Family Tree Maker for Mac: Merging Family Trees

Family Tree Maker for Mac: Merging Family Trees

Continuing the progress report on migration to the new Family Tree Maker (FTM) for Mac genealogy software...

I decided to move my "family tree" to it; actually, I have three family tree files. You may have a similar situation. I have my primary tree and two others based on much research but which I have not previously merged with the main tree. The larger of the two was originally created based on a branch of my maternal side, Kinnick, where we had not yet proven the relationship for certain (the NC-Indiana branch). The third, a smaller set, was from back in colonial times (Maryland - Brightwell line).

With the family relationship demonstrated on the larger set and the third, smaller set representing the earlier days of each, I decided to merge the three files in setting up the new software. Have you found it necessary to merge genealogy software files? In the past, this has been quite a challenge, in many cases. I was anxious to see how the new software handled this situation.

With each of three trees successfully loaded using Family Tree Maker for Mac on my Mac, I moved ahead to merge the smaller of the two files into my main tree. To my pleasant surprise, the very first questions the software asked was, "Do you want to backup your file." Excellent. In the past, I have lost my primary file sometimes in the process of doing a merge. Have you had that experience? Well, it immediately provided the click-click process to back up the file, and moved to the merge. I only needed to enter the information to access the file to be merged, answer some specific questions about what I wanted to include, and the merge occurred. Since the second file was only a few hundred individuals, it took little time. The merge identified 33 individuals that were possible "overlaps" or duplicates. The software provided a worksheet screen with multiple options to include and exclude proper information. It felt good working through these options. The merge was successful.

With a small success in hand, I felt confident to follow the same process with the larger file, merging it into the newly created merged file. The only difference was that with several thousand names, rather than a few hundred, the merge took much, much longer. There were only 33 individuals to be resolved, this time; so that was nice. With my newly integrated major file, I look forward to working with the many other features available on the Family Tree Maker for Mac.


Families are Forever!  ;-)

More 1692 BRIGHTWELL records in Maryland Historical Magazine

Continuing from my post yesterday, this is more BRIGHTWELL in the Maryland Historical Magazine of June 1921, Vol. 16, #2:

The title of the article was 'The Baltimore County "Garrison" and the Old Garrison Roads' by William B. Marye beginning on page 105 - here are the first 3 of the 7 BRIGHTWELL references:

From p. 107-108:

The following order was issued by a Council held at Saint Mary's October 6th, 1692: "Ordered that six men with two Officers be appointed in the most considerable and exposed Places on the Frontiers vizt Captain Richd Brightwell with six men under his command well armed & provided to range from the head & Branches of Pottomuck to the branches of Potuxent one other with six men more armed &ea as aforesd from the head of Pottuxent to the head of Pottapsico and one more with the like number of men from thence to the head of Susquehanno River {footnote in the manuscript: This expression is, of course, not to be taken literally. It meant some part of the river at or not many miles above the head of tidewater} to be nominated and appointed, as also their pay agree for and acertained, by his Excellency the Governor." (Md. Arch., VIII, 378).

At a Council held at Saint Peter's October 14th, 1692, the following order concerning rangers was issued:
"Rangers appointed for the year ensuing upon the Frontiers of this Province vizt
"Captain Richard Brightwell with six men from the Falls of Pottomuck to the Branches of Pottuxen Captain Thomas Richardson from the Freshes of Pottuxen to the falls of Potapsicoe with six men Captain James Maxwell from the Falls of Potapsicoe to Susquhanno River with six men to be paid men and Officers p Ratio as in Virginia." (Md. Arch., VIII, 398).

At a Council held at Saint Peter's near Saint Mary's March 9th, 1692, the following resolutions respecting rangers were passed: "Advised thereupon and resolved by the Board that three Forts be forthwith erected in each of which a dwelling House sufficient to retain and accomodate a Captain or Commander and nine Souldiers together with a small Cabbin for four Indians to be found and sent thither by the Emporer of Nantecoke the Emperor of Pascattoway and the King of Choptico the said three Forts to be erected & built one in Charles County by the Direction and appointment of Captian John Addison one in Anne Arundell County at the direction & appointment of Coll Nicholas Greenbury & the other about the Fall of Potapsicoe toward or near Susquehannoh River in Baltimore County that Captain Richard Brightwell command the Fort at Charles County Capt. ------ at Anne Arundell and Captain Thomas Richardson that in Baltemore County, ordered also that the aforesaid Captain John Addison and Coll Nicholas Greenberry be desired, authorised and empowered to press and procure Carpenters work labourers provision tools and other necessarys for erecting and building the said Forts and that they have assurance given them from this Board of being satisfied and paid for the same at the publick charge to be allowed p rato at the price current when such things are got and procured. Ordered also that Captain John Addison be and he is hereby desired authorised and empowered to treat with and procure of the Emporer of Pascattaway four of his Indians for the Fort at Charles County, ...

[Dr. Bill comment - this is the first time I have seen this reference to BRIGHTWELL commanding a fort - he did live in Charles County. I've seen ranging stories, but not this one.  ;-)]

Families are Forever!  ;-)

Surname Saturday - BRIGHTWELL in Maryland Historical Magazine

First, thanks to Randy Seaver's 16 Jun 2010 post at Genea-Musing.com for pointing out that the Maryland Historical Magazine is now available on line.

Second, I first mentioned BRIGHTWELL in a Surname Saturday earlier this year. I also followed up with a mention on my Ancestor Approved Award comments.

