Extreme Genes

Host Scott Fisher opens the show with David Allen Lambert, Chief Genealogist of the New England Historic Genealogical Society and AmericanAncestors.org. The guys begin with a countdown to the release of the 1950 census on April 1. Then, it's a marvelous find for a family who lost a pilot uncle in World War II. Hear what was found and what has come home to the family. The guys will then tell you about another World War II unit that is receiving a Congressional Gold Medal. Dorchester Heights in Boston is the site of a statue commemorating Washington's troops' success in forcing the British out of town in 1776. David will tell you about it, and "Evacuation Day," recently celebrated. The guys wrap up with an incredible letter written by a formerly enslaved man to his long time enslaver. You will love it! Next, Fisher visits with Joshua Taylor, President of the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society in New York. In the first segment, the guys talk about the recent release of millions of images of vital records… birth, death, and marriage records… for free on the "DORIS" website. In a second segment, Fisher and Josh discuss other new assets coming online in New York research covering both city and state. David then returns for Ask Us Anything, as the guys answer your family history research questions. That's all this week on Extreme Genes, America's Family History Show!

Genealogy and family history, believe it or not, are actually defined very differently. Hear why the two terms are not the same.

Wondering why you can't always find articles you believe should be there in a digitized newspaper? Here are some tricks for squeezing it all out of digitized newspapers!

Host Scott Fisher opens the show with David Allen Lambert, Chief Genealogist of the New England Historic Genealogical Society and AmericanAncestors.org. The guys begin by talking about the recent article in the Financial Times of London (subscription required) in which Fisher is quoted talking about the coming release of the 1950 US Census. Others from the genealogical community were also interviewed for the piece. Then, David talks about a Minnesota woman who recently won a Swedish reality show. You'll love the prize she won! David then talks about a remarkable article just out on human life expectancy and how much it has changed. (Imagine a time when there were NO grandparents!) Then, explorer Ernest Shackleton's legendary ship, Endurance, has been found! Catch the details. Next… it's another week with another find behind a wall! And of course that was just the beginning of the story. And finally, Fisher shares great news for New York City researchers. The Department of Records & Information Services has just released a free database of over nine million digitized images of original birth, death and marriage records covering up to 1949. There are still four million to go and the search engine needs some work, but it's up and running! Next, Fisher visits, over two segments, with Diahan Southard, Your DNA Guide, who tackles the question "Is DNA just another tool?" You may already know the answer, but many others don't. Diahan will explain, and will talk about the strategies to help you use DNA to break through your brick walls. David then returns for a pair of questions on Ask Us Anything. The first has to do with the heir to a hoarder! The second talks about the find of an ancestor on a passenger list and what those names around his ancestor's may do for further research. That's all this week on Extreme Genes, America's Family History Show!

If you've ever dug into Swedish ancestry, you know the issue. Tons of people have the same name and live in the same places. Well, Swedish Church records can at least help a little in sorting out which Hans Olsen might be yours. Fisher explains.

Two key census record sets were destroyed in Ireland in 1922, but some of that information was preserved in another way. Fisher explains why your ancestors' data from those census records may still be available.

Host Scott Fisher opens the show with David Allen Lambert, Chief Genealogist of the New England Historic Genealogical Society and AmericanAncestors.org. Fisher opens Family Histoire News with news of what Americans consider the most annoying accent in America. (David will not like this!) Then, David talks about the solving of some really old cold cases… from 1947 and 1964, one of them by a 20 year old genealogist! He also talks about how science has given us the face of a woman who lived 4,000 years ago! Then, a Grand Army of the Republic Museum in Philadelphia found a creative way to keep the doors open. Hear what they did. Then, if you have Royal lines, you may very well have a Ukrainian ancestor. David explains. Fisher then visits with a product manager from FamilySearch International, Ian James, who explains their new volunteer program, "Get Involved." With new artificial intelligence, FamilySearch can create indexes for handwritten records faster than ever before. But those results need to be double checked. Ian will tell you how you can help. Then, CeCe Moore, the DNA Detective, is back. People are now beginning to recognize that CeCe has solved more cold cases than anyone in history… and the math makes sense. Hear what CeCe has to say about it, and how many cases she and her team have cracked in just four years! David then returns for Ask Us Anything, answering your questions. That's all this week on Extreme Genes, America's Family History Show!

