This database, compiled by Alice Howe Palmer, was started over fifteen years ago when it became clear that such a single database which would only contain connected names could save tremendous amounts of time, effort and money for those searching for genealogy connections in the 1600+/- to 1700+/- time period. To be sure such a database would not be duplicating a similar effort, the compiler checked with one or two of the most respected genealogists in the country. Such a database had not been attempted before.
The initial effort was begun by filling out thousands of family group sheets, using as a basic reference James Savage's 1862, Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England in Four Volumes. More current and up-to date references of course are now used although this reference is still valuable.
Genealogy software programs were just beginning to become available which could make it possible to build such a database. Using one of these programs, the family group sheets were abandoned and entries entered directly into such a program. Within a few years new and more powerful genealogy software became available. They were capable of handling the needed interconnecting of thousands and thousands of entries, making the cross-connections necessary for such a database to be able to find possible new and unknown connections. These programs also provided improved ways of citing sources, so necessary to genealogy research. (It has been a long process to re-enter citations into the correct field since, originally, only a 'note' field was used for these entries.
The project was transferred into one of the most powerful of these programs, The Master Genealogist©. In the last two or three years it has been possible to spend full time on the project so that it now contains enough connected names to make it useful as a facilitating tool when searching for early New England connections. The effort is ongoing, a challenging puzzle with more and more pieces becoming connected.
As a test of what connections a researcher might uncover using this database I recently ran a kinship report for a friend who had connected with an ancestor back to the 1700s. We were quite surprised to find the report showing over 800 earlier connections, many of which she had not been aware. It is expected that other researchers will find additional connections of which they are unaware, facilitating connections with known later 1700s, 1800s and 1900s ancestors. Significant leads can come from investigating collateral lines.
Other softcover print publications by the compiler can be found in The Howe-Barnard Collection now located in THE NEWBERRY LIBRARY, Chicago, Illinois, USA. Currently they include the following:
A family genealogy of the compiler's own family is in progress. Alice Howe Palmer is a member of several genealogy and historical societies.
For further comment, inquiries, information about this project contact Alice Howe Palmer by: