Eric Frauhiger needs our help
Eric Frauhiger 298742/H3202L, Holmes Correctional Institution, 3142 Thomas Dr., Bonifay, FL 32425 writes: Hello! I was hoping you might be able to assist me with something. If you charge for what I am asking, please let me know.
I wrote to the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany to declare my nationality and they wrote me back telling me that I do not have a German nationality according to the information I provided them.
I don't know what information they need, because they didn't tell me.
I know it was either my great grandfather or my great, great grandfather came from Germany. I don't know either one of their names. From my understanding I am suppose to have what's called a province number and it is made up of (4) digits.
Do you have any idea how I could find this out? I was also wondering if you could possibly find anyone with my last name, here in the U.S. and in Germany, and provide their name and address too? I want to thank you for your time and concern.
Hope you can help. Thank you!

What do those pesky initials mean?
We thank the Columbine Genealogical & Historical Society Newsletter from Littleton, Colorado for the following information to help us with the meanings of initials we see all the time. Connie Strandberg submitted this.

APG - Association of Professional Genealogists
APGQ - Association of Professional Genealogists Quarterly
BCG - Board for Certification of Genealogists
CCGS - Colorado Council of Genealogical Societies
CG - Certified Genealogist
CGS - Colorado Genealogical Society
CGL - Certified Genealogical Lecturer
CIG - Computer Interest Group
FASG - Fellow of the American Society of Genealogy
FGS - Federation of Genealogical Societies
FHL - Family History Library
FNGS - Fellow of the National Genealogy Society
FUGA - Fellow Utah Genealogy Association
IGHR - Institute for Genealogical & Historical Research
NA - National Archives
NARA - National Archives and Records Administration.
NEHGS - New England Historic Genealogical Society
NGS - National Genealogical Society
NGSQ - National Genealogical Society Quarterly
NIGR - National Institute on Genealogical Research
WISE - Wales Ireland Scotland England

Scotland's America in the 17th century
In the 17th century, Poland was described as 'Scotland's America.'
Contemporaries estimated that 15,000-40,000 Scots were settled in Poland mainly as merchants, peddlers, and craftsmen. This mass migration is largely forgotten in modern Scotland, though is remembered still in Poland. The names of the descendants of Scots immigrants are still to be found in Polish phone books, such as Ramzy from Ramsay, or Czarmas from Chalmers. Danzig still has may Scottish street names, and villages in the hinterland are named after the Scots-Dzkocja, Skotna Gora, Szotniki or Szoty.
Thanks to the Palmetto & Thistle from Melbourne, Florida.
Note: See Scots in Poland

The McGilbray Cemetery needs help!
According to Mr. Jim Seward. a 75 year old resident of Muskogee, Oklahoma, who lives 1 mile north and ¬ mile west of the intersection of Main and Shawnee Streets, there on the north side of the road, there is an old cemetery out in a thicket on his property.
He calls this the McGilbray Cemetery, and states the interments there are of black Americans. He stated his father bought this property in the 1920s, and black families used to visit the cemetery on Decoration Day; however, there have been no visitors in many, many years.
There are not many stones left, and most are in disrepair due to free-range cattle. Mr. Seward has no plans for restoring the cemetery, but does not discourage genealogical research. Contact Jim Seward, 230 W. Harris Road, Muskogee, OK 74401

Do you have an Anam Cara?
The Palmetto & Thistle of Melbourne, FL answers this question for us: Do You Have An Anam Cara?
What does it mean and should you have one?
Let me take you on a journey that not many people know about and understand.
Read and learn more about what your Celtic Ancestors knew and loved - an anam cara. In the Celtic tradition, there is a beautiful understanding of love and friendship. The Gaelic term for this is anam cara. Anam is Gaelic for soul and cara is friend so anam cara means "soul friend."
In the early Celtic church, a person who acted as a teacher, companion, or spiritual guide was called an anam cara.
Originally it meant someone in whom you confided or confessed, revealing your innermost feelings. When you have an anam cara, you are joined in an ancient and eternal way with the "friend of your soul."
The Celtic understanding did not set limitations of space or time on the soul. In everyone's life, there is a great need for an anam cara. In this love, you are understood as you are without mask or pretension. As the superficial, lies and half-truths of social acquaintance fall away, you can be as you really are. When you really feel understood, you feel free to release yourself into the trust and shelter of your soul friend.

