Genealogy Updates for 01 March 2023

This is an almost daily list of newly discovered genealogical resources available online, carefully curated by hand. These resources may include articles, databases, news articles, or any other items related to genealogy that catch my attention or are recommended to me. The list is not limited to newly created pages but may also include pages that have been significantly updated or are simply “new to me.” Each link provided may lead to records for millions of individuals or just a few. Most of the resources on this list are available for free, often supported by advertisements. However, some may require payment to access certain databases. Let’s begin with today’s list from GenealogyUpdate!

Illinois Genealogy

Cumberland County History

In 1968 the Cumberland County Historical and Genealogical Society of Illinois decided to commemorate the Sesquicentennial Year of the State of Illinois by creating a history of the county since 1884, which they named “Cumberland County History”. This decision was made after the Battey volume of the history of Cumberland, Jasper, and Richland was published in 1884 and the courthouse burned down in 1885, causing the loss of nearly all county records. Rather than attempting to provide a comprehensive history of all organizations and individuals, the society focused on updating the county’s story from 1884 to 1968. Download or read the book online for free.

Counties of Cumberland, Jasper and Richland, Illinois. Historical and biographical

The Counties of Cumberland, Jasper and Richland, Illinois. Historical and biographical is a premier source of first and second hand compiled evidence for the counties of Cumberland, Jasper, and Richland in Illinois. Read or download the manuscript for free.

Franklin County History

This Franklin County History is an attempt to portray the origin and organization of Franklin County, Illinois; the pioneers, their modes of living, social life, their schools and churches, their roads, industries, early towns and villages; the development of the coal industry, the building of the industrial centers and the building of railroads. Download or read the book online for free.

Blogs

Using WorldCat.org to Find Countless Genealogy Resources

By Amy Johnson Crow. There are countless resources you can use for your family history or genealogy research, but they are a little tough to track down. Sometimes only a few copies exist, and some are literally one of a kind. With WorldCat.org, you can search more than 10,000 libraries around the world, all at once, to get closer to filling out the branches of your family tree.

Genealogy Updates for 23 February 2023

This is an almost daily list of newly discovered genealogical resources available online, carefully curated by hand. These resources may include articles, databases, news articles, or any other items related to genealogy that catch my attention or are recommended to me. The list is not limited to newly created pages but may also include pages that have been significantly updated or are simply “new to me.” Each link provided may lead to records for millions of individuals or just a few. Most of the resources on this list are available for free, often supported by advertisements. However, some may require payment to access certain databases. Let’s begin with today’s list from GenealogyUpdate!

AccessGenealogy

    Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrants

    This article provides guidance on accessing the Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrants for free. By following two straightforward steps, which involve searching and browsing the microfilms, you can easily locate your ancestor’s pension or bounty-land record from the Revolutionary War and download the images. Between 1800 and 1900, the United States issued over 80,000 pensions and bounty-land warrants to Revolutionary War soldiers, their spouses, and children. Was your ancestor one of the recipients?

    Alabama Genealogy

    Clarke County, Alabama, and Its Surroundings, 1540-1877

    The full title to this manuscript is A glance into the great south-east, or, Clarke County, Alabama, and Its Surroundings, from 1540 to 1877. He called the title “A glance into the great south-east” in part because the reader should be able to form a full and correct idea of the early settlement, the productions, and the present [1878] condition of that larger region characterized by the growth of the long leaf pine, and of that still larger region known as the cotton-growing belt of the United States, at least of that portion of it lying east of the Mississippi river. As such, this work is largely an historic writing which should shine light on your ancestors situation in Clarke County, Alabama during the time period up to 1877. It gives fodder to the stories you will want to write and tell. Sprinkled throughout the manuscript, however, are tidbits about this person or that, and in those tidbits you may find out things you never knew about your family. Come read it, or download it for free!

