Explorations in Connecticut Genealogy

Follow Friday: Why Become a Genealogist?

2012-02-24T00:00:00.001-05:00

The post of February 18th on One Rhode Island Family really struck a chord with me. Diane wrote about why she chose to become a genealogist and wondered why some of us know so much about our family and others don't. According to her categories, I was one of those "genealogists by birth." A family member imparted on me the idea that it was my responsibility to know my family's history. She also passed down a family tree extending back to the Mayflower. It missed the wives' families but gave me a starting point - and a love for research.
What about you? Why did you become a genealogist?

1940 census release website

2012-02-23T08:53:00.002-05:00

For the few of you that don't already know, the 1940 census will be released on April 2, 2012. The website that will initially host the release has been announced as: http://1940census.archives.gov/. For more information, please visit: http://blog.eogn.com/eastmans_online_genealogy/2012/02/archivescom-and-national-archives-announce-1940-census-website.html.

Those Places Thursday: DeKoven House, Middletown

2012-02-23T01:00:00.000-05:00

Builtin 1791, the DeKoven House on Washington Street was home to one of Middletown’sillustrious families. Benjamin Williams, a successful merchant and ship’scaptain, constructed the home at the height of his wealth. Sold by his childrenin 1818, the house passed into the Henry L. DeKoven family, another merchantfamily.[1]

ClarenceWadsworth inherited the home from his mother in 1900 and soon transformed itfrom home to business. After constructing his Long Hill Estate, he began usingthe DeKoven House as his city office. According to local lore, he walked theapproximately three miles to and from work. Once he retired from his business,he devoted the office to a new purpose.[2]

Since 1935, the DeKoven House hasbeen home to the Rockfall Foundation, an environmental advocacy organization.The building reflects this new function. A few rooms are maintained as museumspaces recall the home’s history. Others hold Rockfall Foundation offices ormeeting spaces for local non-profit organizations. While the DeKoven House isno longer a home, it still has a place in Middletown’s community life. [3]

[1]“Archivefor the ‘Middletown’ Category,” HistoricBuildings of Connecticut (http://historicbuildings.com:accessed 18 February 2012). “History,” TheRockfall Foundation (http://www.rockfallfoundation.org/history.php:accessed 19 February 2012).

[2]Elizabeth Warner, “Irene Changes City’s Landscape, Revises History,” MiddletownPatch (http://middletown-ct.patch.com:accessed 15 February 2012). “History,” TheRockfall Foundation (http://www.rockfallfoundation.org/history.php:accessed 19 February 2012).

[3] “deKovenHouse,” The Rockfall Foundation (http://www.rockfallfoundation.org/deKovenHouse.php:accessed 15 February 2012). Elizabeth Warner, “Irene Changes City’s Landscape,Revises History,” MiddletownPatch (http://middletown-ct.patch.com:accessed 15 February 2012).

Workday Wednesday: the Portland Quarries

2012-02-22T00:00:00.000-05:00

If you travel enough in Connecticut, you'll soon discover a plethora of brownstone buildings. Most of that brownstone came from quarries in Portland. First dug in the late 17th centuries, the quarries were increasingly used in the 19th century. Stone was shipped as far as Boston and New York - quite a distance for a fragile material. Production reached its peak in the late 1880s with over 1500 people working the property. By the early 1900s, brownstone was losing ground to concrete. The 1938 flood filled the quarries and ended production in Portland.
If you have a Polish or Italian ancestor who lived in the Middletown area, consider learning about the quarries. Many immigrants were recruited because of their stone carving skill and made a respectable living onsite. Their desire for community built many of the institutions in Portland and Middletown. A detailed history of the quarry is available at http://www.yourpublicmedia.org/content/cptv/portland-brownstone-quarry-stories-part-i. The website wasn't functionally well for me, but the detail made it worth the wait.

Sources:
http://www.portlandct.org/pdf/history/ThePortlandQuarries.pdf

Talented Tuesday: Freedom Trail Quilts

2012-02-21T01:00:00.000-05:00

Formed in 1995, the Connecticut Freedom Trail commemorates major events in the history of African-Americans in Connecticut. There were only forty sites when the program started. Today there are over 130 sites in the state, commemorating everything from the Amistad trial to the Underground Railroad. Each offers an in-depth view into a portion of history. If you can't visit the sites in person, the website will give you a peek into their role.
As part of the creation of the Freedom Trail, local quilters created four quilts reflecting sites in the state. You can read more about the quilts on the Connecticut State Library blog. Images of those quilts have been uploaded to Flickr, along with descriptions of the site. The quilts are beautiful. Take a look!

Mystery Monday: Is this family legend true?

2012-02-20T02:00:00.000-05:00

   I was reminded yesterday of a family story that I've always wondered about. It's lacking in details and I've always thought it might be unprovable... but I still would like to know the "truth." According to family lore, one ancestor's home was on the Underground Railroad. Of course, the relative (now deceased) who told me this story failed to specify the ancestor.
   I can somewhat limit the time period being discussed. Slavery was limited in Connecticut in 1798 but did not end completely until 1848. The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 increased the level of resistance to slavery. So, chances are high that if this were true, it took place between 1798 and 1860, most likely between 1848 and 1860.
   I can also limit the area. My ancestors lived in North Lyme and East Haddam.

   So where do I go from here? I've got to admit this one leaves me clueless.

Sentimental Sunday: Photos in the Hartford Courant

2012-02-19T09:38:00.001-05:00

I don't have many photos of my Connecticut lines. Most of these lines predated the time when photos were accessible to everyone. Even those that could have accessed photos didn't take many. I suspect the time involved in visiting a photo studio may have been one cause, the money another. Whatever the reason, photos are few and far between.
That makes the work of The Hartford Courant more special to me. In the first part of the twentieth century, local photography studios took pictures of the area's notables. The Courant included those photos in the paper, with captions describing their importance. The Courant has now been digitized and is easily searchable. One ancestor, a state representative, was regularly captured in these photos. Thanks to The Courant, I can at least trace what he looked like!

Surname Saturday: Ely of East Haddam and Lyme

2012-02-18T20:58:00.002-05:00

I've grown up knowing that the Ely family had deep roots in the Lyme and East Haddam area. If you've been in the area long enough, you've no doubt heard of Ely's Ferry. I knew from family lore that my Ely ancestor was actually from East Haddam. But sorting out the lines is proving to be another story.
I've gotten as far back as John Griswold Ely, born Lyme in 1810. After that, I'm entirely dependent on published histories of the family. According to the History of Waterbury and the Naugatuck Valley, Connecticut, Volume 3, John descends from John Ely and Lucy Miller... and then back to the James Ely of the Revolutionary War. Next stop, finding the paperwork to prove it. John Griswold isn't in the Barbour Collection. Does anyone know where the records of the Lyme Congregational Church are?

Community Archaelogy Symposium at Wesleyan University

2012-02-17T16:54:00.001-05:00

Taken from http://middletownmaterials.research.wesleyan.edu/beman-triangle/

Digging Together

Community Archaeology: Practice and Potential

Saturday February 25. 1pm – 4.30pm, Cross Street Church (Between Knowles and Vine St, opposite the Freeman Athletic Center)

1.15pm, Cheryl LaRoche (U of Maryland) “The Power of Community: Archaeology, the Black Church, and the Landscape.”

For more than ten years, my work with the public has stood on four pillars: archaeology, the black community, the black church and the landscape. Using several sites to examine the interactions between the archaeological community, and the public, my talk will highlight the power of communities in action in both contemporary and pre-civil war historic contexts.

2.30pm, Stephen Silliman (U Mass Boston) “The Eastern Pequot Archaeological Field School: A Community Collaboration in Connecticut”

This talk will discuss the origin and trajectory of the multiyear collaboration between the Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation and the Anthropology Department at the University of Massachusetts Boston. Since 2003, this project in southeastern Connecticut has provided eight summer archaeological field courses for undergraduates, graduate students, and Native American community members that have focused on recovering new dimensions of Eastern Pequot reservation life from the late 17^th century into the 20^th century. The objectives have been to train students in archaeological techniques, the study of colonialism and its legacies, and collaborative methodologies while simultaneously orienting learning and research outcomes to benefit the Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation’s efforts at historic and cultural preservation and community education.

3.15pm, Whitney Battle-Baptiste(U Mass Amherst) “An Archaeology for the Living: Bringing the Past into the Present Through Dialogue, Collaboration, and Real Exchange.”

In recent times historical archaeologists have used terms such as, “engaged” and “community-based,” in descriptions of their archaeological projects. However, as we move closer to an archaeology that transcends borders and boundaries, we have to broaden our understanding of who and what community is and what our role as scholar contributors are. I will highlight some of my past experiences and reveal some current challenges in the shaping of an interpretive message at the W E B Du Bois National Historic Site in Great Barrington, MA.

4.00pm, discussion, followed by a reception and informal conversation

Background to the Beman Triangle:

This public symposium takes place to highlight the abilities and issues of community archaeology as we begin a project on the Wesleyan campus. this project
In 1830 the first AME Zion Church on Cross Street, Middletown, was constructed, one of the first in the country, built by a congregation who had been meeting for seven years. With the new church came a pastor; Jehiel Beman, a local man (from Colchester, CT). Jehiel’s father, Ceasar, had been freed for taking part in the Revolutionary War in place of his white master. Jehiel’s sons were to go on to further the work of the Church, and of the African American community in Middletown.
Leverett C. Beman (1810-1883), the eldest son, was a trained shoemaker and had kept a shop with his father on Williams Street. In 1843, Leverett bought a house on the corner of Cross and Vine Streets (around the spot where Neon Deli now stands), commissioning a survey in 1847 of what we now call the “Beman Triangle”; land between Vine, Cross, and Knowles Streets. Members of the AME Zion Church began to populate other houses on the land. Within the next forty years, the African Americans living here became a stable community, with most managing to pay off their mortgages. They, and the Church, were active in the Underground Railroad. Three men from the neighborhood served in the Civil War. By the turn of the twentieth century the neighborhood was changing, and African Americans were moving out of Middletown in the face of changing employment opportunities offered in the industrializing city. But the Triangle retained its centrality to the AME Zion community with the re-location of the church itself from the top of Cross Street, where the Exley Science Center now stands, to the spot in which – until three years ago – continued to be their place of worship.
The Beman Triangle then, is a site which shows the changing nature of the African American community in Middletown, tied together by the centrality of the AME Zion Church. Today the site is on the State Register of Historic Places, to recognize the importance of the former residents of the Beman Triangle in their ability to build community and prosperity, and their participation in the Underground Railroad and the Civil War. The community archaeology project planned at the site continues from some initial excavations which have demonstrated the potential of archaeology to bring to light the artifacts of daily life for former Beman Triangle residents. Through this work, we hope to bring together the Wesleyan, AME Zion, and wider Middletown community to explore and remember the history of life at the site. Historical archaeologists in similar contexts have shown that it is possible through examining materials – such as table wares, food containers, and knick-knacks – in use by the Beman community, that we will be able to learn more about the realities of the everyday social life of the residents, something it is almost impossible to glean from the limited historical records available. We also hope to raise the profile of the site and to work towards placing it on the National Register of Historic Places. In beginning to present the ways in which community archaeology projects have faced challenges, but have come to be deeply engaged with various social groups and individuals, this public archaeology symposium offers the chance for the wider Wesleyan and Middletown communities to come together to learn about the potential of this archaeology project. Beginning in April we will begin excavations on the Beman Triangle, involving Wesleyan students and the wider AME Zion and Middletown community, with research directions being shaped by the interests of all participants.

