Western Massachusetts Genealogical Society, Inc.

RootsTech
2021-02-25 - 2021-02-27 | Online
For the first time ever, RootsTech, the annual family history conference sponsored by
FamilySearch, will take place completely online. Usually, RootsTech is a 4-day event
held annually in Salt Lake City, Utah. However, because of the pandemic, the entire
event will be held virtually from February 25th-27th, 2021. Incredibly, it will be
completely free this year!
RootsTech Connect 2021 will offer a combination of both livestream and on-demand
content to participants from around the world. For the three days of the online event,
attendees will have the opportunity to interact with speakers, exhibitors, and fellow
attendees through live-chat and question & answer opportunities. Because of the
differences in time zones, sessions will also be available to view on-demand after the conference concludes. Even better, sessions will be available for viewing for at least a whole year!
Roots Tech Connect 2021 will feature keynote speakers, dozens of classes, and over 300 breakout sessions, along with a virtual expo hall marketplace that you can visit from home. This is the largest family history conference in the world and you don’t have to even travel to participate in it.
To attend the live event and to access the on-demand sessions, you must pre-register. Again, the conference will be completely free and you can attend sessions from the comfort and safety of your home.
https://www.rootstech.org/rootstech-connect-2021-registration?lang=eng

WMGS Monthly Meeting: Understanding Massachusetts Vital Records
2021-03-03 18:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | 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 Board Meeting
2021-03-08 18:30 - 20:30, 2021-04-12 18:30 - 20:30, 2021-05-10 18:30 - 20:30, 2021-06-14 18:30 - 20:30, 2021-09-20 18:30 - 20:30, 2021-10-18 18:30 - 20:30, 2021-11-08 18:30 - 20:30 | Online

WMGS Training Session: A New Look at Irish Research
2021-03-18 19:00 - 20:30 | Online
On Thursday, March 18th at 7 PM, WMGS member Richard Reid will be
presenting a training session titled “A New Look at Irish Research.” Though
it’s the day after St. Patrick’s Day, we’ll still be in an Irish mood!
This presentation is designed for those just starting their Irish research and for
the veteran researcher. We’ll visit the new church records and civil records and
websites that are being updated with new data daily. You will learn about some
of the best free resources and subscription services. (Documents used in the
presentation are the results of consultations performed by the Friends of Irish
Research.)

WMGS Training Session: The Hampden Railroad
2021-03-25 19:00 - 20:30 | Online
For those of us who are interested in local history, especially railroads, this is
going to be a delight! WMGS member, Philip E. Johnson will be presenting a
fascinating look at the Hampden Railroad. His presentation is based on his
book, The Hampden Railroad – The Greatest Railroad That Never Ran, which
was published in 2014. The work is the result of 30 years of research!
This story likely affected thousands of our ancestors from Westfield to central
Massachusetts who may have worked on this railroad. Investors, local towns,
and even the general public were impacted as well. Yet so little is known about
this story.
Philip gives us a preview:
“Growing up in Springfield, Massachusetts during the 50’s and 60’s, I remember seeing the trains crossing in Winchester Square and by Watershops Pond, and even across Five Mile pond when swimming with my family. Beginning with model trains and
riding on tourist trains as a child, I have always loved trains. When I was in my early 20’s, I had a job where I was a field service engineer in eastern Hampden County. This gave me ample opportunity to view many branch lines in operation and investigate abandoned lines. I became a member of Amherst Railroad Society as a young adult where I have remained a member for 40 years. As an engineer, I enjoy researching the history of random lines and can usually spot where a railroad once ran based on the slope of the terrain. Our family vacations many times had a railroad theme at least one day out of the week. I believe that all children should be given the opportunity to ride
a train. We need to lobby in favor of more passenger trains to replace some cars, especially in cities. I keep hoping that passenger trains will soon return to the town I live in, Erving, Massachusetts.
The Hampden Railroad story is different, not a success story by any means. The railroad was built 1911-1913 to connect 2 parallel lines in central Mass in order to avoid changing trains in Boston. South and North Stations still have no connection. This is a story of how it was conceived, how it was built, and why it never operated.”
To see a preview of this story, you can watch an interview that Phil gave to the Monson-Palmer Public Television station at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAsOMG-oNAw
Note: If you’re interested in purchasing a copy of Philip’s book in advance, it’s available on Amazon. If you’d like an autographed copy, they are available for $35.00 each by emailing Phil at: Hampdenphil@gmail.com.

