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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20221207T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20221207T200000
DTSTAMP:20260428T145510
CREATED:20221027T011143Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20221027T011143Z
UID:40416-1670436000-1670443200@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS Monthly Meeting: The Pilgrims: Persistent and Resilient
DESCRIPTION:At our December meeting\, John Putnam will return to present “The Pilgrims: Persistent and Resilient.” John will discuss the challenges and successes of the Plymouth Colony from its settlement until its merging with the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1692. \nAfter facing and surviving challenges on their journey\, the Pilgrims faced further hardships once they arrived on the shores of America. The list was long and included housing\, food\, disease\, weather\, conflicts with Native American tribes\, economic issues\, and more. How did they deal with these challenges and what were the outcomes of their efforts? Where did their strength and resilience originate?
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-monthly-meeting-the-pilgrims-persistent-and-resilient/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Monthly Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/John-Putnam.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20221102T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20221102T200000
DTSTAMP:20260428T145510
CREATED:20220925T232136Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220925T232243Z
UID:40374-1667412000-1667419200@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS Monthly Meeting: Indirect Evidence: Putting the Pieces Together
DESCRIPTION:Do you need a new way to solve an old research problem? Are you stuck because the vital records you need can’t be found\, don’t provide enough information\, or perhaps don’t exist for that time period?\nAt our November 2nd monthly meeting\, Pauline Merrick will present “Indirect Evidence: Putting the Pieces Together” and teach us strategies to help solve such problems by gathering evidence and clues to prove a conclusion.\nIn a Connecticut-based\, indirect evidence case study of a woman whose maiden name is known\, but whose parents haven’t been found\, Pauline demonstrates that researching friends-family/associates/neighbors (FAN principle) can provide evidence to connect this woman back to her family. She’ll demonstrate how various types of records\, such as deeds\, probate\, church\, court\, and census records\, can provide enough clues to help you solve that problem.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-monthly-meeting-indirect-evidence-putting-the-pieces-together/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Monthly Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Pauline-Merrick.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20221005T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20221005T193000
DTSTAMP:20260428T145510
CREATED:20220827T080018Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220827T080018Z
UID:40360-1664992800-1664998200@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS October Meeting: "I've Found It: Now What?"
DESCRIPTION:At our October 5th meeting\, popular genealogist Michael John Neill will be returning for another visit to present “I’ve Found It: Now What?”\nThis lecture looks at a dozen or so documents found in actual research and sees what additional sources and methods are suggested by each individual document. Part of finding something is completely analyzing it.\nAfter searching and finally finding a document\, you certainly want to make the most of your discovery. If you’re familiar with Michael’s work\, you know that he will provide information and tips that will help you analyze your discovery and more.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-october-meeting-ive-found-it-now-what/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Monthly Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Michael-John-Neil.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20220907T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20220907T193000
DTSTAMP:20260428T145510
CREATED:20220827T075813Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220827T075813Z
UID:40358-1662573600-1662579000@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS September Meeting: "Apprentices\, Indentured Servants and Redemptioners: White Servitude in America"
DESCRIPTION:We’re excited to kick off our new membership year in September with a presentation by Peggy Clemens Lauritzen\, AG\, FOGS\, one of our favorite speakers.\nPeggy will be presenting “Apprentices\, Indentured Servants and Redemptioners: White Servitude in America.”\nAn estimated one-half of early immigrants came to America as indentured servants. People came to the colonies by various means; some desired to come\, and some came against their will. This lecture will examine indentureship in early America and will follow a case study of the story behind Peggy’s own ancestors’ arrival.\nPeggy has noted\, “This is by no means a comparison of indentureship and slavery. Though they may have worked alongside each other\, and even ran away and married each other\, their lives were vastly different. One had hope of a piece of land\, and perhaps money and implement. The other had no hope at all; their service was perpetual.”
