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P a s t T i m e s Volume 7, Issue 10, June 2016

Past Times

A P u b l i c a t i o n o f t h e

M a ss ac hu set ts S oc i e t y o f G ene alo g i s ts , In c . , c e l eb r at ed 40 y ea r s as a g en ea lo g y so c i e t y in 20 15 .

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Dear Members,

With summer approaching so rapidly, I would like to remind you that we take the months of July and August off. That means that June is the last month of chapter meetings for this membership year. Also, there will be no Past Times newsletters sent for July and August. During this time we reflect on the Society’s well-‐being, review our involvements, and continue work on our commitments. Chapters will be doing the same as they prepare for the next year’s chapter meetings and programs.

Involvements/events keeping you and us busy over the summer months and into next year are:

• The deadline to submit your entry for the Writing Contest is August 15, 2016.

• The Nominating Committee is preparing for the upcoming officer elections.

• Annual Meeting preparations have already begun. So, save the date of November 5, 2016. We’ll see you at the Marlborough

P r e s i d e n t ’ s Me s s a g e

Calendar 2

Memberships & Renewal 2

Conversations with Leaders 3

Writing Contest Deadline 3

Nominations Due July 31st 4

Legacy QuickGuide Experiences Wanted 4

Webinars Season Two Preview 4

State Board & Officers 5

Annual Meeting 2016 6

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Country Club. (A reminder to members, you enjoy free attendance to the annual meeting and only pay for food.)

• NERGC 2017 is not that far away. April 2017 will be here before you know it. Are you planning to attend and volunteer?

What will you be doing over the summer months? Are you ready for the summer? Do you have your research list made up for what you want to accomplish? Perhaps you have a project or two you are considering.

For example, it’s a perfect time to visit those areas where your ancestor lived. The libraries, historical societies, and archives are waiting for your visit. It might be a time to scan those pictures and precious family documents. In my case, I have to finish transcribing a diary from 1899 and organize my work area. Another thing you might consider is attending a conference or attending a long overdue educational course. Take time to do those interviews with family members, especially at family get-‐togethers or family reunions.

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During the summer, take the time to add your name to the MSOG Surname List. Join the MSOG Facebook page, LinkedIn, and Twitter to keep in touch. And, remember to take time for yourself to just relax and enjoy what is around you. You might take time to make a little history of your own so your descendants will have something to search for and write about.

One last reminder. We are now receiving membership renewals for the year September 1, 2016 to August 31, 2017. Don’t wait to renew your membership or become a member. You don’t want to miss out on anything.

I hope you have a wonderful summer.

Patricia Stano-‐Carpenter President


The Massachusetts Society of Genealogists, Inc. 2

MERRIMACK VALLEY

Saturday, June 4th, 10:00 AM Round Table Discussion Sessions Georgetown Peabody Library

2 Maple Street Georgetown, MA

MIDDLESEX

Saturday, June 11th, 1:30 PM Dick Eastman

“Personal Privacy and Storing Your Genealogical Research Online” Acton Memorial Library

486 Main Street Acton, MA

WORCESTER

Tuesday, June 14th, 6:00 PM Sneak Peak Productions

“Under the Petticoats: Just How Did Those Colonial Ancestors Live and, Thankfully, Survive?”

Dinner Meeting Dino’s Restaurant 13 Lord Street Worcester, MA

Reservations Due By June 4th

BRISTOL

Saturday, June 18th Local Historical Societies Forum 11:00 AM Business Meeting 11:30 AM Member Sharing

12:00 Presentation Somerset Public Library 1464 County Street Somerset, MA

Webinar

Tuesday, June 21st, 7:00 – 8:30 PM Diane Brooks-‐Sherry

“What Is the Digital Public Library? How Do I Use It for Genealogy?”

For Members Only Register at msoginc.org



Conv e r s a t i o n s w i t h S o c i e t y L e a de r s The following is the eighth in an occasional series that introduces Society Board Members and Committee Chairs.

I’ve been doing genealogy off and on for a long time. My paternal grandmother first introduced me to genealogy as a child, and it was like coming home when I came back to the study as an adult. I first bought Family Tree Maker around 1990 when it was a pretty new product.

