Genealogy often feels like a treasure hunt, and genealogists, like treasure hunters, run into “dead ends” all the time. One important method for getting back on track is to look for living relatives who can fill in the gaps in our family stories. With step-by-step guidance, methodologies, and practical examples, Genealogy in Reverse. Finding the[…]Read more
Every genealogist hopes someday to find the identity of his or her immigrant ancestor. For sheer excitement in genealogy, there’s nothing quite like discovering who brought your family to the U.S. and learning what compelled or inspired the family to make a new life for themselves in North America. The genealogist’s fascination with the immigration[…]Read more
America is marking the 250th anniversary of the beginning of the American Revolution, and we are over a year in doing so. The famous “shot heard round the world” refers to the un-named British soldier or Massachusetts militiaman who first opened fire at the Battle of Lexington on April 19, 1775. Although we will never[…]Read more
“Over 650 immigrants to the American colonies have carried royal ancestry to their descendants. More than 165 of them settled in New England, and 387 came here in the colonial period. Of these latter immigrants, moreover, 180 left 10 or more descendants who were notable in American history. Not only does Massachusetts Governor Thomas Dudley[…]Read more
The March 2026 issue of the National Genealogical Society Quarterly includes reviews of four of our recent publications. We want to share two of those reviews with you today. Elizabeth Williams Gomoll, C.G. reviewed Cheri Hudson Passey’s Genealogy in Reverse. Finding the Living: A Practical Guide for All Genealogists, predicting that, “Many genealogists will thank[…]Read more
Lori Samuelson writes the blog, “Genealogy at Heart,” and in her final posting for April she published a review of Darcie Hind Posz’ new book, Ancestoring: Understanding Records, Family, and Ourselves. Simply put, where authors and publishers are concerned, it doesn’t get any better than this. Please read on: “Book Review: Ancestoring: Understanding Records, Family,[…]Read more
The National Genealogical Society bestows its annual Jacobus Award upon the finest work of genealogical scholarship of the preceding year. It would be hard to find a more deserving winner of its coveted Jacobus Award than the 1988 selection, Pioneers of Old Monocacy: The Early Settlement of Frederick County, Maryland 1721-1743, by Grace L. Tracey[…]Read more
Most U.S. census records have been indexed and are searchable online. There are a few exceptions, of course, and besides, it is sometimes helpful to see a full page of entries wherein “clusters” of people with common heritage show up. Census records are critical for placing ancestors in a particular place at a particular time[…]Read more
The Ultimate Guide Mastering FamilySearch, by Dana Ann Palmer is full of special techniques and workarounds for finding someone on FamilySearch. Chapter Three alone is full of such helpful tips. For example, if you cannot find Mary Johnson in any of the records on FamilySearch, try searching for one or more of her family members.[…]Read more
Since the 12th century, the kings of England had laid claim to Ireland and had attempted to settle English colonists there. This had been opposed by the indigenous population, who for centuries struggled with the invaders. The only notable Scottish presence in Ireland during the medieval period was from 1315-1318, when Robert Bruce, who had successfully[…]Read more
