 April 2014)

Ancestral Surname Searches: 4 Tips for Tracing Surname Spellings (14 April 2014)

More Genealogy Humor: Funny Quotes & Sayings for Genealogists (8 April 2014)

Family Reunion: Tips for Planning & Researching Past Reunions (Apr. 3, 2014)

How to Research a Town's Genealogy & Funny Texas Town Names (1 April 2014)

Peculiar, Unusual and Stranger-than-Fiction Obituaries (Mar. 25, 2014)

Everyone's a Wee Bit Irish Around St. Patrick's Day (Mar. 21, 2014)

8 Genealogy Tips for Tracing Female Ancestry (Mar. 6, 2014)

--10 Famous African Americans in the 17th and 18th Century (Feb. 27, 2014)

Researching Your Family Heirlooms: Gaudy Dutch Pottery (Feb. 25, 2014)

Hammet Achmet: Washington's Waiter & Revolutionary War Patriot (Feb. 18, 2014)
(Also titled, "Hammet Achmet: A Revolutionary War Drummer")

Valentine's Day History: A Look Back at Old Love Poems and More (Feb. 13, 2014)
(Also titled, "Have a Roses are Red and Violets are Blue Valentine's Day")

Civil War Genealogy: How to Find Union Soldier Uniform Clues  (Feb. 6, 2014)

Time-Saving Computer Keyboard Shortcuts for Genealogy Research (Feb. 5, 2014)

Genealogy Humor: 101 Funny Quotes and Sayings for Genealogists (Jan. 22, 2014)

--Curious & Funny Epitaphs of Famous People & the Not-So Famous (Jan. 16, 2014)

New Years’s Resolutions for Genealogists: Top 10 Goals for 2014 (Jan. 3, 2014)

GenealogyBank blogs published in 2013

During 2013, my blogs appeared 2-5 times a month. The blogs with quizzes are preceded with a dash.

Genealogy Humor: Unusual & Funny Names of People (Part II) (Dec. 30, 2013 - See Nov. 7, 2013)

How to Find Tricky & Common Ancestor Names in Newspapers (Dec. 26, 2013)

Did Grandma & Grandpa Write Letters to Santa Claus as Kids? (Dec. 9, 2013)

Old Holiday Poems, Songs & Hymns in Newspapers (Dec. 4, 2013)

Researching Your Pilgrim Ancestry from Mayflower Ship Passengers (Nov. 25, 2013)

Earlier Women of War: Nurses, Camp Followers & Red Cross Volunteers (Nov. 18, 2013)

My Revolutionary Roots & Family Ties to the Boston Tea Party (Nov. 16, 2013)

Genealogy Challenge Pt. 1: Spot Spoonerisms & Other Name Mistakes (Nov. 12, 2013)

Genealogy Humor: Unusual & Funny Names of People (Part I) (Nov. 7, 2013 - See Dec. 30, 2013)

--Who Really Invented the Steamboat? Fitch, Rumsey or Fulton? (Nov. 4, 2013)

Halloween Fashion History: Costumes & Decorations of Yesteryear (Oct. 28, 2013)

How to Date Old Ancestor Photographs with Early Photo Types (Oct. 14, 2013)

Lineage, Hereditary, Heritage & Patriotic Societies Have Genealogy Resources (Oct. 4, 2013)

German American Newspapers at GenealogyBank (Sep. 27, 2013)

Tips & Tricks to Search Online Newspapers at GenealogyBank (Sep. 16, 2013)

How to Date Old Photos of Our Ancestors with Early Fashion Trends (Sep. 9, 2013)

--SSDI Quiz: Understanding the U.S. Social Security Death Index (Aug. 14, 2013)

How to Spot and Avoid 9 Common Genealogy Mistakes & Errors (Aug. 7, 1013) [See Other section.]

History of Trains & Railroads: Locomotives, Steam Engines & More (Aug. 1, 2013)

Find the Oldest People to Ever Live, as Reported in Newspapers (Jul. 17, 2013)

‘Gencaching’ Challenge: Find Historical Maps in Old Newspapers (Jul. 2, 2013)

--Nautical Terms & Phrases Found in Old Newspapers (Jun 17, 2013)

--Nursery Rhyme Origins Quiz: Meanings & History behind the Rhymes (Jun. 3, 2013)

Which of Your Ancestors Would You Invite to Your Family Reunion? (May 21, 2013)

Frakturs & Family Bibles Can Provide Proof of Marriage (May 13, 2013)

--Old Diseases & Early Medical Terms in Historical Newspapers (Apr. 20, 2013)

--Historical Occupations (Job Names) in Newspapers: Old Careers & Occupations (Part II) (Apr. 15, 2013)

--Early Female (Women) Occupations, Jobs & Avocations (Apr. 4, 2013)

--Job Names in Historical Newspapers: Researching Old Occupations (Mar. 20, 2013)

In Search of Our Early American Ancestors’ Patents on Inventions (Feb. 27, 2013)

