Justice for Nancy

Y'all know I am obsessed with genealogy. I don't actively research as much as I would like these days (full time work, owning and maintaining a house...adulting lol), but whenever I get the chance, I do. More recently I've been dedicating my time to researching my Grandmother - Nancy Craddock nee Robinson.

Nancy as a child

Nancy passed away 10 years before I was born in 1980, at 47 years old - she went missing from Taos, New Mexico. To this day 45 years later she is still missing. Her body has never been found. In 1985, Nancy’s husband (Note: my grandparents divorced in 1973 and both re-married, the husband noted above is her second husband) sought action to have her declared legally deceased. Referencing the court's subsequent declaration, the New Mexico State Police (NMSP) closed the case in 1992 without providing any answers to my family. Life had to go on for my Mum, Aunt and Uncle - marriages, children, grandchildren, work etc but not a day has gone by where they don't think of their Mom and what they wish they could tell her. In 2024, my Mum, Aunt and Uncle requested the NMSP re-open the case. The case is now sitting with the cold case unit.

The Santa Fe New Mexican, 4 June 1981

As luck would have it, earlier this year we discovered the Solve The Case website. As explained on their website - 

Solve the Case is a non-profit that is dedicated to finding missing persons, solving cases of murder and other serial offenses. We use the power of the internet to bring the community together to look at cases in new and innovative ways with investigative professionals.

National Cold Case Month

It also allows for one singular place to post all the facts of a case for people to see. There are hundreds. Nancy's page is linked here.  September is also National Cold Case Month in the US, as such, Solve The Case has been sharing not just Nancy's case, but many others. 

This past week, my Mum and Aunt have done a couple of interviews about Nancy. The fact that we are even getting media attention at all is an absolute godsend and we are so so grateful. As Nancy's case was closed, it had completely fallen off the police radar. I am so proud of my Mum, Aunt and Uncle for choosing to re-engage with the police and being open to talk to not just journalists, but anyone, about Nancy and her disappearance. 

The first interview published was with KRQE, one of the local new stations. The video on the website is region blocked those outside US but you can read the article and watch the video on the KRQE YouTube. The fact this was even on TV IN THE TOWN NANCY WENT MISSING FROM (yes that deserved all caps!!) is incredible. Absolutely blown away. 

The second one was with Taos News, the local town news. This article is more in depth about Nancy's hobbies and interests. We couldn't be more appreciative of the coverage.

Thank you to my social media friends, for engaging, liking, and sharing. It is so very appreciated. 

As Solve The Case shared in their Facebook post earlier, media outlets can play one of the most powerful roles in solving cold cases: keeping victims’ stories alive and in front of the public. The only way to keep victim's stories and cases alive is to share them and talk about them. 

Just like thousands of others, Nancy's story will not be forgotten. Nancy's story deserves to be told.

Thank you Grandma Nancy, for vicariously giving me your love and obsession with genealogy. It is also in more recent years that I have realised Nancy probably contributed to me studying a Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice and my keen interest in true crime documentaries and podcasts. 

We love you Nancy.

Nancy (right) with her 3 children - Molly, David and Patty. 

Aunt Elizabeth's DNA

My last blog post was back in May? Time flies when you work full time.

I received Aunt Elizabeth's DNA results back in July and have been having a fun time analysing them.

Her DNA results are:

DNA Results as at 5 Oct 2018 for my Aunt Elizabeth [Ancestry.com]

This is similar to what I was expecting, although the Norway surprised me.

My DNA ethnicity estimate is:

DNA Results as at 5 Oct 2018 for myself. [Ancestry.com]

Interesting how we both have 5% for Sweden, however she has more Ireland and Scotland than me, and I have more England, Wales & Northwestern Europe. 

We have a decent number of shared matches -

1 First Cousin, 4 Second Cousins, 12 Third Cousins, and a number of 4th Cousins.

I have been going through the shared matches and labelling what part of the family they come from.

In regards to her own DNA matches, I have found a couple of matches on my grandfather's paternal grandmother's side that I did not have.

I'm still working my way through it all. More exciting times ahead.

In other news, my Mum has asked if she could do a DNA test. SHE ASKED. I didn't have to ask her. 

