Social media from the ancestors

My answer:

Here in Australia we are so lucky to have lots of digitized newspapers where we can actually see what our ancestors posted on their social media of the day. My parents always used to check the hatch, match and dispatch as they called the births, marriages and deaths columns of the local paper. But nowadays less and less of these records are now found in the papers.

But my ancestors also had their divorces reported in the paper. If they were caught up in a court appearance, what they said was reported word for word. If they bought or sold land, it would often appear in the papers. Of course, after an ancestor passed there could also be an obituary telling their life story, often as they had told their children so not necessarily accurate especially if they had been a convict in the early years of our country.

Readers: What exciting news might your ancestors have posted on their social media?

Genealogy bug


My answer:

Like many genealogists or family historians, I first got the genealogy bug back in primary school when we had to create a family tree as part of the social sciences curriculum. The bug continued by asking questions about family photos shared by mum and dad as well as looking at photo albums around the house.

But it developed more once I started visiting the local archives and library where records were kept for convicts I had found in my family. At this time I also started connecting with others through internet forums. Nothing was digitized at this stage and we were looking at original records in the actual books. Some though were on microfilm.

I am so glad the invention of the computer and ways of saving information have made it much easier for the newer generations of genealogists as they get the genealogy bug.

What am I doing this year?

Nikin / Pixabay

I will be doing a lot of things during 2024 as I have started a challenge created by WikiTree.  It is called 16 for 16 and relates to the fact that WikiTree (WT) is 16 years old in 2024.

I am on WT more often these days adding to their global tree. Why? Well before you add a profile to the tree you have to include at least one source for that person. Hopefully this makes the tree more accurate and it also allows collaboration with other members on WT.

There are lots of missions to choose from in the 16 for 16 challenge and I have already completed 9 of them during the month of January.

  1. Create a page to keep a track of what I have completed
  2. Improve my biography on my profile
  3. Add 16 profiles to a cemetery category
  4. Add another 16 making 32 profiles to a cemetery category
  5. Connect 8 unconnected profiles – Montevideo Maru POWs, North Mt Lyell miners
  6. Add at least one source to 16 unsourced profiles – Tasmanian
  7. Resolve 16 profiles in the Needs Birth Record
  8. Upload 16 photos of a person or a headstone to the relevant profile(s) – Montevideo Maru POWs
  9. Improve 16 profiles of individuals who died young

I am trying to do profiles relating to my family or the miners who died or survived North Mt Lyell mining disaster in 1912. I am also taking part in a monthly challenge related to Montevideo Maru POWs so some of that work helps count in the 16 for 16.

But there is one mission where you my followers can also take part.

  • Share 16 of the Question of the Week images on your social media

So each week I will be writing a post on my blog with one of the images. Please feel free to leave a comment on the post. I will probably also mention this on Facebook especially in the alumni Diploma of Family History student group.