Within the United States, it was not uncommon for churches to give a "letter of transfer" to a member of their congregation who is moving to a new location. But sometimes they came with immigrants from across the ocean. What can this mean to you? Fisher explains.

Obituaries often reveal connections to the Free Masons. If you have an ancestor that belonged to this organization, his membership application may provide great information on him. Fisher has more.

Host Scott Fisher opens the show with David Allen Lambert, Chief Genealogist of the New England Historical Genealogical Society and AmericanAncestors.org. The guys open with talk about RootsTech, which opened Thursday March 3, and ends Saturday March 5 (although the videos of the courses continue on for a year, accessible for free!). David has recorded three different courses for the virtual conference. Then, David shares a story about the discovery of a dozen Revolutionary War cannons found in a river in Georgia. Catch the details. Speaking of multiples, the guys then talk about a pair of identical twin women who married a pair of identical twin men. The boys born to these couples just a few months apart look like siblings. There's a reason for that… the guys explain. Then Fisher shares his latest find… a video on YouTube from 1969 of a television show he attended with his mother and brother. It's hard to believe what Fisher noticed in this 52 year old recording. Fisher next visits with author Peter Boni who has written a book called "Uprooted." When Peter's mother was hospitalized back in the 1990s, she confessed something to Peter that not only changed his identity, but changed the course of his life, which he has shared in the book. Then, Crista Cowan from sponsor Ancestry joins the show to share the announcements from the company made at RootsTech. They will change how we tell stories and digitize photo albums. Hear the exciting news she has to share. Then, David and Fisher field questions from listeners on pressed plants in family Bibles and a boxer in one man's ancestry. That's all this week on Extreme Genes, America's Family History Show!

Slave research is hard enough, and this little nugget, unfortunately, might make it harder. Not all slave names come from the most recent slaveholder. Fisher shares some other possibilities.

Host Scott Fisher opens the show with David Allen Lambert, Chief Genealogist of the New England Historic Genealogical Society and AmericanAncestors.org. Fisher begins by talking about his recent visit to Las Vegas to see the display of recovered Titanic artifacts at the Luxor Hotel. He also just found an English ancestor who was shipped to America for crimes in 1673. David talks about upcoming lectures at RootsTech and the Indiana Historical Society. In Family Histoire News, David shares a 1922 prediction about what life would be like in 2022. You won't believe how dead on it was! Then, a Washington Post article is asking "if you could go back in time, when would you like to live?" Next, a genetic marker has been identified that can indicate descent from the Bruce family of Scotland. In segments 2 and 3, Fisher plays back an interview from December of 2014 with Col. Gail Halvorsen. Col. Halversen, better known as the "Berlin Candy Bomber," passed away on February 16, at age 101. In this two part visit, Col. Halversen explains how the whole effort to share candy from the air with German children began. Then, David returns for Ask Us Anything. The guys tackle questions on the upcoming 1950 census and letters from soldiers in Civil War units. That's all this week on Extreme Genes, America's Family History Show!

Host Scott Fisher opens the show with David Allen Lambert, Chief Genealogist of the New England Historic Genealogical Society and AmericanAncestors.org. David begins by talking about a 1954 letterman's jacket that is now back with the family of the original owner. He has also joined a new lineage society. Fisher has made a new discovery about his ancestors' schooling in New York City in the 1840s. In Family Histoire News, David talks about how we got the "72 year rule" on census releases. The answer might surprise you. Then, something as old as Stonehenge has been dug up in England. Hear all about it! Then, it was quite the day when Amelia Earhart lost her leather headgear in the 1920s. And it's going to be quite a day for the family that got it as it is now up for auction. Catch the latest price on it! Next, Fisher visits with sponsor Legacy Tree Genealogists CEO and founder, Jessica Dailey Taylor. They are joined by Geoff Gentilini, President of the Archival Researchers Association. They talk about Jessica's efforts to make some noise about reopening the National Archives Research Rooms that have now been closed for two years, and how you can help! Veterans seeking military records for benefits, families seeking information to identify birth parents, genealogists, film makers, and historians are all struggling to do what they need to do without access. Hear what you can do to help! In Segment 3, Crista Cowan from sponsor Ancestry.com talks with Fisher about their new handwriting recognition technology that will be indexing the 1950 US Census when it is released on April 1. Volunteers working with partner FamilySearch.org will then review the results and make corrections. Crista will add more to how this remarkable project will work. She then fills us in on newly released databases on Ancestry, and an exciting new source out of England that will provide images of people and places dating back to 1547. David then returns for another round of Ask Us Anything answering your questions, including one on a tattered scrapbook and an unexpected DNA test result. That's all this week on ExtremeGenes, America's Family History Show!

