Author Archives: Lorelle VanFossen

About Lorelle VanFossen

Lorelle VanFossen hosts Family History Blog covering her ancestors and related family members. She is one of the top bloggers in the world, and host of the Lorelle on WordPress, providing WordPress and blogging tips for bloggers of all levels. A popular keynote speaker and trainer, she is also editor, producer, contributor, and official disruptive thinker for Bitwire Media which includes WordCast, Making My Life Network, Stories of Our Journeys, Life on the Road, WordCast Conversations, and the very popular WordCast Podcast.

Howard William West – USS Arizona Log Book 1924-1925

The USS Arizona was officially launched from Virginian on April 3, 1917, where “she cleared the yard on that date for Norfolk, arriving there on the following day to join Battleship Division 8.” World War I had her staying close … Continue reading


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45,875: Welcome to the Knapp Family

I got my mother into doing some genealogy research on her side of the family and she’s uncovered the fact that we are directly related by blood to Nicholas Knapp (Knap) (1606-1670), who arrived with his brother, William Knapp, from … Continue reading


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DAR and SAR – Daughters of the American Revolution and Sons of the American Revolution

Everyone in the United States has heard of the D.A.R., Daughters of the American Revolution. It has been made fun of in movies, television, and books for years, though the reality if much different from the stereotype of the stuck … Continue reading


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Searching for Grandfather Hans Anderson of Manitowoc, Wisconsin

The past two weeks has found me searching for Grandfather Anderson. All of them. Well, some I’ve found, but a lot I haven’t. Let me tell you about the first of two Grandfather Andersons we’re looking for. Hans Anderson from … Continue reading


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The Famous Elwell Boat Captains of Snohomish County

Related to the Elwell family by marriage, I was thrilled to find out what an important role the Elwells played in the history of Washington State, specfically Snohomish County. “In the summer of 1900, Captain Charles Wright sold the City … Continue reading


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Understanding the Quaker Meeting Notes

The West side of my family were involved with the Quaker Society of Friends. Luckily for me, there are tons of preserved and transcribed meeting notes from all those meetings, with notes and records of my ancestors participation. Unfortunately for … Continue reading


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US Surname Distribution: Where Was Your Family When?

Hammrick Software’s free online tool, U.S. Surname Distribution is an interesting way to examine the spread of your family names across the United States. Simply type in the last name and choose a census year from among 1850, 1880, and … Continue reading


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Cyndi Howell – Ten Things You Should Do in Your Genealogy Research (But Aren’t)

Cyndi Howells’ Genealogy Research article, Ten Things You Should Do (That You Probably Aren’t Doing Already), is a must read if you are hitting some dead ends in your family history research. A few highlights include: Actively participate in an … Continue reading


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DAR Conference on Early American Genealogical Research – October 2006

The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Conference on Early American Genealogical Research will be in the DAR Headquarters in Washington, D.C., on October 27-28, 2006. The two day conference will feature “well-known genealogical lecturers on a variety of topics … Continue reading


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Free US Census Forms from Ancestry.com

I’ve been digging into US Census records lately. Not only is it a challenge to figure out what the handwriting is telling you – is that an “r” or an “n”? – the darn things are just impossible to read. … Continue reading


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