Newsletter 1QT 2025 - Jan to March

Recap 1st Quarter 2025

This is a Recap of the Recent Blog articles and podcast episodes.  Our most recent podcast went out
4 April 2025.

Revolutionary War: Muskets to Manuscripts

On April 12, I will be presenting The Revolutionary War: Muskets to Manuscripts at Midwest Genealogy Center. This day of fun is sponsored by the Missouri State Genealogical Association (MoSGA), My topic is the Revolutionary War. This is a free hybrid class, but Registration is required.

Accessing the Handout

The handout for this presentation is provided at linktr.ee/hittinthebricks (email subscription to the site is required to access the presentation handout; so subscribers only). Know we do not send out ANY publication or emails, but it does provide us with stats so we can learn if you are appreciating topics.

Feel free to provide us with feedback using the linktr.ee/hittinthebricks site.
We also randomly issue gifts to our linktree subscribers and to donors to TracingAncestors.org. This year, we will be giving away AncestryDNA kits. Know that the Hittin' the Bricks podcast is sponsored by TracingAncestors.org.

Tools to Explore
Are you using the familysearch digital library of books and more?
Check out the FamilySearch Library Catalog

ChatGPT
What Can ChatGPT Do? Scour the internet. Where Familysearch scans the holding within the familysearch collection, ChatGPT can quickly scan the internet. Here's an example of the wonders of ChatGPT while working with a Revolutionary War Soldier case.

You will recognize this example if you attend the Musket to Manuscript Course offered 12 April 2025. 

What was wonderous? Who would have thought that my biggest clue to open this research would come from a 1929 newspaper article?

Boolean, Boolean, Boolean
When we are doing searches (newspaper, AI, ChatGPT, text, ancestry.com and familysearch.org, Knowing how to use Boolean operators is a major advantage for genealogists! It supercharges their search abilities and helps them sift through tons of information more efficiently. 

You can ADD, or NOT, include information. Boolean operators (like AND, OR, NOT, and quotation marks for exact phrases) help genealogists narrow or broaden search results when using databases, archives, or even Google.

Properly creating a Boolean search can save you hours!

Be sure you are familiar with Boolean searches.  Here's a chart to get you started, but I suggest taking a free online course or use ChatGPT to help you out.  

Embrace AI
(The following is a reprint)

Yes, AI is now a genealogist's tool! Tool. Analysis and the burden of proof is on you! But, AI is a tool, like the old dewey decimal card catalog was in my day! I loved those days of researching and typing papers on my red typewriter that I still have.

But I digress. I will demonstrate in the Musket to Manuscript Presentation how to effectively and responsibly use the the AI feature under "Experiments" on Familysearch. It will truly ccelerate colonial / Revolutionary War era research as you make quick family trees to get to that 5-8 great-grandfather who was your Rev War Veteran.

Here is an overview for you. 
(Reprint from Jun 2024 Newsletter)

Step 1: Log in using your free familysearch.org accout.

Step 2. Go to the home page by clicking on the Family Search logo on the upper left-hand coner.


Step 3. Scroll down to the far right bottom of the page and find VIEW EXPERIMENTS. Keep in mind it is in beta, so the image placements may change, but the wording has so far been the same.

Step 4. In the middle of the top row, you will see this image with Expand your search with Full Text. And Go to Experiment. Feel free to try all the buttons, but this is the one you were asking about after the last podcast.


Step 5. Start Your Search using Keywords. Trying to find relationships?





This gave 5545 returns. With both names in quotes it translates just find ever occurence of Thomas Baird and/or Polly Baird. This would allow me to gather places, timeframes, names, etc. But it's AI, I can narrow that if I need to.

Now the Search Tips give you little to work with, but here are a few suggestions.



Are you needing to narrow your search? In my wide search, I learned there are several Thomas Bairds and several Polly Bairds in Ohio. I need the correct 1) Polly Baird 2) I need to confirm her relationship with Thomas, 2) I need her to be married or widowed to a Samuel Thompson. Of, course there are times when we have to widen our search. For example, Wonder how many Thomas and Polly Bairds there are in Ohio?But I want only documents that have both names in it and the bonus if S. Thompson is also named in the same document. You can put all three in your search, but for our purpose (and my need to narrow down one step at a time), I'm showing yu how I do it.

