Episode 358 - Enslaved.org To Bring Together Multiple Databases / The 1890 Census Tragedy- What Happened?

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 salute to the late Brian Sykes, a noted DNA research pioneer who passed last month. Then, the discovery of King Richard III under a parking lot in England eight years ago has now led to a DNA test that is causing some to question the legitimacy of the current Royals! Speaking of DNA, Fisher and David next speak of the claim from the science community that sleepwalking may be an ancient response gone wrong that essentially kept people awake with “one eye open” for their own safety. We have a couple of items in our “Lost and Found” department this week. First, it’s a metal detectorist in England who found a World War I medal in his back yard. He eventually returned it to the original recipient’s grandson. Then, it was the find of a teen’s “secret diaries” in an old house in Toronto that were also returned. Finally, aside from genealogy, there’s been another area experiencing a boon in the past year. Find out what it is.

Then, Fisher visits with Daryle Williams, co-principal investigator with Enslaved.org, a new website that is bringing together multiple databases on enslaved and enslavers from all over the world and all periods of time. Daryle shares a fascinating story about one enslaved man in Brazil and how the database revealed it.

Next, Rachel Derenthal from Legacy Tree Genealogists talks about the tragic fire that claimed the 1890 Census and the politics that followed. Rachel explains alternative methods to gathering information from that time period.

Dr. Henry Louis Gates visits with Fisher again to talk about the latest episode in a new season of Finding Your Roots on PBS.

Finally, David returns for an interesting question from a listener about a relative who was an early player for the NFL.

That’s all this week on Extreme Genes, America’s Family History Show!