The Tree of Me

I recently attended an online genealogy lecture that introduced the concept of using mindmaps for family history research. As a teacher, I’ve often used mindmaps with my students, but it hadn’t occurred to me to apply this technique to my own research. Inspired by the lecture, I purchased  Mind Mapping Made Easy for Family Historians  by Linda Hammond. Yesterday, I explored various mindmapping tools and ultimately chose  MindNode Next . I was looking for a platform that was user-friendly, visually appealing, and offered features like the ability to add images, collapse nodes, include links, and export to PDF. MindNode Next checked all the boxes. After looking at several I've decided to use MindNode Next. I have a 2 week trial and then there is an annual subscription fee that is quite reasonable. I currently have timelines for many of my ancestors so I plan to see if using mindmaps can enhance and organsie my research further Knox Moore - Timeline I’ve begun organizing a m...

My husband's family are very fortunate as his great grandfather, Jacob Scheef travelled on holiday to Germany from Armidale, NSW from May to September 1885. While visiting remaining members of his family he sent many letters back to Australia and kept a diary of his time away from home. John Elder Port Said the 22 June 1885 Dear Wife As I thought to get this letter away yesterday  and so concluded it I was disappointed as we only left  Ismalia about 2 o’clock on Sunday and we were the  sixth vessel in going so we did not get very far  when the vessel in front of us ran on sand and so we had to  stop till it got off again which was more than 1 hour  consequently we did only go about 10 miles on Sunday  today we will be in Port Said if we have luck as we  can only go very slowly about 4 miles an hour  We haven’t seen and passed the spot where the  accident was which was the consequence  of our delay of 6 days, There are various rumour...

 My husband's family are very fortunate as his great grandfather, Jacob Scheef travelled on holiday to Germany from Armidale, NSW from May to September 1885. While visiting remaining members of his family he sent many letters back to Australia and kept a diary of his time away from home. Jacob Frederick Scheef, personal collection I smalie   John Elder the 20 June 1885 My Dear Wife and Children I am going to let you know how we are going on since I wrote  last to you from Aden we left the next morning again  first I must tell you that Aden is in Arabia and a more  desolate country you can have no idea of nothing but high  precipitous hills with not a vestige of vegetation neither trees  grass or bushes could be seen anywhere only either bare  rocky hills sand or black burnt soil it is impossible to  describe it on paper it has to be seen to know what it is  after we left we thought it would become better but it  remained the same ri...

My husband's family are very fortunate as his great grandfather, Jacob Scheef travelled on holiday to Germany from Armidale, NSW from May to September 1885. While visiting remaining members of his family he sent many letters back to Australia and kept a diary of his time away from home. Jacob Scheef - personal collection John Elder Aden the 8 June 1885 My Dear Wife and Children I am having the chance now to let you know how I am  getting on since I left Adelaide where I sent my last  letter from. First my health and appetite is very good  and in general I am well placed with the eating on the  ship board as we have always fresh meat and potatoes  the bread is even new and of first class quality Now I am going  to let you now about the progress we made and the sights  we have seen. Adelaide is a very nice Town but a good  deal smaller then Melbourne it has a splendid Botanical  Garden but the harbour where we laid on was the open sea  We ...