My ancestor, Captain Richard Brightwell, my 6th Great Grandfather, and members of his family, are mentioned 19 times when I entered BRIGHTWELL into the search (some are index entries, some are simple mentions in lists, of course). Through the first 9 of the 19 references, I have gleaned the following two quotes from the Archives of Maryland, reported in the Magazine, that are worthy of further note, here.

Royal Province of Maryland in 1692 (In MHM 1920, Vol 15, #2, p. 127)

The colony was in an uneasy state of mind with reference to the Indians. Though treaties had just been signed, on May 18, about three o'clock in the afternoon, a negro woman was scalped and mortally wounded by a band of about ten Indians in Charles County, while she was going between two houses of her master. The friendly Piscattaway Indians joined the rangers in the pursuit, but apparently failed to capture the miscreants. Then rangers had been ordered to go out, is uncertain, but, at this time, Major Ninian Beale and Capt. Brightwell were in command of two bodies of men so employed.

(In MHM 1920, Vol 15, #4, p.392) The Old Indian Road 1737

The place called the Sugar Lands lay on Potomac River between Broad Run and Seneca Creek, and extending back some distance. It appears to have been a belt of heavily timbered rich land. Probably the earliest mention of this place is in a survey called "Brightwell's Hunting Quarter" laid out August 29th, 1695, for Captain Richard Brightwell " about twenty miles above the falls of Potomack River on the land called the Sugar land." in 1697 Captain Brightwell made a report of his "ranging" between Potomac River and the headwaters of Patuxent. (Archives, Vol. XXIII, p. 261.) In this report he mentions the Sugar Lands. Captain Brightwell then commanded a fort called "New Scotland," which appears to have been situated at the Falls of Potomac River.

[More to follow, next tomorrow - links forward will be added]

Families are Forever! ;-)

Surname Saturday - BRIGHTWELL

Surname Saturday - BRIGHTWELL

Through the last 26 weeks, we have named and discussed the surnames of my "round of thirty-two" (scroll down a bit) - back through 3rd great grandparents.

Next, I want to share some of the "further back" surnames with which I have spent some time and done some research - some, like today, quite a bit, actually.

I will start with my mother's paternal line, KINNICK. The 4th GG is believed to be ISAACS, but we are not even close to proving it. The 5th GG is believed to be FERGUSON, but again, not proven satisfactorily. This is the Sgt Major William KINNICK level. His mother, the wife of Jasper KINNICK, was Elizabeth BRIGHTWELL. Elizabeth was the daughter of Captain Richard BRIGHTWELL, of the Horse Rangers, of early Maryland (from his arrival from England in 1666 as an indentured servant of Major Thomas Truman, to his death in 1696 as a prosperous land owner).

I published an article: "Richard Brightwell Family in Maryland, 1640s to 1740s," in the Maryland Genealogical Society Bulletin, Vol. 44, No. 2, Spring 2003, pp. 218-238.

Families are Forever!  ;-)

Ancestor Approved Award

I was pleased and surprised to have Dionne Ford pass along this award to me, today: Treasure Chest Thursday: My first Genealogy Blogging award at Finding Josephine. I add my thanks to Leslie Ann at Ancestors Live Here for initiating the award.

The recipient of this award is supposed to list ten things we have learned about any of our ancestors that has surprised, humbled, or enlightened us and pass along the award to ten other bloggers who we feel are doing their ancestors proud. Here we go...

Surprised
    •    My great-grandfather, James P. Preston, actually had a long life, despite my aunt saying, "we don't know much about him!"
    •    Albert Sydney Johnston, highest ranking General of the Confederate Army to die in the Civil War, at Shiloh, was my 4th cousin, twice removed.
    •    My second great-grandfather, William Preston, was the first elected Sheriff of Williams County, Ohio, at that time in Defiance, OH. We was known as the first white settler of Defiance, and, as "The Old Sheriff!"
    •    My fifth great-grandfather, William Kinnick, was Sergeant-Major during most of his three years of Revolutionary War service, and participated in most of the northern campaign battles.


Humbled by
    •    learning that Roger Conant, co-founder of Salem, MA, and Governor of the Massechusetts Bay Colony was my ninth great grandfather.
    •    finding that I have so many ancestors who were in either the Civil War or the Revolutionary War


Thrilled
    •    to realize my first "born in Ireland" ancestor, third great-grandfather, John Butler was also one of eight first cousins who were with George Washington at Valley Forge; five officers and three enlisted men.
    •    to find that my fifth great-grandfather, William Kinnick, and his brother, Jasper, fought in the War of Jenkin's Ear, in 1741-42.
    •    to find that my seventh great-grandfather, Captain Richard Brightwell, was a contemporary of George Washington's grandfather, and they participated together on Indian affairs across the Potomac at least once that is recorded; Washington from Virginia and Brightwell from Maryland, in Maryland.
    •    being a fourth cousin, twice removed, of Nile Kinnick, Heisman Trophy Winner out of the University of Iowa.


Passing this award along to:

• Cyndi at Mountain Genealogists
• Dave at Tree Rings
• Leland at Genealogy Blog
• Jonathan at Them Medfords & other mountain folks
• Lynn at The Armchair Genealogist
• Irish at Portals to the Past
• Herstoryan
• Elizabeth at Little Bytes of Life
• Alice at John Brown Kin
• Julie at My Papa's Book

Families are Forever!  ;-)