    Arizona Genealogy

    Arizona Land Records

    Newly updated listing of available Arizona land records online. Arizona is a public-domain state, and its land can be directly acquired from the federal government. Early land claims were frequently for mining enterprises, and records are held at the BLM Arizona State Office. The county recorder of each county has jurisdiction over the respective county’s land records. When examining land records, it is essential to understand how ownership was acquired. The FHL has microfilm copies of most county land records in Arizona and you will find them linked to from this page.

    Arkansas Genealogy

    History of Greene County, Arkansas

    The History of Greene county, Arkansas written by Vivian Mayo Hansbrough in 1946 is a great second hand accounting of Greene County, Arkansas history. Her sources were those residents who lived there, old newspapers, other manuscripts, and two notebooks of manuscript from Professor C. E. Richardson. It is written as a narrative of the county’s history and you will find relics of information about Green County ancestors sprinkled throughout. Read, search, or download the book.

    History of Scott County, Arkansas

    The History of Scott County, Arkansas by Henry Grady McCutchen serves as an attempt of an impartial and connected account of the leading facts of Scott County history. The history cannot be told, however, by combing the county records. Scott County has been unlucky with record keeping. It’s Courthouse having burned to the ground twice, the first time in 1882 before Henry McCutchen had a chance to reference them. Not to be disheartened Mr. McCutchen utilized State and Federal resources to put together a concise history of the county. Read, search, or download the book.

    Genealogy Articles

    Land Deeds Research > Genealogy Help

    Deeds are legally binding documents that contain critical information on land ownership and transactions, dating back to the earliest periods of American settlement. They are an invaluable resource for historians, genealogists, and real estate professionals seeking to explore details about specific land parcels or to trace the evolution of land usage over time. Join us to discover how to utilize these exceptional and often overlooked genealogical records!

    Genealogy Podcasts

    RLP with DNA 4 – Create a Research Objective > Research Like a Pro

    Today’s episode of Research Like a Pro is about chapter 4 of Research Like a Pro with DNA ‘Create a Research Objective.” We discuss how to find research questions in your tree, the limitations of different types of DNA for helping answer those questions, and how to form a written objective with unique identifiers. We also discuss phases of a project.

    Genealogy in the News

    What’s New at AccessGenealogy December 2014

    The following items were added to AccessGenealogy during the month of December 2014. It looks like it was a busy month for them, with several free collections devoted to Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and the island of Utilla in the Honduras. Also added were free manuscripts on the Agee, Clements, Cust, Dawson, Hackleman, Hart, Munro, Ricker, and Stork families.

    They also added extensively to their Maine Genealogy and Massachusetts Genealogy pages.

    Free Massachusetts Town Vital Records

    This is a collection of 191 free town vital records books, otherwise known as “Tan Books” for Massachusetts towns. Generally these records go up to 1849/1850 at which, the genealogist can use the census records to assist in identifying the family connections further. Included with this article is an account of why and how these manuscripts were published.

    Dedham Massachusetts Historical Society Register 1890-1903

    From 1890-1903, the Dedham Historical Society in Dedham Massachusetts printed a quarterly pamphlet for it’s historical society called the “Dedham Historical Register.” In this pamphlet a variety of genealogical data was published on families of Dedham and the villages emanating from the early residents of Dedham, such as Dorchester, Franklin, Medfield, Medway, Needham, and Sharon, etc.

    Descendants of Alexander Bisset Munro of Bristol, Maine

    Alexander Bisset Munro was born 25 Dec. 1793 at Inverness, Scotland to Donald and Janet (Bisset) Munro. Alexander left Scotland at the age of 14, and lived in Dimecrana in the West Indies for 18 years. He owned a plantation, raising cotton, coffee and other produce. He brought produce to Boston Massachusetts on the ship of Solomon Dockendorff. To be sure he got his money, Solomon asked his to come home with him, where he met Solomon’s sister, Jane Dockendorff. Alexander went back to the West Indies, sold out, and moved to Round Pond, Maine, and married Jane. They had 14 children: Janet, Alexander, Margaret, Nancy, Jane, Mary, Solomon, Donald, John, William, Bettie, Edmund, Joseph and Lydia.