I'll be getting that sorted soon. 

As I said, exciting times ahead.

mtDNA - Aunt Elizabeth's Female Line

I've been in Sydney this weekend visiting my Aunt Elizabeth. This morning I asked her if she would spit in a tube for me, and she kindly agreed. Her DNA is ready to send back to Ancestry. Yay! I am really keen to see what her DNA tells me, particularly in regards to her mtDNA (mitochondrial DNA). As she is my Aunt (my Dad's sister), and not my mother, she will have different mtDNA to me. mtDNA is passed down from mother to child (men receive it but cannot pass it on). mtDNA enables you to trace your direct maternal line, ie. your mother's mother's mother's mother's mother's mother and so forth.

My mtDNA line is my mother, her mum Nancy (my Grandma), Nancy's mum Pauline etc. Aunt Elizabeth will have my Nanna's mtDNA from her female line. It occurred to me a few minutes ago that I am actually at a brick wall here, so I thought I would introduce you all to my Aunt Elizabeth's female ancestral line.

My Nanna, Eunice Hazel Dyer, 2011.
[Source: Personal]

1. Aunt Elizabeth

2. Eunice Hazel Dyer 

My Nanna.

B: 3 May 1916, Bowraville, New South Wales (NSW), Australia
D: 4 June 2012, Sydney, NSW Australia

3. Eva Florence Mackay (Great Grandmother) 

B: 25 Jul 1888, Bowraville, NSW, Australia
D: 14 May 1976, Bowraville, NSW, Australia

2x Great Grandmother
Elizabeth Lucilla Gill
[Source: Personal]

Great Grandmother
Eva Florence Mackay, 1913
[Source: Personal]

4. Elizabeth Lucilla Gill (2x Great Grandmother)

B: 1867, Kempsey, NSW, Australia

D: 20 Sep 1905, Bowraville, NSW, Australia

5. Alice J Wright (3x Great Grandmother)

B: 1845, Port Macquarie, NSW, Australia
D: 17 Dec 1926, Box Hill, Victoria, Australia

3x Great Grandmother, Alice J Wright
[Source: Personal]

6. Elizabeth Graham (4x Great Grandmother) 

B: approx. 1815, England
D: 24 Dec 1895, Kempsey, NSW, Australia

Elizabeth Graham was a convict and sent to Australia in 1833 for stealing spoons when she was 18.

Who were her parents? Where in England was her family from?

I'm hoping my Aunt Elizabeth's mtDNA will give me some clues.

Have you had any success with mtDNA? Share your stories below!

Conferencing It Up!

I'm writing this from my Grandparent's living room in Midland, Texas, USA. I arrived in the USA on the 4th of February. I've been staying at a friend's house in Dallas and also went to New Orleans for the first time and experienced my first Mardi Gras. This week I'm with my Grandparents. Next week, with my Uncle - we're doing genealogy! The weekend of the 23rd-25th, I'm going to a family reunion! Yay! It's for the descendants of my 5x Great Grandparents John Gowan and Edith Faulk. 

On the 26th of February, I fly to Salt Lake City for my second ever RootsTech (Feb 28th - Mar 3rd)! I'm so excited! I can't wait to catch up with the friends I've made through genealogy. I've been going through the schedule and selecting the classes I might like to go to - most of them revolve around DNA and American research. If you have not got the app on your phone yet, download it! It is a must! You can see your calendar/schedule of the classes you have selected. It's so easy.

It's going to be a wonderful genealogy week!

The main stage. [Photo taken by me, Feb 2015]

I'm also excited for the huge Expo Hall! Ahhhh! [Photo taken by me, Feb 2015]

But that's not all.

I arrive back in Sydney on the 7th of March. On the 8th of March, I have to check into a hotel in Sydney for the Australasian Conference on Genealogy and Heraldry (9th to 12th March). It will be my first Congress. When I tell people what Congress is, I say it's the Australian version of RootsTech.

I'm so thankful for this quiet week with my Grandparents as from next week it's going to get busy.
Genealogists do like to party!

Can't wait! Going to be so much fun!

We have a winner!

My competition for a RootsTech Pass closed on Thursday, 23 November, and we have a winner!

