FAQS for NARA Labor Day Weekend Deal

You have questions? Hopefully our FAQ covers them. If not, email us at twistedtwigsongnarledbranches@gmail.com

Payments & Retainers

Why is there a "retainer" payment due when I order?

We would like to make sure that orders placed are truly desired and not quotes. Researchers are only allowed to request 4 files per record pull and there are five record pulls a day at Archives I. Depending on the size of each pension file, the researcher may not be able to scan all 20 files in one day. Depending on how many orders we receive this holiday weekend, we may have to hire a few experienced genie friends to assist us in making sure everyone receives their pension file(s) within a month of payment as promised.

Refer a friend (RaF) 

How does it work?

When an refer a friend (RaF) order comes in (with $55 retainer payment) with you as the reference, we will email you that your friend has placed an order. You will receive $5 off your order and your friend receives $3 off their order. Simple as that. 

Only one "referred friend" discount ($55) per person. If you order several pensions, only the first pension is $55 and the additional pensions are $58. 

I already paid my retainer but I've earned a RaF discount

Congrats on your savings! When we email your pension files, we will credit your order and send you either a quote or a refund. 

How many RaFs can I earn?

As many as you'd like! Share on social media, call your genie buddies, network...network...network!

Testimonials & Kudos

Thank you for the stellar reviews! It has been my pleasure!
 

Elisabeth W - 1 Oct 2015

Diane Z - 29 Sep 2015

Sandy C. - 25 Sep 2015

Holly - 19 Sep 2015

Nancy S. - 4 Sep 2015

Patti B. - 2 Sep 2015

Amanda H. - 30 Aug 2015

20,000 likes!!!

20,000 likes!!! Twisted Twigs on Gnarled Branches Genealogy has come a long way from that funny meme I made at 2 am on a genie break from my Clarks of Detroit research in 2012.

In a little over 3 years, I have transformed my obsession of hunting down ancestors into a full time career. Once lovingly known by Genie friends as "Lil Ms. Go Get 'Em", I've grown to love my new nickname, "The Detroit Genealogist". 

Assisting fellow genies break down their Michigan brick walls professionally and on my facebook page "Detroit Genealogy" is like a dream come true. I've yet to dread one day of work and I pick up new ancestor hiding spots with every trip to the Detroit Public Library or State of Michigan Archives/Library.

As many of you family historians out there, I spend my "free time" giving back to my local genealogy community. I currently volunteer as the social media committee chairwoman and query researcher for the Detroit Society of Genealogical Research.


Thank you all for making Twisted Twigs On Gnarled Branches Genealogy what it is today! It makes my day to give fellow genealogists memes to express their obsession with family history and hopefully a chuckle when brick walls are stressing you out. 

The TTGB community is one of a kind and that is due to all of the Twisted Twigs who like/share the memes, share their stories, and occasional connect with a new cousin or two. 

Happy Hunting!

Deidre Erin

Time to tally up your family tree for the first half of 2014

For me, July is when I tally up my family tree count for the first 6 months research and see how many brick walls I might have knocked down compared to my January 2014 results. The goal of this exercise is to calculate the percentage of ancestors you know of up to your 7th Great Grandparents.

I've added a little guide to calculating your family tree in less than an hour if you have a tree on Ancestry.com.

View the family tree pedigree view for one of your parents

The last generation is your 3rd Great-Grandparents.


As you click the arrow after each 3rd GGP, their branch opens to show up to the 7th generation.

Count how many 4th, 5th, 6th, & 7th GGPs you have and added them to the box indicated on this chart

how many ancestors possible for 4th - 7th generation using this chart:
4th column - 2
5th column - 4
6th Column - 8
7th Column - 16

Complete one of these for each parent.

Add it to the chart and calculate your percentage

After the tally, I usually find that I have neglected several branches for one reason or another. My genie senses tingle and I recall all the new collections added and/or updated on Family Search that I've seen and have yet to review for these ignored ancestors. The hunt is back on and I'm carrying a sledgehammer :)

Pardon the dust - A brick wall just fell: Will of John Clark (1784-1842) Terrington St Clement, Norfolk, England

You know how hard it is to find the correct "John Clark" who died in or near Terrington St. Clement, Norfolk, England between 1836 - 1851. I'll just say "pretty hard". 

Powering down after a long midnight shift, I was scrolling through the Norfolk Archive website on my phone and noticed a link for online probate records. After reading through 4-5 John Clark wills, I found my 4th Great Grandfather's will and date of death!!! 




England, Norfolk Bishop's Transcripts, 1685-1941

Buried in the church yard of Terrington Saint Clement on 19 May 1842

Saint Clements Church
(http://www.terringtonhistory.co.uk/Location-4.htm)

Source: The Yorkshire Regiment, - First World War Remembrance 
http://www.ww1-yorkshires.org.uk/html-files/terrington-st-clement.htm

Time to tally up your family tree for 2014

New Years is an excellent time to tally up your family tree for 2014. The goal of this exercise is to calculate the percentage of ancestors you know of up to your 7th Great Grandparents.

