Mad Hatter Genealogy
@madhattergenealogy.bsky.social
Michele Simmons Lewis, AG®, CG®
Professional genealogist for over 30 years
Professional genealogist for over 30 years
I'm sorry I haven't been posting lately but there is a lot going on in my personal life right now so I had to take a bit of a break from social media.
May 4, 2025 at 3:14 PM
I'm sorry I haven't been posting lately but there is a lot going on in my personal life right now so I had to take a bit of a break from social media.
As a retired deputy sheriff living in Columbia County, my heart goes out to the family of Brandon Sikes who was killed and also to Gavin White who is recovering in the hospital. #blueline #Georgia #ColumbiaCounty
April 28, 2025 at 3:31 PM
As a retired deputy sheriff living in Columbia County, my heart goes out to the family of Brandon Sikes who was killed and also to Gavin White who is recovering in the hospital. #blueline #Georgia #ColumbiaCounty
That 7-person Ancestry tree with no sources and 12 kings? Not a source. It’s a cautionary tale.
#Genealogy #FamilyHistory
#Genealogy #FamilyHistory
April 18, 2025 at 1:21 PM
That 7-person Ancestry tree with no sources and 12 kings? Not a source. It’s a cautionary tale.
#Genealogy #FamilyHistory
#Genealogy #FamilyHistory
If you found a record in 3 minutes, double-check it for someone who looks just like your ancestor but isn’t. Genealogy déjà vu is real.
#Genealogy #FamilyHistory
#Genealogy #FamilyHistory
April 18, 2025 at 1:20 PM
If you found a record in 3 minutes, double-check it for someone who looks just like your ancestor but isn’t. Genealogy déjà vu is real.
#Genealogy #FamilyHistory
#Genealogy #FamilyHistory
Don’t trust that shaky leaf without checking the branch it’s on. Hints are leads, not gospel.
#Genealogy #FamilyHistory
#Genealogy #FamilyHistory
April 18, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Don’t trust that shaky leaf without checking the branch it’s on. Hints are leads, not gospel.
#Genealogy #FamilyHistory
#Genealogy #FamilyHistory
Organize your research as you go. Trust me, chaos is not a research strategy.
#Genealogy #FamilyHistory
#Genealogy #FamilyHistory
April 17, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Organize your research as you go. Trust me, chaos is not a research strategy.
#Genealogy #FamilyHistory
#Genealogy #FamilyHistory
Use original records whenever possible. Transcriptions and indexes are helpful, but they can contain errors.
#Genealogy #FamilyHistory
#Genealogy #FamilyHistory
April 17, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Use original records whenever possible. Transcriptions and indexes are helpful, but they can contain errors.
#Genealogy #FamilyHistory
#Genealogy #FamilyHistory
Verify everything—even family stories. Oral history is a great lead, but not always a great source.
#Genealogy #FamilyHistory
#Genealogy #FamilyHistory
April 17, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Verify everything—even family stories. Oral history is a great lead, but not always a great source.
#Genealogy #FamilyHistory
#Genealogy #FamilyHistory
Always cite your sources. Future you (and anyone else reading your research) will thank you.
#Genealogy #FamilyHistory
#Genealogy #FamilyHistory
April 17, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Always cite your sources. Future you (and anyone else reading your research) will thank you.
#Genealogy #FamilyHistory
#Genealogy #FamilyHistory
Start with what you know and work backward. Don’t jump to 1600s Europe when you haven’t documented Grandma yet.
#Genealogy #FamilyHistory
#Genealogy #FamilyHistory
April 17, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Start with what you know and work backward. Don’t jump to 1600s Europe when you haven’t documented Grandma yet.
#Genealogy #FamilyHistory
#Genealogy #FamilyHistory
When you are looking at a will from 1714, be aware that some of the words may not mean the same thing today as they did back then. A period dictionary is your best friend. #genealogy #familyhistory
April 17, 2025 at 11:02 AM
When you are looking at a will from 1714, be aware that some of the words may not mean the same thing today as they did back then. A period dictionary is your best friend. #genealogy #familyhistory
She messaged, “We’re cousins for sure!