My father’s family has both New England and Southern roots, while my mother’s family has largely New England origins. Some of my lines go back before the 1600’s into England. While most of my ancestors were from England, there are some lines from Northern Ireland and Scotland. I have found it much easier to gather information about the New England lines than those who emigrated to Virginia and worked their way down to North Carolina.

I joined the Massachusetts Society of Genealogists, Inc., after I saw a fellow librarian, Connie Reik, at a library conference and she recommended the Society. MSOG members were welcoming to me and to my husband, Walt Howe, from our first meeting. Before I knew it, I was working on building a website for the group and attending board meetings. In MSOG I found a great group of like-‐minded genealogists.

When I first started with the paperwork that my grandmother had on her family, there was the mystery that she wrote on her printed family chart that her grandfather was born in 1813 in “a small town in Vermont.” Those were her words on the chart. I spent quite a while digging (during the early Internet days) before I was able to confirm that his family must have come from Groton, Caledonia, Vermont. Taisey is not a common surname. After a visit to the town, I was perplexed because I could not be sure of the identity of my Mathew Taisey’s father. Then, I found a Vermont newspaper notice that gave me a clue; a Robert Taisey listed Mathew Taisey as his son and declared that he was not going to be responsible for any of his debts after he turned 21. Both Mathew and Robert were blacksmiths. I know that Mathew married in 1834 (at age 22) and almost immediately left Vermont on a westward trek through Michigan to Minnesota.

While I can go back further with most of my lines, I also have brick walls. One is my great-‐great-‐grandfather Thomas Nelson who was born September 18, 1819, in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts. He was a mariner when he married Avis Macy Hazzard in 1850 on Nantucket. I can track him through to his death in Malden in 1883 and have his will but am not able to find more about his parents than their names and approximate birth dates and places.

My favorite activities revolve around family and technology. I’ve been fortunate to combine my love of technology with genealogy. I love learning how to do something new and then sharing. In addition to pursuing our genealogy research, my husband and I go to Sanibel Island on the west coast of Florida each year, where we enjoy bicycling around the area and especially visiting the Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge.

Hope Tillman,

Webmaster

REMEMBER, THE WRITING CONTEST DEADLINE IS AUGUST 15, 2016.

Send your submission to [email protected].



NOM I N A T I O N S F O R E X E C U T I V E B O A RD

D U E J U L Y 3 1 S T

The Massachusetts Society of Genealogists, Inc., relies on its members’ volunteer efforts to maintain its success. Across the state, many members volunteer for their chapters or present via Society webinars. Consider contributing your skills to the MSOG Executive Board.

The fall elections will elect candidates for two-‐year terms for the offices of President, Vice President, Historian/Archivist, Corresponding Secretary, Recording Secretary, Membership Director, and Treasurer. Each officer is expected to attend quarterly board meetings and has monthly duties that vary by office. Descriptions of each officer’s duties are included in the Bylaws and in the Policies and Procedures Manual, both of which may be found in the Members’ Only area of www.msoginc.org.

If you or someone you know has questions about the duties of any office, email:

Karen Trearchis, Nominating Chair, at [email protected],

or mail them to:

MSOG, Inc., Nominating Committee, P.O. Box 215, Ashland, MA 01752-‐2015.

Or speak to any of the following Nominating Committee members:

Kathleen Rubano, Bristol Chapter; Deborah Stewart, Middlesex Chapter; Charlene Key Sokal, Worcester Chapter

WEBINARS SEASON TWO OCTOBER 2016 TO JUNE 2017

Are you one of the members who enjoyed this year’s webinar series? If so, you will enjoy next year’s lineup.

Would you be willing to share your research and talents with others? Presenters are still needed for April and June. Please send your proposal to [email protected].

October 18, 2016 Mary Roddy “A Decree of (Temporary) Divorce: My Life Without Ancestry.com” November 15, 2016 Jake Fletcher “Young and Gifted: Researching Your Ancestors in Massachusetts School Records” December 20, 2016 Dave Robison “Mining the Rich Resources of Western Massachusetts” January 17, 2017 Margaret R. Fortier “Catholic Records in Massachusetts” February 21, 2017 Hope Tillman “Wikitree for Genealogists” March 21, 2017 Sara E. Campbell “Married Women’s Business Certificates” April 18, 2017 May 16, 2017 Erica Dakin Voolich “Taken with a Large Grain of Salt” June 20, 2017

Have You Used the

Legacy QuickGuide?

