Friday, February 6, 2026

FAMILY TREE MAKER - California Tour 2026

 I received this information from Family Tree Maker today

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California Tour 2026

YOU ARE INVITED

Family Tree Maker is heading to California for our first-ever tour there, covering the state from the San Diego area to Sacramento, with six events hosted by local genealogy societies and Family Tree Maker user groups. I'll be joined by Family Tree Maker's Executive Director, Duff Wilson. We'll be starting off on Monday, February 16th, in Vista with the North San Diego County Genealogical Society.

FTM 2024





ABOUT THE TOUR EVENTS

You can find event details below and a list of topics we'll be covering. There will also be special prices on Family Tree Maker software. All events are free and open to the public, but be sure to register so we can save you a seat. Duff and I are looking forward to meeting you and will be happy to stay around after each session to answer questions as time permits.

Hope to see you at one of the stops along the way!

Mark Olsen

Mark Olsen
Family Tree Maker Ambassador

***

1. North San Diego County Event

FamilySearch Center
1310 Foothill Drive, Vista, CA 92084

Monday, February 16th
2:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Society webpage: North San Diego County Genealogical Society (Family Tree Maker User Group)
FREE tickets (required) can be found here.

2. Chula Vista Area Event

San Diego County Library – Bonita-Sunnyside Branch
4375 Bonita Rd, Bonita, CA 91902

Tuesday, February 17th
1:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Society webpage: Chula Vista Genealogical Society
FREE tickets (required) can be found here.

3. San Luis Obispo Event

Odd Fellows Chorro Lodge 168
520 Dana Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401

Wednesday, February 18th
2:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Society webpage: San Luis Obispo Genealogical Society
FREE tickets (required) can be found here.

4. Central Valley Regional Event

Fowler Branch Library
306 South 7th Street, Fowler, CA 93625

Thursday, February 19th
2:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Society webpage: Fresno County Genealogical Society
FREE tickets (required) can be found here.

5. Oakland / Bay Area Event

FamilySearch Center
4766 Lincoln Avenue, Oakland, CA 94602

Friday, February 20th
11:30 AM – 2:00 PM

Society webpage: California Genealogical Society (Family Tree Maker User Group)
FREE tickets (required) can be found here.

6. Sacramento / Auburn Area Event

Sacramento FamilySearch Center
2745 Eastern Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95821

Saturday, February 21st
10:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Society webpages:

FREE tickets (required) can be found here.

FAMILY TREE MAKER TOPICS

Some of the things we will discuss:

  • A brief introduction to Family Tree Maker and why it's been America's favorite desktop family history software for over 35 years.
  • Features only found in Family Tree Maker, including some insider tips and tricks for expert users.
  • Connect! A completely new workspace in FTM 2024 that makes it easy to enlist relatives to help you accelerate your research.
  • Easy on the Eyes®, a long-requested feature that gives relief to tired old eyes by enlarging each section of the screen just when it's needed.
  • A number of useful requested improvements in managing and reporting relationships.
  • Tools for cleaning up orphaned items (media, sources, and citations).

We'll also cover:

1. FTM CONNECT 2.0

For the greatly expanded version 2.0 of our mobile tree viewer app (for Android, iPhone, and iPad), we'll show you:

  • How FTM Connect can now be used by your relatives to fact-check your tree and introduce you to extended family members you didn't know you had.
  • How to use FTM Connect with an iPad or Android tablet to provide a handy touchscreen that works seamlessly with Family Tree Maker on your PC or Mac at home.
  • How to take your tree with you on your tablet or smartphone when visiting relatives and have their additions and corrections waiting for you as sticky note hints on your FTM tree when you get back home.

2. ALBUMWALK® Mobile App

Called a "game-changer" in capturing memories in photos, we'll demonstrate:

  • How easy it is to have a relative identify everyone in a group photo just by tapping on them and talking about them.
  • How our newly-patented technology enables you to make "instant" documentary-style presentations.
  • How you can use TreeVault to work seamlessly between Family Tree Maker and AlbumWALK, and to automatically back up these priceless "photo memories" for safekeeping.

3. ASK THE PRESENTERS

  • We'll leave time to answer your questions (Q&A).
  • We'll offer hands-on help with Family Tree Maker on your own computer as time permits after each tour event.
  • We'd love to hear your requests for features you'd like to see in future editions.

SPECIAL PRICES

We will offer special prices for Family Tree Maker at the time of each event.

QUESTIONS?

Our support staff is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to help. Click here to connect to a friendly agent now.

