Successful NEHGS Event Nets New Members, Entertains and Informs

Bob Anderson presented 2 of the day's 5 talks

Last Saturday, genealogists and others with an interest in early New England ancestors gathered for a day of presentations by two deeply knowledgeable experts. Robert Charles Anderson and Christopher Child offered anecdotes and insights on Mayflower passengers and life in colonial New England. Anderson regaled us with the saga of his groundbreaking The Great Migration Study Project, an undertaking that was supposed to take 3 years but is now almost 30 years along, with new discoveries continuing.

Chris Childs and Jane Lindsey catch up during a break

Child gave an overview of 17th-century immigration to New England, looking at both where the Pilgrim fathers came from and how later generations spread out over the continent. He also discussed tips and tricks designed to break down brick walls in your research. An example: know your suffixes! "Junior" and "Senior" in colonial documents do not mean what we think of today. Similarly, terms like "cousin" and "in-law" can be broadly applied to a wide range of relationships. There was also discussion of how DNA is helping to solve some old family mysteries. To sum it up in Anderson's words, "even in a field that has been digged more than any other in genealogy, further digging will still be profitable."

The day was possible thanks to the work of longtime CGS member Jane Knowles Lindsey, who first approached the New England Historic Genealogical Society to plan this event. At our membership table, seven new members joined the society and twenty-two signed up to receive our eNews. We offered participants Society information and sold some books. Two memberships were offered as door prizes.  Helping me at the membership table were Kath Merilo, Karen Wetherell, and Kathleen Beitiks.

These four beautiful quilts were donated for the silent auction

Jane organized a Silent Auction asking for donations from our members. Thanks to their generosity, we raised just over $1000. A special thanks to Tracey Laubsted and Diana Wild who helped with the auction.

Thanks also to Matt Berry, who acted as Treasurer, Ron Madson, our "official" CGS photographer, and Jerry McGovern, who helped me unload all the membership supplies when I returned to the library. 

In addition to Saturday's event, CGS offered one-on-one consultations for people who had New England research questions. Our New England experts Jim Russell, Pat Friesen, Linda Longley, Pat Smith, Roger Prince, and Jane Lindsey who provided their expertise during the day.  Karen Wetherell and I were the timekeepers. 

It takes a village and one Jane to make it all happen. Thanks to all our volunteers, our silent auction donors and those who attended the event we had a GREAT weekend!

Copyright © 2018 by California Genealogical Society

NEHGS Roadshow in Oakland September 21-22: Auction items needed, sign up for seminar and consultations!

By now you have probably heard a lot about the New England Historic and Genealogical Society's "Roadshow," coming Saturday, September 22 to the Oakland Hilton. The gala event features NEHGS experts Robert Charles Anderson and Christopher Child. They will discuss the genealogical and ideological connections among the Puritans who settled New England, the settlement and migrations within early New England, offer valuable research strategies for breaking down genealogical brick walls, and talk about ongoing scholarly contributions to the field of study.

The daylong event includes lunch, door prizes, and a silent auction. Our auction items include: a beautiful handmade quilt, a guided tour of genealogical hot spots in Seattle, research hours by our research team, fun gift baskets, and more. We can still use a few one-of-a-kind auction items, so if you have products or services you'd like to donate, please email Jane Lindsey with your suggestions as soon as possible.

On Friday, September 21, CGS offers one-on-one genealogy consultations at the Library. We still have a few spots available, so sign up soon!

Click here to register for the Roadshow 

Click here to register for genealogy consultations

To offer items for the silent auction, email Jane Lindsey

We hope to see lots of our members at the event!

Copyright © 2018 by California Genealogical Society

The Great Migration: Researching 17th-Century New England: NEHGS comes to Oakland September 22!

