Community Builder

Written by Doug Beezley Tuesday, 28 July 2009 13:13

I am in the process of developing an add-on system to the Beasley Genealogy Project website that I believe can help our cause. Since our genealogy project is based not only on searching into the past, but also making real connections with the present, I believe we are best served by knowing one another and encouraging communication.

If you come to the website often, you have been seeing some gradual revisions in the right-hand column of the main page. The system is called "Community Builder" and has a lot of functions for sharing information about the participants in our project. I am just learning about the potential, so I am adding gradually.

For now, you will notice, if you aren't logged in, that "Who's Online" will tell you how many guests and how many members are on-line. Once you log in, you will be able to see the names of the others logged in. Each person will have a profile with relevant information about themselves, their family and genealogical relationships among other facts. It can be sort of like the concept of FaceBook, but a lot more focussed and specialized.

Once I get to the point that the process is more developed I will contact registered members to participants. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Name Origin of Beasley

Last Updated on Saturday, 20 June 2009 22:48 Written by David B. Beasley Saturday, 20 June 2009 14:34

“The family name Beasley is an interesting example of the evolutionary nature of names.  It is a variant spelling of Beesley and is a place name derived from the combination of ‘bees’ and ‘ley’ (woods).

 

Due to its place name component, this surname is far more likely to have derived from the bearers place of residence, rather that from the beekeeping trade.  Lacking sugarcane and sugar beets, the medieval British often used honey from sweetening.

 

Although the art of beekeeping was long known and practice, wild honey was often harvested by rural people from nearly, ‘bee woods’.  An inhabitant of a cottage near the ‘bees ley’ might be referred to by neighbors as ‘atte bees ley’, following a personal name.

 

During the period of transition to hereditary surnames many people simply adopted the name of the place in which they resided or were associated with.  This was especially true for members of the peasantry, who rarely had a special skill to distinguish them from others with the same Christian name. 

 

Place names, like the family name Beasley, comprise the largest class, of the four classes of name origin presently in use by genealogists.  The four classes of origin are: place names (Woods, Rivers), relationship (Jackson, Walters), occupation (Mason, Goldsmith), and nicknames (Short, Dolittle).”

  Beasley Family History:  American Genealogical Research Institute;  Heritage Press, Inc., Washington, D.C.; 1978;  page 3.

FREE DNA TEST? Why not?

Last Updated on Thursday, 28 May 2009 17:51 Written by Doug Beezley Friday, 15 May 2009 18:59

(Notice: As of today (May 28, 2009), SMGF no longer takes free DNA tests, but has subcontracted that part of their work to genetree.com.)

Some time ago, I had submitted my DNA sample to Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation. It was free... at a time when I wasn't as familiar with DNA testing. Then I forgot about it... until a recent email from Linda. Yes, the catch is, you DON'T get your actual test results. After I looked at it again, I realized that for FREE, it has its value.

When you submit a Y-DNA test, you indicate the surname AND a family tree. When the results show up, your tree is matched against other trees. You don't know your results (though you CAN figure it out) and you don't know the name of the living members of the tree, you DO know what trees are a match. If someone else already establishes your family tree for Y-DNA, you can also get a mtDNA instead. (One test free.)

Here's the NEWS... THE FREE OFFER IS GOING AWAY SOON! (OK... free is gone.)

They are in the process of transitioning to a paid service. I've not been told HOW SOON, so if you like free, do it NOW... CLICK HERE. Questions? This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Read more: FREE DNA TEST? Why not?

Mark and Doug Dialog

Sunday, 05 April 2009 10:08

It's been a while since something new has been added to the website. Mark and I have been having a dialog we'd like to share. It started with Laurence Beezley submitting a DNA sample. We've not had a lot of "Beezley's" participate and Laurence is from a known line that MIGHT be connected to mine, but has not been proved. We are discussing implications and opportunities to advance the cause. This dialog is open to the public, but if you log in, you will have a chance to add your comments on line. The link is on the Features menu to the left, or CLICK HERE.