My Ancestral Trails...
In search of my family's history
When I took up the hobby of genealogy several years ago, I had no idea of the scope this endeavor would entail. When I started my only goal was to find out a little about the history of my family and something about my ancestors so that I could pass it along to my children. One of the first obstacles I met was that, with the exception of three cousins, I was the "corporate knowledge" of the family's history. So, with the collective knowledge they provided, I set out in search of my roots upon the river of life.
I had several guiding lights and guardian angels along the way and they pointed me toward a lot of information, techniques and strategy, some of it on the Internet, some of it in books, and some on microfische or films at the Church of the Latter Day Saints Family History Centers. So, to show my appreciation to all those who shared their knowledge with me, I want to try to share my limited knowledge with other researchers as my way of repaying those kind deeds. Thank you all, so very much.
Genealogy Tools
Some of the tools that have helped me are a few simple Javascript programs. The first is one that calculates a date of birth from any time after 1592, when the Western world switched to the Gregorian calender. Just input the data and it will find the day of the week the person was born on.
To use this algorithm, input the date of birth (in MM/DD/YYYY format), and then click on the "OK" button to see which day of the week the person was born on.
Zeller's Algorithm
Zeller's Algorithm can be used to determine the day of the week for any date in the past, present or future.
Actually the algorithm should work only for those dates starting with the use of the Gregorian Calendar in the year 1582.
The Gregorian Calendar will be off one full day in the year 4902, so this algorithm works for any dates between 1582 and 4902.
To use this algorithm, input your date of birth, press "ok" and then boom the day of the week in which you were born on appears.
Birthdate Calculator
My next offering is another Javascript program that calculates a birthdate from death date and age of death in year-month-day format. It is useful when trying to find someone's birthdate from tombstone inscriptions.
This program calculates a person's date of birth from using the date of death and age at death in day/month/year format.
Soundex Calculator
Another invaluable tool for genealogists is a soundex calculator. Soundex codes are used in many census programs and filings. This program was written by Stephen Heise. Click on the button below to use the program.
Genealogy Information
I have included sections that have pedigree charts of some of my direct ancestral lines and some family group sheets. I also have a list of surnames directly related to me and some surnames that are related to the research of my family, names I've come across but aren't in my direct line of ancestors. Check out my Surname page.
Each name listed has an area and time frame with which it's associated in my research.
There are links to other pages, including a list of links to other genealogy related sites on the Internet that are helpful in my research.
There are also links to other pages with information about some of the resources available to genealogists researching their families in Chenango County, New York and cemetery locations within the county.
Pedigree Charts and Family Group Sheets
Below you'll find links to six pedigree charts which cover much of my family. Chart #1 begins with me and works backward through much of my maternal side (LOOMIS) of the family. The group sheets cover my LOOMIS line from my greatgrandfather, Orlando Loomis, through Joseph Loomis who emigrated from Braintree, Essex, England to the colony of Connecticut in 1639. Much of the documentation for the Loomis line comes from Descendants of Joseph Loomis In America And His Antecendants in the Old World, the original published by Elias Loomis, LLD, 1835, Revised by Elisha S. Loomis, PhD, 1908, Republished by John E. Loomis in 1981.
You can access the seventeen different Family Group Sheets from within the pedigree charts by clicking on the names. I've recently updated the group sheets and pedigree charts with information taken from The Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England by James Savage.
Pedigree Chart #1 begins with myself, Robert P. Saftenberg, and covers through my greatgrand parents.
Pedigree Chart #2 begins with Orlando M. Loomis, my great grandfather.
Pedigree Chart #3 begins with Wright Loomis, my 4th great grandfather and continues back through his Loomis line.
Pedigree Chart #4 begins with Stephen Loomis, my 7th great grandfatherand runs through John Loomis, father of the patriarch of most of the Loomis family in America.
Pedigree Chart #5 begins with John Kelsey, my 6th great grandfather and continues through this line into the late 16th century.
Pedigree Chart #6 begins with Beulah Harmon, the wife of Isaac Morley and my 4th great grandmother, and contines back through her line to the late 16th century in England.
If you have any additional information that you'd like to share, feel free to send an e-mail to me at .
Please respect the privacy of the living members of this family.
