President's Message

250 Years Since the American Revolution

This year marks the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution—a perfect time to celebrate, reflect, and reconnect with our nation’s beginnings.

Long before independence, settlers crossed the Atlantic to carve out a life in the New World. From Jamestown in 1607 to the Pilgrims in 1620, from Dutch New Amsterdam to English New York, these early communities grew under distant crowns while relying on their own strength, resilience, and natural law. By the mid-1700s, tensions with Britain reached a breaking point. Heavy taxes after the French and Indian War stirred resentment, and leaders such as Benjamin Franklin and George Washington stepped forward to speak for the colonists. Their courage lit the spark that became the Revolution.

Looking ahead, the fall 2025 debut of Ken Burns’ American Revolution will be a highlight. A special showing will be held at The Mather Homestead on October 14, 2025. Tickets are available through Middlesex 250.

As genealogists, we know history isn’t just about famous names—it’s about the families who lived, worked, and sacrificed to build this country. This anniversary is a wonderful opportunity to dig deeper into your own family’s story.

Looking to get started? Try:

• Following the Mather Homestead read-along plan
• Taking a local history class
• Exploring online archives or even asking your AI assistant for help

Throughout the year, our speakers will share research tips, and we’ll continue to offer one-on-one time to help you uncover your family’s place in America’s history.

Let’s honor this milestone by celebrating the past—and discovering the connections that bring it to life.

Sara Zagrodzky

In This Issue

Upcoming MGS Events

Sara Zagrodzky

• 1:00 pm - Social
• 2:00 pm - "Genealogical Naming Traditions" presented by Sara Zagrodzky

Genealogical naming patterns involve specific traditions where children are named after relatives, often following a structured order. Common patterns include naming the first son after the paternal grandfather, the second son after the maternal grandfather, and the first daughter after the maternal grandmother. These patterns can be valuable for identifying ancestors, especially when documentary evidence is scarce.

Sara is President of Middlesex Genealogical Society. She is also a member of the following: Goodwives River Chapter National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, National Genealogical Society, Connecticut Ancestry Society, New York Genealogical & Biographical Society, New England Historic Genealogical Society, and Cos Cob Genealogy Club. She is a past Board Member of the Goodwives River Chapter NSDAR and the Darien Historical Society. Sara served as Past Chair for the Darien Memorial Day Parade and past assistant to Janeen Bjork’s Norwalk Community College Lifetime Learners Beginners Genealogy Class and a past Board Member for the Norwalk Senior Center Genealogy Club and a past educator with the Darien Historical Society Education Committee. She has made presentations to Norwalk Senior Center Genealogy Club on: “Spelling Varieties - checking name spellings on all records” and “Comparison of Ancestry and Family Search Ancestry DNA tree tags and ThruLines.” She works as a genealogy researcher and has attended numerous conferences around the United States.

Kari Kjontvedt Weis

• 1:00 pm - Social
• 2:00 pm - "Unlocking Ancestors with AI: Mastering FamilySearch's Full-Text Search" presented by Kari Kjontvedt Weis

Discover how FamilySearch's powerful AI full-text search can revolutionize your genealogy research. This meeting will equip you with the skills to find elusive ancestors and hidden gems in vast digitized records collections. Learn essential tips and tricks to maximize your search results, including effectively using keywords, filters, and wildcards. Whether you're just starting your family history journey or looking to break down brick walls, this workshop will show you how to leverage this game-changing tool to uncover valuable information, discover new leads, and enrich your understanding of your ancestors' lives. Take your research to the next level and unlock the power of AI driven genealogy.

Kari Kjontvedt Weis is a professional genealogist with over 20 years of research experience and extensive experience working with private clients. She has founded Kinship Stories LLC to help people unravel ancestral mysteries with a personal touch. Her expertise has also been sought after for background research on the television show “Who Do You Think You Are?” and she has conducted numerous workshops and presentations on genealogy. She is affiliated with the Association of Professional Genealogists, the National Genealogical Society, the New York Genealogical & Biographical Society, and the Westchester County Genealogical Society. She is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Jamestowne Society, and the Louisiana Colonials. She lives in Sherman, Connecticut, north of Danbury.

