Researching in New England Town Records: 17th through 19th Centuries
Among family history researchers, early New Englanders are famous for having created a wealth of records that provide insights into their lives. This was in large part due to the important role that the town played in early New England. Town and church records from the region can contain a wealth of genealogical information—including records of births, marriages, burials, mortgages, name changes, and more. In this 5-week online seminar we’ll delve into these important resources for New England researching in the 17th through 19th centuries and demonstrate how you can get the most out of these records for your own family history.
This course includes five ninety-minute classes and exclusive access to handouts and recordings of each presentation. These recordings and course materials will be available for the foreseeable future.
Schedule
December 4 - Class 1: Introduction to the New England Town Meeting and Record Keeping, presented by David Allen Lambert
Town meetings played an essential role in the governance of New England towns, and the records from these meetings can reveal important details and stories from your ancestors’ lives. In this first class, David will provide an overview of the role of the New England town and town meetings, and how these records can assist you in your research.
December 9 – Class 2: Vital Records in New England, presented by David Allen Lambert
New England vital records record the births, marriages, and deaths for each town. In this class, David will discuss how vital records were recorded and where to find them.
December 11 – Class 3: The Foundations of Using Financial Records in New England Research, presented by Melanie McComb
When researching family history it is always a good idea to “follow the money” and analyze the financial records of your ancestors for important clues and information. In this class, Melanie will cover tips for researching in proprietor records, land deeds, tax records, and probate records.
December 16 – Class 4: Diving Deeper: More New England Financial Records, presented by Rhonda R. McClure
Building upon the foundation of financial research covered by Melanie in class 3, in this fourth class, Rhonda will dive deeper into financial records. She will discuss how to leverage treasurer’s accounts, licenses, earmarks, warnings out, and pew deeds in your family history research.
December 18 – Class 5: Records of Service to the Community, presented by Rhonda R. McClure
Because the town was so central to life in New England, your ancestors may have held official roles in service to the community. In this final class, Rhonda will discuss these records of service, including town officer records, meeting notes, and military records."
