Researching 17th-Century Settlers to New England
Welcome!
Thank you for registering for the online conference, Researching 17th-Century Settlers to New England!
The 17th-century colonists in New England are one of the most studied groups on the planet. Prior to 1700, the European population of the area was still sufficiently small and compact enough to be manageable from a genealogical standpoint. In many cases, town vital records, church, colony, court, probate, land, military, and tax records not only have survived, but have been abstracted and published. Through this online seminar, you will learn how to make real headway in your early New England research by using go-to published sources, original records, and targeted research strategies, while gaining valuable historical context to understand your ancestors’ lives and motivations.
Through your participation in this online conference, you will be able to:
- Watch pre-recorded class sessions
- Hear from renowned speakers, scholars, and professional genealogists
- Interact with instructors and fellow attendees during a 90-minute live Q&A
- Take advantage of special offers and virtual “door prizes”
- Download and/or print handouts, worksheets, and other resources
- Access recordings of each presentation until October 31, 2021
Instructors include: Robert Charles Anderson, FASG, Director of the Great Migration Study Project; Christopher C. Child, Editor of Mayflower Descendant; David C. Dearborn, FASG, Senior Genealogist Emeritus; Lindsay Fulton, Vice President of Research and Library Services; and Alicia Crane Williams, FASG, Lead Genealogist of the Early New England Families Study Project.
SESSION TOPICS
Class 1: Puritan Pedigrees: The Deep Roots of the Great Migration to New England, Presented by Robert Charles Anderson, FASG
This first session lays the groundwork of understanding the genealogical and ideological connections among the Puritans who settled New England and discusses why they emigrated from England.
Class 2: Settlement of New England, Presented by David Curtis Dearborn, FASG
From Plymouth Colony to the frontiers of northern New England, early migration and settlement patterns are complex. By understanding the movements of New England’s earliest settlers, you will gain a valuable overview to the region’s history. This understanding may also inform genealogical conclusions about your own ancestors.
Class 3: Working in and Understanding Original Records, Presented by Alicia Crane Williams, FASG
While much has been transcribed and published, there are still instances in which you will need to locate original records, decipher 17th century handwriting, and understand nomenclature particular to this time and place. Alicia Crane Williams illustrates how to go about working and understanding important primary sources.
Class 4: 17th-Century Published Resources, Presented by Lindsay Fulton
Don’t reinvent the wheel! Many of New England’s early families have been researched and their records transcribed or compiled as published sources. This class will direct you to essential finding aids, study projects, and scholarship.
Class 5: Breaking Down Genealogical Brick Walls in 17th-c. New England, Presented by Christopher C. Child
As with most areas of family history, early New England is not without its challenges. Common names, missing maiden names, and unknown origins are just some of the issues facing family historians for this period. Using a number of case studies, Christopher C. Child will bring to light some lesser known resources, discuss strategies for breaking down genealogical brick walls, and even use DNA to solve a genealogical brick wall.
Q&A with the Instructor, LIVE! [Recording Below]
Saturday, July 24, 2:00 - 3:30 PM EDT
Chat with the instructors, interact with fellow participants, and get your questions answered! NOTE: The Live Q&A session will be conducted through Zoom Video Conferencing. A recording will be posted below following the live broadcast.
SPECIAL OFFERS & DOOR PRIZES
Specials: Save 20% on all books at our online bookstore. Valid until July 31, 2021. Start browsing today!
Door Prizes: Everyone was entered to win a 30-minute consultation with a genealogist. The winners are Connie Strand and John Nicholson.
COURSE HANDOUTS
RECORDED PRESENTATIONS
Click on a session below to access class recordings, handouts, and slides.
Class 1: Puritan Pedigrees: The Deep Roots of the Great Migration to New England
Presented by: Robert Charles Anderson, FASG
Running Time: 49:41
This first session lays the groundwork for understanding the genealogical and ideological connections among the Puritans who settled New England and discusses why they emigrated from England.
Materials:
Class 2: Settlement of New England
Presented by: David Curtis Dearborn, FASG
Running Time: 55:49
From Plymouth Colony to the frontiers of northern New England, early migration and settlement patterns are complex. By understanding the movements of New England’s earliest settlers, you will gain a valuable overview to the region’s history. This understanding may also inform genealogical conclusions about your own ancestors.
Materials:
Class 3: Working in and Understanding Original Records
Presented by: Alicia Crane Williams, FASG
Running Time: 53:22
While much has been transcribed and published, there are still instances in which you will need to locate original records, decipher 17th century handwriting, and understand nomenclature particular to this time and place. Alicia Crane Williams illustrates how to go about working and understanding important primary sources.
Materials:
Class 4: 17th-Century Published Resources
Presented by: Lindsay Fulton
Running Time: 1:19:51
Don’t reinvent the wheel! Many of New England’s early families have been researched and their records transcribed or compiled as published sources. This class will direct you to essential finding aids, study projects, and scholarship.