Host Scott Fisher opens the show with David Allen Lambert, Chief Genealogist of the New England Historic Genealogical Society and AmericanAncestors.org. The guys talk about Fisher's recent effort to digitally restore some tattered family Bible pages and the result was astonishing. Then, FamilySearch has announced plans to work with Ancestry.com in the indexing of the 1950 Census when it comes out on April 1. And the big news is that Ancestry will be using special handwriting reading computer technology! Then World War II's American "Ghost Army" is to receive the Congressional Gold Medal for their service that is said to have saved 30,000 American lives. Hear their story. Next, the oldest pub in Great Britain is shutting its doors due to Covid. It only goes back 1,229 years! David shares the details. In segment two, Fisher talks with Sunny Morton, long time contributing editor at Family Tree Magazine, about her new book "Story of My Life- A Workbook For Preserving Your Legacy." Sunny shares some great tips and thoughts on how to go about writing your own history, including how to deal with those "messy" stories. Andrew Parker, Director of Marketing for RootsTech, then joins the show talking about the upcoming mega-conference that last year attracted over a million participants from around the world. It's all free, and Andrew will tell you what you can look forward to. Then, David returns for Ask Us Anything as he and Fisher tackle questions on an old pair of pilot's lapel "wings," and lighthouse keepers. That's all this week on Extreme Genes, America's Family History Show!

Host Scott Fisher opens the show with David Allen Lambert, Chief Genealogist of the New England Historic Genealogical Society and AmericanAncestors.org. The guys begin by talking about a remarkable string of luck in their own research. Hear how Fisher discovered his late father-in-law's unique place in the historical record. David kicks off Family Histoire News with a story about how modern genomics is rewriting history. Then, law enforcement in Tennessee is seeking public financial support to solve a four decade old cold case. Fisher notes that in Idaho, a grant has been awarded to a law enforcement agency there to cover DNA analysis on a cold case. He also points to a group of wealthy businessmen in Utah called the "Honorary Colonels" who financially support law enforcement in such matters. David then shares the story of Daniel Smith. He's one of America's last living children of a slave! Then, a man in eastern Europe has stumbled upon a 3,000 year old sword. Next, Fisher shares one of his favorite "visits from the vault." Actor, singer, and renowned genealogist Hank Jones talks about his collection of stories of strange things that have happened when doing genealogy and family history work. Then, Fort Worth genie Sharon Manson discusses her journey that helped her learn why her parents would tell her never to ask about her paternal grandmother! Finally, David returns for Ask Us Anything, discussing Revolutionary soldier lineage societies (there are more than you think) and Canadian emigration to the United States. That's all this week on Extreme Genes, America's Family History Show!

Host Scott Fisher opens the show with David Allen Lambert, Chief Genealogist of the New England Historic Genealogical Society and AmericanAncestors.org. David begins with an interesting find he just made concerning the property his family has lived on for generations. It came from a census substitute from 1871. He'll explain. Fisher then talks about a recently acquired century old photo of his uncle and a boyhood friend, and the crazy story that goes along with it! Then, how did birth certificates come to be? David will explain. A 4,000 year old board game has been unearthed… sadly, without directions. David has the particulars. Maureen Taylor, the Photo Detective, hops on with Fisher to talk about how to help your photos survive those 1970s era "sticky" photo albums. Fisher has already suffered a loss to one of these monstrosities. Catch Maureen's tips. She'll also share a discovery she recently made concerning family photos and an early 20th century scam. Also, hear about a great contest that Maureen and several other female heavyweights in genealogy are offering. Enter at YourDNA Guide.com/valentine.https://www.yourdnaguide.com/valentine Paul Woodbury of sponsor Legacy Tree Genealogists visits next to talk about the Centimorgan Estimator Tool on DNA Painter. It's a little advanced, but still fascinating for the average genetic genealogist. David then returns for more of your questions on Ask Us Anything. That's all this week on Extreme Genes, America's Family History Show!

