Find-Your-Roots

Family History & Genealogy Research

Talks & Workshops

Dr. Carol P. McCoyGenealogy and Family Research Presentations

By Carol P. McCoy, Ph.D.
207-373-0318

Dr. McCoy will be pleased to give talks or workshops for your group. She can give presentations of one hour to one and one-half hour as well as longer workshops given individually or in a series. She has an informative, engaging and motivating style and uses many examples to enliven her talks. While some of her topics are listed below, she can also speak on other topics as well.

Using Deeds in Genealogy - A Goldmine of Information. Often overlooked, deeds and land records can provide useful clues to finding and learning about our ancestors. This is especially true for areas where Probate Records have been destroyed. Deeds can help you find ancestors who have escaped the census taker and can provide information on family relationships, migration patterns, wealth, neighbors and more. Learn how to find them, how to read them, and how to use them to solve genealogy problems.

Using Tax Records in Genealogy - How Taxes Can Be a Good Thing! Many dread tax day, but old tax records provide valuable clues to our ancestors' lives. Since the early days of America people were taxed to create roads, to support wars, and to provide needed revenue. Learn the types of records available, where to find them, and how they help solve genealogy problems.

Creating Maine Towns - The Process and the Records. The District of Maine had a wild history marked by warfare, the destruction of early settlements, land disputes, and a challenging terrain. How did settler create viable towns in such a wilderness? What types of officers were needed to run settlements? Proprietors' and Town Records can be gold mines for genealogists. Learn how Maine towns typically developed, the role and responsibilities of Proprietors and what they had to do to create a successful town, what town records were created, and where you might look for them.

Making the Most of Census Research. Learn tips and tactics to make the most of your census research. Learn how to avoid common pitfalls and use a variety of censuses to learn about your ancestors and track down those elusive relatives. Get beyond the census indexes and broaden your focus beyond a specific relative to get the whole story.

Where Were Your Ancestors? What If You Cannot Find Them in the Census? Learn ways to find your ancestors even if they were not in any census index. Did they really elude the census taker? What other resources can help you find them even if they were not in the federal census?

Finding Your Family Roots in New England - Sound Strategies for Genealogical Research. Learn tips and tactics for locating your ancestors with New England roots. Find ways to maximize traditional resources, historical societies, family mementos, and the internet to learn about your family heritage. Create a solid research plan and avoid common pitfalls in genealogical research.

Finding Elusive Ancestors - Who Were the Parents of Mary Drummond - Oldest Native Negro in New Bedford, Massachusetts? This enlightening case illustrates how an extensive search led to a famous ancestor for Mary Drummond, Oldest native Negro in New Bedford, Massachusetts in 1928. Learn how to overcome false assumptions, use vital records, censuses, deeds, probate, poor house records, newspapers, cemetery records, and online resources to discover an ancestor's parentage.

The Mystery of David Mitchell of Troy, Maine. How can you find the family of a man who was not in the census, who had no vital records of his birth, marriage, death or of the birth of his children, no deed records, no tombstone or obituary? Learn how to use town records, maps, the Internet and other sources to find your elusive ancestor?

Enriching Genealogy with Memorabilia and Pictures. There is only so much excitement that can be generated from ancestor charts and family group sheets. Pictures are indeed worth a thousand words. Find out types of memorabilia that can enrich your family history and become inspired to locate them! Share ideas of what others have done to enliven their stories to give people a feel for what their ancestors' lives were like.

Tracing Your Ancestors - Getting Started. This talk presents the fundamentals of genealogy and family research to help people get started on a solid foundation. Learn how to unravel family mysteries and avoid common pitfalls in genealogical research.

Creative Ways to Solve Genealogical Problems. Have you hit the proverbial brick wall or road block in your genealogical research? Is an ancestor or two eluding you and hiding from the census taker or the town clerk? Learn some solid strategies and ways to take a fresh look at what you've tried and what else you can do to find those pesky hidden ancestors.

