Can the truth behind a story be recovered even after first-hand memories have faded? Intrigued by his step-mother's claim that she was once serenaded by Elvis Presley, Jeff Record tries to separate fact from fiction in a family tall tale. Read Now
Database News
The Genealogist: Volume 1 Now Available
We’re excited to announce the release of Volume 1 (1980) of The Genealogist, in partnership with the American Society of Genealogists. This update adds 5,170 records to the database. This database is available to all users at no cost—create a free guest account to get started. Search Now
Spotlight: Great Falls Genealogy Society, Montana
by Valerie Beaudrault
The city of Great Falls, seat of Cascade County, is located in west central Montana. The Great Falls Genealogical Society provides indexes to a variety of county records on its website, including birth records (1887-1944) and baptismal records; marriages (1887-1967); death records drawn from from funeral homes (1904-2005), coroners’ records, inquests, and wills; county cemetery records; vital statistics from Great Falls Tribune (1950-1989); and a number of local histories. Search Now
Online Courses, Tours, and More
Free Online Lecture
What's New at American Ancestors
Stay up to date with what’s new at American Ancestors including new databases, projects, and more. September 22 at 3 p.m. (ET).
Last Call with Thomas Connell, Civil War Re-enactor Worcester Magazine features an interview with Thomas Connell, who has re-enacted Civil War battles for decades as part of the 15th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry.
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: Royal Descents
By Lynn Betlock, Editor
Last week's survey asked if you were descended from royal families and/or had ancestors in common with members of royal families. Thank you to everyone who replied. Below is a selection of reader responses.
Kay Pelletier, Andover, Massachusetts: Shortly after the death of President George H.W. Bush, I found “hints” suggesting that I was related to Bushes on my Ancestry tree. I messaged the person who posted the listing, and he identified my relevant ancestor and sent me a URL to a website that provided proof of my connection. To my surprise, this led me to many royal ancestors, including Edward I, Henry III, Henry VIII, Robert I of Scotland, Louis VI, and Charlemagne.
Rebecca Vaughn, Virginia Beach, Virginia: I had a very special experience at Westminster Abbey a few years ago. I had discovered that I descend from King Edward III through Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset, and his wife, Anne (nee Stanhope). Since Anne and Edward III are buried in Westminster Abbey, I made sure to visit. I especially wanted to see Anne’s monument and asked a staff member where it was. When he found out I was a descendant, he ushered us through the crowds directly to St. Nicholas' Chapel and showed us her burial location. He also gave us permission to photograph the monument and for me to have my picture taken in front of it. Anne, Duchess of Somerset, was so proud of her connection to Edward III that her descent was inscribed on her monument. I found it incredibly humbling (and exciting) to see my ancestors’ memorials in this famous building.
Scott Tracy, La Cañada Flintridge, California: My great-grandmother was a Trowbridge, and I was told we descended from royalty. In 2013, Who Do You Think You Are? featured actress Cindy Crawford and her Trowbridge lineage to Charlemagne. That program proved my own link. Since then, I’ve discovered seven additional “gateway” ancestors [immigrants with royal descents], including Anne Marbury Hutchinson.
Michael Hogan, Georges Mills, New Hampshire: While in theory nearly everyone of western European descent could trace their ancestry through European royalty to Charlemagne, I expect the number of people who have actually done so is pretty small. With the help of The Royal Descents of 900 Immigrants by Gary Boyd Roberts, I’ve identified royal descents for two of my New England ancestors. Peter Worden, who came to Plymouth Colony in 1638, was descended from William I “the Lion” of Scotland (an 11th great-grandson of Charlemagne). Margaret Wyatt, who settled with her husband Matthew Allyn in Connecticut in 1636, was a 16th great-granddaughter of Henry I of England, son of William the Conqueror and a 9th great-grandson of Charlemagne. Henry I’s wife was an 8th great-granddaughter of Charlemagne. So, it all goes back to Charlemagne.
Marian Natale, Cary, North Carolina: My mother told me that her grandmother was very proud of her Putnam ancestry. She knew her Putnam line but did not realize that her great-great-grandmother, Elizabeth (Nelson) (Perkins) Putnam (b. 1710 in Rowley, Massachusetts), was a descendant of Dorothy (Stapleton) Nelson, a descendant of four sons of King Edward III and, by extension, many medieval European kings. It is fun to read novels of that time period and know that some of the characters were my ancestors.
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