A New Zealand man visiting a family history event in Manukau, Auckland recently stumbled across information about some of his ancestors who emigrated from Lithuania to the United States around 100 years ago.
The man told a family history consultant at the fair that his ancestors had to leave Lithuania due to persecution, in 1912 or 1913.
The consultant, Latter-day Saint volunteer Karen Howard, helped the man view records on FamilySearch.org that detailed information about immigrants arriving at Ellis Island in New York during that period. The search led to information about some of his ancestors.
Mrs Howard said: “He was delighted to know that he could continue his search at home online and could receive help at a family history centre in Auckland.”
The Family History Fair is an annual event run by the New Zealand Society of Genealogists. Its focus is education and encouraging the study of whakapapa, family history and genealogy.
FamilySearch.org is a free web site provided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and is visited every month by over three million people.