[This post was written as part of Blog Action Day 2009 with the
theme being Climate Change. GeneaBloggers has asked genealogy
bloggers to discuss how climate changes may have affected their
ancestors.] On the surface of reviewing my genealogy research,
one would think there isn't much evidence of climate change
impacting my ancestors. My family lines are mostly from Rhode
Island and New York with very little migration westward, besides
the initial involvement with what I call the Yankee Migration of
New Englanders westward to upstate New York. While climate
changes since the mid-1600s may not have been the reason for
moving into New York, I am certain my ancestors recognized
climate change. They were farmers mostly, their lives inter-
twined with the land they tilled. They had to have seen changes
over the course of their lives even if they were a relatively
short 40 or 50 years compared to today's longevity. One of the
biggest impacts climate changes had on my family was in the
mid-20th century and is respons