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-september-meeting-apprentices-indentured-servants-and-redemptioners-white-servitude-in-america/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Monthly Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Peggy-Clemens-Lauritzen.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20220803T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20220803T200000
DTSTAMP:20260428T145510
CREATED:20220625T165106Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220625T165106Z
UID:40325-1659549600-1659556800@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS August Meeting: No Stone Unturned: Getting the Most from the Graveyard
DESCRIPTION:Summer and fall are perfect for cemetery research! To help your research be successful\, member Ed Strickland will present “No Stone Unturned: Getting the Most from the Graveyard” at our August 3rd meeting.\nStarting with the evolution of the burial ground to memorial park\, Ed’s presentation will cover a wide range of topics related to cemetery research. He’ll cover the history of gravestones\, including materials used\, symbolism\, gravestone transcriptions\, military graves\, military and fraternal emblems\, and cemetery\, sexton\, and funeral home records. He’ll also discuss how to clean and photograph graves and take us on a tour of some confusing or misleading gravestones.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-august-meeting-no-stone-unturned-getting-the-most-from-the-graveyard/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Monthly Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Ed-Strickland.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20220706T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20220706T193000
DTSTAMP:20260428T145510
CREATED:20220625T164744Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220625T164744Z
UID:40323-1657130400-1657135800@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS July Meeting: Change and Industrialization in Antebellum New England
DESCRIPTION:Join us at our July 6th meeting\, as perennial favorite John Putnam presents the next topic in his history of New England series: “Change and Industrialization in Antebellum New England.”\nJohn’s presentation describes the incredible economic and social changes in New England from the Industrial Revolution to the start of the Civil War. New England was ideally suited for industrial growth with its many rivers and streams. Waterpower led to rapid change in New England as grist mills\, sawmills\, textile mills\, firearm and shoes manufacturers\, and more developed and expanded. Every person and family in New England were affected by the growth and expansion of industry.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-july-meeting-change-and-industrialization-in-antebellum-new-england/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Monthly Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/John-Putnam.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20220601T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20220601T193000
DTSTAMP:20260428T145510
CREATED:20220519T202906Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220519T202906Z
UID:40282-1654106400-1654111800@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS' 50th Anniversary Virtual Celebration
DESCRIPTION:It’s been 50 years since Western Massachusetts Genealogical Society\, Inc. was founded!\nWe’re looking forward to celebrating the 50th anniversary of the formation of our society with our members. We are thankful for the work begun by our Founders and proud of all that WMGS has become through the efforts of those who followed. From the beginning\, WMGS has been devoted to helping others discover their ancestors and preserve their stories. We can proudly say that we have stayed true to our mission for over 5 decades!\nOur 50th anniversary committee will host a virtual celebration where we share the story of our society\, from its humble beginnings to the present. As the field of genealogy has changed over the past 50 years\, so has our society. We’ll share a timeline of how WMGS has developed over the decades to become the wonderful and well-respected organization it is today. We’ll be sharing photos\, memorabilia\, historical material\, and more\, as we tell the story of WMGS through the years.\nPlease join us on Wednesday\, June 1st at 6 p.m.\, as we celebrate our 50th Anniversary and toast to the future of WMGS!
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-50th-anniversary-virtual-celebration/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Monthly Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/WMGS-Celebrates-Book.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20220504T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20220504T200000
DTSTAMP:20260428T145510
CREATED:20220326T143339Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220326T143339Z
UID:40242-1651687200-1651694400@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS Monthly Meeting: Adoption Research in America: History\, Genealogy\, Legacy
DESCRIPTION:One of the most difficult challenges in genealogical research is the area of adoption. At our May 4th meeting\, forensic genealogist Michael Brophy will be joining us to present “Adoption Research in America: History\, Genealogy\, Legacy.”\nAdoption has been practiced in America since its founding. This presentation explores many aspects of adoption\, including the history\, genealogical research practices\, current issues\, and legislation. Join us as Michael describes methods that may help your research and move it beyond roadblocks.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-monthly-meeting-adoption-research-in-america-history-genealogy-legacy/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Monthly Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Michael-Brophy.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20220406T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20220406T200000
DTSTAMP:20260428T145510
CREATED:20220223T154156Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220223T154156Z
UID:40199-1649268000-1649275200@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS Monthly Meeting: Bring Your Ancestors to Life: Connect via Social History
