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MSOG, Inc.
PO Box 215
Ashland, MA 01721-0215 |
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Saturday, March 14
Eighteenth-century Massachusetts Research (Middlesex)
10:30 am to 12:30 pm Virtual only via Zoom
Melanie McComb presents Eighteenth-century Massachusetts Research
The eighteenth century was a transformative and foundational period for Massachusetts: continued colonial conflicts, movement westward, revolution, the abolition of slavery, and ultimately statehood. This lecture will look at just some of the many records of the era—pre and post American independence—including military records, tax lists, census records, newspapers, city directories, and more.
Melanie McComb, Senior Genealogist, assists library visitors, both on-site and online, with their family history research. She is an international lecturer who teaches on a variety of topics. Melanie holds a B.S. degree from the State University of New York at Oswego. She previously served as the social media coordinator for the NextGen Genealogy Network, a non-profit that creates a community for younger genealogists, where she managed the Facebook and Twitter accounts. She continues her interest in helping younger genealogists get involved at American Ancestors by assisting with educational programs from local schools, scout groups, and universities.
10:30 am ET Announcements and Socializing
Presentation begins at 11:00 am ET
This program is FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
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Thursday, March 19
Finding Female Ancestors (Webinar)
7:00 pm Virtual
Researching the women in our family can be problematic. Our female ancestors left very few records making it challenging to determine a maiden name or family of origin. This program will cover strategies and record groups that can advance your research and help to uncover female ancestors as well as learn more about their lives.
Laura Cubbage-Draper, MS, Certified Genealogist, is a Board-Certified professional genealogist in central New Jersey. Recently certified, she has been engaged in genealogical research for over 25 years and the owner of LCD Genealogy Services for five years. A New Jersey native with deep Pennsylvania and German roots, she is a genealogical researcher, lecturer, and volunteer.
Laura enjoys collaborating with clients and helping them to understand their unique family history. Her expertise in exhaustive genealogical research and compiling detailed written reports are essential to expanding your family tree.
Go to "Event Registration" to register for the Webinar
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Saturday, March 21
Creating an Ancestor Sketch (Rescheduled) (Bristol)
12:00 pm to 1:00 pm Attend in Person or Virtually via Zoom
Presented Virtually by Thomas MacEntee
Face it: most genealogists never get around to publishing that family history book based on their genealogy research. How about a different approach: producing short 3-5 page “sketches” about an ancestor? You’ll learn how to include a cover, photos, facts, family stories, source citations and more! And guess what, once you get a few of these ancestor sketches done, you can compile them together for one big book!
Thomas MacEntee is a professional genealogist specializing in the use of technology and social media to improve genealogical research and as a means of interacting with others in the family history community.
"This program has applied for support from the Somerset Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency."
SOMERSET PUBLIC LIBRARY
1464 County Street
Somerset, MA 02726
Business Meeting 11:00-11:30 am
Member Sharing 11:30-11:55 am
Presentation Begins at Noon.
This program is FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
For more information contact: bristol@msoginc.org
Schedule of Events Available at: https://msoginc.org
Those who wish to attend virtually, can pre-register at https://tinyurl.com/BristolMarch2026
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Tuesday, March 24
Writing Special Interest Group (Writing SIG)
7:00 pm Virtual
The Writing Special Interest Group (SIG) will hold its next meeting on Tuesday, March 24th at 7:00 PM (via Zoom).
The group meets monthly to share works-in-progress, exchange constructive feedback, and help one another stay accountable as we work toward our writing goals for 2026 and beyond.
The meeting is open to all MSOG members in good standing. You must be logged in as a member to join the meeting. Once logged in, you will see Event Registration under the Members Only section. You will also find a link there to answer a few questions and sign up for the mailing list. Please complete this before attending your first meeting.
New members are welcome anytime.
We look forward to seeing you there.
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Saturday, March 28
Digging Up Scandals: Tracing Black Sheep Ancestors in Canadian Genealogy (Merrimack Valley)
10:00 am to 12:00 pm Hybrid - Via Zoom or in person at Georgetown Peabody Library
Discover how to navigate the unique challenges and rewards of researching black sheep ancestors — those family members whose lives were marked by controversy, scandal, or crime. Using Canadian resources, attendees will learn strategies for uncovering records, interpreting data, and understanding the historical context of their ancestors' lives.
