21st Century Genealogy Research

21^st Century Research with FamilySearch

 

The genealogy research process has experienced significant changes in the past decade.  The influx of technology has made it easier and faster to research our ancestors.  One of the major contributors to this shift has undoubtedly been FamilySearch, with access to over one billion searchable on-line images.  Although many of us genealogists have utilized the massive FamilySearch index, a treasure trove exists outside of the bounds of these indexes.  Lurking beneath the surface, digitized books and historical records await the diligent researcher willing to browse their images.  FamilySearch announced this past the release of millions of additional images to its historical records collection.  Many of these records are browsable images without indexes.

I was overjoyed to discover the addition of U.S.,  Ohio, Probate Records, 1790-1967 with over 3 million digitized images (only A thru L counties have been added).  Just last month, I spent several days pouring over documents in multiple Ohio county courthouses.   I was easily able to locate the will of Richard English of Belmont County, which I discussed in my previous post.  Having a digital image versus a scanned photocopy is definitely a benefit to my research.

 

Digital Image

Scanned Photocopy

FamilySearch’s historical record collection has several advantages for genealogical researchers, primarily:

• Access to digital images of original source documents.
• The ability to conduct research off-site

Will FamilySearch and other on-line repositories ever replace on-location record searches?  I doubt that we will ever get to the point of having on-line access to all the documents we seek.  Besides, there are certain benefits we derive from conducting genealogical research in the locations where our ancestors lived.  For example, we are able to:

• Access all records for the locality, rather than just a selected few.
• Visit and photograph the specific locations where our ancestors lived, worked, worshiped and are buried.
• Gain an understanding of the geography of the area in which our ancestors lived.

Although FamilySearch and other similar digital archives can hardly replace the thoroughness of research achieved by searching on-location, they certainly provide quick, easy, and inexpensive access to records.  We would all love to conduct all of our research in the location of the original records, however, often we are hampered by restrictions in our time and resources.  Digital archives, such as FamilySearch, allow us almost instant access to records that previously would have been more difficult to obtain.  Welcome to 21^st century genealogical research.  Thank you, FamilySearch.

Genealogy Gems – Wills

One of the records that we genealogists seek with passion and excitement are the wills of our ancestors. Wills can be a treasure trove of information – when someone died, where they died, what they owned, and who survived them.   However, the details included in wills can vary considerably.  We would all like to locate wills that contain lots of details about the deceased’s heirs, but details are often  lacking.   For example, my James Piles’ will merely states, “I give and devise to my beloved wife in lieu of kindness”[i] and doesn’t even mention his wife’s name.  Such vagueness can really add to the frustration of our genealogical research.

Given the variability of the details contained in wills, I just had to share the following will of Richard English, which lists all eleven of his children.  What a surprise and pleasure to find!  Enjoy…

“In the name of the Benevolent Father of all America:  I Richard English of the County of Belmont and State of Ohio, being of sound mind and memory and of full age, do make publish and declare this my last will and testament in name and form following this is to say,

First, It is my will and desire that my funeral expenses and all my just debts shall be fully paid,

Secondly, I give and bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth Johnston wife of David Johnston, deceased, Two hundred dollars to be paid two years after my decease $200.

3^rd I give to the lawful heirs of son William English, deceased, the sum Five dollars each and accounts due from him to me;

4^th I give and bequeath to Daughter Margaret Piles wife of James deceased, two hundred dollars 200.

5^th I give and bequeath to my daughter Jane Moldon wife of Hezekial Moldon two hundred dollars and no interest on accounts due from him to me 200.

6^th I give and bequeath to my Daughter Elinor Forbes wife of Nathaniel Forbes deceased, two hundred dollars 200.

7^th I give and bequeath to my Daughter Mary Ann Anderson two hundred dollars wife of William Anderson 200.

8^th I give and bequeath to my son Samuel English the sum of Forty dollars and all accounts due from him to me. 40.

9^th I give and bequeath to my son Robert English the sum of three hundred and fifty dollars and no interest due from him to me.

10^th I give and bequeath unto the lawful heirs of my son Richard English twenty dollars each.

I give and bequeath unto my son Thomas English the Land that I live on being the North West quarter of section thirty six likewise a lot of land in same section joining land of Isaac Frye in Belmont County, commencing on the line that divides the section North and south, at the North East corner of Frye’s land by a small Beach and stone planted running thirty nine rods south, thence thirty nine East, North thirty nine rods thence to the place of beginning.  I likewise give to my son Thomas English, Daughter Elinor Forbes all the beds and bedding and all the household and kitchen furniture, and the remainder of my property real and personal be equally divided between my two sons Thomas English and Isaac English.

I do hereby appoint my two sons Thomas English and Isaac English my Executors of my last will and testament with full power to sell and convey all Lands and tenements by me held if necessary, revoking all former by me made.

In testimony whereof I have set my hand and seal this Twenty-fourth day of January 1857.

                                                                                                                                Richard English  (seal)”[ii]

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[i] Guernsey County, Ohio, Will Book I: 134, James Piles; Probate Court, Cambridge.

[ii] Belmont County, Ohio, Will Record I:263, Richard English; Probate Court, St. Clairsville

The Past and the Present

I am continually amazed at the changes that have taken place in the world of genealogy over the past 20 to 25 years.  And, I am pleasantly surprised by the progress I have made as a genealogist over the years as well.

