Special Features
This section is reserved for special features
concerning the Thomas Hastings family, his descendants and related
surnames. We welcome submission of serious, well researched
articles that are likely to be of interest to TH descendants.
You may submit material for consideration to the webmaster address at
the bottom of this page.
Notable Kin:
Over hundreds of years in America, the Hastings have intermarried with
many great families (Bond, Cheney, Coolidge, Garfield, Rice, Sherman,
etc.) and together they have produced some of America's greatest sons
and daughters.
Some Who Served - Roll Call of Honor:
Hastings descendants have served in all pre and post colonial
conflicts that involved what was to become the United States.
The Ivy League Connection:
Centered in New England for the first three centuries, the Hastings
have sent many to the great Ivy League colleges.
Hastings Family - Geography and Mobility:
From earliest Watertown, the Hastings and related families have, at
first very slowly, begun to disperse along similar pathways.
These patterns contributed to a shared history and participation in
the great events of our nation. [Page in
Development]
A
Genealogical Travel Adventure: In June 2005, Scott
Billigmeier visited New England for his first extended exploration of
Hastings (and related family) sites ranging from Watertown to southern
Vermont. This illustrated trip recap covers the many interesting
finds that flowed from this trip.
The Lydia Nelson (Hastings) Buckminster letters:
In 1866, Mrs. Buckminster published her genealogy of the Thomas
Hastings family -- the first descendant to take up the challenge and
she did a most commendable job. The problems she encountered in
collecting and verifying the information will be familiar to any
genealogist today. When you add to this the lack of technology
in her day one can imagine what a truly difficult task she faced.
Mrs. Buckminster continued her genealogical research and efforts to
update and correct the book until her death several decades later.
These letters, all from early 1894, shed light on her challenges and
dedication. The original letters plus many others relevant to
the Hastings and Coolidge families were passed down through a
corollary line and were donated to the New England Historic
Genealogical Society shortly after we received these copies in March
2004. [Page in Development]