    Utilla Past and Present

    The picturesque island of Utilla is the most south-westerly of the group known as the Bay Islands. The islands are six in number. They are Ruatan, Bonacco, Utilla, Helene, Barburat and Morat; and are situated in the Bay of Honduras an arm of the Caribbean Sea. Bonacco, the most easterly of the group, was discovered.

    The Stork Family in the Lutheran Church

    This volume was the first contribution to the series of biographies of deceased ministers, which the Lutheran board of publication had resolved to issue. It is singular in one respect, that it embraces the sketches of three men of the same name, and bearing to each other the near relations of grandfather, son and grandson.

    A Record of the Agee Family

    James W. Agee wrote this pamphlet as a way to publish the vital records of every known Agee. Unfortunately, at the time of publication, he estimates to have received only a quarter of responses to the cards he sent out. Since he only asked for vital records, that’s all he presents in this manuscript. He claims all living Agee’s, except one, could claim descent from “the 24? who were the 24 children of James and Anthony Agee: Noah, James, Jacob, John, Hercules, Joseph, Rhoda, Ruth, Celia, Mary, Chloe, and Nancy, all children of James Agee; and Joshua, James, Daniel, Matthew, Jacob, John, Isaac, Joseph, Reuben, Anthony, Noah, and an unnamed daughter who married a ? Christian, all children of Andrew Agee.

    Early New England People

    Sarah Titcomb over her years of study of various New England families had collected quite a bit of material of several early New England families. At the bequest of some of her friends, she prepared and published them in book form. When reading through the material I was impressed with the amount of material collected on each individual, and rather then a brief genealogical sketch, readers are provided an in-depth study of each early family: Ayer, Bartlett, Bradley, Chase, Dean, Dow, Dunster, Ellis, Fuller, Hope, Kilby, Martine, Les Dernier, Maverick, Mills, Montague, Pemberton, Pepperrell, Poore, Precott, Sewall, Longfellow, Spofford, Titcomb, Watmough, and Willard.

    Piscataquis County Maine Biography and Fragments

    A partial history of some who have been distinguished in public life in Maine, and who abode in Piscataquis County and helped to make its history during their generation.

    The Settlers of Narraguagus Valley Maine

    A glance at the map of the western part of Washington County will show that any treatment of the early settlement upon the Narraguagus River, necessarily involves more or less of the histories of Steuben, Milbridge, Harrington and Cherryfield. Steuben was formerly township “No. 4, East of Union River,” and No. 5 comprised the territory.

    Clements family record: with notes on allied families

    The concern in this self published manuscript is with the descendents of William Clements, who came to Philadelphia from Ireland, about 1760, and with the ancestors and descendents of those families connected with them by marriage.

    Manchester New Hampshire Directories 1840-1965

    19 free digitized directories found online for the city of Manchester New Hampshire covering the years of 1860-1918 (incomplete). Directories can provide such information on an individual such as their employment and address during the year issued. They may also indicate whether they were renting or residing with somebody else at the time.

    Handbook of Historical Data Concerning Leicester, Massachusetts

    This post contains a brief outline of the history of the town of Leicester, Massachusetts. However, at the bottom of the page, it provides extensive additional free material on historical and genealogical research within Leicester Massachusetts. If you have ancestors in Leicester, do not miss this!

    Hampton History: an account of the Pennsylvania Hamptons in America

    Hampton History: an account of the Pennsylvania Hamptons in America in the line of John Hampton, Jr., of Wrightstown; with an appendix treating of some other branches.

    Hackleman Family Record

    This is a transcript of the first 31 pages of Elijah Hackleman’s Scrap book No. 2. The original is in the Wabash County Indiana Historical Museum. Although material of genealogical significance is to be found throughout the scrapbook, the material following deals with the Hackleman family. Michael Hackleman was born in Germany about the year 1720. He migrated to America in the seventeenth year of his age (1737) and was bound to a Maryland, or Pennsylvania farmer for three years to pay for his passage. He finally cleared twenty-six acres of land, and squared the account. He married Mary Sailors in March of 1751, and settled on the Susquehanna River, near the line of Pennsylvania and Maryland. He later in life moved to the Abbeville District, South Carolina where he died in 1808. His children were named Jacob, Lydia, Conrad, John and George.

