famous – Heritage Hunters

John Matheus started researching his family history in 2021. He was delighted to find ties to American Aristocracy – Judge Noah Davis, George Washington, Ulysses S. Grant, Theodore Roosevelt, Robert Livingston (The Elder), and more! As John says, “How can this be my life?” Join us today as John walks us through his journey to embrace his heritage, and his hunt for a very important desk!

John Matheus, holding a letter to his ancestor from George Washington

Spotlight on McKeesport History & Heritage Center

Megan Donnelly joins us today to share what holdings the McKeesport History & Heritage Center has for researchers and genealogists.

Calendar of Events

September 10, 2022

On Saturday, September 10, 2022 at 5:00 PM, the Genealogical Society of Bergen County is hosting their 19^th Annual Genealogy Lock in at Ridgewood Public Library. Co-sponsored by the Ridgewood Public Library and the Genealogical Society of Bergen County, the 19th Annual Genealogy Lock-in offers genealogists of all levels the chance to:

Spend the evening researching, learning, and sharing—after the doors are closed to the general public!
Ask the Experts your brick wall questions
Attend workshops such as Irish Genealogy, DNA Roundtable, 1950 Census, and more
Receive individual assistance from a GSBC Genealogy Consultant

Please visit www.njgsbc.org for additional information, registration, and membership.

September 17, 2022

On Saturday, September 17, 2022 the Connecticut Society of Genealogists is hosting “Researching the Entire Family and Beyond” with Michael John Neill. Focusing only on the direct line can cause significant information to be overlooked and larger patterns, records, and information to go unnoticed. This lecture discusses the importance of researching the siblings, extended family, and associates of the ancestor of interest. Please visit www.csginc.org for additional information, registration and membership.

September 27, 2022

On Tuesday, September 27, 2022, the Historical Society of Pennsylvania is hosting “Rooted: Genealogy 201, Intermediate Skills. Complex genealogy research questions require correspondingly out-of-the-box thinking to solve. Brick walls can loom, and research often becomes more challenging the further back in history you proceed – even in the best of circumstances. These issues don’t have to be insurmountable. Rooted: Genealogy 201 will run for four Tuesday evenings (September 27, October 4, 11 & 18) from 6:30 PM to 8 PM via Zoom. Please visit www.hsp.org for additional information, registration, and membership.

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We asked our audience who their notable relatives were. From actors, to inventors, authors and religious leaders, listen in as our guests share their most notable relatives.

Brian Harris, from Bucks County, PA is related to James Harvey Garrison (1804-1876). Garrison achieved many things during his lifetime, including writing many books that are still in print today.

Derek Doran Woods of Massachusetts, is descended from the Pilgrims and is related to Clement Clarke Moore (1779-1863), who is credited with writing “A Visit From St. Nicholas,” also known as “‘T’was the Night Before Christmas.”

Melissa Frank of North Dakota is related to the artist Mark Rothko (1903-1970) and Joseph Smith (1805-1844) the founder of Mormonism and the Latter Day Saints Movement.

Linda Slate of Oregon is related to Nathaniel Porter Slate (1853-1946), who invented the farm combine that was later purchased and mass produced by Hugh Victor McKay. Also Nathaniel’s son, Thomas Benton Slate (1880-1980) who developed mass produced dry-ice, and also an airship called a dirigible, similar to a blimp.

Ed Preston, of Bucks County, PA is related to the actor, Walter Wright Williams (1908-1988). Williams was an actor and producer, and worked on the ‘Spaghetti Westerns’ with Clint Eastwood.