Host Scott Fisher opens the show with David Allen Lambert, Chief Genealogist of the New England Historic Genealogical Society and AmericanAncestors.org. David kicks things off talking about how he has identified, through DNA, the source of Native American ancestry on his wife's side of the family. Fisher then shares the joy of finding a hoard of new newspaper stories on an ancestor, and receiving TWO Priority Mail packs from cousins on both sides of the family on the same day. They passed along old family Bible pages, photos, and other family gems. In Family Histoire News, David tells us about a letter that was just a little behind schedule in delivering. Like 76 years! Then he tells us about a formerly enslaved man who may have been the prototype for the Lone Ranger. Next, Fisher visits with Jen Sansbury from sponsor Legacy Tree Genealogists. Jen pulled off quite a breakthrough on behalf a client using DNA as well as her knowledge of records and customs in several countries. Then, Sarah Hermans talks with Fisher about a quilt she inherited. Stitched together in 1903, there are well over 200 names on it. She has now come out with a book that will be of great interest for people in the area of Dutchess County, New York as she has researched all the names, even creating trees showing how all these people tie together. It's a great example of turning something like this into an awesome local resource. David then returns to help Fisher with Ask Us Anything! That's all this week on Extreme Genes, America's Family History Show!

Host Scott Fisher opens the show with David Allen Lambert, Chief Genealogist of the New England Historic Genealogical Society and AmericanAncestors.org. David first talks about his significant finds in the newly released 1921 England and Wales Census. He needed to use a little trick to find his ancestor, but he did! He'll explain what this trick is and how you might use it. Then, the guys talk about the complicated story of the removal of a statue of a Confederate leader with his own remains beneath it. What til you hear exactly where this man's final resting ground is! Then, it's an odd story about a man's DNA test that shows he has no past! How can this be? You'll find out! Next, it's the season for suing over DNA test results, and one organization in Utah has double trouble. Fisher then visits with Gary Clark, author of the newly released Grand Army of the Republic and Union Veteran Research. Gary talks about the founding of the organization, what their aims were, and what records they left. Next, Fisher catches up with Crista Cowan over at sponsor Ancestry.com. Crista talks new newspaper databases, genie education opportunities in the New Year and more! Then, David returns for Ask Us Anything, as the guys tackle a pair of listener questions. That's all this week on Extreme Genes, America's Family History Show!

Host Scott Fisher opens the show with David Allen Lambert, Chief Genealogist of the New England Historic Genealogical Society and AmericanAncestors.org. They begin with a look at some of the more unusual Victorian era New Year traditions. Then, a century old postcard stamp has broken a long standing paternity question. Next, Ireland is making public remarkable land and rent records that will fill in many gaps for researchers. David will explain. A New York Times story on a 1938 home movie showing a Polish Jewish community in 1938, just before the Nazi occupation, is garnering a lot of attention. Plus, the last American slave ship, the Clotilda, is back in the news and a pair of time capsules have been located in the base of the Robert E. Lee statue that was taken down last year. Our first guest of the new year is Jen Baldwin of Find My Past. Her company has released the 1921 English and Wales census, complete with images and fully indexed. She'll explain the significance of this important record set, and what you might expect to find in it! Then, Mindy Silva, coordinator for the WikiTree Challenge comes on to talk about a new approach to the Challenge for this year. There will be fewer of them this year, but they will feature a slew of celebrities! You might be able to help these notables learn about their ancestry. Then, Fisher and David go back to work answering your questions on Ask Us Anything! That's all this week on Extreme Genes, America's Family History Show!