NERGC Gathering Day #1
2021-04-01 10:00 - 19:00 | MA

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

NERGC Gathering Day #2
2021-04-09 09:00 - 17:00 | MA

NERGC Gathering Day #3
2021-04-17 10:00 - 18:00 | MA

WMGS Training Session: Our Ancestor's Clothing
2021-04-22 19:00 - 20:30 | Online
Professional costume designer, costume technologist, historian, educator, and museum curator, Howard Vincent Kurtz will be joining us for a training session on
Thursday, April 22nd.
Professor Kurtz has created costumes for Broadway, Hollywood films, and television during his career. A recipient of the Helen Hayes Outstanding Costume Design Award in Washington, D.C., he also carries the distinguished title of Professor Emeritus of Theater at George Mason University and is a Fellow of the Costume Society of America.
Professor Kurtz has offered to research a small selection of family photographs from those sent in by our members, analyzing the clothing worn to help identify the time and place the photos were taken. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn about photo identification techniques based on clothing. We’re grateful that it’s been arranged for us by member Cara Seitchek.

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 Training: Navigating the Records from The War of 1812
2021-05-20 19:00 - 20:30 | Online
From bounty land to pensions, there is no shortage of genealogical records for soldiers from the War of 1812. Learn how and why these records were created, how to make sense of them, and what those records can contain for your ancestors!
You’ll learn about different types of records and where to find them, including bounty land records, pension and military service records, and more.

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 Training: Was My Ancestor in the Civil War?
2021-06-17 19:00 - 20:30 | Online
Over ten percent of the US population fought in the Civil War in the 1860s. Was your ancestor one of them? Learn some tips on how to determine if your ancestor was in the Civil War, using (mostly) free resources.
This presentation is part one of a two-part series. The second presentation, titled “I Have a Civil War Ancestor… Now What?” will be offered in the fall.

MGC M.O.R.E. Presentation
2021-06-30 19:00 - 21:00 | Online
“An Evening with John D. (Jack) Warner, Ph.D. Archivist, Commonwealth of Massachusetts”
Register: https://www.massgencouncil.org/

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 Training: That Scoundrel George
2021-07-22 19:00 - 20:30 | Online
We’re going to be trying something new this night. With permission from Legacy Family Tree Webinars, we’ll be rebroadcasting a webinar presentation called “That Scoundrel George” by nationally known genealogist Judy G. Russell, JD, CG, CGL. After the presentation, we’ll have a short discussion about the topic.
Tracking a rascally ancestor through the records can be great fun and a great challenge. When every record he ever left appears to be a lie, where is the
truth to be found?”

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 Training Session: Preserving Your Family Treasures - Choosing the Right Storage Solutions
2021-08-26 19:00 - 20:30 | Online
Buffered or unbuffered? What does acid-free really mean? What is the best way to preserve my family Bible? Abby Shaw from Hollinger Archival Products will answer these questions and more about the best storage solutions for your family papers, photos, and textiles. Please bring your questions about your treasures to the meeting and she can recommend the approved method of storage.
This will be a wonderful opportunity to get professional advice from Abby Shaw. After Abby’s presentation, we’ll have time to ask for advice on preserving our family heirlooms and treasures. We’re hoping that you can join us and share your items on camera for Abby’s evaluation. We’re letting you know early about this event, so you’ll have plenty of time to dig your items out of closets and other hiding spaces and prepare your list of questions!

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 Training: I Have a Civil War Ancestor....Now What?
2021-09-16 19:00 - 20:30 | Online

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 Training Session: Railroads Around Amherst and Northampton, MA
2021-10-21 19:00 - 21:00 | Online
Ever wonder how our ancestors traveled in the 19th and 20th centuries? What railroad or trolleys were available in our area? Or perhaps your ancestor lived near enough to railroad tracks that they heard the whistle or rattle as they rumbled by?
Join us for a fascinating tale of the “Railroads Around Amherst and Northampton, MA” presented by WMGS member Philip E. Johnson, a railroad historian and author. Phil has put together a presentation about railroad and trolley lines that some of our
Hampshire County ancestors may have used.

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.
