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FAMILY HISTORY CENTER RESEARCH HANDBOOK

By Jeannette Holland Austin

Beginners: The Mechanics of Tracing Ancestors Interviewing Relatives Cemeteries. Next Stop Order Vital Records Addresses of Regional Archives' Centers
Census: Mortality Census 1850-1880 Slave Census 1820-1840 Population Census 1790 Census 1800 Census
1810 Census 1820 Census 1830 Census 1832 Census 1835 Cherokee Census
1840 Census 1850 Census 1860 Census 1870 Census 1880 Census
1885 Census 1891 Census 1900 Census 1910 Census 1920 Census
Index to American & Western Canada Census Soundex & Miracode Indexes 1880-1920 Indian Census Rolls 1885-1940 Foreign Census Records Accelerated Indexing systems
Next: County Records Deeds and Mortgages Tax Digests Last Wills and Testaments Letters of Testamentary
Receipts, Vouchers Inventories, Sales, Annual Returns Letters of Guardianship and Bonds Letters of Administration Inferior Court Minutes
Superior Court Minutes Marriage Records and Contracts Court of Ordinary Minutes City Court Records Correctional Institutions
Homestead Records Divorce Records Law Suits Military Records Revolutionary War
Post Revolutionary War War of 1812 Indian Wars Mexican War Spanish-American War
Civil War US Military Records World War I World War II Phillippine Insurrection
Armed Forces Locator Directory Muster Rolls Other Sources Colonial Records Land Patents, Bounty,Land Grants, Lotteries>
Immigration, PassengerLists, naturalization Records ChurchRecords: Religious Trekings AmericanIndians Biographical Dictionaries and Encyclopedias Special Collecctions in Libraries
City Directories Newspapers Black Studies Miscellaneous Sources Family History Centers
Explanation of Fiche Catalog Explanation of Computer Catalog Personal Ancestral File (PAF) Family Search Program International Genealogical Index (IGI)
Ancestral File (AF) Social Security Index Railroad Retirement Temple Ready Program Military Index
New CD Resources Computer Catalog Explanation of LDS Submissions LDS Terminology Explanation of IGI
Family History Center Library Family History Center Collections Family History Center Book Collection

Beginners: The Mechanics of Tracing Ancestors

First, let us discuss some of the fallacies of genealogical research for those people who claimto have traced their lineage back to Adam. Although such pedigrees do exist, none of themcontain appropriate documentation from contemporary documents.With reasonable accuracy itis possible to trace one's origin to 1066, when William the Conqueror invaded England. This isbecause at that time he mandated what was known as the Domesday Book, dreaded by thepopulation. For the first time, an accounting was made of commoners for the purpose of beingtaxed.

Such medieval data in the Domesday Book can be of some minor assistance in establishingancestors in this time-frame. One can do their european research and reasonably trace roots tothis era. Some may also be able to trace to the time of the Merovingian Kings (A. D. 450-A. D.752).

Earlier than this, proper documentation is virtually impossible. Pedigrees which make claims toAdam base their attempts on legends.....questionable traditions, which could easily be prevarication, as tradition often is. Then it is vague, and without evidence. At this writing, there are no records to document one's ancestry to Adam. We are lucky to go back to 1066, or(infrequently so) to the Merovingian Kings with reasonable accuracy. Therefore, therein lies our responsibility to an era which is out-of-grasp? Perhaps ancientrecords of documentation will be discovered and translated.....ones which we'd love to have toestablish an authentic lineage to the ancients. Frequently, while tracing prior to 1500 theresearcher simply re-traces the steps of others and is forced to draw similar conclusions.

It is for this reason that the Family History Center Library maintains a Medieval Families Unitwhich especially deals with pre-1500 research, which research, incidentially, is already includedin the Ancestral File.

More importantly, our searches should be conclusive, accepting authentic records as sourcematerials....that we are certain our path of endeavor is true. Once we have accepted the "wrongancestor", each generation of that wrong ancestor doubles hundreds upon hundreds of times.Thus, generations of work is traced erroneously....all for nought. This is why it is particularlyimportant to stick to the conventional......census, county records, cemeteries, bibles, so on and soon, back as far as these types of documents take us. One can trace authentic county records andparish registers back to the 1600's in America and to the 1500's in Europe. And along the way,each generation which we search--doubles in names!

The purpose of this discussion is to assist you in understanding how to think, as well as to directyou to the easiest, most forthright sources. The approach is equally as important as the sourcesthemselves, especially considering the zillions of hours you will spend in pursuit. Think ofyourself as a little ole' lady (or man) hidden behind a pile of dusty books. While researchersfrequently go unnoticed behind those books, the thought processes are in gear, the wheelsrevolving, complexly analyzing the footsteps of the past. Why did my ancestor migrate throughPennsylvania via the Shenandoah mountains of Virginia, then finally into the Carolinas, orGeorgia? Is this not the migratory path of some Germans, Puritans and Quakers? If so, then Imust know the history, follow the path, picking up tiny specks of information as I go. Then Imust search residential county records, etc.,so that finally, the puzzle will begin to fit. And....inthe end.....I will have answers!

Notice that I suggest the trail is sketchy, tedious and quite time-consuming. That it is a giantpuzzle which has broken pieces, or few. Nevertheless, a pot of gold is to be found at the end ofthe rainbow. First, you will learn how to analyze, put events in the proper order, devise methodsof discovery. Then, you will find cousins galore, lost relatives, real people who care about yourfamily. Old photographs, family relics, homes, farms, countryside once in your family. Their life, the roles your ancestors played in pioneering wilderness, making freedom, paving the wayfor you......their real-life history. Your own private view. Not George Washington and JamesMadison's relics. But, your history. You compare yourself to old photographs, family traits, andbegin to see yourself in each of them. Your large ears came from Grandmother Nelly, your long,slender waist from Great-grandmother Jane.

Even your name is repetitive of them. You begin to know yourself, and who you are. Finally,you will meet scads of new friends, truly nice people, who love to learn while experiencingpersonal growth and love for their families. People like you. The treasures, then, are more thancan be recounted, they are golden.

As a little child, my sister, Dorothy, sat at the feet of grandmother Mary Brent pleading forfamily stories. The information was filled with old traditions....tales, if you will, of pride andhope.....and of the history of generations before Mary Brent's time. Years passed before I collected old photographs from the fading memories of my great uncle.

One cold February day of silver skies and blustering winds---I found the old Davis Smithcemetery in Monroe County, Georgia. It sat atop a knoll, artfully enclosed by a white rock wall.My sister, Marianne, was with me - but shuttered at the prospect of ascending the knoll. "It's tooeerie," she said. So, alone I climbed the knoll, by back to the wind, shivering, while Mariannewatched from the automobile.

Once inside the yard I saw that the gravestones were covered with gnarling, twisting thistles. Reaching betwixt thorns, I feltthe stones, using my fingers to trace intentions of names, dates. Wrote them down.

Later that summer I would return with Dorothy - to clean up the cemetery and find agelesssunken grves, concrete slabs, dating back to the 1830s....even finding a brother (Jeremiah) ofDavis Smith! A neighbor visited, recounting his knowledge of the old plantation.I stood on the knoll, this time embraced lovingly by blue skies and white clouds, looking downat the place where the house once stood, seeing the crossroads where the Smith Store oncethrived, and surrounding green countryside. We ambled through the region (now farmland),finding chimney bricks near the site, buried in pasture debris. The photograph from my greatuncle, helped me see how it was in those days. The family was seated in the yard in front of thehouse, which consisted of Davis' daughter, Elizabeth and her little boys dressed in confederateuniforms, as well as her brother, Thomas Young Smith, boasting a long white straggly beard.And to the side of the house was Sarah, a former slave who refused to leave the family. A cedarlined path once led from the road to the house, the yard swept clean around the porch. The houseitself was a two-story structure having an open front porch with plain square columns. Built forcountry-living, simple, with square lines. The parlos and dining room were divided by a widehallway. Upstairs, the bedrooms.

The story unfolded from bibles, census, county records, and of course the cemetery andsurrounding countryside. Davis Smith was born 1791 in Washington County, the son ofAlexander Smith and his wife, Martha Franklin of Warren County. But Davis was a resident ofLaurens County when he married for the first time, Hannah, and by her had two sons. His firstson he named after his grandfather, Rev. William Franklin--pioneer minister of Briar CreekBaptist Church in Warren County. The second son he also named Franklin. How proud he musthave been of his grandfather's accomplishments, or close he might've been!. However, Hannahand her two sons died early. Soon afterwards, about 1821, his father, Alexander diedintestate....however, the scant administration papers mentioned Davis Smith and his mother, Martha. Davis marriedagain, this time to the widow, Mrs. Elizabeth Dixon Jordan and brought her to Monroe Countyabout 1824. They were among the earliest settlers, locating on a road about eight miles west ofForsyth in a community which would later be called "Brent". Prosperity surrounded DavisSmith'sfamily--a planter of hundreds of acres of cotton, fodder and farm products, and more than twentyslaves to work the plantation. A community soon build up around his thriving plantation. In 1850when the Swedish soprano, Jenny Lynn, came to America, Davis took Elizabeth to Charleston tohear her sing. Elizabeth was a talented musician herself, loving to play the piano. When theyreturned to Brent, they had with them a fine piano for Elizabeth....reportedly the first in thecounty!

It was put in the parlor where Elizabeth gave her children lessons. Later, she sent herdaughter, Jane, to study music at Wesleyan, the first female college in Georgia. And Jane senther daughter, Lizzie, to Wesleyan for her music education. Elizabeth and Davis had -----children, all of them buried in the Smith cemetery across the street from where the house stood.Two sons went off to war, fighting the Confederate cause...only one returned. During the war, ayankee patrol was seen coming towards the house. Davis scampered up a tree, hiding. Theobdurate yankees stopped their horses under the tree where Davis hid. A great fear came overhim - for as he clung to the branches, he could hear the ticking of his gold watch in his vestpocket. Louder and louder.....more and more afraid of discovery. It wasn't long after the warbefore Elizabeth died and Davis married a third time, to widow Hogan, making a marriagecontract with her concerning the management and ultimate disposition of her Hogan plantation.No more slaves, workers to plant the fields, the plantation suffered its devastation. In 1868,Davis Smith died, and was buried in his cemetery. Jane had married Wesley Clements andremoved to Columbus, having by him two children, Tom and Lizzie Clements. As the waropened and Wesley was called, she took the children home to Brent to share the house with herbrothers, sisters and in-laws. There they would all reside until the turn of the century. Wesley didnot return home from the war....he was never heard from again. The war records do not revealhis battles, or where he fell. So, after the war, Jane married again, an ex-Confederate soldier, TyBrent. It was the Brent husband who revived the plantation as best he could....keeping the familyin Monroe County until the time when most people left their farms, going to the cities for work.

The great pride of Mary Brent, then, came from this relative...a step-grandfather....as she happilyrecanted the tale that after Jane's death, Ty moved to the old Confederate Home in Atlantawhere he eventually died. The puzzle is snugly sized---from documentation and personalinterest, bibles, photographs, and relics, Mary Brent's memory was validated. Her traditions hadprovided some useful information---but it was the actual documentation of facts which revealedthe real story....the contribution of my ancestors to history.... my family history.... my historicalsites...my personal, private museum! More interesting than George Washington or JamesMadison....because it was mine. There are countless other family stories - gathered from facts -all interesting - all fun! Iam part of history, because my family background is real to me. Beginwith a Family Group Sheet and Pedigree Chart, recording the names of your parents, dates andplaces of births, deaths, etc., then each child's data, which includes the spouse and marriagedate/place. At the bottom of the page, record documentation. This can be personal interviewswith relatives, census, county records, etc. The documentation is very important, as you willneed to refer to it from time to time.

The following is an example of a Pedigree Chart, using the Personal Ancestral File (PAF)computer program designed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints ($35.00) whichprepares family group sheets, pedigree charts, sorted lists, as well as sends information to theTemple and Ancestral File. Its functions are too multiple to list.

Laurel Benjamin Holland
b. 13 Feb 1903 Paulding Co., Ga.

m. 18 Oct 1930 Atlanta, Ga.

d. 28 Jul 1955 Charlotte,
Mecklenburg Co., N. C.

Jeannette Holland
28 Jul 1936 Atlanta,
Fulton Co., Ga.

Marguerite Elizabeth Evans
b. 26 May 1910, Atlanta, Ga.
d. Feb 1985 Atlanta, Ga.

Each generation doubles in names.Using thepedigree chart, one prepares a shell from which to work. This is your worksheet....adding names,estimating birth dates and marriages. As a rule of thumb, 33 1/3 years equals a generation, soanywhere from 20-30 years as a divider between parents and the first child is a reasonableguideline. Don't forget to write down towns, cities, counties where progenitors resided. Thecounty of residence generally represents the place where that ancestor's records are deposited!The Family Group Sheet begins with you, first listing yourself, dates, places, spouse, andchildren, including references, or notes. The LDS form provides space for references, and, thecomputer program (PAF) asks if you wish to add notes. The LDS Family Group Sheet (below)provides spaces for Ordinances (Baptized, Endowed, Sealed to Parents, Sealed to Parents, andTemple). Anytime you are printing out family group sheets from the IGI or Ancestral File on thecomputer, you have the option to include or exclude ordinance information.

FAMILY GROUP RECORD
HUSBAND James Tom HOLLAND-1991
BORN: 11 Oct 1876 PLACE:Dallas Ga.
DIED:26 Feb 1939 PLACE:Dallas Ga.
BUR: 28 Feb 1939 PLACE:High Shoals Cemetery, Paulding Co.
MARR: 2 Dec 1900 PLACE:Dallas Ga.
FATHER:Geo. Washington Holland-1891
MOTHER: Lydia CAMP-1877
WIFE Willie Florence Collins-1992
BORN: 1 Sep 1884 PLACE:Dallas Ga.
DIED: 7 Oct 1914 PLACE: Dallas Ga.
BUR: 8 Oct 1914 PLACE:High Shoals Cemetery, Paulding Co.
FATHER:Thomas M. COLLINS-2202
MOTHER: Nancy Carrie LANE-2203
PARENTS' MRIN:763
CHILDREN
1. NAME: Willie Eugene HOLLAND-1993
BORN:22 Sep 1901 PLACE:Dallas, Paulding Co., Ga.
DIED:27 Dec 1965 PLACE: Fulton Co., Ga.
BUR: PLACE: Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Paulding Co., Ga.
SPOUSE: Mable SMITH-1995
MARR: 6 Jun 1923 PLACE: Dallas, Paulding Co., Ga. MRIN: 680
Note --- The numbers adjoining each surname, such as Willie Eugene HOLLAND-1993"represents the PAF computer program's RIN number. MRIN = marriage RIN no. Thus, theprogram assigns a RIN number to each person. Once that person has been entered, one simplyopts to use their RIN number to add them as children, rather than type again. Example, JamesTom Holland, RIN 1991, had father, George Washington Holland. While George WashingtonHolland, RIN 1891 was being entered, when it came time to add James Tom Holland as a child,one selected from the menu "child already in file, know RIN. Then adds the RIN number insteadof typing in James Tom Holland's data again.

Interviewing Relatives, the first steps

Before visiting Aunt Mary, you will head up her Family Group Sheet, listing all information youcan. This will be her parents (your grandparents). When you visit, this shell will assist in askingquestions. Take blank Family Group Sheets, as you plan to ask for the names of Aunt Mary's grandparents (your great grandparents). It is easy to follow a format, as it is a memory-enabler.Relatives have information. It may not be concise or accurate, nevertheless it exists somewherein the recesses of their minds. A simple test, for you.

What was the date of John F. Kennedy's assassination?_________
What was the date that Neil A. Armstrong, astronaut, landed on the moon?_________

Your information might be complete, half-accurate, or void. The purpose of the quiz, then, wasto deal with Aunt Mary's imperfect memory. There are, however.....methods.

Aunt Mary, what year was your sister born?

I can't recall.

Were you older than she?

Yes. I think, by two years.

Then, since you were born in 1902, that make her date of birth 1904. Does that sound right?

Well, it was the same year that my father had to take a job in North Carolina. There was no workthen...he had to travel around the countryside, find work where he could. Times were hard.So he wasn't home when she was born?

That's right. Mother said he was picking tobacco when she was born.

What month did they pick tobacco?

Oh, that must have been August or September.

When visiting Aunt Mary, you should ask if she has a family bible which contains births, etc.

Don't forget to ask to see old family photographs. Aunt Mary will enjoy identifying her people.

She will also lend them to you for reproduction, if you ask nicely.

Typically, Aunt Mary will tell you that she is not the relative to see, that her sister, or brotherknows everything about the family. She might even go to say that her memory is fading. Do notleave. She does too have information, probably just as much or more as her sister or brother. Shethinks she doesn't know anything. As the above example establishes, Aunt Mary can providedates, and history as well! Her past is a part of her, she has much to give. Too, you are inside herhouse. She is receptive, ready to be interviewed. You don't know what the situation is with hersister, or brother.

Aunt Mary, tell me more about your father. He was my grandfather, you know, and died while Iwas little. Perhaps you have a photograph of him?

The door to her memory has opened. Aunt Mary digs out the photographs. Relates experiences.

How about your grandfather? What was his name? (Note: from her on out, you and Aunt Maryshare progenitors. Her grandfather was your great-father).

His name was Jonathan Briggs.

And what was your grandmother's name?

Carrie.

Do you recall her maiden name?

No, I just can't remember things any more.

Was anyone in the family named after Carrie?

No, but I don't recall.

Didn't you have an Aunt Frida?

Yes, yes, Aunt Frida! But she died while I was in school. I think I was about seven years old. Ican't remember anything about her much.

I found her on a census record listed as Frida Gordon Briggs. Can it be possible that her motherwas Carrie Gordon before she married Jonathan Briggs? After all, she was the first-born in thefamily.

I heard something about Gordon. My sister, or brother, would know the answer.

The process should continue, asking about others, trying to zero in on death dates, so that deathcertificates can be ordered. Since most States will do the search for prescribed fees, say athree-year or ten-year search, you need Aunt Mary's best guess.

Cemeteries, next stop.

When at Aunt Mary's you asked where certain people were buried. She may have rememberedonly one cemetery. Nevertheless, her one relative is probably surrounded by scores of relatives.A visit there should enable you to write down all burials with your family surnames. This willprevent shuffling back later after you've discovered new relatives.

The best method of locating cemeteries in which your relatives were buried is to obtain a countymap where they lived. This can be purchased at the court house, in the tax assessor's office. Thecounty map is clearly marked, having a legend to explain sites, such as churches, railroad tracks,cemeteries. The county maps which I've used all denote the symbol + for cemeteries. A churchmight not necessarily have a cemetery, so study the legend carefully. Again, when you visit writedown all burials with your family surnames, the name of the cemetery, and it's location.

If a family cemetery -- is there a neighbor who has information - such as who is buried in theunmarked graves? Or perhaps knows where other members of the family are buried?

Family plots are easily marked, with walls of concrete, stone, gravel, fences, or what-have-you.The key to recognition is a group of tombstones having the same surnames, yet may includemarried daughters, etc. Small children frequently succumbed from childbirth, disease, cholera,mumps, measles, etc. and graves might be marked by rocks, or rock outlines. Sometimes aninfant who died at childbirth with its mother was buried in the same grave and two names appearon a single tombstone. Why not make a note that unmarked graves (children, adult) are part of afamily plot? Later, when you locate children on a census record, then never see them again insubsequent-years census or other records, you will remember these unmarked graves. If a childappeared on the 1850 census as age 5, and did not appear on the 1860 census, then it must havedied between 1850 and 1860, and might be the tiny grave outlined with rocks.

Too, unmarked graves suggest to your mind the existance of other children in that family.

When I first started my research, county maps did not occur to me. So, I would drive to the town,then ask local service station attendants where the Hollands, or Colliins, were buried. In amoment I learned which cemeteries to inspect. People who live in small towns usually servetheir community. In Paulding Co., Georgia, "decoration day" was had annually at localcemeteries. Prior to that time, or early morning, families would clean off the graves and decoratethem with flowers. Then, about noon, picnic baskets where shared as a delicious lunch wasspread on tables under large shade trees. It was an occasion of enjoying good country cooking,tasting goodies, bragging on the cook. Such occasions, I found, were wonderful places to meetnew cousins while casually extracting information.

Even if there is no decoration day in a town or city, local residents see names on tombstones asthey ride past. Or, remember their neighbors, where they lived, even the burial spots.Consider.....what do you know about your neighbors? When you leave your driveway to go towork, has your next-door neighbor already left? Does the lady across the street have black hair orblonde? And about what age person is she? We know things we don't realize.

Order vital records, birth and death certificates

Aunt Mary provided names, but not real dates or places. You tried to zero in on death dates.Now is the time to write for them. They will provide birth dates/place, death date/place, spouse,time of death, physician, cause, burial place, and who gave the information. What more couldyou ever wish to know?

The drawback here is that birth and death records were not always mandatory in certaincounties. The State of Georgia, for example, did not begin keeping death records until 1919. This means that you will have to work within the framework of certaintime-periods.

Where to find vital records

To locate the address of where to obtain birth/death records, search the following books whichmay be at your local library, archives or family history center.

The Vital Record Compendium by John O. and E. Diane Stammons
Genealogists' Address Book by Elizabeth Petty Bentley
The Source by Arlene Eakle and John Cerny
Vital Records Handbook by Thomas J. Kemp
Where to find State, County and Town Sources

Ancestry's Redbook.
The Handy Guide for Genealogists by George Everton, Sr.
Genealogists' Address Book by Elizabeth Petty Bentley

Where to find Courthouse Addresses

County Courthouse Book by Elizabeth Petty Bentley
Census Records, a genealogical reservoir.

Your next stop begins here. You have your Family Group Sheet shells....wanting additionalblanks to be filled. This is where the little ole' lady (or man) steps behind the dusty books. Butfirst, let us review a rather thorough explanation of the Census Records. The census which youwill most frequently use will be the population census, as this provides names, dates, places.

Where to Go ?...

The National Archives (Federal Records Center) has microfilm of all census records, free topublic use. Also, they have volumes of published indexes....at this time up to about 1860. From1880 on, the Soundex (on microfilm) index system is utilized.