Follow Friday: Connecticut Explored Connecticut History Blog

2012-02-17T01:30:00.000-05:00

On my worth-knowing (but not necessarily worth reading daily) about blog list is Connecticut Explored's Connecticut History Blog. A blog for the magazine Connecticut Explored, the Connecticut History Blog outlines the topics covered in each issue of the Connecticut history magazine as well as magazine sponsored events. For those - like me - who do not subscribe on a regular basis, it's a good way to learn what's upcoming. The latest issue seems to cover maps in Connecticut history. I always hunt down the magazines that look like they might further my research.
I've linked my Connecticut blog list to the blog. Enjoy!

Connecticut's Civil War: Orphans' Home Project

2012-02-16T16:08:00.000-05:00

I thought the following (taken from a Rootsweb message board post) might be of interest to a few of you:

The Mansfield Historical Society is working on an exhibit on the Civil War Orphans' Home in Mansfield, Connecticut. If you have family stories or photos of individuals that lived or worked at the Orphans' Home, we would like to hear from you. Photographs of superintendents Edwin Whitney and John B. Carpenter are also being sought. Both previously worked at the Providence Reform School before serving as superintendent of the Orphan Home. Replies may be sent directly to Ann Galonska: mansfield.historical@snet.net or to this message board.

I'm looking forward to hearing more about the exhibit!

Ancestry.com offers a free access weekend...

2012-02-16T16:04:00.001-05:00

Ancestry.com is offering free access to the 1930 census from February 16th-20th. If you don't have access to this collection normally, you now have plans for the weekend!

Thrify Thursday: Historic Archive of The New London Day

2012-02-16T09:28:00.002-05:00

I had, sadly, been putting off doing research for my Lyme families in The Day. While The Hartford Courant and The Middletown Press are easily accessible to me, The Day usually requires a special trip. It's only available on microfilm, so to access the older issues, you have to order the microfilm or visit a library that has the reels. Or so I thought.

It turns out that the archival branch of Google News has digitized some of the older issues of The Day. Sadly, they've stopped adding new issues, so the collection will never be expanded. But for those of us researching New London County, this is a potential goldmine. I found two obituaries, multiple vacation stories, and more. The archive covers most of 1903 through 1920, although there are issues missing. Scattered issues are available from years before and after this period.

To access articles about your ancestor, start by searching their name or information in Google. This should link you to an appropriate article in the archives. Once there, you can easily use the archive search function. Unfortunately, entering via the Google News site seems to throw off the search function. If you search from there, you will end up without results.

Good luck!

Workday Wednesday: Starr Swords

2012-02-15T05:30:00.000-05:00

Because my ancestors were by and large farmers, I tend to forget that Connecticut had - and has - a wide variety of industries. In the 19th century, Connecticut was known for the military equipment to the American Army. Starr Swords, of Middletown, was among these suppliers.
   Nathaniel Starr produced his first swords in 1798. A former armorer for the Continental Army, he filled an order for 1000 cavalry sabers. The order was successful. A little over a decade later, he had an order for 10,000 swords. In response, he formally established a factory on Saddle Hill in Middletown. Starr and his factory would average five thousands swords a year for decades before switching to firearms. They ended production in 1845. The equipment was moved to government arsenals.
   Sadly, Starr has been largely forgotten - except by military memorabilia collectors. His swords and sabers are popular collectables. Their values vary widely, and an explanation is far beyond my skill level. However, if you have a Starr in your line, you may have research to do!

Sources:
http://www.cr.nps.gov/history/online_books/regional_review/vol4-1d.htm
http://www.middletownplanning.com/middletown_history.html
http://dunhamwilcox.net/town_hist/middletown_history4.htm
http://connecticutwatertrails.com/CWTA%20-%20Middlesex%20County%20Water%20Trails%20-%20Middletown%20-%20Coginchaug%20River.htm

Tueday's Tip: A Quirk of Ancestry.com's Barbour Collection Indexing

2012-02-14T06:00:00.000-05:00

   In playing around with my Martin family over the weekend, I discovered a quirk of Ancestry.com's Barbour Collection indexing that I wanted to share. The Barbour Collection they offer is in fact a typed index to the actual fifty-five volume Barbour Collection. They've gone an extra level and made it searchable.
   Unfortunately, that search function isn't perfect. Elihu Martin was born in East Haddam, and his 1802 death -in New York - was recorded there. If you search the index for Martin's death, the search results will indicate that he died in East Haddam. It's a quirk of the indexing, which lists the date of the event and where the record was stored but nothing else.
   My point? If you're using the Barbour Collection search, click through to see the actual document. There will be a few details you might have otherwise missed.

Military Monday: The War by Ken Burns

2012-02-13T06:00:00.000-05:00

This past weekend's activities included finally doing something that had been on my to-do list for awhile: watching Ken Burns's The War. A documentary on World War II, The War compares the experiences of individuals from four different American cities. One of those cities was Waterbury, Connecticut.
While I'm only through the 1941 to 1942 episode, I'd recommend the series to anyone interested in World War II genealogy in Connecticut. There are some great scenes describing life in the "Brass City." The first discuss the experiences of the individuals interviewed. Their local interviewee was Italian. Her description and corresponding photos provides insight into the local Italian population. Later scenes cover the early war experiences, including the sale of war bonds. I'm looking forward to episode two.

Cromwell or Upper Houses CT Genealogy Websites

2012-02-12T13:23:00.003-05:00

I've updated my business website with links for Cromwell genealogy websites. Happy research!

Church Record Sunday: Connecticut Society of Genealogists Town Pages

2012-02-12T10:57:00.002-05:00

One of my biggest challenges in chasing down church records is figuring out if the church is still in existence. An open church may still hold its records - or at least know where they are - while a closed church's records are probably in an archive somewhere. For me, that often means a lot of Google searches, some estimated guessing (the Congregational Church in town is usually the original church) and some hope - until now.
The Connecticut Society of Genealogists has built webpages for each of Connecticut's 169 cities and towns. These town sites give the town's founding date, probate information, the name of the town's schools, a list of newspapers, and most importantly, a list of the current churches. While this may not help you locate the records if the church has closed, it does at least provide a starting point!

Surname Saturday: Martin of East Haddam

2012-02-11T09:28:00.001-05:00

   I'm playing - yet again - with one of my East Haddam families. I started out interested in the Ely family. For my family, they were the stuff of legend. Shipbuilders in farming community, their descendents saw them as romantic figures. I grew up hearing all about my g-g-?-grandfather, the steamboat captain. Of course, one line leads into another. An Ely married a Martin, so here I am.
   The first few generations were fairly straightforward. That Martin's parents were easily identifiable as Rachel Mack and Samuel Martin. While many of their children died in infancy, I'm certain I've identified all that survived to adulthood - Ellen and Hezekiah. I've also tracked Rachel's parents without issue (if your family has been in CT long enough, the DAR can fill in a lot of blanks!).
   It's Samuel's parents, Jonathan and Hannah, that pose the problem. I have found a few of his siblings: Jonathan and Joseph. I suspect from what I'm reading that Jonathan and Hannah arrived from England sometime before the American Revolution and had more children then I'm finding. I can eventually check the family against local records, but I'm curious to find out if anyone is working on this family. Does anyone know Jonathan's family?

Follow Friday: Momento Stones

2012-02-10T07:00:00.000-05:00

Thanks to CGN (the Connecticut Gravestone Network) for introducing me to the Momento Stones blog. Although she hasn't updated the blog since 2010, Alison Pierz does a good job introducing her readers to the funerary art of Connecticut cemeteries. If you're like me, you had to be convinced that this actually was an art. Take a look. You may be surprised at what you find.

Those Places Thursday: Wadsworth Mansion at Long Hill Estate

2012-02-09T10:22:00.001-05:00

While never a Newport, early 20th century Middletown boasted its own elite families. The DeKovens, Russells, and others built large homes, established an active social scene and supported the city's cultural life. At one point, the city even had a mansion row. While they may have worked - and occasionally lived - elsewhere, they called Middletown home.
   Sadly, many of those homes no longer exist. Most were vacated as Middletown's status declined. Run down, they were then destroyed in attempts at urban renewal. Mansion row is now a shopping district. Only photographs attest to its former glory. To my knowledge, only two of the city's mansions still stand, although there may be more.
   One of these homes exists only because of the hard work of Middletown's residents. The Wadsworth Mansion at Long Hill Estate was purchased by the City of Middletown at the urging of its residents in 1994. Abandoned and badly run down, it survived numerous fires only because its creator used the latest technology of concrete. The City invested $5.8 million to restore the building in a historically accurate manner. Used as an event space, the Wadsworth Mansion has become a self-supporting monument to Middletown's past.
   The building is also an important monument to the Wadsworth family. Some of the history is held in the building itself. Built for Katherine Fearing Hubbard, a daughter of an elite Middletown family, and her husband Clarence Wadsworth, the home was of several the family owned. It saw many family events, including the wedding of a Wadsworth son. Thanks to the work of the Friends of Long Hill Estate, the Mansion is also home to many artifacts of the Wadsworth history, including Clarence Wadsworth's ceremonial sword (he was a Colonel in the Foot Guard).
If you have Hubbard or Wadsworth in your past or if you're interest in Middletown's millionaire history, the Wadsworth Mansion is well worth a visit. Located at 421 Wadsworth St., Middletown, the Wadsworth Mansion is open for tours every Wednesday from 2-4 pm.

Additional sources:

http://www.middlesexhistory.org/exhibits/jews.htm
http://www.wadsworthmansion.com/htmlsite/history.html

Connecticut's Civil War: A Profile of Benjamin Wilcox, Company B, 14th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry

2012-02-08T13:51:00.001-05:00

I usesoldiers from the local infantry company, the 14^th Connecticut VolunteerInfantry Company B, as examples when I teach Civil War genealogy. Formed inMiddletown in 1862, these men saw some of the most brutal battles of the war.They’re useful teaching tools since they tend to show up not only on NationalArchives manuscripts but also in local records. For Civil War buffs, they’restill considered local heroes.

BenjaminC. Wilcox was one of these men. Likely born in Berlin to a Middletown family,he was raised on a farm. He enlisted in the 14^th Connecticut inAugust 1862. Wounded at Antietam, he went through the military medical systembefore being discharged in January 1863. Benjamin married Clara Birge and hadtwo children, Arthur B. and Anne E. Benjamin died in 1910 at age 70. He wasburied in Middletown.

As afarmer and a short-term soldier, Benjamin did not leave a large paper trail.However, using the census, Find A Grave.com, Civil War records available onFold3.com, and a surprise find on an auction site, one can start to piecetogether his Civil War story. All we need is his National Archives pension fileto complete the tale!

Sources:

1850 U.S. census, Hartford County, Connecticut, populationschedule, Berlin, page 248 (stamped), dwelling 192, family 215, Benjamin C Wilcox;digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 8 February2012); citing NARA microfilm M432, roll 40.