Host Scott Fisher opens the show with David Allen Lambert, Chief Genealogist of the New England Historic Genealogical Society and AmericanAncestors.org. Family Histoire News begins with word of another major acquisition for (sponsor) Ancestry.com. This may be a big one for you if you have French ancestry. Hear all about it. Then, the Salem Witch Trials have been revisited by some middle schoolers who want to make a change in history. Catch what they're up to! Meanwhile, another "archive in the attic" has been located… and it's a big one! Hundreds of pages of documents of the enslaved that go back to the 1600s. And they were almost thrown out! Neanderthals are making news again with another discovery. Were they the first to have a local grocery store? David explains. And finally… by next year, we may well have a database of millions of graves in England covering 19,000 Anglican churchyards. Get the particulars. Next, Diahan Southard, Your DNA Guide, talks about endogamy in DNA. What really defines it and how do you deal with it should you run across it? Diahan has some helpful thoughts. Then, she talks about mitochondrial DNA, that test that follows the female direct line. How is that test best used? Diahan explains. Then, it's the Photo Detective Maureen Taylor. Maureen is part of a small organization called the Family History Metadata Working Group. Their interest is to get major databases and companies to standardize how metadata tied to photos is transferred to any and all sites when you upload your photos. (Who wants to add all that info more than once?!) Hear how you can help. Then David returns as he and Fisher tackle listener questions on the War of 1812 and a haul of old family postcards on Ask Us Anything. That's all this week on Extreme Genes, America's Family History Show!

Host Scott Fisher opens the show with David Allen Lambert, Chief Genealogist of the New England Historic Genealogical Society and AmericanAncestors.org. The guys talk about the odd places being designated as dog parks… historic cemeteries. David then has an update on the state of the Titanic. Next, who knew that fruit could survive 2,400 years… in a basket! Fisher then begins his two part visit with Parabon's CeCe Moore. He begins by asking about surprises leading CeCe to reveal a DNA surprise that only recently emerged in her own family! It even involves a crime. CeCe then talks about her weekend work, tracing "Jane and John Does" using DNA, work she finds much easier than her criminal work. David then returns for another couple of questions on Ask Us Anything. That's all this week on Extreme Genes, America's Family History Show! (This episode previously aired on the weekend of August 21-22, 2021.)

Host Scott Fisher opens the show with David Allen Lambert, Chief Genealogist of the New England Historic Genealogical Society and AmericanAncestors.org. The guys begin this last show of 2021 with a heartwarming story. Adopted siblings have found each other using DNA and are spending their first Christmas season together in over 50 years. Then, David talks about 68 Acadian families who were in Maine in 1790, but were passed over by the census taker. Those families have now been reconstructed through other records and published in a new book. Next, hear about the remarkable flight of a photo from the disastrous tornados in Kentucky to a window in Indiana, and BACK to its owner! Also hear about new finds including children playing with old human bones that led to a historic discovery and a billionaire turning in his ill gotten bounty from the black market. Next, Fisher visits with Barbara Clements from Lombard, Illinois. Barbara's family had a longstanding family legend about their Native American ancestry. She has learned now how that story came to be and the "why" behind it. Then, Crista Cowan from sponsor Ancestry.com comes on to talk about changes coming to the super-site and new assets coming our way soon! David then returns for two more listener questions on Ask Us Anything. That's all this week on Extreme Genes, America's Family History Show!

The settling of the west wasn't much unlike the settling of colonial America a century or two earlier. And as people came, more and more lines were drawn. Fisher shares just a few so you know what to look for as you consider your research strategy.

Host Scott Fisher opens the show with David Allen Lambert, Chief Genealogist of the New England Historic Genealogical Society and AmericanAncestors.org. The guys begin with a reminder that you can now sign up for RootsTech Connect 2022 at RootsTech.org. Then David opens Family Histoire News talking about the new way authorities in Australia are using DNA to solve crimes. It could be a game changer! Speaking of DNA, who ever heard of a getting DNA off a murder weapon that was a conch shell?! It has happened! The Band of Brothers, portrayed in the HBO series, has lost its final officer at age 99. Hear who it is. Then, another kid has made another remarkable discovery with a metal detector! Catch what this 13 year old girl has found. And speaking of historic finds… King Richard III is making news again with this one. Find out what someone else has found! And if you thought Herman Melville's Moby Dick lacked true history, wait til you hear about this most recent discovery. Next, Jack Holder, a survivor of Pearl Harbor who narrowly escaped death, talks about his experience of being missed by the first bomb of World War II by the length of a football field, and then being strafed by a Japanese fighter pilot. While that was just the beginning of the war, it was also just the beginning of Jack's part in history. And by the way, he turns 100 years old today! (December 13.) This segment originally aired back in March of this year. Then, from sponsors Legacy Tree Genealogists, Kate Eakman joins us again to talk about her favorite type of research… military. She'll talk about researching your World War II ancestors. David returns for Ask Us Anything, talking about surprise finds he has made when researching the lines of celebrities, and then the guys talk about collecting documents and autographs of ancestors. That's all this week on Extreme Genes, America's Family History Show!

