Meet our Members: Nancy Wilson

Question

Hi everyone!

It's time to get to know another of our Wonderful WikiTreers. This week's member is Nancy Wilson.

Nancy became a Wiki Genealogist on 1 February 2020.  She is a Sourcerer and loves using her Anniversary list to decide which profiles to work on.

What are some of the surnames you are researching?

My last name at birth, Cox, and my mother’s last name at birth, Field.

What are some of the locations you are researching?

My Cox ancestors helped settle Posey County, Indiana. The Fields were in New Jersey for as far back as I can tell. I sometimes work on the unsourced profiles from the 1800s in New Jersey. It helps that I am personally acquainted with the locations.

When and how did you get interested in genealogy and family history?

About 15 years ago, my father moved into assisted living and gave me a book and handwritten genealogy from his family. My mother wrote a memoir in the 1990s and gave all of her children a copy. I started working on transposing the book and letter into Family Search. I kept the GEDCOM on my computer. Then I left if for awhile. In January of 2020, I found it all in a box and decided to revisit it. That is when I found WikiTree and saw how many more online sources there are now, as opposed to 10 years ago.

Tell us about a brick wall you hope to bust through.

The brick wall I want to break through is my great grandparents, Robert Field and his wife, Anna Thompson. I have been to the cemetery where they are buried. The mystery deepens. The cemetery in Middletown, New Jersey has a prominent place where the Field Family is buried because they helped establish the cemetery. My ancestor is buried in an obscure place with a barely visible flat stone. I wonder if he was not related to the other Fields or was there a scandal that led to a rejection? I have a note on his profile about the disputed dates of his death. When I went to the cemetery, the woman in the office said it was unusual to see a Field buried in that part of the cemetery.

What are some of your interests outside of genealogy?

I love to sail our sailboat on a local reservoir and I love to travel with my travel trailer. I have 2 daughters and 4 grandchildren who live about 2 hours from my home. We go to a campground near them to visit. I am involved in several local senior organizations and am a local District representative in my county’s Democratic committee. I play Mahjongg weekly with a group of friends.

[Interview continues below.]

Comments

How long have you been on WikiTree and what do you spend the most time doing?

I have been on WikiTree since January 2020. I bounce around doing different things. My own tree is full up to 5 generations. Currently, I am working on an anniversary project that I made up myself. I pick an ancestor from my watchlist that was born or died on this date and try to flesh out their profiles. I don’t mind going down a few rabbit holes. When I want something easier to work on, I like to go to the unsourced list for New Jersey from the 1800s. I have learned some local history that way.

What brought you to WikiTree?

I did a Google search in January and was intrigued by the name. I downloaded my GEDCOM and looked for my connection to the big tree.

What is your favorite thing about WikiTree?

I like connecting with other genealogists. RootsSearch helps me find sources. I like that it is easy to fix mistakes, although there is a learning curve for that. I like the accuracy of having to include sources. I didn’t realize how many inaccuracies there were in my GEDCOM until I joined.

If you could improve one thing about WikiTree, what would it be?

Make it easier to get back to a G2G question that I am interested in. There may be a way but it was not easy to find. When I go to the G2G link it takes me to the latest questions. I would like it if it would take me to the questions I have asked or answered first.

What is an example of how WikiTree has helped you with your genealogy?

WikiTree has taught me how to look for sources and the importance of having good ones.

Any tips for someone just starting out on WikiTree?

Connect with an experienced WikiTreer so you have someone to ask if you have questions. Take advantage of your Greeter. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, it is easy to fix them.

 

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Hello, Nancy.  In case no one has mentioned it yet, on each G2G question there is a plus sign at the right of the question title.  Click on that (the color will deepen) and it will be added to your favorites, which you can then access from your G2G profile.  The Favorites button will be just above your name.  (There is also a Recent Activity button which you can use to find questions you posted answers or comments to.)

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Hi...I appreciate your work!  I checked out our potential relationship & found that you, Chuck Yeager (who I knew & who lived in the area where I live), & Jimmy Stewart all seem to have a connection to Major Robert Timpany, a Loyalist in the Revolutionary war.

Genealogy is a fascinating hobby & very educational!

Answer 1

I love your interesting commdents

Comments

Thank you David.

Answer 2

Hello Cousin Nancy!

I enjoyed reading about you and learning your interests very much. Meet our Members is a great way to, well, meet our members AND find our connectedness.

In addition to being 21degrees, we are 10th cousins through common ancestor Nathaniel Bliss!

Again, thanks much for your background and interests in Wikitree. Have a great Holiday Season.

Comments

Thank you Carol

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My Doss and Blair ancestors were early Posey County, Indiana settlers, too.  My dad's lifelong friend who was like an uncle to me was a Cox.  Clarence Leo Cox (1920-1988). Makes me wonder if he is kin to you and his ancestors maybe moved to Williamson Co., Illinois about the same time (1830's) that my ancestors did.  Might not be related by blood, but maybe by community.

Answer 3

Very interesting story, Nancy.  You are absolutely right about the importance of sources and citations.  Best of luck on your journey.