Robert C. Anderson and Christopher Child

The year 2020 marks the 400th anniversary of the landing of the Mayflower at Plymouth Rock, and preparations for celebrations are well under way. Leading the way is of course the grandparent of all American genealogical societies: The New England Historic Genealogical Society. On September 22, Bay Area residents have a chance to hear two renowned experts in early New England research: Robert Charles Anderson, FASG, Director of the Great Migration Study Project and Christopher C. Child, Senior Genealogist of the Newbury Street Press, editor of The Mayflower Descendant, and frequent contributor to the NEHGS Vita Brevis blog.

Anderson and Child are the featured speakers at "The Great Migration: Researching 17th-Century New England," a daylong seminar exploring the genealogical and ideological connections among the Puritans who settled New England. Speakers will also address settlement and migrations within early New England, research strategies for breaking down genealogical brick walls, and longoing scholarly contributions to the field of study. Beyond lectures, participants will have the opportunity to chat with visiting NEHGS staff, enter to win door prizes, take advantage of NEHGS membership specials, and enjoy lunch with fellow family historians. CGS will host a membership table and have a silent auction.

On Friday, September 21, consultations with members of the California Genealogical Society who are experienced in early New England research will be available at the CGS Library.

Click here to sign up for a consultation on September 21.

For tickets and more details about the September 22 event, go to the EventBrite listing.

Copyright © 2018 by California Genealogical Society

NEHGS Comes West: Time's running out!

Time's running out for donating to our Silent Auction this Saturday at NEHGS Comes West! 

We need you bring any items in by Wednesday September 10th in order to make this event a success! 

Consider giving something that reflects your expertise in genealogy (i.e.two hours of research help in a specific area),  a gift certificate to that restaurant, or a shop that you go to all the time. 


Please contact Diana Wild: dmorriswild@comcast.net or 
Jane Lindsey: jlindsey@californiaancestors.org for any questions. 



Copyright © 2014 by Ellen Fernandez-Sacco, California Genealogical Society and Library.

Wordless Wednesday

NEHGS Comes West

Friday, October 26, 2012

Hs Lordships, Berkeley, California

Photographs by Kathryn Doyle.


Copyright © 2012 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

NEHGS Comes West: Friday, October 26, 2012

The wait is over! It's been three years since our last event with the New England Historic Genealogical Society. This year NEHGS President and CEO D. Brentan Simons will be here with Rhonda McClure and David Allen Lambert who will present two tracks of lectures at our full day Friday seminar. You choose the talks you want to attend. Topics will include vital records, immigration, online searching, New York state, and, of course, New England.

Choose the seminar, the dinner, or both!

Friday, October 26, 2012, 8:45 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.
Full Day Seminar, Continental Breakfast and Lunch
Hs Lordships Restaurant at the Berkeley Marina, 199 Seawall Drive, Berkeley, California
Rhonda McClure and David Allen Lambert will present eight lectures in two tracks.

Session 1
Option A: Beyond the Grave: Looking Past Your Ancestor’s Death Record (David)
Option B: Unique Resources in NY State Research (Rhonda)

Session 2
Option A: New Resources on AmericanAncestors.org for New England Research (David)
Option B: Researching New York City Ancestors (Rhonda)

Lunch, NEHGS and CGS updates, book sales, auction results

Session 3
Option A: Getting the Most out of New England Vital Records Online, in Print and on Film (David)
Option B: The Golden Door Has Locks – Tracing Immigrant Ancestors (Rhonda)

Session 4
Option A: Researching New England Military Records (David)
Option B: I Can’t Find It – Understanding Online Search Limitations (Rhonda)

Friday, October 26, 2012, 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Optional Dinner and No-host Cocktails
Spenger’s Fresh Fish Grotto, 1919 4th Street Berkeley, California

After dinner, a presentation by Brenton: Red Alert! Save Your Family History... NOW!

Saturday, October 27, 2012, 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Private Consultations by appointment only
CGS Library, 2201 Broadway, Suite LL2, Oakland, California

A limited number of 20-minute consultations will be available for $25. Consultations must be paid in advance by September 24, 2012. Scheduling preference will be given to seminar attendees. Please email Leah Walczak or call 617-226-1226 or 888-286-3447.

Register by September 23, 2012 for our special "early bird" prices!

