Geneasurprise

Geneasurprise is a word I use regularly but that I had neglected to add to the Geneadictionary …. until I read an elegant explanation of the term from Jane in Queensland.

I contacted Jane who gave me permission to use her definition in the Geneadictionary. I am always grateful for these contributions.

Geneasurprise : those spontaneous serendipities, that continue to occur in parallel with ‘proper’ research. The chance google that nets you a priceless family treasure, the overheard snippet of conversation that leads to a great connection, the random stranger who contacts you via your blog.

A Geneasurprise

Geneadons

When there was a mass exodus from Twitter in late 2022, many genies joined up to a Mastodon Instance (Group). As the Mastodon network makes use of hashtags there was a discussion about which term to use to identify members of the Genealogy/Family History Community there.

Following on the exodus Liz Craig coined the term Geneadon to describe a Mastodon user posting about Genealogy/Family History. Mish Holman followed up with an invitation to all genies using Mastodon to enter their details on a Public Directory of Geneadons.

Using the Hashtag #Geneadons allows genies to quickly search for relevant posts in all Mastodon Instances.

Green Roots

When searching the internet for the term “Green Roots” one finds many references to products and campaigns related to the environment.

As a family historian sitting in my geneacave on St. Patrick’s Day my thoughts turned to my ancestors who made arduous journeys from Ireland to New South Wales in the 1800s. I call these my Green Roots.

Collateral Relative

A collateral relative is any blood relative who is not your direct ancestor. So your ancestors are your parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, etc., and your collateral relatives are cousins, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, siblings, etc.
Source: https://www.familytreemagazine.com/strategies/collateralrelative/

My Mother, Grandmother and I (Babe in arms) with a bunch of collateral relatives

Genealblogging

My friends and genimates know that my typing skills are punk.

A typo I made on a Facebook post this morning provided me with a new term for the Geneadictionary when I typed and posted Genealblogging instead of Geneablogging.

I quickly defined Genealblogging as blogging about genealogy with care and kindness – quite apt for our genimate Judy G Russell!

Cemetery Kit

When genealogists talk about a cemetery kit they are not referring to a gravedigger or funeral director’s tools of trade.

A Cemetery Kit contains tools and items that will help a visitor to a cemetery or graveyard carry out cleaning and maintenance on the graves or tombs they wish to tend.

Following are some links which advise on the contents of such a kit.
https://where2look4ancestors.com/2014/11/03/15-cemetery-kit-must-haves/
https://familyhistorydaily.com/genealogy-help-and-how-to/yes-graveyard-kit-heres-whats/
https://www.familytreemagazine.com/cemeteries/your-cemetery-equipment/

This cemetery in Castletown Geoghegan, Ireland is in need of a visitor with a cemetery kit

Tart

A genimate on Facebook just described herself as a Tart – one who doesn’t have allegiance to one resource but flits from resource to resource.

In this context I think a being a bit of a Tart is a smart move.

Geneabodies

I was reading through some of my old blog posts this morning and came across a reference to a post written in 2011 by the late Joan Miller, a Canadian genie, on her Luxegen blog.

Joan had coined a term Genea-Bodies and written a post about the opportunities nobodies have to become somebodies and influence others via social media. You can read Joan’s post here: https://www.luxegen.ca/genea-bodies-the-new-somebodies/

I was an Official Rootstech Blogger in 2011 with Joan, that opportunity has opened many doors in the geneaworld for me.

Joan Miller (L) and Jill Ball (R) interview Familysearch CEO Jay Verkler at Rootstech 2011

Jellygenes

This delightful animation from Familysearch explaining Jellygenes popped up in my notifications today. Check it out here : https://familysearchjellygenes.org/

Friends Sleeping Place

I always learn something new when I read a post on Anne Young’s blog. Today as I was reading Q is for Quaker I expanded on my scant knowledge of the Quaker religion.

Anne wrote about Temple Hill Burial Ground which is also known as The Friends Sleeping Place. I thought that such a peaceful description of a burial place deserved a place in the Geneadictionary.

Thanks Anne for teaching me about this resting place.

Friends Sleeping Place
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Friends_Burial_Ground,_Temple_Hill.JPG