Greetings Fellow Family History Sleuths,

This month's issue is personally nostalgic as I've hit the half-century mark in the genealogy world (😳), so you'll see a few peek backs, but you'll also find a lovely orphan heirloom tale involving a WWII scrapbook (Sean Kirst again - I know some of you love his articles), some goofy attempts at genealogical humor (😜), a Library of Congress book festival video, Barry Manilow's Irish roots (if you've got Limerick roots, he could be your cousin!), and an ancient birth certificate recorded in stone. Please help yourself to a browse!

Until December!

Barry Manilow Is a Limerick Man

I know, most think of Barry Manilow as a Jewish fellow from Brooklyn — and he is. But he’s also a quarter Irish, and due to certain circumstances in his family, that Irish share has had a disproportionate influence on his family tree.

Though he wouldn’t have known it, when Barry changed surnames, he was the third generation of Pincus men to do so. Born Barry Pincus, he decided to change his name around the time of his bar mitzvah. By then, his father was long out of the picture and his mother had reverted to her maiden name. That, coupled with the fact that he was fond of his Manilow grandfather whose name would have otherwise died out, is what led him to become Barry Manilow.

Click here to continue reading.

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Genealogy Roundup, November 17

Photo Credit: James P. McCoy | The Buffalo News

Sean Kirst: After man's death, his WWII service came to life through a scrapbook – November 14th was the first anniversary of the passing of my father, Col. George C. Smolenyak, so when Sean Kirst reached out a few days back for a little sleuthing for this article he said would be published on Sunday, the 14th, it was a no-brainer that I would help out. I consider it a modest tribute - something Dad would have appreciated. Thanks for the invitation, Sean.

It was clear from an early age that I was destined for a career in genealogy. What gave it away for you?

Just to torment my fellow genealogists 😏

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Genealogy Roundup, November 10

Photo Credit: The U.S. Army under Creative Commons license

WWII soldier from California accounted for –This is the second time that I know of that a soldier whose family I researched had been formerly buried as an Unknown Soldier. I assume his identification is being announced today since it's the 100th anniversary of Arlington National's Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Welcome home, Pvt Archie Vern Fleeman.

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Genealogy Roundup, November 3

Photo Credit: Library of Congress

Family Secrets: Emotional Fallout from Genealogical Research – TFW you pull up a Library of Congress video and spot one of your books. Good topic!

Unwieldy birth certificate, but what a treasure!

A grave stone, lost for decades, is found outside Anderson pub: How the mystery was solved – Nothing like a wandering tombstone story to start the day.

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Genealogy Roundup, October 27

Photo Credit: Hong Chang Bum under Creative Commons license

23andMe Goes Public as $3.5 Billion Company With Branson Aid – Even back when 23andMe launched in 2007, we all knew where it was headed. Genealogists were the only ready-made market at the time, but they were always aiming for the medical/health sphere.

‘Law & Order: SVU’: Danny Pino on Amaro’s Return and Relationships With Benson & Rollins – Genetic genealogy making its way into Law & Order: SVU

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Genealogy Roundup, October 20

Photo Credit: Warren LeMay | Public Domain

Joe Manganiello: I'm from Cork and I flew Sofia Vergara here to explore Rebel County with me – Joe Manganiello will be on an upcoming episode of "Finding Your Roots," but in the meantime, here he is exploring his Irish heritage with Sofia Vergara.

The Children of Sperm Donors Want to Change the Rules of Conception – Interesting article involving genetic genealogy.

Always fun when Ancestry gives you a new father. 😕 (Always, always, always consult the original source, y'all!)

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