Genealogical serendipity
The first genealogy book I bought was, “The Weekend Genealogist” by Marcia Melnyck. Shortly after that, I was excited to learn that she was going to be the main speaker at a conference in Maine! I was amazed, and I had to go.
Family Searcher
By Nina Brawn
Over the years I have had so many happy coincidences in this work that I call it “Genealogical Serendipity”. It was serendipity when the author of the book I loved was the keynote speaker at my first conference. Serendipitous that she, too was researching Irish and Italian roots. It was that book and that first conference in 2001 that really got me hooked, and made me more serious about this fascinating hobby.
In the years since, Marcia Melnyck has gone on to become an even more highly respected author and researcher. She was chosen by the prestigious New England Historic and Genealogical Society to edit the fourth and most recent edition of their classic book, “Genealogist’s Handbook for New England Research”. It was at this first conference that I learned from Marcia about cluster genealogy: and from her book how to utilize and organize my finds.
Cluster genealogy is built upon the way our ancestors tended to migrate. Most of our European ancestors’ families lived in the same area for hundreds of years. Families lived in larger groups, with more than one generation living in the same home, and siblings’ families nearby. Usually one or two males would emigrate first, and then more of the family would follow if the situation was favorable. Often friends would move at the same time, sometimes whole neighborhoods would emigrate within a few years’ time. They landed in the same ports and settled in the same area where earlier emigrants had settled. Then these clusters of emigrants would move on to a few more cities nearby. That is why we find such high concentrations of, for example, Irish immigrants in Boston and Hartford. These clusters of families settled in half a dozen cities in New England, not just the Irish, but Italian, Polish, German, et cetera.
It is important to understand this, because once you can identify a cluster group, it can help you find some missing ancestors. Sometimes, when you hit a brick wall with the relative you are seeking, you may find them again if you can identify people in his or her cluster. Look at census records, wills and deeds for siblings and the generation before or after your missing person. List the people you find in those documents. These people did not just live in the same town — they intermingled. They went to the same schools and churches, patronized the same businesses. They witnessed the important life events, baptisms, marriages, deeds, and wills. Their children married each other; they joined the same organizations. They lived in the same neighborhoods.
You can use this cluster to find commonalities within that immigrant community: to lead you to other possible sources for your missing relative. And believe in the power of “Genealogical Serendipity”!
Editor’s note: This regular column is sponsored by the Aroostook County Genealogical Society. The group meets the fourth Monday of the month except in July and December at the Cary Medical Center’s Chan Education Center, 163 Van Buren Road, Caribou, at 6:30 p.m. Guests and prospective members are always welcome. FMI contact Edwin “J” Bullard at 492-5501. Columnist Nina Brawn of Dover-Foxcroft has been doing genealogy for over 30 years, is a freelance genealogy researcher, speaker and teacher. Reader e-mails are welcome at ninabrawn@gmail.com.
