Pikes Peak Genealogical Society
Colorado Springs, El Paso County, Colorado
Pikes Peak Genealogical Society helps members and guests connect with their past and learn to do sound family history research by offering top-of-the-line monthly speakers, classes, on-demand genealogy webinars, and a DNA special interest group. We meet by Zoom so members don’t have to drive at night or in bad weather. Meetings are recorded for later viewing. As a result, we have members from throughout the country. Guests are welcome to visit.
We also plan events and meals together so we can socialize in person. At times, we index local records to make them available to genealogists worldwide. We focus on our own backyard—El Paso and Teller counties, Colorado—but we support genealogical research everywhere. PPGS members can be your boots on the ground for local research.
Thursday, November 5, Education Meeting
Prologue to Independence: The Start of the American Revolution
by John Putnam
1 p.m., MT, via Zoom
How and when did the American Revolution happen? In recent years, new historical research has continually evaluated this question. Although our earlier learning has simplified the causes into themes like no taxation without representation, the real reasons for independence are far more complex. As genealogists, we must understand the ten years leading to the outbreak of the war for independence at Lexington and Concord to grasp the incredible risks our ancestors took and the sacrifices they made to achieve independence.
This presentation explores the pivotal twelve-year period from the Treaty of Paris (1763), which ended the French & Indian War, to the first armed skirmishes at Lexington, Concord, and Bunker Hill. We will trace the gradual historical, geographical, social, and economic forces that eventually led to independence, helping participants understand the complex forces behind this formative event our ancestors faced.
This talk goes beyond the history books to focus on the records. We will discuss how to begin your revolutionary family history stories by determining what roles your ancestors may have played in the Prologue to Revolution.
Guests are welcome to attend the meeting. Please request an invitation from programs@ppgs.org. Members receive handouts, if provided, and have access to presentation recordings as permitted by the speaker.
Wednesday, November 11, Monthly Meeting
A Sentence of Transportation
by Judy G. Russell, CG, JD
7 p.m., via Zoom; socializing at 6:30 p.m., Mountain Time
The fact that England used transportation to get rid of those it didn't want is well known. What isn't as well understood is that most of the early transportees were sent to colonial America. Americans like to believe their bold ancestors sold themselves into service as indentured servants and won their freedom by hard work. Um, no… not exactly. Let’s look at the how and the why and, yes, the where of transportation from England.
The Legal Genealogist® Judy G. Russell is a genealogist with a law degree who writes and lectures on topics ranging from using court records in family history to understanding DNA testing. An internationally-known lecturer and award-winning writer, she holds credentials as a Certified Genealogist® and Certified Genealogical Lecturer℠ from the Board for Certification of Genealogists®. Her blog is at https://www.legalgenealogist.com.
Members: Zoom links and handouts will be emailed before the meeting. If you still need the monthly meeting link, log in and click on the Monthly Meeting Zoom Link, under Members Only.
Guests are welcome to attend the meeting. Please request an invitation from president@ppgs.org. Members receive handouts and have access to presentation recordings as permitted by the speaker.