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Family Sleuther

@familysleuther.com

507 followers 349 following 98 posts

Avid family historian on a mission to unearth his roots. Skilled at pestering relatives for lore, sifting through records for hidden gems, and passing the spittoon for DNA samples. Admin of Quirke Y-DNA project. Author. www.familysleuther.com

Posts Replies Media

Family Sleuther @familysleuther.com · 11/01/2025

Written confirmation came today from the VA that they received my FOIA request for my great-grandfather’s claim file. A good sign. The wait continues. #Genealogy #FamilyHistory

Photo of an envelope’s return address for the VA.

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Family Sleuther @familysleuther.com · 13/12/2024

In October, to commemorate her passing a decade earlier, we had a mini family reunion at he graveside. With her daughters, my mom & aunt, we plopped into lawn chairs and listened to an oral history interview she recorded earlier in the year she passed away. A peculiar but memorable day to remember.

Three people sitting in lawn chairs in a cemetery listening to an oral history interview at the grave of their ancestor.

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Family Sleuther @familysleuther.com · 13/12/2024

My maternal grandmother passed away a decade ago. Today would have been her 88th birthday. After she died, we cleaned out her home and found every postcard I’d sent her from my travels tucked away for safekeeping. #FamilyHistory

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Family Sleuther @familysleuther.com · 09/12/2024

162 years ago today, Mary Jane (Andrus) Bair was born in Bradford County, PA. Her mother (identity unknown) died when she was 3 weeks old leaving her to "kindly relatives, Mr. and Mrs. Jared Beardsley, who adopted her as their own on January 3, 1863." I'm still searching for her bio mom's identity.

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Family Sleuther @familysleuther.com · 06/12/2024

70 years ago today, my 2nd great-grandmother, Bessie (Bair) Benedick, passed away. Raised on the Kansas prairie as one of 16 children, she had a 'very demure, very mindful' 3 kids of her own. Her funeral book is one of the few documents that names her biological maternal grandfather. #FamilyHistory

A photo of a young woman taken at the turn of the 20th century. She's wearing a dress with a hat filled with flowers.

A photo depicting an older woman in her 60s, smiling with a gold tooth, wire rimmed glasses, and wearing an overcoat and hat.

The first page of a funeral book sharing biographical information about the deceased - Bessie Bair.

The family record detailed in Bessie's funeral book, which lists her biological maternal grandfather as Jerome Andrews.

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Family Sleuther @familysleuther.com · 27/11/2024

A glimpse at the #FamilyHistory community that makes up my recent #Skircle.

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Family Sleuther @familysleuther.com · 24/11/2024

This 4 generation snapshot includes my maternal grandmother (Marilyn, b. 1936) as a toddler standing on the log with her mother (Nevella, b. 1917) behind her, and Nevella’s mother (Bessie, b. 1889) at left, and Bessie’s mother (Mary Jane, b. 1862) at right.

Three older women standing outside around the a toddler standing on a log.

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Family Sleuther @familysleuther.com · 24/11/2024

Followed the recommendation of @richardhilldna.bsky.social to re-submit a photo to MyHeritage for another AI interpretation and got this version. How many times do I have to do this to get a short film of the photo shoot? 😂 #LiveMemory #FamilyHistory

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Family Sleuther @familysleuther.com · 23/11/2024

For reference, here’s the original photo.

Photo of four generations with a small girl standing on a log surrounded by her mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.

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Family Sleuther @familysleuther.com · 23/11/2024

I’ve tinkered with @myheritageofficial.bsky.social’s new #LiveMemory AI tool, animating four generations of my maternal line. #FamilyHistory

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Family Sleuther @familysleuther.com · 18/11/2024

Happy ascension of Queen Elizabeth I day, to those who celebrate. This tree, planted by Queen Elizabeth II at Hatfield House, marks the spot where the first Elizabeth - sitting under a tree - learned her sister Mary had died and she was now Queen.

A large leafy tree surrounded by open green space.

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