FUTURE TOUR STOPS

If sometime in the future you're having an event of the genealogical kind, or you'd like to plan one around Family Tree Maker at your society, give me a shout at societies@familytreemaker.com and we'll try to put your event on the map too. To see all our events for the year ahead (at least those we already have planned so far), click the CALENDAR button on our home page (www.familytreemaker.com).

WANT TO START A USER GROUP?

We have great starter kit materials if you are interested in starting a Family Tree Maker user group in your area. We'll provide door prizes, email templates, and tips for getting a group started. We will also be happy to make a presentation at your first meeting if you'd like – in person or on screen. Write to societies@familytreemaker.com to learn more.

© 2026 The Software MacKiev Company. Family Tree Maker, the Family Tree Maker tree logo, TreeVault, Easy on the Eyes, and AlbumWALK are registered trademarks of The Software MacKiev Company.

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NOTE:  The link to buy FTM 2024 above does not work.  See the current offer at https://www.mackiev.com/offers/ftm2024/upgrade_promo.html.

Disclosure:  I have been a customer of Family Tree Maker since 1995.  I have received several complimentary copies of the software from Software MacKiev in the past twenty  years.  I  received a complimentary upgrade to FTM 2019.  I have not obtained FTM 2024 to date.

The URL for this post is:  

Copyright (c) 2026, Randall J. Seaver

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post. Share it on X, Facebook, BlueSky, Substack or Pinterest using the icons below. Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.  Please note that all comments are moderated and may not appear immediately. 

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Added and Updated Ancestry.com Record Collections - Week of 31 January to 6 February 2026

  The following genealogy record collections were added to the Ancestry.com Card Catalog page by "Date Updated" during the period from 31 January to 6 February 2026:

The ADDED and Updated collections include:
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The complete Ancestry.com Card Catalog is at https://search.ancestry.com/search/CardCatalog.aspx.  

By my count, there are 6 NEW record collections ADDED this past week, per the list above.  There are now 33,883 collections available as of 36 February 2026, an INCREASE of 6 from last week.   It appears Ancestry removed 46 existing record collections this past week. 

                              ==============================================

Disclosure: I pay for an All-Access subscription from Ancestry.com. In past years, Ancestry.com  provided a complimentary All Access subscription, an autosomal DNA test, material considerations for travel expenses to meetings, and hosted events and meals that I attended in Salt Lake City.

The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2026/02/added-and-updated-ancestrycom-record.html

Copyright (c) 2026, Randall J. Seaver

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post. Share it on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest using the icons below. Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com. Please note that all Comments are moderated so they may not appear immediately.

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Ask AI: The Journey From Voss, Norway to Dane County, Wisconsin in 1856

My wife's Leland family progenitors came to the United States from Norway in 1856.  I wrote about the immigrant family in ABC Biography of the Sjur Torgersen Leland (1804-1889) and Brita Olsdatter (1818-1895) Family of Voss, Norway and Dane County, Wisconsin recently.

Based on that information, I asked my AI assistant Claude to describe in detail the journey they took from the mountains around Voss, Norway, to Dane County, Wisconsin.  Here is the description:

(Google NotebookLM Infographic - The Leland Family Migration)


The Journey from Voss to Wisconsin

The Sjur Torgersen Family's Emigration Journey - Spring 1856

In the spring of 1856, Sjur Torgersen Leland, age 51, his wife Brita Olsdatter, age 37, and their three young sons—Torger (6), Ole (4), and Mathias (2)—embarked on one of the great journeys of the 19th century: emigration from Norway to America. Their journey would take them approximately 6-8 weeks and cover roughly 4,000 miles from the mountains of Voss to the prairies of Wisconsin.

Journey Overview

The journey from Gjelle farm in Voss, Norway to Deerfield, Wisconsin consisted of several distinct segments, each requiring different methods of transportation and presenting unique challenges. Here is a summary:
  • Gjelle to Voss village: 5 miles, 2-3 hours by cart and walking
  • Voss to Bergen: 65 miles, 2-4 days by boat and wagon through mountains
  • Bergen to Quebec: 2,800 miles, 3 weeks on the sailing ship Hebe
  • Quebec to Chicago: 1,000 miles, 7-10 days by steamboat, canal boat, and train
  • Chicago to Deerfield: 100 miles, 1-2 days by train and wagon
Part 1: Gjelle Farm to Voss Village -- Leaving Home (Early May 1856)

The journey began at Gjelle farm on the southeast side of Lake Voss. The family spent weeks preparing—selling livestock and equipment, packing belongings, saying emotional goodbyes. What they could take was limited to what could fit in trunks and bundles: clothing, bedding, essential tools, a few precious items.