1860 U.S. census, Middlesex County, Connecticut, populationschedule, Middletown, page 43 (penned), dwelling 331, family 370, Benjamin C.Wilcox; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 8 February2012); citing NARA microfilm M653, roll 83.

1870 U.S. census, Middlesex County, Connecticut, populationschedule, Middletown, page 4 (penned), dwelling 22, family 26, Benjamin C. Wilcox;digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 8 February2012); citing NARA microfilm M593, roll 108.

1880 U.S. census, Middlesex County, Connecticut, populationschedule, Middletown, enumeration district (ed) 64, page 33 (penned), dwelling288, family 313, B.C. Wilcox; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com:accessed 8 February 2012); citing FHL microfilm 1254102, image 94.

1900 U.S. census, New Haven County, Connecticut, population schedule, Meriden, enumerationdistrict (ED) 331, sheet 1 (penned), dwelling 8, family 9, Benj. C. Wilcox;digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 8 February2012); citing National Archives microfilm publication T623, roll 144.

“U.S. Civil WarSoldiers, Records and Profiles,” database, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 8 February 2012), entry forBenjamin C. Wilcox.

Find A Grave, digitalimages (http://www.findagrave.com:accessed 8 February 2012), photograph, gravestone for Benjamin C. Wilcox(1840-1910), Middletown, CT.

“Lot 237: A Connecticut Soldier Reports on…,” Art Fact (http://www.artfact.com: accessed 8 February2012.)

Middlefield Genealogy Websites

2012-02-07T11:26:00.002-05:00

I've updated my business website to include Middlefield genealogy links.

Tueday's Tip: Learn Surname Migration Patterns

2012-02-07T09:41:00.001-05:00

   I've been playing around with tracing a peripheral line on my family tree - the Gates family of East Haddam. They're cousins of an ancestor's half-siblings. Since they're not directly part of my tree, I feel less inclined to guarantee that my work is perfect. In short, they're good research practice.
   Unfortunately, that doesn't mean the family is easy to trace. I found their birth information fairly quickly. Thanks to my own family records, I knew where they had lived as children. Using that information, I turned them up quickly on the 1860-1880 census enumeration. After that, things quickly dead-ended. Why? Because I was searching on the mother's name and, although I didn't know it at the time, she had died in 1892 at age 60. I might have accomplished my goal by switching to a child - although several died young and may not have shown up later. Something else, however, came to my rescue.
   I remembered some earlier research I had done in East Haddam. The Gates family has been in the area since the 17th century. By the 18th century, they had begun to migrate but never went far. Most of the family could be found in either East Haddam or the northern part of Lyme. Assuming that the family followed their traditional pattern, my Gates should be found in East Haddam or Lyme. Bingo!
   Lesson learned: with an older Connecticut family, make sure you know the surname migration patterns. They tend to repeat and learning them will save you some time.

Durham Connecticut genealogy websites

2012-02-06T20:01:00.002-05:00

I have updated the links listing on my business website to include genealogy links for Durham, Connecticut. Happy research!

Military Monday: World War II Memories

2012-02-06T19:51:00.003-05:00

   NBC's Nightly News ran a nice feature on World War II memories recorded in a New Hampshire town tonight. Their short article explained how seniors in a local retirement home banded together to tell their war stories. These men and women had been fighter pilots, internees, newly weds and more. In recording their words, they guaranteed their stories would live on. Kudos to these men and women - and NBC - for taking the time to teach all of us about their experiences.
   I wish my ancestors had done the same. Several served in the Army or Navy and one in the WACs and the Land Army. None recorded their stories. Perhaps it was too painful to do so; perhaps they deemed their experiences uninteresting. They gave me the outline of their service - one was a POW; another canned fruit - but very little else.
   I'm left trying to put together the pieces after their deaths. I can get draft files for my male relatives and POW records. Each will give me statistics such as the name, rank, etc. Due to privacy regulations, I would have a hard time requesting their service records. I have pay stubs for the female ancestor, the only part of her records remaining after the 1973 fire in National Personnel Records Center. What I would love are the details: what was their service like? What were they thinking or feeling?
   As genealogists, we should at least try to record our family's stories. I'm sure I won't be the last one to wish I knew more.

Sentimental Sunday: Jumping the Puddle: Zoldani to America

2012-02-05T18:34:00.003-05:00

Rudy J. Favretti's Jumping the Puddle: Zoldani to America broke my streak of stiff immigration histories. Written colloquially, Jumping the Puddle is both a straight-out history and a personal narrative. The first part of the book describes the daily life of immigrants Italians from Zoldani both in Italy and in Old Mystic, Connecticut. Favretti delves into personal experiences, referencing individual Zoldani, their successes and their tragedies. The second part of the book touches on Favretti's personal histories. Both parents came from Zoldani but for different reasons. Through their experiences, he traces how the Zoldani transformed once they arrived in Connecticut and gave way to new generations.
This book was one of those titles that I would never have touched if it hadn't been recommended. I do most of my work in the Middletown area, which has a Sicilian - not mainland Italian - population. Yet, Favretti's book attracts me on two levels. First, it's on a population I never would have known. They have an interesting history and a strong sense of tradition. Second, Favretti manages to tell the story of his family without making it only about his family. It's a lesson we all can learn.

Surname Saturday: Stark

2012-02-04T18:19:00.002-05:00

If you've followed this blog long enough, you probably remember that one of my Connecticut family lines is the Stark family. The Starks are by and large of Scottish ancestry, descended from the Aaron Stark who arrived in the "New World" in 1608. They spread out fairly quickly. One branch remained in Connecticut, settling in the Groton/New London area.
The Starks were and are very proud of their heritage. As a result, there are some great genealogical resources available in print and online. Charles R. Stark published several extensive genealogies including The Aaron Stark Family. The book is out of print in the original form but a reprint is available on Amazon.com. Online, Clovis LaFleur has compiled Stark history, the Stark Family Association Yearbooks and more to create "The Aaron Stark Family Chronicles."
You should have some great information to start with...

Follow Friday: In Search of Our Ancestors

2012-02-03T19:44:00.000-05:00

I recently stumbled across the companion book for a PBS series I have to admit I never saw, entitled In Search of Our Ancestors: 101 Inspiring Stories of Serendipity and Connection in Rediscovering Our Family History. Megan Smolenyak did a fantastic job of editing the collection of short stories. The end result is a cute review of everything we love about genealogy from forgotten cousins to generous genealogists.
My favorite parts of the collection were the stories about the family item rediscovered through happenstance or kindness. The tales are worth reading, because they remind of us why we do this: that special moment when you can see what your great-grandmother looked like as a child. They also set me to wondering what I would most like to reclaim. Thanks to some cousins, I already have scans of family photos... but I sure would love those family bibles!

Thrifty Thursday: CTGenWeb

2012-02-02T19:25:00.000-05:00

Although it was popular in the 1990s, most of us have forgotten about GebWeb by now - it just seems outdated. In some cases, that impression may be right, but skipping the site is a mistake. You'll miss out on a great free site for vital records, online histories and more.
CtGenWeb is organized into a state site, county site, and town sites. Click through each level to find out what resources it holds. Some sites are better than others. In one case, the site hasn't been updated for at least three years. Others are regularly updated and contain great features. I can't review each page, but I do know that it's always worth a look.

Wisdom Wednesday: Locating an Ancestor's Obituary in a Connecticut Newspaper

2012-02-01T16:59:00.000-05:00

As I mentioned in yesterday's post, finding the local newspaper does not always guarantee that you've found the location of your ancestor's obituary. Family members often chose to publish in another a newspaper. Why? That newspaper may have had more reach to your ancestor's friends, better reflected his political viewpoint or simply been better read.
How do you then find "the" newspaper? Look first at the largest local city. Connecticut River towns often had their announcements published in The Middletown Press. Second, consider your ancestor's political or social reach. Hartford locals chose their favorite papers. The Hartford Times once appealed to a different political party than did The Hartford Courant. I've also seen an ancestor's early 19th century Lyme marriage announcement in the Hartford papers - because the woman's father had Hartford connections. Finally, look at a paper's reach. Today much of the shoreline reads The Register or The Day.

Tuesday's Tip: Finding Your Ancestor's Newspaper Obituary

2012-01-31T20:30:00.000-05:00

To find your Connecticut ancestor's newspaper obituary, you have to start by finding the correct newspaper. Sadly, this isn't easy as you might hope. Connecticut only has a few major newspapers now, all of which cover slightly different parts of the state. That wasn't true twenty, seventy-five or two hundred years ago. The number of newspapers and their coverage region has changed dramatically overtime.
While there's no ready source for determining a newspaper's coverage area, the Library of Congress has a resource that makes identifying the local newspapers much easier. The Chronicling America Online Newspaper Directory is an online index of the newspapers published for an area. You can narrow it by time period. You will still miss some newspapers - Chester obituaries often appeared in the Middletown Press - but it's a starting point.

Matrilinear Monday: Use the Cemetery to Trace Your Family Ancestors

2012-01-30T17:00:00.001-05:00

I've been struggling to find out more about Eunice (Crocker) Way for months. I knew her marriage date, who she married and the names of her children. That was it. She was just one of those female ancestors that is almost impossible to trace. She shows up often in records but only alongside her husband Revolutionary War soldier Lt. Elisha Way. As of yet, I haven't found one record that mentioned her birth or death date.
Until I remembered what should have been obvious from the beginning - the local cemetery. Ancestry.com's Connecticut Deaths and Burials index listed her husband's burial location. I made the leap and guessed that she was buried there as well. Thanks to a local Find A Grave volunteer, I now know that Eunice Crocker was buried in 1823 - at age 59. I'll have to wait for the proof, but I now have dates to work with. Next stop, the Barbour Collection, Connecticut's index of birth records. Sadly, there are two Eunice Crockers born that year, so I'll have some work to do.
The lesson that I'll take away from this is to start with the cemetery. I wasn't turning up Eunice in any of the vital records indexes. Perhaps she was never recorded. But her family made sure to mark her gravestone. I would have saved a lot of time by checking there first, rather than checking and rechecking the same index.

Middletown Connecticut genealogy websites

2012-01-29T13:46:00.002-05:00

I've updated my website with a list of Middletown genealogy links. Happy reading!

Connecticut Immigrants: Ethnic Heritage Center at Southern Connecticut State University

2012-01-29T09:04:00.000-05:00

I discovered the Ethnic Heritage Center (http://www.southernct.edu/ethnic_heritage_center/) courtesy of a recent discussion on H-Connecticut and am very impressed with what I've found. Based in new Haven, the Ethnic Heritage Center houses five ethnic heritage groups. Researchers interested in using the collections of The Greater New Haven African American Historical Society, The Connecticut Irish American Historical Society, The Italian American Historical Society of Connecticut, The Jewish Historical Society of Greater New Haven, and The Connecticut Ukrainian American Historical Society only have to make one stop. The Ethnic Heritage Center has a library designed to make access to these collections and the university's own ethnic resources simple.
The EHC is more than just a research library. It also houses exhibitions and events for each society. Their website is out of date on this subject, but listings should be available from the local news sites. These exhibits appear to be a way to get a feel for the site without knowing what you need to research.
If your family represents any of these ethnic groups, you may want to pay a visit to the EHC.

