Ford's Colony HOA at Williamsburg. A residential community in Williamsburg, Virginia

The Ford’s Colony Genealogy began in February 2011 and offers its members an opportunity to search their family histories. The club meets the third Thursday of the month from 7 to 9 p.m., except for the months of July and August. It conducts classes for beginners; provides its members with reviews of various software programs; conducts exercises in utilizing the internet; offers discussions and analysis of problems that arise in searching histories; and invites guest speakers to its meetings. For additional information contact the club representative listed under the Activities Committee section in Talk of the Colony.

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Genealogy Board

Joe Sell, Co-President	Beth Hanson, Co-President	Craig Smith, Treasurer	Carl Bass, Secretary

Jennifer Romano, Communications Coordinator	Tommy Michaels, Technical Coordinator	Charlie Ohlinger, Membership Coordinator	David Kleppinger

Meeting Schedule

7 PM Third Thursday


January 15, 2026		"Maximizing Your DNA Results"

February 19, 2026		"European Ancestors" by Jim Dwyer

March 19, 2026		"Tidewater Genealogy Society" by Karen McPherson

April 16, 2026		"Understanding 'Full Text Search' by Lise Embley

May 21, 2026		"Williamsburg Area Genealogy Society" by Debbie Misiag

June 18, 2026		"Pope Leo's Genealogy" by Joe Sell

July/August 2026		No Meetings

Sept 2026		TBA

October 2026		TBA

November 2026		TBA

December 2026		No Meeting

Ancestry.com Users Group

This group meets in the Swim and Tennis Club at 10 a.m. on the same Thursday of the Genealogy Club meeting.

Club Members

Resources

Presentations

November 20, 2025 - A.I. Genealogy Research
November 2025 - "A.I. Basics"
September 19, 2024 - "When Worlds Collide - Resolving Conflicting Evidence", by Judy Russell, JD, CG, CGL
May 16, 2024, - "Finding Your Immigrant Ancestors through Ship records" by Jennifer Anielski, Mariner’s Museum’s librarian.
March 21, 2024 - "Church Records" by Joe Sell
February 15, 2024 - “Family Search and Family History Center"
November 16, 2023 - "Introduction to the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library"
September 21, 2023 - "NARA Mythbusters"
April 20, 2023 – "Resources at the Library of Virginia"
January 19, 2023 – "Intro to DNA for Genealogy" by Joe Sell
Nov. 17, 2022 – "SWEM Library and the Treasures of Special Collections" by Jay Gaidmore, Marian and Alan McLeod Director of Special Collections
October 20, 2022 “Researching Your Quaker Ancestors”
September 15, 2022 - “Getting Started or Re-Started in Genealogy”
March 17, 2022 – "1950 U. S. Census"
January 20, 2022 - "Excel for Genealogy"
June 17, 2021 - “Introduction to Lineage Societies”
April 15, 2021 - "Breaking Down Brickwalls"
- Sample Timeline
- Sample Family Page
October 15, 2020 – "Manifest Destiny – Migration and History that fueled the growth of the United State"
September 17,2020 - "Discovering Mary Jones' Parents through DNA"
May 16, 2019 – "Getting the Most Out of FamilySearch.org" by Amanda Jensen
September 21, 2017 - "Gene alogical Proof Standards"
November 17, 2016 - "Introduction to German Genealogy"
January 21, 2016 - "Tips You Can Use"
June 18, 2015 - "Uses of Genealogy Software"
May 21, 2015 - "Preservation Resources"
May 21, 2015 - "Preserving Your Family Papers, Scrapbooks, Photographs, Books, and Digital Files"
April 16, 2015 - "Maps for Genealogy Research at The Library of Virginia"
September 20, 2012 - "Google Search Tips for Genealogists"
January 19, 2012 - "Repositories of Family History Information" by Cliff Nielsen
September 15, 2011 - "Finding the Dead" by Joe Sell