Addresses of Regionalcenters

National Archives and Records Admn
Eighth and Pennsylvania Ave., N. W.Washington, D. C. 20408
202-523-3218, 202-523-3286
Hours: Mon-Fri. 8:45 to 10:00. Sat: 8:45 to 5:15

National Archives and Records Center
National Records Center Building
4205 Suitland Road Suitland, MD (location)202-501-5402
Hours: Mon-Fri: 8:45 to 5:15
National Archives-New England Region
380 Trapelo Road Waltham, MA 02154 617-8100
Hours: Mon-Fri: 8:00-4:30 first Sat: 8:00-430

National Archives-Northeast Region
Building 22--Military Ocean Terminal Bayonne, NJ 07002 201-858-7251
Hours: Mon-Fri:8:00-4:30

National Archives-Mid-Atlantic Region
5000 Wissahickon Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19144 215-915-5588
Hours: Mon-Fri: 7:30-4:00

National Archives-Great Lakes Region
7358 South Pulaski Road
Chicago, IL 60629 312-353-0161
Hours: Mon-Fri: 8:00-4:30

National Archives-Southeast Region
1557 St. Joseph Avenue East Point, GA 30344 404-763-7477
Hours: Mon-Fri. 8:00-5:00

National Archives-Central Plains Region
2306 East Bannister Road Kansas City, MO 64131 816-926-7271
Hours: Mon-Fri: 8:00-4:30

National Archives-Southwest Region
501 West Felix St.P. O. Box 6216
Ft. Worth, TX 76115 817-334-5525
Hours: Mon-Fri: 8:00-4:00

National Archives-Rocky Mountain Region
Building 48, Denver Federal Center Denver, CO 80225 303-234-5271
Hours: Mon-Fri: 8:00-3:50

National Archives-Pacific Sierra Region
1000 Commodore Drive San Bruno, CA 94066 415-876-9009
Hours: Mon-Fri: 7:45-4:15

National Archives-Pacific Southwest Region
24000 Avila Road, P. O. Box 6719
Laguna Niguel, CA 92677 714-831-4220
Hours: Mon-Fri: 8:00-4:30

National Archives-Pacific-Northwest Region
6125 Sand Point Way, N. E.Seattle, WA 98115 206-442-4502
Hours: Mon-Fri: 7:45-4:15

National Archives-Alaska Region
Federal Office Building 654 West Third Ave., Room 012 Anchorage, AK 907-271-2441

Available is A Map Guide to the US Federal Censuses, 1790-1920 by William Thorndale andWilliam Dollarhide. Also, see Guide to Genealogical Records in the National Archives byMeredith B. Colket, Jr. and Frank E. Bridges.

For Burial Information of Veterans from National Archives -Unfortunately, the National Archives does not have a complete record of burials of veterans innational cemeteries. However, requests for information should be directed to -

Director, Cemetery Service (41A)
National Cemetery System Veterans Administration
Washington, D. C. 20420
The Monument Service issues standard Government headstones or markers for the graves orcrypts of deceased veterans. Applicants must furnish relevant information concerning thedeceased veteran, but copies of service records to not have to be included with the applicationsince the VA verifies service. Write:

The Monument Service (42)
Veterans Administration810 Vermont Avenue, N. W.
Washington, D. C. 20420

The Mortality Census 1850-1880, 29 reels

From 1850 through 1880 there is are county mortality census records which specifically lists thename of decedents that year and date of deaths. Nothing more.

Slave Census

From 1820 through 1840 the slave census lists name of slaveowner, number of males/femalesbetween certain ages. Specifically, under age 5, 5-10,16-26,26-45, 45 and over. From 1850through 1860, name of slaveowner, and specific names, sex, and ages of slaves. It is assumedthatafter the war, most slaves took their master's surnames, and would explain certain 1870 censusrecords which do lists black families with specific surnames. One can consider the district, ortown, when researching black families, as to whether or not they were once owned by certainslaveowners in that district, or town (also counting his slaves ages and sex from previous slavecensus enumerations). Researching black families from census records best begins with the 1870Census,where all families and their data are enumerated. Prior to that date, one must attempt toresearch the area's local slaveholders via earlier census records, comparing ages and sexes, thenexamine estate records, inventories of slaves and other property, etc., to see if names, etc., aregiven. Oftentimes, names of slaves were listed in estate receipts and vouchers as they passed tothe ownership of children. Not all black persons were slaves. Some had been freed and lived incities, working as barbers, etc. They are listed accordingly, without data discrimination.

The Population Census

Census records from 1790 to 1920 are currently available for viewing. They vary in content, butall contain valuable genealogical data and should be viewed, if possible, at a Federal RecordCenter, or may be ordered from Family History Centers of the Church of Jesus Christ ofLatter-Day Saints. (See Federal Archives Addresses, and Family History Centers Addresses)All census records may be viewed without charge at The National Archives (Federal RecordCenters), or family history centers (rental fee).

1790 Census, 12 reels

The original 1790 Census was reported by the federal government in fixty-six pages. It is bestused by the researcher as a guideline to counties/states where ancestors resided. If all else fails,one researches every county where surname similarities were known to reside in 1790. The Headof family is listed as the principal person of a residence, including any free person living alone.Allother persons, whether children, slaves, or relatives, were noted in categories for age, sex, raceand slavery.

The Constitution excluded from the census all Indians not taxed. One may count thenumber of males over 16 years or age, and those under 16 years of age, number of femalesThe federal requirement was that the 1790 through 1810 censuses creates some conflict as towhether or not the burning of Washington in the War of 1812 destroyed many of the early censuslists, as presumably the census lists were in such places as Boston, Philadelphia, and Nashville.Only statistical summaries of the early censuses were supposed to go to the federal capital.Only in 1830 did Congress order the clerks of the district courts to send all the old census liststothe State Department in Washington. Presumably most of the missing early lists were either lostbefore 1830 or not sent to Washington, despite the 1830 law. The 1820 lists for Michiganterritory remained, and still remains in Michigan. Probably the only name lists lost in theburningof Washington were those of the District of Columbia (1810 Census).

1800 Census, 52 reels

Lists males 0-10, 10-16, 16-18, 26-45, 45 and up; females 0-10, 10-16, 16-26, 26-45, 45 and up.

1810 Census, 71 reels

Lists males 0-10, 10-16, 16-18, 26-45, 45 and up; females 0-10, 10-16,16-26, 26-45, and 45 andup.

1820 Census, 140 reels

Lists males 0-10, 10-16, 16-18, 26-45, 45 and up; females 0-10, 10-16, 16-26, 26-45, and 45 andup.

1830 Census, 201 reels

1832 Census of Creek Indians taken by Parsons and Abbott

Available at family history centers, film# 0830418

1835 Census of Cherokees in Limits of Tennessee, Alabama, North Carolina, and Georgia

Available at family history centers, film# 1597908

1840 Census, 274 reels

1840 Census for pensioners of Revolutionary War or Military Services

Includes names, ages, place of residence of a census taken by federal marshals.Family history center, film #0002321, or, fiche #6046771 (5 fiche)

1850 Census,1009 reels

For the first time, not only were heads of families listed, spouses and children, but age and birthstate, and agricultural information. The number of slaves were given numerically. Also, amortality census was taken of all individuals who had died during the year ending 1 June.

Three counties for 1850 California are missing as the name lists never reached Washington.

The 1850 and 1860 census schedules include township, dwelling number, family number, name,age, sex, color, occupation, value of real estate, value of personal property, birthplace (state),married in the year, school in year, can't read or write.

1860 Census, 1752 reels

There was no census taken for Hernando County, Florida.Contains the same data as 1850 census.

1870 Census, 2294 reels

This census is considered to be one of the worst ever taken. The U. S. marshals, presidentialappointees confirmed by the Senate, oversaw this census, having no direct authority over them.The South was undergoing Reconstruction after the War Between the States, and were undermilitary rule. The pool of competent potential assistants was especially limited by the low payandrepugnance which former Confederates felt for Republican marshals. For the first time, formerslaves were listed equally, including all data, as were white persons. Historical significenceshouldbe noted from the 1870 Census. For example, in counties where cotton, tobacco and rice wereplanted by slave labor, and planters regarded as absentee-owners, the percentages of blacksversuswhites dominate. For example, Liberty County, Georgia, having many plantations planted in riceand cotton, revealed a better than 90% population of blacks. It is estimated that 1.2 millionSoutherners were missed by the 1870 Census. Much of the 1870 Minnesota lists were destroyedby fire, although the state copy survives. The 1870 census lists township, post office, dwellingnumber, family number, names, age, sex, color, occupation, value of real estate, value ofpersonalproperty, birthplace, father foreigh born, mother foreign born, month born in year, monthmarriedin year, school in year, can't read or write, eligible to vote.

1880 Census, 1454 reels; also Soundex, 2367 reels

Census schedules are arranged by state or territory, thereunder by county, and beginning in 1880by enumeration district (E.D.), the latter being the areas which an enumerator covered in takingthe census. Therefore, one must know the enumeration district, and jot this down from theSoundex. By 1880 nearly five times as many local enumerators as 1870 reported the census. TheCensus Office took direct control over their hiring. For the first time a census was taken ofAlaska, which meant accessible villages, estimating the unreached territories. Again, the 1880Census was the first to authorize a census of Indians, at the discretion of the Superintendent ofthe Census. The National Archives microfilmed special Indian schedules for a few reservationsinCalifornia, the Dakotas, and Washington. However, there are also other 1880 Indian census lists.The constitutional prohibition against counting untaxed Indians was not violated by the 1880 or1890 Census as the enumerations were done and kept separate from the population totals. Therewere also enumerations taken by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Known damaged schedules includparts of the counties of San Francisco, California and Suffolk, New York, as well as NYC.

1885 Census - see at the National Archives only

This census was taken by Colorado, Florida, Nebraska, and the territories of Dakota and NewMexico. The National Archives does not have the Dakota schedules.

1890 Census

These schedules were mostly burned in a 1921 fire. However, population schedules survived for6,160 persons, all indexed. This includes Union veterans or their widows for part of Kentuckyandall states alphabetically from Louisiana to Wyoming, also for Washington, D. C., the IndianTerritory, and some military installations.

For 1890 Census: -

Alabama-Delaware, #1402863
District of Columbia-Illinois, #1402864
Indiana-Kansas, #1402865
Kentucky-Maryland, #1402866
Massachusetts-Minnesota, #1402867
Mississippi-New Mexico Territory, #1402868
New York, #1402869
North Carolina-Oregon, #1402870
Pennsylvania, #1402871
Rhode Island-Texas, #1402872
Utah Territory-Wyoming, #142873

An Index to a few 1890 schedules not destroyed by fire of 6,160 names, film #1421673, listsindividuals, geographical location and census schedule and page numbers.Another index of above, A-J, #0543341, K-Z, #0543342

1900 Census, 1854 reels, Soundex, 7846 reels

The 1900-1920 population schedules were destroyed after being microfilmed, but the filming inthe 1940s was so pimitive that significant sections of the films are illegible. Includes township,street, house number, dwelling number, family number, name of each person whose place ofabode on June 1, 1900 was in this family, relationship to head of family, color, sex, month ofbirth, year of birth, age, single/married/widowed/divorced, number of years married, Mother tohow many children, number of children living, number of years married, place of birth, place ofbirth of father, place of birth of mother, year immigrated to U. S., number of years in U. S.,naturalization, occupation, number of months not employed, attended school (months), can read,can write, can speak English, home owned or rented, home owned free of mortgage, farm orhouse.

1900 Index to Native American Tribes (Indians) in 1900Fiche #6088249 (1 fiche)

1910 Census, 1784 reels. Soundex/miracode, 4642 reels

1910 Cross-Index to Selected City Streets and Enumeration DistrictsIntroduction and table of contents page (1 fiche), #6331480

Index of following cities: Akron, Ohio, Atlanta, Georgia, Baltimore, Maryland, Chicago, Illinois,Cleveland, Ohio, Dayton, Ohio, Denver, Colorado, Detroit, Michigan, District of Columbia,Elizabeth, New Jersey, Erie, Pennsylvania, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Gary, Indiana, Grand Rapids,Michigan, Indianapolis, Indiana, Kansas City, Kansas, Long Beach, California, Los Angeles andLA County, California, Newark, New Jersey, New York City (including Manhattan, Bronx, Richmond), Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Omaha, Nebraska, Patterson, New Jersey, Peoria,Illinois, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Phoenix, Arizona, Reading, Pennsylvania, Richmond,Virginia, San Antonio, Texas, San Diego, California, San Francisco, California, Seattle,Washington, South Bend, Indiana, Tampa, Florida, Tulsa, Oklahoma, Wichita, Kansas,Youngstown, Ohio. Fiche #6331481 (50 fiches)

1920 Census, 2076 reels. Soundex/miracode, 8585 reels

The 1920 Census lists name of street, house number, line number, dwelling number, and familynumber; the name of each person whose place of abode on 1 Jan 1920 was in this family; kin(andtheir relationship to head of househouse, as, wife, son, daughter, etc.); tenure (homeowned/rented or owned/mortgaged; sex; race; age,single/married/widowed; Natl or Alien;yearof Natl; attended school; can read; can write; place of birth; place of birth of father; place ofbirthof mother; can speak English; trade/work; industry/business; employer/salary or wage; farmschedule.

The 1920 census consists of 2,076 rolls of microfilm (population schedules) and 1590 rolls ofsoundex indexes, all states.

First, using the Soundex, view the Family Card, which is the Soundex index card containingalmost all of the family genealogical data. It provides the umerator's District No. (E. D.), SheetNo. and Line No. for "locating your ancestor on the actual census."

See sample Family Card -
T230      HAWAII
_____________ VOL.____ E.D._____
(Head of Family) SHEET___ LINE___

_____ _____ ___________ __________
(Color) (Age) (Birthplace) (Citizenship)
____________

(County)
____________ __________ _________
(City) (Street) (House No.)

OTHER MEMBERS OF FAMILY
NAME REL. AGE BIRTHPL CITZENSHIP
     See Sample Individual Card, below -
T230      HAWAII
______________ VOL______E.D.___
(Individual) SHEET__LINE____
______ ____ _________ ___________
(Color) (Age) (Birthplace) (Citizenship)
__________
(County)
_______ ________ __________
(City) (Street) (House No.)
ENUMERATED WITH_____________
RELATIONSHIP TO ABOVE________
REMARKS_______________________
Use Enumerator District No., Sheet No. to locate relativesThe schedules are listed by state, counties, then enumeration districts. One desires to use thequickest method of locating ancestors. The enumerator's district is known as "E.D." on theschedules and is beneficial in determining which film to view. As counties frequently containmanydistricts, one refers to the index noting the E. D. no. as well as sheet no.
{Supervisor's District No.______ Sheet No.
Enumeration District No.
Father____________Occupation_________
Mother _______________Occupation___________
Place of Birth______________

Indexes, published - filmAccelerated Indexing Systems has compiled published indexes to 1820-1870 census records,alphabetical by names, providing county, enumeration districts, and page numbers.One simply obtains the page number, then goes to the census microfilm. Federal Record Centersgenerally house all published indexes, as well as those on microfilm. Also, archives, librariesandfamily history centers stock some published indexes, according to their budgets.

Indexes to American and Western Canada Census and Tax Records, 1800-1900, film #0483689

Soundex and Miracode Indexes for 1880-1920

The above indexes are on microfilm and are phonetic, compiled for the 1880-1920 census, during the 1930's for the purpose of aiding applicants in proving their age forSocialSecurity. A soundex exists for all states and territories, but only for households with at least onechild aged ten or under. The codes refer to surnames and are easy to understand. Here are somesimple instructions:
Write down the first letter of the name.
Mark out the letters which are not used in coding, i.e. - a,e,i,o,u,h,w,y.
Two or more consolants next to each other having the same code number will only be codedone time. Example: Williams - W 452. This also applies if the second letter has the same code asthe initial letter. Example: Scott - S 300.
Assign the consonants a number code based on the following chart. Develope a 3-digit codeusing zeros if needed at the end. Remember, several different names may have the same code!

Code           Letters
1                 b,p,f,v
2                 c,s,k,g,j,q,x,z
3                 d,t
4                 l
5                  m,n
6                 r
Disregard a,e,i,o,u,w,y and h

If the surname has a prefix, such as van, Von, De, Di, or Le, code it both with and without theprefix because it might be listed under either code. The surname vanDevanter could be V-531 orD-153. Mc and Mac are not considered prefixes. If the surname has any double letters, theyshould be treated as one letter. Thus, in the surname Lloyd, the second L should be crossed out.A surname may have different letters that are side by side and have the same number on theSoundex guide, like PF in Pfister (1 is the number for both P and F). These letters should betreated as one letter.

Where to Order Recent Census Records, 1930-1990 See figure #1.

American Citizens Residing Overseas, 1910-1920- See National Archives

Enumerations were taken for several overseas possessions. Also, military schedules for 1900 andlater include U. S. personnel stationed at some of these possessions, as follows:Guam. 1920

Midway. 1910-1920 (filmed with Honolulu County Hawaii)
Panama Canal Zone. 1920
Philippine Islands. 1904, 1918
Puerto Rico. 1899, 1920-1920
Samoa. 1920
Virgin Islands. 1917
Wake. 1920
1939 and 1956 Census of Shivwit Indians, Fiche #6018503 (1 fiche)

Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940

A description of these rolls along with film numbers from National Archives, fiche #6048008.

Foreign Census Records

1801 Census of England, film #0994095
1841 Census of England and Wales, 869 reels,Includes the Channel Islands and Isle of Man.
1841-1881 Index of Place Names showing library film numbers for Census,Includes England, Wales, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, fiche#6024509
1851 Census Index, England and Wales, film #0496455 and 0496456
1851 Street addresses, England and Wales,Film #0441870-0441874, orFiche #6026371 (71 fiche)
1861 Census of England and Wales, 752 reels
1861 Index to Misc. entries in Census, fiche #6035753 (3 fiche)
1861 Street Address Index, fiche #6026702 (34 fiche)
1871 Census Index, England and Wales, 1919 reels. Index film #0828286
1881 Census of England and Wales, 1345 reels.Includes Channel Islands, Isle of Man, and Ships of the Royal Navy. Also, on microfiche at allfamily history centers, shipped during 1994.

In 1988 the Genealogical Society of Utah combined with the British Genealogical Record UsersCommittee to index the 1881 Census of England, Wales, Channel Islands, and Isle of Man,providing more than 5,000 volunteers to do the transcription. As of this writing, the project isbeing shipped to family history centers as completed, in fiche format. The indexes are on acountyby county basis, with separate indexes for the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, and Navy and

Miscellaneous.

Surname Index

Identifies anyone by name enumerated on the census.

Birthplace Index

This index facilitates locating persons with the same surname who were born in the same parish,making it possible to identify parents, siblings, or other family members. Arrangedalphabeticallyby surname, place of birth, then forename.

Census Place Index

Makes it possible to identify all persons of the same surname who resided in the same parish atthetime the census was enumerated. Arranged alphabetically by surname, census place, thenforename.

As Enumerated

Arranged in the original order in which the census was taken, with individuals listed by thehouseholds enumerated. After using the Surname Index, Birthplace Index, or Census PlaceIndex,this provides the piece number, folio number and page number so that you may quickly find theentry under As Enumerated, which is arranged numerically by piece number. It is necessary togoto the References column and locate the reference numbers which were found in one of the otherindexes to find the desired person.

Miscellaneous Notes

Contains additional about many of the entries in the four indexes described above. It is theinformation which did not fit into the one-line entries in the indexes, arranged alphabetically bysurname and then the forename.

List of Vessels/Ships

This is a list of all vessels or ships enumerated on the census, arranged alphabetically by name ofthe vessel or ship. Also, additional information is provided, i. e., the official number, the port or place to which she belonged, the name of the master, the tonnage, and a description ofthevessel or ship. The name of the ship is given in the Name of Head column and in the Addresscolumn in the indexes.

List of Institutions

A list of all institutions enumerated on the census, as a household can be an institution (school,prison, hospital, workhouse, etc.) in which many people who were not related were livingtogether. Arranged alphabetically by the name of the institution. Navy and Miscellaneousconsistsof entries for persons enumerated on Navy ships that were at sea at the time of the census, aswellas persons that were misplaced (in the census) filing process. Abbreviations of Relationships intheabove 1881 census records are extensive. One should ask the family history librarian for a list ofabbreviations (provided at time fiche was shipped). Some examples: Abst (absent), AChd(adopted child), ADau (adopted daughter), AunL (Aunt-in-law), AWmn (Almswoman), etc.Also, ask for - Abbreviations of Where-Born County/Country.

1851 Census of Canada, including Quebec, Ontario and New Brunswick, 188 reels
1861 Census of Canada, includes Quebec, Ontario, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island andNova Scotia, 296 reels
1871 Census of Canada, includes Ontario, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Quebec, 136 reels
1880-1881 Census of Canada, includes Ontario, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec andPrince Edward Island, 125 reels. Text in English and French.
1891 Census of Canada, includes British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia,Ontario, Prince Edward Island and Quebec, 138 reels.
1901 Census of Canada, 129 reels includes dwelling number, family number, name of eachpersonin family or household on 31 Mar 1901, sex, color, relationship to head of family, marital status,month and day of birth, year of birth, age, county or province of irth, year of immigration toCanada, year of naturalization, racial or tribal origin, nationality, religion, profession, living onown means, employer, employee, working on own account, working in factory (name), monthsemployed, wages, months at school, can read, can write, can speak English, can speak French,mother tongue, infirmities.

Schedule one lists the name and complete birth date and place for each member of thehousehold,as well as immigrant's year of arrival in Canada.

Schedule two lists lands and buildings, being cross-referenced to schedule one, providingspecificlot numbers.

This census is available in family history centers on compact disks as well as microfilm. See Locality Catalog under CANADA - CENSUS.

Name indexes are not available, but the Canadian government has prepared an aid for locatingtownships and villages called Catalog of Census Returns on Microfilm 1901. The catalogincludes 10 microfiche with 600 additional pages. Cost: $29.37 (Canadian dollars), or $36.55(USdollars) postpaid.

Order from -

Canada Communications Group-Publishing
Ottawa, ON
Canada K1A OS9

1801 Abstracts of Answers and Returns, Census of Scotland, film #0994095
1841 Census of Scotland, 164 reels
Indexes of Streets of Larger Cities of Scotland
1841-1851, film #0104115
1861, film #0104116
1871, film #0104117
1851 Census of Scotland, 237 reelsParish Index (alphabetical) of Scotland, 1841-1851, film #1041485
1861 Census of Scotland, 153 reels
1870 Census of Scotland, 192 reels
1881 Census of Scotland, 401 reels
Index to Street Addresses and Larger Cities, 1881 Census of Scotland, film #0203392
1891 Census of Scotland, 501 reels

A. I. S. I., Accelerated Indexing Systems International

This is a microfiche collection available at family history centers....a database dating from 1608to1906. However, most records are covered from 1790 to 1850. Other records included are specialcensuses, tax lists, military lists, church records, land records, vital statistics, petitioners lists,rentlists, and various other types of municipal records. They re subdivided into categories:

Search 1: Early Colonial
Search 2: US, 1820-1829
Search 3: US, 1830-1839
Search 4: US, 1840-1849
Search 5: US, 1850-1860
Search 6: New England and Southern States, 1850
Search 7: Midwestern and Western States, 1850-1960
Search 7A: US, 1850-1906
Search 8, Mortality Schedules,1850-1885

Example of Search 1: Early Colonial -
Name/Co./State/Page#/Ages/Census

AARNOLD, Charles Herkimer NY
379 31010-10010 1810
** Ages in household -
3 males under 5, 1 male 5-10,
0 males 10-16, 1 male 16-26,
0 males 26-45
1 female under 5, 0 females 5-10,
0 females 10-16, 1 female 16-26
0 females 26-45

BENNETT, H.A. Hamilton Co.OH 8MoM Mar OH Unknown 00 1850
Example of Mortality Schedule -
Name/Co/State/Age/Sex/Mo/Cause/Census

BENNETT, H. J. Stearns Co.MN M Oct
NY Dropsy 01 1870
Note: Mo. is month of death

The A. I. S. I. provides guidelines where to locate ancestors for certain time periods. The fartherback into history one searches, one must consider all persons residing in a county or state,although the information is scant. We know for certain that Charles Aarnold family lived inHerkimer Co., New York in 1810, and we have the age ranges of his children. As scant as thisdata is, it provides some information, if only to be used for elimination. Therefore, one writesdown all surnames of interest for specified time periods and places of residence. Then, oneexamines county records, land grants, tax digests, etc., trying to establish additional information.Real detective work begins with the accumulation process, which either ultimate adds to the puzzle or eliminates.