War, population growth and shifting can all contribute to boundary changes. And boundary changes mean that, even if your ancestors stayed in the same place, their records could be hiding in many places.

Fisher had given up on finding the parents of an elusive ancestor when he took one last step before closing the book on the case. And it made all the difference in the world!

Host Scott Fisher opens the show with David Allen Lambert, Chief Genealogist of the New England Historic Genealogical Society and AmericanAncestors.org. The guys begin by talking about Fisher's latest find that took a family ancestor from a Social Security card to a top security World War II Munitions plant. He explains the trail. Not to be outdone, David shares his find of a slew of pictures of ancestral gravestones that he was unable capture due to conditions on a visit to this Canadian cemetery several years ago. David then shares the news of the passing of what may have been the oldest living person ever! Then, if you ever thought about exploring your Irish ancestors in their home country, wait until you hear the job opening available right now in Ireland! Next, Jim Ericson from FamilySearch.org visits to talk about the soon-to-be-released 1950 US Census. He'll explain when you can see the images, when indexing is likely to be completed, and how you may be able to help in the effort. Jim also talks about the remarkable handwriting interpreting computer indexing effort happening right now in Central and South America. Maureen Taylor, the Photo Detective, then hops on to visit with Fisher about holiday photos of the past and how they can enhance this year's celebration. David then returns for Ask Us Anything, taking questions on the reliability of family trees as well as using ancestral signatures to illustrate a history. That's all this week on Extreme Genes, America's Family History Show!

Females ancestors are sometimes difficult to find. Fisher shares a few thoughts on other ways to look for them.

Struggling to figure out where your ancestor's Social Security records went? They might not have been there at all because things were different before 1951!

Host Scott Fisher opens the show with David Allen Lambert, Chief Genealogist of the New England Historic Genealogical Society and AmericanAncestors.org. The guys begin the show with a shout out to Friend Of The Show, DNA Super Sleuth, CeCe Moore, who recently was featured in the New Yorker! David then talks about the upcoming release of England's 1921 Census. FindMyPast will have it. Hear why this release is so special. Then, a Louisiana woman has set the world record for the 100 yard dash… for a 105-year-old! Find out more. DNA has finally resolved the identity of an unidentified hitchhiker killed in a car crash in Alabama in 1961. Catch this remarkable story. Then, in Italy, mummified children from the 16th to early 20th centuries are being studied. David will explain this bizarre story. Then, Fisher visits with Nathan Dylan Goodwin, author of a series of genealogical crime mysteries. Nathan has a new book out called The Foundlings. He teases us with the plot and explains how he began this unique career and how he puts these stories together. Crista Cowan from sponsor Ancestry.com then drops in to talk about all kinds of things happening there, including the completion of the indexing of Virginia probate records, BIG news for Mexico research, as well as DNA test kits! David returns for a couple of segments as he and Fisher tackle a pair of questions on Ask Us Anything. One concerns the care of a 19th century document, and the other some confusion from an entry in the 1900 census. That's all this week on Extreme Genes, America's Family History Show!

Ever notice familiar repeating family names in a single family group? It could be the parents were following a classic pattern. And that pattern can tell you some very important truths about the previous generation.

Back in 1752, England enacted a law that changed our calendars forever. But did that law ever make a genealogist's life complicated!