Materials:
Class 5: Breaking Down Genealogical Brick Walls in 17th-c. New England
Presented by: Christopher C. Child
Running Time: 44:53
As with most areas of family history, early New England is not without its challenges. Common names, missing maiden names, and unknown origins are just some of the issues facing family historians for this period. Using a number of case studies, Christopher C. Child will bring to light some lesser known resources, discuss strategies for breaking down genealogical brick walls, and even use DNA to solve a genealogical brick wall.
Materials:
Q&A with Instructors
Presented by: Robert Charles Anderson, FASG; Christopher C. Child; David Curtis Dearborn, FASG; Lindsay Fulton; and Alicia Crane Williams, FASG
Running Time: 1:47:00
Materials:
Additional resources posted to the chat log
INSTRUCTOR BIOS
Robert Charles Anderson, FASG, Director of the Great Migration Study Project was educated as a biochemist and served in the United States Army in electronics intelligence. In 1972 he discovered his early New England ancestry and thereafter devoted his time and energies to genealogical research. In 1983 he received a Master’s degree in colonial American History from the UMass Amherst and was elected a Fellow of the American Society of Genealogists in 1978. He became a Contributing Editor of The American Genealogist in 1979, Associate Editor in 1985, and Coeditor from 1993 to 2012. He has been an editorial consultant to the Register since 1989.
Christopher C. Child, Senior Genealogist of the Newbury Street Press and Editor of The Mayflower Descendant has worked for various departments at American Ancestors since 1997 and became a full-time employee in July 2003. He has been a member of American Ancestors since the age of eleven. He is the editor of the genetics & genealogy column in American Ancestors magazine and has written several articles in American Ancestors, The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, and The Mayflower Descendant. He is the co-editor of The Ancestry of Catherine Middleton (American Ancestors, 2011), co-author of The Descendants of Judge John Lowell of Newburyport, Massachusetts (Newbury Street Press, 2011) and Ancestors and Descendants of George Rufus Brown and Alice Nelson Pratt (Newbury Street Press, 2013), and author of The Nelson Family of Rowley, Massachuestts (Newbury Street Press, 2014). Chris holds a B.A. in history from Drew University in Madison, New Jersey. His areas of expertise include Southern New England, especially Connecticut; New York; ancestry of notable figures, especially presidents; genetics and genealogy; African-American and Native-American genealogy, 19th and 20th Century research, westward migrations out of New England, and applying to hereditary societies.
David Dearborn, FASG, Senior Genealogist Emeritus, joined the American Ancestors staff in 1976 and has been interested in genealogy since the age of eighteen. David graduated with a B.A. in History in 1971 from the University of Massachusetts at Boston, received his M.A. in History in 1974 from Northeastern University, and earned his M.S. in Library Science in 1982 from Simmons College. Now retired, David has written numerous articles in scholarly journals and assisted in many published books. Publications include "Migrations out of New England" in New England Ancestors, 3.2 (2002) and “Inside Torrey: Perspectives of New England Marriages Prior to 1700” in New England Ancestors, 1 (2000): 22-25; and contributions to the Thorndike Genealogy (2001). His areas of expertise include, Essex County, Massachusetts; Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont; New York City and urban genealogy; twentieth-century genealogy and tracing modern collateral lines; eighteenth and nineteenth-century English and Scottish genealogy; Italian genealogy; Westward migration.
Lindsay Fulton, Vice President for Research and Library Services, joined the Society in 2012, first a member of the Research Services team, and then a Genealogist in the Library. She has been the Director of Research Services since 2016. In addition to helping constituents with their research, Lindsay has also authored a Portable Genealogists on the topics of Applying to Lineage Societies, the United States Federal Census, 1790-1840 and the United States Federal Census, 1850-1940. She is a frequent contributor to the American Ancestors blog, Vita-Brevis, and has appeared as a guest on the Extreme Genes radio program. Before, American Ancestors, Lindsay worked at the National Archives and Records Administration in Waltham, Massachusetts, where she designed and implemented an original curriculum program exploring the Chinese Exclusion Era for elementary school students. She holds a B.A. from Merrimack College and M.A. from the University of Massachusetts-Boston Her areas of expertise include New England and New york research, with a focus on lineage society applications..
Alicia Crane Williams, FASG, Lead Genealogist of Early Families of New England Study Project, has compiled and edited numerous important genealogical publications including The Mayflower Descendant, the Alden Family Five Generations project, and the Harlow Family: Descendants of Sgt. William Harlow (1624/5-1691) of Plymouth, Massachusetts. Alicia has served as Historian of the Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants, Assistant Historian General at the General Society of Mayflower Descendants, and as Genealogist of the Alden Kindred of America. She earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Connecticut and a master’s degree in History from Northeastern University.
SUGGESTED RESOURCES
Subject Guide: 17th-Century New England
Subject Guide: Native Nations of new England
State-by-State Subject Guides for New England
Subject Guide: English Genealogy
New England Town Guides
New England Study Projects
Mayflower Research & Resources
Archived Webinar: Conventicles to Companies to Congregations
Archived Webinar: Mayflower Resources at AmericanAncestors.org
Archived Webinar: Northern New England Resources at American Ancestors
Archived Webinar: Boston Records and Resources
New England Resources at the American Ancestors Bookstore