Michael Francis Dwyer (b. 1959) earned a B.A. in English and History, summa cum laude, phi beta kappa, from Boston College in 1981, then spent a year in graduate theological studies. He completed an M.A. in English at Middlebury College’s Bread Loaf School of English in 1994.

From 1983 to 2018, he taught Vermont high school students American Studies, English Literature, Advanced Placement European History, as well as a variety of Humanities electives. Vermont’s Department of Education named him 2004’s Teacher of the Year. He currently serves as Settled Pastor of the Pittsford (Vermont) Congregational Church, founded in 1784.

Childhood experiences with his family in Fall River, Massachusetts, inspired a lifelong love of literature, history, and genealogy. Michael views his research and writing, especially on the topics of Irish and French–Canadian immigration, as a natural outgrowth of teaching. Often called upon to speak to genealogical and historical societies, Michael served as State Historian of the Vermont Society of Mayflower Descendants from 1986 to 1996. Past Editor of  Vermont Genealogy and Co-Editor of Rhode Island Roots, he remains a Contributing Editor of The Maine Genealogist and The American Genealogist. He welcomes correspondence but does not accept clients.

Selected Articles:

Michael F. Dwyer, “From Hyppolite Prunier to Fred Plumtree: Nineteenth-century immigration of French-Canadians to Vermont,” Walloomsack Review 18 (2016): 20–29.

Michael F. Dwyer, “Connecting Provosts to Sophia (—) Sherman of Franklin County, Vermont,” Vermont Genealogy 21 (2016) 141–47.

Michael F. Dwyer, “From Nome to Newport: Corporal James A. McGowen’s Letters Home,” Rhode Island Roots 43 (2017): 43–56.

Michael F. Dwyer, “Michele Felice Corné and His Newport Heirs.” Rhode Island Roots 43 (2017): 170–92.

Michael F. Dwyer, “Libya and Elisha Washburn Jr. of Moretown and Burlington, Vermont,” Vermont Genealogy 22 (2017): 47–57.

Michael F. Dwyer, “William Kelley of Dummerston, Vermont, and Groton, Massachusetts,” Vermont Genealogy 23 (2018): 26–30.

Michael F. Dwyer, “Jotham and Mary (Cobb) Pierce of Coventry, Vermont, and Montréal, Canada,” Vermont Genealogy 23 (2018): 43–50.

Michael F. Dwyer, “The Parents of Joel and Patty (Travis) Adams of Brownfield, Maine,” The Maine Genealogist 41(2019): 19–28.

Michael F. Dwyer, “Mme. Léocadie Trottier of Woonsocket, R.I., Rhode Island Roots 45(2019):3–13.

Michael F. Dwyer, “Reconsidering the Parents of Mary (Tripp) Hall of Poland, Maine,” The Maine Genealogist 41(2019): 87–91.

Michael F. Dwyer, “Names of French Canada Lost in Vermont: Esau Morris of Shoreham, Vermont Genealogy 24(2019):182–94.

Michael F. Dwyer, “Born During Slavery: Hattie Twine of Providence and Her Family,” Rhode Island Roots 45(2019):137–52.

Michael F. Dwyer, “In the Footsteps of Uncle Paddy: A Personal Journey,” Rhode Island Roots 45(2019):217–22.

Michael F. Dwyer, “Discovering a Mayflower Lineage: Betsey Doty, Wife of Ebenezer Besse, of Plymouth, Massachusetts, and New Sandwich, Maine,” The Maine Genealogist 42(2020):3–8.

Michael F. Dwyer, “Hereditary Deafness: Children of Freelove (Ballou) Mowry,” Rhode Island Roots 46(2020):47–56.

Michael F. Dwyer, “An Oakley/Walsh Family Mystery: A Civil War Feud?” Rhode Island Roots 46(2020):95–112.

Michael F. Dwyer, “What’s in a Name? Aretas D. Wilkins of China, Maine” The Maine Genealogist 42(2020):147–57.

Michael F. Dwyer, “Shangraw, Pelkey, and Poro Families of Pittsford, Vermont” Vermont Genealogy 25(2020):137–60.

Michael F. Dwyer, “Edward Gove of Windsor, Maine Discoveries Through a Cluster of Deeds” American Ancestors 21:3 (Fall 2020):38–39.

Michael F. Dwyer, “Louise (Mercure) Smith of Waterbury, Vermont: An Orphan’s Lost Heritage” Vermont Genealogy 26 (Fall 2021):150–64.

Michael F. Dwyer, “Lettie (Phelps) Jones of Lincoln, Maine, Her Husband, Ancestors, and Children,” The Maine Genealogist 44 (2022):147–58.