Surname Saturday: Lyman Family

2012-01-28T12:00:00.001-05:00

If you research in Connecticut long enough, you will find thousands of references to the Lyman family. Although the most famous branch was from Middlefield, they lived all over the state. I don't research the family, but I thought I'd compile some links for those of you that do. Hope this is useful!

Gravestones:
http://symbolicpast.blogspot.com/2012/01/jonathan-lyman-springfield-ma-1766.html
findagrave.com
http://boards.ancestry.com/surnames.lyman/379/mb.ashx

Genealogy Websites:
http://connecticut-genealogy.blogspot.com/2010/08/royal-ancestry-of-ebenezer-lyman.html
http://genforum.genealogy.com/lyman/

This is just a small sample of what's out there. And don't forget the local historical societies!

Follow Friday: Random Genealogy

2012-01-28T11:12:00.000-05:00

I stumbled across Random Genealogy while reading through another blogger's Follow Friday posts. While the blog initially seems focused on Kentucky genealogy (scanning through this month's posts), a few posts would be helpful to a Connecticut genealogist. Teresa writes about her husband's family in Rhode Island. Some of those Rhode Island ancestors experienced things that would be very familiar to a Connecticut ancestor. I especially loved her discussion of King Phillip's War.

Thankful Thursday: Connecticut Historical Societies

2012-01-26T12:47:00.001-05:00

I've been doing research on a new state lately. Stumbling through roadblock after roadblock, I've become enormously glad for a little recognized part of Connecticut genealogy - the local historical society. I'm sure other states have the same thing, but they're often county-wide and harder to use. Connecticut's are nice and easy.
Almost every Connecticut town boasts a local historical society. Usually volunteer run and only open for a few hours a week, the society may be almost impossible to access. Once you get inside, however, your patience will be rewarded. Most societies began collecting in the late 19th century. Their archives may contain everything from 17th century records to 20th century war memorabilia. Oftentimes, they're staffed by at least one informative local. If he or she doesn't know the answer to your question, they'll at least be able to tell you who to talk to.
Even if you can't get to the local society, make sure to check out their website or give them a call. I recently stumbled across the website for the Sharon Historical Society. Although the town has less than 3,000 residents (per Wikipedia), they've built an impressive online presence. The website boasts a town-wide surname listing, headstone transcriptions, diaries, and more. If you're headed to Sharon - even digitally - it should be a stop.

Thanks to all the historical society volunteers. You do make a difference!

Connecticut's Civil War: Events Listing

2012-01-26T08:59:00.001-05:00

As part of the Civil War anniversary, groups throughout Connecticut have organized commemorative events. If you're planning to visit the state, any of these would be worth a stop. For more information, visit: http://finalsite.ccsu.edu/page.cfm?p=8231.

Workaday Wednesday: Connecticut's Teachers and Genealogy

2012-01-25T17:07:00.000-05:00

Like many nineteenth century and early twentieth century farmers, my ancestors also served as teachers. These experiences marked their transition from children to young adults. For the first time, they were living on their own and making a contribution to the family budget. They were out of the reach of their parents' rules and their parents' critique. In some cases, this was where they met their spouse. In short, it was a huge part of their lives.
Yet, there are almost no records of their experience. Many worked in small local school houses. They boarded with and were paid by parents. In a few towns, the school's records have survived. In many others, however, the records are long gone. Sadly, this is the case with my ancestors' schools. Some teachers or students may have kept a memoir. Again, this is rare. How often do people record their lives in elementary school? n may family, these memoirs do exist, but they have never been formally published. Unless you were lucky enough to know someone with a copy, you wouldn't know they existed.
So how do you find out more? Begin by checking the census. If your ancestor is a boarder in his/her teens or early twenties and was also listed as a farmer at another point in his/her life, you may have a teacher on your hands. Double-checking the occupation category may provide you a few more clues. Once you have that, start calling the town archives, historical societies, and libraries. Look for town or school records. They may have shown up in the budget or someplace else you'll never think of. I'll likely never find anything about one ancestor's service, but I know all the details about her sister's. It was buried in the local library's town history files.

Useful website for beginning genealogists

2012-01-25T16:48:00.002-05:00

I received something in a genealogy-related email this morning that I wanted share. The Genealogy Guide defines genealogical terms. It's helpful for beginning genealogists... and sometimes, for me!

Tuesday's Tip: FamilySearch.org's Facebook Online Communities

2012-01-24T09:46:00.002-05:00

An article in this morning's Eastman's Online Newsletter turned up a fantastic new resource for me. Turns out FamilySearch has set up Facebook groups devoted entirely to genealogical research in a specific state or country. I took a quick look at the site for Massachusetts. Thus far, it features everything from requests for help to a listing of resources. The site is run by an administrator-volunteer who has to have research experience in the state. These look like a wonderful starting point for a "newbie" or a place for guidance for a more advanced research.
Unfortunately for us Connecticut researchers, there is no Connecticut site as of yet. This is a pilot project, and FamilySearch is adding new sites as they are requested. You can weigh in at https://www.familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Join_a_Facebook_Research_Community. Maybe you'll be lucky enough to find a community for another place you're researching!

Military Monday: Yeomen (F) at New London Connecticut

2012-01-23T10:18:00.003-05:00

   For some reason, the "Military Monday" prompt struck a cord with me today. Searching for a topic, I quickly thought of the first women enlisted in the U.S. military. The Yeoman (F) or Yeomanettes were recruited by the U.S. Navy beginning in 1917, thanks to a loophole in a 1917 law. By the end of the war, eleven thousand women had enlisted. They filled Navy clerical positions, translators jobs, and more. Most stayed close to home, but still broke a significant barrier - the restrictions against women in the armed forces.
   One of my ancestors was a Yeomanette. She enlisted in 1917 in New London and served in various clerical positions until her discharge in 1918. Ironically, her military "tour" never took her more than a few miles from home. Sadly, she didn't talk much about her service. What I know, I've learned from her military service records. I had to jump through some hoops to get them - World War I records are still protected by privacy laws, and you need permission from an immediate family member - but I'm glad I did. She was incredibly proud of being a veteran. Thanks to her records and a little reading on the Yeomanettes, I now understand why.
    If you want to learn more about the Yeomanettes, I'd recommend starting with the Navy's website on the subject: http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/prs-tpic/females/yeoman-f.htm. There's also a good overview on the National Archives site: http://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2006/fall/yeoman-f.html. Feel free to send me a question if you have one. This one's close to my heart :)

Church Record Sunday: Early Connecticut Marriages..., Fredric Bailey

2012-01-22T14:10:00.003-05:00

The Geneabloggers prompts are sometimes a great reminder of resources you've forgotten about. Fredric W. Bailey compiled pre-1800 marriage records from local vital records and published them in a series of books in 1896. At least one volume, Early Connecticut marriages as found on ancient church records ..., Volume 1 is available from Google books. I haven't compared it to the Barbour Collection, but it should provide you with an additional resources... Of course, my family was in Rhode Island during this period ;)

Connecticut Genealogy Book Reviews: Suggested Genealogy Reading From the Connecticut State Library

2012-01-22T14:00:00.001-05:00

For those of you interested in genealogy books, this link might be of interest - http://www.cslib.org/how2ct.htm. This is the Connecticut State Library's recommended genealogy reading list. As you'll note, many of these books are outdated, so review them carefully.

Society Saturday: Middlesex County Historical Society

2012-01-21T11:31:00.000-05:00

Based in Middletown, the Middlesex County Historical Society's collection encompasses the history of all of Middlesex County. The collection includes a variety of artifacts dating from the founding of Middletown through the 20th century. Current exhibits cover the Civil War in Middletown and the history of the General Mansfield House, the Historical Society's home.
The Society is also home to an extensive research library. The library includes everything from the early court documents from Middlesex County to World War I letters, and more. Members have been collecting since 1901, and the upper tier of Middletown's society is well represented. Efforts have been made to trace Middletown's immigrant groups. The library is accessible only by appointment.
If you're interested in Middletown immigrants, the Middlesex County Historical Society's website is well worth a visit. A digital version of a 1990s exhibit has been added to the website. Pages give an overview of each group's arrival in the area and how they became integrated in Middletown's daily life. The section on Greek immigration was eye opening for me. For more information, visit http://www.middlesexhistory.org.

Connecticut Genealogy Research Guide Recommendations

2012-01-20T21:09:00.001-05:00

   Thanks to Colleen for posing the question that inspired today's post. She asked what Connecticut genealogy books I'd recommend.
   My answer is - it depends. I've yet to find a good how-to genealogy book for Connecticut. I've seen references to some webinars on the subject and some books by large genealogical publishing companies. Honestly, I haven't looked at most of them. There just aren't enough hours in the day and dollars in the budget! The best I've seen thus far was the Connecticut Researcher's Handbook, despite it being outdated. In contrast, there are a plethora of good local books and articles. Connecticut Genealogy News offers case studies, source descriptions, and more. Any one of these may provide the information you need to research an ancestor. My favorite features are the town profiles. These give you not only the history of the town but also the local genealogical resources. Historical societies and civic organizations regularly publish history books and profiles of famous locals. I've found references to my ancestors in some of these publications.
   If your goal was to find a how-to guide, there are some solid substitutes. Start by checking the FamilySearch wiki. Their county profiles may guide you straight to your family records. You can call the local historical society. Often their volunteers are familiar with the local records, although their research experience varies. Some may charge for their time. You can call the library of the largest city in the area. In Connecticut, the cities tend to have one or more librarians with genealogical experience and a knowledge of local records - although this isn't always true. Finally, if you're stuck, you can always consider hiring a professional genealogist.

Connecticut's Civil War: Book Review - Connecticut in the American Civil War: Slavery, Sacrifice, & Survival

2012-01-20T18:00:00.000-05:00

   I took a second look at Connecticut in the American Civil War: Slavery, Sacrifice, & Survival today. I had read this book once, quickly, to keep up my Civil War knowledge (For those of you who don't know, I'm trained as a civil War historian). I read it again as a genealogist.
   Without going into great detail on Warshauer's sources, analytical framework, or more, I'll give you a brief overview. Connecticut in the American Civil War is divided into six sections: one for each year of the war, and one chapter each for the time before and following the conflict. These sections alternate between a discussion of the state's political issues and its experiences on the battlefield. Warshauer fits the Connecticut experience neatly into the experiences of the Union.
   For a genealogist, this book has both strengths and weaknesses. It is an easy way to discover what your ancestor's general Civil War experience might have been like. You can quickly estimate who he might have voted for or what battles he might have fought in. You cannot tell what his day to day experience might have been like. There are no battle descriptions discussing specific regiments or pictures of life on the home-front. This is a general history and makes no bones about it.

Blog revisions... and a little more about me!

2012-01-19T17:14:00.000-05:00

As some of you have probably noticed, I've been playing around with my blog template. I've started linking my sites together. I'd love to have you take a look at all of them and discover a little bit more about what I do. A few points to note before you get started. First of all, my Connecticut resource page on the Charter Oak Genealogy website is getting built slowly. I'll get there eventually, but have patience! Second, I'm by no means an expert on Luxembourger genealogy. I'm lucky in that I was handed my Luxembourg line almost fully traced but unlikely in the fact that their ethnic background was almost missing from the story - my Luxembourg ancestor married a German woman. I'm learning as I go. I do speak and read French but German and Luxembourgish is new.
With those blog revisions, I'm also considering how to improve my blog topics. I'd love to hear - within reason - what topics you'd like to see me cover. I can't guarantee I'll get to everything, but I'd would like to try a few.