We share DNA—maybe obscure?”
It was 8 cM,
From who knows where when…
But she’s planned our reunion tour.
#genealogy #familyhistory #DNA
We share DNA—maybe obscure?”
It was 8 cM,
From who knows where when…
But she’s planned our reunion tour.
#genealogy #familyhistory #DNA
April 15, 2025 at 9:35 PM
She messaged, “We’re cousins for sure!
We share DNA—maybe obscure?”
It was 8 cM,
From who knows where when…
But she’s planned our reunion tour.
#genealogy #familyhistory #DNA
We share DNA—maybe obscure?”
It was 8 cM,
From who knows where when…
But she’s planned our reunion tour.
#genealogy #familyhistory #DNA
A match said, “We must be close kin!
Your great-uncle's wife’s twin is my twin!”
But their tree’s such a flop,
With no paper trail stop…
And our segments? Just barely a pin.
#genealogy #familyhistory #DNA
Your great-uncle's wife’s twin is my twin!”
But their tree’s such a flop,
With no paper trail stop…
And our segments? Just barely a pin.
#genealogy #familyhistory #DNA
April 14, 2025 at 1:59 PM
A match said, “We must be close kin!
Your great-uncle's wife’s twin is my twin!”
But their tree’s such a flop,
With no paper trail stop…
And our segments? Just barely a pin.
#genealogy #familyhistory #DNA
Your great-uncle's wife’s twin is my twin!”
But their tree’s such a flop,
With no paper trail stop…
And our segments? Just barely a pin.
#genealogy #familyhistory #DNA
If you have DNA tested, where all is your DNA? My DNA is literally everywhere. #DNA #genealogy #familyhistory
April 14, 2025 at 12:33 PM
If you have DNA tested, where all is your DNA? My DNA is literally everywhere. #DNA #genealogy #familyhistory
The tree’s full of Johns and of Janes,
With ten birthdates and overlapping lanes.
Each branch is a guess,
What a tangled hot mess—
Like spaghetti that learned how to feign.
#genealogy #familyhistory
With ten birthdates and overlapping lanes.
Each branch is a guess,
What a tangled hot mess—
Like spaghetti that learned how to feign.
#genealogy #familyhistory
April 14, 2025 at 12:25 PM
The tree’s full of Johns and of Janes,
With ten birthdates and overlapping lanes.
Each branch is a guess,
What a tangled hot mess—
Like spaghetti that learned how to feign.
#genealogy #familyhistory
With ten birthdates and overlapping lanes.
Each branch is a guess,
What a tangled hot mess—
Like spaghetti that learned how to feign.
#genealogy #familyhistory
Now that we are on the topic of DNA, if you haven't DNA tested, why not? #DNA #genealogy #familyhistory
April 14, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Now that we are on the topic of DNA, if you haven't DNA tested, why not? #DNA #genealogy #familyhistory
For those of you who have DNA tested, were there any surprises when you opened up your DNA results? #dna #genealogy #familyhistory
April 14, 2025 at 11:40 AM
For those of you who have DNA tested, were there any surprises when you opened up your DNA results? #dna #genealogy #familyhistory
"She's my 9th great!" they exclaim in delight,
Though she died three years before her birth night.
No logic in sight,
But the hints felt so right…
They merged it, then slept well that night.
#genealogy #familyhistory
Though she died three years before her birth night.
No logic in sight,
But the hints felt so right…
They merged it, then slept well that night.
#genealogy #familyhistory
April 13, 2025 at 12:20 PM
"She's my 9th great!" they exclaim in delight,
Though she died three years before her birth night.
No logic in sight,
But the hints felt so right…
They merged it, then slept well that night.
#genealogy #familyhistory
Though she died three years before her birth night.
No logic in sight,
But the hints felt so right…
They merged it, then slept well that night.
#genealogy #familyhistory
A will from the year '89,
Was buried beneath twisted vine.