DESCRIPTION:We’ve all wished that we could go beyond the names and dates for the ancestors we’ve found through research. If only we had asked our most recent ancestors questions about their lives\, we would know them better. But what about our more distant ancestors? \nLori Lynn Price\, MAS\, MLA will help us transform our ancestors from names and dates on a piece of paper to people who led full and interesting lives through social history. She will help us learn how to incorporate local history and other sources of social history—such as occupation\, military service and war\, daily life\, and recreation—into our genealogical research to gain a great understanding of our ancestors.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-monthly-meeting-bring-your-ancestors-to-life-connect-via-social-history/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Monthly Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Lori-Lynn-Price.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20220302T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20220302T200000
DTSTAMP:20260428T145510
CREATED:20220126T155305Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220126T155305Z
UID:40159-1646244000-1646251200@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS Monthly Meeting: Marriages Here\, There\, and Nowhere: Finding Gretna Greens
DESCRIPTION:We’re thrilled that we’ll be joined by J. Mark Lowe for a presentation titled “Marriages  Here\, There\, and Nowhere: Finding Gretna Greens” on March 2nd.\nThroughout history\, many couples chose to marry in a location away from their home. Often there were reasons why it was a more convenient location to tie the knot. Sometimes\, this decision was based on a romantic location or a place that would allow them to marry quickly without a three-day waiting period. These locations are often referred to as Gretna Greens\, named for the historic town in Scotland where thousands of English couples ran because of Scotland’s sympathetic marriage laws. We will consider the reasons for a different marriage  location\, alternate sources to determine the location\, and a few of the towns known as “Gretna Greens” in the United States.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-monthly-meeting-marriages-here-there-and-nowhere-finding-gretna-greens/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Monthly Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/J-Mark-Lowe.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20220202T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20220202T200000
DTSTAMP:20260428T145510
CREATED:20211223T170643Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211223T170643Z
UID:40144-1643824800-1643832000@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS Monthly Meeting: Navigating Naturalization Records
DESCRIPTION:We’ll finally get a chance to welcome Lisa Alzo to WMGS! Lisa was originally scheduled to present at our September 2021 kickoff meeting\, but the aftermath of Hurricane Ida interfered with those plans.\nLisa will be presenting a lecture titled “Navigating Naturalization Records\,” a difficult area of research for many of us. First papers\, petitions\, certificates\, and registrations are some of the key documents for naturalization – the process of becoming an American citizen. Due to changing laws and an evolving process over time\, locating the appropriate official paperwork can be a challenging task for family historians. Lisa will explain how to navigate naturalization records and what information they contain about your ancestors.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-monthly-meeting-navigating-naturalization-records-2/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Monthly Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Lisa-Alzo.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20211201T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20211201T200000
DTSTAMP:20260428T145510
CREATED:20211126T144258Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211126T144452Z
UID:40117-1638381600-1638388800@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS Monthly Meeting: "European Immigrant Ancestors: Why They Left and How They Got Here\, 1865-1920"
DESCRIPTION:Have you wondered why your European ancestors decided to emigrate to the United States\, beyond hearing they were told the streets were paved in gold?\nMany factors pushed or pulled our European ancestors to emigrate to the United States. Genealogist Nancy E. Loe\, MA\, MLS will help us follow in the footsteps of ancestors who arrived between 1865 and 1920.\nWhat did they experience when they decided to leave their homes and communities to sail to America? What was the voyage like? Discover essential and unusual resources for migration research for all United States ports.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-monthly-meeting-european-immigrant-ancestors-why-they-left-and-how-they-got-here-1865-1920/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Monthly Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Nancy-Loe.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20211103T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20211103T200000
DTSTAMP:20260428T145510
CREATED:20210925T163941Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210925T163941Z
UID:40056-1635962400-1635969600@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS Monthly Meeting: Misbegotten Children: Tracing the Family Lines of the Illegitimate
DESCRIPTION:Peggy Clemens Lauritzen\, AG\, FOGS will be joining us again on November 3rd for another not-to-be-missed presentation! Her topic will be “Misbegotten Children; Tracing the Family Lines of the Illegitimate.” Nearly all families have children with seemingly missing fathers. Yet there may be clues and resources to help us determine their ancestry. Illegitimacy can be both a surprise  and an embarrassment as we discover more and more about our family’s history.  Treated with care and sensitivity\, we can use many available resources to help us in our research.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-monthly-meeting-misbegotten-children-tracing-the-family-lines-of-the-illegitimate/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Monthly Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Peggy-Clemens-Lauritzen.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20211006T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20211006T200000
DTSTAMP:20260428T145510
CREATED:20210925T163723Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210925T163723Z
UID:40054-1633543200-1633550400@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS Monthly Meeting: New Englanders Become Americans