Future Presentation Dates

In This Issue

American Ancestors Virtual Open House Watch Party

By Steve Flynn

On August 20th, MGS hosted a watch party in the Leroy Room at the Darien Library for the American Ancestor’s Virtual Open House presented by Kathleen Mackenzie and Rhonda R. McClure. American Ancestors®, originally known as the New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS), is a national nonprofit center for family history, heritage and culture based in Boston, Massachusetts, which has been setting the gold standard for family history research since its founding in 1845. Today, American Ancestors serves more than 400,000 members and online subscribers through AmericanAncestors.org, one of the world’s largest online collections of free family history resources, scholarship, educational programming and events.

Similar to Ancestry, FamilySearch, FindMyPast, and MyHeritage, American Ancestors provides many historical records that are available to its members as well as the ability to create an online family tree that automatically looks for record hints. American Ancestors provides both annual individual and family membership options that provide:

• Access to over 10 billion searchable names and records on AmericanAncestors.org
• Free access to partner databases from organizations including NewspaperArchive, 19th Century U.S. Newspapers, The New York Times, and more
• Free admission to American Ancestors in Boston to access the Brim-DeForest Library, the Wyner Family Jewish Heritage Center, the Family Heritage Experience, and our world-class collection of family history material
• Standard access to American AncesTREES, an online family tree program
• Quarterly print delivery of American Ancestors magazine
• Quarterly digital delivery of the Register, the flagship journal of American genealogy
• Discounts on online lectures and courses, research-for-hire, books published by American Ancestors, Family Tree Magazine subscriptions, GEDmatch Tier 1 membership, and others

American Ancestors claims to have several unique genealogical databases. Using the “aaunique” code on their Search page returned 237 databases that can be explored. Several of these databases could be of interest to MGS members researching their ancestors from Fairfield County and elsewhere in Connecticut. Some examples include:

• Connecticut: Minutes of the Court of Assistants, 1669-1711
• Danbury, CT: Members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 1848-1851
• East Granby, CT: Vital Records, 1737-1886
• East Hartford, CT: Records of the Third Church of Christ, 1723-1745
• Fairfield County, CT: Probate Records, 1704-1757
• Greenwich, CT: Church Records, 1728-1857
• Greenwich, CT: Vital Records, 1670-1847
• Guilford, CT: Deaths, 1883-1890
• Lyme, CT: Birth Records, 1847-1856

While the geographic focus for American Ancestors is clearly New England, they also have many databases across the United States, Ireland and the United Kingdom, and even as far away as Australia!

In addition to the digitized resources available over the web, American Ancestors has a physical location in Boston’s Back Bay that includes:

• The Brim-DeForest library provides access to an extensive collection of books, maps, manuscripts, and digital resources. It is home to the R. Stanton Avery Special Collections, one of the world's most comprehensive collections of rare genealogical materials and published works.
• The Brue Family Learning Center is dedicated to introducing family and local history to national and international audiences. Founded by Nord and Suzanne Brue, the Center supports the creation of programming aimed at helping anyone start or advance their family history journey. 
• The Wyner Family Jewish Heritage Center (JHC) is a premier archive and educational center dedicated to preserving, exploring, and illuminating Jewish history and heritage. Through its programming and its archival collections specializing in New England Jewish history, the JHC engages researchers in the study of Jewish history, connects individuals and families with their heritage, and informs audiences of all backgrounds about the American Jewish experience.

In This Issue

Middlesex Parish 250

Source: Middlesex Parish 250 and Mather Homestead

On July 4, 2026, our nation will commemorate and celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The journey toward this historic milestone is an opportunity to pause and reflect on our nation’s past, honor the contributions of all Americans, and look ahead toward the future we want to create for the next generation and beyond.

Across the country, Americans are planning unique and exciting ways to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence of the United States. Middlesex Parish 250 is planning a series of events including lectures, reenactments, exhibits, and more to commemorate this historic milestone.