Next: County Records

After census research, the single-most important effort is a thorough search of county recordswhere your families resided. Remember, sometimes this included adjoining counties. First,locate,their town or city on the map, noting its location. Then, establish a migratory trail via the use ofcounty records.

Re-emphasizing, it is imperative that you search the county records where your families resided.You can flip through written genealogies, indexes, etc., but the true researcher knows his facts,the ones he established. The research which you perform in the county records will provideunderstanding to all your surname families, their entry into the county, and relationships to oneanother. Do you assume that you are not related to all surnames in the county. You could verywell be related to every one of them, and more importantly, to the oldest area emigrant. Makecertain that you are, or aren't. It is just as important to add relatives as it is to eliminate possiblerelatives. Families travelled together, at variant time-periods, ending up in the same states andcounties.

Example: Tobacco, a nitrogen-sapping plant was a crop in Virginia soon after its first emigrants(1609). Crop rotation was necessary. A long time before the American Revolution, people beganmigrating into the Carolinas and Georgia in search of new lands. Pioneer relatives located fertilesoils, then cousins, brothers, parents, etc., followed. Other scenarios exist, such as the migrations of religious groups of puritans and quakers. Onegroup of puritan families migrated from 17th centry Pennsylvania into South Carolina, then intoMidway, Georgia during the 18th century. And how about the Germans who lived in Lancasterand Burks Co., Pennsylvania, then crossing the Shenandoah Mountains into Augusta andFrederick Co.'s, Virginia.

Many examples of migratory paths exist in history, but you will find only a few in the historybooks. What about the hundreds upon hundreds of family foot paths? Your families fit uniquelyinto their own historical trekings. Someone has to find it....you! Let us begin now, with the guts,the internal organs, the succulent meat of your discoveries, to better understand the history yourpioneers left behind, for you. It is a footpath now, but soon will be a collage of personal familyhistories.

Georgia, Chatham County

Mrs. Jane Russell of Savannah on the 11th day of February 1786 makes an affidavit that she waspersonally acquainted to the late Mary Harris (maiden name Goodale), wife of Francis Harris,deceased, of Christ Church Parish, planter. About two years after Mary arrived in Georgia fromEngland, she had a son named Francis Henry Harris who lived of age, but died a year years agoinSouth Carolina. Six or Seven years later, she had in December of 1760, a daughter,Elizabeth.....Mrs. Harris referred to property in England belonging to her. (Chatham Co., Ga.Deed Book 1-C, page 111)

Tax Digests

Tax Digests may be found in the Superior Court or Court of Ordinary (Probate Court) records.There is one place your ancestor cannot hide. He can avoid census-takers (or be missed), notownland, etc. But he cannot avoid his name being on the tax digest in the county where he resided,even if it simply denotes the number of voters in his family and a minute tax paid. If he does notpay the tax, he is listed on a defaulter's list (on the tax digest). So what can you learn from thetaxdigest? His name, perhaps a middle initial, how many males of voting age in the family, numberofacres, county/counties of location. I have an ancestor who was first found on the 1821 landlottery of Jasper County, Georgia. Since he owned no land and no records existed for him inJasper Co., I commenced searching the tax digest, which took me to about 1823. Subsequently, Ilocated him on the 1824-1825 Clarke Co. tax digest. He did not draw in the 1827 land lottery,butwas enumerated on the 1830 Gwinnett Co. Census. Never owned any land that I could find inthese three counties! But the listing in the tax digests gave me his migratory path, as well asthoseI thought to be related to him. Ultimately, most of those surnames on the tax digests were indeedmine! Everybody kept moving around, finding better soil, either via the land lotteries, orfollowingother family members.

One takes the early census (before 1850), denotes number of male andfemale children, establishing approximate years of birth. If a male was 16 to 26 in 1820, then hewas born between 1794 and 1804. Subsequent year comparisons are made with thechildren....1830, and 1840. Were additional children born after 1820? Why do I mention thisdetail now? Because the earliest deeds may contain exchanges between a number of personshaving the same surname. An 1822 deed from John Christian to Charles Christian could be a sonif on the 1820 census there was a male between 16 and 26 years of age. Or, he could be a brother or even father, as there were four Christian families listed on the 1820 Census. One makes theage comparisons from early census records, and is aware of the number of children in his family,and their ages (or age-ranges). Did the 1840 Census list a child four years old, and not list him in1850? Perhaps, this child is in the family burial lot with a rock as a headstone. We are detailorientated. We remember the number of children in each family and their possible ages. Acarefulstudy should be made of the tax digests, especially if you are digging. Comparisons can be madeof acreage, location, etc., to see if another member of the family reported it. John Freeman diedintestate in 1815. He lived in Virginia, so the 1800 and 1810 census is used to obtain thechildrenstatistics, and whether or not he was widowed.

From 1810 to 1814, he reported 325 acres on Licking Creek in Isle of Wight County. The comments included pine trees, waters of Licking Creek, and two males (polls) ofvoting age. A study is made of all Freemans in 1815 to 1820, to see if this land is reported by arelative, or widow. An entry for the land is made in the same militia district, same captain, samedescription, for Abel Freeman. From the 1810 Census, we know that John Freeman had one sonold enough to achieve majority at the time of his death, born between 1794 and 1796. Thisnarrowing down to only one son at majority, then odds are on that Abel Freeman was the son ofJohn, and has inherited the homeplace. The bad news on tax digests is that they are generally notindexed. Each district is enumerated by a captain of that district in his handwriting. The task,then,is to read, page-by-page the entries. The fact that John Freeman was in Capt. Moore's District in1810, does not guarantee he will be found in the same area in 1811. So, don't skip along, inpursuit of a singlular district or enumerator.

Last Will and Testaments

Wills and other probate records are found in the Court of Ordinary or Probate County andincludea number of various documents pertaining to decedent's estate transactions. The most desiredrecord to find at the county courthouse is a document stipulating various portions to the heirs.Ideally, it names the spouse, each child (and spouse), grandchildren, and property and chattelsbequeathed. Then, receipts and vouchers are signed by the heirs indicating that the inheritancewas received. In the Last Will and Testament of William Thomas Harris, Sr. of St. AndrewsParish, Liberty Co., Georgia, dated 15 August 1785 , probated 20 Jan 1786, he bequested to hisson, William Thomas Harris, an improved lot in Savannah; to son, John Harris, an unimprovedlotin Savannah and 45- acre lot adjacent to Savannah, to be his after he is 21. The remainder of theestate to be divided between his 3 sons, the said William T., Jr., John and James Harris, subjecttothe encum-brance of testator's wife, Mary, she to have the right of residence on any part of hisland. Also, bequeathed to dau-ghters, Ann, Mary, Mary, Jane and Sabra; to sons, John JamesandWilliam T. and wife, Mary, all his personal pro- pro. If any of the daughters die before she is 21,her part to go to the other daughters. Here began the search for the parents of William ThomasHarris, Sr. He'd resided in Liberty County, a coastal county lush in rice and cotton plantations--acounty of absentee landlords. I visited Midway, Georgia...an old coastal town betweenSavannahand Darien. Midway Church still stood...a large frame edifice with enclosed pews and a narrowstaircase in the rear where slaves used to sit in the balcony. Across the street was the oldcolonialcemetery....with graves dating back to 1757....the time when a colony of Puritans migrated fromPennsylvania, then to South Carolina, and finally, to Midway. There they settled and built their community. Liberty County also boasted Sunbury.....a prosperous coastal Colonial town foundedby many famous statesmen long before the American Revolution, which had suffered fevers andhurricans, the last storm about 1813, wiping out the town. People moved further inward.

During pre-revolutionary war period, Savannah, Midway, Darien, Frederica and Brunswickfought off the pioneer evils.....indians, spanish, and starvation. Therefore, it seemed likely thatthecomings and goings of William Thomas Harris might have interwoven with thesecommunities....with Chatham Co. to the north, and McIntosh and Glynn Counties to the south.

In his Will, he mentioned some unimproved lots in Savannah. Many of the first lots granted byGeneral Oglethorpe to the settlers were small town-sized ones accompanied by 500 acres ormorecountry lands, for gardens. Therefore, the research must include Chatham Co.....all the earlycolonial deeds, and possible transactions. Too, history recorded one Francis Harris who practisedlaw with James Habersham in Savannah, in this time period. How is this Harris related? Foranswers, I searched the Colonial deed records in Savannah which further led me to Ft. Frederica,where I learned that William Thomas Harris was the son of William Harris who came to Georgiain one of General Oglethorpe's early voyages. The early immigration records to Georgia listedWilliam Harris, his wife, Jane, and son, William Thomas Harris, as arriving in 1734!

The search at Frederica revealed that William Harris died about 1740 or 1742, probably during asquirmish with the spanish who were invading Frederica preparing for the Battle of BloodyMarsh. Settlers were required to fight. The various and sundry colonial deed records revealedthathis widow, Jane, took over his heavy debts...as well as a merchandise store at Frederica. Janeentered into timber contracts, shipping lumber up and down the river, Savannah to Frederica.Therecords show that she turned the debt into prosperity, and at her death left a considerable estate.Her husband had been granted the Savannah lots (which William Thomas Harris inherited, thenbequeathed to his sons in his Will) by General Oglethorpe himself. The history of Fredericadescribes a small village of settlers protected by the military....amid spanish threats of invasionandinteraction with Savannah. Their quarters where shared....as an apothecary shared a house with afamily, and so on. Rum was illegal in the colony, yet Fredericians smuggled it to and fromSavannah. One seeks to learn the history of a place, to consider the way of life, thereby betterunderstanding how to search....what tools to use. Imagine a large landscape puzzle with a group of people enjoying a picnic. The trees, wood, andgrassland represent the history.....while the group of people represent daily living and where theydeposited information about themselves.

After the Will is signed and witnessed it is complete. At the time of probate, it is taken to thecourt house and filed of record. At that time, the date of probate is recorded. One can guess thatthe testator succumbed very near the probate date, perhaps even days before.I have had previous experience working with attorneys, and noticed that when a client died, theWill was filed for probate immediately, even the following day. It is a process which is necessary to transact future business for the estate. After probate, a Letters ofTestamentary is given to the executor and this is the document used to transact business, such asselling automobiles, houses, transferring monies, stocks, bonds, opening safety deposit boxes,receiving funds, etc. It is the key to getting the ball rolling. Thus, it is begun soon after death.Then it is safe to say that testator died a couple of days prior to the date of probate. Unless, ofcourse, the testament is filed without a probate date....then anything could have happened...fromno probate to a much later recording of the testament.

The Last Will and Testament of Royal Guy of Liberty County, planter, dated 2 August 1785(probated 26 Jul 1786) bequeaths to cousins, Elizabeth Baker, Mary Bradwell, Sarah DunhamandMargaret Dunham 200 pounds in cash; to niece, Susannah Dowse, three slaves and cattle, herfather, Gideon Dowse, to receive and hold the same for her as her trustee. The Remainder ofpersonal property to go to nephews, Gideon and Hugh Dowse, sons of Gideon Dowse, Sr., andSamuel and Nathaniel Law, sons of Joseph Law, Esq., to be theirs when of age. Also, devises allhis lands to said Samuel and Nathaniel Law, minors.

Unfortunately, the names of the slaves were not given, however, they might be located inReceiptsand vouchers given by the heirs as they received property and chattels. This is the digging (viawhite masters) which is required to trace black familites.

Sometimes details are given of bequeathed lands. These tracts can be compared in deeds and taxdigests. They may be part of an old land grant to your ancestor when he first arrived in thecounty.

Wills do not always list all the children, or even name the spouse. This is why it is important tobecareful in the study of census records....to account for all possible children for each 10-yearCensus Enumeration. If one suspects children are missing from the Will, then a study is made ofthe marriage records (brides and grooms) to determine who is the best candidate to be possiblechildren. Was she old enough to be married in 1839? Jane Mathers married Samuel Flint in1839.In the sale of the estate, or inventories of the estate, was Samuel Flint one of the purchasers, oreven mentioned?

The widow frequently purchased most of the household inventory, but neighbors and otherfamilymembers also participated. Such purchasers should be considered possible candidates forsons-in-law, or married children.

Letters of Testamentary

Located in the Court of Ordinary and Probate Court.

Issued to executor/executors of Last Will and Testament at time the document is submitted forprobate at the local court house. Sometimes the executor will refuse to act, and the courtappointsa replacement. The benefit of having a Will is that reports or annual returns are not necessary tobe filed with the court. Also, no expensive bond is necessary to administer the estate.

Receipts, Vouchers

Located in the Court of Ordinary or Probate court.

Receipts and vouchers for inheritances are sometimes acknowledged by heirs as a result of aLastWill and Testament, or the administration of an estate (no Will). They are valuable inascertainingrelationships (where none was given) and locating husbands of daughters.If a daughter was married, she did not inherit....her husband did as her trustee! And he was freeto manage the inheritance in any manner he chose. Single daughters did inherit.

I am reminded of Queen Elizabeth, the virgin queen, who, remembering her mother executed bythe king and the loss of titles and estates, particularly court treachery and schemes to unseatheirsto the throne, refused to marry. She would not risk her neck nor have her rights removed by ahusband. It is from these colloquial English laws and traditions that American law was borne.

If there was property, widows sometimes properly entered into marriage contracts, stating thatafter the (next) husband's death, original properties and chattels would be returned to her. Sheprotected herself from distribution among step-children, favoring disposals to her own children.Nevertheless, the management of the newly acquired property via the marriage contract was inthehands of the husband, to do as he please.Also see Divisions of Estates, Estate Account Sales, Estate Administrations, Estate Trustees'Bonds, Final Receipts, Inventories and Appraisements, Warrants of Appraisements, and Widow'sYears Support.

Inventories, sales, annual returns

Found in Court of Ordinary or Probate Court.

When a person died intestate (without a Will), an immediate inventory was made of propertiesaswell as personal goods of the estate. Afterwards, a sale of these goods was had whereinneighbors and relatives made purchases. Such transactions are listed in the Sale. An annualreturndetailing what has transposed (receipts, payouts, etc.) is filed with the court every year until allfunds and properties are disposed of to the heirs, and is called a Final Return.

Letters of Guardianship, and Bonds

Found in Court of Ordinary or Probate Court.Where minor children are concerned, Letters of Guardianship of personal and property areissuedby the court to male relatives. A mother might be appointed guardian of her children, but nottheirproperties. A bond is given by the guardian, covering the cost of the inheritance, and filed withthecourt. The surety on such a bond was usually friends, or relatives.Also see Lunacy Cases (with guardians appointed), Temporary Guardianship Bonds, TemporaryLetters of Guardianship. See Superior Court for Orphans Records of individual compilations,such as Bethesda Orphanage, 1739-1746 compiled by the Rev. George Whitfield.

Rev. Whitfield was a popular minister in colonial Georgia, opening the first orphanage atSavannah. Therefore, any records maintained by him might contain historial and genealogicalcontent.

Letters of Administration

Located in Court of Ordinary or Probate Court.

When a death occurred without a Last Testament and Will, a child/widow/friends were issuedLetters of Administration, simultaneously purchasing a bond compensurate with the value of theestate. The Letters of Administration were the ticket to transact business, just as Letters ofTestamentary, except that it was quite different in the respect that every transaction had to bereported to the court in the form of inventories, sales, and annual returns. At the conclusion ofdistribution to the heirs, Letters of Dismission were issued by the court.

Letters of Administration/Testamentary and Letters of Dismission are advertised in the localnewspapers for three-weeks. The newspaper source might be a necessary search, as frequentcouthouse fires destroyed many records over the countryside. Your clue could be minute, a meremention (in the Minutes of the Inferior Court) that a Last Will and Testament was filed . Allotherrecords could be lost. Therefore, you would look at old newspapers, searching for a more precisedate, such as the first advertisement of Letters of Testamentary or Administration. Additionally,Letters of Guardianship are advertised in newspapers. This will provide names of minors.

The widow may apply for a Years Support (found in the probate records).

Inferior Court Minutes

These minutes, usually unindexed, mention miscellaneous court proceedings, such as appoints oftax assessors, road workers, filing of Wills and administrations of estates. It is usually only anotation, with the date the court convened. The minutes include such things as Board ofCommissiones of Roads and Revenues, Accounts, Court Proceedings, Trial Docket, Register ofFree Persons of Color, etc.

Superior Court Minutes

This is where lawsuits are mentioned, jurors are appointed for trials, verdicts written, with thedate the court convened. Such dates may be used in searching law books. An example would beThe Georgia Reports, to locate the details of the trial, and verdict. Law books such as TheGeorgia Reports may be found at local regional libraries, or state universities, and archives. Thetrail may involve murders, probate proceedings, squabbles over lands, and provide details suchasfirst and second marriages, and children by both marriages.

These minutes also contain county commissioners, court proceedings, Confederate widows andorphans records, criminal minutes, and incorporation charters.

Marriage Records and Contracts

Unfortunately, the law varies from state to state as to when it became mandatory for ministers tofile marriage ceremonies. South Carolina is the worst example of such recordings, with few, fewearly marriages. With over 300 years of history and living, only a few 19th century marriagesexist.

Sometimes one will find published Minister's Returns for a given area, or the marriages whichwere performed in his lifetime. These may or may not be included with the county records.

Marriage by inference may be taken from Wills, deeds, and relative marriages.In North Carolina, for example, names of witnesses are provided to the earliest of ceremonies,frequently having the same surname as the bride or groom. The witness or surety on a marriageapplication may or may not be the parents, but could be brothers, or other relatives.

When one searches the marriage records, there are two dates. The first date is part of themarriage license, and the second date is that of the ceremony itself. Published marriage recordstend to confuse these dates, thus you might have conflicting dates for a marriage.Marriage contracts are found amongst the marriages, deeds, and even filed with probated Wills.

In summary, search all county records where your ancestors lived, making certain that you haveconcluded the extent of information from this source. As they moved from county to county,stateto state, again search the records. Simply because you have data from a previous countyresidence, does not detract from additional information from later generations.Also, see Marriage License Stubs and Bonds.

Court of Ordinary Records

Also found in this court are....Register of Voters, Militia Districts, Minutes of the Court ofOrdinary, Lunacy Records, Misc. Bonds--bastardy, county officials, assignees, receivers, etc.,Court Proceedings, Pony Homestead Records, Index to Deaths, Coroner's Records (Inquests),Criminal Bonds, and Officer Bonds.

City Court Records

Contain Criminal Minutes, Insolvent and Honest Debtor Records, Citzenship Petitions,Affidavitsand Court Orders, Indexes to City Lots, etc.

Correctional Institutions

Records are found in the Superior Court, which contains Prison Records.

Homestead Records

Located in the Superior Court. Also, see Headright Surveys and Plat Books.

Divorce Records

Located in the Superior Court. Sometimes found in old newspaper records.....which also containpersonal information such as runway wives.

Law Suits

Writs, and other criminal proceedings are found in early Superior Courts and Criminal Courts,usually in the Minutes. Cases are merely noted as part of the daily calendar call, sometimesproviding verdicts. However, details are not provided and one may search the state's lawbookswhich begin from the earliest times to the more recent. A local university or state archives houselawbooks....which usually contain an index in each volume. Volumes are by year/years.

Other information available in county records:

Indentures of apprenticeship

Confederate pension rolls, service records and soldiers license

Discharge records of World War I and II

Register of dentists, druggists, physicians, pharmacists, druggist licenses

Colonial Records

What records might be available for the colonial period in America?

First, let us consider military records. The French and Indian War (1754-1763) commenced inAmerica before the war was actually declared in Europe. In 1749 a French expedition underCeloron de Bienville marched into the Ohio Valley, taking possession. Then, in 1754 theGovernor of Canada sent an expedition to build forts and roads into this territory. Great Britainand Virginia claimed this territory, thus, Governor Dinwiddie of Virginia sent young GeorgeWashington to demand the evacuation of the French.

When the French did not budge, the French built what was known as Fort Duquesne, a sitethought to be the key to the Ohio Valley.

General Braddock arrived in America with an army of British regulars in 1755, and in 1759 theBattle of Quebec was fought, which claimed defeat of the French general Montcalm by theBritishGeneral Wolfe. It was this battle which decided the ultimate fate of New France in America. Ofcourse, we recall that the British formally declared war on France in May of 1756, a battle whichwas fought both in America and Europe, except that in Europe it was known as the "Seven YearsWar", ending in 1763.

American Families of Hessian Descent, 1547-1866 (misc. genealogical records), film #1320835

Our Early Citizens, names of those taking oath of allegiance from 1715 to 1773 by Bellinger,film#0889468

Servants to Foreign Plantations, 1654-1679, film #1597374Russian-German Settlements in United States by Richard Sallet, fiche 6089058 (4 fiche)

Revolutionary War, 1776-1783

The American Revolutionary War began in Massachusetts on 19 April 1775, with 4 July 1776 asthe date of the Declaration of Independence at Philadelphia.

The surrender of General Cornwallis took place 19 Oct 1781 at Yorktown, VIrginia, the peacetreaty being signed in 1783.

Provisions for benefits to veterans were adopted after the war ended, even though some coloniessometimes provided pensions for injured or disabled veterans. Although the pension recordsbegan in 1789, many of the first applications were destroyed by fire in 1800 and 1814. A partialrecord of the earlier pensioners is included among reports to Contress in 1792, 1794,1795.

One should also become aware of the various government pensions and commutations resultingfrom service.

(1) Invalid pensions and extended relieft to those who had been disabled prior to 26 August 1776and since date of hostilities, 19 April 1775. The Act of April 1782 provided further provisionsforinvalids, and finally Congress voted on the subject of invalid pensions 11 June 1788 (lateramended in 1792 at which time were were 1500 invalid pensioners on the rolls.

(2) Half-pay for life to officers who served was first provided in 1780, and by 1788 Congresspromised seven years half-pay to officers who had served to the end of the war. Subsequently,widows of those officers who had died were granted half-pay for the same length of time.

