Torosian Genealogy, LLC

10/22/2025

I'll be joining some friends for girls night out tonight, and decided to check out the menu and the craft beer list ahead of time. I noticed they carry a beer named Edward, named after the brewery owner's grandfather (and the same name of my dad/grandfather/great-grandfather). That led me to to check out the brewery's website, and they have a whole list of craft beers named after their ancestors! They have their ancestry traced back to 1791. Looks like I have another place to visit the next time I'm researching in Vermont!

Hill Farmstead Brewery is the culmination of many years of travel and insight—of experience and education—of friendships and explorations. It is the revival and continuation of 220 years of Hill heritage and handcrafted history in North Greensboro, Vermont.

10/02/2025

You might be a genealogist if you feel completely lost and discombobulated as you follow your GPS around some traffic tie-ups and finally manage to get your bearings only after passing a cemetery that you've done some research at. Happy Family History Month!

07/08/2025

I came across this article earlier, and I agree wholeheartedly! Some of your cousins inherited photographs and stories that your branch didn't. What discoveries have you made connecting with distant relatives?

Most family historians get it wrong from day one.

06/26/2025

Working at Muddy Waters in Tarrytown for a few hours while my car visits the mechanic. Fabulous iced coffee and what a coffee shop should be.

06/20/2025

Last year I had the chance to work on a small project for a client based in Norway. I'll let him tell the full story in his upcoming documentary, but I'll tease that it includes a sea captain gone missing, differentiating men with the same name, and tragic accidents suffered by hard working immigrants trying to carve out a life in a new country. Today I welcomed him to my office here in New York, and was interviewed on camera to tell the parts of the story I was able to uncover. My "silly" career goal of being the expert genealogist on a film or TV show? Check!

05/19/2025

I was genuinely relieved and happy this morning to see that 23andMe is going to be purchased by Regeneron.

Drugmaker Regeneron Pharmaceuticals will buy genetic testing firm 23andMe Holding for $256 million through a bankruptcy auction, the companies said on Monday.

05/09/2025

Genealogy in the news!

His ancestry, traced to a historic enclave of Afro-Caribbean culture, links Leo XIV to the rich and sometimes overlooked Black Catholic experience in America.

04/16/2025

I went prepared with reading material to a doctor appointment this morning, and was pleasantly surprised when there was no wait. So what does a genealogist do with extra time? I took a walk at my favorite Sleepy Hollow Cemetery.

04/11/2025

Whenever I lecture or consult with a client on DNA testing, I always warn people that you might find unexpected results, either for you or for someone you love. This is an extreme example, but its seems to have provided an explanation for mistreatment this man never understood growing up. https://nypost.com/2025/04/06/us-news/li-man-switched-at-birth-with-baby-who-had-same-last-name-lawsuit/?fbclid=IwY2xjawJl2qNleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHgwRu8hlFVRF4ZqbnPJeu4kxnBrzRfkGUj1vY12626U5KQzjKareSR8bh293_aem_9Ru7H75NiPDbtM0rubuJjA

“[It] explained everything about why my childhood was the way that it was,” Kevin McMahon told The Post.

03/31/2025

Genealogy Road Trip Part 2! After a productive time in Albany it was time to drive north to Vermont. First up was a visit to the church where my 4th great grandparents were married in 1857 and a chance to review the original records. Then a quick walk to town hall allowed me to use the card catalogue of vital records to learn more about the family members in Vermont, review the original register entries and check out useful things, like the map from 1835 and original city directories. As much as I love learning about my family's past, the best part was seeing my cousin and making new family memories with a bonus visit to our favorite gourmet chocolate store.

03/28/2025

What a fabulous week researching in Albany at the New York State Archives and Library with the NYG&B! I love helping other genealogists with their research, making new genealogy friends and learning with and from each other. Bonus, the time with colleagues can't be beat!

03/22/2025

Even when it's been a busy and stressful week (month!) , I appreciate when a cemetery visit for a client project reminds me to stop, take a breath, and maybe even say a prayer. After working on this particular project for a rather long time, it felt very meaningful to look at this couple's gravestone and realize all the stories contained within the dashes between their birth and death dates.