The first leg was short but emotionally overwhelming. They likely hired a cart to carry luggage the 5 miles to Voss village, taking 2-3 hours on rough mountain roads. Brita said goodbye to her parents Ole Olavsen and Ingeborg Botolfsdatter, and her sisters who were staying in Voss—a farewell that would prove to be forever.

Part 2: Voss to Bergen -- The Mountain Journey (2-4 days)

The 65-mile journey from Voss to Bergen took emigrants through dramatic mountain scenery using a combination of water and land travel. The route typically followed the Vosso river valley westward toward the coast.

Day 1: From Voss village, they took a boat across Lake Vangsvatnet and continued along the valley toward Evanger and Dale, covering 15-20 miles. With three young children including a 2-year-old, the pace would have been slow.

Days 2-3: The route continued through mountains toward the coast. Some sections could be traveled by boat on fjords, while others required walking or riding in wagons. They likely stayed at farms or inns along the way. Spring in Norwegian mountains could still be cold, with possible snow at higher elevations.

Days 3-4: As they descended toward Bergen, the final approach likely involved boat travel through the fjords. Bergen in 1856 was Norway's largest port and the main departure point for emigrants to America. Upon arrival, they arranged lodging and waited for their ship, purchasing provisions for the ocean voyage.

Part 3: Bergen to Quebec - The Atlantic Crossing:  

Boarding the Hebe (Mid-May 1856)

The Hebe was a new sailing ship. Emigrant ships were typically converted cargo vessels with temporary berths below deck. The boarding process was chaotic—dozens of families climbing aboard with their luggage, being assigned cramped berths below deck where all five family members would sleep, eat, and spend most of the voyage.

Conditions Below Deck

The steerage section had limited headroom, little light or ventilation. Berths were wooden bunks stacked in tiers, separated only by luggage and hanging blankets. Each family received perhaps 6 feet by 6 feet of space. Conditions were cramped, dark, and often unsanitary. The smell of unwashed bodies, seasickness, and bilge water was overwhelming. Privacy was non-existent.

Passengers prepared their own food using provisions they brought aboard, cooking on deck when weather permitted. Water was rationed and became stale during the voyage.

The Three-Week Voyage

The Hebe made the crossing in just three weeks—remarkably fast. Typical Atlantic crossings took 6-8 weeks or longer. This indicates excellent wind conditions and skillful sailing. The route went north around the British Isles, then west across the North Atlantic, south of Iceland and Greenland, toward Newfoundland and the St. Lawrence River.

For the Leland family with three young boys, the voyage was an ordeal. Keeping children fed, occupied, and reasonably clean in such cramped quarters was extremely difficult. Yet they were fortunate—a three-week crossing meant less suffering, less chance of disease, less depletion of supplies.

Arrival in Quebec (Early June 1856)

After three weeks at sea, the Hebe arrived at Quebec City. Passengers passed through immigration inspection, where officials checked for contagious diseases and recorded passenger information. Once cleared, the family collected their luggage and arranged the next stage of their journey.

Part 4: Quebec to Wisconsin

The Inland Journey (7-10 days)

The family traveled from Quebec to Chicago using 'steamboat, canal boat, and railroad train'—the typical route for emigrants heading to the Midwest.

Quebec to Montreal (1-2 days): Steamboat up the St. Lawrence River, about 160 miles. This was comfortable compared to the ocean crossing.

Montreal to Lake Ontario (2-3 days): Canal boats through the Lachine, Beauharnois, and Cornwall Canals, pulled by horses or mules at 2-4 miles per hour.

Lake Ontario to Lake Erie (1-2 days): Steamboat across Lake Ontario and through the Welland Canal, which bypassed Niagara Falls.

To Chicago (2-3 days): Combination of steamboat across Lake Erie and railroad from Buffalo or Cleveland westward to Chicago.

Chicago to Wisconsin (1-2 days)

From Chicago, they took the railroad to Milwaukee (completed in 1855), about 90 miles taking just a few hours. From Milwaukee, another train to Edgerton in Rock County. From Edgerton, they traveled by wagon or on foot to Deerfield in Dane County, where Bryngel L. Leland had already settled.

Arrival in Deerfield, Dane County, Wisconsin (Late June/Early July 1856)

After approximately 6-7 weeks of travel and 4,000 miles, the family arrived in Deerfield. Bryngel Leland welcomed them and gave them shelter. Sjur built a house on Section 25 that fall, and the family moved in before winter.