Connecticut Genealogy Book Review: Connecticut Researcher's Handbook

2012-01-18T16:24:00.000-05:00

    Note to self - never store the information on books you're intending to review at the bottom of your library bag. You won't find them for months...
   I started looking for a genealogy guide specific to Connecticut this summer and stumbled across Connecticut Researcher's Handbook (Thomas Kemp, Gale Research, Detroit, MI, 1981). This guide is screaming for an update and reissue. It dates from 1981 and is no longer easily obtainable. I found a copy at the local library.
      This book is divided into two sections. The first is a bibliography entitled "Connecticut General Subjects." That portion touches on everything from Jewish history to information on loyalists. While it is now outdated, it is still a valid starting point for research. The second part of Connecticut Researcher's Handbook covers counties and towns. The county pages are somewhat vague. They contain the county organization date, a list of towns within that county, and a list of published works about that county. The town pages are possibly my favorite of the resources. They list the name, county, organization date, and parent town. They follow with cemetery listings - and the appropriate citation for the Hale Collection; transcriptions of census and church records; the name of the library and historical society; the probate district; the coverage of the town vital records collection and more.
     Much of the author's work is now outdated, but a few sections are still of great use. The town clerk's vital record coverage can be almost impossible to determine without help. All towns had to keep records after 1897; some towns started much earlier. Probate districts can also be confusing. Your ancestor's will may be three towns away from his residence because of the probate districts. This guide, although it does not take into account recent changes in districts, can provide a starting point for finding the appropriate court.
     I would love to see this book reissued for the internet age. It has great bones. With a little work, it could be a fantastic current resource.

Tuesday's Tip: H-Connecticut Listserv

2012-01-17T16:23:00.000-05:00

I'm sure many of you are familiar with the Rootsweb listservs, designed to appeal to genealogists. But how many of you have heard of H-Net? Designed as the history of equivalent of Rootsweb, H-net also offers fantastic opportunities for collaboration with historians, scholars and genealogists.
H-Connecticut is run by the Connecticut state historian and offers regular posts about history, genealogy, local workshops, and more. The latest series of posts discussed sources for learning about Connecticut immigrants. There were some great suggestions for further reading and for research. Joining the listserv gives you the opportunity to participate in these discussions and have new information arriving in your mailbox. Visit http://www.h-net.org/~ctlist/.

Martin Luther King, Jr's visit to CT

2012-01-16T09:47:00.001-05:00

Enjoy your Martin Luther King day holiday. I hope many of you will be honoring Dr. King through community service today!
I stumbled across this news article about Dr. King's visits to Simsbury this morning and how they shaped his later philosophy. Take a look: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/01/17/assignment_america/main7255823.shtml.

Church Record Sunday: How do I find my Irish (French-Canadian, Italian) ancestor's Catholic church?

2012-01-15T21:16:00.001-05:00

Thank you so much for the wonderful comment that prompted this post. The question was posed in terms of Waterbury and Irish immigrants, but it could also apply to Italian or French-Canadian immigrants: how do you locate the Catholic church that might hold their records? The ethnic church of today might have looked very different when your ancestor arrived.
I'd be the first to admit my technique isn't perfect, but it works fairly well in Middlesex County, where I am most comfortable. I start by determining the current list of Catholic churches in the town using Google. I then open each church's website. Most churches - although not all - have a web page with a short history of the church. Look for and record each church's establishment date and ethnic traditions. Soon you will have a timeline that you can compare against major events in your ancestor's life. If there are two or more churches in the area, first check the church closest to your ancestor's residence. Second, consider using your list of ethnic traditions. Your ancestor could have attended either one. Good luck!

Society Saturday Update: Connecticut Historical Society

2012-01-14T09:39:00.000-05:00

Thanks to a few of my Connecticut genealogy friends for sharing Connecticut Historical Society's latest tour. Thought it might be of interest to a few of you the next time you visit CT. The Connecticut Historical Society is offering a behind the scenes tour on the second Saturday of each month. Here's the information copied from their website:

Behind-the-Scenes Tours

Saturday, January 14
FREE with general admission
Join us each second Saturday in 2012 for one or both of these 45-minute guided tours:
2:00 Behind-the-Scenes Collections Tour
Get a sneak peek into non-public storage areas and see some of the CHS collection not currently on exhibit.
3:00 Secrets of the Veeder House
From the servants' quarters to the original elevator, this is a rare opportunity to explore the architecture and see some of the non-public details of the 1928 house that is now CHS.
For more information, call (860) 236-5621 x209 or email Mary Muller.

I'll probably not make it up this weekend, but I'm definitely adding this to my to-do list. I can't even imagine what the CHS vault looks like. CHS has been in Connecticut since the 19th century, so I can imagine that it has a lot that could tell me about my ancestor's lives. I can't wait.

Follow Friday: A Blog Post on Organizing Colonial Ancestor

2012-01-13T16:52:00.000-05:00

I was a little starved for blog ideas tonight... okay, I'll admit it, I'm exhausted. As a result, I did some web searching and discovered some old posts on organizing your colonial New England ancestors on Elyse's Genealogy Blog. It has some neat ideas for organizing ancestors. I don't know about you, but mine all seem to be interrelated. Organization helps.
Here goes: http://elysesgenealogyblog.com/organizing-colonial-new-england-ancestor/.

Connecticut's Immigrants: the Irish

2012-01-12T19:47:00.000-05:00

I could spend a lifetime describing how the Irish ended up in Connecticut. I'm sure we all can think of the basic causes: the Irish Potato Famine and political turmoil. However, it's usually more complicated. Don't forget to look at your ancestor's experience after the United States. It's often reflective of why they immigrated. Not everyone wanted to be an industrial worker in a city.
How do you find records of your Irish ancestors? You can start by reviewing books on Irish genealogy. Tracing Your Irish Ancestors is one of my favorites. It's a good way to familiarize yourself with the basic local sources. Then try to track down the local Catholic church. Many Irish immigrants were Roman Catholic, and their churches, often the oldest RC churches in Connecticut, document their life in great detail. Finally, don't forget immigration and travel records. I finally located my Irish ancestor's birth location on his daughter's passport. An ancestor's naturalization papers may also list that information.

Workday Wednesday: Connecticut Impressionists

2012-01-11T09:58:00.000-05:00

The word "Impressionist" often brings to mind Giverny, France, but many Impressionists also called Connecticut home. The Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme was once the center of an artists' community. Beginning in 1899, artists traveled regularly to southern Connecticut to paint. Many lived in the house and painted on the grounds. Others settled in the area of Lyme and Old Lyme. Although their style of art eventually fell out of favor, the artists never completely left the Lyme vicinity.
Arts groups still call Old Lyme home. Lyme Academy of Fine Arts, a four-year art based college, is located in Lyme. The Lyme Art Association, created to sell the artists' work, is still functioning as an exhibition hall, class space, and resale space. Both are located within a few blocks of the Griswold Museum.
If you believe your family might have ties to the American Impressionists, consider visiting the Florence Griswold Museum in person or on the web at www.florgris.org.

Sources:
http://www.lymeart.com/history/1.html
http://www.flogris.org/learning/foxchase/html/essay_colony.php
http://www.neh.gov/news/humanities/2007-09/High_Thinking.html

Tuesday's Tip: Don't Forget to Chase Down Those Unrelated Household Members

2012-01-10T09:21:00.001-05:00

I wanted to share this tip after finally piecing together a matrilineal line. Don't forget to trace down those "unrelated" individuals on the census! My ancestor's husband had died within six years of her marriage, leaving her with two small children - and me with no idea of her maiden name. Her first name was too common to be of any use by itself, but the person she was living with finally solved the problem for me. In following the family from the 1860 census to 1870, I was able to identify the "boarder' in the house as the woman's brother.
With that information, I followed him back on the census. The census soon yielded their parents' names as well as the names of their siblings. A quick search of the Barbour Collection located her exact birth date and location. I went back three more generations that day. All because I finally decided to follow everyone in the household, not just the person I was sure was related to my ancestor.

Military Monday: The Spanish-American War Army

2012-01-09T20:33:00.000-05:00

I've been doing writing on my favorite field - the Civil War - so I thought it was time to talk briefly about a different time period. The Spanish-American War is often forgotten by our 21st century culture. Spurred by the "attack" on the U.S.S. Maine, the war with Spain over Cuba lasted from 1898 and 1899. Americans joined the Army to fight, drawn by the desire to defend the country's honor. Connecticut men enlisted in local regiments, much as they had during the Civil War. Most served for just under a year.
Spanish-American veterans' records can be found in a variety of locations. Published regimental histories of the 1st Connecticut Volunteer History, two of which are available on Amazon.com, can offer insight into a soldier's day to day life. The National Archives hold pension files and compiled military service records of local veterans. Local historical societies may hold records of your ancestor's service - everything from bullets to letters. Finally, like Civil War veterans, Spanish-American War veterans had their own fraternal organization. It was eventually disbanded, and the Connecticut State Library now holds its records. Visit the finding aid at http://www.cslib.org/archives/finding_aids/rg081.html for more information.
This is just a quick beginning of a fascinating subject. I hope it inspires a few of you to do your own research!

Sources:
http://www.cthistoryonline.org/cdm-cho/cho/journeys/j_infra_war_spam.html
http://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2000/summer/philippine-insurrection.html

Connecticut's Civil War: Connecticut's African-American 29th Connecticut Infantry

2012-01-08T10:46:00.000-05:00

I was reading through Geneabloggers's Civil War blogs list this morning, looking for new resources. In so doing, I stumbled across The USCT Chronicle (http://usctchronicle.blogspot.com/2011_01_01_archive.html). The USCT Chronicle offers genealogists and historians an introduction to the United States Colored Troops. These were units of African-American who served as part of the regular Union Army. If you know nothing about them, the blog is worthwhile reading.
Connecticut did not have a USCT regiment, but a Connecticut African-American regiment did serve during the American Civil War. The 29th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry (Colored) was organized in New Haven in March of 1864. They had trench duty outside of Petersburg and Richmond - hard, dangerous work - for almost a year. When Richmond was abandoned, they were first infantry regiment into the city. The 29th occupied some of the South's cities until November 1865.
The 29th's service has only been recently recognized. A group of descendants made sure than their ancestors were honored. Monuments to the regiment were erected in Danbury in 2007 and New Haven in 2008. The group's efforts have made information about the regiment widely available.

Sources:
http://www.itd.nps.gov/cwss/regiments.cfm
http://conn29th.org/history.htm

Society Saturday: The Connecticut Historical Society

2012-01-07T20:59:00.000-05:00

I thought I'd use this Saturday as a chance to profile one of my favorite Connecticut historical societies. The Connecticut Historical Society is located in Hartford, near Elizabeth Park. Founded in 1825, the CHS has an incredible collection that encompasses all of Connecticut history. Their website has limited capabilities - the only online exhibit is a profile of the G. Fox Department store - but their museum, library and staff more than make for these limitations. A permanent exhibition outlines Connecticut history, while rotation exhibitions touch on different aspects of Connecticut life. A recent exhibit on needlepoint samples was a state-wide favorite. Their staff is equally impressive. I've had quick responses to emailed inquires about local restorers and more. If you're looking for an introduction to Connecticut history or basic genealogy information, this is a good place to start. For more information, visit their website at http://www.chs.org.