I've added a little guide to calculating your family tree in less than an hour if you have a tree on Ancestry.com. 

View the family tree pedigree view for one of your parents

The last generation is your 3rd Great-Grandparents. 

As you click the arrow after each 3rd GGP, their branch opens to show up to the 7th generation.

Count how many 4th, 5th, 6th, & 7th GGPs you have and added them to the box indicated on this chart

how many ancestors possible for 4th - 7th generation using this chart:

4th column - 2

5th column - 4

6th Column - 8

7th Column - 16

Complete one of these for each parent. 

Add it to the chart and calculate your percentage

Happy New Years!!

May you break down many brick walls in 2014!!!!

Frances Alcock Hutchins (1612-1694) - Accused Haverhill Witch

I couldn't think of a better day to dance this family skeleton out of the closet. 

Frances (Alcock) Hutchins, daughter of George & Anna (Hooker) Alcock, was born in England around 1612. She left Southhampton, England on the ship Bevis in May 1636 as a servant to Richard Drummer. During her voyage, Frances worked with another servant, John Hutchins. They married the following year and raise a large family in Newbury & Haverhill, Massachusetts. 

Passengers on the Bevis, May 1638

                                  Passengers of the Bevis 1638

At the age of 80, Frances was accused of practicing witchcraft by Timothy Snow, Ann Putham Jr., and Mary Walcott. Justice Dudley Bradstreet issued an arrest warrant on August 18, 1692 and Frances was picked up by Constable William Starling the next day. She would soon be transported to Salem and be reunited with her 76 year old sister, Ann (Alcock) Foster, who had been detained in the Salem Dungeon since July 15. 

                                                     

                                          Transcription of Warrant


On December 3rd of 1692, Ann died while waiting to be hanged as a confessed witch. Perhaps fearing that his mother might die before receiving a trial, Samuel Hutchins, along with his brother in law, Joseph Kingsberry, offered a 200 pound bond on the 21st to High Sheriff George Corwin in Salem for her freedom.

Recognizance for Francis Hutchins

Memorandum --
That on the Twenty one Day of Decemb'r: Anno'qe D[mbar ] : one Thousand Six hundred Ninty & two in the: fourth year of the Reigne of our Sovereigne Lord & Lady William & Mary by the Grace of God of England &c. King & Queen Defenders of the faith &c: Personally came and Appeared before me George Corwin High Shirriffe for the County of Essex of the Province of the Massathutets Bay in New England -- Samuel Hutchens of Haverell and Jospeh Kingsbury of Haverell afores'd Husbandman and Acknowledged themselves Indebted Unto our Sovereigne Lord & Lady the King & Queen or the Survivors of them their Heires & Successors: in the Summe of two hundred pounds to beleaved one their Goods & Chattles Lands & Tenements for the Use of our Sovereigne Lord & Lady the King & Queen or the Successors of them if Default be made in the Performance of the Condition Underwritten

Videllisitt --
The condition of the above written Recognizance is Such That Whereas francess Hutchens Widdow of Haverell afores'd is Suspected of and Accused of Committing Divers Acts of Witchcrafts If therefore the Said frances Hutchens afores'd: Shall & do make her Personall Appearance before the Justices of our Sovereigne Lord & Lady the King & Queen at the Next Court of Assize of Oyer & Terminer Next Generall Goal Delivery to be held for & within the County of Essex afores'd; to answar what shall be objected ag't: her on their Maj'tes: behalfe Refering to the Witchcrafts & to do & Receive that by w'ch said Court shall be then and there Injoyned & not Darpart without Licence Then the said Recognizance to be Void: or Else to abide in full force & Vertue In Wittness wherof the: above Named Persons Sam'll: Hutchings & Joseph Kingsberry have hereunto sett our hands & seales this Twenty first Day of December in the Year of our Lord one Thousand six hundred Ninty & two, and in the fourth year of their Maj'ties Reigne
Wittnessed:
*Thomas Beadle
*Joshua Conant
*Jno Gyles 1692
           *Samuel Huchins
           *Joseph Kingsberry 

Recognizance for Frances Hutchins

After 124 days in a cold dungeon, Frances was free on bond until the end of the witchcraft hysteria in the summer of 1693. She died the following year on April 5.


HAPPY HALLOWEEN



Source of Salem documentation photos and transcription

• Ray, Benjamin. Warrant for Arrest of Frances Hutchins and Ruth Wilford. 2002. Photograph. http://salem.lib.virginia.edu/texts/tei/BoySal2R?div_id=n74Web. 29 Oct 2013.
• Ray, Benjamin. Recognizance for Francis Hutchins  2002. http://salem.lib.virginia.edu/texts/tei/BoySal2R?div_id=n74Web. 29 Oct 2013.