Salem Ancestry Days To Return To Witch City For 2023

SALEM, MA — Salem Ancestry Days — the annual celebration of family connections spanning the nearly-400-year-old history of the Witch City — is returning next month for four days of lectures, tours and information opportunities.

The annual event will begin on April 21 and run through April 24 with the Salem Ancestry Days Exhibitor Fair taking place on April 22 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and April 23 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the First Church of Salem on Essex Street.

"Salem Ancestry Days provides an opportunity to connect with the history of Salem through
family stories," Destination Salem Executive Director Kate Fox said. "Salem has excellent research resources, including archives, libraries, and the Registry of Deeds, and Salem Ancestry Days is a good way to begin or expand on research."

The First Church will display Salem's holy history with guided tours throughout the
weekend. St. Peter's Church will also offer guided tours throughout the weekend and will be ringing the bell in the church tower that has been there for 138 years.

There will be live music in English and Spanish as well.

There will also be an online chat from the American Ancestors New England Historical Genealogical Society available throughout the weekend, a program at the Salem Witch Museum looking at the misconceptions about the historic trials, and a walking tour dedicated to Salem Witch Trials ancestors and descendants hosted by Salem Historical Tours.

Historian Jim McAllister will lead a walking tour about Abolitionists & Anti-Slavery Activists
at Harmony Grove Cemetery on April 22 and The House of the Seven Gables is participating in the weekend with an event that focuses on The Life of Mary Kitchen Turner. the Gables' longest-living resident.

Also, that weekend will be the commemoration of the First Muster of the National Guard, which celebrates the Guard's history in the city with a session on Researching Military Records at the Salem Armory Visitor Center on April 22.

The April 23 events include the American Ancestors Historic Genealogical Society's Preservation Roadshow at the Phillips Library where experts will be on hand to consult with visitors on how to best preserve family photos, books and documents. This is a free program.

A full event listing is available here.

Salem Ancestry Days are presented by Destination Salem in collaboration with the Phillips
Library at the Peabody Essex Museum, Essex National Heritage Commission, American Ancestors by New England Historic Genealogical Society, and the city of Salem.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)