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The Schedule

8:00 am: Registration

9:00 am: Welcome for all attendees in auditorium

9:30 am: The Boundary Dispute between Maryland and Delaware - Russ McCabe

(Dual Sessions for
the rest of the day)

10:45 am:

Orphans Court Records in Maryland and Delaware - Sarah Deakyne Burke and Margaret Deakyne Mealy

The Value of Military Records to the Genealogist - Rebecca Koford

11:45 am: Lunch

1:00 pm:

Getting the Most from Land Records - Robert E. Jarell


Church Records of the Delmarva - F. Edward Wright

2:15:

Finding the Skeletons - Robert Barnes

One-on-One Research Consultations - Henry C. Peden, Jr.

3:30 pm:

Finding Female Ancestors - Rebecca Whitman Koford

Church Records of the Delmarva (reprise) - F. Edward Wright

 

The Speakers

C. Russell McCabe was appointed Director of the Delaware Public Archives after a long career with the agency. He was instrumental in drafting legislation creating the state's first comprehensive public records law in 1988. He has been actively involved in numerous local and statwide preservation groups and historical societies.

Sarah Deakyne Burke and Margaret Deakyne Mealy are the authors of a series of books on the orphans court records of New Castle County, Delaware. For the past 30 years they have undertaken extensive research on the Deakyne and related families.

Rebecca Koford has been researching her own ancestors for about 15 years and working professionally for clients for the last seven. Rebecca is a genealogy course instructor at Howard Community College, lectures locally, and is a former assistant director of the Columbia Maryland Family History Center.

Robert E. Jarrell has been a practicing attorney for 35 years, concentrating in probate and real estate law. Long interested in genealogy, he published his findings on the Jarrell family in 1982. His current research focuses on the 17th and 18th centuries in Talbot County, Maryland and Kent County, Delaware.

F. Edward Wright, founder and president of genealogical publishing company Colonial Roots. Ed has written and edited an extensive list of publications on Delaware and Maryland genealogical topics. Ed's company publishes material primarily for the MidAtlantic researcher. Ed has previously served as president for the Prince George's Genealogical Society and the Upper Shore Genealogical Society.

Robert Barnes has written extensively on Maryland genealogical topics. Bob has taught adult education courses in genealogical research and lectured at many genealogical events in Maryland, Pennsylvania and nationally. He works part-time at the Maryland State Archives and is on the editorial staff of the Maryland Historical Magazine.

Henry C. Peden Jr. specializes in research on colonial Maryland families and has compiled over 115 genealogical publications to aid Maryland researchers. His revised edition of "A Guide to Genealogical Research in Maryland" was published by the Maryland historical society in 2001. Hank has held numerous offices in local lineage and genealogical societies.

 

 

Lodging and
Restaurants

Dining

Other Area
Attractions

 

 

 

Updated June 27th, 2009

Location: Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland

Cost: $35.00 for members of the Maryland or Delaware Genealogical Societes; $40.00 for non-members; Presregistration Deadline: September 26th; Walk-ins $45.00. Registration does not include lunch.

Date: Saturday October 17, 2009

Your Hosts: Co-sponsored by the Maryland Genealogical Society and the Delaware Genealogical Society.

Start Time: Registration is from 8:00 to 9:00 AM. Arrive early and browse the exhibits.

The Program

Our program is primarily directed to research of Delmarva families. Russell McCabe will discuss the effect on the records as the perceived boundary between Maryland and Delaware changed. Later in the session we will discuss the land records and the necessity of checking records on both sides of the DE/MD line. As land records (deed books, patents, etc.) are continually overlooked by beginners and, to some degree, by experienced genealogists, we will have a session on land record use and interpretation. Examples will be taken from the records of Delaware and Eastern Shore of Maryland.

Perhaps just as important in Delaware research is an exposure to the Orphans' Court. Our guest lecturers, using New Castle Orphans' Court as an example, will discuss how one is able to find marriages of the children and the widow, determination of ages, the relative wealth of the decedent's family and much more. Likewise Maryland Orphans Court proceedings can be helpful, although generally less detailed. A few examples of Maryland Orphans' Court records will be discussed.

A major religious group on the Delmarva was the Society of Friends (Quakers). Our speaker will describe the Monthly Meetings of the Delmarva and the approach in deriving maximum use of their records. The speaker will cover the impact of the Anglican Church, being "The Church" in the Eastern Shore of Maryland and the location of their records in Maryland and Delaware.

Rarely covered in genealogical circles are Family Skeletons. In his examples the speaker will refer to coroner inquests in Queen Anne's County, and Judgment records in Dorchester, Talbot and Queen Anne's counties and other sources which reveal illegitimate children, felonies, and general naughtiness.

One of the most difficult aspects of genealogical research is following the feminine line. This lecture will cover sources, techniques and terms.

The session is rounded out with a look at military records and their use in genealogy.

Each talk will highlight location and interpretation of the records and publications (good and bad) available.

For attendees with specific questions, noted author and genealogist Henry C. Peden, Jr. (aka Hank) will be available for consulation throughout the day to offer advice and suggestions (at no additional charge).

Lastly, each registrant is encouraged to email us a list of up to five surnames by county or region (and timeframe if applicable) when they register. You will be matched with others researching the same family.

In Addition to the Lectures

Individual Consultations. Noted author, genealogist and speaker, Hank Peden will be available for research consultations during the 2nd afternoon session.

CD Demonstrations. Colonial Roots will provide ongoing demonstrations of some of the Genealogical CDs available for purchase.

Genealogical Resources. There will be vendors at the seminar. If there are any specific products you would like them to bring for you to examine, please let us know.

Speakers


Sally Deakyne Burke and Peggy Deakyne Mealy, authors of the New Castle County Orphans Court Records series will speak on Orphans Court Records in Maryland and Delaware


Bob Barnes


Rebecca Whitman Koford


Ed Wright


Henry C. (Hank) Peden, Jr.