The Mather Homestead, in collaboration with other community organizations, is planning a series of events for Middlesex Parish 250. These include lectures, reenactments, exhibits, and more to commemorate this historic milestone. The Fall Scholar Series of The Mather Homestead includes three events this Fall that illuminate different facets of America's founding struggle, each offering unique perspectives on the courage, sacrifice, and vision that shaped our nation.

The Ordeals of a Continental Army Soldier
Thursday, September 18, 6:30 pm

Join Professor Emeritus Alan Taylor as he discusses Joseph Plumb Martin's remarkable and rare memoir, first published in 1830—one of the most vivid firsthand accounts of the American Revolution. Martin, from Milford CT, enlisted at just 15 and served nearly the entire war, witnessing Valley Forge, Yorktown, and countless hardships with wit and unflinching honesty. Taylor brings this irreplaceable soldier's story to life, revealing the human drama behind America's founding. Alan Taylor was the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation Professor of History at the University of Virginia. A distinguished scholar of early American history, he has won the Pulitzer Prize twice, as well as the Bancroft Prize and the National Book Award. His work focuses on the colonial period, the American Revolution, and the early American Republic. Professor Taylor is the author of 11 books on these subjects and was an expert historian in the development of the new Ken Burns documentary series, American Revolution.

The American Revolution: an exclusive preview of Ken Burns new documentary series
Tuesday, October 14, 6:30 pm

The Mather Homestead in partnership with Connecticut Public Television will host the exclusive Connecticut preview of Ken Burns' monumental new documentary series, The American Revolution, followed by a panel discussion with expert historians moderated by Lucy Nalpathanchil, seven-year host of the CT Public award winning morning talk show Where We Live. This six-part, 12-hour epic—eight years in the making—captures the full scope of a conflict that was simultaneously a war for independence, a civil war, and a global struggle that turned the world upside down. Burns weaves together accounts of political leaders with the perspectives of ordinary people who waged and witnessed war, from Vermont's Green Mountains to South Carolina's swamps, presenting an expansive look at the virtues and contradictions of America's founding struggle. Don't miss this rare opportunity to preview Burns' most ambitious Revolutionary War project before its November PBS debut and engage with the experts who brought this remarkable story to life.

Discover Revolutionary War Houses of Darien and the Preservation Movement that Saved Them
Wednesday, November 12
6:30 pm - Tour of New Exhibit: Bertha Mather McPherson - Visionary Preservationist
7:00 pm - Lecture

Join Christopher Wigren of Preservation Connecticut and Chris Fagan, owner and architect of Darien's Pond-Weed House, for a discussion of Connecticut's Revolutionary Era homes and the preservation efforts that have sustained them including Bertha Mather McPherson's pioneering work in Darien. Christopher Wigren is deputy director of Preservation Connecticut, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the state’s historic places. He is the author of Connecticut Architecture: Stories of 100 Places (Wesleyan University Press, 2018) and recently coordinated a project with the Connecticut State Historic Preservation Office to document the heritage and works of the Olmsted landscape architecture firm in Connecticut. Chris Fagan is an architect and owner of the Pond Weed House (pictured) in Darien, which he is currently restoring.

Pond-Weed House. At 2591 Post Road, Darien, Connecticut. The Pond Weed House Historic Preservation | Christopher Fagan Studio Architecture. Source: Pond-Weed House.

In This Issue

1789 Map of Middlesex Parish

By Peter Biggins

George Washington was inaugurated as president of the United States of America in April 1789 at Federal Hall on Wall Street in New York City. An historical marker on Old Kings Highway South in Middlesex (Darien), says George Washington passed this spot on his way to Boston in October 1789.

Colles Maps. Also in the year 1789, Christopher Colles (1739–1816), an Irish and American engineer and inventor, published a road atlas entitled A Survey of the Roads of the United States of America. His atlas has been put on line at: Library of Congress.

Included in the Colles atlas is the portion of the Kings Highway that runs between Stratford, Connecticut, and Yorktown, Virginia. The full Kings Highway was ordered in 1664 by Charles II to unite the colonies. It runs from Boston, Massachusetts, to Charleston, South Carolina.