(3) Commutation Certificates were given to 2,480 officers for service, however, delayedpaymentsexisted. By 1828 an Act granted full pay for life beginning with 3 March 1826 to the survivingRevolutionary War officers in the Continental Line, who had been entitled to half-pay for life bythe resolution of 21 October 1780.

(4) The Law of 1818 provided that every person who had served to its close, or for nine monthsor longer at any period of the war, in the continental army or in the havy and who was in need ofassistance from his country for support, should receive a pension. There were so many abuses ofthis law that it had to be re-written in 1820, which law removed many persons' names from thepension rolls because they were not indigent.(5) The Act of 1832 stripped most of the benefits of Revolutionary soldiers.

By 1867 the soldiers on pension rolls had died. However, two names went on the rolls thereafter,and the last old soldier, Daniel F. Bakeman, died 15 April 1869 at the age of 109 years. In 1869 there were 887 Revolutionary War widows on the pension list. And believe it or not, in1906, one widow was still on the pension list.Estimates of the total soldiers granted pensions was 20,485 in 1818, 1,200 in 1828, and 33,425in1832.

Revolutionary War Pension Dates
26 Aug 1776 - Invalid pensions for officers and soldiers, half-pay during disability, continental line.
24 May 1780 - Widows and orphans of officers of Continental army, half-pay for 7 yrs. --rescinded 29 Jul 1789
21 Oct 1780 - Service Pension for life for officers of Continental Army only, rescinded 4 Aug1790
28 Jul 1789 - Federal Goverment assumes state invalid pensions, continental line
3 Mar 1804 - Federal Government assumes all of S. C. invalid pensions, continental line.
3 Mar 1805 - Invalid Pensions to those disabled since the war for wounds incurred during the war, continental line
10 Apr 1805 - Invalid pensions extended to volunteers, militia and state troops.
1813 - Military records burned in War of 1812, including pension applications prior to 1813
18 Mar 1818 - Service pension for :cont. Establish "T" Act of 1820 removed many
15 May 1828 - Service pension for officers and soldiers eligible for pension under resolution of 21 Oct 1780, full pay for life.
7 Jun 1832 - First service pension for all Revolutionary soldiers and sailors, continental and state. Widows and orphans entitled to balance of money due a pensioner.
4 Jul 1836 - Widow's pension for widow of Revolutionary soldiers, on pension rolls of 1828, married during last term of service or before 3 Nov 1783
7 Jul 1836 - Pension for widow if married before 1 Jan 1794
3 Mar 1837 - Revolutionary widow entitled to pension even if remarried
3 Feb 1853 - Revolutionary widow entitled to pension, regardless of date of marriage
5 Apr 1869 - Daniel F. Bakeman, last Revolutionary pensioner, died!
11 Nov 1906 - Esther S. Damon, last pensioned Revolutionary widow died!

New Acquisitions in Family History Center- Revolutionary Period

Miscellaneous Numbered Records (the Manuscript File) of the Revolutionary War. Includes35,000 documents such as letters, pay accounts, oaths of allegiance, pensions, and enlistedpapers(125 microfilms and an index on 39 microfilms)

Post-Revolutionary War Period, 1784-1811

The following research tools are available at the National Archives, Military and Navy ServiceBranch, second floor, Room W-7-1. They are not microfilmed!Carded Militiary Service Records, 1784-1903 and Post-Revolutionary War Period, 1784-1811Jackets showing name of soldier, organization and rank, and information relating to muster, payrolls and original records, have been copied. They are arranged alphabetically by Statesfurnishingtroops, under the commanding officer's name, then alphabetically by soldier's name.

Indexes to Origanizations from the Territory South of the Ohio, 1793-1794, Lt. Colonel Harmer'sFirst U. S. Regiment, 1785-90, Lts. Col. Darke's First U. S. Levies, 1791-1794, and ColonelGibson's Second U. S. Levies, 1791-1792.

An Index of Revolutionary War Pension Applications was published by the NationalGeneaogicalSociety Quarterly in 1943 and subsequently printed by the National Archives where it isavailableto the public. One views the index, then the microfilmed pension applications and affidavits,wherea wealth of information is available.

Microfilmed sources at Federal Records Centers (National Archives):

General Index to Military Service Records of Soldiers, 58 reels, M860.

Index to Service Records of Naval Personnel, 1 reel, T516.

Compiled Service Records of Revolutionary War American Naval Personnel, Department of theQuartermaster General and the Commissary General of Military Stores, 4 reels, M 880

Index to Service Records of Soldiers Who Served in Georgia Military Organizations, M1051

Compiled Military Service Records of Soldiers Who Served in the American Army During theRevolutionary War, 1096 reels, M881

Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, 2670 reels, M804

Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775=1783, 138 reels, M246. Includes muster rolls, etc.

Register of Army Land Warrants Issued Under Act of 1788 for Service in the RevolutionaryWar:Military District of Ohio, 1 reel, T1008.

Index to Compiled Service Records of Volunteer Soldiers Who Served from 1784 to 1811, 9reels, M694.

American Prisoners of the Revolution by Danske Bedinger Dandridge, film #0844970

Index to Compiled Service Records of Volunteer Soldiers Who Served During the RevolutionaryWar in Organizations from the State of North Carolina, A-Q, film #0821595, R-Z, film#0821596

Index of Names of the Braunschweig Corps who Remained in America, 1776-1783, film#1036138

Index to the Papers of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789 by John P. Butler, vol. 1-3, film#1035704, vol. 4-5, film #1035705

Narratives and Diaries of Revolutionary War Soldiers:

The Narrative of John Blatchford by John Blatchford, ca 1762-1794, film #0924682Memoir of Lieut. Col. Tench Tilghman by Tench Tilghman, fiche #6089077 (3 fiches)Memoirs of the Marshall Count de Rochambeau , fiche #6089061The Narrative of Abraham Leggett, film #1320669Letters of William Lee 1766-1783 by William Lee, film #0924664Captain Thomas Cook 1752-1841, a soldier of the Revolution, film #1017021Moses Fellow, 1755-1846, a soldier of the Revolutionary War, film #0015506Diary of Colonel Israel Angell, 1740-1832. Film #1597857Personal Recollections of Captain Enoch Anderson, fiche #6093773 ( 1 fiche)The Montresor Journals, (Rev War, French-Indian War, etc., film #0845290

War of 1812

War was declated 18 June 1812 by President Madison and ended Christmas Eve 1814.Soldiers who served received invalid pensions, life pensions, and widows of husbands who haddied from wounds or disability. However, service pensions were not granted until 1871 and thiswas for all sailors and soldiers who had served 60 days and were honorably discharged. Also,applicants were required to take an oath in support of the Constitution for loyalty during the civilwar. However, the Act of 1878 abolished the requirement of loyalty during the civil war.

The last surviving soldier receiving a pension was Hiram Cronk of Ava, Oneida Co., N. Y.,succumbing on 13 May 1905 at the age of 105 years. However, by 1916 more than 115 widowsyet remained on the pension rolls. The pensions contain valuable genealogical data, such asplaceof residence, age, spouse and date of marriage, etc. The widow's application naturally containsadditional information, providing date of husband's death, place of discharge, etc.

The National Archives has the pensions on microfilm, 102 reels. They are arranged by surnamealphabet.

Index to Volunteers Who Served in the War of 1812, 234 reels, M602.

War of 1812 Military Bounty Land Warrants, 1815-1858, 14 reels, M848.

Old War Index to Pension Files, 1815-1926, 7 reels, T316.

Indian Wars, 1817-1858

Pensions received resulting from service during the indian wars can be found at the National Archives. Includes bounty-land warrant application.

The Federal Record Centers (National Archives), as follows:

Index to Volunteers from Alabama (Creeks), 2 reels, M244.

Index to Volunteers from Alabama, (Cherokees) , 1 reel, M243.

Index to Volunteers from Georgia, (Cherokees), 1 reel, M907.

Index to Volunteers from North Carolina, (Cherokees), 1 reel, M256.

Index to Volunteers from Tennessee and Field and Staff Offices of the Cherokee Nation, 2 reels,M908.

Index to Volunteers from Alabama (Florida War), 1 reel, M245.

Mexican War, 1846-1848

This war was declared against the Mexican Republic for the annexation of Texas. Volunteerswhowere wounded or otherwise disabled, received pensions; in 1858 half-pay of widows wasextended for life and of orphans until they reached the age of sixteen years.Records of pensions filed between 1887 and 1926 may be viewed in the Microfilm ReadingRoom, Second Floor of the National Archives (Records Group #15).Microfilmed records available for viewing at the National Archives:

Index to Compiled Service Records of Volunteers, 41 reels, M616.

Compiled Military Records, Mississippi, 9 reels, M863.

An Index to Service and Pension Records was published by June Thayn in 1965, which includedpensions of the Mormon Battalion. At National Archives, see Old war Index to Pension Files1815-1926, 7 reels, T316.

Mormon Battalion Experiences and Songs composed and collected by R. N. Allred of SpringCity, Utah, film #0001197.

The Mormon Battalion by B. H. Roberts, film #1320757.

Confederate Records, 1861-1865

The family history library has a large combined collection of Confederate pension records fromthe American Civil War, 1861-1865.Many states granted benefits, kept pension records forConfederate veterans and widows. Pensions were granted to officers, disabled and needyveterans, widows or orphans of veterans, and veterans who served a given period of time. Theprocess was that the applicants filed pension applications with an agency of the state in whichtheylived after war.

A soldier's pension application was ripe with genealogy, containing as much information as hisname, wife's maiden name, rank and military unit, period of service, residence, age, date andplaceof birth, marriage and death, accompanied by affidavits from acquaintances and friends.

At this writing pension files are not yet available for Louisiana and South Carolina in familyhistory centers.

When searching for pensions, look in the Family History Library Catalog under STATE,MILITARY RECORDS. The published pension indexes for Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky,Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas are listed.

The National Park Service, National Archives, The Federation of Genealogical Societies, TheCivil War Trust and The Genealogical Society ofUtah (parent organization of the Family History Center) and hundreds of volunteers in the U. S.A. have combined forces to develop a new database of Union and Confederate soldiers....due forcompletion about 1996. 3.5 million soldiers are included, as well as their regiments and whichbattles they fought in. Since many soldiers served in more than one regiment and because ofalias'and spelling variations, the entire database will have about 5.5 million names! The database will be available at National Park Service Battlefield sites, NationalArchivesbranches, Family History Centers, and other major genealogical libraries and archives.From 1893 to 1932, The Confederate Veteran Magazine was published monthly "in the interestofconfederate associations and kindred topics" by the Confederate Veteran Company, Nashville,Tennessee.

Alabama Pension Commission, Confederate, pension applications, 1880s-1930s, 276 reels

Arkansas State Auditor, Confederate Pension Records, 1901-1929, 121 reels

Florida Comptroller's Office Pension Claims of Confederate Veterans and Widows, 1885-1955,169 reels.

Georgia Department of Archives and History, Confederate Pension Rolls,, 1879 - , 634 reels

Kentucky Confederate Pension Board, Civil War Pension Applications, 50 reels

Mississippi Auditor's Office, Confederate Soldiers and Sailors, Widows Pension Applications,94reels.

Missouri Adjutant General's Office, Confederate Pension Applications and Soldiers HomeAdmission Applications, 27 reels.North Carolina State Auditor, Applications for Confederate Soldiers', Widows' Pensions,1885-1953, 105 reels

Oklahoma Board of Pension Comissioners, Confederate Pension Applications for Soldiers andSailors, 33 reels.

Tennessee Board of Pension Examiners Confederate Pension Applications, Soldiers andWidows,1891-1905, 181 reels

Texas Comptroller's Office, Confederate Pensions, Applications Approved and Rejected, 700reels.

Virginia Office of the Comptroller, Confederate Pension Applications, Act of 1888, 30 reels

Additional sources as follows:

Case Files of Applications from Former Confederates for Presidential Pardons (AmnestyPapers),73 reels. Reproduced from 1865-1867 applications for pardons submitted to President AndrewJohnson by former confederates excluded from the provisions of his amnesty proclamation of 29May 1865, with affidavits, oaths of allegiance, recommendations for executive clemency, etc.Consists of 14,000 files which are divided into three groups....applications from AL, AR, FL,GA,KY, LA, MD, MS, MO, NC, SC, Tn, TX, VA, WV, applications from the North and West (CA,DE, District of Columbia, IL, IN, IA, KS, MA, MI, NE, NJ, NM Terr., NY, OH, PA and RI, andfinally, applications from no state or territory. See film numbers under each catagory.Confederate Papers Relating to Citizens or Business Firms, 1158 reels contans 350,000alphabetical files of original documents and vouchers describing the interaction of people orbusinesses with the Confederacy.

United States Military Records, Civil War, 1861-1865

Index to General Correspondence of the Record and Pension Office, 1889-1904 , 385 reelsOrganization Index to Pension Files of Veterans Who Served 1861 and 1917, 45 reelsFor Union Army records, see sources at Federal Records Centers (National Archives) as follows:

Index to Union Volunteers from Alabama, 1 reel, M263

Index to Union Volunteers from Florida, 1 reel, M264

Index to Union Volunteers from Georgia, 1 reel, M385

Index to Union Volunteers from Mississippi, 1 reel, M389

Index to Union Volunteers from North Carolina, 2 reels, M 391

Index to Union Volunteers from Tennessee, 16 reels, M 392

1890 Census of Union Veterans and Widows of Union Veterans, 118 reels, M123

Spanish-American War, 1898

This is the war which lasted 115 days, resulting in the annexation of Philippines, Puerto RicoandCuba. There were no bounty land provisions, however pension records are available from theVeterans Administration, called the "Old War Index to pensions", and may be viewed in theMicrofilm Reading Room at the National Archives.Federal Records Centers (National Archives) has available:Index to Volunteers from North Carolina, 2 reels, M413Compiled Military Records of Volunteers from Florida, 13 reels, M1087.

World War I, 1914-1918

The draft registration cards of 24 million men born between 1873 and 1900 who registered forthedraft in 1917 and 1918 may be seen at Federal Record Centers (National Archives). The fullnameof the registration and his address at the time of registration is needed in order to search thecards(which cover the entire U. S. A.). They are filed by draft board.There were (3) draft registrations which eventually included all men (whether native born oralien)between the ages of 18 and 45.

Information from the cards includes such information as:

a. Full nameb. Full date and place of birthc. Race, citizenship, and occupationd. Personal description and signature.

Of interest is the fact that not all of the men who registered served, and not all men who servedinthe military registered for the draft. The draft cards do not represent actual military records andcontain no nothing concerning military service. Between April 1917 and November of 1918, 4.8million men served in the United States.The draft cards are arranged by state, county or city (except for Ct, MA, and RI which arearranged by divisions and counties), then alphabetically by names of registrants. The locatemicrofilm numbers, see catalog under UNITED STATES - MILITARY RECORDS - WORLDWAR, 1914-1918.

To obtain microfilm numbers for states not yet listed in the catalog, write to --

Corres. Unit
35 N. West Temple Street
Family History Library
Salt Lake City, UT 84150

Also, copies of service records may be found at county courthouses, the state adjutant general'soffice or state archives.Some World War I service and burial records are available from the Family History CenterLibrary. See locality catalog under STATE - MILITARY RECORDS.

The official World War I military service records may be requested by next of kin and others bywriting to -

National Personnal Records Center
9700 Page Boulevard
St. Louis, MO 63132

A History of the Sixth Regiment, FIeld Artillery, First Divison, US Army, fiche #6047448 (3fiche), a history of the regiment from 1907 to 1918.

Minningarrit islenzkra hermanna, 1918-1918, film #0105397, biographies of soldiers and nursesfrom Manitoba, North Dakota and Iceland

An Honor Roll of men and women from Becker Co., Minnesota who served in the great war:1917-1918, film #1697418

With the 364th Infantry in America, France, and Belgium by Bryant Wilson and Lamar Tooze,film #1597741

Names of officers and enlisted men from California who lost their lives while serving in the armed forces of the United States during the World War, by the CaliforniaAdjutantGeneral's Office, film #0897433

Wisconsin's Gold Star List: Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Nurses from the Badger State WhoDied in the Federal Service during the War by John Goadby Gregory, film #0924401, fiche#6051353 (3 fiche)

Soldiers of the Great War compiled by W M. Halsee, etc. fiche #6051244 (18 fiche)

Officers and Enlisted Men of the United States Navy Who Lost Their Lives During the WorldWar from April 6, 1917 to November 11, 1918, film #1415261

World War I Service Cards of the State of Ohio by Adjutant General's Office, 76 reelsOrder by alphabetical surname.

United States Catholic Chaplains in the World War, (Army and Navy), film #1320621

Declarations and Intentions, Naturalizations and Petitions, about 1790-1956; Mapes of WorldWar I Draft Registration Boards by US District Court, 107 reels. (film numbers by dates).Arranged by cities and states.

World War II, 1939-1945

The draft began 16 October 1940 for all men between ages of 21 and 35 years. Then, in Februaryof 1942, all men between the ages of 20 to 45 not previously registered, were required to do so.The following month, men between the ages of 45 and 65 registered. The draft cards are notindexed and not available at a central location. Instead, they remain at local draft boards.Copies of service records, discharge papers, etc. are located in county courthouses, state adjutantgeneral's office, or state archives. Some of them have been microfilmed for use at family historycenters.

(l) Location of US Army RecordsThose officers discharged or deceased who were separated after 1 July 1917 and enlistedpersonnel who were separated after 1 November 1912 are found at the following location:
National Personnal Records Center
Military Personnel Records
9700 Page Boulevard
St.Louis,Missouri 63121.

When requesting information, use Standard Form #180.

(m) Location of US Coast Guard RecordsFor officers separated before 1 January 1929 and enlisted men separated before 1 January 1915,these records may be found as follows: in the National Archives, Washington, D. C.

(n) Location of US Marine Corps RecordsFor records of officers and enlisted personnel separated prior to 1 January 1896, (and includes upto 1945) visit the National Archives. After Marines are discharged, retired or deceased, within four months his records are transferred to the NPRC in St. Louis.

Other Service Records available at Federal Record Centers (National Archives)Application for Headstones Arranged on Cards, 1879-1903, arranged by soldier's surname. SeeNational Archives Record Group 92.

Card Records of World War I Era Soldiers Who Died Overseas, 1917-1922, see NationalArchives Record Group 92. (Mostly grave registrations of Americans buried in Europeanchapels;also soldiers buried in Russia).

The Cemetery Service, 1861 to present. All soldiers buried in national cemeteries, arrangedalphabetically by name of soldier. Write: The Cemetery Service, National Cemetery System,Veterans Administration, 810 Vermont Ave., N. W., Washington, D. C. 20422.

Soldier Burial Records 1861-1914, National Archives Record Group 92, burials at U. S. Soldiers'Home in Washington, D. C., national cemeteries, military installations in U. S., cemeteries inCuba, Philippines, Puerto Rico and China.

Application for Headstone Arranged on Cards, 1879-1903, National Archives Record Group,alphabetical by soldier's surname. Also, applications for headstone of confederate veterans.List of Soldiers Missing in Action, 1923-1960, National Archives Record Group 117.

Phillippine Insurrection, 1899-1902

Alphabetical listing of volunteers soldiers provides information such as name, rank and unit inwhich they served. These records exclude name of state (or territory)....therefore, place ofsoldier's residence is unknown.Order from family history centers by surname alphabet, film #1002559-1002582. They may alsobe viewed at Federal Records Centers (National Archives), film M972, reels 1-24.

Armed Forces Locator Directory

Lt. Col. Richard S. Johnson has written a book on How to Locate Anyone Who Is Or Has BeenIn The Military.

Land Patents,Bounty Lands, Land Grants, Lotteries

(a) Land Patents/Land Grants.

During Colonial days, land patents were offered as incentives for settlement on the frontier. Aland grant is when, underEnglish common law, a government gives land to an individual. Title to such land is given by theissuance of a patent or letters patent. During colonial days, grants were made to settlers with a small consideration, such as a commodity in the form of aquitrent, or cash.

Since there wasn't enough money, land was promises as an added inducement to get men toservein the American forces. If killed, their heirs took up the land after the war. Special warrants(bounty land warrants) were issued by the Secretary of War.

The land grant was a process which involved several documents to obtain the land. However,there are documents referred to as "grants" which are actually colonial deeds from the Governorof a province confirming title.

The process was as follows:

1. The person wishing the land grant filed a petition or application (entry) with the colonialgovernor. Search under specific colonial entries, howbeit, remember permanent records were notalways kept, since the application was not a land title.

2. After the petition or application (entry) was approved, a Warrant was issued for the land,specifying the laying-out of the nalds to be granted. The applicant was usually issued the warrantand given the privilege of specifying the land.

3. The land was surveyed to meet the requirements of the warrant.

4. A plat was made of the tract, showing location, metes and bounds. However, the colonialplatsare quite vague, in that they specify names of other settlers to whom the land adjoins. Such as".....beginning at a beech on the North side of Flint River and bounded as followeth, to-wit:,beginning on the bank of Flint River running thence 12 degrees W 54 poles to an oak tree,thenceS 60 degrees E 34 poles to a pine knoll on the slope of a hill, on the S Mathews, on the Nvacant." Thus, a thorough examination of the first deeds in a specific county might be helpful ifone can ascertain first ownerships, then make comparisons.However, such a study would have more historical significance than genealogical, unless onewasreally trying to locate the old homeplace.

5. Licenses to land grant applicants were issued by some colonies. What it did was grantpermission to take up certain lands of a surveyed tract.

6. When the applicant was ready to take possession of his land, the patent was issued andrecorded, which consisted of a brief statement of confirmation.

(b) Bounty Lands.

After the American Revolution, soldiers received bounty lands for service. 2670 reels of filmreproduced an estimated 80,000 pension and bounty-land-warrant application files based on theparticipa-tion of American military, naval and marine officers and enlisted men in the Revolutionary War, dating between 1800 and 1900.

Besides pensions, bounty land records probably provide more information than any other type ofrecord as a result of from military service. The provisions of various Bounty Land Acts may beviewed in the book, Army and Navy Pension Laws, and Bounty Land Laws of the United States,by Robert Mayo, M. D and Ferdinand Moulton, which includes the resolutions of Congress from1776 to 1854 inclusive.

Bounty lands were granted as follows:

1. For Revolutionary War services . The resolution of 14 August 1776 was passed to induceforeigners to leave the service of Britain in America and join the American patriots, becomingAmerican citizens. Lands would be granted as follows....to a Colonel, 1000 acres, Lt. Colonel,800 acres, Major, 600 acres, Captain, 400 acres, Lieutenant, 300 acres, Ensign, 200 acres, and tonon-commissioned officers and to all others, 100 acres. Tto Canadian refugees (by resolutionsdated 23 April 1783 and 7 Apr 1798)...to those of first class, not exceeding 1000 acres, to those of the immediate classes, according to the prescribed rules, and to those of the last class, not toexceed 100 acres. Other designations were made for the director of the medical department, 850acres, Chief Physician and Purveyor, 500 acres, Physicians, Surgeons and apothecaries 450acres,to regimental surgeons and assistants, 400 acres, and to hospital and regimental surgeon mates,300 acres.

