Revolutionary War Research: Tracing Patriot and Loyalist Ancestors
Nearly 250 years ago, the United States declared its independence from Great Britain, changing the course of history. This five-week online course will delve into the many primary and published records that can help document your Patriot or Loyalist ancestors. Learn More
From the Bookstore at American Ancestors
Genealogist’s Handbook for Portuguese Research
Modeled on our other popular Genealogist’s Handbooks, this is the first essential guide to finding your ancestors from mainland Portugal, the Azores, and Madeira. We also provide information for Brazilians with Portuguese ancestry. After reading the primer on genealogical research principles and a brief history of Portuguese immigration, follow our step-by-step approach to searching first in US records and then in Portuguese records. The handbook includes real-life examples, detailed maps, key terms in English and Portuguese, and activities to reinforce your new skills. This book will give you the tools—and the confidence—to dive into researching your Portuguese family history!
Researcher Kate Gilbert visited cemeteries in Haverhill, Bradford, and Ipswich, Massachusetts, to locate the gravestones of some of her Kimball ancestors. Read More
The Weekly Genealogist Survey
This Week's Survey:
American Ancestors Marks its 180th Anniversary on March 18. This Week’s Survey Asks About Your Relationship to American Ancestors.
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 Worked in Building Construction or an Associated Trade
Total: 2,369 Responses
65%, Yes, at least one of my ancestors worked in building construction or an associated trade such as carpentry, masonry, plastering, bricklaying, etc.
6%, At least one of my ancestors was an architect.
60%, At least one of my ancestors built or helped to build his (or her) own house or a house for a family member.
21%, No, I am not aware of any of my ancestors having worked in building construction or an associated trade.
Readers Respond
Ruth Huggler, Youngsville, New York: In 1952, my father, a plumber, built the New York house that I grew up in, with help from his family. He kept an account of materials and their cost, and what each family member contributed—right down to the number of sandwiches my mother and grandmother made for the men working on the job. He also took photos of the stages of the house being built, from preparing the foundation to plumbing the radiant heat system he'd drafted himself.
Deryn Avritt, Broomfield, Colorado: I am a descendant of both Henry Sherburne (1611–c. 1680) and John Sherburne (1615-1693), brothers from Odiham, Hampshire, who settled in what is now Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Henry arrived in Boston in 1632 aboard the James from London and John likely arrived in 1641 or 1642. Several houses built by later generations of the Sherburne family still stand in Portsmouth, including the Sherburne House at Strawbery Banke Museum, built in 1695, and the Henry Sherburne House at 62 Deer Street, built about 1766.
Sharon Laduke, Spring Hill, Florida: My ancestor and his sons were well-known carpenters in Pulaski, New York, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. They built furniture, homes, businesses, and churches. They went bankrupt in 1918 from heavy losses sustained in a fire. When my sister and I stayed at a bed & breakfast in Pulaski a few years ago, the owners told us that our ancestor had built their barn. We went out to have a look at it and saw where our ancestor had carved his initials.
Glenna Geiger, Coatesville, Pennsylvania: My great-great-grandparents Robert Shirley and Rachel Gilbert moved with their children from Virginia to Chillicothe, Ohio, and then north toward Fort Defiance. In 1822, they settled on the banks of the Auglaize River. Robert and his sons built the first brick house in the area, making their own bricks from the clay deposits along that river.
Teri Edwards-Hewitt, West Alexandria, Virginia: My maternal grandfather was a cement mason. He learned the skills through a New Deal program; the first big project he worked on was the Hoover Dam. He and his family lived at the worker’s camp at Boulder City, Nevada; my mother remembers playing with lizards on the grounds. When his family settled in Salt Lake City, Utah, my grandfather built their house from a Sears kit. He later added a small room onto the back of the house so my mother and her brother could have their own bedrooms.
Spotlight: Digital Archives of the Haywood County Public Library, North Carolina
by Valerie Beaudrault
Haywood County, seated in Waynesville, is located in western North Carolina. The Haywood County Public Library has made a number of newspaper resources available in its Digital Archives. The collection comprises more than 312,000 pages from ten newspapers, including The Waynesville Mountaineer (1925-1996); The Enterprise Mountaineer (1996-2021); The Mountaineer (2018-2024), The Carolina Mountaineer and Waynesville Courier (1917-1925), and Waynesville Courier (1888-1917). Click the See All link to view the full list of titles. The database can be searched by keyword or browsed. Search Now
Database News
Vermont Genealogy, Volume 22 (2017)
We’ve updated our Vermont Genealogy database, adding Volume 22 (2017). This update adds 224 pages and 5,003 names. The database index includes full names, publication year, and article titles and authors. This database is available thanks to our partnership with the Genealogical Society of Vermont. Access to this database is available to American Ancestors members. Search 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