Clues in Petitions: Did Your Ancestors Petition the Government? (Feb. 21, 2013)

Understanding Terms Found in Historical Newspapers (Feb. 11, 2013)

Revolutionary War’s Forgotten Patriots Remembered in Newspapers (Feb. 6, 2013)

Solve the Robert ‘Believe It or Not!’ Ripley Ancestry Brick Wall (Jan. 28, 2013)

How to Do Genealogy Research with German-Language Newspapers (Jan. 16, 2013)


GenealogyBank blogs published in 2012

Ancestry Believe It or Not: Genealogy Scams, Fakes & Forgers (Dec. 19, 2012)

Fact or Myth: Did Horace Greeley Really Say ‘Go West Young Man’? (Dec. 10, 2012)

Researching State Archives for Genealogy Records (Nov. 26, 2012)

Dating Old Family Photographs with Civil War Revenue Stamps (N0v. 14, 2012)

How to Date Family Photos with Vintage Fashion Ads in Newspapers (Oct. 22, 2012)

The Lessons of Daniel Boone’s Obituary: Check and Double Check (July 21, 2012)

Last Revolutionary War Widow Receives Final Pension—in 1906! (July 19, 2012)

You can search for the others at GenealogyBank by following the link, and entering either Sesniak or my entire name (Mary Harrell-Sesniak).

GenealogyBank's Blog
http://blog.genealogybank.com/

----------------
Other
How to Spot and Avoid 9 Common Genealogy Mistakes & Errors
Swedish American Genealogist 2013:3, P. 4-5 (Reprinted in SAG journal after first being published in the GenealogyBank blog on Aug. 7, 2013)

----------------
RootsWeb Review

RootsWeb Review was the first of the great genealogy online newsletters. RootsWeb was founded by Karen Isaacson and Brian "Wolf" Leverich.  In 1998, Julie Case and Myra Vanderpool Gormley, published the first edition of the RootsWeb Review.  See the History of RootsWeb.

I joined the Review, along with Joan Young, as a columnist in 2007 and continued until it ceased publication in 2011. If you wish to read my past articles, follow the link to the archives and search for Sesniak.  I've also posted direct links to some of columns below.

RootsWeb Review Archives (E-zine)

http://rwr.rootsweb.ancestry.com/

Lessons I'm Learning While Publishing a Family Genealogy (08 August 2007, Vol. 10, No. 32)

My Start in Genealogy and Cemetery Surveys," (8 March 2007, Vol. 10, No. 13)

Newspaper Research Tips (9 January 2008, Vol. 11, No. 2)

Soundex, Metaphone, and Fuzzy Searches in WorldConnect (30 May 2007, Vol. 10, No. 22)

Striking Genealogical Gold in Foreign Records (13 July 2011, Vol. 14, No. 7)

When Autofixing Doesn't Work (14 January 2009, Vol. 12, No. 1)

Most of my RootsWeb blogs had the slogan that appears after my name. It summarizes how I feel about the pursuit of family history and genealogy.

Mary Harrell-Sesniak

"Genealogy isn't just a pastime; it's a passion."


(c) 2013-2014 by Mary Harrell-Sesniak, Houston, Texas. World rights reserved.

Letter from Georgiana Augusta Sprague to Edgar Hanks Evans 1941-06-23

East Orange NJ              
June 23nd 1941        
     

Dear Cousin Edgar.--
Your Mother taught
school and was tutor for the children of
Horace Greeley at his New York home
and also at his country place Chappaqua
New York, which has recently been made
a public monument. Your mother and mine
were twins, born in New Haven, Conn
and spent most of their young days there,
and your Mother and Father first met and
were friends there. -- Many years after
when  your Mother was a widow she
and her three children were living
with her sister Martha at No 50 West 16th St.
New York City. -- Just by chance she and
your Father met on Broadway
N.Y. - He had come across the continent
when the through railway had been
operating only three weeks. I recall
they were married in a church on 47th St
or 49th St west in the month of April 1869
I think just around the Easter season
and my mother and Mr. And Mrs. Shea were
witnesses.

 In the Fall of 1869 your Father was
called to California to take charge of
the Sierra Buttes Mine near Sierra Buttes
City California – The following summer
as the weather was very hot in New York
City your Mother with her twin sister,
her daughter May King and her neice
Georgia Loomis went to Saratoga Springs
New York where you were born July 18th
1870 and where with much pride I
wheeled you about in  your Baby Carriage.
Sincerely Your Cousin
Georgiana Augusta Sprague

Transcription by:
Mary Harrell-Sesniak

Historic letter
from the Edgar Hanks Evans,
nee Edmund Hanks Collection

It may not be reproduced or published
without permission of the family.
-----------------------------