So, I add the "+" sign before each person of interest with the "quotes.. This translates to I want all the occurences of these names in the "same" document.


Wow!That gave only two documents with them together and both documents are in Hamilton Ohio. That was a big lead for me. I wasn't sure where they had moved to/from.

Big Bonus...
These documents answered all my questions. It not only named Polly, it confirmed Thomas was her father and Samuel was her husband.


Oh...and I learned the cause of my confusion

Polly Baird was the daugther of Thomas Baird by his first wife, Jane Kilgore, the daughter of Charles Kilgore of County Knox, Indiana Territory. Here's a link to the document: bit.ly/45ydxW1

Now do you see why I love these AI tools?

Researching The American Black Irish, by Blood

As we close up Irish American Heritage Month, we must be reminded that in America, it can be estimated that Black Americans have as much Irish ancestry as many White American that claim European admixture. 

This DNA, bloodline mixture, has historically created a shared history and cultural blending. We just no longer notice it due to time passed, melding of communities, and racial complexity that in America boils down to skin color. 

Most have not considered how Black American ancestry is an intricate and layered history, shaped by centuries of migration, forced displacement, enslavement, oppression, and resilience. From the transatlantic slave trade to the Civil Rights Movement, Black Americans have a unique lineage. This intertwines with the histories of multiple cultures, nations, and peoples. However, one facet of this heritage often goes unrecognized: the Irish connection within many Black American family trees.

Let's explore how Irish ancestry plays a significant role in the broader picture of Black American heritage. I've included a case study example here of Wm. O. Moseley of Hinds County, Mississippi, the father of seven mulatto children with enslaved Susan. This multi-year project yielded a will, names and description of the mulatto children, and their fate after being enslaved by their biological father. In this case, Dad, Wm. O Moseley, acknowledged them openly as early as 1840's.

The Irish-American Connection in Black American Ancestry
Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, Irish indentured servants and enslaved Africans often lived in close proximity in the American colonies. In some cases, they worked side by side, sharing similar experiences of oppression. This is only one way Black American families often trace their Irish ancestry.  

I'm sure you know that before the cotton gin, miscegenation (marrying outside of one's race) was not illegal. Americans just got a bit dumber due to the need of free labor, so states began outlawing these unions. Children followed the mother's line. So if the mother was white, the children, even interracial children, had all of the same rights as their white mother.

Laws against interracial marriage, particularly between white women and Black men, were introduced gradually in the American colonies and later in U.S. states. These laws were part of broader racial segregation policies that intensified over time.

Plaçage and Miscegenation

Plaçage" refers to a historically recognized extralegal system in French and Spanish slave coloniesP, where white men entered into civil unions with women of African, Native American, or mixed-race descent, known as "placées," which were considered "left-handed marriages".

 
Plaçage was tolerated in colonial America, where European men, especially the French and Spanish, freely joined in civil unions with people of color. But later, this practice became frowned upon. Researchers will very often see these civil unions in the Louisiana Territory and Missouri Territory, but also noted in Illinois Country. Although this practice was once tolerated, new state laws against miscegenation may have forced otherwise white Americans to identify as black. Identifying as black would allow one to stay with their mixed-race family in the community where miscegenation was illegal. In addition to white men in civil unions with women of color, Paul Heinegg’s study identifies court documents where mixed-race children were born to free colored men and white women. These early practices can be seen from the Carolinas, Virginia, Maryland, to Delaware. Again, researchers may find proof of these unions in colonial and territorial records to include the Territory of Missouri

Colonial Period (Pre-1810)

Late 1600s – Early 1700s: The first laws banning interracial marriage (anti-miscegenation laws) emerged in the American colonies.

Virginia (1662): The first known law linking race and marriage. It stated that children of mixed-race unions would inherit the status of the mother (perpetuating slavery).

Maryland (1664): First colony to officially prohibit interracial marriage.

By the 1700s, most Southern colonies had similar laws, but enforcement varied. Some relationships, especially among lower-class whites and Black men, persisted despite these laws.

