US Vital, Land, Census and Probate Records by Beverley A. & Kenneth W. Rees

US Vital, Land, Census and Probate Recordsby Beverley A. & Kenneth W.

Rees

Credits

●The Handybook for Genealogists●The Source●Genealogical Research Essentials●Encyclopedia of Genealogy

Disclaimer

Each of these topics deserves a several hour presentation. Due to time constraints, we will present only a brief introduction that will focus on●What the source is●What it might contain●Why we might be interested●How the source might be used●Examples

Agenda

●Vital Records●Land and Property Records●Census Records●Probate Records●Questions

Vital Records

●What are vital records?●What might vital records contain?●Why might I be interested in vital records?●How might vital records be used?●Examples

Vital Records

Vital records consist of birth, marriage, divorce and death records, kept by a governmental agency or under governmental jurisdiction.

(“Encyclopedia of Genealogy”, http://eogen.com/VitalRecords)

Vital Records

Typically, vital records will contain ●Birth - the name, date, place, and parents names●Marriage - the names of the parties, ages, date, place, and name of the officiator●Divorce – the names of the parties, date, place●Death – the name, age, date, place of death

Vital Records

Vital records are kept at the local (state, county/parish, town) level of government.

In the United States, there is no central register for births, marriages, and deaths as there has been in the England since 1837.

However....

Vital Records

The Social Security Death Index may be used as a partial index to births and deaths in the United States.

Information on deaths before 1962 is sketchy; information on deaths before 1937 is non-existent.

Vital Records

The SSDI may give information about ●Social Security number●Surname●Given Name●Date of Death●Date of Birth●Last Known Residence●Location of Last Benefit●Date and Place of Issuance

Vital Records

Reuel WHEELER

Birth Date: 3 Aug 1893

Death Date: Jul 1975

Social Security Number: 529-07-3423

State or Territory Where Number Was Issued: Utah

Death Residence Localities

ZIP Code: 84047

Localities: Cushing, Salt Lake, Utah

Midvale, Salt Lake, Utah

Union, Salt Lake, Utah

Vital Records

Vital records give us the minimum information needed to establish identity●Name●Date●Place●Relationship

Vital Records

Vital records are usually acquired through a governmental agency, although some jurisdictions are using private firms.

When an index is not available to the family historian, a search can be ordered. Typically, at least the name, date, and place of the event must be provided. Exact details are not usually required.

Vital Records

Here are a couple of sites that might prove useful in obtain US vital records:

Where to write for vital records:www.cdc.gov/nchs/howto/w2w

Online searchable death indexeshttp://www.deathindexes.com/

Vital Records

Other avenues:●google <state name> vital records●google <county name> vital records●google <town name> vital records●Consult the Handybook for Genealogists●Examine the Family History Library catalogue

Vital Records

And still other ideas:

●Contact a researcher (via APG)●Look at USGenWeb●Examine the “official” state,country, or town web page

Vital Records

Vital Records

Vital Records

Vital Records

Vital Records

Land and Property Records

●What are land and property records?●What might land and property records contain?●Why might I be interested in land and property records?●How might land and property records be used?●Examples

Land and Property Records

Land and property records detail the transfer of real property from one individual to another.

These records also relate to the land and real property owned by one individual but used or occupied by another.

Land and Property Records

Land and property records include (but are not limited to)●Deeds (fee simple, quit claim, gift, etc.)●Mortgages●Dower releases●Powers of attorney●Marriage property settlements●Bills of sale●Contracts

Land and Property Records

●Petitions●Warrants●Surveys●Plats●Grants●Surveyor's notes●Correspondence

Land and Property Records

There was (in general) no requirement for a deed (or similar instrument) to be registered quickly or at all.

Thus finding a land transfer may tax the skills of any family historian!

Transfers are usually doubly indexed: grantor (direct or seller) and grantee (indirect or buyer) indexes.

Also indexed by plat book for claimants and entrymen.

Land and Property Records

In the United States, 20 states (the original 13 and 7 others) are known as “State Land States.” The land in these states was never a part of the Federal “public domain”

The other 30 states are known as “Public Domain States.” This land originally belonged to the Federal government.

Land and Property Records

State Land States●Land described by some form of “metes and bounds.”●Blaze●Petition●Warrant●Survey or plat●Grant or patent

Land and Property Records

Metes and bounds example:Beginning at the mouth of a branch at an ash stump thence up the creek south 20 poles to 2 beach, thence east 41 poles to a small walnut in Arnett's line, thence north 50 east 80 poles to a linn hickory dogwood in said line, thence north 38 poles to an ash, thence west 296 poles with Potts's line till it intersects with Tolly's line, thence south 30 west 80 poles to a whiteoak and sugar, thence east 223 poles to beginning

Land and Property Records

Land and Property Records

Federal Land States●Described by rectangular survey●Pre-emption and private land claims●Survey●Sale●Auction●Case file to GLO●Patent issued

Land and Property Records

Federal Land States●Federal government not the states would dispose of western lands.●Indian title had to be removed.●Land offices located near the settlers.●War service brought a right to free land.