DESCRIPTION:We’ve got another great presentation with John Putnam lined up for our October meeting. John will be presenting a lecture titled “New Englanders Become Americans.”  This lecture is the 2nd part of John’s earlier presentation to us\, “Untangling Your England Roots\,” in July 2020. (If you missed it\, it’s archived in the Members Only section of our website.)\nJohn will discuss the genealogy and history of New England from the French and Indian War to the 1800s. Did you have ancestors living in New England immediately before\, during\, or after the American Revolution or in the early years of the new republic? Do you know their history and how they coped with the many historic disruptions during this time? Even though you may not share any roots from this geographical area\, there are many factors that started here that still impact us all.\nIn many respects\, New England was a catalyst of the revolution — very active in the formation of the new republic\, the site of the start of the American industrial revolution. It was also the source of many people who emigrated west during this time. John will share the importance of understanding these events and the very stressful times in which our ancestors lived\, helping to improve your chances of tackling New England brick walls. While records are important to prove your genealogical past\, it is often difficult to know where to look for these records unless you know the area’s history\, not to mention the formative activities that our ancestors undertook\, which provide rich stories for your family histories. Certainly\, events as disruptive as these can also disrupt the records\, too.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-monthly-meeting-new-englanders-become-americans/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Monthly Meeting
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210901T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20210901T200000
DTSTAMP:20260428T145510
CREATED:20210729T143457Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210729T143457Z
UID:39952-1630519200-1630526400@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS Monthly Meeting - Navigating Naturalization Records
DESCRIPTION:We are kicking off our 2021-2022 membership year with a fantastic presentation by Lisa A. Alzo!  Lisa will be presenting a lecture titled “Navigating Naturalization Records\,” a difficult area of research for many of us. First papers\, petitions\, certificates\, and registrations are some of the key documents for naturalization – the process of becoming an American citizen. Due to changing laws and an evolving process over time\, locating the appropriate official paperwork can be a challenging task for family historians. Lisa will explain how to navigate naturalization records and what information they contain about your ancestors.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-monthly-meeting-navigating-naturalization-records/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Monthly Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Lisa-Alzo.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210804T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20210804T200000
DTSTAMP:20260428T145510
CREATED:20210626T184309Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210626T184309Z
UID:39915-1628100000-1628107200@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS Monthly Meeting: Warning  Out and Settlement Law in Early New England
DESCRIPTION:Come find out about “strangers taken in” records\, “warning out” records\, and settlement law. Settlement law impacted all New Englanders whether rich or poor\, transient or long-time resident. Discover what records were created as a result and why. You will be surprised at the level of detail you can find about your ancestors. Marian Pierre-Louis will take you into the depths of these rarely discussed New England records to reveal a wealth of information about your ancestors.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-monthly-meeting-warning-out-and-settlement-law-in-early-new-england/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Monthly Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Marian-Pierre-Louis.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210707T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20210707T200000
DTSTAMP:20260428T145510
CREATED:20210614T210149Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210614T210149Z
UID:39893-1625680800-1625688000@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS Monthly Meeting: Peopling Colonial New England 1620-1787
DESCRIPTION:From several small coastal settlements in the early 17th century\, the early settlers and their descendants\, as well as new immigrants\, migrated to other parts of the New England frontier over the next 150 years. Many reasons led to these migrations\, which infilled the settlement of most areas of New England by the time that the new Republic was established in 1787. As this presentation will demonstrate\, there were many ebbs and flows in this process over this time period. Why should this matter to genealogists? If you had ancestors in this region\, this presentation will help you understand why your ancestors were part of this dynamic process\, where and how to look for your ancestors in this area\, and how the population pressures in colonial New England continually pushed the borders outward. If your ancestors lived elsewhere\, this New England settlement model became a template for the future development of the rest of the country and fueled the settlement of many areas of the remaining U.S.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-monthly-meeting-peopling-colonial-new-england-1620-1787/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Monthly Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/John-Putnam.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210602T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20210602T200000
DTSTAMP:20260428T145510
CREATED:20210423T070224Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210423T070224Z
UID:39838-1622656800-1622664000@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS Monthly Meeting: Backing Up Your Genealogy Data
DESCRIPTION:Have you ever experienced a data loss when it comes to your genealogy research? Not yet? Well\, if not\, have you prepared for what might happen if your hard drive fails? What if your laptop is lost or stolen? Learn the basics of backing up all your genealogy data including identifying data\, common backup methods\, and how to use free online programs to help you make sure your data will always be available!
