Podcast
Ancestral Findings
Hosted by AncestralFindings.com · EN
These brief historical and informational snippets about genealogy and history should encourage and help you advance your family tree.
149episodes
Episodes
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Introduction to South African Genealogy
Yesterday00:08:50Summary readySouth Africa has an extraordinary history and a complex blend of cultures, rewarding and challenging genealogical research here. Whether your ancestors were part of the indigenous communities, European settlers, or later immigrants, the journey to uncover your family's roots in South Africa can lead you through various records and stories. In this series, we'll explore South Africa's historical backdrop, why it matters for genealogical research, and the key resources available to help you trace your lineage... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/introduction-to-south-african-genealogy/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips
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Book Giveaway: Tracing Your Ancestors Using What They Left Behind
2d ago00:07:46Summary readyThe book is Tracing Your Ancestors Using What They Left Behind: A Guide for Family Historians by Simon Wills. I had actually planned to offer this book as a giveaway a few weeks ago, but some family things came up, and I was not able to make the change at the time. In the end, that delay worked out for the better because it gave me more time to sit with the book, look through it more carefully, and enjoy it more than I probably would have if I had rushed through it. The more I looked through it, the more I felt this would be a helpful book for my readers, followers, and fellow genealogy friends. What stood out to me right away is that this book approaches genealogy from a perspective that many family historians will appreciate. We spend a lot of time with census records, birth records, marriage records, death records, probate files, newspapers, military records, church records, and all the other usual sources. Those records are important, and we need them. But this book reminds us that family history clues can also be found in the physical things our ancestors left behind. That is really the heart of this book... To enter the free book offer, use the signup link below. https://ancestralfindings.com/tracing-your-ancestors-using-what-they-left-behind-giveaway/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips
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Military Records for Tracing Ancestors
4d ago00:27:01Summary readyMilitary records can add life, movement, and personal detail to family history research. A census may tell you where an ancestor lived. A marriage record may name a spouse. A deed may show land ownership. A will may identify heirs. Military records can place that same person inside a larger moment in history. They may show where he served, when he enlisted, whether he was wounded, where his unit traveled, when he came home, whether he received a pension, and how his service affected his family. Sometimes they name wives, children, parents, neighbors, doctors, ministers, officers, and fellow soldiers. In some cases, a military file may be one of the richest sources you'll ever find for an ancestor. These records are not only about battles. They're about people... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/military-records-tracing-ancestors/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips
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Summer Genealogy Starts Now
1w ago00:10:21Summary readySummer is one of the best times of year to bring family history out of the computer and into the real world. The days are longer. Travel is easier. Cemeteries are more accessible. Families gather for cookouts, reunions, weddings, and vacations. Local libraries, courthouses, archives, historical societies, and old hometowns suddenly become places you might actually visit. That makes summer a great season for genealogy research. But the best summer research does not start with a road trip. It starts with a plan. You don't need to solve your entire family tree. You don't need to chase every surname. You don't need to spend your whole summer buried in records. The goal is to choose a few useful projects that are enjoyable, realistic, and worth your time. A good summer genealogy project should help you do one of three things: Learn something new about an ancestor Visit a place connected to your family history Organize what you already have so your research is easier later That is enough. Small projects can lead to big discoveries... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/summer-genealogy-projects/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips
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Honoring the Revolutionary War Soldiers Lost for 250 Years
1w ago00:08:24Summary readyFor nearly two and a half centuries, they were forgotten beneath the soil near Lake George, New York. No marked graves stood above them. No descendants visited to leave flowers. No stone carried their names. The men who fought for the American cause during the Revolutionary War disappeared from history as the years passed and the nation they helped create grew around them. Now, 250 years later, America has finally brought them home... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/honoring-the-revolutionary-war-soldiers-lost-for-250-years/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips
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Hamilton and the Founding Fathers: Where Broadway Meets American History
2w ago00:09:24Summary readyAs the United States approaches the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, Americans are once again turning their attention to the people, events, and ideas that shaped the nation. Historic sites are preparing special programs. Museums are opening new exhibits. Families are tracing Revolutionary-era ancestors. Across the country, interest in early American history is growing once again. At the same time, one of the most influential portrayals of the Revolutionary period in recent years did not come from a textbook or documentary series. It came from Broadway. The musical Hamilton became far more than a stage production. It introduced millions of people to the lives and struggles of the founding era through music, storytelling, and performance. For many viewers, it was the first time names like Alexander Hamilton, Aaron Burr, Marquis de Lafayette, and John Laurens felt like real people instead of distant figures from a classroom lesson. The production became a cultural phenomenon almost immediately. Songs from the soundtrack spread through streaming services, classrooms, social media, and family living rooms. Teachers used clips from the musical to introduce historical topics. Students memorized lyrics about cabinet debates and the early financial system of the United States. Suddenly, conversations about the founding period were happening far outside traditional history circles. As America prepares for its 250th anniversary, an important question naturally follows: How historically accurate is Hamilton? The answer is both yes and no... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/hamilton-and-the-founding-fathers-where-broadway-meets-american-history/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips
