It's not always easy to get kids interested in researching genealogy. Looking for a way to hook his granddaughters, Jeff Record delved into the family history of basketball superstar Caitlin Clark and uncovered the common Mayflower ancestor linking her to his own family tree.
If you are researching Catholic ancestors, you are in luck—the Catholic Church keeps meticulous records of its congregants. This five-session online seminar will cover everything you need to know about the records, repositories, and strategies you can use to trace your Catholic family history. 10% Member Discount.
From Yiddish and Ladino to Bukharian and Judeo-Greek, this lecture by Dr. Sarah Bunin Benor will reveal the linguistic diversity and shared features of Jewish languages across the globe. With examples from texts and music videos, Dr. Benor will explore how Jews across the ages have simultaneously been a part of and apart from their surrounding societies. Register Now
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.
Last Week's Survey:
Irish Immigrant Ancestors
Total: 3,360 Responses
48%, My earliest Irish immigrant ancestor emigrated prior to the Famine (pre-1845).
17%, My earliest Irish immigrant ancestor emigrated during the Famine years (1845-1852).
13%, My earliest Irish immigrant ancestor emigrated in the second half of the 19th century (1853-1899).
2%, My earliest Irish immigrant ancestor emigrated in the twentieth century.
<1%, I am Irish and I emigrated.
13%, I don’t have any Irish ancestors.
8%, I don't know if I have Irish ancestors.
Readers Respond
Candice Fontenot, Moraga, California: My great-grandmother Ellen Theresa Welch of Killavullen, Ireland, was left to care for her dying father when her mother and sister immigrated to Boston. After Ellen’s father died, she immigrated alone at age eleven. On the voyage, she washed two dresses and hung them on the ship’s railing to dry. A wave took them away and she was left with only the dress she was wearing.
Robert A. Malseed, Albuquerque, New Mexico: On October 26, 1820, my ancestor John Malseed departed Londonderry on the Dominica Packet, bound for New York. The ship began leaking so it sailed to Portaferry for repairs. It departed around Christmas but began taking on water again and, on January 12, 1821, the thirty passengers and thirteen crew were transferred to another ship, the Midas. Unfortunately, the Midas was also leaking and in poor condition. On January 26, the Midas arrived in Lisbon, Portugal, where it was deemed unseaworthy. John managed to get passage on the brig Agnes and finally arrived in New York on April 11, 1821.
Judy Roberts, Portland, Oregon: My ancestors Luke Dillon and Susannah Garrett married in Kilkenny, Ireland, in 1710. Susannah was from a prominent family. She married Luke, a laborer, against her father’s wishes. Luke and Susannah immigrated to America soon after their marriage, settling in Pennsylvania and supporting themselves as weavers. They had four children.
Nancy Stauffer Johnson, Northwood, New Hampshire: I have traced my Scotch-Irish ancestors back to the 1851 census of Ireland, when they were living in Carncastle Parish, Ballyhacket Townland, Ireland. The family sailed from Belfast in 1856, ultimately settling in Kansas, where the mother and brothers each took up a claim. The family’s young daughter, who also immigrated, is my great-great-grandmother.
Nancy Almquist, Belmont, Massachusetts: My ancestor John (Owen) Sullivan was born in 1690 in County Limerick. In 1723, he immigrated to New England and settled in South Berwick, Maine, marrying Margery Brown, a younger passenger who had travelled on the same boat. John became the town’s schoolmaster. Margery and their children managed the farm. One of their children became a Revolutionary War general and another became a governor of Massachusetts.
“Ice” Book Examines the American Love of Staying Cool In this text and audio interview with Vermont Public Radio, environmental writer and historian Amy Brady discusses her new book on the cultural history of ice in the United States, Ice: From Mixed Drinks to Skating Rinks, a Cool History of a Hot Commodity.
Highlights From the Vault: Bird’s Eye View The Norman B. Leventhal Map & Education Center at the Boston Public Library shares six examples of panoramic, or bird’s eye view, maps
Spotlight: Storm Lake Community History Archive, Iowa
by Valerie Beaudrault
The city of Storm Lake, seat of Buena Vista County, is located in northwestern Iowa. The Community History Archive at the Storm Lake Public Library contains a number of useful resources, including a digital newspaper collection comprising over 306,000 pages from twenty-one local titles. These include Pilot Tribune (1986-2020), Storm Lake Pilot Tribune (1896-2017), Storm Lake Times (1993-2016), and Storm Lake Register (1917-1987). Search by keyword or browse individual papers. The archive also includes rosters of Iowa Civil War soldiers (1865), the histories of two Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) posts, and a Buena Vista County atlas. Search Now
We are pleased to announce that three new volumes of The Maine Genealogist have been added to our database. This update includes more than 701 pages, 11,693 records, and 11,486 searchable names. Since 1977, The Maine Genealogist has published scholarly articles on Maine families, with a focus on solving long-standing questions.
Non-probate assets such as an IRA, 401(k), or life insurance policy are not covered in your will or trust—you must name beneficiaries separately. Our friends at FreeWill.com have provided a free and secure online tool to guide you through naming beneficiaries for your non-probate assets. Learn More
