Citizen Alfred Knowles
It’s unclear when most of my ancestors became American citizens. Some immigrated to the U.S. before the American Revolution, while others arrived as late as…
Hi. I’m Desiree.
Welcome to my blog where I record the details of my family history and my efforts to trace my ancestors. Some of the surnames I am researching are Hendrickson, McKnight, Ewart and, Knowles. If you think we might be related contact me.
Read MoreCitizen Alfred Knowles
Harold Ewart’s Passport to Nowhere
Growing up I remember my mom carrying around her father’s seaman passport photo. It was one of only a few she had of him. He…
Y-DNA Mystery: Hendrickson or Henderson?
One mystery that has plagued me over the years is trying to unearth our Hendrickson family origins. Faced with the challenge of tracing our direct…
Love and Victory: Photo of the McKnight Family
About the photo: The first thing that caught my eye in this photo of my great-grandmother Matilda (Goettisheim) McKnight and the first five of her…
John Ewart’s Golden Opportunity
Lured by the excitement of gold discoveries in America, Australia, and in the newly settled colony of New Zealand, my 4x great-uncle, John Ewart, and…
Behind the Scenes: Preserving Family Heirlooms
A few years ago, my mother entrusted me with our family heirlooms. It included documents, photos, and various artifacts such as my grandfather’s military medals, his…
Where’s Grandpa?
The Hendrickson family made Brooklyn and Long Island their home for at least 8 generations. So when I found my great-grandparents, Clarkson and Olive Hendrickson…
Viola’s Vital Records Vitally Misleading
Vital records are often the first documents researchers turn to when investigating family history. These records are crucial to genealogical research because they document significant…
Moving Day Madness
I just moved. It seems like I have done a lot of that, especially over the last ten years. This time was more painful than…
Bringing Ancestors to Life with Never-Before Seen Family Photos
As researchers, we have the incredible advantage of being able to conduct genealogical research right from the comfort of our homes. There is so much…