Researching Colonial New England Ancestors

Thank you for registering for the online course, Researching Colonial New England Ancestors!

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.

COURSE SCHEDULE

Class 1: Settlement of Colonial New England
Presented by Sheilagh Doerfler

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: Using Town and Church Records in Colonial New England
Presented by James Heffernan

Town and church records from New England can contain a wealth of genealogical information. These records can contain records of births, marriages, burials, mortgages, name changes, and more that can help you fill in the details of your ancestor's life. In this class we’ll delve into these important resources for New England and demonstrate how you can get the most out of these records for your own family history.

Class 3: Using Probates and Deeds
Presented by Melanie McComb

Probate records and deeds are crucial—but sometimes overlooked—sources for family historians. Hiding in these legal documents may be full family groups, immediate and extended family connections, origins, and even maiden names. These sources may also be used as vital record substitutes and provide a glimpse into your ancestor’s property and worldly possessions. In this class you’ll learn how to understand, locate, and leverage these records in your family history research.

Class 4: Using Records of Colonial Conflicts
Presented by David Allen Lambert

From early 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: Determining Ancestral Origins
Presented by Robert Battle

One of the hardest tasks a family historian can embark upon is to “jump across the pond” and discover exactly where their ancestor came from. This can be particularly difficult when tracing colonial ancestors, as passenger lists were not required before 1820. In this class, you’ll learn how to utilize available records and strategies to trace your ancestors’ origins before arriving in the New World.

COURSE HANDOUTS

Class 1 Handout
Class 1 Slides (Large)
Class 1 Slides (Worksheet)

Class 2 Handout
Class 2 Slides (Large)
Class 2 Slides (Worksheet)

Class 3 Handout
Class 3 Slides (Large)
Cass 3 Slides (Worksheet)

Class 4 Handout
Class 4 Slides (Large)
Class 4 Slides (Worksheet)

Class 5 Handout
Class 5 Slides (Large)
Class 5 Slides (Worksheet)

RECORDED PRESENTATIONS

Class 1: Settlement of Colonial New England

Original broadcast: May 1, 2025
Presented by: Sheilagh Doerfler
Running time: 1:30:38

Class 2: Using Town and Church Records in Colonial New England

Original broadcast: May 8, 2025
Presented by James Heffernan
Running time: 1:11:19

Class 3: Using Probates and Deeds

Original broadcast: May 15, 2025
Presented by Melanie McComb
Running time: 1:55:23

This third class includes video demonstrations. All of the video demonstrations are included in the full class recording above, but you may also view them individually below if you wish.

Demonstration 1: Searching the FamilySearch Catalog
Demonstration 2: FamilySearch Full-Text Search
Demonstration 3: Searching on AmericanAncestors.org

Class 4: Using Records of Colonial Conflicts

Original broadcast: May 23, 2025
Presented by David Allen Lambert
Running time: 1:17:29

Class 5: Determining Ancestral Origins

Original broadcast: May 29, 2025
Presented by Robert Battle, FASG
Running time: 1:49:10

INSTRUCTOR BIOS

Robert Battle, FASG, Editor of the Register, edits the New England Historical and Genealogical Register, the nation’s premier genealogical journal. He is responsible for selecting, arranging, and editing the articles appearing in each issue, reviewing submitted books, and working to keep the quarterly schedule on track—all ably assisted by the Register’s associate editor and consulting editors. Once each issue’s editing has been completed, Robert then works with other members of the Publishing team to lay out the final version before it goes to print. Robert serves as the point of contact for the Register with the public and within the American Ancestors organization. On the public-facing side, he receives all article submissions and books for review, determines the suitability of those submissions for the Register, and works with the authors of articles in the editing process. He also fields inquiries and other communications about the Register from other American Ancestors staff. Robert earned an MA in linguistics at the University of Washington in Seattle. He served as an instructor there and later at Western Reformed Seminary in Tacoma and Puyallup, Washington, before signing on as the Register’s twenty-seventh editor since its 1847 inception. Robert is the author of several dozen articles appearing in the Register and other genealogical journals; he was elected a Fellow of the American Society of Genealogists in 2021.

Sheilagh Doerfler, Genealogist, joined American Ancestors in 2013. As a member of the Research and Library Services team, she works to connect patrons and members with their family histories by fulfilling research requests, providing educational programming, and writing for American Ancestors magazine and our blog, Vita Brevis. Most recently, Sheilagh has been working to uncover the names and identities of enslaved individuals as a part of the 10 Million Names Project. Sheilagh holds a B.A. from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Her specialties include colonial New England, New Netherland, Ireland, Atlantic Canada, Ontario, Quebec, Scandinavia, and African American research.

James Heffernan, Genealogist of the Newbury Street Press, writes family histories for our Newbury Street Press imprint. He works closely with patrons to prepare meticulously researched volumes that match their family interests. James joined the staff of American Ancestors in 2015, working initially in Member Services, orienting visitors to our library campus in Boston, before spending several years as a genealogist preparing detailed reports for our Research and Library Services department. He is a frequent contributor to the Vita Brevis blog, the New England Historical and Genealogical Register, and American Ancestors magazine. His most recent work has focused on seventeenth-century New England immigrant origins, advancements in the field of genealogy, and strategies for connecting nineteenth and twentieth century immigrants to their birthplaces in Central and Eastern Europe.

David Allen Lambert, Chief Genealogist, has been on the staff of American Ancestors since 1993 and is the organization’s Chief Genealogist. David 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.

Melanie McComb, Senior Genealogist, assists library visitors, both on-site and online, with their family history research. She is an international lecturer who teaches on a variety of topics. Melanie holds a B.S. degree from the State University of New York at Oswego. She previously served as the social media coordinator for the NextGen Genealogy Network, a non-profit that creates a community for younger genealogists, where she managed the Facebook and Twitter accounts. She continues her interest in helping younger genealogists get involved at American Ancestors by assisting with educational programs from local schools, scout groups, and universities. Areas of expertise: Irish genealogy, DNA, Atlantic Canada, Jewish genealogy, and military records.