• Seminar- $60.00
• Dinner- $50.00

Starting September 24, 2012, the $15 discounts end, and prices will be $75 for the seminar and $65 for the dinner.

Download the registration flier.

Register online.

Rhonda R. McClure, NEHGS Senior Researcher, is a nationally recognized professional genealogist and lecturer specializing in New England and celebrity research as well as computerized genealogy.

David Allen Lambert, NEHGS Online Genealogist, has been with NEHGS since 1993. His specialties include New England, Atlantic Canadian, British, and military research. He is a national speaker and author.

Copyright © 2012 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

Judy Avery's Report from London and Who Do You Think You Are – Live 2011

There seems to be no doubt that NBC's You Do You Think You Are? is having an impact on interest in genealogy in the U.S. but we are several years behind the U.K. where the show started in 2004 and where the mother-of-all genealogical conferences just finished its fifth year. CGS member Judy Avery attended her second Who Do You Think You Are – Live! in London and sent this report.

After a wonderful visit in February 2010, here I was again, at the Who Do You Think You Are – LIVE! 2011 exposition in London! It’s billed as the “world’s largest family history event” and fills the Olympia Conference Center with sponsors such as Ancestry.co.uk, the Society of Genealogists, FamilyTree DNA, FindMyPast, FamilySearch, and many other vendors and local family history associations. A group of thirteen of us from the New England Historic Genealogical Society had a great week packed with genealogy and history.

First of all, we had an unforgettable tour of CNN London television studios, thanks to NEHGS member Jim Boulden. It was the same day events in Libya were changing by the minute and the studio was filled with eager young people rushing between offices, typing, watching four monitors at once, and editing footage. We heard the man in charge of CNN’s extensive plans for the royal wedding in April, who told us that four billion(!) people are expected to watch the ceremonies worldwide.  A tidbit – the wedding of William and Kate is not a “state wedding” since it doesn’t involve the next heir to the throne. Therefore heads of state are not on the invitation list as they were for Charles and Diana’s wedding.

We were lucky to hear George Redmonds - there is no one like him for knowledge of English surnames, geography, history, folkways, and language. He is fascinated with pre-Tudor England when there wasn’t a concept of a nation and no common language, only regional dialects. Custom and living memory were relied on instead of parish registers and statutes. George said in the 13th and 14th centuries people didn’t have a single name as is popularly thought. In the records there are thousands of “by-names,” which weren’t inherited. He gave examples of by-names which were descriptive of occupation (William Whitebrow, plasterer), physical attributes (Simon Doggeschanke, Nicholas Saddebely) the morally and physically challenged (William, son of Dokefot; Thomas Neverathom).

George and Ann-Marie Redmonds

Author Roger Thompson entertained the NEHGS group with stories of researching for his many books on colonial New England. He has a history of 17th century Charlestown, Massachusetts coming out soon. Nick Bunker, a former reporter for the Financial Times, recently published “Making Haste from Babylon: The Mayflower Pilgrims and their World.” He told us about the importance of the beaver fur trade to the early colonists and the extensive inland trading routes used by native tribes to bring furs to the coastal settlements.

Parish Church of St. Andrew Undershaft with "The Gherkin" in background.

In a break from the drizzle, we had a rare sunny day for a walking tour of parish churches within the compact City of London, led by John Titford. They are sandwiched between old or modern office buildings and most are small and serene inside. Favorites were the Temple Church, setting for “The Da Vinci Code,” and St. Bride’s Church, whose spire is the inspiration for tiered wedding cakes.

St. Stephen Walbrook, built by Wren.

In the evening we had a tour of the College of Arms where we were welcomed by Thomas Woodcock, Garter King of Arms. What a privilege to be allowed into the inner sanctum, lined with ancient books illustrating coats of arms through the centuries. These are not digitized or copied in any form – the original hand-painted books. 