2. To non-commissioned officers and soldiers for services in the War of 1812; also forenlistmentsof five years (or during the war), including Canadian refugees. Those honorably discharged andheirs of those who died or were killed in service, were promised 160 acres. Later, under the Actof December 1814, a double bounty of 320 acres were promised to those who would enlist andserve in conformity with the Act. The Act of March 1816 granted bounties (in land extra pay) tocertain Canadian volunteers, as follows: To each Colonel, 860 acres, Major, 800 acres, Captain,640 acres, subaltern officer, 480 acres, non-commissioned officer, musician and private, 320acres. Also, to the medical and other staff, like proportions, according to their rank.

3. To non-commissioned officers, musicians, marines, etc. who served during the Mexican War.By the Act of 11 February 1847, 160 acres of land or in lieu of the script of $100, bearinginterest, was promised to non-commissioned officers, musicians and privates who would enlistinthe regular army or volunteer corps, to serve with the War with Mexico.

4. Bounty lands granted for services in various Indian Wars from 1790, the War of 1812 and theWar with Mexico. The Act of 28 September 1850 provided bounty lands for commissionedofficers, etc. who served in the above wars at the rate of 160 acres or 40 acres according to theirrespective period of service from one to nine months. Applications forbounty land, widow's applications, and various papers provide a wealth of genealogical data.Filmmay be ordered from family history centers to view the applications, which are arranged alphabetically, by surname. Therefore, one considers the alphabet, before ordering specifiedfilms.The records on this microfilm pertain only to bounty-land warrants. The documents may includepension applications, jackets showing the act under which pension payments were made,bounty-land-warrant applications, property schedules, family-record pages, final paymentvouchers. All remaining documents in that file were filmed under the heading "NonselectedRecords". See film numbers specified by alphabet surnames. The pension files have beenabstracted by Virgil D. White and can be found in Salt Lake Library under book area 973, M28g.(Not available to family history centers)

(c) Headright GrantsThis type of grant was similar to other trants, except for the consideration involved in that somecolonies attracted settlers by granting land to those who paid the passage fare for someone tocome to the colony from the Old World. One man would pay passage for persons (often hisindentured servants) and would be granted land proportionate to the number of persons which hebrought. The reason, then, for the term headright grant - per head.

(d) Other BountiesMany of the English colonies in America provided for relief and maintenance of wounded andmained soldiers. In 1636 the Pilgrims at Plymouth enacted in their court that any man sent out asa soldier and returned mained should be provided for by the colony during his life.In 1644 the Virginia Assembly passed a disbility pension law, providing for the relift of indigentfamilies of the colonies soldiers who should be slain. In 1714 Rhode Island enacted a pensionlaw.And, during the Revolutionary War Virginia and Pennsylvania promised liberal allowances totheirdisabled soldiers.

Some States have published their colonial records....North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Georgia.Theseearly colonial records pertainly to government affairs, emigration in the colonies, etc.Genealogically, they provide some information which otherwise might not be gleaned from scantcolonial records. For example, after the famous protection which the young girl, FloraMacDonald had provided for bonny prince Charles in Scotland, much of the clan migrated toAmerica, arriving at North Carolina. They sent a message to the Governor, asking to be admittedinto the country. Consequently, they were granted large tracts of land in Moore County, andsettled there. When the American revolution came along, once again the Scots chose the wrongside....this time fighting with Great Britain. As a result, to avoid be hanged as traitors, they wereexpulsed from North Carolina. Small details of embarkation, and debarkation are contained inNorth Carolinia's published colonial records. 8 Plymouth Colonial Records XI, Laws 106.9 Hening' Statuates of Large, i., 287, ii,331, 347,440.colonial records may be the only source of names of persons who resided in the colonies forspecified periods of time. Therefore, they must be considered.

A Calendar of the Warrants for Land in Kentucky, Granted for service in the French and IndianWar, fiche 6019959 (1 fiche)

(d) Land LotteriesGeorgia offered land by drawing in land lotteries for the years 1805, 1807, 1820, 1821, 1827 and1832. 1805 and 1807 stipulated:1. Free white male, bachelor, 21 or over, one year of Georgia residence, U. S. Citizen - 1 draw2. Free white male, married, with wife and or child (legitimate), under 21 years, one year ofGeorgia residence, U. S. Citizen - 2 draws3. Widow with minor under age 21, one year residence - 2 draws4. Minor orphan or family of minor orphans under age 21 with father dead and mother dead orremarried - 1 draw.1820-1821 also included soldiers of Indian War, invalid or indigent officer or soldier in theRevolutionary War or Warof 1812 and widows of soldiers as above and orphans of soldiers, excluding -49-drawers during the 1805 lottery. The 1827 lottery included those not already fortunate drawers,as well as the 1832 (Gold) lottery for the western boundaries (Cherokee County).(e) The Public DomainAfter the American Revolution, states continued to grant their (ungranted) lands in the samemanner that their parent colonies. The only difference is the creation of the public domain. Asthefederal government took control, it transferred lands to private individuals, using the guidelinesofthe Northwest Ordinance of 1785, which provided:
1. That land be purchased from the Indians prior to settlement.

2. That land be surveyed and laid out in townships and sections.

3. That the first tracts surveyed would be drawn by lot for previously promised military bounties.

4. Remaining tracts to be offered for sale at public auction in township and section-size units.

5. Certain lands to be set aside for educational purposes

6. That absolute (or fee simple) title be used in the transfer of all lands.

In addition to the bounties issued soldiers by the Continental Congress, various states authorizedbounty land for Revolutionary War veterans, holding those tracts in western territories, such asthe Western Reserve. Connecticut, for example, reserved a section of land in northeastern Ohiotogrant to veterans. Later, lands were granted to veterans of the War of 1812, the Indian andMexican Wars.The Public Domain governed by the Act of 1812 included Arkansas, Illinois andMissouri, non-transferrable.

The Act of 1847 was for soldiers who had served one year in the Mexican War, and the Act of1850 extended this bounty to all War of 1812 veterans and Indian wars veterans. The Act of1852extended to officers and enlisted men, making benefits assignable. The Act of 1855 includedeverysoldiers or heirs who had served 14 days in any war since and including the Revolutionary War.These Acts were a reward for service, rather than inducement to enlist, and granted all whoqualified a warrant for 1/4 setion (160 acres) of land located on any part of the surveyed publicdomain. The new ordinance of 1820 (surviving until 1908) reduced the tract to 80 acres, with aminimum price of $1.25 per acre.

By 1830, squatter's rights were recognized, allowing settlers on public land who had cultivated in1829 to purchase up to 160 acres for $1.25 per acre.

Also, in 1830, holders of warrants which had not been used could exchange them for scriptcertificates which permitted land to be taken anywhere in the public domain. These were --

1. Federal warrants to the U. S. Military District of Ohio

2. Virginia warrants (for service in Virginia State Line) for land in Kentucky

3. Virginia warrants (for service in Virginia Continental Line) for land either in Kentucky or theVirginia Military District of Ohio.

Such surrendered warrants provided---warrantee's name, names of heirs filing the claim andrelationship to warrantee, place of residence, and date of surrendered warrant. These recordsmaybe viewed at the National Archives, and are indexed.

The financial panic of 1837 caused the Act of 1838, allowing any settler on the public domain,who was either over age 21 or the head of a family, a resident of the land who had lived therefourmonths preceding the act, to receive the benefits under the Act of 1830. Then, in 1941, anyonewho was head of a family (including widows), or over 21 years of age, who was a U. S. citizenorwho declared intention to become one, could stake a claim for up to 160 acres, then purchase itfor $1.25 per acre. In 1854, in order to lure settlers to remote areas, public land was madeavailable for 12 1/2 cents per acre if it had been on the market for 30 years.

By 1850 the Oregon Territory gave 320 acres of free land to each single man and 640 acres toeach married man who settled on the land before December 1st, requiring four years ofcontinuedresidence and vultivation. In 1853, the residency requirement was changed to two years. Thismethod of free land was extended to New Mexico in 1854.

For research purposes, see Credit Entry Files, Cash Entry Files, and Donation Entry Files.whichinclude name of entryman, place of residence, description of tract or range, date of patent, andvolume and page of the record copy of the patent in the Bureau of Land Management, age, citizenship, etc.

Homesteads

With the secession of southern states from the union, the above policies were replaced byhomesteads. Except for a nominal filing fee, the Homestead Act of 1862 gave settlers the right toobtain title to public lands without paying for them. Any settler who met the age requirementandcitizenship requirement of the Preemption Act of 1841 could homestead up to 160 acres (aquarter section) of public land. After six months residence and improvements, he couldcommutehis homestead entry to a cash entry for $1.25 per acre. ANyone who had served in the UnionArmy or Navy were automatically eligible. With the Act of 1909, larger homesteads of 320 acreswere in the West which involved certain non-irrigable lands. And, the Act of 1916, involvedhomesteads of 640 acres for grazing stock. Homestead Entry Papers covering a period of 1863 to1908 are found at the National Archives under the names of individual land offices, in twoseries,one for individuals who have completed their entries, and one for those who did not.

The National Archives also has Private Land Claim Entries are found for 15 states - Illinois,Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin (Northwest Territory), Alabama and Mississippi (MississippiTerritory), Louisiana and Missouri Territory states of Arkansas, Iowa and Missouri (part ofLouisiana Purchase), Florida (the Florida Cession from Spain), and Arizona, California,Coloradoand New Mexico (adjacent to southwest territory ceded to U. S. by Mexico).

Old Land Ownership Maps

There are in existance 1,449 pre-20th century land ownership maps from 1,041 U. S. countieswhich antedate county platbooks and topographical surveys of the U. S. Geological Survey. Asyour order must include the fee, you need to write for the booklet Land Ownership Maps byRichard W. Stephenson which is a guide to the maps --

Superintendent of Documents
U. S. Government Printing Office
Washington, D. C. 20402
Cost: .70

7% of these maps relate to pre-1840, 28& 1840-1860, 38% 1860-1880, 30% 1880-1900, andmostly include northeastern states, north central states, California, Texas and Virginia.

Muster Rolls

Muster Rolls is a list of all troops actually present on parade or otherwise accounted for, madeonthe day of muster or review of the troops under arms for inspection. There are several types ofmuster rolls, muster-in and muster-out rolls (for volunteers only) and the regular muster-for-payrolls for individual detachments, companies and regiments and for field, staff and band.A regular muster-for-pay roll includes the names of the personnel, commissioned officers andnon-commissioned officers, followed by names of privates in alphabetical order, the date andplace of joining service, by whom enrolled and for what period, the date of muster into service,date of last pay and for what period, together with the amount received and remarks, includingabsentees, desertions, and deaths. Muster and descriptive rolls provide additional information,including place of birth, age at date of muster previous occupation, color of hair, eyes andcomplexion, bounty paid and amounts due, with remarks. The Military Service record isdifferentfrom the muster rolls, and is simply a description of the records, a compiled military record keptin a jacket envelope filed with those for other soldiers who fought in the same war and regiment orunit. The record consists of one or more card, abstracts relating to the soldier as found on theoriginal rolls, returns, registers or other records and sometimes documents pertaining solely to aparticular soldier. The card abstracts may help trace that service from beginning to end. The onlygenealogical data of interest is that they might provide his age at the time of enlistment.

Immigration, Passenger Lists, Naturalization Records.

All immigration records andpassengerlists have not been published, and for those which have, research therein pose certain questions.Copies of most passenger arrival lists are located at the National Archives in Washington, D. C.Up until 1906 immigrants were naturalized in any court of record, including Federal courts.Afterthat date, naturalizations occurred in Federal courts only. See City Courts for citizenshippetitions, affidavits and court orders; superior court records for alien declarations, naturalizationand citizenship papers, and registry of citizenship. Proposals are in the works to index therecordsfor the port of New York for 1892 to 1924, however, no indexing of these records is being doneby the Family History Center Library, Ellis Island Foundation, Ellis Island Commission, or anycommerical enterprise. The new project will include Ellis Island Passenger Arrival Lists, 1892 to1921....listing name, age, marital status, last residence, nationality, birthplace, name of relatives,name of vessel, and date and port of arrival.

The Balch Institute at Temple University has indexed earlier passenger lists, including many forthe port of New York, however, there is no public access to the index database. Immigrantnamesfrom the Balch Institute project have been published in Famine Immigrants: Lists of IrishImmigrants Arriving at the Port of New York, 1846-1851, by Ira Glazier, by GenealogicalPublishing Co. Also, Germans to America: Lists of Passengers Arriving at U. S. Ports,1850-1855, by Ira Glazier, published by Scholarly Resources, Inc.

We refer to Customs Passenger Lists to locate immigrants as they furnish proof of the arrival inthe USA of nearly 20 million persons. All passengers were not immigrants nor alien passengers,asmany migrated overland from Canada and Mexico (even though they enrolled and names are onthe lists, they did not immigrate). Under the Act of 1819 masters of vessels arriving at Americanports from abroad had to submit a manifest of all passengers to the collector of customs districtinwhich the ship arrived...which contained information as to age, sex, occupation, country towhichthey severally belonged, and where they intended to live. The original passenger lists, copies andquarterly abstracts were made by customs collectors, and are known as Customs Passenger Lists.The original lists were kept by collectors of customs at various ports of entry, with the StateDepartment maintaining quarterly reports, abstracts, and copies of the lists. In 1874 customscollectors sent copies of passenger lists to the Secretary otf State. All the lists, whether from theSecretary of State of Secretary of Treasury.....the originals, copies, abstracts.....were acquired bythe National Archives in Washington, D. C. and there arranged by port, date and ship. In 1977,the five major ports -- Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and New Orleans -- were puton microfilm, then transferred to the Temple University, Balch Institute Center for ImmigrationResearch in Philadelphia. The lists from smaller ports of entry nor the State Departmenttranscripts, were not sent. The National Archives do not have the San Francisco lists for1903-1918 and Port Townsend and Tacoma, Washington (1894-1909).

Earlier passenger lists were destroyed by the San Francisco fires of 1851 and 1940.

There are thousands of lists, arranged by port of entry, then by date of the ship's arrival, then byship, and lastly, by passenger names. Indexes are disappointingly incomplete. There is aquotationfrom the pamphlet --The Guide to Genealogical Research in the National Archives:

"If the the name of the port of entry and the approximate arrival date are known, it may bepossible to determine the exact date and the name of the vessel from records of vessel entrancesmaintained at the ports.....For example, if a passenger embarked from Stockholm for New Yorkina year in which 500 passenger vessels arrived in New York, the search could be narrowed to therelatively few passenger lists for vessels sailing from Stockholm."

Many libraries who have a genealogical collection have Passenger and Immigration ListsBibliography , 1538-1900, (arrivals in U. S. and Canada) edited by P. William Filby, publishedin1981, with 1982-1993 supplements. The names appearing are from published sources. Indexesinclude passenger lists, naturalization lists and other publications. The date and place appearinginthe above book do not necessarily equate to the date and port of arrival because the editorsdecided that all names, including alternate forms of the surname, in a given source would beindexed unless there was a definite reason for omission.

The above volumes are yet incomplete, as in 1987 about 1,500,000 names were added, including900 sources, with 1700 sources remaining to be indexed. The project, ongoing for a number ofyears, includes The Gale Research Company, Harold Lancour, a member of the New YorkPublicLibrary staff, and Richard J. Wolfe.

A Bibliography of Ship Passenger Lists, 1538-1825 by A. Harold Lancour, film #0411411, fiche#6010001-6010002

Naturalizations of Foreign Protestants in the American and West Indian Colonies by Giuseppi,film #0908978

Early 18th Century Palatine Emigration by Walter Allen Knittle, film #1320677

Register of Film Numbers for Passenger List and Indexes of Vessels Arriving in the UnitedStatesby the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Sants, film #0908690This register includes ports: Baltimore indexes 1820-1897, lists 1820-1891, Boston indexes1848-1891, lists 1820-1891, Mobile indexes 1820-1862, New Bedford indexes 1823-1874, NewOrleans indexes 1820-1850, 1853-1875, New York indexes 1820-1846, 1897-1902, lists1820-1876, Philadelphia indexes 1800-1906, 1820, lists 1800-1802.

Register of Vessels Arriving at the Port of New York from Foreign Ports, 1789-1919, film#1415143-1415169

Registres de emigres, 1817-1866, film #1125002-1125007, arranged as a card index ofEuropeanstraveling through the Alsace region of France, includes Colmar and Strasbourg, France, U. S.,Algeria, and new Caledonia.

Direct Hamburg Passenger Lists, 1850-1934, 256 reels, embarked at Hamburg, sailed to NewYork City or other port of final destination. From 1850 to 1854 the lists are alphabetical by firstletter of the surname. From 1855 to 1934, the lists are arranged chronologically by ship. Separateindexes are available for 1855 to 1934 (126 reels).

Fifteen-Year Index, Direct Hamburg Passenger Lists, 1856-1871, 10 reels

Includes names of passengers sailing from Hamburg from 1856 to 1871 in an alphabetical cardindex (incomplete). Prepared by LDS Church members in Hamburg.

Indirect Hamburg Passenger Lists, 1854-1910, 81 reels, for some emigrants who did not saildirectly to their destination, but chose a less expensive, indirect route. Many departed fromHamburg for England, then traveled overland to a British port, such as Liverpool, Southampton,or Glasgow. Other routes went through LeHavre and Antwerp. From June to December 1854, thelists are alphabetical by first letter of surname. For 1855 to 1910, they are arrangedchronologically by ship. Separate indexes are available for 1855 6o 1910 (12 reels).

Hamburg Police Records, 1834-1929, 941 reels, recorded arrivals, departures and residences ofpeople in the city. The resident registration office also issues passports. Information includes fullname, birth date or age, place of birth, occupation or status, former address, place ofemployment,verification of identity by employer, physican description, and registration number.

Passport records for Citizens of Hamburg and Nonresidents, 1852-1929, See catalog, Germany,Hamburg - Emigration and Immigration.

Registers of Non-Citizen Workers, 1834-1890. Non-citizens working in Hamburg wereregisteredunder the year they arrived in Hamburg. Each time he moved, his registration entry was updatedqwith the new address. See catalog under Germany, Hamburg, Hamburg - Occupations.

Savannah Passenger Lists (ship arrivals) provide age, marital status, occupation, nationality,race,country of las residence and destination. 1906-1917 film #1375955, 1917-1933, film #1414793,1923-1942, film #1414794, 1944-1945, film #1414795.

Sources available at Federal Records Centers (National Archives):

Copies of Lists of Passengers Arriving at Minor Ports on the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts and atPorts on the Great Lakes, 1820-1873, 16 reels, M575

Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at Savannah, 1906, 1 reel, T943

Index to Passengers of Vessels Arriving at Ports in Alabama, Florida, Georgia and SouthCarolina, 1890-1924, 26 reels, T517

Index to Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at Galveston, Texas, 1896-1906, 3 reels, M1357.

Index to Passenger lists of Vessels Arriving at Galveston, Texas, 1906-1951, 7 reels, M1358.

Passenger List of Vessels Arriving at Galveston, Texas, 1869-1948, 36 reels, M 1359

Index to Passengers Arriving at the Port of New Orleans, 1853-1899, 32 reels, T527

Indexes to Petitions of U. S. Circuit and District Courts for the Pennsylvania Eastern District,1795-1951, 60 reels

U. S. District Court, Pennsylvania Eastern District, Petitions and Records, 1795-1931, 321 reels.

U. S. District Court, Pennsylvania Western District, Petitions, 1820-1931, 429 reels.

U. S. District Court, California Southern District, General Card Index to Naturalized CItizens,1915-1978, 114 reels

The National Archives has records of the U. S. Customs Service 1820-ca 1891, as well asRecords of Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1891-1954. One views them using thealphabet surname to locate the reel number. Example: A-AK, reel #-. Or, by soundexdesignations.

Church Records, Religious trekings

America's history is such that many religious groups, escaping persecution, sought sanctuary inthe colonies.

(a) Some Locations of VariousChurch Repositories

Baptist: The Historical Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, 901 Commerce Street, Suite 400, Nashville, TN 37203, are in process of microfilming records via voluntary programs. A catalog of microfilmed records may be purchased for $8.00 postpaid, is divided by state, county, city, or assocation. Printouts at .04 each
Catholic: Each parish maintains their own records. To locate parish, phone 404-888-7801 Lutheran: The Library of the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Columbia, S. C. have records ofthe church in the southeast Synod, each synod being responsible for maintaining their own archives. The Southeastern Synod includes Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee. Phone 803-765-0590, or 830-786-5150.
Methodist: Emory University, Atlanta, Ga. have the Bishop's Records only. Pitts Theology Library (individual church histories, baptisms, marriages)Atlanta, Ga.
Births, Deaths and Marriages of Quakers, 1622-1890 indexed by Strath Maxwell, film#1068242
Scottish Society of Friends: Quakers, Registers of Births, Proposals of Marriage, Marriages andDeaths, 1647-1878 extracted by Strath Maxwell, film #0301107
Society of Friends, Aberdeen, Scotland Monthly Meeting, film #0441406
American Catholic Historical Researches, film #1294337-1294338
The Annual Register of the Baptist Denomination in North America by John Asplund, film#0001305. This is an account of the churches and their ministers, members, etc.
The Universal Register of the Baptist Denomination in North America for 1790, 1791, 1792,1793 and part of 1794 by John Asplund, film #1035541
Index of Presbyterian Ministers, Containing the Names of all the Ministers of the PresbyterianChurch in the USA, 1706-1881 compiled by Rev. Willis J. Beecher, film #1703653
History of the Southern States Mission, 1831-1961, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saintsby LaMar Berrett, film #0599669
The Elders' Journal of the Southern States Mission of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-DaySaints, 1903-1907, film #1592752
The Fathers of the German Reformed Church in Europe and America by Harbaugh, includesbiographies ofministers who died before 1748 to 1942, with emphasis on American minister:1748-1786, film #0940415;1786-1888, film #0940416;1888-1910, film #0940417;1911-1928, film #0940418;1929-1941, film #0940419
Memories of Deceased Christian Ministers, or Brief Sketches of the Lives and Labors of 975Ministers Who Died Between 1793 and 1880, film #0928424
Encyclopedic History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints by Andrew Jenson,indexed in the Early Church Information card file at the main library. Film #046776, fiche#6053258 (12 fiche), film #0928073, fiche #6051304 (3 fiche)Jesuit Relations and Allied Accounts: Travels and Explorations of the French Jesuit Missionariesamong the Indians of Canada and the Northern and Northwestern States of the United States, 1610-1791, begins fiche #608291 containing 502 fiche.
The Ministers and Church of the Central German Conference (Methodist) 1835-1907 by Julie M.Overton, film #0982092
History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints by B. H. Roberts, film #1592757
Pedigrees of Descendants of the Colonial Clergy by Society of the Descendants of the ColonialClergy, film #0928179
A History of the Friends of America by Allen C. Thomas, fiche #6048698 (4 fiche)
Records of the Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and AnnualGenealogical Report, Form E, 1907-1951:1907-1927, film #0105326;1928-1938, film #0105327;1939-1945, film #0105328;1946-1951, film #0105329
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Eastern States Mission, Temple GenealogicalRecord, film #0413034
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, North Central States Mission, Annual GenealogicalReport, Form E, 1938-1951, film #0001866
List of Persons Ordained Deacons in the Protestant Episcopal Church, Jan. 1858-Jan. 1885,compiled by E. H. Downing, film #0547577
German-American Family Records in the Fraktur-Tradition: Birth and Baptismal CertificatesandBible Records translated by Corinne Pattie Earnest and Beverly Repass Hoch, 1775-19330, film#1753082
American Quaker Records and Family History by Willard Heiss, fiche #6085709 (1 fiche)
Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy by William Wade Hinshaw, includes N. C., N. Y.,Philadelphia, Ohio, Indiana, Wilmington, Virginia, etc. Film #0432597-432606, fiche#6051371-6051379
William Wade Hinshaw Index to Quaker Meeting Records in the Friends Library in SwarthmoreCollege, Pennsylvania, film #0002146-0175413 (Arizona, California, Colorado, Idao, Illinois,Indiana,Michigan, Iowa, Pennsylvania, Kansas, South Dakota, Wisconsin.
Index Cards of Congregations and Pastors in the United States, ca 1807-1953 by the LutheranChurch, film #1487561-1487562
The Roman Catholic Family in North America by James M. O'Toole, which includesbibliographical references, fiche #6070677 (1 fiche)
Presbyterian Church in the United States, Indian Correspondence, 1830-1895, index, 1830-1895,(Includes biographical index, chronological index, tribal index, correspondence, etc. Seedesignations. Film #0906123-0913923
A Register of Members of the Moravian Church and of Persons Atached to the Said Church inthis Country and Abroad Between 1727-1754 transcribed from a mss. in handwriting of the Rev.Abraham Reincke, film #0020530
The Shaker Collection of the Western Reserve Historical Society, 1723-1952, 1792-1933, 58reels, film #1550373-1550582The Testimony of the Society of Friends on the Continent of America, film #0823736.Includes memorials of deceased Friends from the New England Annual Meeting.