In 1961, Walter W. Ristow, then Assistant Chief of the Map Division at the Library of Congress, wrote a book that includes a commentary on Christopher Colles and reproduction of the 1789 Colles atlas.

Map 4, page 7, shows three four-mile road panels:

• 4c: Middlesex (Darien in 1820) and Rowayton, including mile markers 45 to 48, shown below
• 4b: Stamford and part of Middlesex, including mile markers 41 to 44
• 4a: Horse Neck (Greenwich in 1848), including mile markers 37 to 40

Middlesex Map. In the middle of Map 4c is the name Middlesex in large letters and a church designated by a cross. The church is the meetinghouse of the Congregational Church on what is now Old Kings Highway North. The church was first built in 1744. The name of the church parish area was Middlesex. The first pastor was Dr. Moses Mather. He was a graduate of Yale Divinity School. He served as pastor for 62 years until his death in 1806.

Moses was the great great grandson of Rev. Richard Mather, who had immigrated with his family to Massachusetts on the ship James in 1635. Included was his son Rev. Increase Mather, President of Harvard College from 1692 to 1701. Increase Mather was the father of Rev. Cotton Mather.

A great great grandson of Moses Mather was Stephen Mather, first director of the National Park Service. He lived in The Mather Homestead built in 1778 by Joseph Mather, son of Moses Mather, 2.3 miles north of the Congregational Church.

Colles Map 4c - Mile Markers 48 to 45 - North: 45° left

The remaining portion of Middlesex can be seen on the portion of the Colles Map 4b shown below. The main road is the Post Road. Along the road is shown the Noroton River Settlement, which extended from mile marker 44 to a little past mile marker 45 on Map 4c above. U is Gardiner Street. T is Hollow Tree Ridge Road. The horseshoe is a blacksmith shop. 44 is miles from Federal Hall in New York City. Roton River is the Noroton River.

Mile Markers. Miles are marked on the atlas with dots and mile number. They were measured with a perambulator. The miles from New York City to Stratford, Connecticut, are measured from the tip of Manhattan, just south of Federal Hall on Wall Street. The mile markers in Middlesex are:

• 48 - at the Five Mile River and the Grist Mill (Red Mill)
• 47 - between the Congregational Church and the Goodwives River
• 46 - between Leroy Avenue and Goodwives River Road
• 45 - at Noroton Avenue (Battle of Post Road/Nearwater Farm)
• 44 - at the Roton (Noroton) River (Noroton River Cemetery)

Mile Marker 46. There is an old stone marker on now Old Kings Highway South that says that it is 17 miles from Fairfield. It is located at the point where Goodwives River Road branches off. The 17 miles agrees with the 1789 Colles atlas. Map 4, page 7, of the Colles atlas says that the point where the Goodwives Road branches off is 46 miles from Federal Hall. Map 6, page 9, says that the Fairfield is 63 miles from Federal Hall. The difference is 17 miles, same as the distance shown on the mile marker at Goodwives River Road. Perhaps they used the Colles atlas to make the marker. Perhaps the marker goes back to 1789. Darien is in Fairfield County. The town of Fairfield was the county seat of Fairfield County from 1666 to 1853.

Stone marker on Old Kings Highway South in Darien where Goodwives River Road branches off that says that it is "17 miles from Fairfield." The Colles Map 6 says Fairfield is 63 miles from Federal Hall. The difference between 63 and 46 on the Colles maps is 17. Photo by James Biggins.

Next to the stone mile marker to the left is an historical marker that says "George Washington passed this spot on his way to Boston: February 1756, June 1775, October 1789. Erected in his memory by the civic, patriotic and fraternal organizations of Darien, November 11, 1932."

Surnames. Surnames included are:

(a) Bates at mile 47.4 is the Jonathan Bates House, built in 1705, and still there at 150 Old Kings Highway North.
(b) Scofield at mile 47 is the Bates-Scofield House, built in 1736, and still there at 45 Old Kings Highway North. This building houses the Museum of Darien (formerly the Darien Historical Society).

