P.O. Box 144, Falmouth, MA 02541-0144 - Barnstable County
NEXT meeting:
Connecting People with their Family and History!
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FGS Monthly meetings
The Society is a nonprofit organization of beginner, amateur, and professional family historians and genealogists dedicated to studying, preserving and sharing family histories. Established in 1985, FGS promotes genealogical research among members; the Barnstable County, MA community; and anyone interested in family history.
The Society generally meets
on a selected Saturday of each month.
Since April 2022 we have resumed live monthly meetings at the Hermann Foundation Room of the Falmouth (Massachusetts) Public Library
- Check the calendar for more information!
Copyright Falmouth Genealogical Society, Inc. 2026. All rights reserved.
Saturday, February 14th, 2026 - 10:00AM EST - Joe Mattingly - Hybrid Meeting with Live Presenter
- Falmouth Museums on the Green docent - Joe Mattingly : "Falmouth's Whaling Heritage"
- Falmouth was the home port of 13 whaling ships that made 52 whaling voyages, mainly to the
Pacific, between 1820 and 1864. Six whalers were built in Falmouth, most of them at Bar Neck
Wharf in Woods Hole, under the oversight of the patriarch of Falmouth whaling, Elijah Swift. With
a total population of no more than 2,600, Falmouth produced an astounding 65 ship captains,
some of whom took their wives on whaling voyages of three to five years and had children born
at sea. In this presentation, you will compare the Falmouth boys’ dreams of glory and adventure
with the hard, punishing realities of whaling. - Joe is a docent at Falmouth Museums on the Green and a volunteer at the Cape Cod Canal
Visitors Center with a special interest in the history and culture of New England and Falmouth
whaling.
Note the new start time for our monthly meetings is 10:00 AM!
Why? We want to allow time to Connect, to Chat, and to Share.
Come early and join us for some social time. It’s the perfect time to catch up with fellow members, share latest discoveries, exchange tips, present a family heirloom, or swap magazines and reference materials. We’ll provide the refreshments.
Our social time will run from 10:00-10:30 am followed by our monthly genealogy presentation.
Note: The Falmouth Public Library opens at 10:00 am. Before 10:00 am you can access our meeting in the Hermann Foundation Meeting Room through the back-side lower level “Meeting Room” entrance.
Past Presidents from left: Mary Barry, Ralph Wadleigh, Judy Fenner, Donna Walcovy, Joyce Pendery, Marge Riley, Eleanor Baldic, & John Caspole. Most recent presidents: Thomas Greve then Gerard Luby then currently Tim Martin missing from picture.
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- Please give your full name and reason for the request.