5 Ways To Research Genealogy In a Burned County. By Lisa Lisson Genealogist, Blogger, Etsypreneur

Transcription

1 5 Ways To Research Genealogy In a Burned County By Lisa Lisson Genealogist, Blogger, Etsypreneur

2 Burned County: A county that has had significant record loss due to a fire or other catastrophe. We have all been there. Tracing an ancestor back through history only to discover the family lived in a county whose records were lost in a courthouse fire or natural disaster. As researchers of our family s genealogy, we sigh and wonder now what? Is our family line destined to end here? Will we never discover more about the family in the years prior to the courthouse fire? All is not lost. There is hope. 1

3 Yes, the county records you need no longer exist, but what about records that were created outside the county level. Not all records for ancestors were created by the county government. As a researcher, you just have to think beyond the traditional records most genealogists use. We have to think outside the box. What activity (or activities) did our ancestors participate in that generated a record about a certain time in their lives? What other type of records could place your ancestor in a particular location and at a particular time? In this e-book you will learn about 6 types of records to research for evidence of your ancestors living in a burned county. 2

4 I. State Records Land Grants Secretary of State Records General Assembly Records Superior Court Records State records are those records that were created by the state. When county records are lost to the researcher, records created at the state level can name and/or place your ancestors at a given point of time in history. Let s look at land records as an example. County land records may not have survived for a specific county, but the state land grants for a county did. For example, Anson County, NC is a burned county for the 3

5 period of time prior to In 1868 a fire destroyed many of the county s records including the land records. However, the land grant records for Anson County are a part of the NC Secretary of State s records and not housed in the Anson County courthouse. These records survived and are currently available for review on microfilm at the North Carolina State Archives. Did your ancestor petition the state legislature for a divorce? Did your ancestor assist in petitioning the state to form a new county? If so, you may find your ancestor in the North Carolina legislative papers. For example, Cagebeth White of Bute County, NC signed the petition to form Warren 4

6 County, NC. This places Cagebeth White in Bute County in Other examples of North Carolina State Records include the General Assembly records, Governors Records, and the Secretary of State records. Boundary disputes, early divorces, and tax lists can all be found in records generated at the state level as opposed to the county level. Was your ancestor a criminal? Check the superior court records. You will need to familiarize yourself with the available state records for the state where your ancestor lived. 5

7 II. Church Records LOCAL CHURCH HISTORIES LOCAL AREA HISTORIES DENOMINATIONAL RECORDS Church records are another good source of information on your ancestors outside of the county records. Church rosters, birth/marriage/death records and church minutes can all place your ancestor at a specific time and place. Local area histories can help you find the local church your ancestor may have attended. Do you know the church denomination your family usually attended? Methodist? Baptist? Quaker? Research the 6

8 history of specific denominations. For example, if you know your North Carolina ancestors were Baptists, you can research the Baptist churches in their area at the NC Baptist Historical Collection housed at the Wake Forest University Library. Each denomination handled their records differently. If you know or suspect the denomination your ancestor affiliated, research the religious records for that denomination. Discover where and if the historical church records exist. Local church histories published by individual churches can provide a wealth of information. Often the early roots of the church are described including founding members. These can be found at the church 7

9 itself if the church still exists. Local historical societies and genealogy societies often have these in their reading rooms. Local descendants still living in the area may have copies of these as well. Admittedly church records can be hard to find and the search is time consuming. With a little (okay, a lot) of hard work, you will be rewarded. III. Personal Papers Merchant Records Family Letters Physician Notes Almost Anything! 8

10 The personal papers of prominent citizens often end up in historical collections of major universities, historical societies or state archives. These papers can contain just about anything! Merchant records will contain lists of what customers in a community purchased from a specific shop owner. Family letters may name neighbors or describe what life was like during a certain period of time. Physician notes describe members of the community and their illnesses. The possibilities of what you can find are numerous and often surprising. Even if your ancestor was not a prominent citizen or politician, perhaps he worked for a prominent citizen in the area and appears in his records. If so, it is possible your 9

11 ancestor was a neighbor to a prominent citizen. Your ancestor may be mentioned in letters and business papers concerning the county. Like the church records, finding and researching personal papers for an individual can be hard and time consuming. However, when faced with a lack of other records, personal papers can provide the only glimpse into a community and its citizens. IV. Newspapers 10

12 Local Community Events Church Socials Obituaries Society Pages Local newspapers provide a lot of information about a community and its people. Local community events, church socials, farm news and obituaries all have potential for providing information about your ancestor. In particular, do not forget the society page! Weddings, engagements, visits from out of town guests all have great potential for finding information on your ancestors. 11

13 V. Oral History Family Stories Oral history is perhaps one of the most rewarding sources of a family s heritage. While frequently not completely accurate, a grain of truth is usually somewhere in the story. Through oral history the researcher can find clues to direct the next step in research. How do you find your oral history? Interview your closest relatives. This includes your parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins.. At the end of your interview, always ask who else they recommend you interview. Just as you 12

14 network in the business world, networking in your family line leads to more people with information about your family. Conclusion Ancestral research in burned counties is hard and time consuming, but not impossible. Look outside of the county records. Be creative. Start thinking of other types of records your ancestor could have generated and where those records are housed. Be patient. And Lastly. 13

15 Enjoy the research process! Share your burned county genealogy success story at About Lisa Lisson I am passionate about genealogy and all things related to family history. That s why I assist others in their research and sharing their family history with others. When I m not researching genealogy for clients or creating custom photo jewelry in my Etsy shop, you ll find me on or around the clock at LisaLisson.com. 14