Recently, I dug out some old files that I hadn’t worked on for at least 12 years. Oh my goodness, what a mess!  It was good to see that I have definitely improved in my file organization over the years.  Old census copies (from microfilm, of course), e-mails from distant cousins, forum queries and responses – few of which had citations even noted.   As I cleaned up the mess and added more to my research on the family, I couldn’t help but think about how much things have changed.  I was able to get citations for the census records I had, and do a complete census survey of the family (including the children) within a matter of days.  Geez, years before that would have taken me months to accomplish, and I probably wouldn’t have been able to find all of them!

Those old microfilm machines still bring backfond memories, though.  When my daughters were young, Sunday afternoons were my “Me Time”.  I would spend the afternoon at the library digging through printed census indices (if they existed), cranking through microfilms, and straining my eyes.  It was fun, believe it or not.  I was a baby genealogist and was just learning, but I have to say there was no better way to learn.  Present day technology has made it a new ballgame.  Even though I have those fond memories, I much prefer the new way we play the genealogy game.  Bottom line: I can accomplish so much more is a whole lot less time!

Genealogy Gems – Land Partition Records

My recent trip to NGS in Cincinnati was also a fruitful trip for my personal genealogical research. I made side trips both before and after the conference, and discovered some wonderful documents and gravestones.  One of the gems I ran across (and chased between two county courthouses), was the land partition of my 4^th great grandfather, Nathaniel Piles[1].  Not only did this court record list the heirs of Nathaniel, it also provided a link between three generations of my family—Nathaniel, his son James (who predeceased his father), and James’ daughter Maria Piles.  (Just so my family members can follow along, Maria was the wife of James A. Taylor, who were grandpa Taylor’s grandparents).  The following petition included in this case is an excellent example of the genealogical gems that can be uncovered with just a little bit of digging.  Enjoy!

“To the Court of Common Pleas within and for the county of Noble and the State of Ohio.

Your petitioners William B. Alexander and Susan Alexander his wife of Munroe County Ohio, respectfully represents that Nathaniel Piles deceased late of said Noble county, was at the time of his decease seized and possessed in fee simple of certain real estate with the appurtenances thereunto belonging and that part of said real estate is situated in the county of Noble aforesaid and also that part of said real estate is situate in the county of Guernsey and state of Ohio aforesaid, That the portion of said real estate situated in said Noble county is described as follows to wit:  Lot number twenty-three (23) in the town of Williamsburgh in said Noble county, and that the portion of said real estate situated in said Guernsey county is described as follows to wit:  Lots number thirteen (13) and fourteen (14) in the town of Millwood in said Guernsey county Ohio.

Your petitioners further represent that said Nathaniel Piles deceased left as his heirs and legal representatives and who are now legally seized in fee simple of said real estate by decent [sic] from said Nathaniel Piles deceased in the following proportions to wit, Your petitioners in right of said Susan Alexander the one undivided fifth part, John Piles of Athens county Ohio, Sarah Hurd who is intermarried with Joshua Hurd of Athens county Ohio, and Elizabeth Cline who is intermarried with George Cline of the state of Iowa, are each seized in fee simple as aforesaid of the one undivided fifth part of said real estate and Mary Ann Flanigan who is intermarried with John Flanigan of Iowa, Sarah Jane Ball who is intermarried with Thomas Ball of California, William Piles of Iowa, Richard Piles of Iowa, Nathan Piles of California, Mariah Piles (a minor) of Iowa, John Piles (a minor) of Iowa, Susan A. Piles (a minor) of Iowa, James P Piles (a minor) of Iowa and Isaac Piles (a minor) of Iowa are each seized in fee simple as aforesaid of the one undivided fiftieth part of said real estate,

And your petitioners further represent that the said John Piles (first mentioned in this petition), Sarah Hurd, Elizabeth Cline and your petitioner Susan Alexander are the children of said Nathaniel Piles deceased and that the said Mary Ann Flanigan, Sarah Jane Ball, William Piles, Richard Piles, Nathan Piles, Mariah Piles, John Piles, Susan A. Piles, James P. Piles and Isaac Piles are the children of James Piles deceased who was a son of said Nathaniel Piles deceased, and that the aforesaid children and Grandchildren of said Nathaniel Piles deceased are coparceners in the manner before stated with your petitioners in the said real estate and also that Margaret Piles widow of said Nathaniel Piles is entitled to dower in said real estate.

Your petitioners therefore desiring to hold their interest in severalty prays that the said John Piles, Elizabeth Cline, George Cline, Sarah Hurd, Joshua Hurd, Mary Ann Flanigan, John Flanigan, Sarah Jane Ball, Thomas Ball, William Piles, Richard Piles, Nathan Piles, Mariah Piles, John Piles, Susan A. Piles, James P. Piles and Isaac Piles, and Margaret Piles widow of said Nathaniel Piles deceased may each be made defendants to this petition and that partition of said real estate may be made and that the dower of said Margaret Piles may be assigned in said real estate, or if it appear that partition of said real estate cannot be made without maifash injury that the same may be sold or other proper order taken in that behalf pursuant to the Statutes in such case made and provided.

                                                                                                                      Ferguson & Preistley,

Attys for Petitioners”[2]

 

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[1] Noble County, Ohio, Court of Common Pleas Partition Record Box 13, W.B. Alexander et al. vs. John Piles et al., 1857, Clerk of the Court’s Office, Caldwell

[2] Noble County, Ohio, Court of Common Pleas Partition Record Box 13, W.B. Alexander et al. vs. John Piles et al., “Petition of William B. Alexander and Susan, his wife”, 9 Feb 1857, Clerk of the Court’s Office, Caldwell.