Roxan Schneider is an active BCGS member and volunteer. She has cataloged the many donated books and records and carts them to and from meetings so that members may have access to them.  She often stands by the book table to help members. 

We asked Roxan to tell us about herself. Here is your chance to get to know her!

My name is Roxan Schneider and I grew up in southern NJ where my Mom and sisters still reside. I lived in New Jersey until I married my second husband Pete and moved to Bensalem, PA. Between us we have 3 children, 2 grandchildren and 1 on the way very soon.

For almost 25 years I've worked at the Bensalem Twp. School District as a secretary in the Accounting Department. I'm a junkie; I like to frequent flea markets and thrift stores. I also like to read and sew; I've made 3 quilts. Like many people, I would really like to win the lottery so that I can retire and spend more time doing the things I love with the people I love.  

I have been an amateur genealogist for about 20 years because of the seeds my grandfather planted. When my dear grandfather passed away, I became the family keeper of his diaries and photo albums.   He was a Bucks County native born and raised in Doylestown, PA, until when he was in his twenties he moved to Pleasantville, NJ.  He kept a diary for 60 years and also had the diaries his mother, Sara, wrote in for 30 years.

I started reading Sara's diaries and came to know her through them (she passed the year my mother was born) and I wanted to share all of this information. I bought a software program and started a family tree on my computer. I wanted everyone to be as excited as I was. I composed and mailed a genealogy questionnaire to as many relatives as I had addresses for, requesting family information. For example: Your name, your parent's names, the name of your spouse, your siblings, children ...and so on. I was quite thrilled as mostly everyone replied - most hand-written, some typed, some long and detailed and some "just the facts". Afterwards every time there was a birth or marriage in the family, I would get a call from a relative with dates and names to add to "The Family Tree".    

In my family it's unfortunate (and sometimes not) that there are divorces and second marriages in every branch and so I have step's, half's and "others". Twenty some years later I realized that my tree was very wide but not very deep and although factual, it wasn't personal. Oh how I wish I had started this journey when my dear Granddad was still here; he would have delighted in helping.

I believe it was in April or May 2012 I saw a notice in the local paper about a meeting, open to the public, of a newly formed Bucks County Genealogical Society. I came - I was inspired - I'm not alone -I joined. Now I am a cemetery-walking, library-haunting, picture-taking, face-in-the-computer-for-hours-on-end, Charter member of the Society where although I'm still an amateur, I'm learning and enjoying the terrific lectures and meeting wonderful people. I'll never be done of course...but I am gaining a better course of direction.    

Got Headstones?

Is there a genealogist anywhere that doesn't love a good headstone? If there is I've never met one. We are also about the only people I know of who can be counted on to have our picture taken in a cemetery! On that cheery note we at the Bucks County Genealogical Society have embarked on an in depth Cemetery Project!

We are hoping to accumulate as much data as we can about all the cemeteries in Bucks County so that anyone who is searching cemeteries for information about their ancestors can find it on our web site. So far we have identified about 250 cemeteries in the county and about 57 have been claimed by members who search out the contact information and other details to be included on our Cemetery Assessment form.

Once we get the forms the information will be uploaded to our web site for anyone to use. Along the way we are finding that many cemeteries have had their burial records transcribed and are willing to share them. As you can imagine this is a huge project and we need all the help we can get! So all you cemetery detectives please review the cemetery list we have on our web page and send me an e-mail at [email protected] if you are willing to help! Your ancestors are dying to be found!!