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-monthly-meeting-backing-up-your-genealogy-data/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Monthly Meeting
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210505T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20210505T200000
DTSTAMP:20260428T145510
CREATED:20201127T135520Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210331T132942Z
UID:39630-1620237600-1620244800@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS Monthly Meeting - Don't Chop Off That Branch! A Genealogy Arborist's Handbook
DESCRIPTION:Thomas MacEntee will be presenting “Don’t Chop Off That Branch! A Genealogy Arborist’s Handbook.” Many of us will relate to this dilemma. You’re at a crossroads when it comes to years of genealogy research: should you delete an entire branch of your family tree due to faulty research? Or is there a better way to correct family\nhistory research errors and salvage information that took years to find? Tom will address the problem of bad research\, help you decide if your research is bad or just sloppy\, help you map out a correction plan\, and help you salvage that branch.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-monthly-meeting-dont-chop-off-that-branch-a-genealogy-arborists-handbook/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Monthly Meeting
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210407T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20210407T200000
DTSTAMP:20260428T145510
CREATED:20210227T144016Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210227T144016Z
UID:39777-1617818400-1617825600@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS April Meeting: Migration Trails Across America
DESCRIPTION:On Wednesday\, April 7th\, we’ll be welcoming nationally-known genealogist Peggy Clemens Lauritzen for a presentation titled “Migration Trails Across America.”America has been a nation on the move since the first landings in the colonies. From\nbuffalo traces and Native American trails to rivers and canals\, America has found a way\nto keep pushing “west.” This presentation focuses on the most common means of travel\nin the New World. Migration trails and patterns will be discussed\, as well as the many\nrivers and canals that interconnected us as a nation. Peggy’s presentation will feature a\ncase study of a “lost ancestor” from Essex County\, Massachusetts
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-april-meeting-migration-trails-across-america/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Monthly Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Peggy-Clemens-Lauritzen.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210303T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20210303T200000
DTSTAMP:20260428T145510
CREATED:20210126T143231Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210126T143455Z
UID:39716-1614794400-1614801600@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS Monthly Meeting: Understanding Massachusetts Vital Records
DESCRIPTION:We’re looking forward to our March 3rd\, 2021 meeting\, as we’ll be joined by Marian\nPierre-Louis\, who will present a highly anticipated presentation titled “Understanding\nMassachusetts Vital Records.”\nMarian Pierre-Louis is a genealogy professional who specializes in educational outreach through webinars\, internet broadcasts\, and video. Her areas of expertise include house history research\, southern New England research\, and solving brick walls. Since the rise in interest of genetic genealogy\, Marian has become addicted to using DNA to help solve genealogy mysteries. Marian is the host of the Genealogy Professional Podcast. She has also produced and hosted 100 episodes of Fieldstone Common\, a history podcast. Marian is the Online Education Producer for Legacy Family Tree Webinars where she produces online genealogy education classes. Once a month you’ll find her as the evening host of Legacy Family Tree Webinars.\nMost people know that Massachusetts has rich vital records dating back to the 1600s. Making the most of Massachusetts vital records requires understanding the nuances of the records. Marian will talk about original sources\, such as town record books\, as well as the many printed and database options. Learn how to use the “tan books\,” vital records from 1841\, and all the lesser-known resources available.\nMark your calendars so you won’t miss this important presentation on Wednesday\, March 3rd at 6 PM.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-monthly-meeting-16/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Monthly Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Marian-Pierre-Louis.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210203T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20210203T200000
DTSTAMP:20260428T145510
CREATED:20210111T135557Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210111T135658Z
UID:39697-1612375200-1612382400@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS Monthly Meeting - What It Does Not Say