Post 1810 - Reconstruction Era
In the early 1800s, some states loosened their restrictions temporarily, but racial tensions, especially during and after Reconstruction (1865–1877), led to stricter enforcement and expansion of these laws.

Laws against interracial marriage, particularly between white women and Black men, were introduced gradually in the American colonies and later in U.S. states. These laws were part of broader racial segregation policies that intensified over time. 

• 1830s–1860s: More states enacted or reinforced bans on interracial marriage, particularly in the South.

• 1865–1877 (Reconstruction): Some interracial relationships became more visible, especially with freedmen, but backlash led to harsher laws.

• Late 19th century: The rise of Jim Crow laws firmly criminalized interracial marriage in the South.

We can turn to the compilation of historical documents and court extracts in the books of  author/researcher Paul Heinegg.

Many Irish men in the U.S. and the Caribbean fathered children with African and Black women. This was most often due to forced relationships. These mixed families resulted in a blending of cultures and lineages. As a result, many Black Americans have Irish DNA in their heritage, a fact that is becoming more visible thanks to advancements in DNA testing.

When He Acknowledges His Mulatto Children

His own mulatto children were emancipated and educated in Ohio
The Southron, Jackson, Mississippi, 10 Dec 1846, Page 3

One of the a3Genealogy most interesting cases was that of wealthy "slave trader" William O. Moseley of Mississippi, who fathered seven children with an "enslaved" women. 

While living, he transported his eldest children, granted them their freedom using name and description in court records.

Emancipation of Mulatto children with Descriptions: full siblings Douglas and Madora

He also had his sons educated at Oberlin College, and his daughters, too, were educated and had home training in Ohio.

In 1870, when the children all returned home, his mulatto daughter Madora and family lived on the land with father Wm. O. Moseley.

In his will he acknowledged the mulatto children that was "begotten by" him.

His sister and brother was a witness to the will and courts. His eldest son, was the administrator. He had no other children and never married a white woman.

His eldest became a Representative for the State of Mississippi.

George G. Moseley, Hinds County Representative, 1874 -1875

The Role of DNA Testing
With the rise of DNA testing, Black Americans are increasingly discovering Irish roots that were previously hidden or forgotten. For example, a family that may have long identified as purely African American may find that they share genetic markers that trace back to Ireland. These discoveries are part of a broader movement to uncover the complex histories of Black Americans and reveal the diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds that make up their identity.

Of course this phenonomen goes both ways. Be sure to read Why Would White Ancestors Identify as Black? 

Other Cited resources: 

• Sean O’Callaghan, To Hell or Barbados: The Ethnic Cleansing of Ireland (Dingle: Brandon Books, 2000).
• Noel Ignatiev, How the Irish Became White (New York: Routledge, 1995).
• Tyler Anbinder, Five Points: The 19th-Century New York City Neighborhood That Invented Tap Dance, Stole Elections, and Became the World’s Most Notorious Slum (New York: Plume, 2002).
• Katarzyna Bryc et al., “The Genetic Ancestry of African Americans, Latinos, and European Americans across the United States,” The American Journal of Human Genetics 96, no. 1 (2015): 37–53, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajhg.2014.11.010.

While these revelations can be surprising, they also remind us of the interconnectedness of history.

Kathleen Brandt

7 Resources For Greenland Genealogy

Greenland: Island Defies Simple Explanation

 Greenlandic Descendants Are Wide-Spread

In 1261, Greenland became part of Norway. Norway joined Denmark in 1380, resulting in Greenland falling under Danish rule. Greenland was occupied by Germany, albeit briefly, in WWII. Greenland was no longer a colony in 1953, but became a province of the Kingdom of Denmark that year. Although Green is currently "home ruled", the Danish Queen remains as the Head of State. The official name of Greenland is Kalaallit Nunaat.

As we research Greenlanders, we may have to spread our wings. Due to Greenland’s historical ties with Denmark and the Inuit oral traditions, genealogical records are scattered across various repositories. Whether you’re looking for church records, census data, or Inuit oral histories, here are 7 resources to help you research your Greenlandic genealogy.

