Your ancestor may not have served on the battlefield, but may still have supported the cause through supplies, medical aid, petitions or oaths of fidelity, service in the Continental Congress, or more yet. This lecture will explore the many records which may shed light on an ancestor’s patriotic leanings and support. We will also examine women’s patriotic service during the Revolutionary War.
This lecture provides a step-by-step look at applying to Revolutionary War lineage societies, including the general application process and tips for when you can’t find vital records. The lineage societies covered in this presentation will include National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, Sons of the American Revolution, Sons of the Revolution, The Society of the Cincinnati, The Order of the Founders and Patriots of America, and the United Empire Loyalists Association of Canada.
Cemeteries are an essential resource for family historians—grave stone inscriptions can reveal birth and death dates, family relationships, and other details. Epitaphs and symbols included on gravestones also carry significant emotional meanings that can provide context to your ancestor’s life and death. In this online lecture, we will go over strategies, record types, and resources you can use to make the most of cemetery research.
It's estimated that upwards of 50% of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War were Irish immigrants. Many Irish also served in the British Army. Torn between loyalty to the British Crown, economic stability, and opportunity, the Irish made a lasting impact during the war and post-war settlement in the American colonies. Join Senior Genealogist Melanie McComb to learn about the incentives offered to the Irish from both sides of the conflict, how to research their military service, pensions, bounty land, and identify their origins in Ireland.
What role did Germans play in the American Revolution—and how might their stories intersect with your own family history? In this lecture, Senior Genealogist Hallie Kirchner will explore the complex experiences of German-speaking people on both sides of the conflict: from the so-called “Hessians” hired by the British to the many German immigrants who supported the Patriot cause. Along the way, we’ll examine how to identify German origins in colonial records, trace Hessian soldiers who remained in North America, and better understand the cultural and political forces that shaped their decisions. Whether your ancestors fought for independence, arrived as soldiers in foreign service, or lived in German-American communities during the Revolutionary era, this lecture will provide valuable historical context and practical strategies for discovering their stories.
From tracing ancestors on the move to understanding boundary changes to just becoming acquainted with the landscape of your ancestors' lives, maps are an incredibly important resource in your family history research. In this lecture, we will explore various ways in which maps can help broaden your genealogical horizons.
Do you have boxes of family papers, photographs, and letters in your basement or attic? Learn how to organize and preserve these important family heirlooms for generations to come. In this lecture, our presenter will demonstrate how to apply techniques used by the American Ancestors archive to your own collection.
This program introduces the participants to the genealogical research process and the tools and techniques that support the research. The first part of the lecture introduces key genealogical tools such as the multi-generational chart, family group sheet, and the research log. Participants also learn how to create a solid research plan. The second part of the lecture introduces the range of records and documents that genealogists use in the course of research. Census, vital, and immigration records are highlighted. By the end of the program, participants will understand the most important types of records used in genealogical research and the strengths and weaknesses of each.
With all of the genealogical information at your fingertips today, it’s easy to become overwhelmed, go down research rabbit holes, and lose focus. In this first class, our genealogist will offer tips on how to make a research plan and stick to it! Using templates, worksheets, and other research tools available at AmericanAncestors.org, you’ll learn how to stay organized and get the most out of your research time.
Not sure what to do with that box of your great-aunt's research? Have you received binders of your parents' genealogy throughout the years? In this lecture, our genealogist will go over tips for sorting through inherited research—discussing how genealogical standards have shifted over time, assessing the credibility of the research, and organizing and preserving the materials.