College of Arms

Now on to an exhausting and fascinating two days at the fifth annual WDYTYA – LIVE! exposition! Fortunately we had “jump passes” on opening day which let us go right in. Everyone there was so friendly, eager to hear questions and offer suggestions. People lined up for a popular section called “Ask an Expert” where you could have fifteen minutes to discuss your questions with a genealogist. I got some helpful advice on looking for records of a British soldier in the 1800s. From another booth I bought a paperback Your Ancestor’s Life in Textiles to give insight into life working in the cotton mills of Lancashire. Brenton Simons and Gary Boyd Roberts were having a great time checking out several booksellers’ stalls to make additions to the NEHGS library.

NEHGS Booth with Josh Taylor, Meriwether Schmid, Gary Boyd Roberts

A visit to the Huguenot Society of London booth was a highlight for me, where I asked about a 17th century ancestor in London. They immediately did a search on their laptop and found several references to him. Later in California, I got an email saying there was even more in the files and offering to send me copies. Needless to say, I thought a membership was well worth it.

Family Tree DNA was a big presence and featured talks every hour in their area on this evolving field. A lot of it is still over my head, but I keep thinking if I listen to enough lectures, I’ll finally get it! Their Family Finder test is used to predict if two people have a common ancestor within 3 or 4 generations. It’s the test for finding half-siblings or for adoptees and goes across M-F lines. Another talk was about the National Genographic Project, started in 2003 by the National Geographic Society, and Family Tree does the testing for it. It’s useful for anthropological studies, migration patterns and deep ancestral background. An important point – National Genographic keeps its samples for five years but Family Tree DNA preserves your sample for 25 years. You can transfer your results easily from National Genographic to Family Tree – so I’m going to do that soon. Family Tree is going to start offering upgrades to test for 111 markers.

Maureen Taylor was identifying pictures in the photo booth and reported business was booming. I wish I could have gotten around to all the booths for local history societies or vendors of maps and charts. What a treat the week was for travelers and genealogists!
– Judy Avery

Photographs courtesy of Judy Avery.


Copyright © 2011 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

Judy Avery's Report From London: Who Do You Think You Are?

I'm so excited that Judy Avery agreed to send a report from this year's WDYTYA - Live. Okay, I'm a little jealous, too. Thank you, Judy, for taking time out to be our eyes and ears in London!

It's been a busy and jam-packed couple of days so at night I've been too tired to report anything! Today it's pouring rain and a good morning to stay in the hotel and actually try to write about what I've seen and heard at the conference.

It's called Who Do You Think You Are - Live: a National History Show at the Olympia Conference Center in London. Even though WDYTYA is a hit BBC show, it's not a BBC event but sponsored by Ancestry.co.uk., in association with the Society of Genealogists and The Genealogist.co.uk. It's a huge success - they estimated 10,000 to 15,000 participants over the three days and judging by the number of day passes and workshop tickets that have sold out, they've reached their goal.

The New England Historic Genealogical Society has a table in one of the corners for the first time and this is an experiment to see what response an American organization gets. The president, Brenton Simons, and three staff members are manning the table and giving lectures (they're called workshops in the brochure). Trustees and councilors were invited to join up and at least four of us are here - visiting booths (at least 200), enjoying bangers and mash for lunch and chatting with other participants.

Sandi Hewlett, Judy Avery and Meriwether Schmidt at the NEHGS table.

You should see the crowds! Very orderly, queuing up cheerfully as the British do, so happy to be here. There is a fairly-quickly moving line in front of the Military Memorabilia booth, where people are bringing in photos, medals, letters, etc. and waiting to talk to a military expert who can tell them about their treasures. Another very popular booth is Ask the Experts – a free 20-minute session with a genealogist and his laptop. Michael LeClerc and Josh Taylor have volunteered stints there, and find themselves answering family history questions about the U.K. and other European countries. They report great interest in people who went to America and have been lost by family members. "My grandmother's favorite brother went to California in 1910 and no one knows what happened to him."  Or "Mary sailed for America in 1890 - we think she went to New York and married a man named Smith." Remarkably in most cases, the staff members have been able to find some information or give helpful advice, and  people are so grateful. It seems at conferences in the U.S. we're interested in where our ancestors came from. Here we've had many questions on what became of family members in America.