Greenlanders in USA
The Greenlandic community in the United States is small and is often integrated within broader Scandinavian or Danish-American communities, which are in these states: We must remember that

• Utah: Approximately 4.2% of Utah's population claims Danish ancestry. 
• Nebraska: Danish descendants make up abt. 1.86% of the state's population; mostly in Omaha ​
• South Dakota: Approximately 1.75% of residents have Danish roots. ​
• Idaho: Danish Americans constitute around 1.67% of the population. 
• Iowa: About 1.48% of Iowans are of Danish descent

Racine, WI, and Minneapolis, MN, also have impressive Danish communities. 

The above reflects historical migration patterns, where Danish immigrants settled and established communities that have preserved their cultural heritage over generations.

But we are only talking Greenlanders here! 

Where are the Records?

Greenland’s population is primarily made up of Indigenous Greenlandic Inuits: Kalaallit, Inughuit, and Tunumiit. Of course, you've probably already surmised that the Danish and Europeans are the minorities. Genealogical records are in both the Danish and Greenlandic archives. Matter of fact, Danish missionaries started recording Greenlandic births, baptisms, marriages, and deaths in the 1700s.

7 Resources to Begin Genealogical Research

1.  Popular Databases for Greenland Genealogy
My first stop is familysearch.org Greenland,  ancestry.com and My Heritage. I find the MyHeritage index/translations superior, but the search feature is not as inclusive when looking for Greenland born. Keep in mind that the collections are per site database, so researchers will want to use all three. 

ancestry.com

2. Digitized Church and Census records

•  Family search, by far, has the most comprehensive digitized collection of Greenland historical documents. After using your free login (no credit card needed), just enter "Greenland" in the site Catalog for a full listing.

1845 Census, Greenland, ancestry.com (These are also on familysearch.org )

• Greenlandic and Danish family trees: www.myheritage.com/research

3.  Danish Government Records
The Danish government conducted censuses from 1787 onward, listing Greenlandic names, families, and birth years in its Census. The name of the census records is Greenland, Denmark Census, 1834 - 1870. These are digitized (not translated), so better brush up on those Danish words: Danish to English Genealogical Word List. Know that Greenlandic, as it is commonly known, is the referenced language. This is one of the online dictionaries I use: Greenlandic - English. The elite speak Danish. These records may be difficult to decipher depending on the data collector.

Kögel, Missionary, 1840

• Danish National Archives (Rigsarkivet)
• Danish Demographic Database (DDD)

4.  Church Records (Kirkebøger) - Birth, Baptism, Marriage, and Death
When looking for Inuit ancestors, the Danish missionary records are your best source in the church "Kirkebøger."

• Danish National Archives (Rigsarkivet)
• Arkivalieronline (Digital Church Books)
  
  Researchers may find additional birth, baptism, marriage, and death records in Greenland:
• Greenland National Museum & Archives (NKA)

5. Local Parish & Town Archives in Greenland

• Some Greenlandic town offices and parishes still hold old birth records, especially for those born before modern digital record-keeping. Here is a listing of the various Parishes.

• Contact Nuuk Municipality Archives or other local parish offices for direct access.

6. Colonial Administrative Records - Trade & Population Data

.

Greenland was a Danish colony for centuries, and government officials recorded vital statistics, trade data, and settlement populations

• Rigsarkivet - Colonial Record

7. Oral Histories & Inuit Genealogies
Inuit genealogy was traditionally passed down orally. Some of these oral histories have been recorded through interviews and missionary accounts.

• Ethnographic records at the Arktisk Institut (Arctic Institute, Denmark)

• Kalaallit Nunaata Radioa (KNR) – Features oral history interviews. I translate using the Google Translate option in the upper right-hand corner. Mostly, I appreciate this site for keeping abreast of present day news. 

Note: Kalaallisut, is spoken by the majority of Greenlandic Inuit as it is the official language of Greenland  Kalaallisut is a member of the Inuit languages within the Eskimo-Aleut family.

