Why Should You Give the Gift of Genealogy?

See Up To 512 Generations of Your Family Tree

As the only Internet-based collective family tree, OneGreatFamily handles your precious family tree data differently than other PC-based genealogy software.  All of your data is always stored on our central computer systems (and therefore, backed up regularly as well).  The power in this system is that everybody in the world is always working with the absolute most up-to-date information.  As soon as a change is made in our system by anyone in the world, our central system is updated and that information is automatically distributed to anyone else who is working with that information. 

But this raises an interesting question.  How much of your family tree do you want to see when you open Genealogy Browser™?  Although it is tempting to say, “All of it”, the truth is that it takes time to download tens of thousands of ancestors over the internet.  To address this issue, Genealogy Browser has a maximum displayed generation setting built right in to give you total control.  In fact, there are two settings in Genealogy Browser that affect the number of generations displayed.  The first setting is the maximum generation displayed (Or Max Generations.  Max Generations means what it sounds like, i.e. the maximum number of generations to be displayed.  If your tree has 20 generations, but Max Generations is set to 15, you will only see the first 15 generations, and the last 5 will not be shown.

The second setting is called the Limit Button.  This setting is turned on and off by a button, named the temporarily limit Starfield view button, located in the tool bar of Genealogy Browser.  When this button is off, the system uses the Max Generations value to determine the number of generations to display.

However, when this button is toggled on, the system instead uses the value assigned to Limit button.  The temporarily limit button can be very helpful when you want to change anchors or lookup someone outside your Starfield. 

Genealogy Browser automatically defaults to Limit button setting of 7 generations and a Max Generations value of 13; and it defaults to having the Limit button turned on.  You can toggle between the Limit and the maximum by clicking on the button labeled "Temporarily limit Starfield View".

Many subscribers to OneGreatFamily don't realize you can change the Limit Button and Max Generations, which will allow you to see up to 512 generations of your family tree at once. Many subscribers are surprised to discover thousands or even tens of thousands of previously "hidden" ancestors on OneGreatFamily after changing this User Preference.

To change this User Preference, follow these simple instructions:

1. Log into OneGreatFamily
2. Choose your group and launch the Genealogy Browser
3. Select "User Preferences..." from the File Menu
4. Select "Settings" and increase the Max Generations setting to a higher value - up to 512! (You will want to be careful with this setting, since each generation will take more time to load onto your computer.)
5. Click the "OK" button.
6. Double-check that the "Temporarily limit Starfield" button (located in the toolbar in the Genealogy Browser above the Starfield) is not selected.

After changing this preference, you may have to wait some time for the Starfield to build. Your wait time depends on the number of generations you choose to display and the amount of information available at OneGreatFamily.

Everyone can see the size and shape of their family tree on OneGreatFamily; however, only subscribers will be able to see the names of anyone who has been added to their family trees through the matching and merging process.

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Bounty Land

“If you do this for me, I’ll do that for you.”  As children most of us made “deals” like this all the time.  In essence that is exactly what the bounty land acts were.  Men wanted land and the government wanted soldiers – the deal – you fight in the war and the government will give you a certain amount of land.

One thing there was plenty of in the early years of America was land.  When the United States was founded, the original colonies turned over much of their land to the federal government.  With the government wanting these areas settled and also needing a military force to help preserve and protect the young nation, the concept of bounty lands for military service was a good deal for all.  Bounty land warrants were given from the colonial period up until 1858.  In 1863 the rights to take possession of bounty lands was discontinued.  Different acts were passed during this period of time and the amount of land granted, varied. 

Bounty land was given by both federal and state governments.  Bounty land was received for service in the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Indian Wars and the Mexican War.  All bounty land, except that issued for service in the War of 1812, was assignable – it could be sold, and most of it was!

The main information you will get from a bounty land record is the legal description of the land received.  Some have death dates and information about heirs. If your ancestor received bounty land, the records can be ordered from the National Archives.  You can order copies online or by using NATF Form 85 you mail in a request.   Information about ordering copies online and about obtaining copies of the order form NAFT Form 85 can be found at http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/pre-ww-1-records.html

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• Visit the OneGreatFamily Learning Center for more helpful genealogy articles by Lisa South
  
  

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