Does anyone have any info on ISBELL STEWART and JOHN STEWART. They came to Chicago, Illinois from Scotland. A daughter was LILLIE S. LEWIS; born 1886, died 1973 in Doltan City, Illinois. Her husband was LESLIE THOMAS LEWIS of Lewisburg, Tennessee. His family owned a company in Chicago, Illinois. LESLIE THOMAS LEWIS' parents were D'ETTA FISCHER and THOMAS FORREST LEWIS. Hal Lewis, 124 Cumber Ave, Buffalo, NY 14220

Clan Donald USA sets Annapolis, Maryland as 2003 AGM site
A letter from Ray Gill of Clan Donald U. S. A. invites us all to Come by Land, Come by Sea, but Come to Annapolis, Maryland in 2003. Take advantage of this rare opportunity to participate and share in the history and beauty of the area with the Clan Donald's 50 states and 13 regions when they meet as one in mid September from Thursday 11th through Sunday 14th.
This year we are pleased to have Sir Ian Godfrey Bosville Macdonald of Sleat as our Honored Guest.
Located just 20 miles from Baltimore and 30 miles from Washington, DC, the possibilities for your adventure are endless. If you would like to do history attend the Pre-AGM tour of the famous battlefields and museums in Fredericksburg, VA. That's just 90 miles from Annapolis, this tour provides fantastic insights into the War Between the States and this area is also the earliest beginnings of our nation. This is a full day tour lead by two experts on our nation's history, Mr. James A. McDonald and Mr. Kelly O'Grady.
For more information call Lynda, Anne or Susan at 1-800-432-6659 or email destiinc@aol.com.

Named for the doctor?
The Tipsheet of the Foothills Genealogical Society of Lakewood, Colorado sends us this article...Are you "Named For The Doctor?"
In some areas, such as eastern North Carolina from the 1920s to the late 1950s, some children were given a middle name that was the last name of the doctor that delivered them. So, if you find a strange middle name and can make no family connection, ask an older relative or someone of that neighborhood just who the neighborhood doctor might have been.

About the Cheddar Man
We have an article from Kishwaukee Genealogists Newsletter of Rockford, Illinois. Why is Cheddar man - an ancient human whose remains were excavated fro Cheddar Gorge in England - uniquely famous in archaeological circles?
Cheddar man holds the distinction of being the oldest known human with a confirmed living relative.
In 1997, scientists at Oxford University extracted mitochondrial DNA from one of Cheddar man's teeth and, as part of a television special on archaeology, attempted to match the genetic sample with some of the local in the region. The research turned up history teacher Adrian Targett, who is descended from the same maternal line as Cheddar man (mitochondrial DNA is passed down through the maternal line of genetic families).
Cheddar man thus holds the Guiness World Record as the oldest confirmed ancestor in genealogical history."

Next time you donate blood - think about this!
The first blood transfusions took place in Italy in 1628, but since blood types were unknown and medical science was unsophisticated, many people died. In the 1850s, because of the high incidence of childbirth-related deaths due to hemorrhages, blood transfusions were tried again. Still there were many fatal consequences.
It was not until the beginning of World War II that scientists discovered the different blood types.
The Basque people who live in the Pyrenees region between northwest Spain and France are the only people in Europe whose blood type is overwhelmingly in the "A" group,. The Basques are unique in other ways. They have a common language known as "Euskara," which has no linguistic connection with any other modern language in western Europe, which all belong to the Indo-European family of languages.
Thanks to Kinfolks of Southwest Louisiana Genealogical Society, Inc., Lake Charles, Louisiana.

Slabs from sawmills are still useful today!
Slabs were scrap wood left over from the "first Cuts" of logs. "First cuts" were thin slices, cutting bark from the log, and were known as "slabs". Slabs were use to patch barns, outhouses, chicken coops and houses. Slabs came in handy during the hard times caused by the Great Depression.
We thank the Southwest Louisiana Genealogical Society, Inc., at Lake Charles, LA for this bit of information.

Before they were outlaws...
Riding with Quantrill's Rangers taught many lessons, and the men accustomed to such violent living found it hard to adjust to a dull, peaceful life after the war. Many of them became outlaws and died violent deaths.
Among those who turned outlaw were James and Cole Younger and Frank and Jesse James, who along with Oliver Shepherd, another Quantrill man, committed the first daytime robbery in the history of the U.S. when they robbed the bank at Liberty, Missouri, in February 1866.