American Indians

Tracing one's ancestry into the indian tribes is difficult insomuch as many of the early censusrecords contain indian names, not chrisitian names. Example: Big Bear, Little Paw, etc. Indianagencies were scattered throughout merging civilization, such as Georgia, Florida, etc. Whiteindian agents travelled into the wilderness, settling tribal complaints, keeping diaries of theiractivities. Benjamin Hawkins of Georgia kept such a diary of correspondence, etc. concerningtheindians at Ft. Hawkins, near present-day Macon. Tracing Indian origin is difficult, to say theleast,as Native Americans listed themselves in the public records as white or black, rather than asIndian. Until 1960 period, Native Americans had no legal existance in certain states such asGeorgia and Alabama, as they could not vote, sell land, serve on juries, or make other legaldocuments. The Census records of N. Alabama and N. Georgia from 1870 to 1920 did not listIndians. Claims were filed by some persons with the federal governement (Cherokees) whileclaiming on the records to be black or white. Known as the Guin Miller Rolls, dating from 1906and 1909, these records have been abstracted by Jerry Wright Jordan in books entitled Cherokeeby Blood. There is an index to these claims and may be viewed in National Archives publicationM1104.Publication M1186 of the National Archives index deals with Cherokees, Creeks,Chocktows, Chickasaws, Seminoles, and residents of Oklahoma.Also, see Cherokee Roots (Eastern Cherokee Rolls, Vol. I, and Western Cherokee Rolls, Vol. 2 by Bob Blankenship.The Final Rolls of the Five Civilized Nations (the Dawes Roll), 1898-1914 includes persons inOklahoma. For those trying to officially establish Indian lineage, one must be a memer of aFederally Recognized Indian Nation. For membership requirements (vary according to tribe),write:Bureau of Indian Affairs Federal Court Building Muskogee, OK 74401Cherokee by Blood, 1906-1910, by Jerry Wright Jourdan contains the records of easternCherokee ancestry in the U. S. Court of Claims (Salt Lake, US/CAN Book Area, 970.3, C424j.

Cherokee Emigration Rolls, 1817-1835 by Jack D. Baker .

Guy ye Cherokee Blood by Shirley Hoskins is a book on Cherokee Indian genealogies based onrecords ot the U. S. Court of Claims.

There are many Indian records at the Family History Center. Those listed below are some.

To obtain an author/title list of records at family history centers, using the computer, selectLocality Search, United States, Native Races. Once you have highlighted the subject, press F8forfull record, then F7.

Cherokee Lines by Mrs. Hugh Harris, film #159712, item 7.

List of Choctaw Students Attending Schools in the States, fiche #6100671 (1 fiche), includesnames, schools, birth and death dates (as early as 1791, and late as 1932), brief biographical andgenealogical information for many who are listed.

Biographical and Historical Index of American Indians and Persons Involved in Indian Affairs,film #1636598-1636605, film arranged by surname

Index to 1885 Choctaw Census, film #0505975Indian Pioneer Papers, 1860-1935, 1012 fiche located by surname fiche #6016865-6016981.Consists of interviews of people who married Indian Americans living near a reservation, andlifein the Oklahoma territory.

Indians of North America by Marilyn L. Haas, fiche #6051325 (2 fiche)

Old Cherokee Families and Genealogies by Emmet McDonal Starr, fiche #6088298 (4 fiche)

Special Census of Indians, 1880, film #1464020-1464023, arranged by territories

1832 Census of the Creek Indians Taken by Parsons and Abbott. film #0830418

Letters and Registers of Letters Received, 1824-1881, by the U. S. Office of Indian Affairs, 1088reels. Includes documents of emigration, claims, trader licenses, annuity payments and Indianlands.

Index to the 1835 Census of the Cherokee Indians East of the Mississippi

Old Settler Cherokee Census Roll of 1895 and Index to Payment Roll 1896, 2 reels, T985

Reports of the Field Jurisctions of the Office of Indian Affairs, 1873-1900, reel 3 and 11, M1070Records Relating to Enrollment of Eastern Cherokees by Guion Miller, 1908-1910, 12 reels,M685.

Enrollment Cards for the Five Civilized Tribes, 1898-1914, 6 reels, M1186Final Rolls of Citizens and Freedmen of the Five Civilized Tribes in Indian Territory (before1907,with supplements dated 1914), 3 reels, T529Indian Census Rolls, 1884-1940, reels 41-42, 183 and 486-187, M595

Biographical Dictionaries and Encyclopedias

American Biographical Archive, 884 fiche, reproduced between 1702 and 1920 in the UnitedStates, Canada and England. Includes 300,000 biographies of statesmen, politicians, soldiers,clerics, criminals, lawyers, physicians, industrialists, scholars, educators, reformers,missionaries,patriots, heroes, tradesmen, women, novelists, poets, actors, musicians...all men and women oflocal, national or international importance who resided in the United States and Canada. Orderbysurname.

Sourceworks, fiche #6052964 (9 fiche)
Abbott-Awasu, fiche #6052965 (41 fiche)
Babcock-Byrnes, fiche #6052966 (196 fiche)
Cadwalader-Cutting, fiche #6052967 (154 fiche)
Dahlia-Dyer, fiche #6052968 (87 fiche)
Earle-Eyster, fiche #6052969 (41 fiche)
Fairbanks-Durness, fiche #6052970 (66 fiche)
Gage-Gye, fiche #6052971 (83 fiche)
Hackley-Hyde, fiche #6052972 (151 fiche)
Ingalls-Ives, fiche #6052973 (9 fiche)
Jackson-Justs, fiche #6052974 (47 fiche)
Kaae-Kyte, fiche #6052975 (49 fiche)
Laas-Lytzen, fiche #6052976 (83 fiche)
Maag-Mytinger, fiche #6081587 (105 fiche)
Naar-Nyvall, fiche #6081588 (29 fiche)
Oadson-Ozmun, fiche #6081589 (22 fiche)
Paaonit-Pyzdrowski, fiche #6081590 (98 fiche)
Quackenbos-Quivey, fiche #6081591 (3 fiche)
Raab-Rzepka, fiche #6081592 (85 fiche)
Saalfield-Szymczak, fiche #6081597 (168 fiche)
Taafe-Tyzzer, fiche #6081593 (68 fiche)
Underhill-Uzzell, fiche #608132 (3 fiche)
Vaage-Vysekal, fiche #608133 (19 fiche)
Waag-Wade, fiche #6081634 (132 fiche)
Xavier-Yaryan, fiche #6081635 (1 fiche)
Yater-Yznaga Del Valle, fiche #6081636 (8 fiche)

California Information File (Genealogy Indexes), 1746-1986, 550 fiche717,000 index cards from the State Library include citations to California periodicals,newspapers,manuscript collections, county histories, and biographical sources.

Index of Registered Pedigrees to manuscripts in the Genealogical Office of Ireland, Index toMss.nos. 155-1821. Film #0100152 (item 1)

Index of Unregistered Pedigrees: pedigree index no. II to mss.nos.93-97,185-6,261-276,292-8,384-5,412,436,527,543-4,638,704 (part 1); 278-9,404-6,457,468,496-511,573-6,630 (part 2);112,183-4,187,205,215-222,432-7,621,628,647,690-7,704 (part 3). Film #0100152 (item 2).

Card Index of Names, Northern Ireland, Public Record Office, 1978 edition, 32 reelsOrder film by surname designations. Also 1990 edition. (53 reels)

Betham's Index, Dublin, Ireland, film #0100188 (item 1-3), manuscripts in the GenealogicalOffice

Manuscript Genealogies, at Maryland Historical Society, Baltimore, Maryland, 5 reels, arrangedalphabetically by surname, place or type of record, and consists of materials submitted toMaryland Historical Society over a period of years. See by surname alphabets -

A-C, film #0013171
D-G, film #0013712
H-K, film #0013173
L-S, film #0013174
T

Special Collections in Libraries

Some library have extensive libraries of genealogical collections which are available forinter-library loan, or ordering via U. S. mail.

New England Historic Genealogical Society, 99-101 Newbury Street, Boston, MA 02116 offersmembership at $45.00 per year (individual), $70.00 per year (family). For this membership youreceive two outstanding membership publications, The New England Historical andGenealogicalResgister (quarterly) and Nexus, bi-monthly. You can participate in the Circulating Library ofmore than 20,000 volumes available on loan to members anywhere in the world.Allen County Public Library, P. O. Box 2270, Ft. Wayne, Indiana 46801 has a collection called PERSI, known as the Periodical Source Index, 1986-1991, fiche #6016864 , afamily history center collection. It contains an annual index...place, subject and surname indextocurrent genealogical and local history periodicals received in the Genealogy Department of theAllen County Public Library.

Example, from Family Records:
TITLE/JOURNAL/VOL/NO/MON/YR
ADAMS,Richard,1800-51,note,VA
VAHB 67 1 Jan 1959
ADAMS/Richard Adams, MA, CT
AMGN 23 3 Jan 1947
=====To order photocopies, refer to above references=======

Example from US Places & Alaska:
STATE /CO/RECORD/ART. TITLE
JOURNAL VOL NUM MON YEAR
AL/Calhoun Tax Tax assessment,1844
NALS 13 3 Jan 1975

One may order from this collection by sending a letter describing the article, providing the fullentry from this index and the name of the journal. A reasonable number of articles may berequested with each letter (not to exceed more than 5 to 8 articles). You will be billed a $5.00feefor each letter, plus .20 per page copied. Request may be made by phone or fax. Write -Allen County Public Library, P. O. Box 2270, Ft. Wayne, Indiana 46801.

City Directories

The Family History Library has purchased an extensive collection of city directories onmicrofilmfrom Research Publications, dating from 1790 through 1935. The number of cities covereddepends on the time period: 1790-1860 includes 249 cities; 1861-1901 includes 79 cities, and1902-1935 includes 54 cities. Of the 50 largest cities during the 1910 population, the followingare not included in the new 1902-1935 set of directories: Albany, Birmingham, Bridgeport,Chicago, Jersey City, Louisville, Oakland, Spokane, and Toledo.To search for directories see catalog under UNITED STATES - DIRECTORIES or STATE -COUNTY - CITY - DIRECTORIES.

Newspapers

A source of births, marriages and deaths can be found in old newspapers. Any regional libraryshould have the book - which contains the collections of University of Georgia,Athens, Georgia, as well as other newspaper collections which participate in the inter-libraryloansystem.

The method to view from the newspaper collections is inter-library loan, usually payinganominal rental charge. Naturally all newspapers were not preserved. However, where countyrecords were burned or lost, it is essential that the areas newspapers be searched. A newspapercould serve multiple counties, and usually did. Therefore, one should not discount surroundingcities, towns, or counties.Obituaries are scattered throughout the newspapers.....ranging fromaccidents to accounts from certain districts, or towns, as well as a section on persons who diedthroughout the State. Marriages were also published in such a manner, frequently being grouped with news from certain districts, with or without a recognizable format.Don't overlook legaladvertising. This contains letters of administration, letters of testamentary, letters of dismission,sale of estates, notice to heirs, and such information pertaining to the death of an individual.Generally, when one died intestate, his administrator advertised the fact for three consecutiveweeks. Thus, one can obtain sufficient information to establish the month and year of death. Andmarriages which ministers did not report to the county. Some newspapers contain biographicalsketches, particularly of pioneer settlers (who have died), and those of politicians running foroffice. Colleges and Universities printed graduation classes.

Black Studies

Persons during ethnic research have a double-job. First of researching back to slavery-days, thenusing the white lineage, locate further records. Names of slaves were listed in estate inventories,deeds of gifts, as heads of household beginning with the 1870 census, and were included infamilycemeteries on the old plantations. Also places to search are The Freedman's Bureau(certificates),manumissions, petitions, register of slaves, register of free negroes, bills of sale.

A catalog on black studies microfilm is available at the National Archives.

Suggested reading: How and Where to Research Your Ethnic-American Cultural Heritage-BlackAmericans by Robert D. Reed.

The Allen County Public Library in Ft. Wayne, Indiana has an Afro-America collection. A listingis contained in the book, Bibliography of Sources for Black Family History in the Allen CountyPublic Library Genealogy Department compiled by Curt Bryan Witcher, (Salt Lake library only,US/CAN Book Area, 977.274, J53w.

Index to Compiled Service Records of Volunteer Union Soldiers Who Served with United StatesColored Troops, see film numbers listed by surname designations, such as A-Alk.

How to Trace Your Heritage in Africa by Alex Haley, fiche #6085858

Miscellaneous Sources

There are more than 30,000 libraries and historical societies in the United States from which toresearch. All facilities do not house the same collections, but purchase according to allottedannual budgets. Howbeit, some genealogical societies use public libraries to house theircollections, if they do not have their own facilities. Such societies encourage pedigree charts andfamily group sheets for their files, as well as other genealogical donations. They collectobituaries,births, marriages, family histories, and have ongoing projects like extracting data fromtombstonesin county cemeteries, publishing monthly bulletins containing collections, as well as many, manyother projects to assist the researcher.

National Yellow Book of Funeral Directors includes funeral homes in U. S. and Canada. Thebook provides such information as to where to send for death certificates and how to obtaincertified copy. Each State is listed separately.

Included are addresses of VA hospitals and cemeteries. The Family History Center Library inSaltLake has a copy as follows: US/CAN, Book Area, 973,U24y. Not available to family historycenters.

Physicians and Dentists Register is sometimes listed in the Superior Court (county records).

Newspapers

The following records provide various listings of US and foreign newspapers.

Early German American Newspapers, film #0982163, item 3

1500 Swedish Publications printed in USA in 1910, film #0599774, item 21

The Ernst Steiger Heidelberg Collection of German American Newspapers, film#0476761-0476763, and #0477515.

American Newspapers 1821-1936: a Union List of FIles Available in US and Canada, film#0430291

George P. Rowell and Co.'s American Newspaper Directory (newspapers and periodicals inUSA, Canada and Newfoundland, film #1036105, item 2.

Newspaper Genealogy Columns, film #1321978, item 2

Pettengill's Newspaper Directory and Advertisers Handbook for 1878, film #1421947, item 2

German American Newspapers and Periodicals, 1732-1955, film #0824091, item 1

Jewish Newspapers and Periodicals on Microfilm, fiche #6087872

List of Canadians and Americans on Microfilm, film #0874207, item 3Books at Library in Salt Lake -

Chinese Newspapers Published in North America, 1854-1975 by Karl Lo and H. M. Lai,US/CAN, 973,1333, Book Area

Directory of Newspaper Libraries in US and Canada, US/CAN, 970,E 4,pa, Ref. Area

National Directory of Weekly Newspapers, US/CAn, 973,B34n, Book Area

Chronological Tables of American Newspapers, 1690-1820, by Edward Connery Lathem,prepared as a companion to Clarence Brigham's History and Bibliography of AmericanNewspapers, 1690-1820, US/CAN, 873,B3, Book Area

Family History Centers

Family history center libraries are established to place microfilms and reference materialspertaining to family history or genealogy within the reach of more church members.Non-members are welcome to use family history centers, as their research efforts are majorcontributions, having a keen interest in the preservation of genealogies. Too, they contribute toThe Ancestral File, a church computer program which links genealogies.

Each year the library preserves and catalogs about 100 million new pages of historicaldocumentson 70,000 microfilms, 25,000 microfiche, and in 12,000 books. The current estimate is over 1.9million reels of microfilm records equallying more than 6 million written volumes, as well asabout379,000 microfiche.

Collections at the library consist of records kept by churches, organizations, individuals andgovernments.

The book collection consists of over 258,000 book titles, of which 129,000 are also onmicrofilm.

USA - Each state has about 590,000 reels of microfilm, which includes 100,000 reels of federalrecords. These records are from archives, county courthouses and other repositories. There are33,000 rolls for Canada which mostly includes Quebec church records as well as civil recordsfrom Ontario and other provinces.

Great Britain - English, Welsh and Scottish records consist of most of the 147,000 reels forGreatBritain. Also includes collections from Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.

Europe and Scandinavia - There are over 541,000 European reels and 204,000 Scandinavianreels. Includes church records for much of Germany, Frances and Italy. Genealogical recordsfromNetherlands, Belgium, Hungary, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Denmark, Sweden, Norway,Icelandand Finland. Some collections for Austria, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland are at thelibrary, although incomplete.

Latin America - Mexico, Uruguay and Chile parish registers are on microfilm, as well ascollections for Argentina, Brazil and Guatemala, totalling about 199,000 reels in all.

Library Consultation is available. If volunteer workers at local family history centers cannotanswer your question., they will contact specialists at the library for reference assistance.By telephone --

US or Canada - 801-240-2364

British Isles, Australia,
New Zealand - 801-240-2367
Other international areas - 801-240-3433
By fax -- 801-240-2597

Explantation of the Fiche Catalog (the GLC)

The catalog or GLC is the source of ordering films and microfilms from Salt Lake City, and istherefore where the patron searches. It is completely color-coded for easy recognition and eachfiche is consecutively numbered within the bounds of its category.All catalogs are in perfect alphabetical as well as in perfect numerical order. When searching thecatalogs, one should think alphabetical. An example of how all catalogs as follows:

~
"Georgia, Laurens Co., Probate Records
consisting of wills, letters testamentary, receipts, vouchers, etc.1818-1845 wills 0948776 (film number)
item no. 1
1835-1866 letters testamentary 0948777^
item no. 2
also, on fiche (5) 6038899
Observe that the seven-digit numbers are film numbers which are used by the patron to ordermicrofilm to the family history center.

The same record may appear as follows:
"Georgia, Laurens Co., U.S./Canada
Probate Records 471.b
book area
"book area" means that this is a book shelved in the Salt Lake City Library and is not available tofamily history centers due to copyright restrictions. However, it may also be available onmicrofilm or fiche. If it is, the information will follow in the next paragraph. Patrons mayrequestSalt Lake to microfilm or fiche the above book by requesting a form at the family history center.This process usually takes 3 to 6 months, as permission has to be obtained from the author. Ifpermission is granted, a notice is sent to the family history center advising whether or not it hasbeen filmed or put on fiche. Then, the patron may order, using the new number/numbers.

The categories of the GLC are as follows:

(a) Author/Title Catalog (green coded)

This is an easy-reference, particularly if one knows the name of a book, or other genealogicaldataand/or the author's name. All listings are alphabetical and numerical.

(b) Locality Catalog (yellow coded)

The locality catalog is a collection of U. S. A. and foreign county records. It is a prime source ofresearch inasmuch as much genealogy is traced via county deeds, wills, marriages, etc.

See References -

There is a very handy way of locating the county of the town, city, province without using theatlas. That is......to check the first microfiche of each state or country, under "See References"which is located at the beginning of the fiche. Listed first by Town, State ---State, County, County Seat.Example of "See References" as follows:

********************************
GEORGIA
********************************
ABBA, GEORGIA--GA, IRWIN, ABBA
********************************
The arrangement of all cataloging is first and foremost alphabetical, first with the State, thenCounty, then subject. Note following examples:
*********************************
GEORGIA - ARCHIVES-LIBRARIES
Georgia newspapers on US/CAN *
microfilm at the UGA Q AREA
Libraries: a Listing of 978.8
Georgia newspaper A5g
holdings in the University of
Georgia Libraries. -- 1978. 224 p.
Typescript.
Also on microfilm. Salt Lake US/CAN
City:Filmed by Genealogical FILM AREA
Society of Utah. 1967. on 1 1421709
microfilm reel : 35 mm. item 3
*********************************

Notice that the above record commences alphabetically with "Archives and Libraries" which is ageneral subject. After all the general subjects appear, then the county records begin, undercounty,then subject.

*Also, please observe that the above record is designated as a "book". Family History Centersmay not order from the book designations. However, in this case, the book was microfilmed,which means, that it is available on film. The reference could just as easily provide it availableonmicrofiche.

(c) Surname Catalog (pink coded)
This consists of a collection of _________books microfilmed or fiched by Salt Lake availableforpatrons to order via family history centers. It is completely alphabetical, by surname, followedbya brief sketch of its contents, as following example denotes.
*********************************
ABBOTT.
Abbott--Albery Bible record US/CAN
(ca. 1796-1944).- Salt Lake City FILM AREA
filmed by the 167181
Genealogical Society of item 7
Utah 1990. -- on 1
microfilm reel : 35 mm.

In Bible records collection /Northern Indiana Historical Society, South Bend, Indiana. Microfilmof typed transcript of original records (1 leaf). "This Bible is from the collection of John Yuhasz,bought Jan. 27, 1985 at Elkhart, Indiana, antique show at the mall. Before this it was bought atanauction at Shipshewena, Indiana." Erastus Abbott was born 1796 in Vermont. He and his wife,Polly, were married in Ohio in 1820. They had three children, 1821-1834, at St. Albans. He diedin 1862 at Centreville, Ohio. Their daughter, Philena S. Abbot (1834-1888), married ChristianR. Alberty (1825-1891) in 1859 at Johnstown, Ohio. She died at Valparaiso, Indiana; he died atVan Wert, Ohio.
*********************************
Note: That "item 7" is the order in which the reference is located on the film, number 7 down onthe roll.