The QuickGuide is a joint publishing effort between the Massachusetts Society of Genealogists, Inc., and Legacy. More than one hundred resources are included in the QuickGuide. A large number of copies, both paper and PDF, have been purchased.

Please let us know how you have used it so we can share your experience. Send your story to [email protected].

P a s t T i m e s Volume 7, Issue 10, June 2016 M a s s a c h u s e t t s S o c i e t y o f G e n e a l o g i s t s , I n c .

Past Times Information • Past Times is published monthly (except for July & August) by the Massachusetts Society of Genealogists, Inc.

Membership Information • The newsletter, Past Times, is on the MSOG website free to all. Members also receive free issues of MASSOG, free queries,

access to webinars, and participation in the Member’s Surname Project. • Membership is from September 1st to August 31st, with membership renewals due by July 1st. INDIVIDUAL dues are

$25.00 per year; FAMILY dues are $30.00 per year. Membership applications received July 1st and thereafter will be applied to the following year’s membership.

• Membership choices are BR/Bristol, MV/Merrimack Valley, MX/Middlesex, WR/Worcester. • Chapter affiliation is at the complete discretion of the member, regardless of residence. (The membership application is

on our website at http://www.msoginc.org.) Send your application and check to The Massachusetts Society of Genealogists, Inc., P.O. Box 215, Ashland, MA 01721-‐0215. Address any questions to the appropriate email address below.

S t a t e O f f i c e r s & B o a r d o f D i r e c t o r s 2 0 1 5 -‐ 2 0 1 6 President Patricia M. Stano-Carpenter [email protected] Vice President Margaret Fortier [email protected] Treasurer Diane Laferriere [email protected] Corresponding Secretary Robert J. Bartlett [email protected] Recording Secretary Elizabeth “Liz” Grube [email protected] Membership Director Janice “Jan” Murphy [email protected] Historian/Archivist Vacant [email protected] Bristol Chapter Kathleen Rubano, President [email protected] Merrimack Valley Chapter Karen Trearchis, President [email protected] Middlesex Chapter Deborah Lee Stewart, President [email protected] Worcester Chapter Seema-Jayne Kenney, President [email protected] MASSOG Editor George D. Martin [email protected] Past Times Editor Diane Brooks-Sherry [email protected] Webmaster Hope Tillman [email protected]

C omm i t t e e s & C h a i r s

Annual Meeting Margaret Fortier [email protected] Audit Robert Farmer [email protected] Research & Education Seema-Jayne Kenney [email protected] Technology Hope Tillman [email protected] Writing Contest Editorial Board [email protected]

De l e g a t e s

FGS (Federation of Genealogical Societies) [email protected]

MGC (Massachusetts Genealogical Council) Charlene Sokal and Karen Trearchis

[email protected]

NERGC (New England Regional Genealogical Consortium, Inc.)

Margaret Fortier, Seema-Jayne Kenney, and Charlene Sokal

[email protected]


The Massachusetts Society of Genealogists, Inc. P.O. Box 215 Ashland, MA 01721-‐0215 http://www.msoginc.org

SAVE THE DATE -‐-‐ SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5TH Vice President Margaret Fortier and the Annual Meeting Planning Committee have been working diligently to plan this year’s Annual Meeting. They are seeking additional help to create the program and volunteers to serve as photographers during the event. The committee is proud to announce the list of speakers and topics listed below. Family Histories and American Culture Kendra Field Assistant Professor of History and Africana Studies, Tufts University Her research and teaching areas include race, slavery, freedom, migration, and social movements in the long nineteenth century; African-‐American family history, memory, and public history. She is Interim Director of the Center for the Study of Race and Democracy at Tufts. Our Whaling Ancestors Mark Procknik Librarian, New Bedford Whaling Museum His expertise includes collections archivist for genealogical studies. Mark has presented at the Museum’s lecture series, to the Museum's 2015 Cartography Conference, the Rhode Island Library Association's Annual Conference, and at an international conference in Iceland. On the Job: Ancestors Who Worked in the Public Sector and the Amazing Records They Left Behind Margaret Sullivan Manager and Archivist for the Boston Police Department Her research includes documenting line-‐of-‐duty officers, early African American officers, and pioneer women police. She is a Fellow at the Massachusetts Historical Society and former Vice President of TIARA, The Irish Ancestral Research Association.

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