Tragically, their son Mathias died that fall at age 3, just months after surviving the entire journey. In September 1856, their daughter Ingeborg was born—the first of their children born in America.

Reflection on the Journey

The journey from Gjelle to Deerfield was more than geographic relocation—it was a complete transformation. Leaving behind family, language, culture, and everything familiar required remarkable courage. At ages 51 and 37, with three small children (and probably with Brita in early pregnancy), Sjur and Brita showed extraordinary determination.

The Hebe's exceptionally fast three-week crossing was fortunate, likely contributing to their survival and health. Many emigrants arrived sick or having lost family members to disease. The Leland family arrived intact and ready to begin their American adventure—part of the massive wave of Norwegian immigration that built communities throughout the Midwest.

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3)  The Google NotebookLM Video Overview of this story is below. 

4) I have no easy way to double-check these responses from Claude. I don't have many book resources for these subjects and this locality, but there are published books available for this time period and general location. The family mentioned is my wife's ancestral family (Sjur and Brita are my wife's 2nd great-grandparents) and I have significant information about their records they left but little to no information about their day-to-day lives.

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Links to my blog posts about using Artificial Intelligence are on my Randy's AI and Genealogy page.  Links to AI information and articles about Artificial Intelligence in Genealogy by other genealogists are on my AI and Genealogy Compendium page.

Copyright (c) 2026, Randall J. Seaver


Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post.  Share it on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest using the icons below.  Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.  Note that all comments are moderated, so they may not appear immediately.

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Findmypast Friday: Explore East Anglia Additions

  I received this information from Findmypast today:

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There are new records from Essex and Suffolk to discover.

If you've got roots in the East of England, this week's new and updated collections may reveal key details about the lives of your ancestors.

We've added a brand new set of 17th-century tax lists from Suffolk, and updated our Norfolk marriage and bann records.

Suffolk Hearth Tax Lists, 1662-1675

This new collection documents the payment of the Hearth Tax, levied in England and Wales in the mid-17th century. Uncover key house history insights within these 101,463 new records.

We've also updated our Essex marriage records, with 23,278 new additions spanning almost four centuries.

Exciting new specialist titles...

138,695 pages joined our newspaper collection this week, with three new publications, including women's magazine The World and His Wife.

New titles:
  • Cycle Record, 1888-1890
  • Telescope, 1824-1825
  • World and his Wife, 1904-1908
Updated titles:
  • Edinburgh Evening News, 2002, 2004
  • Peterborough Advertiser, 1992, 1994-2005
Get ready for Rootstech 2026

Findmypast returns to the world's largest family history event this March - it's the perfect opportunity to enrich your understanding and delve deeper into your roots. Registration is open now; don't miss out on the chance to attend for free online, or in-person in Salt Lake City.

More on this topic:   english records
             marriage records    historical newspapers

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See all of my posts about Findmypast at   https://www.geneamusings.com/search/label/FindMyPast

Disclosure: I have a complimentary subscription to Findmypast, and have accepted meals and services from Findmypast, as a Findmypast Ambassador. This has not affected my objectivity relative to Findmypast and its products.

The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2026/02/findmypast-friday-explore-east-anglia.html

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post. Share it on X, Facebook, Instagram, Threads or Pinterest using the icons below. Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com. Note that all comments are moderated, and may not appear immediately.

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Thursday, February 5, 2026

Added and Updated MyHeritage Record Collections - 30 January to 5 February 2026

  The following Record Collections were ADDED or Updated in the MyHeritage Collections Catalog during the week of  30 January to 5 February 2026:

                                       =========================== 

 There are 1 ADDED record collections in the list this past week, and MyHeritage now has a total of  7,526 record collections (an increase of 1 collections from last week).  The collection has 38,664,810,752 records or entries (a decrease of about 92 million entries from last week).  

The number of entries in the family tree collections were last updated this week.

See previous Genea-Musings posts about MyHeritage record collections and features in https://www.geneamusings.com/search/label/MyHeritage.com.

                          =========================================

Disclosure: I receive a complimentary subscription to MyHeritage, and have received other material consideration in past years. I uploaded my autosomal DNA raw data to their DNA product. This does not affect my objective analysis of MyHeritage products. I am a paid subscriber to Family Tree Webinars and love it.

The URL for this post is:  

Copyright (c) 2026, Randall J. Seaver

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post. Share it on X, Facebook, or Pinterest using the icons below. Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.  Note that all comments are moderated, so they may not appear immediately.

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