(d) Subject Catalog (blue)

This is a cross-reference to all fiche catalogs and is simple to use when considering a particulartopic. For example, Afro-Americans. All collections will be listed under this title in the SubjectCatalog.Example as follows
*********************************
AFRO-AMERICANS - LOUISIANA -
ECONOMIC CONDITIONS
Davis, Ronald L. F. US/CAN
Good and faithful labor : BOOK AREA
from slavery to share- 976
cropping in the Natchez Y3d
Natchez District, 1860-1890

by Ronald L. F. Davis. -- Westport, Conn. : Greenwood Press,
c1982-- sv. 225 p. : ill., maps.
(Contributions in American history: no.100). Bibliography. p. 207-220.
Includes index.
ISBN )-313-23134-6; ISSN 0084-9291.
*********************************
And so on, the subject continues alphabetically, including other data, states, etc.

(e) Parish Register Catalog (blue)

This is a complete listing of all parishes over the U. S. A. and 42 countries which have beenextracted (indexed) and microfilmed, and is listed alphabetically, first by country, then county,parish, and dates.

What is a printout call number as mentioned on the example below? A typed record which wasextracted by volunteers from the original record, alphabetically arranged by surname, from aparticular town or parish. Sometimes abbreviated as PVR printout. The printout is usually onmicrofilm or microfiche. Some extracted records do not have a printout.

Example as follows:

DENMARK PARISH AND VITAL RECORDS LIST
1. 2. 3. 4.
5. 6. COUNTY TOWN / PARISH PERIOD RECO PRINTOUT PROJECT
TYPE CALL NO.
BORNHM IBSKER 1845-1866 MAR NONE M20519-5
BORNHM IBSKER 1866-1885 MAR NONE M20519-6

*The printout is on microfilm only
#The printout is on microfiche only

Although the same information is contained in the I.G. I. from extractions, only births,christenings and marriages were extracted for the I. G. I. Not extracted from these parishregisters was burials, or mortuaries from the parish registers. Obviously, burials might providenecessary additional information, therefore, the interest in ordering from the parish registercatalog.

3. The Computer Catalog

The best thing that has ever happened to genealogy is the computer and compact disks. Allfamilyhistory centers have adequate computer with cd-rom to run the catalog, as well as other compactdisks hereafter discussed.

All software being used was designed by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and isquite user-friendly. Any person who can read can use these computers, as bold-typed instructionsappear on each screen. If the patron will but read the screen messages, they will proceed withoutinstruction. The emphasize on user-friendly is not overstated....all software has been specificallydesigned for anyone to readily use at their first sitting. The top and bottom of the screens offervarious alternatives, always using F6, F12, etc. for executions.

The one feature of the computer which seems to escape the patrons is how to print something. Atthe top of each screen the print menu is declared as F2. One simply has to press F2, then read themenu. The Holding File is the name of a file used to create multiple entries. Example, you wishtomark various name-entries throughout the I. G. I., then print them out as a whole (or write to diskette). Simplyselect Holding File, then read the screen for manipulation of said task.

Computer - Using the - Personal Ancestral File (PAF)

The PAF program lets you assemble your pedigree, using The Family Records designation. It isentered family group sheet style, grouping families together under the parent headings. Itincludesvital information, spouse, LDS ordinance dates and places, and assigns a RIN number to eachentry. Remember, a RIN number is assigned to each person. Once that person is in the file, thenthey do not have to be typed in again. So, you may select, for example Add child, know RIN.Thecomputer asks: Rin? The number is typed in and the computer includes that person.Also, notes and references may be added. See figure #6.

This user-friendly software program may be obtained from -
Salt Lake Distribution Center
1999 W. 1700 South
Salt Lake City, UT 84104

Cost: $35.00 (includes manual, 3.5" and 5.25" diskettes). Phone 800-537-5950Be sure and send in registration cards so that you will be notified of upgraded versions. Toobtainorder forms for upgrading, contact Family History Support - 801-240-2584, or write -

Family History Dept.
Attn: Family History Support
50 E. North Temple Street
Salt Lake City, UT 84150

Computer - FamilySearch Program

The FamilySearch Program was designed to be "user friendly." One simply follows thedirectionshighlighted in blue on the screen. There is currently a FamilySearch Home Use Test underway.That is, one may order the program and compact disks to use at home. The home use programapplies only to this test and will last about a year (1994 to 1995).

To exit Family Search program at closing time, simply press Ctrl and F10!

Minimum Hardware Requirements
386 SX IBM compatible computer (A 386 DX is preferred)
2 MB or RAM (4 MB preferred)
1 MB expanded memory with 934K free
At least 555K of free lower memory
DOS 5.0 (DOS 6.0 is preferred)
40 MB hard drive and a high density floppy drive (80 MB is preferred)
A compact disk drive with average access time of 400 ms.
A printer which can print condensed print
An EGA monitor (A VGA monitor is preferred)

Fees

To defray test costs, a license fee is charged. The price is less than 1/3rd of the prices for theInternational Genealogical Index or Family History Library Catalog on microfiche. Prices: Complete FamilySearch Package, $525.00.

Includes FamilySearch software, users manual, 4 Ancestral File disks, 33 IGI disks, 1 FamilyHistory Catalog disk, 4 Social Security Death/Military Index disk, technical support, and updates(when available).

FamilySearch Base Package, $230.00

Includes FamilySearch software, users manual, 4 Ancestral File compact disks, technical supportand updates when available.

Smaller Sets of Compact Disks

You can add any of the following to the base package, however you must have the base packageto run these disks.

-Social Security and Military Index (4 disks) $45.00

-Family History Center Catalog with upgrades (1 disk) $30.00

-IGI, Complete Set (33 disks) $245.00

British Isles and Wales (10 disks) $77.50

North America (US/Canada) (5 disks) $38.75

Germany (5 disks) $38.75

Scandinavia (5 disks) $38.75

Mexico (4 disks) $31.00

Continental and Southwest Europe (3 disks $23.25)

South and Central America, Pacific, Australia, Asia (1 disk) $7.75

To Participate in Test

Please send written inquiries to:

Family History Department
ATTN: Family History Support
50 East North Temple Salt Lake City, Utah 84150 P
hone: 1-800-346-6044

Computer - The IGI

The IGI is simplied by the computer as one simply types in a name and orders the searchcountry-wide. Where the fiche method searches state-by-state, the computer method searches thewhole USA. Or where the fiche method searches England by county, the computer searches theBritish Isles (England, Scotland, Ireland) at large. The 1993 edition on compact disk containsover 200 million names. It not only contains temple ordinances after 1970 and name extractionsfrom original records, but also includes 24.5 million names from pre-1970 Latter-Day Sainttemple records (mostly submitted before 1942). The latter represents about 70% of the namesthus far added. Also, 4.5 million names submitted from 1978 to 1990 have been added, whichdata was previously omitted because of lacking information required for inclusion. And finally,10million names have been submitted since 1990. These types of sources may include estimateddates and places, as when the place of birth is unknown, the computer will select the place ofresidence, designating "of Walker Co., Ga." Yet there are still 3 to 5 million names which didnotappear in the 1993 compact disk or 1992 microfiche edition of the IGI, because these names(mostly from Mexico, were extracted from original records and "cleared" for temple ordinances.However, the ordinances, were never completed.

Thus, all records are added to the IGI after the ordinances are performed.

The computer version now has enhanced features, as follows:

1. Instead of listing all names on oen list, the 1993 edition lists individual records, and marriagerecords on separate lists.

2. Filter searches by locality, time period, exact spelling of surname, and combinations ofhusband's and wife's names.

3. A new phonetic standard of surnames for North America, providing new groupings of namesand eliminating other groupings.

4. Given names are grouped by standard names. Example: Catherine, Katherine and Thomas,Tho, Tom are grouped together.

5. Moving from one type of search to another is simplified as you can press F8 to move toParentSearch, F7 to move to Marriage Search, and F6 to return to Individual Search.

6. All entries from pre-1970 temple records and entries since 1990 contain the film number oftheoriginal temple record, instead of the batch number. If the index entry is from a pre-1970 templerecord, the temple record may contain certain information not found in the index. If the entrywassubmitted after 1990, no additional information appears on the temple record. Pre-1970 templerecords can be ordered through family history centers provided no photocopies are made.However, many of such records are also in the Family Group Records Archives, which can besent to family history centers and from which photocopies can be made.7. The word relative appears in entries from pre-1970 temple records, if the record did not listthe father, mother or spouse. It refers either to the first member of the family who joined theChurch of Jesus CHrist of Latter-Day Saints, or to a living person who represented the family insubmitting names for temple ordinances. The relationship between the deceased person and therelative may be as vague as in-law or friends, etc.

Example of Individual Search:

International Genealogical Index 3.0--North America

Esc=Exit F1=Help F2=Print/Holding File F4=Search

F6=Individual Search F-7=Marriage Search F8=Parent Search

Enter=Details )press Enter for detailed info on a person

(Name Group) Name Event Type Year Place Father/Mother/RelCLOUGH- Hannah S. Clough B 1818 Mass Fa:Obadiah CLOUGH

Example of Parent Search:

International Genealogical Index 3.0 -- North America

Esc=Exit F1=Help F2=Print/Holding File F4=Search

F6=Individual Search F7=Marriage Search F8=Parent Search

Enter=Details (Press Enter for detailed info

(Name Group) Parents' Names Birth/Chr Year Place

CLOUGH

Charlotte CLOUGH/Cyrus STEARN Emeline STEARNS 1843 VT

Press F2 to print information
Press F4, F6, F7 or F8 to start another search.

Computer - Ancestral File

For those who saw the Star Trek series wherein one drama surrounded a woman who had beenfrozen in space and desired to learn what happened to her son. She punched his name into acomputer and his genealogy up to the present appeared on the screen!

The Ancestral File is the single greatest genealogical-linking tool ever! Now, everyone whoworkson their families, can share with those who may have traced even farther back in time. Truly, itisa central genealogical intelligence. One can sit in front of the computer, type in a name, and callup generations upon generations of family members! Then, they can either print out pedigreecharts (with or without family group sheets) or download onto a diskette. Then, take it home andload it into their personal PAF software.

This computer program was developed by the Church and was created from pedigree charts withsupporting family group sheets submitted by members of the Church since 1978. It alsoincorporates about 300,000 end-of-line names in The Family Registry. It includes records ofindividuals and families, providing extended family relationships, includes LDS ordinance dates.

The PAF (Personal Ancestral File) software also developed by the church which compiles family group sheets and pedigree charts, also provides Genealogical Information Exchange wherein oneelects to submit either to the Temple, or to the Ancestral File. The computer does the rest,copying data to a diskette to send to Salt Lake. All Ancestral File contributions should be on afloppy diskette in GEDCOM format. To prevent duplication, you are encouraged to checkAncestral File before contributing.A brief guide "Contributing Information to the Ancestral File"is free of charge at family history centers.

Preparing to Contribute to the Ancestral File

Before contributing, use this checklist --

1. All Ancestral File contributions need to be on a floppy diskette in GEDCOM format.

2. Family History Centers have computers which are available to the public, using the PAFprogram to prepare family group sheets for submission.

3. Do not wait until you have every detail before submitting.

4. To prevent duplication, check the Ancestral file first.

5. Include source notes (not required).

Additional Help about Ancestral File is Available

For additional questions ---

General Questions, Ancestral FileUnit, 801-240-4874
Pre-1500 research questions: MedievalFamilies Unit, 801-240-2399
Software questions: Personal AncestralFile, 801-240-2584
News media questions:Tom Daniels, 801-2403335
Copyright questions:Greg Brown, 801-240-4679
Adding massive databases:Jay Roberts, 801-240-2466
FamilySearch distribution:Bonnie Dirksen, 801-240-3977

Non-members are invited to share their pedigrees with to the Ancestral File as follows -

The Ancestral File 50 East North Temple Street Salt Lake City, UT 84150As pedigrees are received, the computer links families together. In so doing, the big fat computerbrain makes certain errors. For example, if a child was named "Ann, born 1808" was in JohnTrammell family, it might be recognized as a John Trammell already included in the file, andadd"Ann, born 1808". However, the first record might have included "Ann, born 1807". That meansthere would be two Ann's in this family. One has to discern the difference in entries.

All genealogies do not concur exactly date-wise, spouse, or children. Thus, the submissionsthemselves might be filled with errors! At this writing, the Ancestral File does not includesources/references, although it does include the names of submitters. Hopefully, a future versionwill include the references, since it is extremely helpful to know where the information camefrom,so that one may verify it. The PAF program provides space to add sources, and should beregularly used. Even though source notes are not displayed in the Ancestral File, all notesreceived on diskette are being electronically stored. The 1993 edition of the Ancestral File includes information contributed through 21 August 1992 and contains 15 million individuals.Toprotect rights of privacy, the Ancestral File displays only partial information on living persons.The word living will appear for most people born less than 95 years ago who do not have adeathdate in the file. All data in the file is copyrighted by the Family History Department of the LDSChurch. You may publish your own information, and share it with others. However, beforepublishing other people's submissions, you should obtain their permission.

The following software uses GEDCOM and is approved as Ancestral File Compatible:

Personal Ancestral File (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints)
Roots III (Commsoft, Inc.)
Everyone's Family Tree (Dollarhide Systems, Inc.)
Family Roots (Quinsept, Inc.)
Family Ties (Computer Services)
Family Tree Maker Exchange Utility (Banner Blue Software, Inc.)
Family Tree Print Utility (Common Sense Software)
Generation Gap Plus (Flying Pigs Softsware)Sesame (Commsoft, Inc.)
Griot Alternative (Thierry Pertuy)
Brother's Keeper (Brother's Keeper)

Use floppy disks in the GEDCOM format. Send to:

Ancestral File Unit, 2WW
Family History Department
50 East North Temple Street
Salt Lake City, UT 84150

Diskettes are not returned, so make a copy of your diskette!

Correcting Information

Whether or not you were the original submitter, you may correct data. There are file restrictions,however....do not correct data for entries unless someone labeled as "living" in the file is nowdeceased. Send death information on a diskette in the GEDCOM format. When submittingcorrections, do so on diskette and include sources for all your changes. The edit key F3 allowsyou to make corrections in the file and copy them to diskette. The corrections will appear inupdated editions.

See guide at family history centers Correcting Information in Ancestral File.

Computer - Social Security Index

This is the Social Security Death Master File includes basic data on anyone with a social securitynumber who died between the early 1960s and the late 1980s. The list contains 40 millionnames,and includes social security number, state where number was issued (but not necessarily state ofbirth), first and last name (but no middle names or initials), full date of birth, year and month ofdeath, residence at time of death, and zip code to which the last benefits were sent.The file also lists 1.5 million people who died from 1937 to 1962. This information is helpful,especially when locating death certificates. The first three digits in a social security numberrelaeto the state in which the applicant applied for the number. The middle set of two digits gives theapproximate date of issue. An odd number, between 05 and 09, was probably issued before the late 1930's. An Even number from 10 on up was probably issued after that. In the late 1960's,previously unused two-digit sequences of even numbers (between 02 and 08), began to becirculated. The last four digits are meaningless.

Digit Tables
001-003 NH
004-007 ME
008-009 VT
010-034 MA
035-039 RI
040-049 CT
050-134 NY
135-158 NJ
159-211 PA
212-220 MD
221-222 DE
223-231 VA
232-236 WV
237-246 NC
247-251 SC
252-260 GA
261-267 FL
268-302 OH
303-317 IN
318-361 IL
362-386 MI
387-399 WI
400-407 KY
408-415 TN
416-424 AL
429-432 AR
433-439 LA
440-448 OK
449-467 TX
468-477 MN
475-485 IA
486-500 MO
501-502 ND
503-504 SD
505-508 NE
509-515 KS
516-517 MT
518-519 ID
520 WY
521-524 CO
525 & 585 NM
526-527 AZ
528-529 UT
530 NV
531-539 WA
540-544 OR
545-573 CA
574 AK
575-576 HI
577-579 DC
425-428 & 587 MS
700-729 Railroad

Railroad Retirement

After 1936, railroad workers qualified for a pension in lieu of social security. A copy of theperson's file may be obtained from -

The Railroad Retirement Board
844 Rush Street
Chicago, Illinois 00611

A pamphlet may be ordered ($5.00) on Social Security Applications: A Genealogical Resourcefrom Research Associates, P. O. Box 122, Bryant, AR 72022Once you know the social security number, you may order a copy of SS-5 Form, which is thesocial security card. You will need to use form SSA-L997(2-83), which may be ordered from: Old Records, Social Security Administration, Office of Central Records Operations, Baltimore, Maryland 21201. In requesting form SSA-L997(2-83), include the following: (a) fullname of person (b) social security number and date of birth (c) full names of parents if known(d)your relationship to person and that you require information for genealogical reasons (e) ifpersonis still alive, enclosed signed statement granting permission (f) if person is deceased, enclosecopy of death certificate, obituary, or photo of tombstone, and (g) if you are not a direct descendant,submit a signed permission statement from someone who is. If you do not know social securitynumber, you may request a search for it and a copy of Form SS-5 by writing:

Timothy D.Robertson
Freedom of Information Officer
4-H-8 Annex Building
6401 Security Boulevard
Baltimore, Maryland 21235

Things to do after you obtain information from Social SecurityDeath Index -

1. See Family History Library Catalog for birth and death records, examining county and townrecords as well as state records.

2. Send for death certificates. Press F5 to see where to send for birth and death certificates orseethe U S. Genealogical Research Outline available at family history centers.

3. Search for obituaries in old newspapers.

4. Send for a social security packet, which may contain a copy of the social security application.This application could contain the applicant's parents' names, etc. (for a fee)

5. Write living relatives located through the death benefit information.

6. If your ancestor died since 1961 and is not listed, you may contact your social security office for advice on how to report the death date.

Computer - TempleReady

TempleReady is a computer program which helps you to prepare names to submit for templeordinances. Simply use the PAF program, Genealogical Information Exchange, selecting "temple submissions". You now have the GEDCOM format for use with TempleReady. Format at leasttwo diskettes. One will be the diskette to take to the temple. The other will beused to create asecond copy (backup) of the temple diskette. Now, begin......TempleReady is listed on the FamilySearch Main Menu. Insert diskette into disk drive. Thenfollow screen instructions. To see an overview of TempleReady, press F1. If you need assistance,it will be provided at the family history center. When you have finished, you may take or sendyour diskette to the temple. A few names may be quickly downloaded at the temple, and you canperform the ordinances the day of visit. Otherwise, a full diskette should be sent ahead a day inadvance.

Computer - Military Index

The Military Index lists individuals in the United States military service who died or weredeclareddead in Korea or Vietnam (Southeast Asia) from 1950 to 1975.

Two indexes are available:

1. Korea. Includes individuals in US military service who died in Korea from 1950 to 1957.

2. Vietnam. Includes individuals in US military service who died in Vietnam from 1957 to1975.

Casualties in this index may have been in Cambodia, Communist China, Laos, North Vietnam, South Vietnam, and Thailand.

To search: (instructions on screen)1. Select the type of search.
2. Type the individual's name.
3. Filter search (optional)
4. Display the information.
5. Print or copy the information.

The index is useful in the following respects:

1. Find birth and death dates.
2. Identify home residence (town/state at enlistment)
3. Identify country where individual died.
4. Determine rank, service number, branch of service.
5. The person's race.
6. Identify date tour of dut started, religious afflliation, and marital status (Vietnam only).

Printouts from the Computer (or downloading to a disk)

The top of the screen F2 is the print option. Press F2, then select from the menu. If you wish tomark multiple entries from the IGI, select create holding file, then following screen instructions.After the holding file is full, following screen instructions, return to the menu and select whetheritis to be printed out or downloaded to a disk. Afterwards, erase holding file so that you maycreatea new one with new entries.

Computer - New Compact Disk Resources

The Family History Center Library is now testing several commercial databases on compactdisk,i.e......phone directories for US and Germany, several US Census Indexes, query files, some USMarriages, The Biographical and Genealogical Master Index, PA Newspaper abstracts, and theNational Inventory of Documentary Sources.They are available for use by the public at the DATA CENTER on the Main Floor of the FamilyHistory Center in Salt Lake City. Patrons may reserve computer time, 30 or 60 minutes.

(i) Correspondence services are now available electronically.

Recently staff members began answering questions on four electronic bulletin boards. They willanswer basic questions, such as the location of a specific town - but will not do research for you.A commonly answered question is how to use FamilySearch. Before asking the desired question, one should check the bulletin board to see if it has alreadybeen answered.

The following chart lists the bulletin boards with corresponding identification numbers --

Bulletin Board ID Number
GEnie (research questions) F.H.Library
GEnie (FamilySearch questions FamilySearch
America Online FamHistLib
Prodigy FHLS98B-
FHLS98F
CompuServe 70007,3253
National Video Text
(research questions) FHLibrary
National Video Text
(FamilySearch questions) FAMSearch

Computer Catalogs

"Locality Browse"

Use it like an atlas! Similar to "See References" in the fiche version of the catalog (Locality).Helps you find your county!The locality browse portion of the computer catalog is similar to a gazetteer in that it lists -townsof the world, towns in a county, towns in a state or country, counties in the world, counties in astate or country, and states and countries.

Explanation of Church Submissions

(a) Family Group Sheets

The IGI also contain family group sheets submitted by members of the Church from 1969 to1988. Prior to that time period, this data was not in the computer, although this majorundertaking is underway. Also, there are some early Church Membership Records in the IGI.

(b) Temple Proxies

Temple ordinances for deceased persons of LDS families may have been performed during theirlifetime or by proxy after their death, from the 1840's to the date printed at the top of themicrofiche. Most ordinances in the IGI were since October of 1969 and may have beenperformed in any temple.

� The IGI Format

Name - This is the name of the person the record pertains to.

Sex/Husband or Wife
M = Male
F = Female
H = Husband
W = Wife
Father/Mother or Spouse

The following example presents problems to patron who uses the fiche version.

CUNNINGHAM, LOUI
COUNTRY UNITED STATES STATE: ALABAMA
NAME M=MALE F=FEMALE H=HUSBAND W=WIFE TYPE EVENT COUNTY,
TOWN
CUNNINGHAM, Louisa Jane F B 06 JUN 1867 TALLADEGA
GEORGE WELLINGTON CUNNINGHAM/NANCY PUTILEA

Notice that George Wellington Cunningham/Nancy putilea are written one line underCunningham, Louisa Jane. This is because when insufficient line space made it possible to printacross the page, the Father/Mother or Spouse information was dropped down one line.