Genealogical Niche?

2012-01-06T16:04:00.000-05:00

A blog post on Marian Pierre-Louis's Roots and Rambles got me thinking about genealogical niches. Her blog post (http://rootsandrambles.blogspot.com/2012/01/everyone-needs-niche-right.html) was unfilled niches. I started wondering about how one defines their own niche.

For me, it's been a mix of where I live, my family history, and my academic background. Connecticut's always been part of life for me. The fact that the most genealogically obsessed branch of my family is from here just makes it that much better. I'm trained as a historian and stumbled into Civil War history fairly early on - actually after finding a letter written by/for an enslaved man serving with the Confederate Army in a Connecticut archives. Funny how these things happen, right?

I do have other branches of my family history that intrigue me, and frankly, if I lived closer to where that history took place, I'd probably claim it as part of my "niche." I stumbled across the Connecticut Luxembourgers while researching another branch, not from this area.

On the other hand, I have branches of my family tree I've traced no more than two generations back. Sometimes it's area; sometimes it's just not having those stories. You never know.

So how did you define your niche?

Connecticut's Civil War: "Connecticut Military and Naval Leaders in the Civil War"

2012-01-05T19:57:00.000-05:00

I'm always on the hunt for new Civil War books. It's been one of my favorite research topics for years, and I'm lucky enough to be able to teach classes on the subject. A new book generally means something new for me to research!
This time, I decided to take a look at The Connecticut Civil War Centennial: Connecticut Military and Naval Leaders in the Civil War. Produced for the Centennial in 1965, this is technically a pamphlet - although the local library system treats it as a book. Only 42 pages long, the book is comprised of short biographies of Union military leaders with some tie to Connecticut. Some are familiar faces, such as Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy. Others I'd never heard of, such as New Haven born Luther Prentice Bradley (p. 30).
While a few of the profiles are overly laudatory, most are a concise rendering of the individual's life and service. They offer a birth date and location, a small outline of antebellum civilian life, and finally, a detailed listings of postings and battles up to the end of the war. If you don't have a Civil War ancestor, this may seem boring reading. However, if you number an ancestor among these men, this pamphlet is a goldmine. You now have a listings of battles in which your ancestor served. A quick search for battle accounts should be enough to tell you about your ancestor's experience in great detail.

Happy research!

Middletown Captains' Graves Rediscovered

2012-01-05T12:18:00.000-05:00

Those of you with Connecticut trading ties might be interested in the following item: http://www.courant.com/community/middletown/hc-middletown-sea-captain-20120102,0,7742499.story.

Connecticut Immigrants: Luxembourgers

2012-01-04T20:05:00.000-05:00

Wondering what I'm talking about? You're probably not alone. We all know the groups that immigrated to Connecticut en masse: Irish, Italian, and Polish are probably among the most familiar. Yet, migrants from other countries have also called Connecticut home.
Immigrating around the same time as the Irish - and also driven by famine and the instability of life in Europe - some immigrants from Luxembourg found their way to the Meriden area. Their numbers were never large. Drawn by farm land, most immigrants chose to settle in the Midwest. Those who remained in Connecticut may have mixed with the local German population, as they shared a common language.
If your "German family" came from Meriden, who knows? You may in fact be Luxembourger.

For more information:
http://luxamculturalsociety.org/

Sources:
“19^th Century,” Institut Grand-Ducal, Section de linguistique, d'ethnologie et d'onomastique (http://www.institutgrandducal.lu/Joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=128&Itemid=239: accessed 20 April 2011).

Suzanne L. Bunkers, “Reflections of Luxemburg in the Rural Midwestern United States,” Reflections of Luxembourg in the U.S. (http://www.intech.mscu.edu/bunkers/reflections_of_luxembourg_in_the_u_s.htm accessed 13 April 2011).

Octavie Modert, speech given at the Annual Cultural Conference, New Luxembourg, Wisconsin, 6 August 2010; transcript published by the Ministère de la Culture, de l’Enseignement Supérieur et de la Recherche, Ouverture d’esprit (http://www.mcesr.public.lu : accessed 14 April 2011).

“The Luxembourgers in America,” The Library of Congress, European Reading Room (http://www.loc.gov/rr/european/imlu/luxem.hmtl: 17 April 2011).

"Getting Started,” The Luxembourg American Cultural Society (http://www.luxamculturalsociety.org/links.html#geneology_research: accessed 20 April 2011).

“Luxembourg Settlements,” Institut Grand-Ducal, Section de linguistique, d'ethnologie et d'onomastique (http://www.institutgrandducal.lu/Joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=128&Itemid=239: accessed 20 April 2011).

“19^th Century,” Institut Grand-Ducal, Section de linguistique, d'ethnologie et d'onomastique (http://www.institutgrandducal.lu/Joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=128&Itemid=239: accessed 20 April 2011).

Dick Witry, “Luxembourg Brotherhood of America,” Luxembourg Brotherhood of America (http://www.luxam.info/LBA.html: accessed 20 April 2011). “The Luxembourgers in America.”

“Links,” The Luxembourg American Cultural Society (http://www.luxamculturalsociety.org/links.html#geneology_research: accessed 20 April 2011).

Information and Press Service of the Luxembourg Government, ed. “About….History of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg,” Government of Luxembourg, Informations et actualités du gouvernement luxembourgeois (http://www.gouvernement.lu: accessed 17 April 2011).

George McDonald, Frommer’s Belgium, Holland & Luxembourg, 10^th Edition (Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, 2007), 506.

(And my apologies for the improper citation... “Luxembourgers in the New World” – Two Volume Set – Nicholas Gonnor translation and index by Jean Ensch, Jean-Claude Muller, Robert E. Owen)

Tuesday's Tip: Finding Connecticut Obituaries

2012-01-03T13:42:00.000-05:00

I'm a member of many of the Rootsweb listservs for this area and just stumbled across a request for an obituary look up. It made me wonder: how many can be found online? The short answer - not many. You will usually have to hire someone to do a look up for you. But online indexes can help you locate the correct newspaper and make a look up a lot easier. Here's a preview of a few sources:

1) From the JewishGen, a partial index of The Connecticut Jewish Ledger. This index is of scattered years, mostly in the 1970s and 80s: http://www.jewishgen.org/databases/USA/Connecticut.htm

2) The Ridgefield Public Library has created an index for The Ridgefield Press. They also have an organized way to look up obituaries for you: http://acorn-online.net/acornonline/obits/obindex.htm.

And always call the local library. They may be able to tell you where to find an index - before you have to pay for a researcher.

Happy hunting!

Mappy Monday: Connecticut "Unique Place Names"

2012-01-02T16:57:00.000-05:00

Connecticut has a tendency to name parts of towns as though they were municipalities. This can cause problems for non-locals who, naturally, believe that they're looking at a reference for an actual town. It's only when they search for a town clerk's office that they discover they have a problem. If you've ever tried to locate the records for an ancestor living in Tylerville (Haddam), you know what I mean.
This morning's search to place a village in the proper town finally motivated me to find a resource that could do it for me. As luck would have it, such a thing does actually exist! The Connecticut State Library has something they call the "Unique Connecticut Place Names" list. It can be found at http://www.cslib.org/placenames.htm. This list, which can be sorted alphabetically by either village name or town name, lists the village name followed by the town. It's a huge time saver.
I'm still searching for a version of this list that links to map images...

Connecticut's Civil War: Tracing Your Civil War Ancestors

2012-01-01T19:45:00.001-05:00

I hunted down Bertram Hawthorne Groene's Tracing Your Civil War Ancestors in hopes of finding a good Civil War genealogy textbook. Unfortunately, the book is very dated, despite having been reissued in 1995. Of the eight chapters of Groene's work, all but "Acquiring and Identifying Civil War Equipment" should be of use to Civil genealogist. Most have to be approached with great caution now.
In the section on the National Archives, I would recommend only the first page. That page provides an outline of the records available onsite. The remainder of the section describes, in great detail, the use of NATF Form 80. The genealogist attempting to use Form 80 would find themselves lost. It is no longer used by the Archives.
The section on the state archives is, sadly, completely unusable to the genealogist. It recommends that one write a letter to the state archives, requesting all information that they may have on a specific soldier. While most archives would respond to such a letter, the results may be lacking. One needs to know what records exist to be sure that they have all been consulted.
Of great use to the genealogist is the section on the Official Records. Made up of various publications of the Army and the Navy, these publications are usually forgotten by genealogists. They're well worth your time - as I hope you'll discover for yourself.
The final sections of the book refer to publications on the war. Many may still be of use, if you're willing to wade through the long list offered. I'll admit I skimmed this section.
While I will not be using this work as a textbook, I would recommend it to a newbie. It's worth a look.

New Year's Resolutions?

2012-01-01T16:37:00.000-05:00

I had a bit of fun this afternoon reading the Geneabloggers feed on New Year's resolutions. Some of the resolutions were ones that many of us share, such as the desire to get published, or to join a new society. Others were a little more personal. A lot of us seem to want to research in some obscure location. We definitely have family in some strange locations!
It started me thinking about my own research and what my goals would be. In terms of Connecticut research, it turns out I'm actually headed in the right direction. I'm still exploring lots of different avenues. I tend to jump on to whatever topic interests me. And my distraction has turned out to be a good thing. I've learned a lot about my own family and about Connecticut: I've discovered the mysterious ancestor who captained a ship on the Connecticut River, found a lot of new lines, and learned about periods of history I knew nothing about. I'd never heard of Chatham until about six months ago. Where would I go from here if I had time? Probably to track down a few of those female lines that no one had bothered to trace.
What about you? What are your genealogy resolutions? I'd love to hear.

Post-Christmas Presents: Wishes for a New Year!

2011-12-31T12:06:00.000-05:00

Wishing you all a Happy and Productive New Year!

Society Saturday: Wethersfield Historical Society

2011-12-31T11:58:00.001-05:00

If you know nothing about the Wethersfield Historical Society (http://www.wethhist.org/), you're in for a treat. Established in 1932, the Wethersfield Historical Society is heavily involved in life in the historic district of Wethersfield. They own two historic homes, manage several other properties, house an extensive library, and run lecture series and walking tours within the town.

Most of my contact with the Historical Society has been through the museums and walking tours. The museums are set as period properties, an informative structure for anyone wanting to learn more about the time period and the location. Walking tours are organized around different topics, all featuring aspects of Wethersfield's history. Unless you know Wethersfield inside and out, you're guaranteed to learn something. I'm sure the library collection is equally informative.

Post-Christmas Presents: Connecting with your Genealogy Relatives

2011-12-31T11:37:00.000-05:00

One of the greatest genealogy "gifts" is finding a relative who is also researching your family. I've found copies of a great-great-aunt's diary, family photos, and more. There is actually a resource set up to help you make these connections. Rootsweb offers a surname search option (http://rsl.rootsweb.ancestry.com/). Enter the surname and location. Rootsweb will return a list of people researching the surname, the location, the migration pattern of the family and a few more details to help you determine that you have a line in common. If this search happens not to return any relative, you can submit your own information. Hopefully your new relative will hold that missing key!