Host Scott Fisher opens the show with David Allen Lambert, Chief Genealogist of the New England Historic Genealogical Society and AmericanAncestors.org. The guys begin with some Thanksgiving thanks for the 400th episode of the show! Fisher then thanks FamilySearch.org for featuring him on the FamilySearch.org blog section. David then shares some stories he picked up on his recent visit to Utah, including a woman with a bizarre tale about Extreme Genes as she listened to it in Florida. In her shower. Then, in Family Histoire News, David talks about some relicts that were recently found in Utah tied to the Chinese workers who played a large role in the construction of the Trans-Continental Railroad. In the east, the Washington Post reports that the Wampanoags are not looking forward to the recognition of the 400th anniversary of the first Thanksgiving. Hear why. Then, the BBC has come up with a great story about the general populace and their likely ties to royalty. Next, Fisher visits with Wendell Affield, the author of a series of books on his family history called the Chickenhouse Chronicles. They've been created with a large assist from 200 years worth of family history records found in his mother's chicken house in Minnesota! Catch his remarkable story. The conversation then turns to genealogical societies. Shannon Combs Bennett has been researching the history of these organizations and has learned about the timeline, and attitudes within and toward these groups over the years. She even has a count of how many have existed and still exist in the United States. David then returns for Ask Us Anything, including a question of foster children's inheritance rights, and FBI records. That's all this week on Extreme Genes, America's Family Show!

Ancestors love to play tricks on us as we trace them down… sometimes by disappearing from where we think they should be. Fisher explains where you might want to look next.

Fisher worked to break open one ancestral line for fifteen years. It wasn't until he was closing the book on the case by creating a timeline that he saw the answer!

Host Scott Fisher opens the show with David Allen Lambert, Chief Genealogist of the New England Historic Genealogical Society and AmericanAncestors.org. David begins by sharing news that he has been featured in an article about his witch ancestor in London's Guardian newspaper. In Family Histoire News, an Englishman has learned he descends from some Bidens. Those Bidens! Now he wants an invitation to the White House! Then, another metal detectorist in the UK has made quite a find… in his own backyard. Catch what he discovered. Then, another member of the famous Von Trapp family has passed away. David next talks about a unique type of DNA analysis that has proven the descendancy of the great grandson of Sitting Bull. And finally… a World War I ammunition shell has been found to be loaded… with many things other than powder and weaponry. Find out what was in it! Next, Paul Woodbury of Legacy Tree Genealogists visits with Fisher for two segments. The first talks about mitochondrial DNA. What can you use it for in your research? And what might be expecting too much? Paul explains. In part two, Paul Woodbury discusses "confirmation bias." Are you guilty of confirming your researching by an incorrect analysis? Paul explains what NOT to do as you begin your genetic genealogy. Then, David returns for two rounds of Ask Us Anything. That's all this week on Extreme Genes, America's Family History Show!

Just the way not every record is digitized, many records are digitized but not indexed! Can't find what you're looking for? It's time to check those massive unindexed records!

Those Tricky Immigration Records

Host Scott Fisher opens the show with David Allen Lambert, Chief Genealogist of the New England History Genealogical Society and AmericanAncestors.org. The guys begin with Fisher talking about his research breakthrough after 39 years! He'll explain the key to breaking the brick wall. David then reveals the happy news that the Family History Library in Salt Lake City is expanding their hours. Hear what the new hours will be. Then, a story is out about a man who met a psychic who delivered a message from his late father. David then tells about HIS experience with a psychic. (Yes, he's freaked out!) DNA is again bringing closure to a family… this time to the victim of a notorious serial killer. You'll know the name. No one would have ever imagined where the earliest evidence of tobacco usage has been found… on a bombing range in a western state. David will share the details. Fisher then visits with Marion Burk Wood. Marion has written a book, "Planning A Future For Your Family's Past." It's an important topic for everyone. Marion has some great thoughts on how to get your genealogical collection in order for after you're… well… done! Then the Tie Die Genealogist, Dan Ford, joins the show to share his "ordinary person with an extraordinary find" story. It reads like a mystery novel, but it's all true! A definite Halloween leftover! Then, David rejoins Fisher for a pair of questions on Ask Us Anything. That's all this week on Extreme Genes, America's Family History Show!

