Western Massachusetts Genealogical Society, Inc.

WMGS Monthly Meeting - What It Does Not Say
2021-02-03 18:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Online
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
titled “What It Does Not Say.” Many times, a record only scratches the surface of what
was going on when that record was created. This lecture looks at why a record was
created 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.

WMGS Monthly Meeting: Understanding Massachusetts Vital Records
2021-03-03 18:00 - 20:00 | Online
We’re looking forward to our March 3rd, 2021 meeting, as we’ll be joined by Marian
Pierre-Louis, who will present a highly anticipated presentation titled “Understanding
Massachusetts Vital Records.”
Marian 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.
Most 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.
Mark your calendars so you won’t miss this important presentation on Wednesday, March 3rd at 6 PM.

WMGS April Meeting: Migration Trails Across America
2021-04-07 18:00 - 20:00 | Online
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
buffalo traces and Native American trails to rivers and canals, America has found a way
to keep pushing “west.” This presentation focuses on the most common means of travel
in the New World. Migration trails and patterns will be discussed, as well as the many
rivers and canals that interconnected us as a nation. Peggy’s presentation will feature a
case study of a “lost ancestor” from Essex County, Massachusetts

WMGS Monthly Meeting - Don't Chop Off That Branch! A Genealogy Arborist's Handbook
2021-05-05 18:00 - 20:00 | Online
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
history 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.

WMGS Monthly Meeting: Backing Up Your Genealogy Data
2021-06-02 18:00 - 20:00 | Online
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!

WMGS Monthly Meeting: Peopling Colonial New England 1620-1787
2021-07-07 18:00 - 20:00 | Online
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.

WMGS Monthly Meeting: Warning Out and Settlement Law in Early New England
2021-08-04 18:00 - 20:00 | Online
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.

WMGS Monthly Meeting - Navigating Naturalization Records
2021-09-01 18:00 - 20:00 | Online
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.

WMGS Monthly Meeting: New Englanders Become Americans
2021-10-06 18:00 - 20:00 | Online
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.)
John 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.
In 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.

WMGS Monthly Meeting: Misbegotten Children: Tracing the Family Lines of the Illegitimate
2021-11-03 18:00 - 20:00 | Online
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.

WMGS Monthly Meeting: "European Immigrant Ancestors: Why They Left and How They Got Here, 1865-1920"
2021-12-01 18:00 - 20:00 | Online
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?
Many 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.
What 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.

WMGS Monthly Meeting: Navigating Naturalization Records
2022-02-02 18:00 - 20:00 | Online
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.
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.

WMGS Monthly Meeting: Marriages Here, There, and Nowhere: Finding Gretna Greens
2022-03-02 18:00 - 20:00 | Online
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.
Throughout 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.

WMGS Monthly Meeting: Bring Your Ancestors to Life: Connect via Social History
2022-04-06 18:00 - 20:00 | Online
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?
Lori 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.

WMGS Monthly Meeting: Adoption Research in America: History, Genealogy, Legacy
2022-05-04 18:00 - 20:00 | Online
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.”
Adoption 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.

WMGS' 50th Anniversary Virtual Celebration
2022-06-01 18:00 - 19:30 | Online
It’s been 50 years since Western Massachusetts Genealogical Society, Inc. was founded!
We’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!
Our 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.
Please join us on Wednesday, June 1st at 6 p.m., as we celebrate our 50th Anniversary and toast to the future of WMGS!

WMGS July Meeting: Change and Industrialization in Antebellum New England
2022-07-06 18:00 - 19:30 | Online
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.”
John’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.

WMGS August Meeting: No Stone Unturned: Getting the Most from the Graveyard
2022-08-03 18:00 - 20:00 | Online
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.
Starting 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.

WMGS September Meeting: "Apprentices, Indentured Servants and Redemptioners: White Servitude in America"
2022-09-07 18:00 - 19:30 | Online
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.
Peggy will be presenting “Apprentices, Indentured Servants and Redemptioners: White Servitude in America.”
An 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.
Peggy 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.”

WMGS October Meeting: "I've Found It: Now What?"
2022-10-05 18:00 - 19:30 | Online
At our October 5th meeting, popular genealogist Michael John Neill will be returning for another visit to present “I’ve Found It: Now What?”
This 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.
After 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.

WMGS Monthly Meeting: Indirect Evidence: Putting the Pieces Together
2022-11-02 18:00 - 20:00 | Online
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?
At 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.
In 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.

WMGS Monthly Meeting: The Pilgrims: Persistent and Resilient
2022-12-07 18:00 - 20:00 | Online
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.
After 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?

WMGS Monthly Meeting: Introduction to U.S. Church Records: Why We Care Where Grandma Went to Church
2023-01-04 18:00 - 19:30 | Online
Popular genealogist and author Sunny Jane Morton will help us kick off the new year! At our January 4th meeting, Sunny will present “Introduction to U.S. Church Records: Why We Care Where Grandma Went to Church.”
As Sunny has noted, U.S. church records of many denominations can reveal ancestors’ vital events, maiden names, family relationships, overseas birthplaces, and other information such as our ancestors’ religious practices and residences. Sunny will help us learn what these records may look like, how to identify an ancestral church, locate extant records, and tell us where we might locate them.
Sunny’s acclaimed book on this topic, “How to Find Your Family History in U.S. Church Records” (co-authored with Harold Henderson), has become a bestseller. Sunny is a popular speaker at genealogy conferences and seminars around the U.S. and world. She’s especially known for expertise in tracing U.S. ancestors, her unique comparisons
of the industry’s largest websites, and inspiring presentations on how to reconstruct
and tell meaningful stories from the past.

