How many US states and Canadian provinces are associated with your family history? The question was asked as a survey sent this week from the New England Historic Genealogical Society. It's an interesting question if your ancestors, like mine, have lived for many generations in North America and have migrated from place to place. I was surprised at the number of states where my ancestors were born, lived and/or died.
So I invite you to grab a map and your pedigree chart and follow the trails of your various ancestral branches. The NEHGS was specific in their survey about not counting cousin locations and not counting short stays, but rather having a real ancestral connection to a place. But your curiosity can take you wherever you like.
My total was 25 states, plus unexpected burials in a 26th state and in Mexico. Those burials are quite a permanent connection, but not exactly a family association. For several end of line ancestors, I know a state of birth or of residence, but nothing about their ancestors who lived and perhaps died in those states.
NEHGS, with their focus on New England, asked about Canadian provinces, but not Mexican states. That is an unfortunate omission, as the US truly is a melting pot. My grandchildren would add locations in New England, Canada and Mexico to their maps.
I hope you are inspired to map your ancestral history -- here's mine.
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