How often does it happen that travel for a family event coincides with a genealogy society meeting in that same distant state? Not often, but this past weekend I was able to attend both my great-nephew’s christening in Lebanon, New Hampshire and the morning session of the joint meeting of the Genealogical Society of Vermont (GSV) and the New Hampshire Society of Genealogists (NHSOG) at the Howe Library in neighboring Hanover.
Kevin Maynard was the true star of the day, only speaking out when the water splashed his brow. Big sister Bridget handled the celebration with grace and generosity, probably figuring that she might as well enjoy the day even if she was upstaged (temporarily) by her brother. Occasions where we actually witness vital records in the making become even more special when families live in distant parts of the country, and we were reminded again that family is first.
Finding families was also the topic of the day for the Spring Meeting of GSV and NHSOG. I attended the morning session and came away with a new appreciation for New England records research and several solid ideas for tackling my brick walls.
Research in New Hampshire When the Trail Grows Cold was the subject of presenter Diane Gravel’s 60-minute talk. She covered a wealth of records, from vital, land, and town, to lesser known resources such as warnings-out, poor records, and justice of the peace records.
Diane’s presentation was illustrated with PowerPoint slides showing brief case studies and examples from her own New Hampshire research and describing techniques would apply to research in many other localities. It was clear from her effective use of visual slides that Diane is an accomplished researcher and speaker; I plan to watch for her at future conferences and make certain to attend her sessions.
Following the morning session, I enjoyed lunch with GSV President Bob Murphy and Newsletter Editor Deidre Burridge and the opportunity to hear about future plans for the society. They returned to the Howe Library to hear the presentation by Michael Sherman, “Rethinking Freedom & Unity: Family History in State History,” and I rejoined family for our own Family History Event.
If you are traveling to visit friends or family, you might want to check on local genealogy event as well. Happy coincidences do happen.