Finding Your Roots - Unpuzzling Your Past. This fun and inspiring workshop series will help you to learn sound techniques for tracing your family genealogy and history. Using Emily Croom's best-selling book, Unpuzzling Your Past as a spring-board, this class will teach you ways to track down your ancestors, learn more about their lives, and create a meaningful family history. Six sessions (more or less): (1) Getting Started (2) Keys to Success (3) Census Records (4) Vital Records (5) Building on Others' Work (6) Organizing and Digging Deeper

The Maine-Canada-Ireland Connection - Seeking Rogers' Roots. An intriguing and entertaining case study shows how we discovered the Canadian and Irish roots of the Rogers' family who lived in Brewer Maine in 1850. Learn how US and Canadian census, land, probate, historical, cemetery, and newspaper records as well as archival material, online sites and databases and internet contacts can bring a complex family history to life.

Keys to Successful Presentations. Learn tips for giving successful presentations. Enjoy a humorous approach to overcoming an activity many people approach with dread--public speaking. This discussion will help you give presentations with more confidence and impact by planning for success, structuring your content, creating useful visual aids, and learning ways to increase your confidence in delivering talks and workshops.

PAST TALKS & WORKSHOPS

SOLVING GENEALOGICAL PROBLEMS HOW HISTORIC TOWN RECORDS, TAX RECORDS, AND DEEDS CAN HELP

Date: October 24, 2015 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Location: Abbott Room, Belfast Free Library, Belfast, ME

SESSION ABSTRACT:
Find out a proven approach to help you solve genealogical problems.

  • Discover why Maine towns were settled and what town records were created in the process.
    Learn about the gems found in town, tax and land records.
    A case study illustrates how to find someone who was never in the census, who had no probate or burial record, who had no registered deed, and who had no recorded vital records.

Come learn how to break through brick walls and discover those pesky elusive ancestors by using records found online and in various repositories.

Read more: SOLVING...

Creating Maine Towns—the Process and the Records

Sponsor: National Society of Colonial Dames
Date: Tuesday August 11,2015
6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.

Location: Tate House Museum, 1267 Westbrook Street, Portland, ME
FMI: Contact Betty Janus. 207-774-6177. www.tatehouse.org

SESSION ABSTRACT:
The District of Maine had a wild history marked by warfare, destruction and abandonment of settlements, land disputes, and a harsh environment. Find out about why and how Maine towns were created. Learn about town records, how they help in research, and where to find them.

Southern Maine Genealogy Conference

Sponsor: Greater Portland Chapter of the Maine Genealogical Society www.gpcmgs.org
Date: Saturday 30 May 2015.
Dr. McCoy's Workshop 3b. 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Location: Keeley's Banquet Center, 178 Warren Avenue, Portland ME

SESSION ABSTRACT:
"Using Deeds in Genealogy - A Goldmine of Information."
Deeds and land records can provide useful clues to our ancestors. This is especially true where Probate Records have been destroyed, as they have in early Cumberland County, Maine. Deeds can help you find ancestors who have escaped the census taker and provide information on family relationships, migration patterns, wealth, neighbors and more. Learn how to find them, how to read them, and how to use them in your genealogy research.

What If I Can't Find Them in the Census?

Sponsor: Southern Maine Genealogical Conference 2014 (sponsored by the Greater Portland Chapter and the Pejepscot Chapter of the Maine Genealogical Society)
Date: Saturday 31 May 2014. Conference runs from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Dr. McCoy's workshop will be from 10:45 - 11:45 a.m.
Location: Keeley's Banquet Center, 178 Warren Avenue, Portland ME

SESSION ABSTRACT:
The Census is an excellent genealogical tool for finding information about your ancestors and family. Sometimes, however, our ancestors seem to have escaped the census taker or the census indexer. Learn why you are having trouble finding your people in the census and discover strategies to track them down or find substitutes for missing census records. Share success stories and learn how to make the most of your census research.

Read more: What If I...

New England Regional Genealogical Conference

Sponsor: New England Regional Genealogical Conference (NERGC)
Date: April 15-18, 2015
Location: Rhode Island Convention Center, Providence, RI.

SESSION ABSTRACT:
"Creating Maine Towns: How the Wilderness Was Tamed."
Session F-204; Friday April 17, 8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
The District of Maine had a wild history marked by warfare, destruction and abandonment of settlements, land disputes, and a harsh environment. Find out about town records, how they help in research, and where to find them.

Read more: New England...

