Do you know what an abactor is? A buttoner? What does a farrier do or a fletcher? Join us as we look at some old occupations and terms you might see during your research. As always we will share with each other any tips and tricks we have learned, help with brick walls, and try to answer every question (although some may take a bit of research first!)

Please note the time change to 12 noon. See you there!  

Glenda's vision and dedication was a major contributing factor in building the foundation for everything ROOT CELLAR has become. This is a wonderful opportunity to come together, share memories, and honor her legacy.  Registration and meal payment in advance will be required. More details will be posted soon.

 

But why did they stay?  The British soldier may not have had many options in his homeland, the indentured servant perhaps escaped abject poverty for a better life, the landed gentry amassed great land holdings and, well, the enslaved and convict had no choice. There is much more to the story, and we will find out how to research the ancestral past of colonia America.

There is an art to the process of telling your family’s history. There are so many details to research: names, dates, places, circumstances. Like crafting a tapestry, we insert the plain facts of our ancestors’ existence while taking care to blend in the color and texture that can only be found when we go beyond researching census records and certificates. By examining two case studies, we will see how the use of other resources—from public reports in newspapers to the more private and intimate accounts of letters, diaries, and oral histories—will enable us to find the threads of our ancestors’ story lines and weave them together into a compelling account of their lives.