Becoming a FamilySearch Indexer has been on my "to do" list for quite some time. In the past, there never seemed to be a large enough block of time in one sitting (that I wanted to set aside) to get started. Even though I knew that train of thought was a little selfish, it didn't spur me into action. Then I read Amy Coffin's FamilySearch, Football and Milestones post.
Her talk of football (I watch it all weekend, too) and indexing her 11,000th name made me wonder how many names I could have indexed by now if I had started back when the thought first entered my brain. Add that to the scenario of me being off from my real job and having a block of time to work with, and you got a new indexer!
Another thing Amy mentioned in her post was, as a genealogist, being attached to records. Wondering what the stories were behind those names. I chuckled when I read that because I know exactly what she means. Even though I am not related to 99.9% of the stories I bring you on this Southern Graves blog, I am still protective of and moved by them. I guess that would make me attached to each and every tombstone I come across, visit, and record. Yes, I think that is a fair characterization.
For my first official batch of records to index (after the initial one for beginners), I chose to work on death certificates from Washington, DC. This group also includes burial permits of individuals laid to rest in DC, though they died elsewhere. Can you guess what happened when I was working on those documents? One came across my screen that made me pause and want to know more.
His name was William Herbert Weekley. He was 24 years of age and single. His cause of death was drowning. What happened to him, you ask? Well, he was affiliated with the United States Navy and was attempting a parachute jump. Something must have went wrong, because he drowned in the San Diego Bay in March 1928.
I enjoy providing information about William Herbert Weekley and individuals like him. He was not married and did not likely have any children. You see, I am just like him in that regard. I am not married, and I have no children. Will there ever be anyone interested in learning more about their great great great grand aunt Stephanie? I hope so! And likewise, I hope someone will come along one day and want to know more about Mr. Weekley. In that vain, I helped put the information out there, free for the masses.
Yes, I think I will continue with this indexing thing. I don't know if I'll ever reach 11,000 names like Amy and other wonderful volunteers like her, but I'm going to give it a shot.