    Hart Family of Orange County NC

    This is a self published manuscript of the Hart Family from Orange County, North Carolina.

    The great ancestor of the Hart family in the United States emigrated from London about 1690 and settled in Hanover County, Virginia, where he died leaving an only son, Thomas Hart, who was about eleven years of age when his father arrived in Virginia. Of the elder Thomas little is known except that he was a merchant and probably late in life, a blind man. This manuscript begins with the son, Thomas Hart, Jr. who married Susanna Rice. After the death of Thomas Jr., Susanna and all of her children: Thomas, John, Benjamin, David, Nathaniel, and Ann, moved to Orange County, North Carolina.

    Representative Men of Maine – Biographical Sketches and Portraits

    A collection of portraits with biographical sketches of residents of the state of Maine who have achieved success and are prominent in commercial, industrial, professional, and political life, to which is added the portraits and sketches of all the governors since the formation of the state of Maine in 1820.

    A History of Swan’s Island, Maine

    Upon the very threshold of this historical sketch we find ourselves quite destitute of early public records for Swan’s Island. For over half a century from the settlement of this island until its organization as a plantation no municipal records were kept. But we are fortunate that H. W. Small saw purpose in bringing to light many private family records, old deeds showing what lots were occupied by the pioneer settlers; and written mutual agreements, which seem to have been often the result of arbitration on any disputed point where different claims to land conflicted with one another.

    Record of Connecticut Men in the War of 1812

    Record of Connecticut men who served in the Regular Army and the Militia in the War of 1812 compiled from rosters on file in Adjutant-General’s Office, Washington D. C. by authority of the general assembly Record of Connecticut Militia in the War of 1812 compiled from rosters on file in Adjutant-General’s Office, Washington D. C.

    Record of Service of Connecticut Men in the War of the Revolution

    The several rolls and lists in the following pages have been arranged chronologically according to the description of the service in which the troops engaged. Thus, after the first alarm, the Continental soldiers are classified in the order in which they were called out, then the State troops, and finally the Militia, with special lists.

    Record of Connecticut Men in the Mexican War

    Record of Connecticut men who served in the Regular Army during the Mexican War compiled from rosters on file in Adjutant-General’s Office, Washington D. C. by authority of the general assembly .

    Business Men of Northern Maine

    The Northern Maine, its Points of Interest and its Representative Business Men manuscript provides historical sketches of the nine towns featured within it’s embrace, as well as biographical sketches of the businesses and the men and women who owned and ran those businesses found within the towns of Houlton, Presque Isle, Caribou, Ft. Fairfield, Danforth, Lincoln, Mattawamkeag, Winn, and Kingman.

    A History of Peaks Island Maine and its People

    A history of Peaks Island and its people: also a short history of House Island, Portland, Maine. In presenting this history of two of the best known islands in Portland Harbor, it has been the intention of the author to give only the story of the early days of those islands, and of the families who have contributed to their history.

    Collections of the Connecticut Historical Society

    From 1860 to 1930 The Connecticut Historical Society published a series containing items from their collection of historical documents. The following are the 24 volumes of their works freely made available online. To assist the researcher with determining the contents for each volume, we’ve included such in the description. Connecticut genealogists will want to pay particular attention to Volumes 8-10, 12, 14, and 22. Willis and Wyllys family researchers, who descend from George Wyllys will be ecstatic over volume 21.

    Upper Otorara Presbyterian Church Records, Chester County PA

    Provides records for the Upper Otorara Presbyterian Church in Chester County, Pennsylvania. Many early members are mentioned by names. Includes many drawings of the church, as well as the history of the church. Includes transcriptions of both cemeteries for the church.

    Descendants of George and Maturin Ricker

    The descendants of two brothers, George and Maturin Ricker of Dover NH who’s descendants resided principally in New Hampshire and Maine.