Creating Maine Towns-The Process and the Records

Sponsor: Greater Portland Chapter, Maine Genealogical Society
Date: Saturday 7 December 2013. Refreshments at 12:30; meeting starts at 1:00 p.m.
Location: 29 Ocean House Road, Cape Elizabeth, Maine, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

SESSION ABSTRACT:
The District of Maine, part of Massachusetts until 1820, had a wild history marked by frequent warfare, the destruction of many early settlements, common land disputes, a challenging terrain and a harsh climate. How did settlers manage to create viable towns in such a wilderness? Which towns were originally called Sudbury Canada and New Marblehead? Why? What types of officers were needed to run early plantations and towns? Was one of your ancestors a hog reeve, a field driver, a school agent, a tithing man or a fence viewer? Proprietors' and Town Records can be gold mines for genealogists. Learn how Maine towns typically developed, the role and responsibilities of Proprietors and what they had to do to create a successful town, what town records were created, and where you might look for them.

Read more: Creating...

"Digging for Gold in Early Maine Town Records"

Date:Tuesday, October 8th, 2013
Location: Yarmouth Maine History Center
118 East Elm Street, Yarmouth, ME 04096
Phone number of the Yarmouth History Center: 207-846-6259
Cost: $3.00 for members; $5.00 for non members

SESSION ABSTRACT:
The District of Maine, part of Massachusetts until 1820, had a wild history marked by frequent warfare, the destruction of many early settlements, common land disputes, a challenging terrain and a harsh climate. How did settlers manage to create viable towns in such a wilderness? Which towns were originally called Sudbury Canada and New Marblehead? Why? What types of officers were needed to run early plantations and towns? Was one of your ancestors a hog reeve, a field driver, a school agent, a tithing man or a fence viewer? Proprietors' and Town Records can be gold mines for genealogists. Learn how Maine towns typically developed, the role and responsibilities of Proprietors and what they had to do to create a successful town, what town records were created, and where you might look for them.

Read more: "Digging for...

"Digging for Gold in Early Maine Town Records"

Sponsor:Maine Genealogical Society, Fall Conference 2013
Date:September 21, 2013 at 2:00 p.m.
Location: Jeff's Catering, Brewer, Maine

SESSION ABSTRACT:
The District of Maine, part of Massachusetts until 1820, had a wild history marked by frequent warfare, the destruction of many early settlements, common land disputes, a challenging terrain and a harsh climate. How did settlers manage to create viable towns in such a wilderness? Which towns were originally called Sudbury Canada and New Marblehead? Why? What types of officers were needed to run early plantations and towns? Was one of your ancestors a hog reeve, a field driver, a school agent, a tithing man or a fence viewer? Proprietors' and Town Records can be gold mines for genealogists. Learn how Maine towns typically developed, the role and responsibilities of Proprietors and what they had to do to create a successful town, what town records were created, and where you might look for them.

Read more: "Digging for...

Using Tax Records in Genealogy--How Taxes Can Be a Good Thing

may4bSponsor: Society of Mayflower Descendants in the State of Maine
(Contact Virginia B. Link, Governor: )
Date: Wednesday, 4 May 2013, 1:00 p.m.
Location: Elks Lodge, Augusta, Maine

SESSION ABSTRACT:
Most of us dread April 15th, but old tax records can provide valuable clues to our ancestors' lives. In the early days of America people were taxed on their property, to repair and build roads (no departments of transportation), to support the military, and to provide revenue for many reasons. Learn about the types of tax records that may be available, where to look for them, and how they can help you solve genealogy problems.

Read more: Using Tax...

Using Deeds in Genealogy Research

Sponsor: New England Regional Genealogical Consortium Conference
Date: Thursday, 18 April 2013
Location: Radisson Hotel and Conference Center, Manchester, New Hampshire
Note: Dr. Carol P. McCoy will also be participating at the Ancestor Road Show at NERGCC 2013.

SESSION ABSTRACT:
Deeds are a valuable research tool especially when early probate records and vital records aren't available. Often overlooked, deeds can help you overcome problems and find lost ancestors. Learn how to make the most of land records in your genealogy research.

Read more: Using Deeds...

Contact Us

Carol P. McCoy, Ph.D
207-373-0318
71 Willow Grove Road
Brunswick, Maine 04011

 

Our Mission

Every family is unique.
Dr. McCoy's mission is to help people discover:

  • Where did I come from?
  • Who are my kin?
  • What makes my family special?

In so doing they will gain a deeper understanding of their family stories, connect with kin, and create a family treasure to share.