Highlights for me: Maureen Taylor's talk on Scrapbooks. Remember when she gave that wonderful talk to the California Genealogical Society about dating old family photographs? She said scrapbooking in Britain isn't the big industry it is in the U.S. but it's coming. There are no big stores dedicated to readymade scrapbooks yet but supplies are in arts and craft shops. Audience members said they are making their own albums - very creative. Original photographs or documents should be copied and then pasted into the scrapbook. In the 20th century scrapbook makers began telling a story in their scrapbooks and it's a good idea to have a theme in the book.

Photo Detective Maureen Taylor

FamilyTree DNA has a big presence here and interesting workshops. If you're like me, you've done some testing but find it really frustrating and confusing to interpret. I think I understand it a bit better going to "DNA for Genealogy - Basic Concepts" and "I've Been DNA Tested - Now What?" FamilyTree is in the beta phase for a new program called Family Finder, which can find relatives within 4-5 generations across all lines. Traditional testing has done the yDNA and MtDNA chromosomes which can show direct male and female lines - good for surname projects and showing if men are related. The new Family Finder tests the other 22 chromosomes and can find male and female cousins, half-siblings, and will become the "perfect test for adoptees." Their new motto on a t-shirt is, "Sex doesn't matter anymore."

The best find in all this new information was Terry Barton explaining the FamilyTree website and giving information on his organization WorldFamilies.net. He and his wife have explained for us laymen about terms (markers, alleles!), and navigation of the FamilyTree website to get the results we want. "You are responsible for your own learning," he says, but this makes it seem possible.

So many booths with enthusiastic volunteers - small local history societies, Irish, Scottish and Welsh history groups, preservation supplies, map sellers, military history tables, a booth scanning documents, etc. I'm going back this afternoon and will try to take in some more!

- Judy Avery

Photographs courtesy of Judy Avery.

Gold Rush Records: Clues Amidst Chaos, by Nancy Peterson

The Fall 2009 issue of New England Ancestors magazine is out and it's all about the California Gold Rush. The feature article is Gold Rush Records: Clues Amidst Chaos, by CGS Research Director Nancy Peterson.

The magazine's Managing Editor, Lynn Betlock, sums up Nancy's article like this:

Nancy Peterson’s informative and detailed survey of gold rush era records forms the centerpiece of the issue. The comprehensive source listings serve as an invaluable checklist for researchers. And by describing the context in which records were created — or not created — Peterson offers a stark contrast between life in orderly New England and unruly California.

New England Ancestors is a benefit of membership in the New England Historic and Genealogical Society. The current issue is available online to NEHGS members.

Wordless Wednesday

NEHGS Seminar

Wedgewood Wedding and Banquet Center 

October 23, 2009

Photographs courtesy of Arlene Miles, Oakland, California.

Wordless Wednesday

NEHGS Comes West: 2009 Edition

Dinner, Holiday Inn & Suites, Oakland, California

Friday, October 23, 2009

All photographs used with permission: Copyright 2009 by Stephen J. Danko. (Thanks, Steve!)

NEHGS Comes West: 2009 Edition

Have you registered yet? It's been two years since our last joint event with the New England Historic Genealogical Society. You won't want to miss out on all the fun when Michael LeClerc, Christopher Child, Ryan Woods and D. Brentan Simons arrive for a weekend of New England genealogy.

October 23, 2009, 9:00 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.
Full Day Seminar and Lunch
Wedgewood Wedding and Banquet Center at the Metrolinks Golf Course
10051 Doolittle Drive, Oakland
Michael J. LeClerc and Christopher Child from NEHGS will present several talks, including Researching Your New England Ancestors Online, Western Massachusetts Families in 1790, Migration Through Western Massachusetts and Using DNA to Unravel Your Genealogy.

Friday, October 23, 2009, 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Evening Cocktails and Dinner
Holiday Inn & Suites, 77 Hegenberger Road, Oakland
Capping off the day will be cocktails, dinner and The Lighter Side of Genealogy by D.Brenton Simons, Ryan Woods, and Jane Lindsey.

