In genealogy, a brick wall is an ancestor who seemingly refuses, despite repeated attempts, to reveal their origins. No matter how hard you try, you are unable to connect them to your family tree. They remain the stubborn puzzle piece who refuses to fit in. In this presentation we will survey the most common kinds of brick walls and learn some tricks for demolishing them. From immigrants to paupers, sojourners to pioneers, name shifters to hushed up family secrets, nearly every genealogist will come across these types.

About the presenter:

Robert Cameron Weir is a genealogical researcher, lecturer, and author who lives in Dover, New Hampshire. He specializes in hard problems related to New England genealogy, from 1620 to the present. He is a member of the Association for Professional Genealogy and is the Publications Director for the New Hampshire Society of Genealogists.

Register to attend this event virtually. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.

You are also welcome to join us in the Richardson Building to watch it with us! 

Donations to The Friends of the Thomas Crane Public Library make programs like this possible. Learn more!

The Genealogy Club is hosted by The Archives and Special Collections Department. Sessions are free and open to all, and may feature professional guest speakers, instructional, and various genealogical topics. It is not necessary to attend all sessions to participate.

This event was rescheduled from its original posting of December 2024. 

Contact qulocalhistory@ocln.org with any questions