Ask a Genealogist

Question: Do you have any suggestions for researching my 18^th century ancestors in Portsmouth, New Hampshire?

Answer: NEHGS offers published histories of Portsmouth on the 5^th floor. For primary sources you can examine Portsmouth vital records on microfilm, and you may want to examine Rockingham County Probates and Deeds for Portsmouth pre-1771. At NEHGS we also have a typescript collection by Agnes Bartlett on microfilm. This collection is simply called Portsmouth Family Records. It is on three rolls of 35mm microfilm located on the 4^th floor at NEHGS. The call number for this collection is F44.P8 P67.

Question: I recently found out I am related to Thomas Macy of Nantucket from the seventeenth century.  I hate relying on online information, so I hope NEHGS can tell me the latest published material on him.

Answer: I believe you are referring to the Thomas Macy who died on the Island of Nantucket in 1682.  You will want to see the following work on Macy in the book by William Jessup Cleaver, The Ancestry of Allen Grinnell Cleav er and Martha Irene Jessup: 172 Allied Families (Baltimore, MD: Gateway Press, 1989), pgs. 618-623.

Question: I have reviewed some early Massachusetts published vital records and found some ancestors marriages recorded. It states "intention not recorded". If the intention was not recorded I would like to know how the information was compiled ?  Is there any record that may house more information such as grooms parents name for a marriage listed, but not recorded?

Answer: In this case the intention of marriage was not recorded in that town.  In many cases the marriage intention was filed in the town of the groom or the bride.  Prior to 1850 an intention of marriage in Massachusetts would list the names of both parties, and the date of the intention.  If the person was African-American or Indian this may be indicated, if they were someone’s slave they will list the slave owner.  But the only other fact you see is the residence of the other person if they were not living in the town the intention was filed at.  Only on a rare occasion when the bride or groom is underage is a parent listed giving their permission in the early records.

Question: What resource for early 1820's Williamsburg, Massachusetts vital records does NEHGS have?  I will be visiting this coming week.

Answer: You will want to visit the NEHGS Microtext Department on the fourth floor.  We have microfiche of the Williamsburg vital records from 1771-1899.  This is part of the Holbrook microfiche collection.  The call number is: F74.W815 H6 1987

Question: I am looking for a a death record for a relative in Alberta, Canada in 1918.  Are these on microfilm, or do I have to order it from Alberta?

Answer: These records have not yet been microfilmed or digitized from the Family History Library in Salt Lake City.  You can order the certificate from Alberta for $39.64 online at: http://www.e-registry.ca/services/alberta-vs-documents.htm

Question: I am researching the Root family, ancestors of my wife’s.  One of them settled in the town of Sunderland, Massachusetts in a part known as Hunting Hills.  This town became the town of Montague.  I’m undecided as to what town I should record as a place of birth if the year is on or before 1753. 

Answer:  The town of Sunderland annexed part of its territory on January 25, 1754 to become the town of Montague.  I would refer to all births that are registered in Montague before Jan. 25, 1754 to refer to them as Sunderland.  The town of Sunderland was formerly called Swampfield from February 17, 1714 to November 12, 1718.  The original area of Swampfield was formerly a plantation of land established by the inhabitants of Hadley in 1673.

Question:  Recently becoming a genealogist I have a question about Massachusetts marriage records.  I found the 1872 marriage of my ancestors in Boston, will I find more information on the original marriage record from the city of Boston? 

Answer: A copy of the marriage record from the city clerk’s office in Boston was returned at the end of each year to the Secretary of State’s Office starting 1841.  This annual copy is what NEHGS offers to member online, and is the state return.  The original church record from the clergyman may contain additional facts, most important would be the witnesses. Using Boston city directories you can determine the officiating clergyman’s associated church or synagogue.  This will be the first step in locating the church records, please let me know if you have any further questions.