FEBRUARY 2015 MAILINGS HAVE GONE OUT

Our February First Class mailing with the registration form for our March 14 program and meeting, information on how YOU can help at our booth in the NERGC Exhibit Hall April 16-18, and dues reminder (if applicable) went out last Thursday, February 5. The Winter 2015 (February) issue of the Newsletter was mailed today. It includes reminders about our March 14 meeting and the upcoming New England Regional Genealogical Conference, a genealogical article about the founders of the Loomis Chaffee School, and more. Not a member? E-mail dfaw1633@yahoo.com and ask for membership information.

HELP MAKE THE DFAW MEMBER-GET-A-MEMBER CAMPAIGN A SUCCESS

Back on October 1, 2014 we rolled out the Member-Get-A-Member Campaign. Many thanks to those of you who have referred new members, requested a packet to “gift” a membership to a family member, or offered to distribute and share information with others to help us meet our goal. The time is right. Interest in genealogy and access to information about lineage is at an all time high. And, the number of descendants of the Founders exponentially grows with each generation added. You are in a good position to help us spread the word about the benefits of DFAW! Who better to “grow” the organization than YOU who experience the benefits and have a stake in DFAW’s health and vitality. PLEASE FIND A WAY TO HELP MAKE THIS CAMPAIGN A SUCCESS WITH YOUR PARTICIPATION Request your Member-Get-A-Member-Campaign Packet today by Email: DFAW1633@yahoo.com

HOLD THE DATE -- SATURDAY, MARCH 14

Hold the date! This year's "Spring" Program and Luncheon will be held a week early -- on Saturday, March 14, 2015 -- at the East Granby Congregational Church. Our speaker will be Mel Smith from the History and Genealogy Unit of the Connecticut State Library, who will be giving a presentation on "Beyond the Barbour Collection, Finding Your Ancestors in Connecticut Governmental Documents!" Watch for registration information in the February Newsletter and First Class mailing.

DFAW IS PARTICIPATING IN NERGC 2015

Established in 1983, and now with over 650 active members nationwide, the Descendants of the Founders of Ancient Windsor is pleased to be part of the Thirteenth New England Regional Genealogical Conference. Attendees will not want to miss becoming familiar with this unusual society with roots in traditional lineage relationships but open to members regardless of their ability or interest in proving direct descendancy to one of Windsor’s Founders. The purpose of the Descendants of the Founders of Ancient Windsor is to record and preserve the history and genealogy of the founders of ancient Windsor, their families, and their descendants. Persons support that purpose by paying membership fees and dues as well as with their leadership and participation. Founders are individuals who appear on records pertaining to Windsor by the end of 1641. Over 130 such heads of households have been identified and are presented in our Founders List. Many persons with roots in Colonial times are descended from multiple families on our Founders List. However, although DFAW is a lineage association, documented descent from a Founder is not a pre-requisite for membership. Because DFAW wishes to gather and to verify as much genealogical data as possible, we request that members with bloodline descent from one or more Founders take a second step when their time and resources permit and fill out a Lineage Form complete with standard proofs of descent. After that line is verified by our genealogist, DFAW issues a Certificate of Lineage. Lineage Forms with instructions for documentation are available from the membership secretary (Pamela Roberts), returned for initial review to the Registrar (Olivia Patch) and sent on to the Genealogist (Edwin W. Strickland II) for full review. In our thirty-one years of existence, we have gathered much primary and published material on the Founding Families of Windsor. Our information is contained in a computerized database. Much of that database, as well as our library collection, is available during regular hours at the Windsor Historical Society in Windsor, Connecticut. For information about on line research requests go to http://windsorhistoricalsociety.org/research_requests.html We maintain contact with our members through two means: a quarterly newsletter and semi-annual meetings. Our 12-page newsletter is edited by the current DFAW President and NERGC 2015 Tri-Chair Richard Roberts and includes articles submitted by members on new genealogical findings, upcoming meetings, and other items of importance to Windsor descendants. Our Annual Meeting occurs on the Saturday closest to Windsor's birthday, September 26. Our Spring Luncheon usually occurs on the last Saturday of March but this year it will take place on March 14. Meetings feature a speaker, food, and the opportunity to share news with other Windsor

FALL PROGRAM SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27

Our Fall Program and Annual Meeting on Saturday, September 27 features two informative presentations: At 10:30 Dave Robison will present "Resources at the Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History and Archives." It will include a description of the immense collections contained there including family genealogies, 2.5 million pages of manuscripts, letters, photos, diaries, deeds, account books, land transfer documents, military records of the Revolutionary War and the Civil War, Springfield newspapers on microfilm to 1899, city directories from 1845 to 1988 (includes Springfield, Chicopee, Longmeadow and West Springfield), Sanborn Fire Insurance maps, and much, much more. Following a 12:00 luncheon catered by Kane's Market of Simsbury, at 1:00, in recognition of the 100th Anniversary of the Loomis Chaffee School, Karen Parsons will present "Fleshing Out the Lives of the Founders of the Loomis Chaffee School," describing new research on the five Windsor-born Loomis siblings who founded the Loomis Institute in 1874. This research, conducted in preparation for the Loomis Chaffee School’s centennial year, sheds light on their vision for the school as well as many other aspects of the siblings’ lives.

INTERESTED IN BECOMING A MEMBER?

DFAW welcomes descendants of Windsor’s Founders, spouses, other members of the extended family, and those interested in Windsor's families. For additional information and/or to receive a Membership Application, send an e-mail to dfaw1633@yahoo.com.

UPCOMING TOURS AND WALKS ALONG THE OLD CONNECTICUT PATH

Here are some upcoming events being led by Jason Newton, speaker at DFAW's Spring Luncheon: Natchaug Forest Hike June 7, 2014, 1:00-3:30 p.m., Ashford, Connecticut 2.5 mile hike sponsored by the Ashford Historical Society, Ashford Conservation Commission, Connecticut Forest & Park Association, and Old Connecticut Path. Meet at the intersection of Eastford and Ax Factory Roads (250 Eastford Rd.), Ashford. To register or for more information, e-mail oldconnecticutpath@gmail.com. Family Walk at Fliegel Farm & Langhammer Woods June 8, 2014, 1:00-3:00 p.m. Sponsored by the Ashford, CT Conservation Commission and Ashford Historical Society as part of Ashford’s 300th celebration. An easy two mile family walk. Park at Sean Patrick's plants, 34 East Howey Rd., Ashford. To register or for more information, e-mail oldconnecticutpath@gmail.com. Exploring the Old Connecticut Path August 11, 2014, 10:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Woodstock, Connecticut Sponsored by the New England Historic Genealogical Society, Woodstock Historical Society, & Historic New England. Lectures and presentations, followed by a walking tour of portions of the Path in Woodstock, Connecticut. Participants can learn more about the Path, the people who used it as they migrated through New England, and the efforts underway to preserve its history. Cost: $45/person. To register, see http://www.americanancestors.org/Event.aspx?id=30043.