Once left to gather dust, these stunning photographs of community life in early 20th-century Pittsfield, Vermont, were rescued and scanned by volunteers at the Pittsfield Historical Society. The photographs were taken by Mary True Randall, who worked as a commercial photographer for two decades to support herself as a young single woman. Read More
Upcoming Online Author Event, November 18
The Great River: The Making and Unmaking of the Mississippi with author Boyce Upholt
The Mississippi River lies at the heart of America. Flowing from Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico, it has been a life force, a home to towns and cities, a mode of transport, and a way for commerce throughout history. At this American Inspiration program, we will learn about the river’s past and how it transformed our country. Authors Boyce Upholt and W. Ralph Eubanks will illuminate its purpose, power, and impact over time. Register Now
Fall Book Sale
20% off Great Migration and Mayflower Books
Celebrate Thanksgiving with a 20% discount on Great Migration and Mayflower titles from American Ancestors!
Don’t miss this chance to save on 47 books, puzzles, and journal issues that focus on the earliest years of New England settlement! Select from a variety of Mayflower offerings and Robert Charles Anderson’s many Great Migration volumes. Use code: GMMAYFLOWER24.
Offer ends on November 25, exclusions apply. Shop Now
The Weekly Genealogist Survey
This Week's Survey:
Genealogical Record Discoveries from a Completely Unexpected Source
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 Had a Child out of Wedlock or Conceived a Child Before Marriage
Total: 3,180 Responses
55%, Yes, at least one of my ancestors had a child out of wedlock.
56%, Yes, at least one of my ancestors was pregnant at the time of her marriage.
9%, No, I don’t believe any of my ancestors had a child out of wedlock.
8%, No, I don’t believe any of my ancestors were pregnant at the time of marriage.
14%, I don’t know.
Readers Respond
Shannon Ortiz, Long Island, New York: My family has a history of pregnancy before marriage. My Scottish great-grandfather's brother was born five months after his parents were married. My grandmother was pregnant with my aunt when she married my grandfather. That same aunt was pregnant with my cousin when she was married. My own mother was pregnant with me when my parents were married. Quite scandalous!
Carl Chatto, South Portland, Maine: My great-grandmother Vesta Etta Wood was born out of wedlock in January 1860 in Sedgwick, Maine. She and her mother lived with her mother’s parents. Vesta married Joshua Burton Chatto on November 1, 1884, and passed away September 16, 1923. The house Vesta grew up in is still in the family. So far, I’ve reached dead ends in my search for the identity of Vesta’s father.
Jane Irish Nelson, Vashon, Washington: My ancestor Dorothea Christina Catherina Kock was born in 1764 in Rederank, Mecklenburg-Scherwin. She gave birth to three children between 1789 and 1797; no father was named for any of them. Dorothea married in 1799 at age 35. Her husband died two years later, leaving no children. Dorothea’s last child, Daniel Friedrich Wilhelm Detlof Graevenitz (my ancestor), was born in 1803. Daniel was acknowledged by his father, Johann Christlieb Graevenitz—despite the fact that Johann Christlieb was married to another woman at the time.
Carol Austin, Garden Grove, California: In 1747, my ancestor Abigail Milleman (born about 1732 in North Kingstown, Rhode Island) had a “male bastard child born in South Kingstown,” according to the Washington County, Rhode Island, Court of Common Pleas. A laborer, Caleb Weight of Exeter, was charged with the maintenance of the boy. Abigail later married William Bentley and had eight more children. She died about 1783. Abigail’s “bastard” child, my 4th great-grandfather, was named Wait Milleman. A male-line descendant of Wait and his wife Theodocia had a yDNA test that matched the yDNA tests of the Waite family.
Janice M. Sellers, Gresham, Oregon: My great-grandmother had my paternal grandfather out of wedlock and seven months later married someone who was not the biological father. My paternal grandparents were never married (because my grandfather was already married), which did not stop them from having my father. They stayed together about seventeen years, until my grandfather finally divorced his first wife … and married someone else. And my mother was 3 ½ months pregnant with me when my parents married.
My Weekends With the Dead “In 2017, I decided to solve a longtime mystery about my family. It led me to a controversial pastime that consumes thousands—and has changed untold lives.”
Spotlight: Genealogy Resources, Nashville Public Library, Tennessee
by Valerie Beaudrault
The city of Nashville, the seat of Davidson County, is located in north-central Tennessee. The Nashville Public Library has made a number of genealogy resources available on its website. The databases include Nashville births (1881–1913), Davidson County births (1908–1912), Nashville deaths (1874–1913), Davidson County deaths (1900–1912), Nashville and Davidson County marriages (1788–1916), and will indexes (1783-1963). African American genealogy resources include Mt. Ararat Cemetery records (1881-1889), Nashville Globe obituaries (1907-1918), and the Nashville Enslaved and Free People of Color database (1780-1865). Click here to explore other genealogy and history resources in the library’s Digital Collections. Search Now
Database News
AM Explorer: World's Fairs
Explore the phenomenon of world's fairs from London's 1851 Crystal Palace and the proliferation of North American exhibitions, to fairs around the world and twenty-first century expos. Through official records, monographs, publicity, artwork and artifacts, this resource brings together multiple archives for rich research opportunities in this diverse topic. You must be logged into your American Ancestors account to view this collection. View Now
Upcoming Free Online Lecture, November 14
Ten Steps to Writing & Publishing Your Family History
Writing and publishing your genealogy is a great way to preserve your family history for future generations and to share it with others. Join American Ancestors Vice President of Publishing Sharon Inglis as she discusses her top tips. Register Now
Name Beneficiaries for Your Non-Probate Assets 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 assets in one easy place. Preserve your legacy, make sure your loved ones are provided for, and support the causes most important to you—get started today! Learn More
