Frost Genealogical Records
Hanover And Vicinity Genealogical Research
Compiled by Dr. Gilman Frost.
The Frost Genealogical Records, containing information primarily on Hanover families ca. 1700 - 1930, are the result of a lifetime of local genealogical research conducted by Dr. Gilman Frost. Dr. Frost transcribed information from tombstones in Hanover cemeteries (and in many neighboring towns, including Enfield and Lyme); listed all the births and deaths recorded in the town's official records; examined census records (names, relationships, and occupations); searched church records, land records, family Bibles, and old newspapers; and referred to published town histories and genealogies. In addition he conducted exhaustive interviews with local residents and corresponded with family members and other genealogists. Where there are conflicts between the dates and names documented by town records, gravestones, published sources, and oral tradition, Dr. Frost often noted the discrepancies. The result is an invaluable resource on the history of Hanover. While some of Dr. Frost's notes and correspondence are contained in the Records, the heart of his research is preserved on his genealogical index cards. The cards were transcribed from Frost's own handwriting onto typed cards during the 1930's with funding provided by the WPA. There is also a microfilm edition of the Frost Genealogical cards, which may be found in the microtext center: Microfilm/1969r.
The cards are arranged alphabetically by family. An individual's card usually contains the names of parents, spouse(s), and children. Often the spouse's parents are listed as well as spouses of the children. Date and place of birth, death, and marriage are noted when known. Additional notes of interest, and sometimes source citations for the biographical data, are transcribed on the back of the card, being tied to the appropriate person or event by a series of symbols.
The call number for Gilman Frost's Genealogical Records, 2.5 linear feet of research notes and correspondence from 1926-1942, is DH-15. The Hanover genealogy cards comprise boxes 7-14 of this collection.
Front of Card
Information on the front of the cards may include:
• Full name; birth, marriage, and death dates; parents, and their dates
• Spouse, and spouse's dates and parents
• Children, their dates and spouses
• Symbols to notes on back of card
Back of Card
Notes on the back of the card often give further and more detailed information on family members, cite sources for data on the front of the card, and indicate discrepancies between various sources of data.
A PDF version of this guide is available here.