Age Group:
AdultProgram Description
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Presented by the library’s Special Collections staff and members of the Ranger Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), these events are free, open to the public, and appropriate for all levels of interest and experience. All levels will learn something new!
Old Shoalers: Historical Records and Resources for the Isles of Shoals with Sam Collins
Although the Isles of Shoals are visible from the beaches of New Hampshire, researching ancestors who lived out there can sometimes feel as elusive as the fogbanks. The Isles of Shoals boasted a thriving settlement with international connections in the 1600s, yet were all but abandoned a century later before enough fishermen returned to form the town of Gosport. Gosport was itself an important part of the interconnected seacoast community. Its most prominent surnames - Caswell, Robinson, Downs, Randall, Berry - are also common in the vital records of Rye, Newcastle, Portsmouth, Kittery, and York.
With the decline of the fisheries and the rise of tourism, the Shoals became home to several large hotels. Today one of those hotels still stands on Star Island and is used along with former fishermen's homes to host conferences on a variety of subjects throughout the summer. Another island, Appledore, is home to the Shoals Marine Laboratory among the ruins of the former Appledore Hotel. A few private families still own Smuttynose, Malaga, and Lunging Island. Join historian Sam Collins, former curator of the Vaughn Cottage Museum on Star Island, to explore the historical records of the Isles of Shoals. We'll dig into the wide range of archival materials both on the islands and accessible at mainland institutions, and explain how to get out to see the islands for yourself!
About the Presenter
Sam Collins is a maritime historian and tall ship sailor who has spent the last 20 years working on boats and islands up and down the coast of New England. After receiving an undergraduate degree in Maritime history and an MA in museum studies with a focus on Atlantic history, he ran the museum on Star Island for 6 years and wrote his final project on the rise and fall of the salt cod fishing community that made up the former town of Gosport. He lives in Maine on a small farm not too far from salt water.
Registration is required. This event will be offered as a hybrid event. Register to attend online or in person at the Portsmouth Public Library.