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New England genealogy records top US updates
Find New England genealogy records for Vermont pioneers, Boston Catholics and Berkshire, MA residents among new and updated collections online. Also: vital records updates for Idaho, Nebraska, New York state and Tennessee.
Featured: New England genealogy records
Vermont pioneers. Subscription website American Ancestors, the home of the New England Historic Genealogical Society, has added 29 new volumes to its collection, Early Vermont Settlers, 1700-1784. According to the site, the collection focuses on “heads of families who were living in Vermont during this time period. These new sketches profile individuals from the towns of Sharon and Norwich. Fifteen of the sketches come from Sharon.” Additional sketches for Norwich are available at here and here.
Massachusetts church records. Genealogy Giant Ancestry.com has updated its collection of Catholic sacramental records held by the Boston Archdiocese, which now contains nearly a million indexed records. According to the site, “The Boston Archdiocese, erected in 1808, is currently comprised of the Counties of Essex, Middlesex, Suffolk, Norfolk, and Plymouth in Massachusetts, but historically included the states of Connecticut, Maine, all of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.” The index links to images published at American Ancestors.
Massachusetts probate. American Ancestors has also added 214,000 new case file papers covering 1901-1917 to its collection of Berkshire County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1761-1917. Wills and probate records are oft-neglected but valuable sources of genealogical information. Click here to read an article on using wills and probate records in your family history research.
More US genealogy records now online
Idaho vital records. Ancestry.com has updated Idaho, County Birth and Death Records, 1863-1970. “This collection contains birth and death records from select counties in Idaho that took place between the years of 1863 and 1970,” states the collection description. “There is also a portion of marriage records that can be found within this collection.”
Nebraska births. Genealogy Giant Findmypast.com has published Nebraska, Omaha births 1874-1887, with names, birth dates, and birthplaces, as well as parents’ names.
New York births. New at Ancestry.com is New York State, Birth Index, 1881-1942, which also has browsable images of the indexes, in case searching doesn’t bring up the person you’re looking for. Use the state certificate numbers from the index to order copies of the original certificates from the state department of health (the collection includes a link).
Tennessee deaths. Also updated at Ancestry.com is Tennessee, Death Records, 1908-1958. These indexed images of death certificates come from the Tennessee State Library and Archives.
Vital records are vital!
This post features a variety of vital record collections: births, marriages and deaths. That’s because they are essential for constructing your family tree. They uniquely identify your ancestors and they link them to their parents, spouses, and children. Learn more about vital records—and additional resources such as delayed birth records and Social Security applications—in Lisa Louise Cooke’s free Family History: Genealogy Made Easy Podcast, episode 4.
About the Author: Sunny Morton
Sunny is a Contributing Editor at Lisa Louise Cooke’s Genealogy Gems; her voice is often heard on the Genealogy Gems Podcast and Premium Podcasts. She’s known for her expertise on the world’s biggest family history websites (she’s the author of Genealogy Giants: Comparing the 4 Major Websites); writing personal and family histories (she also wrote Story of My Life: A Workbook for Preserving Your Legacy); and sharing her favorite reads for the Genealogy Gems Book Club.
Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links and Genealogy Gems will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on these links (at no additional cost to you). Thank you for supporting Genealogy Gems!
Family Tree Magazine’s 101 Best Websites 2018
Genealogy Gems is thrilled to be included in Family Tree Magazine’s list of the 101 Best Websites for 2018!
Each year, Family Tree Magazine’s team of genealogy experts scour the web for the best of the best websites where you can discover family history information. Then they compile it in a handy list, organized by category for easy research reference.
This year, there are 16 categories and you’ll find Genealogy Gems in the “Best Genealogy News Websites & Blogs” category.
The complete list of all 101 websites is included in the September 2018 issue of Family Tree Magazine, which is now being mailed to subscribers and available for purchase. A full, clickable list of 101 Best Websites can be found online in their Best Genealogy Websites directory.
Family Tree Magazine has been a long-standing resource for genealogy research tips, expert interviews and instruction, and top tools for digging deep into your roots. Subscribe and get 7 issues each year delivered right to your mailbox or inbox. Their beginner-friendly approach to discovering, preserving and celebrating family history makes genealogy a hobby anyone can enjoy – and makes the magazine a great gift for the family history lover in your life! Click here to get started with your subscription today.
Lacey Cooke
Lacey has been working with Genealogy Gems since the company’s inception in 2007. Now, as the full-time manager of Genealogy Gems, she creates the free weekly newsletter, writes blogs, coordinates live events, and collaborates on new product development. No stranger to working with dead people, Lacey holds a degree in Forensic Anthropology, and is passionate about criminal justice and investigative techniques. She is the proud dog mom of Renly the corgi.
Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links and Genealogy Gems will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on these links (at no additional cost to you). Thank you for supporting Genealogy Gems!
MyHeritage LIVE Schedule is Now Available
MyHeritage just announced the speaker schedule and it is now available on the MyHeritage LIVE website. There are also now discounted hotel rooms available.
Here’s the latest on the event:
- Genealogy
- DNA
- Hands-on computer workshops (to take you through MyHeritage tools step-by-step)
Join us to learn where MyHeritage and the industry are headed, and meet fellow MyHeritage users from all over the world.
Attendees will get a sneak peek into MyHeritage’s roadmap for the future with VP Product Maya Lerner, and be inspired by international experts in the fields of genealogy and DNA, including Thomas MacEntee, Lisa Louise Cooke, Dick Eastman, Diahan Southard, and Roberta Estes.
This is an unmissable opportunity to deepen your knowledge and take your MyHeritage skills to the next level. Registration includes a Friday night reception, Saturday night party and buffet dinner, and lunch on both days.
Tickets are going fast so make sure to reserve your spot soon.
