Michael Neill
@mjnrootdig.bsky.social
Genealogist (author of Genealogy Tip of the Day https://bit.ly/3AEMtte), Casefile Clues, among various other things. #genealogy #familyhistory
Instead of those AI-generated #carticatures, I created a self-made image. Those AI ones all look the same.
February 4, 2026 at 8:15 PM
Instead of those AI-generated #carticatures, I created a self-made image. Those AI ones all look the same.
When your ancestor is first in a new area, the associates they have are more likely to be from "home" or where they used to live than are their associates decades later. #genealogy genealogytipoftheday.com/index.php/20...
First Associates and Home Folks - Genealogy Tip of the Day
When records on an ancestor fail to provide information as to his origin, look closely at those records in which he appears shortly after his arrival in the area. Who else is mentioned in those record...
genealogytipoftheday.com
February 3, 2026 at 4:18 PM
When your ancestor is first in a new area, the associates they have are more likely to be from "home" or where they used to live than are their associates decades later. #genealogy genealogytipoftheday.com/index.php/20...
A chart to keep track of all those double #genealogy connections--unless you don't have siblings of g-grandfather married 1st cousins of another g-grandparent...among other things.
February 1, 2026 at 4:31 PM
A chart to keep track of all those double #genealogy connections--unless you don't have siblings of g-grandfather married 1st cousins of another g-grandparent...among other things.
All the what I would do differently in #genealogy from the start really don't matter as much as identifying pictures and asking more relatives questions. Other stuff can wait. Memories matter.
January 31, 2026 at 11:46 PM
All the what I would do differently in #genealogy from the start really don't matter as much as identifying pictures and asking more relatives questions. Other stuff can wait. Memories matter.
One thing that is so hard to get through some #genealogy researcher's heads is that there can be variations in naming practices from one part of a country to another. Not everyone is the same. Generalizations create brick walls.
January 28, 2026 at 6:36 PM
One thing that is so hard to get through some #genealogy researcher's heads is that there can be variations in naming practices from one part of a country to another. Not everyone is the same. Generalizations create brick walls.
Before responding to an online post: read the whole thing, read the whole thing, let your eyes view all the letters--let those letters form into words, let the words form into sentences, interpret the thoughts the writer expresses, determine if you agree/disagree, respond according, PROOFREAD.
January 28, 2026 at 6:28 PM
Before responding to an online post: read the whole thing, read the whole thing, let your eyes view all the letters--let those letters form into words, let the words form into sentences, interpret the thoughts the writer expresses, determine if you agree/disagree, respond according, PROOFREAD.
Instead of reapeating some #genealogy chestnut about what "always" was the truth...do some research and find out. The example discussed was children always being named for baptismal sponsors. Do some research. It's not that hard. genealogytipoftheday.com/index.php/20...
Children Are Always Named for Sponsors - Genealogy Tip of the Day
Sometimes children are named for their baptismal sponsor and sometimes they are not. Of course if your ancestor was not baptized or was not baptized as a child, then it does not matter. The best way t...
genealogytipoftheday.com
January 28, 2026 at 5:08 PM
Instead of reapeating some #genealogy chestnut about what "always" was the truth...do some research and find out. The example discussed was children always being named for baptismal sponsors. Do some research. It's not that hard. genealogytipoftheday.com/index.php/20...
I love the full-text searching for #genealogy at FamilySearch, but sometimes it does seem like records drop in your lap from the genealogy powers that be. Don't just download the image and move on to the next hit. Find out what you have, source it, save it with a name that makes sense...then move on
January 27, 2026 at 11:44 PM
I love the full-text searching for #genealogy at FamilySearch, but sometimes it does seem like records drop in your lap from the genealogy powers that be. Don't just download the image and move on to the next hit. Find out what you have, source it, save it with a name that makes sense...then move on
An 1886-era newspaper reference to damages case where my ancestor's cattle damaged a neighbor's property. Out of curiosity, I decided to see what PerplexityAI would suggest. Really got some good #genealogy suggestions of where to go next--needed some correction and refinement, but not too bad.
January 27, 2026 at 7:59 PM
An 1886-era newspaper reference to damages case where my ancestor's cattle damaged a neighbor's property. Out of curiosity, I decided to see what PerplexityAI would suggest. Really got some good #genealogy suggestions of where to go next--needed some correction and refinement, but not too bad.
Our latest compilation of social media #genealogy postings...not our tips of the day though open.substack.com/pub/genealog...
The Other Side of the Wall, Grandma's Baptismal Story, A Trivial 1924 Estate Sale Purchase, Heirs Overriding,
What Hamp, Converting VHS to Digital,
open.substack.com
January 25, 2026 at 9:25 PM
Our latest compilation of social media #genealogy postings...not our tips of the day though open.substack.com/pub/genealog...
