American Colonial Ancestors

Gen Tales is a series dedicated to stories and discoveries from my genealogical research. Some are excerpted from my book, “My Lineage…

Protestant versus Catholic in Colonial Massachusetts

Mason was a founder of Windsor and Norwich, Connecticut, and a leader in the Pequot War whose statue is controversial today.

Descendants of William Arnold, great-grandfather of Benedict Arnold

Lawyer, loyalist, and Canadian politician

Way back in my family tree is Mary (Carder) Rhodes, who was born in Rhode Island in 1653 to Richard Carder and his second wife Mary…

My ancestors’ roles in trade and colonization

A case study in carefully navigating family stories and anecdotal evidence