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Gail Ann Thomas was born in Newburyport, MA to Walter I. and Barbara S. (Tripp) Thomas. Her mother began researching her father’s family in 1960.  Barbara first found that she was eligible to join the NSDAR through her maternal grandfather, Charles Jones. This was the beginning of Barbara’s and Gail’s lifelong pursuit of family genealogy. Gail continues to research her lines that go back to the First King of Norway, a Viking in 864 CE. She uses her vast research book collection to help others find their roots.  

Gail attended Newburyport High School and Northeast Community College. She started volunteering at a young age at the Peabody Museum (now the Peabody-Essex Museum) in Salem, MA where her grandfather worked.  This started her interest in museums.  She continued this interest as she moved across the country.  In Southern California, she volunteered at the Workman-Temple Homestead Museum, City of Industry, California. The “La Casa Nueva”, is a 1922 Spanish Colonial Revival Mansion. She was able to attend guest lectures in museum techniques which included curating, preservation, restoration from staff members at University of San Francisco.  She moved to Northern California to the Shadelands Ranch Museum in Walnut Creek, just south of Oakland. The Original Nut and Fruit farmhouse was completed in 1903. With many of the family items and furnishings left behind by the family, the house is continued to be shown as it was in 1919.  

Gail worked as an Accounting Clerk for the Internal Revenue Service in N. Andover, MA, an Import/Export International Shipper for the Olmstead Industries, Seabrook, NH, a Bank Teller for the Citizens Bank and the Granite State Credit Union. Later in life, she volunteered at a Senior Center teaching arts and crafts. Gail is an avid quilter. While the National Vice Chairman of the NSDAR Veterans Services Committee, she and several of her fellow NH DAR members knitted over 100 Afghans for the Veterans Home in Tilton.

Today, Gail spends her time serving in the Ancient & Honorable Artillery Company as the Quartermaster.  The AHAC members travel all over the world and Gail is loving every moment. 

Memberships 

  • Order of the First Families of Maine (President General)

  • National Society of New England Women (Honorary President General; Past Treasurer General; Past Vice President General)

  • Society of the Descendants of the Colonial Clergy (Honorary Governor General; Treasurer General; Past Deputy Secretary General)

  • National Society Daughters of Colonial Wars (Past MA State President; State Treasurer)

  • Jamestowne Society (New England Company Chaplain)

  • National Society Daughters of the American Colonists (MA State President; NH State Registrar)

  • National Society Women Descendants Ancient & Honorable Artillery Co. (Deputy National; MA Court President)

  • Member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company (First Female Officer elected, Quartermaster, carries the Rank of Lieutenant)

  • Dutch Colonial Society (Past Treasurer General)

  • Descendants of Cape Cod and the Islands (Past National Treasurer)

  • National Society Colonial Daughters of the Seventeenth Century (Past Treasurer General)

  • National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (42-year member; National Vice Chairman of the DAR Service for Veterans Committee; VAVS National Deputy Representative; Honorary Chapter Regent; NH State Historian (two terms); Corresponding Secretary)

  • National Society Colonial Dames XVII Century (NH State Treasurer; Past Chapter President; Past National Chairman) 

  • National Society of the Dames of the Court of Honor (NH Past State President)

  • Order of the First Families of New Hampshire 1622-1680 (Historian General; Charter Member)

  • Hereditary Order of the First Families of Massachusetts (Past Historian General)

  • Order of First Families of Vermont 1609-1791

  • Order of First Families of Connecticut 1633-1662

  • The Green Mountain Boys of Vermont

  • Order of the Kings and Queens in the Holy Lands (Royal Scribe)

  • Hereditary Order of the Families of Presidents and First Ladies of America (Life member)

  • National Society Descendants of American Farmers (Charter Member)

  • General Society of Mayflower Descendants New Hampshire (NH Past Deputy Governor; 20-year Life member)

  • Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants (40-year member, Life Member)

  • Sons and Daughters of the First Settlers of Old Newbury Massachusetts (Past Board Member, Life member)

  • National Society United States Daughters of 1812 (Past NH State Treasurer)

  • The Crown of Charlemagne

  • Baronial Order of Magna Charta

  • Military Order of the Crusades

  • Descendants of the Templar Knights

  • Descendants of American Prisoners of War

  • Order of the House of Wessex

  • Descendants of Brian Boru

  • Hereditary Order of the Red Dragon

  • Order of the Sovereigns of Ancient Scandinavia

  • Saints & Sinners (Charter Member)

  • National Guild of Saint Margaret of Scotland

  • National Society Founders of Places of Worship in America

  • Associated Daughters of Early American Witches

  • Legion of Vikings and Valkyries

  • Order of the Descendants of El Cid

  • Order of Descendants of Colonial Physicians and Chirurgiens

Other Memberships

  • The Wing Family of America

  • Francis Wyman Association

  • Daughters of the British Empire, CT Chapter 

  • Bunker Hill Association, Boston, MA

  • New England Historic and Genealogical Society, Boston, MA 

  • Military Order of World Wars, NH Patriot Member

Interests

In what spare time Gail has, she enjoys gardening, sewing and making Quilts.  She also produces historical programs and shares them with other lineage societies.  

 

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