Cunningham, Louisa Jane
George Wellington Cunningham/Nancy Putilea
Also, notice the symbols adjacent toCunningham, Martha

= part of the entry was evalated and may have been altered to make the meaning clear

= that names and relationships of others are listed in the original record.

= that names of (1) grandparent in a birth or christening record or (2) grandparents of thebrideor groom are in a marriage record and are listed in the extracted record = that additionalinformation is available only to direct descendants from Special Services

See 4. Special Symbols Used in the IGI
Type - To determine the type of record, see the legend a the bottom of fiche page.

Note: Death or Burial Type is usually for infants who have no birth or christeningrecords. Distinctions are not always made between Adult and infant christenings.

A=Adult Christening B=Birth C=Christening D=Death or Burial
F=Birth or Christening of 1st Known Child M=Marriage N=Census
W= Will All Others=Miscellaneous

Event Date - This is the actual date of birth, christening, marriage, census, will. Frequently,there is more than one entry on an event with slightly different dates. This is because more thanone person submitted a family group sheet to have ordinanaces performed. The computerrecognizes identical entries as the same. The slightest variation causes a separate entryrecognition. In the case of marriages.....oftentimes the date of license or marriage bond is givenas the date, instead of the date of ceremony. Most licenses provide the date of license at the topofthe form, with the last paragraph providing the date of ceremony.

ABT indicates an "about" or estimated date.

<1813> Dates inside brackets were estimated.

07 Age 1850 - Is the age (07) taken from (1850) census. This was a date-documentation methodonce used by members.County, Town, Parish - This is the county, town and parish where the event occurred. One mightverify data by searching, for example, the marriages of a particular county.

LDS Ordinances, and terminology

B - Baptismal ordinance. The abbreviation following the date is the abbreviation of the Templewhere it was performed.

E - Endowment ordinance.

S - Sealing ordinance.
Note: BIC means "born in the covenant". A child born in the covenant has a birthright blessingand is not sealed to parents. Also, a child who is not born in the covenent but who is sealed toparents in the temple, receives the same blessings as a child born in the covenant.
Cleared - Means that the name was submitted or extracted prior to the IGI edition being printedand will appear in the future version.
Do not Seal - For some reason the child cannot be sealed to listed parents or wife to husbandlisted. Write to: Temple Dept., Special Sefvices, 50 E. North Temple St., Salt Lake City, UT84150, for information. Include all data from IGI, including numbers in the source column.
Infant - The individual who died before reaching the age of 8 years does not needordinances of baptism and endowment, but is sealed to his parents if the father's name is known.
Not in Process - The ordinance has not been performed and is not being processed. When achurch member dies, his or her name is added to the IGI. However, if the individual did notreceive temple ordinances during life, the family has five years from the time of death to initiateproxies. After that time, the Family History Department automatically submits the name forordinances. Thus, "not in process" appears in the ordinance column for five years.
Parents Lvg - The death dates were not provided for the parents of the listedchild, who was born within 95 years. If parents are deceased, you can submit theindividual's name with the death date for the parents to have the child sealed to them.However, if parents are still living, they will have to attend the temple to have the child sealed tothem.
Uncleared - The father's name is unknown or the parents' death dates are unknown orpresumed to be living since the individual submitted was born within the last 95 years.
Sealing Places - From 1846 to 1889 many LDS temple sealing records were extracted eventhough the record did not provide the original date and place of marriage. The sealings appear inthe IGI under the place of sealing, with the date of sealing listed as the date of marriage. Asealing date of a marriage or of children may not match. Most of these instances are in Utah,withsome in Arizona, Mexico, Hawaii, Nebraska, Iowa and Alberta.
Adopted and Illegitimate Children

The IGI lists the parents to whom a child was sealed. However, if a child was adopted, the indexmay give the names of either the adoptive or natural parents. If the child was illegitimate, the IGImay provide the name of mother's legal husband instead of the name of the natural father. Thus,the IGI does not indicate whether or not the parents are natural or adoptive. One must trace theIGI entry to the source to obtain possible additional information.
See How to Locate the Original Source (from Batch Number)

This is the all important batch number necessary for retrieving photocopies of family groupsheetsand extractions from the Church by using Request for Photocopies form. The batch numberdetermines from whence the record came. See below -

B E S
4Feb1985PV 9Mar1985PV 5Mar1985
Source Serial Batch Sheet 8423671 32

The batch number defines the difference between whether or not the record came from anextraction, or family group sheet submission. If it is a plain 7-digit batch number, as above, itcame from a family group sheet submission and ordering a photocopy using the Request forPhotocopies form is desirable. If, however it is 6-digit batch number preceded by an Alphabetletter, such as A458444, then it came from an extraction. One may order copies from extractedrecords, however, no additional information is available other than appears in the IGI. See HowtoLocate the Original Source (from Batch Number) - below.

Instructions for Ordering from Request for Photocopies Form.What patron might expect to receive from ordering photocopies from batch numbers....copies from family group sheets, old membership records, etc. The Church has used severaldifferent types of family group sheet forms, including Individual Entry and Marriage EntryForms.The latter forms did not always list relatives from the same family ....it was a way to listindividuals without including the whole family. Also, some of the older family group sheetsconspiciously omitted proper references and the information is sketchy at best.Needless to say....one should use family group sheets or any other records as guidelines,checkingreferences, or searching for omitted references.

See sample of an old form, Individual Entry, once used by church members. Notice that it hasspace for First Individual, Second Individual and Third Individual. These individuals were notnecessarily related! The form was one of convenience of submitting single entries.See Your relationship to 1. This would be your relationship to (First, Second or Third )Individualand your relationship would be denoted as follows --gdau (granddaughter), 2ggdau (2ndgreat-granddaughter), 3 ggdau (third great-granddaughter), and so on.

INDIVIDUAL ENTRY (FOR BAPTISM, ENDOWMENT, AND SEALING TO PARENTS)
Name Stake, Mission
Street Address Stake, Mission and number
City, State, County Home Telephone
_________________________________
First Individual
Given Name____Surname__________________Sex__
Birthplace parish or town___co__State_ Death Date__
Christening place parish or town co state Christening Date
Death Burial Date__LDS Baptism Date__Date endowed__Temple__
Date sealed to parents____ Temple Your Relationship to #1
Fathers given name Father's surname Father's Death Date
Mother's given name Mother's surname Mother's Death Date
Source of
Information________________________________________________
How to Locate the Original Source (from Batch Number)

A -- The source is an LDS temple sealing record. The "Input Source" column gives the microfilm number of the temple record available only in Special Collections in Salt Lake. However, a copy of most sealingrecords indicated by this batch number is located in the Family Group RecordCollection, Archive Section for sealings after 1941.

(1) Submit a Temple Ordinances Indexes Request (PFGS0073) for the husband,mark box for TIB searches and write the "A" batch number next to the box.Estimate birth year and place, complete marriage data as found in the IGI.

(2) Order microfilm of husband's family group sheet using PFGS0142. Locatenew microfilm number by searching Author/Title Catalog under "Church ofJesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Genealogical Department, Family GroupRecord Archives: main sections, ca 1500-1969". Then search for it under the husband's name.

If the IGI sealing colum date is before 1942 .>

(1) Submit Temple Ordinance Indexes Request (as above).

(2) Have LDS temple recommend to search library.
C -- This is a christening or birth record extraction. Find batch number from IGI Batch Number Index, using the input source number to order photocopy using Request for Photocopies form, PFGS3264.
D --- Deceased members, or the 110-year suspended file. D batch numbersonly appear on Patron Notification letters and are accompanied by a different batch number.
E -- Early marriage extraction project with birth dates estimated from the marriage dates. Look under the matching M------ batch in the IGI Batch Number . Example, to find input source for

E114800, look under batch M114800
E114800, look under batch M114800.
F -- From Family Group Sheet, with some event dates or places asestimates. Locate batch number in IGI Batch Number Index. The library callnumber (microfilm) is listed under the input/source no. column. Use Requestfor Photocopies form PFGS3264.J , K -- Part of extraction project. See instructions for C batches.
M -- Marriage extraction (except M17 & M18). See instructions for C batches.
M17 -- Marriage extractions of LDS sealings to spouse. Need templerecommend to search in Salt Lake.
M18 -- LDS sealings. See instructions for M17.
P -- Christening/birth extractions project. See instructions for C.
T000001 -- Manual 110-year file from Family Group Records Collection. to I000010 (1) Submit Temple Ordinance Indexes Request (PFGS0073), check TIB search
(2) Order family group sheet collection on microfilm using PFGS0142 form.

Locate microfilm number -see Author/ Title catalog under "Church of Jesus Christ ofLatter-DaySaints, Genealogical Department, family group record: archive main sections, ca 1500-1969".
T000011 -- Submit Temple Ordinance Indexes Request (PFGS0073) to T000136
T9----- Family group sheet submitted at the temple. See H17.
196---- Supplemental entry. See F batches for instructions.
T990001 to -- Royalty, nobility, peerage, and Medieval families. Pre-1500. to T990075

(1) Submit Photoduplication Order (PFGS2192), and write LDS Film 1126128 in the book orfilm number box. Under comments or instructions, prove parents, etc. taken from IGI.

(2) Submit Microfilm Request (PFGS0142) for new microfilmnumber 1126128.
Special Handling - If royal, noble, etc. are not involved, the batch is specialhandling. Use Special Services, Temple Dept., 50 E. Temple St., Salt Lake City, UT 84150.
T990076 &ff -- Royalty, nobility, peerage and Medieval, pre 1501.Locate batch number in IGI Batch Number Index. The input source willeither be a new microfilm number or SIS.However, if the input source is listed as SIS, the source is to direct line relatives via Special Services, Temple Dept., 50 E. North Temple St., Salt Lake City, UT 84150. Includecopy of IGI entry and reasons for research.
1998 -- Persons who had some LDS ordinance completed or were on sameentry form as such persons. Locate batch number in IGI Batch Number Index.Submit a Photoduplication form (PFGS2192 putting input source numberin the book or film no. box, or submit a Microfilm Request (PFGS0142) using input source no. in first field of the request form.
T9990 -- See instructions for 1998 batches.
T9991 -- Special Services cases, available through direct-line relatives using Special Services, Temple Dept., 50 E. North Temple St., Salt Lake City, UT84150, including copy of IGI entry and reasons for source.
O-- Temple Service Center originated entry. Use same instructions for F batches.
694 -- Early LDS membership records (except 6940405 to 6940426,69407--, and
69409). See IGI Batch Number Index for library call number under inputsource column. If more than one microfilm is listed, identify LDS ward inwhich ancestor lived, then use L. Jaussi & G. Chaston's Register of Genealogical Society Call Numbers, vol. 2(fiche #6031507), to determine input source number.
6940405 -- Minnie Marget's Membership Card Index of Early LDS to 6940426 Church Records Usually from England. Put Minnie Marget'sfile microfilm in book or film numberbox, using PFGS0142 form, or submit PFGS0142 form.
69407 -- Scandinavian LDS Branch Card Index. Use Photoduplication Order(PFGS2192). Under book or film no., write: Scand. Ref. Room. Under title,write Scandinavian LDS Branch Card Index (in shoeboxes).Under author,, write Genealogical Dept. Under pages to be copied, write cards for (persons name in IGI).
69409 -- Archive section entry lacking ordinances. See instructions for I000001.
696-- Special services. See instructions for T9991 batches.
725-- Gibson's Marriage Index for Oxfordshire, including Buckinghamshireand Gloucestershire entries. This card index is included in its entiretyin the IGI. See the GLC Catalog under parish register.
744-- Nordic and others. See instructions for C batches.
745-- Vermont and Connecticut. See instructions for C batches.
754-- New Hampshire. See instructions for C batches.
766-- Special Services project. Submit Photoduplication Order PFGS2192,and write under comments "please search the 766---- Batch Cross Index onMicrofilm at LDS Reference Desk for batch #_______, under name ___________, to find Original batch/Ser/Sheet number. Photocopy thatentry. Next, search IGI Batch Number Index for input source no. andphotocopy that entry. Third, Search input source micorfilm using theOriginal/Ser/Sheet number or the marriage date from above. Pleasephotocopy original entry."

Another method is to submit Reference Questionnaire (PFGS0131), writing "please search the 766---- Batch Cross Index on Microfiche at LDS Reference Desk for batch#_______, under names_________ (bride and groom).What is Original Batch/Ser/Sheet number for this couple?"
805----,815----,825--Family entry system. See instructions for F batches.
Abbreviations in Input/Source Number Column
AR REC - Is a family group record in the Archive Section of the Family Group Records Collection, submitted from 1942 to 1969 for temple ordinance work. These are thefamily group sheets filed in binders at the Family History Library inSalt Lake. They are also on microfilm under the heading FAMILY GROUPRECORD COLLECTION, ARCHIVE SECTION, 1942-1969

When an * appears next to the name on the left side of the family group sheet,it means that this individual also appears on another form in the Achive Sectionas either a parent or child. Stamped dates in the temple ordinance columns are official dates andneed no verification. However, typed dates were provided by the submitter.
NA - Not yet available. See next edition of the IGI Batch Number Index.
NONE - The family history center does not have a copy of this source, or a printout.
SIS - Part or all of some IGI batches were processed by Special Services at the LDS Church and the input sources for these entries are not available to the public. However, if entry is part of your direct-line, you may write to: Special Services, Temple Department, 50 E. North Temple Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84150.
TIB - Temple Records Index Bureau, which is a card index to LDS temple endowments before October of 1970. Microfilm copies of the TIB are available in Special at Family History Library in Salt Lake, however,they cannot be ordered by family history centers. A photocopy of a TIB card may be ordered by sending a Temple Ordinance Indexes Request form(PFGS0073) to Salt Lake with the fee.

To search the TIB microfilms, you must be a member of the Church, having current temple recommend, or a letter from your bishop. To search for another person, you need a letter from that person authorizing you as agent to search.

The TIB may contain birth dae and place, names of parents, date of baptism,endowment, date of death, name of heir or family representative, and sometimesdate of civil marriage.

The TIB Form, PFGS0073 -
Temple Ordinance Indexes Request
Person About Whom Information is Requested

Surname Given Name
Birth or Christening Parish or town
Full Name of the Father Full Maiden Name of Mother
Your Relationship to the Person Name of Spouse
Marriage Date Parish or town
Death Date

Searches Requested $1.00
IGI TIB
3.Explanation of Batch Numbers (Sources)

There are three kinds of sources -

1. Extracted Records (from church, civil records).
C,J,K,P = christening/birth records
E,M (not M17,M18) - extracted marriage records.
725,745,254 = vital record indexes.
744= other extractions.

2. Family Group Sheets submitted by Church members for temple ordinances since 1969.

F =family group records, individual entry forms, marriage entry forms.
01-23=family group records submitted outside the U. S.7-digit no. =someone has researched the name.

3. Selected temple and deceased member records of the LDS Church.

4. How to Find a Source

To find an IGI source, you need the batch number, and serial/sheet number and the otherinformation on IGI entry.

1. See IGI Batch Number Index on microfiche. (Computer version has source input number on printout).

2. Find the microfiche which lists your batch number series, which are alphabetical, thennumerical. The first and last batch numbers on each microfiche are listed at the tope of themicrofiche. See example below --

IGI Batch Number Index
Batch Input Source Print- Batch
No. out No.
C506381 010560 0883831 C506681

3. Locate batch number.

4. Write down input source number. The input source number is the microfilm call number(example: 835247, item 3 ). Item 3 following 835247 tells you the sequence in which it is foundon the film. As this is the third item on the film. A microfiche call number is a 7-digit numberbeginning with "6". As 6033251.

A second set of numbers indicates the number of fiche in that set. As 6033251 09. The BookCallNo. contains both digits and letters. As 975.633/C1 B261.Instead of a number, you may find one of the following abbreviations in the column--
*AR REC - The source is a family group record in the Archive Section of the Family GroupRecords collections from 1942 to 1969.
*NA - This source is not yet available.
*NONE - The library does not have a copy of the source.
*SIS - Special information services, the name being processed by the Temple Dept. For moreinformation, you need to be a direct line family member.
*TIB - Temple Records Indecx Bureau....a card index to LDS endowments before 1970. Forchurch members having temple recommends.

5. Locate the source. For an extracted record, look in the geographical area, such as US,England,etc. Find the record on microfilm. Then look for the name. If the source is a submitted form, youwill find the microfilm in the LDS film collection in the library. Several batches are on one film.Use the batch number to find the batch you want. Then add the serial/sheet number to the end ofthe batch number. The forms in each batch appear in numerical order by this 9-digit number.

Explanation of the IGI

IGI Limitations

1. The IGI is not a complete index, rather contains only that information which is entered.

2. It does not index all records from any place or time period.

3. Is not an index of all records in the family history center library.

4. Omits death records.

5. Names with incomplete iinformation since 1978 are not included.

6. All temple records are not included. Before 1970, only several million records are included.

7. Names may be misspelled, or left out.

8. As with all genealogical records, it contains errors.Printout NumberThe printout number given after searching the Batch Number Index is the library call number forthe Parish and Vital Records Computer printout, and is a typed list in English. In other words, itis the extraction (typed), rather than the original record.

IGI Regions

England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Channel Islands, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, CentralEuropean (provinces in Germany-countrywide, based on boundaries used from 1871 to 1918),Southern European, United States, Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, andMiscellaneous countries.

4. Special Symbols Used in the IGI

^ = Some portion of the entry is different from the original source (used for extraction sources. For example, a priest may have transposed a date in the parish register to show a child was born before he was christened. (Mark first used about 1978)

> = Additional information about the person is available to direct descendants by contacting Temple Dept., Special Services, 50 E. North Temple St., Salt Lake City, UT 84150. (Mark first used in 1982).

# = Names and stated relationships of grandparents in a birth or christening record or parents of bride or groom in a marriage record are listed in the original record. (Mark first used in 1982.

@ = Names of other relatives are found in the original source. (Mark first used in 1982).

IGI Entries from Irish Civil Registration Cards

Births from the Irish Civil Registration Cards donot provide the exact place of birth. Instead, thepage number of original birth record, name of registrar's district, and name of county in whichregistrar's district is located (may be different from actual birthplace) is listed. Therefore, onewould order the birth record from the registrar's district (county), citing the page number.Example: "Cork, Templemartin, 116". Once received, the original marriage record on the civilregistration records will cite the county and parish of marriage and page number of the originalmarriage record. Or, it might cite the registrar's office instead of a church.

Patronymics

A patronymic is a surname formed from adding a prefix or a suffix to the father's given name.Forexample: "Jens," the son of "Niels," is known as "Jens Nielsen," and his son "John" as "JohnJensen". Thus, the surname changes each generation. This method of naming children was usedinthe Netherlands, Wales and Scandinavian countries before 1900. A person may have beenknownduring life by a fixed surname, but if he was born during the above time periods, his extractedrecord will probably be in the IGI under the patronymic surname. However, if submitted by adescendant (not the extraction program), the name could be listed under the fixed surname.In 1983, the guidelines changed for the extraction of records for the larger cities in Denmark andSweden. If the parents used an established surname, their children were listed in the IGI with thefixed surname. If the parents used the patronymic custom, their children were listed under the patronymic surname. So, after 1983, it is the parents choice of surname which governs how thechildren are listed.

In searching the given name arrangement, the IGI is sorted .....

(1) Given name
(2) Event
(3) Date

Births and christenings appear first chronologically, then marriages.
Miscellaneous Abbreviations in the IGI

MM = Monthly Meetings, and refers to Quaker records.
QM = Quarterly Meetings, as above.
TWP= Township.

The Family History Center Library

Location:
35 North Temple Street
Salt Lake City, Utah 84150
(Telephone 801-240-2331)
Hours: Monday - 7:30 a.m.- 6:00 p.m.Tues-Sat - 7:30 a.m.-10:00 p.m.
Holidays: In 1994 the following holidays will be observed: 1 Jan, 4 Jul, 25 Jul,24 Nov, 24 Dec, and at 5:00 p.m. 31 Dec.
Parking: Free parking in the lot on the NW corner of North Temple Street and West Temple Street for up to 3 hours per day. All-day parking lots are nearby.

More than 2,040 Family History Centers operate in 62 countries and territories.The idea of local family history centers throughout the U. S. was begun in 1964. They aregenerally located in local Latter-Day Saint chapels and staffed by volunteers. A list of all familyhistory centers is distributed throughout and should be maintained as an easy-reference forpatrons. Most microfilm and fiche may be loaned to family history centers (from Salt Lake), andthis is done using the order form process, explained under Film/Fiche Ordering and Processing.. Over 1.9 million reels of microfilmed records equal to more than 6million written volumes and approximately 379,000 microfiche are available. The collectionincludes records kept by governments, churches of many denominations, other organizations,andindividuals. As of November of 1983 the Generalogical Department's microfilming program isbeing converted to 16 mm filming. Therefore, film readers need to be capable of 42xmagnification. The NMI 2020 with zoom lens has both 19x and 26x magnification. The 26xmagnification will be adequate for some of the 16mm films. A new NMI 2020 with 42x lens andcondenser system is now available.North AmericaEach state is represented in 590,000 reels of microfilm, which includes 100,000 reels of federalrecords. These records come from more than 2,400 archives, county courthouses and otherrepositories, particularly from states east of the Missouri River. 33,000 reels for Canada includealmost all Quebec church records and many civil records from Ontario and other provinces.

Family History Center Collections (Foreign Countries
British

Scottish records and English and Welsh collections comprize most of the 147,000 reels for GreatBritain. Also included are significent collectons for Ireland, and others for Australia and NewZealand.
Europe and Scandinavia

The library has 541,000 European and 204,000 Scandinavian rolls of microfilm. Church andcivilrecords are available for many areas of Germany, France and Italy. Virtually all significantgenealogical records are available for the Netherlands, Belgium, Hangary, Liechtenstein,Luxembourg, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, and Finland. And the collection is growingforparts of Austria, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland.
Latin America

Mexico, Uruguy, and Chil include records from most parishes. Collections for Argentina, Braziland Guatemale are also growing. The collection currently includes 199,000 microfilms.
Phillipines, Sr Lanka, and other smaller countries

There are partial records available on the smaller countries. South Africa and other Africancountries, several Pacific islands, India, and Indonesia, as well as Chinese, Japanese and Koreanfamily histories.

The Family History Center Book Collection

The library has over 248,000 books (of which 129,000 are on microfilm), which includepublishedhistories, local histories, indexes, periodicals, and other research aids. Although most books areavailable for immediate use in the library in Salt Lake, a few are kept in a storage area and mayberetrieved by a librarian within three hours. Library books cannot be circulated to family historycenters, although fiche or film copies of said books may.

The reference books at the main library have been microfiched, and various sets are sent to family history centers as they are first set up, later being added upon by distributionfrom Salt Lake to the centers.

Copyright 1995

WARNING : Copyright Restrictions Apply for personal use only. This information may not be copied, printed,reproduced or sold. Circulation over the internet, via US or foreign mail, faxed, or any medium, is strictly prohibited.

©Jeannette Holland Austin

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