Plymouth County, Massachusetts Freeperson Families in 1790
Mary Blauss Edwards has researched every person of color listed as a head of household in Plymouth County in the 1790 Census—the first Federal Census of the new United States, taken seven years after the abolition of slavery in Massachusetts. Most of these Plymouth County residents were Black and Wampanoag/Massachuset Revolutionary War veterans who purchased their freedom using bounty money from their service. Edwards's book documents a remarkable moment in history, when newly manumitted families had to navigate the complicated domestic, social, and economic realities of transitioning from slavery to freedom in the only American state that fully endorsed abolition. Purchase 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 getting and staying organized, including creating a research plan, maintaining a research log, organizing digital files, and more. Register Now
The Weekly Genealogist Survey
This Week's Survey:
August 6 Will Mark the 250th Anniversary of the Shakers' Arrival in America. Do You Have Any Connections to the Shakers?
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.
Ancestors Who Lived on Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, or Nantucket
Total: 2,677 Responses
39%, Yes, at least one of my ancestors lived on Cape Cod.
13%, Yes, at least one of my ancestors lived on Martha's Vineyard.
15%, Yes, at least one of my ancestors lived on Nantucket.
1%, I was born on Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, or Nantucket.
5%, I live (or lived) on Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, or Nantucket.
50%, I have visited or vacationed on Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, or Nantucket.
9%, I have another connection to Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, or Nantucket not mentioned above.
34%, No, I have no connection to Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, or Nantucket.
Readers Respond
Lizabeth Wing Fisher, Boyds, Maryland: I am a member of the Wing Family of America (WFA). We trace our lineage back to Rev. John and Deborah Wing. Deborah came from England to Massachusetts in about 1632 with her father and four sons. Eventually she moved to Sandwich (her sons are listed as founders of that town). Deborah’s son Stephen’s home is in East Sandwich. It has been owned by the Wing family since it was built about 1641. The WFA purchased it from the last resident, Cora Wing, in 1942 and maintains it as a historic museum today.
Vivian Macy Gulledge, Daytona Beach Shores, Florida: I am a descendant of Thomas Macy, who left Chilmark, England, around 1635, eventually settling in Salisbury New Town (later Amesbury), Massachusetts. Thomas’s Baptist religion often put him at odds with the Puritan church. In the summer of 1657, Thomas provided shelter to four Quakers during a rainstorm. This act of kindness earned him an admonishment from the governor and a fine of thirty shillings. In search of a more compatible society, Thomas and his family relocated to the island of Nantucket in 1659, becoming some of the first European settlers there. I hope to visit Nantucket soon.
Nancy Almquist, Belmont, Massachusetts: My grandmother Nancy Cabot Osborne and her friend Alice Cushing Gardiner wrote Father’s Gone A-Whaling (1926), a children’s novel set on Nantucket. My grandmother and Alice spent a lot of time on the island conducting research. I have visited only once.
Nancy Nickerson Corey, McCook, Nebraska: I am a descendant of William and Anne (Busby) Nickerson, settlers of Chatham. Every September, I visit the Cape to attend the Nickerson Family Association (NFA) Annual Togethering. The NFA maintains a genealogical research center and historical home and is currently reassembling a barn once owned by William and Anne’s son William on the original Nickerson homesite. Archaeological digs at the site have unearthed hundreds of historical items, which are on display on the NFA campus. NFA has also published five volumes of Nickerson genealogies with a sixth volume coming soon. I am very proud of my Cape Cod heritage, especially my link to Chatham. I feel a special connection to the area.
Douglas Crosby, Silverton, Oregon: I'm a descendant of Thomas Crosby, who was a clergyman in Eastham before moving to Harwich around 1670 and becoming a successful merchant there. In 1984, I visited the Cape in search of information about my Crosby family. While driving on route 6A in Brewster, I spotted Crosby Lane and couldn't resist making the turn. My curiosity was rewarded when I saw a mansion—vacant, dilapidated, and vandalized. The fact that it was on Crosby Lane indicated to me that there was likely a family connection. I took pictures of the exterior and interior and then headed to the shore to photograph the mansion from a distance. As I was preparing the shot, a family engaged in conversation with me. They turned out to be Crosby relatives! We had dinner together and they provided some local details on the Crosby family. The mansion has been restored and is now maintained by the Town of Brewster and Friends of Crosby Mansion.
Mourning in Miniature A post in The Beehive, the blog of the Massachusetts Historical Society, examines a miniature mourning portrait of Bostonian Jane Winthrop (1801–1819).
Spotlight: Hudson Public Library, Massachusetts, Newspaper Database
by Valerie Beaudrault
The town of Hudson is located in Middlesex County in northeastern Massachusetts. The Hudson Public Library has made a newspaper database available in its digital archives. The collection comprises over 230,000 pages from 20 local newspapers. Titles include Hudson Daily Sun (1929-1993), The Hudson Daily Sun (1941-1983), Hudson News-Enterprise (1910-1975), The Hudson Enterprise (1883-1910), The Hudson News (1899-1910), TheHudsonNews-Enterprise (1932-1939), and TheHudsonPioneer (1867-1883). The databases are keyword searchable and can also be browsed. Search Now
Database News
AM Explorer: American History, 1493-1945
This unique collection documents American history from the earliest settlers to the mid-twentieth century. It is sourced from the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the finest archives available for the study of American history. Members of American Ancestors can search this database as well as many more from our partner organizations. Learn More
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
