Connecticut Ancestry Society

09/27/2025

Attending NERGC - New England Regional Genealogical Conference and not yet signed up for meals? Tuesday, September 30th is the last day to do so!

Fuel your body and your mind at NERGC 2025! 🍽️
We’re offering three engaging luncheons and two unforgettable banquets, each paired with a dynamic speaker presentation — and you don’t want to miss a bite or a word.

These events are the perfect way to relax, connect with fellow attendees, and enjoy a delicious meal while learning from some of genealogy’s most inspiring voices.

🛎️ Important: Meal registration closes Tuesday, September 30. Presentations are only accessible with the purchase of the corresponding meal — so reserve your seat today!

🍽️ THURSDAY LUNCHEON

Sponsored by: Family Tree Magazine
Speaker: Sarah Dixwell Brown
“My Search for 7g Grandfather John Dixwell, Regicide”
Uncover the riveting true story of a 7th great-grandfather who lived under an alias in New England after signing a king’s death warrant! (T-120)

Meal options:

Pan-Seared Chicken Breast
Spinach Florentine Ravioli
Served with rice pilaf, vegetable medley, orchard salad, rolls & butter, and Strawberry Trifle for dessert.
💵 Cost: $48

🍽️ FRIDAY LUNCHEON

Sponsored by: Massachusetts Genealogical Council
Speaker: David Allen Lambert
“What Time Is It On Your Genealogical Clock?”
Your genealogical efforts should have a final home. David Allen Lambert will help you to listen to the ticking of your genealogical clock and make a plan for the future of your own archives. (F-220)

Meal options:

Roasted Stuffed Pork Tenderloin
Potato-Crusted Cod
Served with mashed potatoes, broccoli, Caesar salad, rolls and butter, and Triple Chocolate Mousse Torte.
💵 Cost: $48

🍷 FRIDAY BANQUET

Sponsored by: Essex Society of Genealogists
Speaker: Diahan Southard
“How DNA Influences Our Identity”

It seems like every day we are seeing news stories about individuals who are suddenly discovering their parentage and heritage using DNA testing. We will talk about how these experiences are shaping lives and changing perspectives, and about how you can be inspired and encouraged by their stories.(F-240)

Meal options:

Grilled Chicken Champignon
Roasted Vegetable Wellington
Includes Elm Street Salad, rolls and butter, chef’s accompaniments, and Warm Apple Tart for dessert.
💵Cost: $60

🍽️ SATURDAY LUNCHEON

Sponsored by: Massachusetts Society of Genealogists
Speaker: Kelli Jo Bergheimer
“Genealogy Intertwined with Gratitude”
Learning our family history encourages us to consider ourselves in time and place and to have profound gratitude for those who came before us. (S-320)

Meal options:

Burgundy Braised Short Ribs
Asiago-Crusted Atlantic Salmon
Includes mashed potatoes, broccoli, baby spinach salad, and Classic Red Velvet Cake.
💵 Cost: $50

🍷 SATURDAY BANQUET

Sponsored by: Connecticut Society of Genealogists
Speaker: Cari Taplin
“How Potty Training Helped My Genealogy”
A humorous and insightful take on life, parenting, and research! (S-340)

Meal options:

Pan-Roasted Statler Chicken Breast
Roasted Butternut Squash Ravioli
Includes wedge salad, chef’s accompaniments, and Triple Chocolate Mousse Torte.
💵Cost: $62
🎟️ Ready to enjoy a great meal and an even better talk?
👉 Click Here to Register by September 30

Make the most of your NERGC 2025 experience — your seat (and your dessert!) awaits. 🍰

09/27/2025

A Special Interest Group about the Boston Tea Party, NERGC - New England Regional Genealogical Conference, Thursday, October 30th at 3:45 p.m.

Special Interest Groups (SIGs) are a great way to get questions answers or provide expertise to others. One of our SIGs on Thursday is on Descendants of the Boston Tea Party participants. It didn't stay secret very long, so, yes, there's a list of participants - is your ancestor on it? The SIG is 90 minutes to listen, learn, discuss, and meet/greet others doing Genealogy! If you meet a cousin, let us know because we love to hear about connections made at NERGC! www.nergc.org

09/27/2025

Tomorrow at the Stamford History Center, a Victorian Tea where Wes Haynes will speak on historic buildings.

We have a special announcement: Wes Haynes will be speaking at Stamford History Center September 28th at their Victorian Tea Stamford’s Mosaic of Historic Places sponsored by First County Bank and Palmer's Market Tickets are available online:

https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/victorian-tea-series-stamfords-mosaic-of-historic-places

09/27/2025

Think you know where your ancient ancestors came from? This Harvard Gazette article suggests you know less than you think you do.

“The big perspective change from ancient DNA study is that people living today are almost never the descendants of the people in the same place thousands of years before,” Reich said. “Human movements have occurred at multiple timescales, often disruptive to the populations that experience them, and these patterns were not possible to predict and anticipate without direct data.”

"Another major revelation provided by ancient DNA is the impact of evolutionary natural selection on human populations.

Reich said it had been believed that natural selection was minimal among humans for the last 10,000 years, and his own early study, in 2015, showed just a dozen places in the genome that had changed over the last 8,000 years in a way that might indicate natural selection."