DESCRIPTION:We’re excited that Michael John Neill will be joining us again at our February meeting.  Michael’s presentation to us last May on Researching the Entire Family was so well received that we’ve asked him to return. Michael will be presenting another live webinar\ntitled “What It Does Not Say.” Many times\, a record only scratches the surface of what\nwas going on when that record was created. This lecture looks at why a record was\ncreated and how state statute\, common practice\, economic situations\, family issues\, and other factors may be the “real story” behind any document. Michael will also discuss how to determine (when possible) what those “unwritten” issues were.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-monthly-meeting-15/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Monthly Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Michael-John-Neil.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20201202T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20201202T200000
DTSTAMP:20260428T145510
CREATED:20201026T131317Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20201026T131528Z
UID:39603-1606932000-1606939200@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS Monthly Meeting: Using Emigrant Guides for Genealogical Research
DESCRIPTION:Emigrant guides provided essential information and practical advice to our ancestors about travel routes\, weather\, opportunities\, and much more. Learn how to use emigrant guides for insight into the how’s and why’s of an ancestor’s preparation and journey across an ocean or the country.\nIf you have ever wondered how your ancestors managed to venture across our country\, perhaps in a covered wagon\, or wondered how they were able to navigate from tiny villages in distant countries to come to the United States\, you’ll want to attend this presentation.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-monthly-meeting-using-emigrant-guides-for-genealogical-research/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Monthly Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Julie-Miller.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20201104T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20201104T200000
DTSTAMP:20260428T145510
CREATED:20200927T190659Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20200927T190713Z
UID:39549-1604512800-1604520000@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS November Monthly Meeting
DESCRIPTION:At our November 4th monthly meeting\, Edwin Strickland II\, will be presenting “The Rise and Fall of Hampshire County (Massachusetts).” Following a discussion of the steps from exploration to incorporation in New England\, Ed will follow the history of Hampshire county (which at times extended from Worcester\, Massachusetts west to\nthe Hudson River and from within present Connecticut into Vermont) from its creation in 1660 onward. He will cover the various state boundary disputes\, discuss the division of the four present counties of Western Massachusetts\, and provide a guide to finding their records.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-november-monthly-meeting-2/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Monthly Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Strickland-III-Edward-W..png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20201007T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20201007T200000
DTSTAMP:20260428T145510
CREATED:20200927T190259Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20200927T190259Z
UID:39547-1602093600-1602100800@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS October Monthly Meeting & Annual Meeting
DESCRIPTION:John Putnam will be joining us again at our October 7th meeting for an intriguing\npresentation: “The Salem Witchcraft Hysteria: A Cauldron of Religious\, Economic\, Social\, and Political Ingredients Gone Awry.”\nAs a descendant of both the protagonists and antagonists of those involved in the\nSalem witchcraft trials\, the historical story of this event becomes a genealogical\nstory for John as well. His direct Putnam ancestors were involved in most aspects\nof the witchcraft hysteria that occurred in his ancestral hometown of Salem Village\n(now Danvers\, MA). John will share many genealogical\, historical\, religious\,\nsocial\, economic\, and political factors that led to and followed the horrific events\nin 1692. Whether you have Salem ancestry or not\, witchcraft hysteria affected\nmany of our ancestors in countries around the world.\nThis is the second in a series of lectures on New England genealogy that John will be presenting to WMGS. \nAnnual Meeting\nSince there is no end in sight to our quarantine\, the Board has decided to proceed\nwith an abbreviated Annual Meeting which will be held virtually via Zoom.\nFollowing our speaker’s presentation on October 7th\, we will hold the Annual\nMeeting. The agenda will include a budget report by the Treasurer\, discussion and\nvote on proposed Bylaws revisions\, and an election of a vice-president\, secretary\,\nassistant treasurer and one director. A Nominating Committee has been appointed\nand they will present a slate of candidates at the meeting. Nominations will also be\naccepted from the floor.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-october-monthly-meeting-annual-meeting/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Monthly Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/John-Putnam.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20200902T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20200902T200000
DTSTAMP:20260428T145510
CREATED:20200729T130614Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20200729T130614Z
UID:39471-1599069600-1599076800@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS Monthly Meeting
DESCRIPTION:Stephen Morse is the creator of the One-Step Website for which he has received both the Lifetime Achievement Award and the Outstanding Contribution Award from the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies\, the Award of Merit from the National Genealogical Society\, the first-ever Excellence Award from the Association of Professional Genealogists\, and two awards that he cannot pronounce from Polish genealogical societies.\nIn his other life\, Steve is a computer professional with a doctorate degree in electrical\nengineering. He has held various research\, development\, and teaching positions\,\nauthored numerous technical papers\, written four textbooks\, and holds four patents.\nHe is best known as the architect of the Intel 8086 (the granddaddy of today’s Pentium processor)\, which sparked the PC revolution nearly 40 years ago.\nThe One-Step Website started out as an aid for finding passengers in the Ellis Island database. Shortly afterwards it was expanded to help with searching in the 1930 census. Over the years it has continued to evolve\, and today it includes about 300 web-based tools divided into 16 separate categories ranging from genealogical searches to astronomical calculations to last-minute bidding on eBay. Steve’s presentation will describe the range of tools available and give the highlights of each one.\nWhether you’re looking for passenger lists\, census records\, information on Soundex or phonetic matching to find elusive ancestors\, searching for living relatives\, or even converting script written in several other languages to English\, Steve’s One-Step Webpage is the place to find tools to help you.\nSteve will be presenting\, “One-Step Website: A Potpourri of Genealogical Search Tools\,” live on Wednesday\, Sept. 2nd at our 6 PM meeting.\n*Note: This lecture will be live and will not be recorded. If you miss this presentation\, the handout will be available in the Members Only section of our website.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-monthly-meeting-14/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Monthly Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Stephen-Morse.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20200812T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20200812T200000
DTSTAMP:20260428T145510
CREATED:20200624T144425Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20200808T160514Z
UID:39425-1597255200-1597262400@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS Monthly Meeting
DESCRIPTION:At our August 5th monthly meeting\, we will be welcoming back Sara Campbell for a new  presentation –“Using  Land  Records  in  Genealogical  Research.”  Sara  is  a popular  lecturer  and  educator  in  Western  Mass  where  she  has  been  active  in  the genealogical community for over 25 years. As many of you know\, Sara’s background as a professional civil engineer provides her with a unique perspective on her research. \nSara is the author of a recently released book\, Six Generations in Otsego\, the story of the Colman family\, spanning 150 years from the early years of the Republic in the late 1700s\, to the mid-twentieth century.  She maintains a blog about history and genealogy athttp://www.rememberingancestors.com. \nSara describes her presentation as follows: “Land records take us a step beyond the top two sources we search when  beginning  genealogical  research:  vital  records  and  census  records.  Deeds  can  help  us  understand  our ancestors’  movements  when  buying  and  selling  land\,  identify neighbors\,  and  sometimes  uncover  an  elusive spouse. Digging into these records should not be any more intimidating than any other source. The terminology may sound confusing\, but we can get through it together. We will review a variety of deeds and explore what can be found online as well as in person in repositories. \n“I find that some of the institutes and national webinars focus on ‘platting’ and land in the west that was based on ‘ranges’ and everything is square. That is not the case in New England.” \nMark your calendars\, as you won’t want to miss Sara’s presentation on Wednesday\, August 5th at 6 PM.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-monthly-meeting-13/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Monthly Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Sara-Campbell.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20200701T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20200701T200000
DTSTAMP:20260428T145510
CREATED:20200624T144040Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20200624T144040Z
UID:39422-1593626400-1593633600@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS Monthly Meeting