A native of Southwestern Ontario, Canada, Kathryn Lake Hogan, UE, PLCGS, is a professional genealogist and educator with deep roots in Canada through her five Loyalist ancestors. Since founding Looking4Ancestors in 2007, Kathryn has helped family history researchers uncover their Canadian ancestry, combining her expertise with an approachable and insightful teaching style. Kathryn graduated from ProGen 4 and the National Institute for Genealogical Studies, where she earned professional learning certificates in English and Canadian genealogy. Kathryn has written articles featuring Canadian genealogy for CrossRoads, Family Tree Magazine, The In-Depth Genealogist, and the APG Quarterly. Having held leadership roles within notable organizations such as Ontario Ancestors, the Association of Professional Genealogists, and the United Empire Loyalists Association of Canada, she continues to advocate for greater accessibility, inclusivity, and diversity in family history. Kathryn is a sought-after speaker who captivatingly engages audiences at genealogy society meetings and regional and national conferences. As a course coordinator and instructor of Canadian and Ontario courses at the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG), the National Genealogical Society GRIP, and the Applied Genealogy Institute (AppGen), she helps family history researchers sharpen their skills and dive deeper into their Canadian family history.
Georgetown Peabody Library
2 Maple St
Georgetown, MA
This program is FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
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Tuesday, March 31
End of Month - Zoom (Genealogy Discussion Group)
7:00 pm Virtual via Zoom Only
Join us for a relaxed, open group discussion where attendees are encouraged to ask questions, share knowledge, and exchange personal experiences and opinions. Rather than conducting research, we'll point you toward helpful resources and ways to find the answers you're looking for.
This meetings talking point will be DNA
This event is facilitated by MSOG, Inc.; however, any views or opinions shared are independent and do not necessarily reflect the stance of MSOG, Inc.
This will not be recorded. However, generic questions and resources may be shared on the MSOG website and Past Times Newsletter.
This will be FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
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Saturday, April 4
Genealogy in Ancient Times (Worcester)
9:30 am to 11:30 am TBA
In Person
Karin Wulf Presents: Genealogy in Ancient Times
- Shows how genealogy is a matter of interest for government, religious, and other institutions
- Draws from a broad range of sources including informal writing, official records, and performances
- Discusses the importance of genealogy to African American families
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9:30 AM EDT Socializing
9:45 AM EDT Business meeting
10:00 AM EDT Presentation
This program is FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
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Tuesday, April 7
Defiant Brides by Nancy Rubin Stuart (Book Club)
7:00 pm Virtual
When Peggy Shippen, the celebrated blonde belle of Philadelphia, married American military hero Benedict Arnold in 1779, she anticipated a life of fame and fortune, but financial debts and political intrigues prompted her to conspire with her treasonous husband against George Washington and the American Revolution. In spite of her commendable efforts to rehabilitate her husband’s name, Peggy Shippen continues to be remembered as a traitor bride.
Peggy’s patriotic counterpart was Lucy Flucker, the spirited and voluptuous brunette, who in 1774 defied her wealthy Tory parents by marrying a poor Boston bookbinder simply for love. When her husband, Henry Knox, later became a famous general in the American Revolutionary War, Lucy faithfully followed him through Washington’s army camps where she birthed and lost babies, befriended Martha Washington, was praised for her social skills, and secured her legacy as an admired patriot wife.
And yet, as esteemed biographer Nancy Rubin Stuart reveals, a closer look at the lives of both spirited women reveals that neither was simply a “traitor” or “patriot.” In Defiant Brides, the first dual biography of both Peggy Shippen Arnold and Lucy Flucker Knox,Stuart has crafted a rich portrait of two rebellious women who defied expectations and struggled—publicly and privately—in a volatile political moment in early America.
Drawing from never-before-published correspondence, Stuart traces the evolution of these women from passionate teenage brides to mature matrons, bringing both women from the sidelines of history to its vital center. Readers will be enthralled by Stuart’s dramatic account of the epic lives of these defiant brides, which begin with romance, are complicated by politics, and involve spies, disappointments, heroic deeds, tragedies, and personal triumphs. (Amazon Review)
Go to "Event Registration" to register for the book club.
Upcoming Book Club Readings:
May 5, 2026 - The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel
June 2, 2026 - We the People: A History of the U.S. Constitution by Jill Lepore
July 7, 2026 - 1776 by David McCullogh
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