Follow Friday: Courant My Towns

2011-12-31T11:19:00.000-05:00

One of the best ways to follow local happenings in the world of Connecticut history and genealogy - besides Patch.com - is to study The Hartford Courant's "My Towns" sections. Created using reader submitted comments, the "My Towns" section (http://www.courant.com/community/) features club and business events, movie notices, and historical society releases. It is that last category that I find most beneficial.
These releases announce often special events and new exhibitions. While I can't attend every event, these notices still help me with my research. There's always more to learn about Connecticut history. An announcement can provide the perfect starting point to discovering more about a town.

Post-Christmas Presents: That Missing Family Memoir

2011-12-29T21:03:00.000-05:00

We all have one - that missing family diary that we salivate over. Of course, since all our ancestors wrote down their thoughts, they must be out there. Somewhere. Right?

Well, maybe. If your family was anything like mine, the more recent ancestor may have kept a diary. And the best place to look? Try the Connecticut State Library. The Connecticut State Library is home to several collections that might house your family documents. The History and Genealogy unit keeps what are called "Special Genealogical Files." Organized by family name, they contain information on that family within the state. Also check out the genealogical collections and manuscript collections. The finding aids (an advanced index) are at http://www.cslib.org/archives/FAIndexes/#genS. I found material under genealogical collections on one of my branches.

Happy searching!

Post-Christmas Presents: Finding Those Missing Artifacts

2011-12-28T20:46:00.000-05:00

One of the great genealogical gifts is the discovery of a family item thought lost or gone for good. How often have we been lucky enough to stumble upon a long forgotten photo or cherished artifact?

An article from the Jacksonville (FL) Journal Courier has been making the rounds of genealogical newsletters and websites. That article, found at http://www.myjournalcourier.com/news/family-37126-long-county.html, describes a man's search for some long missing family photographs. It has started many wondering how to find their own "missing" (misplaced or long lost) items.

Marian Pierre-Louis of Marian's Roots and Rambles (http://rootsandrambles.blogspot.com/2011/12/genre-and-genealogy.html) has proposed some tips for finding those artifacts. She suggested beginning, much as the article's subject did, with contacting living relatives. Blog posts may also be helpful in making your search known.

You may also want to consider a few more things. Check genealogical message boards on Genforum and Rootsweb for your ancestor's area. Discovered items are often listed in posts. As aforementioned, make sure that you check eBay listings for the area and the type of artifact. Check with the local historical society to see if they've received any of your family items. And never forget Google.

Town Profile: Essex

2011-12-28T19:37:00.000-05:00

A recent visit to the Connecticut River Museum's holiday train display reminded me of how important the village was to Connecticut's history. Essex traces its roots back to the founding of the Saybrook Plantation in the early 1600s. The Essex familiar to tourists - Essex Village - was first laid out in the mid-1700s. It quickly became a center of wooden shipbuilding. The British considered a serious military target during the War of 1812 and attacked the town. Modern Essex still reflects this colonial past, as well as much that has come after. Yachting has replaced shipbuilding as a town past ime. Essex Village still boasts 18th and 19th century homes, while the more industrial Centerbrook portion of Essex is home to the Essex Steam Train.

If you're interested in Essex genealogy, it is important to know where in the town your ancestor lived. Until 1854, all of Essex was technically part of Old Saybrook. Early vital records are likely stored there. Later records should be held by the town clerk. Church records will have a much wider span. Centerbrook had its own congregational church as early as 1722. Knowing the local church will be crucial. For other records, Essex Historical Society has a well developed collection and appears to be well worth a phone call.

Happy research!

References:
A very useful local history written by the town historian: http://www.essexct.gov/history/briefhistory.html.
Connecticut River Museum: http://www.ctrivermuseum.org/content/visitinfo.aspx?sid=0
Essex Historical Society: http://www.essexhistory.org/research-at-essex-historical-society.htm

Post-Christmas Presents: Oral Histories

2011-12-27T11:32:00.000-05:00

Among my Christmas gifts this year was the chance to listen to an oral history done with one of my relatives. That relative is now deceased, and with his death, we thought we had lost many of his stories. Fortunately for our family, the local historical society had managed to record what we had not. As a result, we have a thorough record of his business career, personal life, and more. Even better, it's in his own voice.

Hearing it was a reminder to me to take the time to record family stories. This oral history was fairly straightforward - an hour or so taken on an old fashioned tape recorder. The quality isn't great, but it is something that any of us could easily do at home. Just write out a list of questions and start talking. An hour isn't much to record a family treasure.

And if you're really lucky, the University of Connecticut may have already done some of the work for you. Their Office of Oral History has been recording Connecticut voices for some time. They've produced several major projects on Connecticut life and have developed a stockpile of interviews. Check out their website at http://www.oralhistory.uconn.edu/projects.html. You may find your ancestor or relative listed on their projects roster.

And one more useful resource...

2011-12-27T10:34:00.000-05:00

I hate to admit it, but the Connecticut State Library newsletter was new to me. Take a look at the article part way through on the Ancestry.com digitization efforts: http://www.cslib.org/connector/11connector10.pdf.

A useful blog post...

2011-12-27T09:15:00.001-05:00

This blog post struck me as being so helpful that I thought I'd share: http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art174507.asp.

Post-Christmas Presents: Ancestor Photos

2011-12-26T16:20:00.000-05:00

I'm in the midst of finishing a new book to review, so you'll probably be seeing that shortly. In the meantime, I wanted to share what will no doubt become a post-Christmas tradition in our household.

Every so often, I alternate my framed photos and add a few new ones to my photo collection. This year, for the first time, I'm adding some photos of ancestors. There's something incredible about being able to look at a childhood photo of your great-(or more) grandparent. It's even more powerful once you realize that photo was probably the only one taken of him or her before their marriage, since photos were so expensive. I'm already thinking about how to find more for my collection.

How did I find the ones I have? A few stems on the family tree did take a lot of photos. However, some branches took almost none - and I've had to get creative to find what they did take. One of the best places to look is Ebay. Some antique dealers specialize in paper objects, especially photography. Try looking for the word "photography" and your ancestor's home town. This may yield only postcards, but often it will also return local photographers' work. Less known, but sometimes more successful, is FindAGrave.com. Relatives will often add photos to grave site information. Once in a while, historical societies will use this as a means to connect a photo collection with relatives. Take a look. You may be in for a surprise.

Merry Christmas to all!

2011-12-25T07:46:00.001-05:00

Admittedly, I'm taking today off. Enjoy your holiday!

Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories: Christmas Eve

2011-12-24T09:56:00.000-05:00

Well, the holiday's officially here! We've finally decided what decorations are going up and which ones are getting packed again until next year. I have to admit that I enjoy this part almost as much as unpacking. We talk through each ornament and recall its heritage. It's a great Christmas gift, and the first of our many holiday traditions.

I hope that you enjoy a wonderful Christmas eve!

It's time to start the holidays...

2011-12-23T14:47:00.000-05:00

As I get further into the holiday weekend, I'm starting to wonder about family traditions. I love hearing stories of special family traditions or ethnic heritage. Unfortunately, several sides of my family seem to have completely Americanized. They told of the traditional Christmas trees, holiday meal, and Christmas service. One side passed down great stories of Black Peter (it's Germanic, for those of you unfamiliar) and lighting the tree Christmas eve. Besides these little mentions, I'm left to guess what my ancestor's family Christmas celebrations must have been like.

I really wish I could find a way to fill in the blanks. It's easier said then done - a few holiday photos provide most of the details. Other than that, I'm out of ideas. So I'm throwing out the question: how do you discover your ancestors' past? Do you have great holiday stories?

Follow Friday: Patch.com

2011-12-23T14:41:00.000-05:00

For those of you who are unfamiliar, Patch.com is an online newspaper. Based locally, the Patch.com sites tend to cover one to three towns. While the main page often has something to do with a major news event, editors often make space for history and genealogy subjects. This can be a great way to delve into an area's history.

So how do you get started? Visit Patch.com and click through to the local site. Once you're there, search for the word history. You'll be surprised at what turns up. For examples, take a look at this column: http://manchester.patch.com/columns/this-week-in-connecticut-history-ff8bbe8e.

Thankful Thursday: Those Great Family Stories

2011-12-22T16:17:00.000-05:00

As I'm preparing for this weekend's holiday, I'm finding myself very thankful for the great treasure trove my family has left me in the form of oral histories. Thanks to the insistence of one family member, I knew as a first grader that I was a Mayflower descendant - and precisely from which passenger I descended. That same family member soon added that I was also the descendant of a Revolutionary War soldier. Another family member gave me the story of their immigrant heritage in great detail. These often repeated stories were not acknowledged as they should have been when I was a child, but I am now incredibly glad of the gift. I'm also glad for the lesson those relatives taught me: pass on your family stories.

From those few details, I have been introduced to ancestors with tremendous histories. Remember that ship captain I mentioned in an earlier blog post? He was mentioned in a family legend. It has taken me years to locate him and to fill in the blanks in his stories. However, finding his ship's information gifted me with great insight into an ancestor who died in his early 30s. I have a dozen more stories like him.

I've also been taught some good lessons about genealogy. Those same relatives encouraged me to ask questions about their families. As a result, I had partially completed trees for several families as a child. They also reminded me to write things down. In a few cases, my notes stood as the only record of an ancestor's heritage. No one had done any other work. In short - ask, question, and record.

So why do I even bring this up? Just to remind you that the only gifts of the holiday don't need to be wrapped. Tell your family about their history. Force your youngest relatives to listen to those same boring old stories. Ask the older relatives every question you can think of. Don't be among those who wish they had asked when... Both generations will thank you for it.

Connecticut's Civil War: December 21, 1861

2011-12-21T10:01:00.001-05:00

In today's post, I decided to turn to my favorite topic of research - the Civil War. According to the website "Connecticut and Civil War," 55,000 Connecticut men served in the conflict. The site further indicates that that was 47% of the population between 15 and 50. In December 1861, many of the troops had yet to see conflict. Out of 29 Connecticut regiments, only the 1st through 11th had actually left the state.

December 21, 1861 found the 6th Regiment Connecticut Volunteer Infantry (organized in New Haven) camped on Hilton Head. Union forces had captured the island in the Battle of Port Royal on November 7th. It was quickly transformed to serve two purposes. First, it became the military headquarters for the Department of the South. Second, and important to the 6th, it was also the home base for further occupying action in the South. The 6th likely used the time there to rest, train for future conflict, and solidify the Union gains on the island. In protecting the Union advance, the 6th laid the groundwork for the base that was to house a general hospital and eventually thousands of escaped slaves.

There are many ways to research the experience of the 6th. You can start with what are called the CMSR (compiled military service records). Connecticut records are not among those recorded on Fold3.com, so you will have to order the microfilm from the National Archives. Your local library may be able to help you. You can also take a look at The Letters and Journal of a Civil War Surgeon. The compiled memoirs of the 6th surgeon, it should provide details of the 6th's service. Finally, you can order your soldier's pension file from the National Archives. Hopefully one of the sources will have what you need.