It named a lost heir,
Whose grave wasn’t there—
But I swear I heard footsteps behind.
#genealogy #familyhistory
Was buried beneath twisted vine.
It named a lost heir,
Whose grave wasn’t there—
But I swear I heard footsteps behind.
#genealogy #familyhistory
April 12, 2025 at 4:23 PM
A will from the year '89,
Was buried beneath twisted vine.
It named a lost heir,
Whose grave wasn’t there—
But I swear I heard footsteps behind.
#genealogy #familyhistory
Was buried beneath twisted vine.
It named a lost heir,
Whose grave wasn’t there—
But I swear I heard footsteps behind.
#genealogy #familyhistory
I live outside of Augusta. I'm not at the Masters today but I guess this is what I would look like if I was 🤣 #Augusta #augustageorgia #Masters2025 #ChatGPT
April 12, 2025 at 4:09 PM
I live outside of Augusta. I'm not at the Masters today but I guess this is what I would look like if I was 🤣 #Augusta #augustageorgia #Masters2025 #ChatGPT
Organization is an important part of genealogy research. Every facet needs to have some sort of organizational system. You need to find systems that work for you. Your data, your books, Internet shortcuts, reference materials, educational materials, etc. #genealogy
April 12, 2025 at 11:49 AM
Organization is an important part of genealogy research. Every facet needs to have some sort of organizational system. You need to find systems that work for you. Your data, your books, Internet shortcuts, reference materials, educational materials, etc. #genealogy
My DNA match wrote, “Hey bro!”
But… I have no siblings, you know.
Turns out my old dad,
Had a youth that was bad—
And now I’ve got kin in Toronto.
#genealogy #familyhistory
But… I have no siblings, you know.
Turns out my old dad,
Had a youth that was bad—
And now I’ve got kin in Toronto.
#genealogy #familyhistory
April 11, 2025 at 2:12 PM
My DNA match wrote, “Hey bro!”
But… I have no siblings, you know.
Turns out my old dad,
Had a youth that was bad—
And now I’ve got kin in Toronto.
#genealogy #familyhistory
But… I have no siblings, you know.
Turns out my old dad,
Had a youth that was bad—
And now I’ve got kin in Toronto.
#genealogy #familyhistory
Follow me on Good Reads if you want to see what I am reading in my spare time. Spoiler - I am a "Thriller" kind of girl most of the time.
www.goodreads.com/user/show/17...
www.goodreads.com/user/show/17...
Mad Hatter Genealogy (Michele Lewis)
Mad Hatter Genealogy (Michele Lewis) has 221 books on Goodreads, and is currently reading Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera
www.goodreads.com
April 10, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Follow me on Good Reads if you want to see what I am reading in my spare time. Spoiler - I am a "Thriller" kind of girl most of the time.
www.goodreads.com/user/show/17...
www.goodreads.com/user/show/17...
Great-grandpa came over by boat,
Or so the old letters all wrote.
But ships he was on?
I searched dusk to dawn—
Turns out he just lied to promote.
#genealogy #familyhistory
Or so the old letters all wrote.
But ships he was on?
I searched dusk to dawn—
Turns out he just lied to promote.
#genealogy #familyhistory
April 10, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Great-grandpa came over by boat,
Or so the old letters all wrote.
But ships he was on?
I searched dusk to dawn—
Turns out he just lied to promote.
#genealogy #familyhistory
Or so the old letters all wrote.
But ships he was on?
I searched dusk to dawn—
Turns out he just lied to promote.
#genealogy #familyhistory
A little stressed right now. I have a 1 month old grandson in the hospital and I am taking care of three other grandchildren in the meantime. Genealogy is on the backburner this week. At least the weather is good today and we can spend some time outside! #genealogy #familyhistory
April 8, 2025 at 3:43 PM
A little stressed right now. I have a 1 month old grandson in the hospital and I am taking care of three other grandchildren in the meantime. Genealogy is on the backburner this week. At least the weather is good today and we can spend some time outside! #genealogy #familyhistory