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 In-Person Conference
36th International Congress of Genealogical and Heraldic Sciences
Join us for this renowned biennial genealogy and heraldry conference—the first ever to be held in America! Explore the theme of Origins, Journeys, Destinations through:
More than fifty-four sessions over three days
Speakers and experts from around the world
Social events & cultural excursions
Special exhibits of heraldic & genealogical treasures
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.
U.S. States or Canadian Provinces That Have Been Closely Associated with Your Family History
Total: 3,408 Responses
10%, My family history has been closely associated with one state or province.
44%, My family history has been closely associated with 2 to 5 states or provinces.
29%, My family history has been closely associated with 6 to 10 states or provinces.
15%, My family history has been closely associated with 11 to 20 states or provinces.
5%, My family history has been closely associated with more than 20 states or provinces.
Readers Respond
Janelle Asselin, Madison, Wisconsin: In my family, all roads seem to eventually lead to Michigan. Most of my French-Canadian, Irish, and Scottish ancestors entered North America in Quebec and made their way to Ontario before settling in Michigan. Others came through Connecticut to Indiana and then to Michigan. I, however, have never lived in Michigan!
Juanita Sabarese, Finleyville, Pennsylvania: In search of gold, my Bozeman ancestors traveled far and wide. John Merian Bozeman, born in Pickens County, Georgia, helped establish the Bozeman Trail through Wyoming Territory into the gold fields of southwestern Montana Territory in the early 1860s. The city of Bozeman, Montana, is named for him. He was murdered—perhaps by members of the Blackfeet tribe, or perhaps by his partner, Tom Cover—while traveling along the Yellowstone River.
Greg Buell, Northbrook, Illinois: The Buell family arrived in Windsor, Connecticut, in the 1630s. I've traced fifty lines back to the foundings of Windsor, Hartford, Weathersfield, Saybrook, and New Haven.
L. Stannard, Sweden, Maine: My father's family emigrated from England to Massachusetts and then to Connecticut. My ancestor Joseph Stannard was an original settler of the town of Haddam, Connecticut. Westbrook is home to Little Stannard Beach and the Captain Stannard House bed and breakfast, named after my seafaring ancestor. Members of the Stannard family later migrated to Vermont, where the tiny town of Stannard and Stannard Mountain are named for Gen. George J. Stannard, who became Brigadier General of the 2nd Vermont Brigade, fought at Gettysburg, and helped repel Pickett's charge.
The city of Concord is the capital of New Hampshire. It is also the seat of Merrimack County. The library has made several resources available on its website. Click the Genealogy & Local tab to access them. Resources include a Concord Monitor obituary index comprising nearly 105,000 records for the period from 1946 through January 2015. The data fields include first, last and maiden name, residence, age, date of death, obituary date, and newspaper page number. Click the Digitized Concord History link to view local histories, digitized manuscripts, and other resources, including historical city town meeting reports (1732–1925). Search Now
Database News
New Sketches: Boston Tea Party Participant Biographies
We’re excited to announce 22 new sketches in our Boston Tea Party Participant Biographiesdatabase! All of the sketches added during this update are proven participants or eyewitnesses.
The goal of this project is to create comprehensive biographical sketches for all individuals associated with or known to have participated in the Boston Tea Party, which took place on December 16, 1773, in Boston Harbor. This project is launched in conjunction with the announcement of the Boston Tea Party Descendants Program, a new lineage society for those whose ancestors participated in the historic revolutionary event. This project, as well as the Descendants Program, are both in collaboration with the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum.Search Now
Upcoming Online Seminar, September 3–October 1
Expert Strategies for Breaking Down Genealogical Brick Walls
Research your ancestry long enough and you’re bound to hit a brick wall—the paper trail vanishes, the family seemingly disappears, and you’re unable to go back to earlier generations. Tackling a different research challenge each session, expert genealogists David Allen Lambert, Rhonda R. McClure, and Melanie McComb will provide real-life examples and successful strategies for breaking down your genealogical brick walls. Register 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
