Ask a Genealogist

 Question: I heard that my ancestors portrait may be at the library for the Society of the Cincinnati.  Can you direct me to where they are now located?

Answer: The Society of the Cincinnati Library is a wonderful facility located at 2118 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, in Washington, DC.   The catalog of their holdings is available online, however you may wish to contact them directly.  This link will provide you with their contact information: http://societyofthecincinnati.org/collections/library/about

Question:  When I was at NEHGS last week I saw a brochure in the lunch room about a descendants group for Textile workers.  I had thought I would take a copy, but forgot to after getting involved in a lengthy conversation.  Can you tell me what the organization is?

Answer:  The brochure was still down stairs and I would be glad to mail it to you.  The organization is The National Society of Descendants of Textile Workers of America, Inc.   This organization was founded in 2007 "for the purpose of honoring our ancestors who participated in the American Industrial Revolution as Textile Workers."  The website for this organization is www.textileworker.com   and their mailing address is NSDTWA, 218 Green Hollow Rd., Danielson, CT 06239.  They can also be reached by email at the address of mbrown51@snet.net

Question: I have found a card in your database Massachusetts Grand Lodge of Masons membership Cards, for my second great grandfather Ephraim Adelbert Maddocks. I have contacted the Mass lodges with the name Putnam and they did not exist when Ephraim joined.  I looked into Maine where he was born and they also did not have anything with the name Putman. Connecticut is the only one left I can think of. Would you be able to tell me where the lodge is located?

Answer: According to The Massachusetts Grand Lodge Library the current lodge called – Moses Michael Hays and is located in Needham, Massachusetts.  The Putnam Lodge existed until July 27, 1978 when it merged with Moses Michael Hays Lodge.  A list of all other lodges that merged with Moses Michael Hays are listed below.  The lodge was not named for a town but for a person. Putnam Lodge was chartered in East Cambridge, Mass. in 1855, and then shortly after moved to East Boston, Mass. 1856.  The Lodge existed when your ancestor was a member, and was still active under that name until the merger in 1978.

Moses Michael Hays =  Putnam, Temple, Brotherhood, Sharon, Freedom, Adelphi-Noddle’s Island