ConnecticutAncestry.org

Connecticut Ancestry Society, Inc. - Founded 1954

Promote genealogical scholarship, preserve source material, and exchange family histories.

Society Activities

A genealogical program is included with the Society's annual meeting in May. In spring and fall we host workshops in area libraries and historical societies, which feature speakers on genealogical topics, introductions to the holdings of the repositories, and consultations with experienced members of the Society. The Society often cosponsors genealogical programs with other organizations. We are a charter member of the New England Regional Genealogical Conference, which holds a major biennial conference in New England and a member of the Federation of Genealogical Societies. Society board members take an active role in addressing issues of vital records access and other concerns of genealogists.

Other Activities of Interest

While not sponsored by Connecticut Ancestry Society, the following events are thought to be of interest to our members:

• Bridgeport Public Library
  Historical Collections, Third Floor, Burroughs-Saden Building
  • Genealogy Roundtable with Bill Stansfield held every third Wednesday of the month from 12:30PM-1:30PM - Library patrons interested in researching their own family histories get together to discuss problems in their research and share tips on sources and methodology. Both beginners and longtime researchers welcome.
• Pequot Library
  
  • Genealogy Roundtable with Rod MacKenzie, Betty Oderwald and Bill Stansfield held every second Saturday of the month from 10:00AM-11:00AM. Reservations are required. Please call (203) 259-0346 to reserve a place.
• Trumbull Public Library
  Reservations are required. Call the Trumbull Library at 452-5125 or register at the library's web site.
  • May 14, 2008, 9:30AM-11:00AM - Ancestry.com Workshop - Library staff members Rick Roof and Walter Dembowski will give a lecture-demonstration introducing the genealogy database Ancestry.com: Library Edition.
• Fairfield Museum and History Center
  
• Fairfield Senior Center
  100 Mona Terrace, Fairfield
  • Genealogy Roundtable with Bill Stansfield held every fourth Wednesday of the month from 1:00PM-2:00PM. Meetings are open to the public but subject to revision if holidays conflict.
• Genealogy Club of Newtown
  Meets at Cyrenius H. Booth Library the second Wednesday of each month at 7:00 pm.
• Middlesex Genealogical Society
  All programs at Darien Public Library, 35 Leroy Ave., Saturdays at 2pm.
  • May 17, 2008 - Right Under Your Noses: Uncommon Sources in Common Places - presented by Virginia Banerjee. Common places can yield uncommon sources and records often missed. This program focuses on the "rest of the material" in repositories that we use all the time and is illustrated with finds from Virginia's own research.
• Polish Genealogical Society of Connecticut and Northeast
  
  • October 3-4, 2008 - PGSCTNE 2008 Polish Genealogy Conference - Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, CT
• Westchester County Genealogical Society
  Most programs at Aldersgate Methodist Church, Dobbs Ferry, NY, at 10 am. Donation $3 for guests.
  • May 10, 2008 - Vincent D'Aquino - The Story of Sybil Ludington: American Revolutionary War Hero: the Female Paul Revere
  • June 14, 2008 - Christopher DiPasquale - An Object of Great Importance: The Hudson River During the American War for Independence
• Connecticut Society of Genealogists

Annual Meeting

The Settlement of the Oblong

How the boundary between New York and Connecticut was determined
with Harlan Jessup
Sunday, May 18, 2008
from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM
at the Keeler Tavern
132 Main Street, Ridgefield, CT

This seminar is co-sponsored by Connecticut Ancestry Society, the Ridgefield Historical Society and the Keeler Tavern. Admission is free. Following a brief annual business meeting, Connecticut Ancestry editor, Harlan Jessup, will uncover some of the mystery surrounding the settlement of the Oblong.

Who settled this narrow strip of Equivalent Lands which compensated New York for that part of Fairfield County which projects toward the Hudson River? North and South Salem were settled largely by Ridgefield families, but further north there were only squatters who had no clear title to the lands. And not all the legitimate settlers came directly from Connecticut.

Download our flyer for more details. Please RSVP with the number of attendees to the Ridgefield Historical Society at (203) 438-5821 or via email.

May Workshop

Irish Genealogy Workshop

Saturday, May 17, 2008
from 10:30 AM to 12:00 Noon
at the Bridgeport Public Library
Burroughs-Saden Main Branch
925 Broad St., Bridgeport, CT

This workshop is co-sponsored by Connecticut Ancestry Society and Bridgeport Public Library. Admission is free. Please RSVP to the Historical Collections Department with the number of attendees at (203) 576-7417 or via email.

As a follow-up to the well-attended Irish Spring Seminar at the Housatonic Community College, Connecticut Ancestry Society is offering a chance to put into practice what was learned. Bring your research as we and the staff of the Historical Collections at the Bridgeport Public Library tackle your brick walls. Download our flyer for more details.

Board Meeting

Our next Board Meeting will be held on June 22, 2008, hosted at the Fairfield Museum and History Center at 2:00 PM.

FGS Annual Conference

The next Federation of Genealogical Societies Conference will be held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, PA from September 3-6, 2008. Please take a look at their conference website.

NERGC Biennial Conference

The next New England Regional Genealogical Conference will be held in Manchester, NH from April 22-26, 2009. Please take a look at the 2009 conference website.