Letter from to Miss A. M. Southard to Miss A. C. Patterson 1842-07

Miss A. C. Patterson
care of D. Macy
Lawrenceburg
Ind

Indianapolis, July 1[6?]. 1842

Dear Sister,
We received yours of the 17 and also
of the 4 with much pleasure. I am happy to inform
you I have neither left for Zenas? nor __oway. and shall
not I presume this summer. Though Jane and Mat
has left Madison has employment on the road again
Jane expects to stay at her Fathers some time. Jane looked
very prominent before she left  She said would write
you soon. Oh Almira & believe I did not tell you
how we were received on our arrival  we got home about four
oclock in the afternoon  The day Wm Macy left.  after __ing
all day with out eating any thing we felt very much like
eating and thought we would until we got home but to
my great surprise we found the old Mormon away from
home and not a thing to eat and every thing dirty
it appeared to me they had tried _ow bad they could have
things you knew what promises she made me before we
left they were _y ernst they were? broke before we got
out of the gate. w  have had a glorious living so much
so Mrs Southard has had to take medicine several times she has
apepared yeny? any towards me  I suppose she thinks
we are intruders  she has her potty little _ughter set up
so she can not cook a bit this morning  She _,e if
would do the cooking to ))y she and Cl___ would sew
at ___ cote  I had done it for several times I jus? do? herd?
our campmeeting comences next thursday  Father is
young to have a tent I shall take but very little
interest in it & go to Fathers Foundys? class
Mr Southard is a regional attendant I just close
by subscribing my self
your Sister
Am M Southard

Almira Mrs. [Sou?]thard would like to receive
a letter from you Mrs Macey from Cally Anna?

Letter from Jane H. Cravens Patterson to Almira Patterson 1892-07-31

Paid 10
Miss Almira C. Patterson
Lawrenceburgh
Indiana


Vernon

1 August [illegible]


Vernon, July 31 1892

Dear Almira
After two months consideration I have
concluded to write you but what to write that
will interest you I cannot tell. we left
Indianapolis some three or four weeks since



anxious to hear from you __ give our
love to Polly Ann and M Macy and kiss
little Cally I still promise myself a visit
to Lawrenceburgh in the spring  write soon
and a long letter.  Nothing more to say
and house work to find this much I guess
it is a very dull letter.
Your Affectionate sister
J. H. Patterson [probably Jane H. Cravens, wife of Robert Madison Patterson]

Letter from Phebe Macy Swain to Ella Laura Malott 1898-06-24

Letter of June 24, 1898 addressed to:
Miss Ella J. Malott [her name was Ella Laura Malott]
524 N. Delawar St. Indianapolis, Ind.
(In margin of envelope labeled in Ella's handwriting, is
“from Aunt Phebe”.)

Modoc   June 24 98
My Dear Niece
   Your favor of 20 Inst. received and will answer your questions as far as we are able.  My mother Nancy Walls was born in Montgomery County Virginia April 6th 1777 was married to Albert Macy in Randolph Co. N. C. in 1802 and died July, 24 1874.
   The exact date of her marriage we fail to get. Your inquiries in reference to grandfather Joseph Macy and wif we are unable to answer.
   [Th]is is very common in such cases we have been careless about keeping the necessary Record of events till we find it quite difficult at this late date to look them up. I am sure there is or at least has been a record of these things, and they may yet be found and if so we will give them you.
   Perhaps you have not heard of the death Sarah Ann Harris Aunt Lydia' oldest daughter who died from the effects of a second stroke of Paralysis three weeks ago.
   We would very much like you to make us the Family tree you speak of it not too much trouble. I think of you often since I was in Indianapolis than before, and appreciate your kindness very much. We are about as we were when in your City. I am no better of my rheumatism and never expect to be.
   Hoping you all enjoying good health I will close. Would love to see you all.
Most affectionately
your Aunt Phebe


Note: Aunt Phebe was Mrs. Ira Swain
Letter in possession of transcriber Mary Harrell-Sesniak, as of 12‑30‑2010.

Letter from David Macy to wife Mary Ann Patterson 1883-09-07

ST CLAIR MINERAL SPRINGS
"THE OAKLAND."
OPEN THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
St. Clair. Mich. Sept 7 1883

Dear wife
I am here, taking brother, eating, sleeping,
have gained three pounds in weight and feel
quite well. have a little cough, but sleep well
at night.  I believe my hearing & eyes hav
improved at least it so appears to me, "The
Oakland is thinning out since the cool
weather set in, but that is so much the more
pleasant for me but not so pleasant for the
landlord. Macy & WW? Read seem to enjoy
themselves here, and are agreeable
to me. as I am here and think I am improvin
in health though I think I shall remain until
Thursday next and then leave for home. My Daughter
Carrie Malott wrote me a postal saying
you were all in good health & getting along
very well -- If I am needed at home please
telegraph me and I will come at any
time  I take a bath each day at 11 oclock
and lay down for about [obscured] minutes and
then eat Dinner occasionally go up to M Clair
and Roll but [illegible] but not much of the
latter as it is rather hard to work I enjoy
loking at the [illegible] number of Road &
Schooner pass---
Affectionately yours
David Macy
P.S. say to Carrie that I thank her for the
Postal she sent me and if I do not
answer this letter will? do for you & her
Well?