 May Happenings 2026 National Military Appreciation Month  American 250 Patriot Celebration Our major fund-raising event of the year is coming up on June 9th! There are many different tasks that need to be done with varying degrees of time and/or money commitment involved.
For the next six weeks we are putting all our effort into selling tickets to this event and soliciting items for the auctions (i.e. live, silent, dessert), as well as themed baskets and/or items for a raffle.
We need everyone to become involved in helping to ensure our success. Please ask your family, friends and the businesses you frequent if they would be willing to buy a ticket and/or donate an item or a basket for the auctions. I hope you see the need and will get involved.
You can purchase tickets online using the QR code on the image above, in person at the library. Our librarians can also process ticket purchases over the phone. You will need to give them your credit card information and email address to complete the transaction. Purchase tickets early to to reserve a place for this event as the price for tickets will go up after May 24. All tickets must be pre-purchased and cannot be purchased at the door. If you want to sit with family or friends, please note their names when you purchase your ticket. You are the key to our success and the future of HQRL! Here’s How You Can Help Outreach Distributing Flyers and Posters Contacting potential donors Solicit local businesses for sponsorship opportunities Invitations to family and friends Donations Auction Items for live auction Baskets Theme basket for auction Items for theme baskets Gift Tickets Event Day Decorating Welcome table coverage Auction spotters Sell raffle tickets Setup and take down Upcoming Events Thursday, May 7 Beginning Your Family History 11:00 am to 12:00 pm Heritage Quest Research Library (Classroom & Zoom) This FREE class will be taught by our research librarians. Learn how the library can help you and how to start. Sign up in the HQRL Store so we know you are coming and we can send you handouts/or a zoom link.
Attend in-person at the HQRL classroom (limit of 8 persons), or via Zoom. A Zoom link will be sent to your email 1-2 days before the class along with any handouts. —– Wednesday May 20 HQRL Management Team Meeting HQRL Classroom 12 noon – 2 pm
Thursday, May 21 Unusual Places to Find Irish Births & Naturalizations in American Records 11:00 am to 12:00 pm Heritage Quest Research Library (Classroom & Zoom)
Debra M. Dudek explains how and where to widen your search for your Irish ancestors birth date, place of origin, and their American naturalization details from a variety of underutilized resources! In this lecture, you’ll learn how to utilize a combination of research methodologies and combine them with military rosters, sailing registers, professional registrations, and much more!
Register online using the HQRL Store link on the library website or in-person at the Library
Attend in-person at the HQRL classroom (limit of 8 persons), or via Zoom. A Zoom link will be sent to your email 1-2 days before the class along with any handouts.
Sunday May 24 America 250 Patriot Celebration early ticket sales ends. Tribute to Carmen If you haven’t met Carmen McIntyre yet, you as missing out. Carmen’s friendly, energetic enthusiasm, and marketing skills makes her an excellent Promotions Coordinator.
Carmen is also very talented in creating graphics for posters. flyers and handouts. She is quick to offer help to others learn new skills.
Working with her is a pleasurable and worthwhile experience.  Carmen McIntyre Promotions Coordinator Thank you Carmen for all you do and are! Tips to Trace Your Roots Through American Independence The Legacy Tree Genealogists Blog Legacy Tree Genealogists, Inc. Rachel Whiting, Genealogist
The American Revolutionary War (1775–1783) was a turning point in the lives of countless families across the United States, Canada, and further abroad. If you’ve ever wondered whether your ancestors were involved in the fight for (or against) American independence, Revolutionary War genealogy can be an exciting journey! Tracing your roots back to the American Revolution requires a bit of creativity and an understanding of what records are available (and where to find them). This blog offers several resources to help you discover if your lineage includes Patriots or Loyalists who fought in the American Revolution.
#1: Start With What You Know: Family Lore and Documents As with other genealogical journeys, it is important to begin with your immediate family knowledge. Does your family have an old family bible, letters, or military relics? Have you heard your grandparents talk about an ancestor who “fought in the war” or received land from a military grant?
Participants in the Revolutionary War were often young men, typically born between 1730 and 1760. Women also played a role in the conflict (often as nurses, spies, or supporters); however, their contributions may be harder to identify in the surviving documentary record.
