Mae Ngai with The Chinese Question: The Gold Rushes and Global Politics
Between 1848 and 1852, Chinese immigrants to San Francisco rose from 325 to 20,000 a year, or ten percent of the state’s population. With them came friction among other settlers and immigrant groups—tensions made clear by the Chinese Exclusion Act (1882–1943). Hear from two remarkable authors and experts how global politics were impacted by Chinese immigration worldwide and the tales and trials of these newcomers whose fifth-generation offspring live among us today. October 19 at 6 p.m. ET. Register Now
Free Webinar—Last Chance!
What’s New at AmericanAncestors.org?
AmericanAncestors.org is home to hundreds of databases with 1.4 billion searchable names, our robust online library catalog, digital manuscript collections, educational resources, and online periodicals. And more content is being added each week! Hear about new databases, search features, and resources only available at AmericanAncestors.org. October 14 at 3 p.m. ET. Register Now
Online Course
The Yiddish of Yankeeland: The Jews of Boston and America, 1840–1924
Join Dr. Aaron Welt as he delves into the Jewish experience of Boston during the era of large-scale Jewish immigration to the United States. This course will consider the institutions developed by Boston's early Jewish residents and explore what this city’s Jewish history can tell us about the American Jewish diaspora. Live broadcasts: November 2, 9, 16, and 23 at 4 p.m. ET.
The city of Ephraim is located in Sanpete County in central Utah. Burial databases for two city cemeteries—Ephraim City Park Cemetery and Historic Pioneer Cemetery—are available on the city’s website. To view alphabetical listings of individuals buried in these cemeteries, click the appropriate burial records link. The data fields for Ephraim City Park Cemetery are: name of the interred, grave location information, burial date, age, and plot owner’s name. For Historic Pioneer Cemetery, the data fields are: name, date born, date died, burial location, and other information, such as where born, parents’ names, spouse, veteran status, and cause of death. Links to printable cemetery maps have also been provided. Search Now
Free Webinar
Learn how to get started tracing your New England ancestors. Thursday, October 28
In 1621, the Virginia Tobacco Company sent 57 women to join the Chesapeake Bay settlers. Investors thought wives would cure loneliness and encourage attachment to the new land. But the women also had practical skills that the men lacked.
“For eight years, a man without a memory lived among strangers at a hospital in Mississippi. But was recovering his identity the happy ending he was looking for?”
Two Objects Bring the History of African American Firefighting to Light A silver speaking trumpet and a fire company badge in the Smithsonian collections lead to two different stories of African American communities and their connections to firefighting in the 1800s, one in the North and the other in the South.
Dying of an aggressive cancer, Sam Anthony sent a letter to the man he had identified has his biological father. Craig Nelson immediately set out on a four-day, 2,300 mile journey to meet his son.
When a couple in their 90s celebrated their 77th wedding anniversary this year, staff members at St. Croix Hospice hatched a plan that included a vintage dress, 1940s hits, lots of photos and a cake.
The Weekly Genealogist Survey
Last week's survey asked if you had any naming traditions in your family. We received 3,016 responses. The results are:
67% , Yes
28%, No
5%, I don’t know.
This week's survey asks about genealogical research in cemeteries. Take the survey now
Want to share your thoughts on the survey with us? We are always happy to hear from our readers. Email us at weeklygenealogist@nehgs.org. Responses may be edited for clarity and length and featured in a future newsletter.
Readers Respond: Naming Traditions
By Lynn Betlock, Editor
Last week's survey asked if asked if you had any naming traditions in your family. Thank you to everyone who replied. Below is a selection of reader responses.
Bonnie Ladd Hamilton, Lewisberry, Pennsylvania: My grandmother was Philadelphia (Reed) Ladd (1886–1952). I thought Philadelphia was a unique name until I started researching her family. Her grandmother was Philadelphia (Burns) Reed (1830–1892), and her great-great-grandmother was Philadelphia (Burbridge) Burns (1775–1863) of Virginia. I had initially expected to trace the name back to ancestors who were Quakers or were from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. But I now believe the name has a different origin. Philadelphia’s father and grandfather both have documented service for the Patriot cause during the war. I think Philadelphia’s name may have been chosen to honor the actions of the Second Continental Congress, which was convened in Philadelphia in 1775, the year of her birth.
Barbie Savacool, Atkinson, New Hampshire: In 1732, my ancestor Jacob Savacool sailed from Rotterdam on the ship Britannia, landed in Philadelphia, and settled in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. He named his first son William. The names Jacob and William alternated through every succeeding generation, and were given to oldest sons, down to my grandfather (William), my father (Jacob), and my brother (William). Sadly, the tradition will end there, as my brother has no sons.
Ann Fadden, Rochester, New York: In my father's family, first-born sons were often named James. Apparently, the naming tradition was a tribute to James VI of Scotland. There are now so many Jameses in the family that it confuses genealogy researchers. Birth years have to be included along with the name of each James in order to keep them straight. Fortunately, none of the men named James were born in the same year.
Ethel Celeste Boehret Price, Summerfield, North Carolina: My great-grandfather, Charles Walter Gould, who was born on Prince Edward Island, was a British merchant captain in the 1870s and 1880s. One of his ships was the Ethel Blanch, owned by the Peake Brothers of Charlottetown, PEI. He named his youngest daughter Ethel. My mother was named Ethel, as were a number of his nieces. My name is Ethel, too!
Database News
New Searchable Catholic Records Volumes
This week we’re announcing the addition of 47 new volumes and 2 updated volumes to Massachusetts: Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston Records,1789-1920 from St. Mary of the Assumption (Dracut), St. Michael (Lowell), St. Joseph (Medford), St. Monica (Methuen), St. Patrick (Natick), Immaculate Conception (Newburyport), St. Michael (North Andover), St. John the Baptist (Peabody), Immaculate Conception (Revere), Our Lady of Lourdes (Revere) and St. Joachim (Rockport). This update is part of our multi-year collaboration with the Archdiocese of Boston. Search Now
