Essex Society of Genealogists

06/12/2025

01/10/2025

www.massgencouncil.org/m-o-r-e presents

Sybil J. Gilchrist​

Camarades of War I

Thursday, January 30, 2025, at 7:00 PM ET via Zoom

This presentation is FREE, but registration is required.

MGC's Open Records and Education program looks into today's genealogy. M:O.R.E. provides education and discussion on today's genealogy topics.

09/25/2024

I encourage everyone to check out essexheritage.org to discover information on the 34 cities and towns and all the rich cultural programs available in Essex County, Massachusetts. This site also features an events page for Rev 250 programs!

09/25/2024

Massachusetts Genealogical Council is offering an evening with Jenifer Kahn Bakkala who will speak on Writing a Compelling Family History. It will take place on Monday, September 30, at 7:00 PM ET via Zoom. This is a free presentation, but registration is required. Find further information at

Since 1980, the Massachusetts Genealogical Council (MGC) has served as the umbrella organization for Massachusetts genealogists, historical societies, and individuals concerned about records preservation and free and unfettered access to civil records. 

09/25/2024

The Essex Society of Genealogists had it's first fall meeting on September 21, 2024

We welcomed Cheri Hudson Passey who spoke on Finding the Living: Genealogy in Reverse. The lecture is now posted for members on the website, ESOG.org
Our next program will be on Saturday, October 19, 2024, from 12:45 to 3:00 PM. Mark the date on your calendar!

01/20/2024

Salem Witch Museum is excited to announce five new Descendant Packets are now available! These packets include Elizabeth Proctor, Roger & Mary Toothaker, Philip & Mary English, Reverend John Hale, and newly completed Ann Foster, Mary Lacey Sr. & Mary Lacey Jr.

Each packet contains a biography; lists of relevant locations, surviving court documents, and genealogical resources; additional descendant information (if available); suggestions for further reading; and a descendant questionnaire.

Currently available are packets for all 20 executed victims, Sarah Osborne, Thomas, Ann Sr. & Ann Putnam Jr., Abagail Faulkner, Reverend John Higginson & Ann Dolliver, and Mary Bradbury, Research is ongoing for additional packets in 2024!

Head to Salem Witch Museum for more info.

We are excited to announce five new Descendant Packets are now available! These packets include Elizabeth Proctor, Roger & Mary Toothaker, Philip & Mary English, Reverend John Hale, and newly completed Ann Foster, Mary Lacey Sr. & Mary Lacey Jr.

Each packet contains a biography; lists of relevant locations, surviving court documents, and genealogical resources; additional descendant information (if available); suggestions for further reading; and a descendant questionnaire.

Currently available are packets for all 20 executed victims, Sarah Osborne, Thomas, Ann Sr. & Ann Putnam Jr., Abagail Faulkner, Reverend John Higginson & Ann Dolliver, and Mary Bradbury, Research is ongoing for additional packets in 2024!

Descendant Packets can be purchased in our museum store or online at: www.salemwitchmuseum.com/product/descendant-packet

09/16/2023

I thought this might interest a number of people.

08/17/2023

A fabulous new free online source for our friends with Connecticut ancestry:

The Connecticut Genealogy Index is now onlineThese 5.5 million records are now freely searchable at ConnecticutGenealogy.org.The original data files are also freely downloadable and in the public domain, and are linked from that website, or directly from the Internet Archive: Connecticut Birth Index...

08/11/2023

If Essex Society of Genealogists went back to live 3rd Saturday meetings in Lynnfield, Massachusetts, like pre pandemic, with zoom speakers and zoom availability, how likely is it that you would attend the live, friendly, in-house meeting verses the zoom meeting?
We all love the personal connection, yet we love our pj's and coffee. As a reminder, members are usually available at the Lynnfield library on Wednesdays to help you! Please stop in!

07/29/2023

https://www.facebook.com/362439802483/posts/10159222413012484/?mibextid=Nif5oz

EXETER —Exeter Public Library invites families and historians to visit Exeter Public Library’s new Digital Conversion Center. Do you have a box of old film reels, slides, photos, CDs, VHS,

07/08/2023

Hello! We wanted to share a family tree completed by the child of one of our members 🌳
It’s never too early to get the next generation involved in genealogy!
Check comments for a link to a tree you can download from Midwest Genealogy Center.

06/14/2023

We thought you may find this interesting! What a beautiful way to create a family tradition. "[T]his colorful watercolor example from the 19th century draws on local traditions of Northeastern Massachusetts, with the tree sprouting up from a base of two hearts, and each family member represented by an individual fruit. Notably, several fruits remain to be filled, and the differences in penmanship indicate that family names and birth dates were recorded at various moments, testifying to the document’s use over time."

Joshua Pool, (1787–?), “Family Record For Andrew Bickford and Olive Clark,” Gloucester, Massachusetts, c. 1820, Watercolor, pencil, and ink on paper, 15 × 12 in., Gift of Ralph Esmerian, 1998.17.6. Photo by John Parnell.

The tradition of hand-drawn family records featuring the ancient metaphor of a branching tree dates back many centuries. However, this colorful watercolor example from the 19th century draws on local traditions of Northeastern Massachusetts, with the tree sprouting up from a base of two hearts, and each family member represented by an individual fruit. Notably, several fruits remain to be filled, and the differences in penmanship indicate that family names and birth dates were recorded at various moments, testifying to the document’s use over time.

Joshua Pool, (1787–?), “Family Record For Andrew Bickford and Olive Clark,” Gloucester, Massachusetts, c. 1820, Watercolor, pencil, and ink on paper, 15 × 12 in., Gift of Ralph Esmerian, 1998.17.6. Photo by John Parnell.