To be rooted
is perhaps the most important
and least recognized need
of the human soul.

Simone Weil

Why hire a professional genealogist?

Richard chats about working with me to uncover his Italian Ancestors

I was astonished at the detail she provided

such a wonderful experience

Curious?

Contact me for a free consultation.

Certified | Knowledgeable | Experienced

Certified Genealogist®

Certified Genealogist® Margaret R. Fortier focuses on immigration to New England and dual citizenship with Italy.

Those who hold this credential have demonstrated their competence in research, analysis, kinship determination, and reporting skills. To ensure that all Board-certified genealogists continue to produce quality work they are required to submit renewal applications every five years.

Certification offers reassurance and protection for the consumer, through an arbitration service should difficulties arise.

The words Certified Genealogist and letters CG is a registered certification mark of the Board for Certification of Genealogists®, used under license by board-certified associates after periodic competency evaluations, and the board name is registered in the US Patent & Trademark Office. Certificate No. 1099, expires August 2023.

Certificate in Genealogical Research, Boston University

Institutes

Genealogical Institute in Federal Records—Gen-Fed
Advanced Techniques for Mastering Online Searches—SLIG
Settlers in the New World & Immigrants to a New Nation—Colonial Times to 1900—SLIG*
Immigration in the U. S. after 1890—SLIG
Dual Citizenship: Italian-American and Irish-American—Virtual Institute of Genealogical Research
Finding Immigrant Origins—SLIG
Researching in Italian Records—GRIP
Advanced Italian Records—GRIP
In-depth Resources for Portuguese Research: Azores, Portugal, Brazil—SLIG
Civilly Uncommon: Advanced Legal Analysis—Boston University
Advanced Methodology—SLIG
Practical Genetic Genealogy—GRIP
Early US Church Records—SLIG
Irish Genealogical Research—GRIP

*SLIG—Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy
#GRIP—Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh

Selected Projects

Researched the naturalization status and town of origin for an Italian immigrant
Identified two French-Canadian surnames for an ancestor who changed his name
Researched the Portuguese ancestry of a family in SE Massachusetts
Traced the ownership of a Boston-area home from 1832
Documented a lineage for a scholarship applicant
Compiled a narrative genealogy for multiple generations, tracing French-Canadian, Canadian, Irish, and English ancestry
Conducted research for academic clients

Check out my appearance on Genealogy TV with host Connie Knox chatting about Immigration and Naturalization Records. Here’s a short clip (2:30) where I dissect a passenger list. See the whole episode here.