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When the Markers Are Gone, the History Remains
3w ago00:22:32Summary readyAs America moves toward its 250th anniversary in 2026, many people are thinking again about the country's founding, its documents, its ideals, and the generations who carried the story forward. America250 describes July 4, 2026, as the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and the National Archives is preparing its own Freedom 250 commemoration around 250 years of America and the Declaration of Independence. The Smithsonian is also marking the anniversary with programs meant to examine America's past, present, and future. Sources are listed at the end of this article. That makes this a good time to think not only about what we remember, but how we remember it. In travels around the country, it's hard not to notice that some public history has changed. In some towns, monuments have been removed. In others, signs have been replaced, plaques have disappeared, buildings have been renamed, and local displays have been rewritten. Sometimes those changes happen with public debate. Other times, they happen quietly, and only the people who pass through often notice that something is missing. People will disagree about whether each change is good, bad, needed, unfair, overdue, or unnecessary. That is part of living in a country with a long and complicated past. But one thing remains true no matter where someone stands on those debates. Removing a marker does not remove the history. A sign may come down. A statue may be moved. A display may be changed. A building may get a new name. Yet the event still happened. The person still lived. The community still existed. The letters were still written. The court files were still recorded. The newspapers still printed the story. The land records still show the owners. The pension files still tell of military service. The church registers still name the baptisms, marriages, and burials. The census still places families in a household, on a road, in a town, in a year. Public memory can change, but the past does not vanish because the public display changes. That is why America's 250th anniversary should send us back to the sources. Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/when-markers-are-gone-history-remains/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips
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10 "Must-Do" Genealogy Projects for June 2026
3w ago00:08:20Summary readyIn this episode, we're talking about ten meaningful genealogy projects you can take on during June. This time of year brings a lot of opportunities—warmer weather, Father's Day, family gatherings—and all of it pairs perfectly with digging deeper into your family history. Whether it's researching summer traditions, hosting a vintage-style picnic, or discovering how your ancestors celebrated Father's Day, these projects are fun, hands-on ways to bring your research to life. So grab a notebook, maybe a tall glass of iced tea, and let's talk about how to make June a month full of discovery. Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/10-must-genealogy-projects-june/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips
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Tips for Writing Compelling Family History Narratives
4w ago00:24:21Summary readyWhen you sit down to write about an ancestor, you may have plenty of records in front of you, but still feel unsure how to turn them into something people will want to read. Census records, deeds, wills, military files, church registers, photographs, letters, and family notes can give you the facts, but a narrative has to do something more. It has to guide the reader through a life. A good family history narrative helps the reader understand where a person lived, who surrounded them, what choices they faced, and how the events of their time shaped the course of their life. It doesn't turn genealogy into fiction. It takes documented research and arranges it into a clear, readable account. That kind of writing is valuable because many relatives will never study a chart, open a probate packet, or compare tax lists on their own. They may not know why a marriage bond, land deed, pension file, or cemetery record is important. Your job as the writer is to help them see what the records reveal. The best family history narratives are accurate, organized, and human. They respect the evidence, but they also help the reader care about the people behind it... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/tips-for-writing-family-history-narratives/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips
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Questions To Ask Before Using The National Archives
4w ago00:25:29Summary readyThe National Archives can be one of the best places to turn to when you are trying to take family history research beyond names, dates, and family stories. It holds federal records, which can place an ancestor within the larger work of the United States government. That may include military service, pensions, immigration, naturalization, federal land, federal court cases, census schedules, Native American agency records, federal employment, maps, photographs, and other records created by federal offices. At the same time, the National Archives can be hard to use if you begin without a plan. It is not one large family tree website. It is not a county courthouse. It is not a state vital records office. It is a federal records repository, and many of its records are arranged by agency, record group, location, court, military unit, file number, date, or subject. That is why the best question is not, "Can I find my ancestor at the National Archives?" A better question is, "What federal record might have been created because of something my ancestor did?" The National Archives recommends beginning with what you already know, then working toward what you do not know. That means you should gather names, dates, places, family members, and known events before you start searching deeper into federal records. Before You Search, Know These Four Things Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/questions-to-ask-before-using-the-national-archives/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips
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