    Baltimore Maryland City Directories 1799-1946

    This page lists 109 free digitized directories found online for the city of Baltimore Maryland covering the years of 1799-1946 (incomplete). Directories can provide such information on an individual such as their employment and address during the year issued. They may also indicate whether they were renting or residing with somebody else at the time.

    Genealogy of the Cust Family

    This Volume contains the history of the Cust family from Robert Cust of Pinchbeck in 1479 to the death of Sir Richard Cust, Bart., in 1700. In it are also printed the earlier title-deeds and other family records, which are now at Belton, in order to preserve them from future risks of decay or destruction, and to make them accessible to all those who are interested in the annals of Lincolnshire.

    History of Kossuth, Hancock, and Winnebago Counties, Iowa

    History of Kossuth, Hancock, and Winnebago Counties, Iowa together with sketches of their cities, villages and townships, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and 641 biographies of representative citizens. Also included is a history of Iowa embracing accounts of the pre-historic races, and a brief review of its civil and military history.

    York County Maine Registry of Deeds 1642-1737

    At a meeting of the Maine Historical Society, held in Portland on the 23d of December, 1882, a communication was received from Mr. John T. Hull, proposing to publish the early volumes in the York registry of deeds and asking for the cooperation of the society. Messrs. Edward H. Elwell, James P. Baxter and William Goold were thereupon appointed a committee to present the matter to the legislature of Maine. The fruition of their collaboration are the following 20 volumes of York County Maine Registry of Deeds.

    Dawson Family Genealogy

    The Dawson Family Genealogy is a large compilation of numerous Dawson genealogies in the United States deriving from a variety of different immigrant ancestors. For Dawson descendants it remains the go-to resource.

     

    The History of an Illinois Town – Prairie du Rocher

    AccessGenealogy has been working over the past year to compile early records and histories of French-American, Canadian-American towns and settlements that presents a look into the early history of this ethnic group of people as they were some of the earliest settlers in the Midwest, settling and trading in Native American towns long before the English were present in the area. Our American history, though, so perpetuated by English roots, often forgets this settlement of people, and their contribution to what is now America.

    The latest offering takes a look at the oldest European settlement in Illinois: Prairie du Rocher. Prairie du Rocher is a quaint French town along the Mississippi River in what is now Randolph County. When encountered by the French the area around Prairie du Rocher was settled by the Native American tribes of the Illinois Confederacy. To establish their trade amongst these friendly tribes, the French established Fort Chartres, which also served as a military reminder to the Spanish, English and American interests in the area. Along with the building of the fort came the fur traders, merchants, farmers, and tradesmen, all needed to ensure a thriving enterprise at that time. They settled down in communities around the fort, the most ancient of them being Prairie du Rocher.

    But Prairie du Rocher isn’t a town comprised of just French and Native American families. It also had multiple immigrations of Germans, Irish, British and Americans, which over the centuries has integrated it’s population in a mecca of nations. Of particular interest to genealogists will be the multiple articles on family genealogies, which contain biographical details of many of the earliest residents: Barbeau, Blais, Blow, Brickey, Coerver, Conner, Didier, Eichenseer, Ellner, Frawley, Grassinger, Hauck, Hoef, Ker, Kribs, Langlois, Louvier, Moskop, Mudd, O’Hara, Palmier, Seitz, Shea, Siegfried, and Wierschem families of Prairie du Rocher.

    Free Genealogy in Seneca County New York

    A guide and directory to Seneca County New York genealogy, containing both online and offline resources for genealogy and historical research. This article contains sources of genealogical data about Seneca County such as biographies, cemetery records, census records, church records, court records, family records, land records, military records, naturalization records, and vital records. The vast majority of the materials on this page are free to access. If they find a particular set of data that is not free they place a $$$ at the end of it to signify it’s currently only available on a membership website.

    Do you have any ancestors who resided in Seneca County New York? Try researching those ancestors using this new county guide. This new guide attempts to collect the many sources (over 1,000) of free information available online specific to Seneca County NY and provide a quick and easy jumping off point for researchers.

    View the guide online: Seneca County New York Genealogy