Ancestry.com Helps Connect Americans to Jamestown’s 400th With Free Genealogy Assistance for Anniversary Weekend Visitors

Jamestown_Godspeed_Ruby-Modified4.jpgDo You Have a Jamestown Connection? Free Online Access, Staff Assistance Available at May 11-13 Event Might Provide Surprising Answers

WILLIAMSBURG, VA — (MARKET WIRE) — April 11, 2007 — Visitors to America’s Anniversary Weekend will find dozens of compelling attractions and entertainment options, among them free assistance in tracing their families’ journey through 400 years of the nation’s history.

Ancestry.com, the world’s largest online resource for family history, will help visitors explore their family trees by offering free computer access to its site as well as staff guidance on research techniques. Ancestry.com recently provided research that helped the Rev. Al Sharpton trace his family to a plantation in Edgefield, S.C.

Many may find surprising links to Jamestown, which served not only as the place where English settlers first established a permanent presence in America, but is also the place where Indian, European and African cultures converged.

Ancestry.com will have a booth and a bank of computers with Internet access to Ancestry.com in Anniversary Park’s “Democracy Village.” Its resources will help visitors research family roots of many origins.

“The events of America’s 400th Anniversary are re-connecting people of many cultures to the nation’s earliest days, and that connection becomes very real when people find ancestors who were part of the Jamestown story,” said Jeanne Zeidler, Executive Director of Jamestown 2007. “We are pleased Ancestry.com will help be on hand to help guests better understand American history as they explore their family histories.”

“Ancestry.com helps people discover inspiring stories and amazing people who paved the way for a better, more diverse America,” said Megan Smolenyak, Chief Family Historian for Ancestry.com. “Jamestown is key point in that story for many, many Americans, and we’re pleased be part of this landmark American moment.”

Single-day, date-specific tickets to Anniversary Weekend provide visitors with access to the entertainment and programming at Historic Jamestowne, Jamestown Settlement and Anniversary Park. Guests may purchase tickets at $30 for adult and $15 for children 6-12. Children younger than six-years-old receive free admission. Tickets are being limited to 30,000 per day to ensure guests enjoy a comfortable visit.

Anniversary Weekend tickets and accommodations are available through Colonial Williamsburg, the official hotels of the commemoration, and may be reserved by phone at (866) 400-1607 or through www.Americas400thAnniversary.com. The call center is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Callers outside of regular operating hours will be prompted to leave a message, which will be returned the next day.

About Ancestry.com
With 24,000 searchable databases and titles, Ancestry.com is the No. 1 online source for family history information. Since its launch in 1997, Ancestry.com has been the premier resource for family history, simplifying genealogical research for millions of people by providing them with many easy-to-use tools and resources to build their own unique family trees. Ancestry.com is part of The Generations Network, Inc, a leading network of family-focused interactive properties, including MyFamily.com, Rootsweb.com, Genealogy.com, and Family Tree Maker. In total, The Generations Network properties receive 9.6 million unique visitors worldwide and over 380 million page views a month (© comScore Media Metrix, February, 2007).

Jamestown 2007, a sub-agency of the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, is coordinating efforts to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Jamestown, Va., the first permanent English settlement in the Americas. The nation’s first representative government, free enterprise system and culturally diverse society began at Jamestown. State, national, and international commemorative events to salute these legacies began in May 2006 and continue into 2008. Major corporate sponsors of America’s 400th Anniversary include Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC), Verizon (NYSE: VZ) and The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. Other supporters include Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc. (NYSE: BUD), AirTran Airways (NYSE: AAI), Consol Energy and CNX Gas Corporation, Dominion, James City County, Lockheed-Martin, McGuireWood LLP, Philip Morris USA, SunTrust, TowneBank and Wolseley PLC/Ferguson Enterprises, Inc. Contributors include the City of Poquoson and Rutherfoord Insurance. More information about the commemoration is available at www.Americas400thAnniversary.com.

Contact:
Kevin Crossett
Jamestown 2007
(757) 253-4534
Email Contact

Julia Burgon for Ancestry.com
(212) 221-1616, ext. 124
Email Contact

 

3 thoughts on “Ancestry.com Helps Connect Americans to Jamestown’s 400th With Free Genealogy Assistance for Anniversary Weekend Visitors

  1. Thank you for your email update on the Jamestown 400th anniversary. I will be attending the National Genealogical Society’s conference in Richmond from May 13-19. I will visit Jamestown on May 20. My immigrant ancestor Robert Edwards
    (ca 1615 – ca 1677)came to Jamestown about 1634 from England or Wales. He settled in Isle of Wight County, Virginia.
    I am among many northern Californians who descend from Jamestown families.
    Sincerely,
    Donald Nelson Edwards
    Lakeport, California

  2. The origin of the Scottish Surname BARR
    Like its Irish counterpart the Scottish surname Barr also came from a monk (Saint in the Celtic world of old). The Scottish monk was Barr-Fhionn, great grandson of King Neill of the Nine Hostages. St Barr evangelized along the river Stinchar in present day Carrick, South Ayrshire around 600 A.D. The original cell name Barr-Fhionn was shortened to Barr sometime after the Reformation. People who left the area were first identified as de Barr, the de was dropped in the late 1300’s.
    The research/report can be seen in the 2008 Winter issue of CELTIC HERITAGE magazine Halifax, NS

  3. Looking for my connection to Jamestown through my Ancestors Joseph Martin & Sussannah Chiles of Augusta Va.any information you may have could fill in the Blanks for me and my Family thanks so much [email protected]

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