In addition to the resources outlined above, Inuit-Specific Studies & DNA Projects. Academic research and DNA studies have been conducted on Inuit populations, which can help with genealogy. Here are two recourses: 

• Arctic Studies Center (Smithsonian Institution)
• Copenhagen University’s Arctic Research Division

Kathleen Brandt

DNA Spring Cleaning: Safeguard Your Data!

Warning Since October 2023
As we've mentioned, repeatedly, on the podcast and social media, all must safeguard their DNA data.  If you haven't been keeping up with 23andMe. The summary is they announced the filing of Chapter 11 Bankruptcy on 23 Mar 2025. We've been waiting!

What Does This Mean to the Consumer
Your data will most likely be part of sell-off or financial recovery and it can be used for any purpose, not just genetic family DNA connections.

 Remember unlike medical, DNA companies' genetic data are not part of  HIPAA, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act laws. This suggests that your data is not patient data but consumer data without federal "safeguards." If you did not' know this fact, you probably haven't listened to th Hittin' the Bricks with Kathleen podcast episodes.  You will want to subscribe and join the fun, information and research tips!

Below, I have provided further information on how you can safeguard your 23andMe DNA and/or backup any of your DNA results. Once you back up the data you paid for on your personal computer device, you may wish to transfer this data for free to a more solvent DNA testing company/ 

California Attorney General issued a consumer alert on March 21 advising users to delete their data and destroy any stored genetic samples. “Given 23andMe’s reported financial distress, I remind Californians to consider invoking their rights and directing 23andMe to delete their data,” Bonta said.

To delete your data, log in to your 23andMe account, navigate to “Settings,” click “View” under the “23andMe Data” section, and select “Permanently Delete Data.” Confirm the action via a link sent to your email. Users can also delete stored saliva samples and revoke research consent through their account settings.  Source 

Before deleting your 23andMe you may wish to keep the data. 

You should keep the data, if not for now, for later or for your children. 

If you have already tested at 23andme, you do not want to lose your 23andMe data, so download your Raw Data to your desktop or a safe space. Perhaps you didn't know that if you have paid for one DNA kit from ancestryDNA, MyHeritageDNA, 23andMe, FamilyFinder of FamilyTreeDNA or LivingDNA you can share those results for free on other DNA testing sites. So you pay for one, but can get up two of results. This results in two new testing databases (MyHeritage and FamilyFinder at FamilyTreeDNA , plus you will get tw new re-analysis of ethnicity regions/data, two sets of new cousins to analyze.

It's easy.
>Set up a free account on the new site
>Download the DNA Raw Data (DNA Data) from your paid kit to your computer. Don't open it, just download.
Need help finding RawData?ancestryDNA
23andMe
myHeritage
FamilyFinder, of FamilyTreeDNA

Upload your DNA Raw Data (DNA Data) from your paid kit to other sites following one of the instructions below. Why not? It's Easy and free.

Upload to Myheritage

Upload to FamilyTreeDNA

Upload to LivingDNA (strong in European connections)

Note: You cannot upload to ancestry.com or 23andme, but you can use the Raw data generated to upload to myHeritage, FamilyTreeDNA, and LivingDNA. without purchasing another DNA test, but still have a connection with DNA cousins. 

Cancel 23andMe

Once you have downloaded your DNA Raw Data from 23andMe, don't forget this next step. this is most important if you only wanted your DNA - OTC kit for DNA genealogical research.It can also be used for other purposes, some nefarious. 

Therefore, some may wish to completely sever ties with 23andMe and have their sample of your DNA (yes they save them) deleted from their assets. However, you are the consumer here, so you must explicitly request that your account be deleted (do this after downloading raw data to your desktop).  Verify that you receive a confirmation email stating that your account has been removed.

Here's an earlier post dated 18 Mar 2024: Spring Cleaning Newsleter: DNA Must Do

As we expected this outcome for 23andMe, a3Genealogy since Oct 2023-early 2024, we have not been recommending that OTC (Over the Counter) DNA testing kit. So if you didn't take precautions then, now is the time to take heed to this recommended action. 

Take Action NOW

Kathleen Brandt

Looking for the Irish Kidnapping the Irish?