Saturday, October 24, 2009
Private Consultations with Chris Child or Michael LeClerc
CGS Library, 2201 Broadway, Suite LL2, Oakland, California
Consultations will be available for purchase for $25 per half-hour. Payment should be made directly to NEHGS at the time. Please email Ryan Woods with questions or to receive the request form.

Sunday, October 25, 2009
Special Sunday Research Time (Open to seminar participants only.)
CGS Library, 2201 Broadway, Suite LL2, Oakland, California

Download the information and registration flier.

Wordless Wednesday

New England Historic Genealogical Society
Boston, Massachusetts
Linda Darby, Sandy Fryer and Steve Tirrell
September 2008

Photographs courtesy of Jane Knowles Lindsey.

NEHGS Research Trip: September 21-28, 2008

It's not too early to sign up for the California Genealogical Society and Library Research Trip to the New England Historic Genealogical Society library, September 21-28, 2008.

CGS President and past NEHGS Trustee, Jane Lindsey and Jerome Anderson, long-time researcher at NEHGS will co-lead this biennial trip to Boston, Massachusetts.

Accommodations are at the John Hancock Hotel and Conference Center in the Copley Square area of downtown Boston, located about three blocks from NEHGS.

The tour begins on Sunday evening with a brief orientation. Since the NEHGS library is closed on Monday, participants will have the option that day of visiting the Massachusettes State Archives, Suffolk or Middlesex County courthouses, or other repositories, including, the Massachusettes Historical Society or Boston Public Library.

The Tour Package includes:
* Hotel room (7 nights, double occupancy)
* Daily light continental breakfast
* Sunday evening orientation
* Free day Monday to visit your choice of several repositories
* Shuttle service to and from the airport
* Two group dinners (Monday and Saturday) at local restaurants
* Optional pre-trip consultations with Jane Lindsey
* On-site lectures - to be announced

The cost is $1075.00 (airfare not included.) A deposit of $200 is required by June 28, 2008, to hold one space. The trip registration brochure (also sent with the May CGS News) gives the full details and a description of the cancellation and refund policy.

Participants at the NEHGS tour in 2006.
[Photograph courtesy of Jane Lindsey.]

The first group dinner will be on Monday evening. NEHGS is open 9:00 a.m to 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, and 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Thursday. The Boston Public Library, near our hotel, is open until 9:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday. The BPL has an excellent microtext department with a wonderful newspaper collection.

Update: The NEHGS Trip to Boston has been canceled. The minimum number of members did not sign up.

NEHGS Comes West

Oakland's Scottish Rite Center was the scene of this year's joint conference with the New England Historic Genealogical Society "NEHGS Comes West" held on Wednesday, September 26, 2007. 127 guests enjoyed the all-day program featuring 5 presentations, lunch and a silent auction. Two lectures were presented by Online Genealogist David Allen Lambert of NEHGS who started the day with Researching Your New England Ancestors Prior to 1850.

CGS Research Director, Nancy Simons Peterson, presented New England Holdings at the California Genealogical Society and distributed a two-page summary of the major Northeastern holdings at our library.

The silent auction raised over $1600 for CGS.

Margery Bell, Assistant Director of the Oakland Regional Family History Center, Debbie Smith and CGS board member and "look-up" maven Lavinia Grace Schwarz were among the attendees.

The NEHGS book sale was a total success - they sold out.

Former CGS president, Rick Sherman and 2 guests.

David Allen Lambert, CGS President Jane Lindsey and NEHGS President and CEO D. Brenton Simons were the featured speakers.

Most of the waving crowd are members of both societies.

NEHGS President and CEO D. Brenton Simons made a luncheon presentation What's New at NEHGS. CGS President, Jane Lindsey, spoke about What's Happening at CGS.

David Allen Lambert, author of the David Lambert Blog, closed the program with Online Resources for Locating Your New England Ancestors.

Photographs courtesy of Jane Knowles Lindsey.