Thank you to everyone who entered the competition by sending a response to the question: If you could have been born in any other year, what would it be and why? I loved reading your answers.

I wish I had passes to give all of you, however, I only have one. And the winner is...

Marian Wood! 

Congratulations Marian! You've won a 4-Day RootsTech Pass valued at $US279!

Marian's response to the question was:

If the genealogy genie could grant me this wish, I would choose to be born in 1886, the year that the Statue of Liberty was unveiled in New York harbor. She made her official debut on Oct 28, 1886, so my wish is to have that be my birthday, too. Imagine being born in the same year, as this icon of freedom and hope was presented to the country, with a million people watching.

Marian is a RootsTech first timer and is very excited to attend next year. I look forward to meeting you Marian! You will have an awesome time!

How is it that we are already only 3 months anyway? 

An excited group of genealogists at RootsTech 2015.
L-R: Hilary Gadsby (UK), Me (AUS), Roger Moffatt (US), Sharn White (US),
Cheryl Hudson Passey (US) & Alona Tester (AUS)

____________

As an Ambassador for RootsTech, I have kindly been given free registration. All opinions are my own. 

GIVEAWAY - RootsTech Pass!

One of the perks about being an Ambassador for RootsTech 2018 is that I have a 4-Day RootsTech pass to give away!

That's right, you read correctly.

A 4-Day RootsTech Pass valued at US$279!!!

[Source: Giphy.com]

The awesome pass includes
- over 300 classes
- Keynote/General Sessions
- RootsTech classes
- Innovation Showcase
- Expo Hall
- Evening Events

You will have to fund your own travel to and from Salt Lake City, the conference, hotel, and food, but I promise you it is worth it!

If you win and you have already paid for a RootsTech pass, you will be refunded.

Now that all the minor details are out of the way, how do you win said RootsTech pass?

Easy peasy.

Answer the following question:

If you could have been born in any other year, what would it be and why?

No lengthy responses required -  a couple of sentences will do.

Here's my answer: 1970 - My maternal Grandmother passed away in 1980, ten years before I was born. She was the genealogy queen in our family. 1970 would give me ten wonderful years with her.  

E-mail me your response to genealogicallyspeaking@gmail.com by COB Thursday, 23 November.  

My mother will draw a name randomly from the responses and the winner will be notified via e-mail, and if applicable, social media.

I can't wait to read the responses!

____________

As an Ambassador for RootsTech, I have kindly been given free registration. All opinions are my own. 

RootsTech 2018 - I'm going!

I'm heading back to Salt Lake City in February, 2018, for my second RootsTech! I am so excited! I have been given the wonderful opportunity of being an Ambassador too. Never thought that would happen. In 2018, RootsTech is being held at the end of February from 28 Feb to 3 Mar.

Ambassador for RootsTech, 2018.

I can't believe it will have been three years since my first RootsTech in 2015. I'm so keen to catch up with all my friends and meet new ones. The socializing at genealogy conferences is one of the best things ever.

Valerie, Caitlin, and Cheryl at RootsTech 2015

Asides from that, the speakers and classes are awesome.

Two of the keynote speakers have been announced -

Olympic gold medalist Scott Hamilton

Humans of New York creator, Brandon Stanton

I will be honest. I've never heard of Scott Hamilton, but I have heard of Brandon Stanton. I have been an avid follower of Humans of New York for a few years now. I can't wait to see him live.

The RootsTech stage! Taken by Me, Feb 2015. 

RootsTech is a must attend bucket list item for any genealogist/family historian, regardless of whether you're a beginner, amateur, or professional. They have classes dedicated to beginners! How neat is that?! And then there's the Expo Hall. Oh my, the Expo Hall. All your favorite genealogy brands in the one place! It's huge and amazing.

The schedule for the classes has already been released (subject to change) and I have spent this morning browsing through it. I'm just so excited!

If you need any more persuading about why you should attend, have a quick read of this.

The RootsTech Pass is currently available for the promotional price of US$199, but be quick, because it will go up to the full price of US$279.

However, keep an eye on my blog and social media channels the next couple of days because I have a RootsTech pass to give away, valued at US$279. Stay tuned!

____________
As an Ambassador for RootsTech, I have kindly been given free registration. All opinions are my own.