St. Cloud Democrat, Stearns County, Minn

12 .Jan 1860

Irish Sugar, Rum, Slaves, and Jail

So was there ever a real confirmed case of the Irish being sold into slavery or kidnapped as indentured servants?

Apparently, "YES." And, it didn't end until right before the Civil War. This occurred early in Ireland. We see at least one case in the newspapers. (See above). 

 

The Belfast Mercury or Freeman's Chronicle

23th September 1783, #48787

Well, we know in that timeframe, where there's Hispanola "sugar" the rum and slaves are not far behind.

July 1774 Belfast Charitable Society
image: Clifton House Belfast

So when I was commissioned to work on the Cunninghams Pre-Revolutionary War, I was prepared for anything pre-Revolutionary War up to the Civil War. Waddell Cunningham a Belfast ship owner was involved in the rum, sugar, and slaves trade between Belfast and British West Indies. However, it has not been confirmed that Waddell Cunningham was one in the same as William Cunningham noted for kidnapping Irish people to sell as indentured servants. 

Was it Waddell or William who proposed slavery in Belfast?  Was it Waddell or William who kidnapped the Irish in order to sell them as indentured servants in 1744? Which one had to go to "goal" [jail] for which crime? 

This note clearly states this was William, not Waddell Cunningham.  It has been proven that William Cunningham was in the slave trade. and we see a reference to him below as early as 1744.

Massachusetts. Miscellaneous Records 1620–1775, 

Customs Records 1620–1775, Migration Records 1620–1775

But was William and Waddell one in the same? (Status and/or answers below to these questions).

The Key?

Pull the originals or, at minimum, avoid extracts like that below, and get the full image copies. 

Ireland Bibliographies

Tracing Waddell was easy! He was known for being uber-rich thanks to his sugar, rum, and slave trading business. He was also known for being generations to charitable societies and churches. The newspapers loved him as early as the 1760s.  And he used them as his own personal social media platform. 

We first see Waddell when he tried to murder Thomas Forsey for, let's say, "defamation." This contract disagreement spilled over to public interest.

Waddell served time, had to put up a bond, and finally Robert Ross Waddell joined to support Waddell Cunningham. Well, as luck will have it, we are now connecting families.

"The Forsey Appeal" by Waddell Cunningham,  1765

There are volumes worth of court records and such for Waddell Cunningham, so be sure to use available indicies and abstracts to narrow your search.

Ireland. History Records, Miscellaneous Records,

Bibliographies, Reference Materials, Archive Records (image 824)

Waddell feeling slighted by Forsey led us to the earlier works of Waddell Cunningham, allowing us to uncover his trading business and business partner and my desire to use the various bibliographies. 

Great Place to Start

If your early rich Irish and Scots-Irish had dealings, you will want to use the bibliographies. They will lead you to the documents. And, in my case, quick answer: Is Waddell Cunningham and William Cunningham one in the same? Appears not! The early William Cunningham incident occurred in 1744 in Massachusetts. There were later William Cunningham, some were dated as late as 1846.  We know Waddell Cunningham was in business as early as 1760. So the 1744 William Cunningham will still need more research. 

Time to flesh out what we have, and what we know. 

Waddell Cunningham, of Belfast,  and the Spanish Sugars

Looking at the Original Questions?

Was it Waddell or William who proposed slavery in Belfast?  This was definitely Waddell. However, Belfast was anti-slavery and his proposal quickly failed.

Was it Waddell or William who kidnapped the Irish in order to sell them as indentured servants in 1744?

Supposedly it was William Cunningham.  However, as mentioned, it does not appear that Waddell Cunningham and William Cunningham are one in the same. More work is needed.

Which one had to go to "goal" [jail] for which crime? 

We know Waddell Cunningham was in "goal" (jail) for attacking T. Forsey.  

The New-Hampshire gazette and historical chronicle.
[volume] (Portsmouth, N.H.) 1763-1776, December 14, 1764, Image 3

You will note that I put full links and references in this article. Hopefully, it will add to your repertoire of resources. Again, originals must be pulled for the full story!

Happy Irish-American Heritage Month

Kathleen Brandt

a3genealogy@gmail.com