For many living in New England during the 17th through 19th centuries, their livelihood and even survival was inextricably linked to the sea. In this webinar we will provide a brief history of mariners in New England, discuss major ports and sources of industry, highlight key records, and demonstrate how to reconstruct your ancestor’s life on the sea and along the shore.
The first Scandinavians arrived in North America nearly 1,000 years ago on Viking ships. Today, an estimated 11 million Americans have Scandinavian ancestry. This webinar will provide an introduction to essential records, repositories, and strategies for exploring your Scandinavian roots, focusing on Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Finland. You’ll learn how to address challenges in Scandinavian research including language barriers, common names, patronymic surnames, name changes, and more. We will also discuss the historical context that transformed the region and influenced the lives of your ancestors.
This class will include the different types of record sets that enslavers may name enslaved persons (including probate records, land deeds, court records, and more). A brief case study will be discussed.
During the War of 1812, New Hampshire provided nearly 6,000 soldiers. This lecture will review the different federal, state, and local resources available to research your War of 1812 ancestor.
Throughout American history, brave men and women have answered the call to serve our country and defend our families. Many of us can claim these courageous citizens as our ancestors. But how do we learn more about their service? Join American Ancestors for an overview of local, state, and federal sources for researching your ancestors in the Civil War, WWI, and WWII.
Learn about the go-to records, resources, and research techniques for researching your Connecticut ancestors. This presentation will cover 17th to 20th century resources available at the state, county, and town level.
This lecture will discuss military pensions (Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and Civil War) and railroad employment pensions. Learn how to find the family details and stories of your ancestors by using these financial documents.
Pennsylvania experienced even more transformation in the 19th century. Westward expansion and settlement continued across the Allegany Mountains, aided by growth in transportation systems such as canals and railways. Steel, coal mining, and oil made Pennsylvania an industrial powerhouse, fueled by a labor force of millions of newly arrived immigrants. This lecture will explore several records that emerge during this period, including federal passenger lists, Civil War pension files, published genealogies and local histories, employment records, and other less commonly used records.
If your ancestor had the right to vote, you can find a wealth of information in their voting records. These records can help you to verify the exact years your ancestor lived in a certain location, locate your ancestor on a state census, identify when your ancestor was naturalized, and more. Join our expert as they discuss where to find voting records, the information they contain, and how to use them to advance your family history research.
More than 30 million Americans have Irish Ancestry, and many of us have ancestors who were affected by the Great Famine of 1845-1852. During this time, many relied on Ireland’s Poor Law Unions, which centered around a workhouse where people could labor to receive temporary relief from their poverty. The records produced by the Poor Law Unions can provide valuable information about your ancestors’ lives and rich historical context about the famine. Join our expert as they cover how to use these records in your Irish family history research.
