The camaraderie began with an orientation on Thursday morning, followed by library research in Hartford, Connecticut and Springfield, Massachusetts on Thursday and Friday and a “get acquainted and reacquainted” gathering at the hotel in Windsor on Friday evening.

On Saturday, attendees enjoyed a day of speakers and workshops at the Second Baptist Church in Suffield. Topics presented by speakers Edward Chase III, Dr. Mike Austin and Art Sikes included King Phillip’s War and New England Settlements, The Austin-Austen DNA Project, and Early History of the Connecticut River Valley.

As always, before, after and between presentations, AFAOA genealogists were on hand to assist with research of our extensive Austin databases. One attendee who, after reading about the Austin convention in the local newspaper, arrived with only the names of three generations of her Austin ancestors. She found information that connected her into the John Austin of New Haven, Connecticut line, adding six previous generations!

Austin family and friends then gathered for a Saturday night banquet. Good food, more camaraderie, and a presentation by the Suffield town historian, Lester Smith, were enjoyed by all.

This year, Sunday was set aside to tour the Suffield area. The tour included the King House Museum, the Old Center Cemetery, the First Baptist Church Cemetery, several historic Austin houses and a tobacco farm where the harvest was in progress.

Click here to view pictures from this 2007 Convention!