Continue to trace your lineage backward through the 1790 United States Federal Census. Can you identify an ancestor who was of military age between 1775 and 1783?
#2: Where to Find Revolutionary War Records Once you have identified a potential ancestor, the next step is to dig into the records that can confirm their involvement in the Revolutionary War. A number of lineage societies and online databases provide access to documents from this period. These resources can help you verify and explore your connection to the American Revolution: · Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR): The DAR maintains the Genealogical Research System (GRS), which includes verified lineages of Revolutionary War patriots, along with documents supporting each claim. The GRS is searchable online and offers an excellent starting point for discovering whether your ancestor has already been documented. · Sons of the American Revolution (SAR): The SAR also collects lineage records and maintains the Patriot Research System (PRS), which includes service information, applications, and source documentation. This database is also searchable online. ·
National Archives (NARA): NARA houses comprehensive Revolutionary War records, including pension and bounty-land warrant applications, compiled military service records, and muster rolls. Many of these collections are also available online via FamilySearch and Fold3. · Museum of the American Revolution: The Museum of the American Revolution houses the Patriots of Color Archive (available for free via Ancestry), which documents African American and Native American soldiers who served with the Continental Army. · Library of Virginia: The Library of Virginia offers online access to land grant files, public claims, and county court records that document military service and civilian contributions to the war effort. Other state archives may also house unique collections related to their local militia and war efforts. When searching these online databases, be mindful of spelling variations. Names were often written phonetically. First names may be abbreviated (e.g., “Wm.” rather than “William”) or may be anglicized versions of foreign names. Boundaries and place names also changed during this era—use the FamilySearch Wiki to determine the establishment year for individual counties.
#3: Where to Find Loyalist Records Not all residents of the American colonies fought for independence. It is estimated that approximately one third of the population was loyal to the Crown, and thousands of these early American families relocated to Canada’s eastern provinces following the Revolutionary War. If you believe your ancestor supported the Crown during the American Revolution, these resources can help you verify and explore your Loyalist connection:
United Empire Loyalists’ Association of Canada (UELAC): UELAC is the leading organization dedicated to preserving the history and legacy of the Loyalists. They also maintain the Loyalist Directory, which includes biographical details, military service records, and settlement information for over 15,000 Loyalists in Canada.
Library and Archives Canada (LAC): LAC maintains several collections of primary documents related to Loyalist history, including land grant petitions, muster rolls, and military service records. Researchers can also access claims submitted by Loyalists for losses sustained during the American Revolution. Many of these records have been digitized and are freely accessible through the LAC website.
Ancestry: Several Loyalist collections are also available from Ancestry, including biographical sketches for early settlers, regimental service records for the British Army, and other documents pertaining to Loyalists who fled to England. Many of these collections are also freely available via Family Search.
#4: Digging Deeper: Adding a Historical Context Military service records, pension files, or bounty land applications often list enlistment dates, unit designations, or even detailed accounts of service. If you are able to identify your ancestor’s regiment, you may be able to trace the unit’s movements using regimental histories, muster rolls, or regimental war diaries! By cross-referencing dates and locations with known Revolutionary War battles, you can piece together where your ancestor might have been during pivotal moments of the American Revolution. https://www.legacytree.com/blog/4-tips-to-trace-your-roots-through-american-independence?_gl=1*137fu55*_up*MQ..*_gs*MQ..&gclid=CjwKCAjwqazPBhALEiwAOuXqdF-N-SuFrWcqifj5BmQ2hWjAPHfyr6ry0E9lxEKhweabl9tI_S15YRoCiVUQAvD_BwE&gbraid=0AAAAADimC595rHGw4VALgWZ40lDqXJVOa  |
PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS through May 24th! SCAN THE QR CODE or 
As we celebrate the history of our great country and help raise critical funds for the library, come meet Vern Frykholm portraying George Washington who served as the Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), leading the colonies to independence from Great Britain. You don’t want to miss it! We look forward to seeing you there! 
Our ancestors didn’t live in a void. Events and people in their communities, region, and world affected their decisions and other factors in their lives. We can learn much more about our families when we research their friends, neighbors, and associates and learn about the history and geography of the places they lived, including neighboring jurisdictions. This lecture will introduce the concept of cluster research and explore resources to help you better understand the jurisdictions and history of the areas in which your ancestor lived.