DESCRIPTION:Our July 1st monthly meeting will feature John Putnam\, who will join us live from Colorado! \nA Southwick native\, John is a UMass graduate with a degree in government/political science and a past president of the Pikes Peak Genealogical Society.  His interest in genealogy started at a young age when his two grandmothers would tell family stories.  As John is a twelfth generation New Englander\, there were many stories to be told.  John’s Putnam ancestors lived in Salem/Danvers\, MA where  they were very involved in the Salem Witchcraft incident.  Both his parents were active  in their local historical society and frequently added to John’s interest in Western Massachusetts’ local history. \nThe title of John’s presentation is “Untangling Your New England Roots: An Overview from Settlement to the Seven Years War.”   \nJohn will discuss the history and migration patterns that our ancestors experienced during pre-Revolutionary times. Many present-day Americans can trace their ancestry back to the Great Migration. John will share the importance of understanding New England’s history\, its settlement patterns\, and its town structure to improve your chances to tackle New England brick walls. It’s often difficult to know where to look for records unless you know the area’s history\, not to mention the formative activities that our ancestors undertook\, which provide rich stories for your family histories.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-monthly-meeting-12/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Monthly Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/John-Putnam.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20200603T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20200603T200000
DTSTAMP:20260428T145510
CREATED:20200428T232730Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20200428T232730Z
UID:39376-1591207200-1591214400@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS Monthly Meeting
DESCRIPTION:We’re looking forward to bringing back nationally- and internationally-known genealogist\, Thomas MacEntee\, Founder and CEO of High-Definition Genealogy\,\nLLC to our June 3rd virtual meeting.\nThomas is the author of over 10 genealogy books and editor of over 100 publications.\nAfter spending over 25 years in the information technology field\, Thomas branched off into genealogy education and marketing. Known as one of the most generous genealogists in the field\, he shares many of his articles and videos for free through his Abundant Genealogy.com website and Facebook groups. He also runs the popular GenealogyBargains.com and DNABargains.com websites to keep us updated on the latest in genealogy offerings and bargains in the marketplace. Some of you may also remember Tom as he was a keynote speaker at NERGC 2017 in Springfield.\nTom will be presenting “Genealogy Pit Stop: Research in 15 Minute Increments.” Tom will teach us what race car driving teams already know: you can accomplish important\, detail-oriented work in a short amount of time. You’ll learn how to leverage to-do lists\, research logs\, tracking systems\, clue-gathering tricks and more to actually do genealogy research every day! No more saving that research for when you have a large block of time . . . which never seems to happen.\nJoin us for our virtual monthly meeting on Wednesday\, June 3rd at 6 PM.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-monthly-meeting-11/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Monthly Meeting
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20200506T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20200506T200000
DTSTAMP:20260428T145510
CREATED:20200329T233557Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20200329T233557Z
UID:39345-1588788000-1588795200@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS Monthly Meeting
DESCRIPTION:Our May 6th monthly meeting will feature a live webinar with genealogist and author\nMichael John Neill. His topic will be “Researching the Entire Family.” Focusing only\non a direct line can cause significant information to be overlooked and larger patterns to\ngo unnoticed. Michael discusses\, via examples\, the importance of researching the\nsiblings and at least first cousins of a direct ancestor. \nMichael has been an active genealogical researcher since the early 1980s and has researched his or his children’s families in most states east of the Mississippi River and several European countries. He has lectured nationally\, gives day-long seminars\, and regularly leads research trips to the Family History Library in Salt Lake City and the Allen County Public Library in Ft. Wayne\, Indiana. \nMichael has a master’s degree in mathematics and has been on the math faculty of\nCarl Sandburg College in Illinois since the early 1990s. His research interests\ninclude methodology\, land records\, the immigrant experience\, chain migration\,\nand researching female ancestors. \nIn addition to hosting several blogs and Facebook sites\, including Rootdig and Genealogy Tip of the Day\, Michael has recently published a collection of his most popular daily tips titled Genealogy Tip of the Day. It’s a must read for all genealogists – guaranteed that you’ll learn something new.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-monthly-meeting-10/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Monthly Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Michael-John-Neil.jpg
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END:VCALENDAR