Thank you for registering for Basics of Early New England Research!
As a group, 17th-century New Englanders are arguably one of the most studied groups on the planet, and thus descendants are blessed with a multitude of resources. 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. And yet, early New England is not without its challenges and idiosyncrasies. This five-week course will discuss the settlement of and migrations within New England, how to locate and utilize original and published records, and strategies for breaking down brick walls. This course will cover the colonial period (1620–1776) in the area of what is today Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
This course includes five 90-minute classes and exclusive access to handouts and recordings of each presentation.
SESSION TOPICS
Class 1: Settlement of New England
Presented by Ann G. Lawthers
From Plymouth Colony to the frontiers of northern New England, early migration and settlement patterns are complex. By understanding how and why New Englanders settled where they did, you will understand the development of the town as the focus of New England life and genealogical records. This understanding may also inform genealogical conclusions about your own ancestors.
Class 2: Seventeenth-Century Published Resources
Presented by Lindsay Fulton
Don’t reinvent the wheel! Many of New England’s early records and families have been researched, transcribed, or compiled as published sources. This class will direct you to essential finding aids, study projects, and scholarship.
Class 3: Working in and Understanding Original Records
Presented by Ann G. Lawthers
While much has been transcribed and published, there are still instances in which you will need to locate original records, decipher old handwriting, and understand the jurisdictions specific to your ancestor’s time and place. This class helps you identify what records exist for each early New England region.
Class 4: Researching Colonial and Revolutionary War Soldiers
Presented by David Allen Lambert
From colonial conflicts to America’s fight for independence, military service was a part of life for many early New Englanders. Chief Genealogist David Allen Lambert will provide historical context for the major colonial conflicts, discuss what records are available to family historians, and how to compile the story of your early veteran ancestors.
Class 5: Thinking Outside the Box: Breaking Down Brick Walls in Early 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. In this class, Christopher C. Child will bring to light some lesser-known resources, discuss strategies for breaking down genealogical brick walls, and highlight a case study using DNA to solve a genealogical brick wall.
COURSE HANDOUTS
RECORDED PRESENTATIONS
Class 1: Settlement of New England
Live Broadcast: March 1, 2023
Presented by: Ann G. Lawthers
Resources for New England History
Class 2: Seventeenth-Century Published Resources
Live Broadcast: March 8, 2023
Presented by: Lindsay Fulton
Class 3: Working in and Understanding Original Records
Live Broadcast: March 15, 2023
Presented by: Ann G. Lawthers
Class 4: Researching Colonial and Revolutionary War Soldiers
Live Broadcast: March 22, 2023
Presented by: David Allen Lambert
Class 5: Thinking Outside the Box: Breaking Down Brick Walls in Early New England
Live Broadcast: March 29, 2023
Presented by: Christopher C. Child
INSTRUCTOR BIOS
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.
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..
David Allen Lambert, Chief Genealogist has been on the staff of American Ancestors since 1993 and is an internationally recognized speaker on the topics of genealogy and history. Lambert has published many articles in the New England Historical and Genealogical Register, the New Hampshire Genealogical Record, Rhode Island Roots, Mayflower Descendant, and American Ancestors magazine. He has authored and or co-authored in the published genealogies presented to David McCullough, Ken Burns, Angela Lansbury, Michael and Kitty Dukakis, Nathaniel Philbrick, Doris Kearns Goodwin, and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino. He has also published eleven books including A Guide to Massachusetts Cemeteries (American Ancestors, 2018), and Vital Records of Stoughton, Massachusetts, to the end of the year 1850 (Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants, 2008). David received his B.A. in History from Northeastern University. David is an elected Fellow of the Massachusetts Historical Society in Boston, Mass., and a life member of the New Hampshire Society of the Cincinnati and the General Society of the War of 1812. David also serves as the tribal genealogist for the Massachusett Tribe at Punkapoag in Massachusetts. His areas of expertise include New England and Atlantic Canadian records of the 17th through 21st century; American and international military records; DNA research; and Native American and African American genealogical research in New England.
Ann G. Lawthers, Genealogist helps members and not-yet members with their family history research by providing lectures, courses, and hands-on workshops at the American Ancestors Research Center, at genealogical conferences across the country, and online. She is a graduate of Wellesley College and the Harvard School of Public Health, with Masters and Doctoral degrees in Health Policy. Her areas of particular interest include New England and New York, the Mid-Atlantic states, the southern colonies, Ireland, and migration patterns.
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: Basics of New England Research
Archived Webinar: New England Town Records
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