I then searched through various notices, articles, and advertisements, and found an article about a city celebration which included a civic procession promoting various businesses, municipal organizations, etc., including a printing press display sponsored by the Franklin Typographical Society. My subject was mentioned – as a compositor.
I also found several advertisements and notices which stated his involvement in the Temperance movement. A notice announced that he had addressed the Temperance Benevolent Society and the Washington Prospect Temperance Beneficial Society. Another advertised a temperance gathering as a benefit for him, sponsored by the Office of the New England Washingtonian.
Via these newspaper items, I learned a lot of useful information about my research subject. This knowledge gave me new searching opportunities. On the Library of Congress’ Chronicling America website, I found out that there was a weekly newspaper call the New-England Washingtonian published during the years 1843–50, and that I could find this newspaper at the Boston Public Library. I also located a source about the Franklin Typographical Society: Proceedings of the Franklin Typographical Society: At the Observance of the Semi-centennial of Its Institution, January 17, 1874: with a Brief Historical Sketch (Boston: Franklin Typographical Society, 1875).
Knowing someone’s trade or avocation can offer further research opportunities, especially when you’ve hit a brick wall. Some societies or organizations may be well-documented, such as the ones I found; others may be found on a more local level. Our American Ancestors website has the following databases of societies and organizations (the numbers in parentheses signify the number of records in the collections):
Massachusetts: Grand Lodge of Masons Membership Cards, 1733-1990 (34,8763)
Massachusetts: Organized Jewish Group Activity in 19th Century Massachusetts (2,674)
Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati (618)
Salem, Massachusetts: Members of the East India Marine Society, 1799-1870 (394)
Charitable Irish Society of Boston: Constitution, By-Laws, and History (180)
Boston: Sea Fencibles' Signal Roll (173)
