Jo Ann Scott Evans
“If you cannot get rid of the family skeleton, you may as well make it dance.” —George Bernard Shaw
On Tuesday, Oct. 18, in the CATC, Room 104, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., our webinar will feature Judy Russell, known in genealogical circles by her trademark “The Legal Genealogist,” which highlights her training and education as a genealogist with a law degree. Judy is known for her clear explanations on finding, reading, and interpreting records. To understand our ancestors’ lives—why they did what they did—we need to understand the laws that governed their lives. Knowing the laws they lived by helps us to make sense of the records they left and to find clues to even more records. Judy knows why legal documents were set up, the places to look for them, the information they contain, and what parts of that information are reliable for our research.
The first meeting of November will be a combination business/social event held on Tuesday, Nov. 1, in the CATC, Room 104, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. New club officers for 2023 will be elected, and there will be a social for mixing and getting to know each other better.
Tuesday, Nov. 15, in the CATC, Room 104, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., will feature Robson’s own Emily Richardson in a program called “Dissecting the Probate Process: With or Without a Will.” Probate records are often the key to finding children’s names, the husbands of married daughters, the value of the estate, names of slaves, and a multitude of other answers to genealogical questions. Yet, many shy away from anything but searching for a will. This presentation will talk about the legal processes of death when there is and is not a will, the history of dower and guardianships, and the proceedings that occurred that might allow you to find even more documentation. Two different case studies will help to show the difference between the probate processes in two different states and under two different sets of circumstances.
The Genealogy Club welcomes all Robson Ranch residents. Dues are $20 per year per person or $30 per year for a couple. If you want further information on these programs or on the Robson Genealogy Club, feel free to contact the club board at [email protected].