Tracing our Common Heritage
The History Behind Augusta-Genealogy Info
The beginning of the genealogy puzzle…
Genealogy research has come a long way since I started my research project back in 2009. When I was new to Ancestry, I saw a post on the forum that said, “We are all related”....but how?" This was in reference to the DiMare's in Augusta, but the question was probably valid for many of the surnames in the area simply due to the small town sizes. This one comment led to a desire to answer this question. Instead of discovering my tree, I became lost in a forest of branches that connect and reconnect multiple times over the last three centuries. Although my original intent was to trace my own surname roots as far as I could, I began to record many more of the maternal surnames that eventually led to more branches....and more questions.
I discovered that the LDS genealogy library in Salt Lake City had microfilm records of all the births, deaths and marriages that occurred in Augusta from 1820-1929. Although my original intent was to trace my own DiMare and Marino roots as far as I could, I began to record all the DiMare, Marino, Amara and Morello documents which were the surnames of my most immediate tree. I began with birth records and saw family groups emerge, which ultimately has led to finding a single founder for the DiMares.
Since the early days of scanning microfilms and recording the records, we now have the ability to digitally peruse all of these records from either a laptop or via a Family History Library affiliate computer. The result of this has been a huge expansion of my Ancestry tree to include more than 16,000 people. With the addition of Ancestry and 23&Me DNA, the connections between lines have emerged and continue to grow, and some very important and diligent cousins who I have met along the way have joined me in this quest. This website is a result of that research and desire to share the information with others connected to Augusta as well as Melilli, Brucoli, Floridia, Siracusa, Ragusa and others.
As you peruse this website, please remember that this research is an ongoing project that has now blossomed into a larger collaboration that I welcome you to join. Included here is information on where to find records to do your own research, as well as other resources and information I have discovered over the years. If you are interested in beginning your own journey into the past, please refer to the RESEARCH page with its resource links and suggestions on how to begin. Hopefully this site will remain a repository of other useful links, so feel free to get in touch to make a suggestion!
Site Content
Getting Started
Research Resources
Research Resources
Start here for a list of answers to some question you might have as you are getting started.
Research Resources
Research Resources
Research Resources
Links to original records and other resources to build your personal genealogy tree. The list isn't exhaustive, so let me know if you have anything to add!
Databases and Family Trees
Databases and Family Trees
Databases and Family Trees
This page contains links to Augusta Family trees and personal database sheets of births, marriages and death for my surnames of interest. There are more than 16,000 people on the Ancestry trees.
Thoughts on Heritage Blog
Databases and Family Trees
Databases and Family Trees
Musings and random thoughts about my Augusta genealogy. Have you been to Augusta? I invite you to share your own stories about your travels...