Historic Time Lines and What They Can Reveal

The Potential Benefit of Swapping Brick Walls

In this classic rewind from 2017, host Scott Fisher opens the show with David Allen Lambert, Chief Genealogist of the New England Historic Genealogical Society and AmericanAncestors.org. The guys were preparing for RootsTech in Salt Lake City, Utah. David talks about a new record set by Queen Elizabeth II… and what a record it is! David then talks about a recent visitor he entertained who was certain of a very unique heritage. Wait until you hear what it is! David also shares a heart rending story about the remarkable way two cousins reconnected after nearly 80 years, and the place in history they share. And a celebration is on in one American city recognizing the anniversary of America's oldest subway system. With it being Halloween weekend you'll appreciate our two guest interviews this week. The first is with Professor Emerson Baker of Salem State University. Professor Baker is part of a committee that was able to confirm the precise location of the site of execution of the Salem "witches." He talks about the methods and clues they used to confirm what once was known only through tradition. Then, catch Fisher's visit with "Jersey Girl" Sue Wynne, a passionate genie, who learned that her fourth great grandmother was buried twice AND viewed twice… over several years! What's the story behind this incredible discovery? You'll want to hear it. Tom Perry of TMCPlace.com then joins the show to talk preservation, answering listener questions. That's all this week on Extreme Genes, America's Family History Show!

"Dit Names"… What the Heck Are Those?

Marriage Bonds and What They Can Reveal

Host Scott Fisher opens the show with David Allen Lambert, Chief Genealogist of the New England Historic Genealogical Society and AmericanAncestors.org. The guys open Family Histoire News with the uplifting, yet sad story, of a man who finally found his birth father just days before his own death. Then, another amazing find has come out of Israel. Wait til you hear this one! David then shares the story of a man who has recreated Roman recipes from the 4th century. And one of these recipes would seem very familiar to us. Strange to think, but a reference to the land mass now known as North America has been found in a document in Italy that pre-dates Columbus by 150 years! David explains. And finally a pair of yard sale items in England have turned out to be extremely rare historic artifacts. Wait til you hear what the sale price and what the items were! Next, Melanie McComb joins the show from the New England Historic Genealogical Society. Melanie was the recent beneficiary of the WikiTree Challenge, where researchers around the world looked at her family tree and went to work extending it, correcting it, and finding stories. And did they ever find a story! Melanie will share it. This is one great example of crowd sourcing. Fisher and Melanie then talk about the various ways crowd sourcing can benefit your research. Then, New Mexico listener Louise Gennetti Roach shares her crowd sourcing tale with a group of people in a small village in Italy. Her efforts have taken her lines back many centuries, with DNA confirming the accuracy of her name line. Louise's benefactors in Italy also made a remarkable eBay discovery related to Louise's family! David next returns for two questions on Ask Us Anything. The first has to do with ancestral medical records, while the second concerns researching your house and property. That's all this week on Extreme Genes, America's Family History Show!

What's Going to Happen to Your Records and Heirlooms When You're Gone?

Can't Find Your Key Record on Line? Try the Old-Fashioned Way.

Host Scott Fisher opens the show with David Allen Lambert, Chief Genealogist of the New England Historic Genealogical Society and AmericanAncestors.org. The guys begin with Fisher's strange tale of finding a DNA match to his wife's family… a man who, along with his brother, murdered his grandmother and her boyfriend in the late 1980s when they were teens. Yes, this guy is doing family history now! Then David opens Family Histoire News talking about the 150th anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire, and how the O'Leary descendants are still dealing with the misdirected blame on their ancestor, Elizabeth, and her cow. Next, a rare piece of 19th century "hair art" is again being displayed. It features hair from Abraham Lincoln, his Vice President and others from his Cabinet. Hear all about it. Finally, imagine finding hidden steps below your rented place that leads to an entire network of underground rooms! It has happened. David has the details with speculation as to what the purpose of this complex once was over a century ago. In segment two, Fisher talks with Helena Bouchez of Ohio. Helena struggled for twenty years to break through her Belgian "brick wall," only to have it smashed by others in just 45 minutes! Hear how it was done and how far back it has taken her. Helena also talks about the near murder-suicide in her family from 1916 and how what took place that night entirely changed the trajectory of her family members' lives. Here's the link to the site of her Belgian heroes! Next, Fisher chats with Kate Eakman of sponsor Legacy Tree Genealogists about a bizarre genealogical puzzle where two women appear to be rolled up into one. As her client was not inclined to use DNA to help with the problem, Kate was left to sort through the very few clues she was given to come up with the answer and break down a strange brick wall. Then David returns with Fisher for Ask Us Anything answering questions about researching an ancestral circus performer and tracking down the living for reunions. That's all this week on Extreme Genes, America's Family History Show!

Got an Ancestor Who Served? Look to Military Records as a Source for Incredible Family Stories.

Got DNA Skills? Become A Search Angel for Others!