Street Names. The Colles maps do not give street names. The present-day names for the main road in Middlesex Parish on Maps 4c and 4b are:

• Flax Hill Road - mile 48.7 to mile 48
• Old Kings Highway North - mile 48 to mile 46.4
• Old Kings Highway South - mile 46.4 to mile 45.3
• Post Road - mile 45.3 to mile 44

The present-day names for the roads heading north of the main road in Middlesex are designated alphabetically on Colles maps 4c and 4b:

• Keeler Avenue - B
• Richards Avenue - A
• Brookside Road - Z (extends from the Congregational Church Meeting House to the Mather Homestead)
• Sedgewick Avenue - Y
• Leroy Avenue - X
• Noroton Avenue - W (Battle of Post Road/Nearwater Farm)
• Gardiner Street - U
• Hollow Tree Ridge Road - T (Pond-Weed House)

The present-day names for the roads heading south of the main road are:

• Rowayton Avenue - mile 48.2
• Raymond Street - mile 47.8
• Locust Hill Road - mile 46.6
• Goodwives River Road - mile 45.7 - to Clock's Landing (Rings End Landing) and Long Neck

Businesses. There are three businesses shown on the main road in Middlesex Parish on Map 4c:

• Grist mill (*) at the Five Mile River - mile 48. Red Mill built by John Reed (1633-1730), a Puritan who fled England in 1660 when the monarchy was restored under Charles II. He had served as a Captain in the army of the Commonwealth after the fall of Charles I. He lived in Rhode Island and New York, then settled in the Connecticut Colony in 1684
• Blacksmith (horseshoe) - mile 46.1
• Young's Tavern (tavern sign) - mile 45.2

Present-day Houses. There are eight houses existing today that were built between 1696 and 1812 on what the main road in Middlesex Parish on Maps 4c and 4b. Their address number, year built, and name are:

• Flax Hill Road
  • 498: 1742 - Kings Way
  • 521: 1812 - unnamed
  • 537: 1790 - John Reed House
• Old Kings Highway North
  • 150: 1705 - Jonathan Bates House
  • 70: 1730 - Ferguson House
  • 45: 1736 - Bates-Scofield House
• Old Kings Highway South
  • 64: 1715 - Quintard-Frost House
• Post Road
  • 2581: 1696 - Pond-Weed House

Rivers. Rivers are marked by squiggly arrows:

• Keelers Brook - mile 48.7
• Five Mile River - mile 48
• Goodwives River - mile 47
• River that flowed from Tilley Pond - mile 46.6
• Stony Brook - mile 45.4
• Roton (Noroton) River - mile 44 (Noroton River Cemetery)

Colles Burial. Christopher Colles died in 1816 and was buried at St. Paul's Chapel and Churchyard, at mile marker 0.4 on Map 1a in New York City. This was the first map in his 1789 atlas. His burial is on Find a Grave.

In This Issue

New Netherland Settlers Initiative

Source: New Netherland Settlers Initiative

Area claimed by the Dutch in North America. Source: New Netherland

The New Netherland Settlers Initiative is a multiyear project to develop detailed, peer-reviewed sketches of all the people residing in New Netherland prior to 1664. Launched in 2024, this first-of-its-kind initiative combines new research and existing scholarship to provide a comprehensive, reputable, scholarly source for many generations of New Netherland families. The New York Genealogical and Biographical Society has launched the New Netherland Settlers Initiative and is grateful to the Society of Daughters of Holland Dames for its generous funding.

A vast and dynamic colony, New Netherland encompassed parts of the present-day states of Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, and New York.

Under this initiative, the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society (NYG&B) is continuously researching, compiling, and publishing this monumental project with the aim of documenting all people who resided within the boundaries the colony.

• Key team members, including researchers, editors, subject experts, and others, have initiated the project, and we continue to seek additional expert partners to ensure the project's long-term success.
• A list of known residents to be included for sketches is in development and will be made public in fall 2025. This list will be continuously curated, working with an objective of inclusion and the broadest definition of New Netherland as possible.
• Sketches are strategically chosen to represent different aspects of the project and include (1) well-documented individuals (with and without known overseas origins) and (2) those for whom little (or no) documentation currently exists. Learn more about components included for each sketch, as applicable.
• The first set of complete sketches was released online in July 2025 in an interactive, interlinked format, with ongoing releases of complete sketches to follow. Over time, publication volumes comprising numerous sketches will be published as printed volumes.

