Genealogist Michael Dwyer describes how he uncovered the turbulent story of his relative George Albion Paine, who enlisted in the Civil War when he was only fifteen years old. Read More
Upcoming Online Seminar
Researching Impoverished Ancestors
Experts Lindsay Fulton and Ann Lawthers will discuss the welfare systems in North America from colonial times through the early 20th century and demonstrate practical strategies for researching impoverished ancestors. June 14– 28. Learn More
The Weekly Genealogist Survey
This Week's Survey:
Were Any of Your Ancestors or Relatives Imprisoned While Serving in the Military?
Share your thoughts about the survey at weeklygenealogist@nehgs.org. Responses may be edited for clarity and length and featured in a future newsletter.
Last Week's Survey:
For Which Family Connection Do You Know the Least Family History?
Total: 4,643 Responses
23%, My paternal grandfather
15%, My paternal grandmother
19%, My maternal grandfather
16%, My maternal grandmother
8%, My spouse
12%, My son-in-law or daughter-in-law
14%, Other
Readers Respond
Marilyn Bowles-Nejman, Endwell, New York: We know very little about my husband’s heritage. His Polish parents, Tadeusz Nejman of Łódź and Olga Ramanska of Sanok, were taken by German soldiers and spent their teenage years as prisoners. After the war they were unable to find their families in Poland, and were sent to a Displaced Persons Camp in Augustdorf, Germany, where they met, married, and, in 1947, had a son—my husband. They continued to live in the camp until 1951, when they were sponsored to come to America. We have been unable to find any information on their families, as many documents were destroyed and families displaced.
Janice M. Sellers, Gresham, Oregon: My paternal grandfather, Bertram Lynn Sellers, was born out of wedlock seven months before his mother, Laura May Armstrong, married Cornelius Elmer Sellers. Through DNA testing, I determined that my grandfather was not Cornelius Elmer Sellers’s biological son. I have been stymied in my efforts to determine the identity of my grandfather's biological father, but I continue searching.
Debra Maloney-Evans, Northfield, Vermont: My maternal great-grandfather Raymond Perle Kellogg (1880-?) disappeared in the 1930s, leaving his wife and five young children. I have been searching for him for the past 30 years. His disappearance haunts me. I don't know if he committed suicide, was murdered, or started a new life. I am now 70 years old and wonder if I'll run out of time and never answer these questions.
Beverly Moore, Xenia, Ohio: My maternal grandfather’s parents were killed during the Hamidian massacres in Armenia in the 1890s. My grandfather came to the U.S. to escape the violence. Recently I connected with long-lost cousins who were able to provide names for my great-grandparents, but I have no other information on them.
Pat Kelley-Staab, Meadview, Arizona: My maternal grandmother’s family were refugees who fled to the U.S. to escape the Armenian genocide. They came in steerage through Ellis Island with two small children. I have been unable to trace them in the “old country.” I guess I am resigned to never knowing that part of my history.
Linda Harrison, Dallas, Texas: Two years after his death, I learned that my dad was adopted. I located an original copy of the paperwork detailing his 1923 adoption in Fort Worth, Texas; genealogical research led me to identify his birth mother and connect with her other granddaughters. Getting to know them has been wonderful. I have been unable to determine his birth father, but through DNA research I’ve narrowed him down to one of seven brothers. My dad died not knowing he was adopted, but I will never give up searching for the truth.
Mapped: European Colonial Shipping Lanes (1700‒1850) A database composed of information from European ship logbooks was used to visualize British, French, Spanish, and Dutch shipping routes between 1700 and 1850.
Spotlight: Washington County Genealogical Society, Nebraska
by Valerie Beaudrault
Washington County is located on Nebraska’s border with Iowa and seated in Blair. The Washington County Genealogical Society has created a searchable database of burial records for more than thirty cemeteries through the year 2011. Search by first and last name, year of birth, and year of death. Data fields include name of deceased, dates of birth and death, cemetery name, burial plot and veteran status. Other resources available from the Washington County Genealogical Society include vital records, obituaries, and postcards. Search Now
Annual Stakeholder Report Now Available
Our Annual Stakeholder Report is now available online! Highlights include "A Year in Review" by President and CEO D. Brenton Simons, and reports on new research projects and databases, increased online programming and in-person events, our national Family History Curriculum, our historic Cornerstone Project headquarters expansion, institutional accomplishments, and upcoming projects. To receive a printed copy, email advancement@nehgs.org. View Now
We're excited to announce an update to our collaboration with Canadian Headstones, adding 69 cemeteries from Alberta, Manitoba, Newfoundland & Labrador, Ontario, and Saskatchewan. We will continue to release updates regularly over the next few months. Search Now
Free Video from American Ancestors
Huguenot Family History: Research and Resources
Learn about the Huguenots—French Protestants who fled to Europe, Africa, and North America during the 16th and 17th centuries to escape persecution from a Catholic government—and find out how to research your family connections to this group. Watch Now
The Bookstore at NEHGS
Last Chance! Save 20% on All Great Migration Titles
The Great Migration series is an essential resource for any genealogist, historian, or descendant with early New England interests and connections. Don't miss out—today is the last day of this sale! Save 20% on all Great Migration titles with discount code GMMAY23. Discount applied at checkout.Shop Now
Planning for the Future?
Name Your Beneficiaries Today
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
