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Catalog of Lectures

Lecture
US - New England
17th Century
18th Century

A Brief History of Colonial Wars in New England 

This lecture will discuss how to determine if your ancestor fought, review a veritable timeline of colonial wars in New England, Atlantic Canada, and Quebec during the 17th and 18th centuries, and provide the historical context for these conflicts. 

Lecture
US - New England
17th Century
18th Century
19th Century
20th Century
Records and Research

Boston Research and Records

Since its founding in 1630, the City of Boston has kept records pertaining to its citizens, including several unique resources. Join us to learn what records exist for Boston, tips for using them in your research, and where to find them. Special attention will be given to records from the 17th through 19th centuries.

Lecture
US - New England
17th Century
Records and Research

Verifying Descent from Salem’s Accused Witches

There are hundreds, if not thousands, of court cases and accusations of witchcraft across colonial America, yet the most famous series of prosecutions from this period are the Salem witch trials between 1692 and 1693. In that short period, more than two hundred were accused, thirty found guilty, and 20 executed. In this online lecture, we will discuss how to verify your lineage from someone accused of witchcraft in Salem during the Hysteria. We will point you to key records, resources, and references for proving your line of descent.

Lecture
US - Midwestern States
US - New England
US - Southern States
17th Century
18th Century
American Ancestors

Introducing the 10 Million Names Project

There are at least 44 million descendants of enslaved individuals alive today, but slavery separated families, erased names, and obscured facts. The 10 Million Names Project, recently launched by American Ancestors and its partners, aims to connect the family stories of these descendants to the 10 million men, women, and children of African descent who were enslaved in the U.S. prior to emancipation and to restore their names to history. Join us as we share the scope of this project, the objectives, and our methodology.

Lecture
US - New England
17th Century
18th Century
19th Century
20th Century
Records and Research

Land Court and Probate in New England

Land, Court, and Probate records contain key information that can connect generations, confirm family groups, provide vital data, and build the stories of your ancestors. This online seminar demonstrates how to get the most out of these important resources. This three-session seminar focuses on New England resources from the 17th century to present day, but many of the strategies and methods discussed can be applied to other regions of the country. 

Lecture
US - New England
17th Century
18th Century
19th Century
20th Century
21st Century
Basics of Genealogy

Basics of New England Research

Whether your ancestors lived in New England in the 17th century or the 21st century, this presentation will give you the basic information to begin—and advance—your research into New England records. In preparation for the release of the Sixth Edition of Genealogist’s Handbook for New England Research, this presentation will give you the basic historical context, general organization of records, go-to resources, and unique strategies that will give you a good foundation to succeed in tracing your New England ancestors. NOTE: New England includes the present-day states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

Lecture
US - Midwestern States
US - New England
US - Southern States
US - West Coast
17th Century
18th Century
19th Century
20th Century
Records and Research

Finding Your Ancestor in American Fraternal Organization Records

Was your ancestor a Freemason, an Odd Fellow, a Knight of Columbus, or a member of another fraternal organization? In this webinar, we will teach you how to identify different fraternal organizations, provide valuable tools for locating a lodge and its records, and discuss how these records can enrich your family history research.

Lecture
US - New England
17th Century
18th Century
19th Century
Records and Research

Researching New England Colonial Soldiers

 Learn about the various colonial wars that 17th and 18th New Englanders participated in.  We will discuss published and manuscript resources, and how to "Adopt the Regiment" to learn more about your ancestor through associated records.  

Lecture
US - New England
17th Century
18th Century
19th Century
Records and Research

Out to Sea: Researching Mariner Ancestors in New England

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.

Lecture
US - Midwestern States
US - New England
US - Southern States
16th Century
17th Century
18th Century
19th Century
Records and Research

Researching Enslaver's Records to Find Your Enslaved Family

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.