Do you have a New Netherland ancestor that should be included or other information to contribute to the initiative? Email development@nygbs.org with the subject line "NNS Information," and they will follow up with you.

In This Issue

NYG&B New York State Family History Conference

Source: Echoes of New York

The New York Genealogical and Biographical Society (NYG&B) is presenting a statewide New York family history conference:

• September 3–November 16, 2025 (On-Demand Access)
• September 19–20, 2025 (Livestreamed Programs from Kingston, NY)

From the essentials needed for navigating New York research to understanding immigration and migration patterns to accessing the myriad records for tracing ancestors, the conference offers a rich array of sessions to help participants hone their skills. The livestreamed portion of the conference will be held on Friday, September 19 and Saturday, September 20, 2025, at the Old Dutch Church in Kingston (272 Wall Street, Kingston, NY 12401). Special activities for in-person registrants will be held on September 18 and September 19 in Kingston.

What to Expect

• More than 20 of the top voices and experts in the genealogy field will lead sessions and answer your questions, including Skip Duett, Annette Burke Lyttle, Pam Ricciardi Paschke, D. Joshua Taylor, Jane E. Wilcox, and more.
• More than 35 sessions and events (13 in person/livestreamed and 23 on demand), all for less than $10 a session.
• A rich array of programming—whether it’s mastering the basics or refining research to break through brick walls—on a variety of topics like accessing arrival, court, marriage, military, and probate records; using DNA tools; exploring connections between different states; finding maiden names; and much more.
• Networking and learning opportunities with the wider genealogy and family history community.

In This Issue

National Genealogical Society Delegate Council Update

By Sara Zagrodzky

In 2020, the National Genealogical Society (NGS) merged with the Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS), uniting the community under one national conference and one organization dedicated to supporting the growth and educational needs of genealogists and member societies.

This past winter and spring, the NGS Delegate Council undertook a five-year review to evaluate how this new structure has been working and how it might be improved.

Delegate Council Leadership

The Delegate Council Steering Committee (DCSC) provides leadership on a global level. Members serve four-year terms—two years as vice chair, followed by two years as chair. For 2024–2025, Matt Weismantel serves as Chair, and elections for the coming year will take place in August.

The goal of the DCSC is to enhance effectiveness, increase participation, and better serve delegates and member organizations while reaffirming the Delegate Council’s purpose:

“Building the Community of Genealogy Organizations through Collaboration, Communication, and Counsel.”

The Council serves as an advisory body, giving member organizations both representation and a voice. The DCSC provides advice and guidance and is often tasked with projects related to Delegate Council governance and activities on behalf of NGS.

Committees and Task Forces

Several committees and task forces are active this year, each focused on strengthening resources and connections within the genealogy community:

1. Organizational Resources and Guides Subcommittee – Reviewing legacy FGS strategy papers for relevance, updating where needed, and archiving older materials. New topics under consideration include disaster management and effective use of social media. Final papers will be published on the NGS website as Info & Answers resources.
2. Assessment Subcommittee – Evaluating how effectively the Delegate Council is meeting its goals.
3. Communication Subcommittee – Supporting clear and consistent outreach across the community.
4. Organizational Engagement Task Force – Working regionally to support and engage local societies and libraries.
5. Excellence Task Force – Developing a program to recognize excellence within genealogy organizations.

Partnerships and Upcoming Events

NGS continues to build meaningful partnerships, including with WETA, the PBS affiliate that produces Finding Your Roots. The collaboration encourages PBS stations and genealogy organizations to host community events and engagement around the series.

MGS Involvement in NGS

I joined the Delegate Council in May as a delegate, and Steve Flynn has joined as an administrator representing MGS. If you are interested in getting involved with NGS or volunteering alongside us, please don’t hesitate to reach out by email—we’d love to have more members of our community participate.

In This Issue