Fall Stay-at-Home 2023

Thank you for registering for the Virtual Spring Stay-at-Home, Getting the Lay of the Land: Using Land Records in Your Family History Research!

Make real headway in your research! In this three-day, online experience you learn about essential resources and gain new research strategies through lectures from our staff, real-time demonstrations, one-on-one consultations, and other activities. Whether you are an advanced researcher or someone just beginning their journey into family history research, this virtual program will give you the necessary skills and knowledge to continue your family history research online from home. 

This program includes:

• 6 lectures and access to recordings 

• Lecture handouts and materials  

• 2 one-on-one consultations (scheduled by our staff ahead of time)  

• Demo and activity sessions with our experts and other participants  

Live sessions will be broadcast through Zoom Video Conferencing. Access to a personal device, and internet connection is required to take full advantage of this program. Please see the link to join all sessions below. 

Please reach out to Education and Programming Manager, Kathleen Mackenzie, at kathleen.mackenzie@nehgs.org if you have any questions prior to the program.

To join the live presentations beginning on Thursday, December 7, 2023 at 9:30 a.m. ET, click: https://zoom.us/j/97873920908. This same link will be used for all sessions throughout the program, except for your individual consultations. The links for your individual consultations will be sent to you directly closer to the program.

If you are unable to attend the live sessions, you will be able to watch recordings on this event page starting later the same day.

Thursday, December 7: Basics of Land Records Research

Friday, December 8: Bounty Land and Homesteaders

Saturday, December 9: Practical Approaches to Using Land Records in Your Family History Research

Please fill out this Participant Form by Monday, December 4. Your answers on this form will assist our genealogists in preparing for your consultations! It will also help us pair you with genealogists who has expertise in the area that you're researching for your consultations.

If you have any questions about filling out this form, please contact Education and Programming Manager, Kathleen Mackenzie at kathleen.mackenzie@nehgs.org. While using this form is preferable, if you run into any technical issues filling it out you may also submit your answers via email to Kathleen.

Day 1

Handout: History of Land Records
Large Slides: History of Land Records
Slides Worksheet: History of Land Records

Handout: Using Land Records
Large Slides: Using Land Records
Slides Worksheet: Using Land Records

Day 2

Handout: Bounty Land
Large Slides: Bounty Land
Slides Worksheet: Bounty Land

Handout: Homesteaders
Large Slides: Homesteaders
Slides Worksheet: Homesteaders

Day 3

Handout: Using Land Records to Break Down Brick Walls
Large Slides: Using Land Records to Break Down Brick Walls
Slides Worksheet: Using Land Records to Break Down Brick Walls

Handout: Mapping Ancestors on the Move
Large Slides: Mapping Ancestors on the Move
Slides Worksheet: Mapping Ancestors on the Move

Additional Spreadsheets and Forms from Rhonda

Rhonda's Templates:

Deed Index Survey Template (Step 1)

Deed Abstract Template (Step 2)

In-Out Land Ownership Table Template (Step 3)

Our Colleague, Ann Lawthers' Templates:

Deed Index Survey - Landscape

Land Abstraction Form - Simple

Day 1

The History of Land Records

Using Land Records

Using Land Records: DEMO

Day 2

Bounty Land

Bounty Land: DEMO

Homesteaders

Homesteaders: DEMO 

Day 3

Using Land Records to Break Down Brick Walls

Using Land Records to Break Down Brick Walls: Demo

Mapping Ancestors on the Move

Mapping Ancestors on the Move: DEMO