The April–June 2025 issue of NGS Magazine, Volume 51, No. 2, is being printed and is now available https://www.ngsgenealogy.org/magazine/ in the Members Only section of the website.
In commemoration of the beginning of the American Revolutionary War in April 1775, this issue features records documenting the experiences of ordinary people involved in the cause for independence.
Lauren Gray and Elaine Heavey set the stage by discussing the pivotal events of 1775 that caused protests and boycotts to erupt into full-fledged war: Lexington, Concord, the British retreat, the Siege of Boston, Bunker Hill. The authors outline numerous sources for researching individual participants.
Throughout the war, and afterward, Americans appealed to the Continental and Confederation Congresses for a variety of reasons. John Deeben examines genealogical uses of Papers of the Continental Congress and describes methods for accessing them.
Sailors captured by the British were treated not as prisoners of war but as criminals participating in rebellion. Bryna O’Sullivan investigates the conditions and records of American seamen in prison ships in British-controlled ports and in English prisons.
Oaths of allegiance were required during the Revolution as a test of loyalty for public and military service and gradually expanded to most free men, with steep penalties for refusal. Reference Desk columnist Kathy Petlewski explores the history and availability of Revolutionary oaths of allegiance and lists of oath-takers.
The National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR), headquartered in Louisville, is the local host for the NGS Family History Conference in May. Walker Byer provides an overview of the SAR Genealogical Research Library’s onsite collections and online Patriot Research System.
Many other libraries with genealogical resources are located in Kentucky. Cheri Daniels highlights these repositories by region and summarizes Kentucky’s role in migration. Continuing a study of Ohio’s unusual land records, Liz Stratton concludes profiles of the state’s major subdivisions, lists available records, and presents a detailed research strategy.
The Society Forum columnist, Karen Molohon, reviews the NGS Delegate Council’s functions and achievements and shows how participating as an NGS organization member helps strengthen the genealogy community. In GenTech Solutions, Robert Raymond demonstrates step by step how to use Word software to accurately transcribe special aspects of manuscripts, such as archaic letters and abbreviation formats. For DNA Discovery, Paul Woodbury explains the benefits of considering amounts of DNA shared between genetic cousins of a tester and compares methods at four DNA testing companies.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Features
Birth of the Revolution: Rediscovering the People and Events of 1775
Lauren Gray and Elaine Heavey
Using the Papers of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789, for Family Research
John Deeben
The Jersey and Old Mill: American Maritime Prisoners During the Revolution
Bryna O’Sullivan
Finding Patriots at the SAR Genealogical Research Library
Walker Byer
Ancestral Clues in Ohio’s Unique Land Records: Part 2
Liz Stratton
Departments
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
David Rencher, AG, CG, FUGA, FIGRS, FNGS
EDITOR’S NOTE
Deb Cyprych
NGS NEWS
Road Trip: Top Repositories for Kentucky Roots
Cheri Daniels
REFERENCE DESK
Friends or Enemies: Oaths of Allegiance During the American Revolution
Kathy Petlewski
DNA DISCOVERY
Shared DNA Between Shared Matches
Paul Woodbury, AG
SOCIETY FORUM
NGS and Organizational Members: Strengthening the Genealogy Community
Karen Molohon
GENTECH SOLUTIONS
The Power of Word: Special Characters
Robert Raymond
NGS Magazine is published quarterly to update members of the National Genealogical Society on NGS activities and to provide genealogists with special information and guidance on conducting effective genealogical research. The magazine is sent to libraries by subscription. Online access to NGS Magazine is available as long as membership is active. An index to the titles and authors of articles in issues from 2005 to 2024 is available https://www.ngsgenealogy.org/magazine/.
