Getting Started with the 17th-Century Great Migration to New England
“Getting Started in Family History with American Ancestors” is a series of free downloads and short videos that covers the basic research methods genealogists use to find and verify information. Download our free “Getting Started with the 17th-Century Great Migration to New England” guide for essential help on this sometimes complicated topic. Download Now
August Membership Sale—Get $25 Off Your New American Ancestors Membership!
Now is the perfect time to join American Ancestors. Get started today and you'll gain access to billions of searchable names, family tree software, award-winning publications, and hundreds of online educational tools to help you become a better family historian. Take advantage of this special offer using code August24 through August 31, 2024! Join Now
Upcoming Free Online Lecture, August 15
Setting Yourself Up for Success: Organizational Tools and Tips to Break Down Brick Walls
When pursuing family history leads, it can be easy to get swept up in the discoveries you’re making and allow your research to get out of control. In this online lecture, Senior Genealogist Rhonda R. McClure will share her top tips for staying organized. She’ll discuss how to create a research plan, maintain a research log, organize digital files, and more. Register Now
The Weekly Genealogist Survey
This Week's Survey:
Ancestors or Relatives Who Were Injured in a Work-Related Accident
Share your thoughts about the survey!Please limit submissions to 150 words or fewer. Your submission may be featured in an upcoming newsletter or shared on social media; please note in your email if you do not want your story to be shared. Published responses may be edited for clarity and length.
15%, Yes, I have attended 6 to 10 family reunions.
20%, Yes, I have attended over 10 family reunions.
23%, I have organized or hosted a family reunion.
2%, No, but I am planning to attend a family reunion within the next year.
19%, No, I have never attended a family reunion.
Readers Respond
Lori J. Huntley, Johnston, Rhode Island: My family, descended from John Huntley who migrated to New England in the 1660s and settled in Lyme, Connecticut, has met annually since 1947. The Huntley National Association (HNA) members come from all over the United States (and a few from Canada). Through our reunions we have met distant cousins and formed lifetime friendships. One late member, Virgil Huntley, attended more than 60 reunions and compiled four books of genealogy about the Huntleys.
Norma Mooney Milne, Wolfeboro, New Hampshire: For thirty-one years, my family has hosted the annual Mooney Family Reunion at our summer lake house in New Hampshire. The idea for the first reunion came from my father, Francis Mooney. He declared, “If you want to be in my will, you better attend.” He died in 2015, and we toast him at the reunion each year. We now have reunion t-shirts and special cakes. I am proud to carry on his tradition!
Thomas R. Wilcox, Jr., Essex, Connecticut: The Collett McKay Picnic is held each year on the second Saturday of August on a four-acre grove in Wilmington, Ohio. In the 1820s, the four daughters of Ohio pioneer Moses McKay married four sons of fellow pioneer Daniel Collett; this annual reunion brings their descendants together. The first picnic, held in 1866, was in part an effort to identify and connect survivors of the Civil War. Today, around 200 descendants gather at this lovely spot for a lively family reunion. I and several of my first cousins (descendants of Daniel Collett) have attended a number of these reunions. It is amazing to look around this gathering and remember that we are all related to these pioneers. When possible, I also visit Daniel’s cabin, which he and his son built in 1814. It has been preserved and was moved in 1983 to Caesar's Creek Pioneer Village in nearby Waynesville.
Sherry Gierach, Waukesha, Wisconsin: I began attending family reunions for my mother’s maternal family when I was a little girl. The Merschdorf Reunions were held on my granduncle’s farm. My great-grandparents had seven children, so the reunions became quite large. There was never a lack of fun, games, or food. Because of these reunions I knew all my first and second cousins. Now, as adults, we keep in touch via Facebook and Zoom. We discuss genealogy and share discoveries and reminisce about our many memories of those reunions.
Linda Shirk, Papillion, Nebraska: My maternal grandmother’s family has been gathering for 125 years. Family members started immigrating to Wisconsin Territory from Cornwall, England, 180 years ago; some eventually moved on to South Dakota. In 1899, two young women from Wisconsin visited their South Dakota cousins and all the local family members gathered at a picnic to greet them. That first Rundell Picnic became an annual tradition that continues today—although the “picnic” is now held indoors with air conditioning and handicapped facilities. These reunions led me to travel to Cornwall in 2014 to visit cousins and see where my ancestors lived, farmed, worshipped, and were buried. My family connections are a matter of great pride for me.
Spotlight: Huron County Community Library Newspapers, Ohio
by Valerie Beaudrault
Huron County, seated in Norwalk, is located in northern Ohio. The Huron County Community Library has made a newspaper database available in its digital archives. The collection comprises more than 214,000 pages from 25 local newspapers. Titles include Willard Times (1918-1980), Erie County Reporter (1880-1994), Willard Times – Junction (1988-2013), The Reporter (1965-1981), Chicago Times (1883-1918), and Wakeman Independent Press (1875-1901). The databases are keyword searchable and can also be browsed.Search Now
Young Family Historians Essay Contest
Congratulations to our 2024 Winners!
We are pleased to announce the winners of the 2024 Young Family Historians Essay Contest. Participants were asked to share a story from their personal family history and describe how lessons from that story can be applied to their life today. Each essay was judged on the research process, supporting evidence, originality, and quality of writing. View the Winners
Database News
AM Explorer: Indigenous Histories and Cultures in North America
Explore resources that range from manuscripts, artwork, and rare printed books dating from early European colonization to photographs and Indigenous newspapers from the mid-twentieth century. Browse through a wide selection of rare and original documents, from treaties, speeches, and diaries, to historic maps and travel journals. You must be logged into your American Ancestors account to view this collection. Explore Now
As a family historian, you know that wills are important in your research—but have you created a will for yourself? Free Will, an easy and free online will creation tool, will guide you step-by-step through identifying beneficiaries for your assets, supporting the causes that are important to you, and planning for the preservation of your research. Learn More
