Old Bones Genealogy of New England

After a few difficult years due to COVID, the New England Regional Genealogical Consortium (NERGC) was able to put together a very rewarding program, the 17th as a matter of fact. Dozens of experts from around the US and Canada came together to share their expertise in virtually every aspect of genealogical research. That would include basic family research, advanced research strategies, DNA,…

I Can’t Find My Family in the 1950 US Census – Now What?

In my line of work, I hear complaints/issues/calls for help whenever a genealogy website is updated or altered in any respect. That goes for all the sites, especially “big” sites such as Ancestry.com or FamilySearch.org. There are also issues that pop up when certain collections are released. What is it, how do I search it, can I download it, etc…The latest series of issues I’ve dealt with has to…

Not the First…and Not the Last

I feel compelled to address the current pandemic and how it has affected many genealogical researchers.  For me, I spend most of my time in my office which is in the basement of our home. So being down there all day (and sometimes all night!) is not a big stretch. But I can completely sympathize with just about everyone else who more than likely aren’t mushrooms! Getting out every morning, going…

Temporary Post Used For Theme Detection (3ca016ff-8cd4-431b-b1e5-48e8fbd61cc7 – 3bfe001a-32de-4114-a6b4-4005b770f6d7)

This is a temporary post that was not deleted. Please delete this manually. (de9af3c0-1ceb-4f62-9d02-e5a6dbfee33d – 3bfe001a-32de-4114-a6b4-4005b770f6d7)

RootsTech 2021 – Here I Come!

Considering that RootsTec 2020 was so phenomenally successful (and no surprise), I’ve already decided that RootsTech 2021 is where I need to be next February 3-6 in Salt Lake City, Utah. This is a genealogist’s Nirvana! The largest, most well attended convention of family history researchers, vendors of genealogical products and software and a place where long distance friends can sit down for a…

SAR Wreath Laying and Shays’ Rebellion

Saturday, 21 September 2019, was a very satisfying day for me. After months of slow preparation, I was able to pull off a “double event” event. With the help of a number of other people, of course.

It all started in 2017 when the New England Regional Genealogical Consortium’s (NERGC) conference was held in my hometown, Springfield, Massachsetts. I’ll have to admit that since I’ve been heavily…

Happy Ending or Happy Beginning – A DNA Success Story

Standard DNA test kit from 23andME. Also available is the basic test plus health for additional cost.http://www.23andme.com

Debra knew from a very early age that she was adopted. Her mother and father provided an incredibly  loving environment where she could grow and thrive. And that’s exactly what she did! While it may sound unusual, when she was 3 years old her Mom sat her down and gently…

General Henry Knox – Revolutionary War Hero

As a member of the Sons of the American Revolution (Pomeroy Chapter – Western Massachusetts), I use my reasonable and maybe even above average knowledge of history to help with my work as the Chapter’s Registrar helping the folks who are applying for membership. Having grown up in Springfield, Massachusetts, I’m familiar with General Knox as we lived just a few blocks away from the Springfield…

Genealogy Conferences – NEHGS and OGS

Here are some updates on genealogy conferences and my personal involvement with at least two of them.

Landmarks in Manchester, New Hampshire

First, a little report on the NERGC conferenceheld in Manchester, New Hampshire back in April. NERGC is the acronym for the New England Regional Genealogical Consortium. It’s a whole lot easier to just pronounce it “NERK!” An unbelievable amount of…

My 15 Seconds of Fame

It doesn’t happen very often when I get a chance to brag. The upside is that a local TV station, Western Mass News Channel 40, came into one of my classes at the West Springfield, Mass Senior Center and took some shots of one of the session I was giving there. Actuall, I don’t even think it was 15 seconds! OK, my 12.5 seconds of fame!!

The downside is, well, there is no downside…

At any…

Influenza Caualty – 1918??

Everyone is familiar with what is known as the “Spanish Flu,” an influenza pandemic that wreaked havoc around the world from 1918 to 1920. Today, the science of that killer disease is well known and it is unlikely that the world would see another global tragedy of those proportions…Unless we’re struck by a new, unknown, untreatable virus in the future!

As a genealogist and family researcher,…

THE BIRTH OF SPRINGFIELD — MAY 16, 1636

My 8th great grandfather and colleague of Pynchon, Deacon Samuel Chapin, arrived around 1640. He is memorialized by a statue in Merrick Park adjacent to the Springfield Library on the corner of State and Chestnut streets in Springfield. Thanks to David M. Powers for posting this at the PVHN blog.

Loyola University to Create a Database of Loyalist Americans’ Claims

This could become a great resource for Loyalist research.

Genealogy Conferences – Another Level of Self-Eduation

I’ve talked about conferences many times. At Western Massachusetts Genealogical Society as well as Connecticut Society of Genealogisists we’ve had presentations about why you would want to attend a conference. My shortcut answer is this: “You don’t know what you don’t know.” Regardless of how long any of us have been researching our own families or the families of others, there’s always something…

A Powerful Challenge for Adoptees to Overcome

Recently, I’ve been involved with a few clients who are themselves adopted or have a family member in their recent past who had been adopted. Thus, I feel compelled to bring a few interesting facts to everyone’s attention.

Once again I’ll be discussing a particular use of the results of DNA testing. The focus, though, is on the subject of adoption. As we all know, there are multiple reasons for…

Book Review: Professional Genealogy – Preparation, Practice & Standards