"Last year, a similar study showed 21. So Reich and his team set out to develop ways to reduce false signals and increase statistical power. In an examination of 10,000 people’s genomes, they found almost 500 significant changes."

Geneticist explains recent analyses made possible by tech advances show human history to be one of mixing, movement, displacement.

09/20/2025

THREEE WEEKS 'TIL: Sat. Oct. 11 @ 10:30 a.m., a newspaper program that may make you miss your bedtime(s). You'll gain insights into ten different newspaper resources (five free and five fee sites), OCR (optical character recognition, a form of AI we use whenever we search for newspapers online) and how inaccurate stories can be. AND, as the title tells you, how your family stories may have gone viral. Members will be sent the Zoom link a week in advance. Non-members can request the link by emailing info@ConnecticutAncestry.org.

09/17/2025

CONFERENCE PROGRAM ALERT! The AAHGS-Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society, Inc. 2025 National Conference will take place in Charleston, SC October 9-11. On the opening day at 4 p.m., "Uncovering Black Lives Project: Exploring the Informational Experiences of African American Genealogists" will be presented by Shannon Crooks, Dr. LaVerne Gray and Jeongbae Choi.

Shannon Crooks is a PhD student in the Information Science and Technology program at Syracuse University. She holds a bachelor’s degree in social work from Winthrop University, a master’s degree in social work from Howard University, and a master’s degree in library and information science from Syracuse University. Before beginning her doctoral studies, Shannon worked as a librarian supervisor in Prince George’s County, Maryland, where she developed a passion for connecting communities with meaningful library services.

Her background in social work enriches her research, which focuses on community engagement and the role of libraries in supporting diverse populations. At the AAHGS 2025 National Conference, Shannon will co-present with Dr. LaVerne Gray and Jeongbae Choi:

Uncovering Black Lives Project: Exploring the Informational Experiences of African American Genealogists
October 9, 4:00–5:00 PM

Register today: https://aahgs.org/annualconference

09/17/2025

Today it's 43 days to go. CT Ancestry Society board members will be at NERGC - New England Regional Genealogical Conference with a table in the exhibit hall, as a speaker (Online Newspapers: How Your Family Stories Went Viral) and leading a Special Interest Group on Newspapers, as well as volunteering.

Yes, that's right - just 45 days from today we'll be gathering in Manchester, NH for NERGC 2025: the 18th New England Regional Genealogical Conference with the theme New Englanders - Here, There, and Everywhere. You have about one month to register to join us at the conference between October 29 and November 1. Or, mark your calendar to visit for a few hours and enjoy our Exhibit Hall free of charge. www.nergc.org

09/17/2025

SAVE THE DATE! September 27th for this hybrid event.

As part of its contribution to Windsor’s celebration of the nation’s Semiquincentennial, the speaker at the Descendants of the Founders of Ancient Windsor's Fall Program will be its Vice President, Randall Nelson, who will present a talk on the process of researching and then carving replicas of several Revolutionary War veteran’s headstones. The program will be recorded and made available to those who have registered to attend either in person or via Zoom.

To register, go to https://dfaw.org/events/

09/15/2025

SAVE THE DATE: Sat., Oct. 11 at 10:30, networking at 10 a.m. Newspapers were the social media of your ancestors. Editors read other newspapers and reprinted stories, not always right away. The Associated Press (AP) and newspaper unions also reprinted news, beginning in the middle of the 19th century. The latter produced pre-printed newspaper pages that were called Patent Insides and Patent Outsides. Learn best practices to tease out more items by creating queries that will catch misspellings, less-than-perfect OCR (optical character recognition) and bad microfilms. You’ll see the interfaces of fee and free online resources with an emphasis on Connecticut. CT Ancestry members will be sent the Zoom link in the week before. Non-members can request a link from info@ConnecticutAncestry.org.

09/13/2025

SAVE THE DATE: October 4 | ⏰ 9 AM–3:30 PM | 📍 Wallingford, CT for the Connecticut Society of Genealogists, Inc. Family History Day.
https://csginc.org/family-history-day-seminar/

🔔 Speaker Spotlight: Dr. Matt Warshauer — Family History Day Seminar

Join us for an enlightening presentation by Dr. Matt Warshauer (CCSU):
“Connecticut and the American Revolution”

Take a look at Connecticut’s mood and actions leading to the Declaration of Independence—tying into the CT250 theme of honoring the people behind our state’s story.

Plus, the seminar provides an opportunity to connect with other genealogists, exchange tips, and find new collaborations.

Details:
🗓 October 4 | ⏰ 9 AM–3:30 PM | 📍 Wallingford, CT

Register now & be part of the conversation ► https://csginc.org/family-history-day-seminar/

09/13/2025

Many, many thanks to Thomas MacEntee for today's program on how AI can become a Genealogy research assistant. We appreciate all the tips, and the insights into the improvements that have taken place in the last three years. The recording and the handout are both available in the members-only area of our website and will remain there indefinitely (thanks again, Thomas!). https://connecticutancestry.org/members/members-only/members-only-past-events/ Genealogy Bargains

09/13/2025

If you're planning to attend NERGC - New England Regional Genealogical Conference and you haven't registered, today's the last day to take advantage of the conference discount!

It's DEADLINE Day - Early Bird Registration ends today! If you're not yet registered TODAY is the DAY to get it done and save $30 (enough to enjoy a conference or pre-conference workshop)!