Finger hair? Of all the #genealogy mysteries I hoped to solve with my DNA test, this was not one of them.
January 23, 2026 at 2:47 AM
Finger hair? Of all the #genealogy mysteries I hoped to solve with my DNA test, this was not one of them.
#Genealogy Tip of the Day books on the shelf at the Wordsmith Book Shop in Galesburg, Illinois.
January 23, 2026 at 2:38 AM
#Genealogy Tip of the Day books on the shelf at the Wordsmith Book Shop in Galesburg, Illinois.
Today's tip on our #genealogy tip of the day website was about keeping a list of the "not mines" you have. Good to add reasons why that specific person is not your person of interest. genealogytipoftheday.com/index.php/20...
January 22, 2026 at 7:13 PM
Today's tip on our #genealogy tip of the day website was about keeping a list of the "not mines" you have. Good to add reasons why that specific person is not your person of interest. genealogytipoftheday.com/index.php/20...
I really don't need writing prompts. #Genealogy research gives plenty of writing ideas. I need to force myself to actually write. That's the problem. Ideas are never a problem.
January 21, 2026 at 8:19 PM
I really don't need writing prompts. #Genealogy research gives plenty of writing ideas. I need to force myself to actually write. That's the problem. Ideas are never a problem.
Relative wants the picture. Now to mail it. One item out of my house. #cantkeepitall #genealogy
January 21, 2026 at 4:42 PM
Relative wants the picture. Now to mail it. One item out of my house. #cantkeepitall #genealogy
Reached out to a descendant of my aunt (by marriage), Anna (Schildmann) Trautvetter to see if they wanted this picture. #cantkeepitall #genealogy
January 20, 2026 at 11:03 PM
Reached out to a descendant of my aunt (by marriage), Anna (Schildmann) Trautvetter to see if they wanted this picture. #cantkeepitall #genealogy
Always read the entire newspaper--not just the obit you happen to find first. Your eyes (or full-text search) may miss things. #genealogy
January 20, 2026 at 5:19 PM
Always read the entire newspaper--not just the obit you happen to find first. Your eyes (or full-text search) may miss things. #genealogy
Always interesting to see someone who doesn't believe anything online they don't agree with, but then will accept any bit of #genealogy information online.
January 20, 2026 at 3:08 PM
Always interesting to see someone who doesn't believe anything online they don't agree with, but then will accept any bit of #genealogy information online.
Girl...you know it's true...Milli Vanilli gave the orange one their Grammy.
January 19, 2026 at 1:37 AM
Girl...you know it's true...Milli Vanilli gave the orange one their Grammy.
"#Genealogy is not a mad rush towards Charlemagne." Read more at rootdig.genealogytipoftheday.com?p=6507
Accurately Searching for my Ordinary Ancestors – Rootdig
rootdig.genealogytipoftheday.com
January 17, 2026 at 11:19 PM
"#Genealogy is not a mad rush towards Charlemagne." Read more at rootdig.genealogytipoftheday.com?p=6507
"Old tenor" does not mean your male ancestor was a singer in their advanced years. #genealogy rootdig.genealogytipoftheday.com?p=1511
Old Tenor – Rootdig
rootdig.genealogytipoftheday.com
January 17, 2026 at 2:19 AM
"Old tenor" does not mean your male ancestor was a singer in their advanced years. #genealogy rootdig.genealogytipoftheday.com?p=1511
Ever feel like you don't really understand social media? Or am I the only one who feels this way...that there's just something in me that does not understand social media? Or maybe I just don't understand being social.
January 16, 2026 at 9:25 PM
Ever feel like you don't really understand social media? Or am I the only one who feels this way...that there's just something in me that does not understand social media? Or maybe I just don't understand being social.
What school bus pictures do you have? This is my Dad's school bus in Illinois in the 1950s. #genealogy
January 16, 2026 at 12:32 PM
What school bus pictures do you have? This is my Dad's school bus in Illinois in the 1950s. #genealogy
Created this map several years ago to help with my DNA results...villages where various 2nd and 3rd great-grandparents were born. Now I would put villages in different font, indicate relationships to me and somehow code which person married which other person. #genealogy
January 14, 2026 at 8:01 PM
Created this map several years ago to help with my DNA results...villages where various 2nd and 3rd great-grandparents were born. Now I would put villages in different font, indicate relationships to me and somehow code which person married which other person. #genealogy
Before you complain about your boring ancestors, take a good, long look at yourself. Your ancestor may be complaining about their boring descendants. #genealogy
January 13, 2026 at 6:20 PM
Before you complain about your boring ancestors, take a good, long look at yourself. Your ancestor may be complaining about their boring descendants. #genealogy