For more information, visit the previously referenced sites:
http://www.ccsu.edu/page.cfm?p=2296.
http://www.hiltonheadislandsc.gov/ourisland/history.cfm
http://www.itd.nps.gov/cwss/regiments.cfm
http://etc.usf.edu/clipart/galleries/history/1861-1865_civil_war_places.php?page=4&term=
http://www.amazon.com/Letters-Journal-Civil-War-Surgeon/dp/1571970959/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1324481279&sr=8-3

Tuesday's Tip: Can't find your CT river valley ancestors?

2011-12-20T09:39:00.001-05:00

It can be infuriating to lose your 18th century Connecticut River Valley ancestors. Logically, you would assume that they didn't move far from their original home. They should - in theory - be found within a town or two of where their descendants settled. Except it doesn't always happen that way. Connecticut River settlers tended to move up and down the river, driven by the call of open land. I've seen many shoreline residents disappear from the shore to end up in a northern corner of the state. So, how do you find them?

For some strange reason, settlers tended not to cross the river. It may simply have been too much of a challenge. As a result, you can often trace settlers by moving from town to town up the river. Check each town as you travel north. It's methodical and sometimes boring, but it should get you what you need.

Town Profile: Chatham, CT

2011-12-19T10:10:00.001-05:00

I was considering going back to some of my original themes and decided today would be the perfect time. I'm continuing the survey of Connecticut's non-town towns.

Chatham was established in 1767 and existed until 1915. Originally, it contained both modern day Portland and East Hampton. Portland, at the time called Conway, split off in 1841. The remaining town's name was changed to East Hampton in 1915, although you will still see the Chatham name used.
If your ancestor was born in Chatham, finding vital and baptismal records will likely require checking both towns. However, you may be saved a step if you can find their church. Each town had its own church. East Hampton Congregational Church was built in 1755. First Congregational Church of Portland was constructed in 1721. Each should hold the records for the local area.

For more information:
http://www.easthamptonct.org/Pages/2007visitorguide.pdf
http://www.cc-eh.org/our_church.htm
http://www.firstchurchportlandct.org/

Connecticut Valley Hospital Cemetery records

2011-12-19T09:52:00.000-05:00

Connecticut Valley Hospital was founded in 1868 to treat, house, and occasionally provide a final resting place for the state's poor with mental illness. Some went home. Others died at the hospital and, having no other burial options, were buried onsite.
For their descendents, this has often meant a long search for their ancestors' graves. Grave sites were initially marked only by number. In the 1990s, an effort was made to acknowledge those buried at the Connecticut Valley Cemetery between 1878 and 1957. A listing of names is now available onsite. A digital roster is also available for those who cannot travel to the area. If you are among these descendents, consider visiting http://www.godfreydata.org/cvc.html.

Church Record Sunday: Online CT Church History

2011-12-18T11:14:00.000-05:00

Searching for new church records this morning, I stumbled across a history book that might be of use to those studying early Connecticut church history. Benjamin Trumbull published his A COMPLETE History of Connecticut CIVIL AND ECCLESIASTICAL From the Emigration of its First Planters, from England, in the Year 1630, to the Year 1764; and to the Close of the Indian Wars IN TWO VOLUMES in 1898. Volume 1 has been made available online by Quinnipiac University's library at http://www.quinnipiac.edu/other/ABL/etext/trumbull/histconn1main.html. The book is admittedly a long and difficult read - and I've only looked at the first few chapters. However, it is worth your time. It carefully associates the original settlements in Connecticut with their origins in England, especially the church communities. If you're looking to make the jump across the pond, this may be of help.

Society Saturday: Cromwell Historical Society

2011-12-17T08:20:00.000-05:00

The Cromwell Historical Society deserves kudos for maintaining a great website in addition to their onsite collection. Their "Cromwell History" section at http://www.cromwellhistory.org/Cromwell_History.html starts with a quick history of Cromwell, CT, highlighting its break from Middletown. The page continues by offering links to a variety of websites on local history. Some are images of local events; others offer detailed histories of local tool manufacturers. If you're interested in Cromwell's history, this website is the place to start.

Follow Friday: FamilySearch Wiki

2011-12-16T10:13:00.000-05:00

This isn't precisely a blog, but I did want to share it because of its use to Connecticut researchers. As you may or may not know, FamilySearch.org hosts state focused wikis. Connecticut's (https://www.familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Connecticut) is run by the local branch of USGenWeb. The site outlines the basic history of the site, the county system, and where to find major types of records. It also includes an interactive map of the state. Click on a county, and you will find a list of resources within the county. Some of this material is reader beware - I found a link to the Middlesex County Library in Illinois - but much is useful to a state newbie. Good luck with your research!

Those Places Thursday: the Connecticut River

2011-12-15T10:18:00.000-05:00

Looking for a topic this morning, I managed to both confirm a family legend and stumble upon a fantastic resource. One of my older relatives had held that our mutual ancestor was a riverboat captain. I was always a little vague as to the name, but this morning I finally found the census listing that sent me in the right direction. The ancestor's occupation was listed as "captain river packet." Doing a little more digging, I found Mystic Seaport's Connecticut Ships Database (http://library.mysticseaport.org/initiative/CuCustoms.cfm).

Started as a transcript of a WPA project, the Connecticut Ships Database lists most of the ships registered with the U.S. Customs Office between 1789 and 1939. The database is searchable by vessel name, a person's name, or company name. If you enter an individual's name, you will be provided with a list of all ships with which they were involved. In my case, that meant a list of three ships - separated by his status (either owner or master). You can then click on the ship's name to get a detailed description of the ship, including all owners and masters.

So thanks to my blog, I now that my ancestor worked riverboats for his early 20s. He owned one ship on his own and later worked for a relative. I love proving family stories!

Workaday Wednesday: Connecticut River Steamboats

2011-12-14T15:20:00.000-05:00

Today's Geneabloggers prompt sent me on hunt for information on one of Connecticut's most fascinating historic jobs. In the 19th century, steamboats and railroads revolutionized travel in New England. Steamboats were considered both a comfortable and fast method of travel. Although the car should have made them outdated, they remained popular through the 1930s. In that time, men had worked on dozens of steamboats.

Where do you look if your ancestor happened to work on a steamboat? Start by learning more about the steamboating culture. Connecticut's Heritage Gateway provides a good overview at http://www.ctheritage.org/biography/topical_transportation/steamboats.htm. Once you have the name of his ship, you can find out even more. The steamboat Middletown is one of the best recorded.

For more information on the history of steamboats, visit the following:
http://www.cthistoryonline.org/cdm-cho/cho/journeys/j_infra_trans_steam.html.
http://www.cthistoryonline.org/cdm-cho/cho/journeys/j_enviro_river_hwy.html

Tuesday's Tip: Where to look for CT birth records

2011-12-13T19:33:00.000-05:00

Birth records can be a genealogist's nightmare. We've all run into a situation where the birth record is key to proving our case and we have no idea how to locate it. Many states did not require registrations until the mid-20th century. Even if the birth was registered, you still need to figure out how to access it. Some records are only available at the state level, others only locally. It's always complicated.

In Connecticut, the process is actually fairly simple. Births were recorded statewide after mid-1897 but do exist before that date in certain towns. Connecticut is a closed record state for birth records. To access a record dated after 1911, you need to be a direct descendant or a member of an incorporated genealogical society. Visit http://www.americanancestors.org/connecticut-vital-records/ for more information. Once you have a date of birth and an understanding of your ability to access the records, it's time to actually request the record. The fastest way to get a record is to approach the Town Clerk for the town in which the event occurred. You will have to complete their paperwork, likely provide identification, and pay a fee. If you are unsure of the date or location of the event, apply for a copy from the state office of vital records. Their application process is described on their website: http://www.ct.gov/dph/cwp/view.asp?a=3132&q=388130. Beware, they have a long turn around time.

Good luck with your search!

Connecticut Genealogy Book Reviews Continued: Postcard History Series, Durham 1900-1950

2011-12-12T17:09:00.001-05:00

I'm still working my way though my latest library books with Postcard History Series, Durham 1900-1950. This is book is essentially a reformatted version of the Images of America publication. Many of the postcards are reused in this text, often with similar captions. Given the options, I would spend my money on this copy. Images are essentially the same (you will miss only a few postcards). This edition's writer relied less on local knowledge. If you don't know Durham, this is a good starting point to put faces to names and descriptions to buildings.

Mappy Monday: Rootsweb Town Search

2011-12-12T08:29:00.000-05:00

Thanks to Cyndi's List for pointing me in the direction of this resource, which will save you time hunting down Connecticut maps.

The Rootweb Town Search (http://resources.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/townco.cgi) will help you find the information you need to locate your ancestor's home town. It allows you to enter the name of the town and the state. The search will then return the county with a link that county's Rootsweb site. The site cannot handle historic town names such as Chatham (modern Portland/East Hampton) but does return results for villages, such as Hadlyme. With the county name, finding the town on a map should be much easier.

Church Record Sunday: CT GenWeb

2011-12-11T20:44:00.000-05:00

If you're looking for church records in a specific town, you need to start by locating the church that holds your family's records. An internet search may help you find what you need, but a trip to CTGenWeb is likely easier. Visit CTGenWeb at http://www.ctgenweb.org/. There, you will find a website devoted to each county and, within it, each town. The quality of GenWeb sites vary widely, but many contain information on all local records holders. Double check - your church may be there.

Connecticut Genealogy Book Reviews Continued: Durham, Connecticut Images of America

2011-12-11T20:12:00.000-05:00

I can finally pick up my Connecticut genealogy book reviews again with Images of America: Durham Connecticut. Organized by the Durham Historical Society, the work relies on the usual Images of America format. It is made up with images and postcards of the town, organized into chapters and labeled with descriptive information. The chapters follow the traditional themes for such works: religion, education, industry and relaxation. Images are organized chronologically within the chapter.

If you can claim a Durham ancestor, this book is worth a look. Photos include head shots of Durham residents and images of their homes. Both kinds of photos are well-labeled with names and other such details. You may find a long-wished for photo of the family home or a missing ancestor.

This is not, however, an effective history book. Writers were locals, and that is apparent in their labeling. Photos of individuals are marked only with their names and not with details of their ancestries. Destroyed houses are described based on their modern placements. Learn a little about Durham first and you'll benefit from the Images of America book.

Society Saturday: Godfrey Memorial Library

2011-12-10T17:38:00.000-05:00

If you've been doing Connecticut research for any period of time, you've probably already heard of them, but I wanted to feature Connecticut's genealogical library. The Godfrey Memorial Library (Middletown) was founded in 1947 by a local librarian and genealogist. The library has grown substantially since those early years. It now boasts around 200,000 genealogy-related books and periodicals, an online database service, and an outreach program that touches most of the surrounding community. Godfrey itself is free and open to the public.

In addition to its library services, Godfrey is home to an in-house Friends group. Friends of Godfrey Library support the library in a variety of ways, including fundraising. They also sponsor several genealogy related programs every year.

Both Godfrey and the Friends group are great resources for the new genealogist or the experienced one.

For more information, visit:
http://www.godfrey.org/mission.html.
http://www.godfrey.org/friends.html