Still catching up on Randy’s Saturday Night Challenges.  This one is from March 28 and goes a little something like this:

  1. Identify one “elusive ancestor” family (perhaps one you just found, or one you’ve not found any information about), and the county/state that they resided in. Tell us the family name and the county/state.
  2. Go to the FHL Catalog, find the resources for that county/state.
  3. Identify at least three items from the FHL Catalog that you need to look into in an effort to further your knowledge about that family’s history. Tell us about them.
  4. Do you know where your nearest Family History Center is? If not, go here and look for it. Tell us where it is.
  5. Are you willing to make a commitment to go to the FHC and rent microfilms in order to pursue that elusive ancestral family? If so, tell us about your commitment.
    And later on, when you’ve reviewed the microfilms and information, you can tell us all about your research findings in a separate post.


It was quite ironic that this challenge came when it did, as I had actually fulfilled most of it a month or so before.

Identify one “elusive ancestor” family (perhaps one you just found, or one you’ve not found any information about), and the county/state that they resided in. Tell us the family name and the county/state.

I actually have many, but I’m working on identifying sources for my both sets of third great-grandparents on my dad’s side: Michael CAHILL and Anne HALE, and John MILLET and Mary RYAN.  It is likely that they are all from Kilkenny County, Ireland.  I do know that my CAHILL/HALE resided in Thomastown, so my search begins there.  I’m working on them at the same time, since the same resources are likely to help for all of them.

Go to the FHL Catalog, find the resources for that county/state.  Identify at least three items from the FHL Catalog that you need to look into in an effort to further your knowledge about that family’s history. Tell us about them.

Of all the sources I think the first one will be the launching pad.  Once I am able to put some more pieces together, I think the remaining sources will become invaluable.

Do you know where your nearest Family History Center is? If not, go here and look for it. Tell us where it is.

I am fortunate to have a great local genealogical library in town, that also serves as a FHC.  The McLean County Genealogical Society’s library is open 7 days a week and can order films from the FHL.  There is also a FHC, Normal Illinois, but its hours are limited.  Why we have two places within a few miles of one another in farm country is beyond me.

Are you willing to make a commitment to go to the FHC and rent microfilms in order to pursue that elusive ancestral family? If so, tell us about your commitment.

Already done.  I ordered the first film listed above back in February.  In fact, I just got the call yesterday that it’s in!  Hope to get over there within the next few days to view it.

And later on, when you’ve reviewed the microfilms and information, you can tell us all about your research findings in a separate post.

Absolutely!  I do hope I find some information that will fill in the gaps for my third great-grandparents, such as their birth, marriage, and death dates/places.  I also hope that I am able to identify their parents, which would put me back another generation and open up a whole new avenue of research.  I will definitely share what I find (or what I don’t find).  Wish me luck!!!