Land and Property Records

Federal Land States●Military bounty lands and entry claims bought and sold before patent was obtained.●Valid titles from French, Spanish, and British governments honored.

Land and Property Records

Free land●Veterans (service to Civil War)●Military wagon roads (1823)●Canals (1827)●River improvement (1828)●Swamp reclamation (1849)●Railroads (1850)

Land and Property Records

Free land●Colleges (1862)●Homesteads (beginning 1862)●Desert reclamation (1894)

The frontier closed about 1891, marking the end of most of the “free land” era in the United States.

Land and Property Records

Terms used in the Township and Range System:

Section Basic unit of the system, a square tract of line one mile by one mile containing 640 acres.

Land and Property Records

Terms used in the Township and Range System:

36 sections are ranged in a 6 by 6 array, measuring 6 miles by 6 miles. Sections are numbered beginning with the northeast-most section, proceeding west to 6, then south along the west edge of the township and to the east.

Land and Property Records

Terms used in the Township and Range System:

Range Assigned to a township by measuring east or west of a Principal MeridianRange Lines North to south lines which mark township boundaries

Land and Property Records

Terms used in the Township and Range System:

Township Lines East to west lines which mark township boundariesPrincipal Meridian Reference or beginning point for measuring east or west ranges.

Land and Property Records

Terms used in the Township and Range System:

Base line Reference or beginning point for measuring north or south townships.

Land and Property Records

Land and Property Records

Land and Property Records

Land and Property Records

●Establish a particular individual in a specific place at a specific time●Can give relationship information (families often bought and sold land)●Help to distinguish one John Grant from another John Grant●Prior to the Civil War, most free adult males owned land.

Land and Property Records

Deed/transfer records are usually accessed through the county/parish clerk.

Many indexes have been microfilmed.

Few are on-line.

Land and Property Records

Original grant/patent records are available●through the BLM and NARA for Public Domain States●through the Surveyor-General (or similar office) for State Land States

Land and Property Records

For more information●The Handybook for Genealogists●The Source●Encyclopedia of Genealogy (http://eogen.com)●NARA (www.archives.gov) ●BLM (www.blm.gov/wo/st/en.html)

Land and Property Records

Census Records

●What is a census?●What might a census record contain?●Why might I be interested in census records?●How might I use a census record?●Examples

Census Records

A Census Record is a government sponsored enumeration of the population in a particular area.

(“Encycleopedia of Genealogy”, http://eogen.com/CensusRecord)

Census Records

The data captured varies by country and by year, but often contains ●names of heads of households or all household members ●their ages ●citizenship status●ethnic background

Census Records

●Census records group a population into family or household units. ●They also place a particular individual, family, or group in a particular place at a particular time.●They also show geographical proximity for individuals, families, or households.

Census Records

Federal census●Begins in 1790; taken every 10 years●1930 is the last enumeration available●1890 was substantially destroyed by fire●1790 – 1840 primarily statistical●1850 – 1930 increasing information●Almost completely indexed

Census Records

State/territorial census●Were taken irregularly●Coverage varies from state to state, and from year to year●May have been taken for the purpose of establishing population prior to gaining statehood (inflated population estimates?)●May or may not be indexed

Census Records

Census Records

Census Records

Census Records

Probate Records

●What is a probate record?●What might a probate record contain?●Why might I be interested in a probate record?●How might a probate record be used?●Examples

Probate Records

Probate records document the disposition of a deceased individual's property and the placement of his minor children. Other documents one might find in probate records are guardianships of adults declared non compos mentis, name changes, and naturalizations.

(“Encyclopedia of Genealogy”,http://eogen.com/ProbateRecords)

Probate Records

●Court records●Petitions●Wills●Bonds●Inventories●Publications

Probate Records

●Accounts●Divisions●Releases●Claims

Probate Records

●Can give important clues to the composition of a family.●Can help to locate an individual in a particular place at a specific time.

Probate Records

●Executor/administrator petitions for probate●Will is proved●Executor/administrator is appointed●Executor/administrator posts bond●Estate is inventoried●Publication of pending probate●Allowance made for dependents●Guardians are appointed

Probate Records

●Court ordered sales for support of widow and children●Yearly accounting by executor/administrator ●Additional publication of pending probate

Probate Records

●Final accounting by executor/administrator●When agreement is reached and all heirs reach majority, a distribution takes place.●Heirs sign receipt/release to executor/administrator.

Probate Records

Probate records are typically accessed through the district or similar court.

An index probably exists for the probate files. It may be organized by name of deceased, or it may be an “all names” index (invaluable!)

Some indexes are appearing online.

Probate Records

●Consult the Handybook for Genealogists.●Look at The Source.●Examine the Family History Library catalogue.●google <state name> probate index●google <county name> probate index●Go to Ancestry

Probate Records

Probate Records

Questions?

Beverley A. & Kenneth W. Rees

15 Heritage Point West

Lethbridge, AB T1K 7B7

Phone: 403.328.9366

Email: ancestor-find@familyhistree.com