WMGS February Monthly Meeting: Pinpointing Ancestors Using Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps
2023-02-01 18:00 - 19:30 | Online
Where did your ancestors live? How did they live? What was their dwelling like? As genealogists we can generally find the addresses of our ancestors on census records, marriage licenses, death certificates, and other sources. But the next question should be: Where exactly is this address? What was the dwelling like? How far did ancestors live from their place of work, other relatives, or their place of worship? Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps are one resource to locate where your ancestors lived and bring detail to their story.
At our February 1st meeting, Susan J. O’Connor will be presenting “Pinpointing Ancestors Using Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps.” Susan’s presentation will include
examples from her ancestors who lived in Chicopee, MA, making her presentation
especially important for our members.

WMGS April 2023 Monthly Meeting: Using Tax Records in Genealogy - How Taxes Can Be a Good Thing!
2023-04-05 18:00 - 19:30 | Chicopee Public Library & Online, 449 Front Street, Chicopee, MA, 01013, United States
Many dread tax day, but old tax records provide valuable clues to our ancestors’ lives. Since the early days of America, people were taxed to create roads, to support wars,
and to provide needed revenue. Learn the types of records available, where to find
them, and how they help solve genealogy problems.
Join us on Wednesday, April 5th at 6 p.m. for a virtual presentation with Dr. McCoy.
You can participate on Zoom from home or attend the presentation in person at the
Chicopee Public Library conference room.

WMGS Annual Meeting & Tech Talk with Dave
2023-05-03 18:00 - 20:00 | Chicopee Public Library & Online, 449 Front Street, Chicopee, MA, 01013, United States
Our annual meeting will be held on May 3rd at 6 p.m. This will be a hybrid meeting.
Members can choose whether to attend in person in the Chicopee Public Library conference room or participate virtually on Zoom.
At the meeting, our Treasurer will give a brief financial report. Next, the Nominating
Committee will present the slate of candidates for election to open positions as officers
and directors of our society. Nominations will also be accepted from the floor. Voting
will be conducted in person and virtually through an anonymous poll on Zoom.
The following positions are up for election to two-year terms:
• President
• Treasurer
• Director (Two positions)
A Nominating Committee consisting of Dave Lapierre and Cara Seitchek has been appointed. If any member is interested in running for election to a position and/or wishes to know the requirements for the position, please send an email to the Nominating Committee at westmassgen@gmail.com with Nominating Committee in the subject line. Please include a brief description of your qualifications and experience for the position you are seeking.
We’ll also announce our Founders Award recipient and review our plans for the
upcoming year.
Following the business portion of our May 3rd annual meeting, we will be hosting “Tech Talk with Dave.”
Dave Lapierre will field and (hopefully) answer your technology questions. Rather than giving a prepared presentation, Dave will answer questions from the audience.

WMGS June Monthly Meeting: An Introduction to the Courthouse with Michael John Neill
2023-06-07 18:00 - 20:00 | Chicopee Public Library & Online, 449 Front Street, Chicopee, MA, 01013, United States
Now that we can get back to in-person research, many of us will be heading to a courthouse to research our ancestors. Michael will present an overview of the records typically found in a county courthouse: land, probate, court, and vital records. He’ll talk about the basics involved in courthouse research, including how to prepare for a visit, what you need to know before you make that trip, what records you might find, and what to expect from the courthouse and its staff.

WMGS July Monthly Meeting: War and Change in the Post-Civil Ware Era Until World War I
2023-07-05 18:00 - 19:30 | Chicopee Public Library & Online, 449 Front Street, Chicopee, MA, 01013, United States
At our July 5th monthly meeting, genealogist John Putnam will join us to present War and Change in the Post-Civil War Era Until World War I.
This presentation is part four of John’s New England series and covers the incredible immigration and growth from the Civil War until World War I.
Following the Civil War, there were many changes in New England society. Reconstruction, immigration, advances in travel, burgeoning industries, and other issues contributed to the vast changes that affected our ancestors and their families
prior to World War I. Knowing about these factors will help you understand their lives
and expand your research.

WMGS August Monthly Meeting: Genograms for Genealogists
2023-08-02 18:00 - 19:30 | Online
Have you ever noticed common threads in your family tree and wondered why they happened? At our August monthly meeting, genealogist, and member, Edwin Strickland II will present an intriguing and useful topic for our members, “Genograms for Genealogists.”
Edwin will show us how the concepts behind the genogram (McGoldrick-Gerson Studies or Lapidus Schematics), typically used in counseling and therapy, can be applied to genealogy to open a third dimension to our research. Going beyond the family group sheet and pedigree chart, you can extend patterns of behavior and medical history beyond the family into the community. Genograms can help explain some of the hows and whys we encounter. They can also be used as predictors to focus further research.

September Meeting: Mining Information from City Directories
2023-09-06 18:00 - 20:00 | Chicopee Public Library & Online, 449 Front Street, Chicopee, MA, 01013, United States
Before phone books, many municipalities had city directories. Updated annually, the directories were comprehensive listings of adult residents, along with their addresses,
their occupations, names of spouses, and other helpful facts. Initially intended for salesmen and merchants who wanted to contact people in the area, city directories
are a gold mine for genealogy research.
Participants in this session will learn about the variety of information contained in city directories and how to use this information to find their ancestors and learn what
they were really like. Through the use of a case study, a portion of the presentation will focus on how to use spreadsheets to record, organize, and manipulate the data and to use city directory information as a gateway to other resources.
