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Details: | Courthouse Research for Family Historians: Your Guide to Genealogical Treasures; by Christine Rose; 237 pp; soft cover; 8 1/2 x 11; ISBN: 9780929626161; Item # CR0003; fully illustrated and indexes. The only guidebook devoted totally to courthouse research. From an author who has researched in more than 500 courthouses of the U.S. Christine starts with the preparation, giving advice on which courthouse to research first, how to prepare, and how to get past the clerks into the records. She then offers concrete examples of what will be found in each office, how to use the indexes in that office, and how to interpret what is found. Going beyond the location of the record, she discusses evaluation of the records, significance to your family's search, and many other facets of research. Written in a clear style, concise, and with many tips for novices to advanced researchers. An unsolicited recommendation! "I just finished your Courthouse Research for Family Historians book and then went to a lovely courthouse ... I had a new confidence and overview of what was available there thanks to your book ... I've done courthouse research a few times, and was on the way to becoming knowledgeable, but your book got me around the corner. Your descriptions of how the records are formed and how they come to be in the courthouse is invaluable. You are such a good, clear, concise writer. And, there is even a little nurturing in your book, for those who are a little nervous about going into the courthouse ... I will say that your courthouse book set me up well for ...[a] very efficient use of my time ... Thanks again, for a simply scrumptious book. It was like water to the parched in the desert." [Peggy Baldwin] Table of ContentsChapter 1: Preparation is the KeyStart in a County Courthouse...or? Counties Can Have Parents Too Counties Formed From the Initial County of Research Does the County Still Exist? Independent Cities Other Considerations Will They Be Open? Can You Handle the Record Books? Packing With a Purpose What's in Your Briefcase Taking Files Maps Skills to Practice Before Leaving Reading the Handwriting Transcribing Faithfully Books and Tapes will Assist Abstracting Other Practical ConsiderationsShould You Take Your Computer into the Courthouse? Photocopying Chapter Points to Ponder Chapter 2: You're There–Now What?Arriving at the Courthouse Staring the Search Expectations Hints for Success Differences in Indexes Numbering of Record books A Variety of Indexing Systems Russell Index System Additional Hints with the Russell System The Campbell System and Other "First Name" Indexes Cott Indexes Graves Tabular Initial Indexes Additional Indexes Can’t Find a Name in the Index? Did the Index Err? Did You Miss Some Entries? What's Missing in the Index? Using the Index for Maximum Results After the Index in Examined brought Your Computer? Legal Age There was a Fire! Those Other Records on the Shelves Chapter Pints to Ponder Chapter 3: Property MattersImportance of Land Ownership State-Land States vs. Federal-Land States Surveying Differences Land Surveys Indexes for Land Records Entry Book Indexes Peculiarities of Deed Indexes in Land Records What do Deed Indexes Include? Indexes Prepared by Others Types of Documents Terminology Chapter Points to Ponder Chapter 4: Searching for Property RecordsThe Office for Land Records Types of Record Books Deed Books Survey Books and Warrants Plat Books and Plat Maps Powers of Attorney Books Mortgage Books What a Deed Tells Us The Recording Process Clues in the Deeds Other Considerations Photocopying Sr. and Jr., Elder and Younger, 1st and 2nd Absence of Records Strategies for Searching Local Land Records Connecting Families Through Their Deeds Records Not a Part of the Local Land Records Land Records are Crucial to Research Chapter Points to Ponder Deed Transcribed and Annotated Chapter 5: Estates GaloreWhich Office Handled Estates? Was the Estate Probated? Women and Wills Kinds of Estates The Probate Indexes Terminology Understanding the Law Naming Children in the Will Primogeniture or Double Portion Daughters Interstate Division Per Stripes or Per Capita Heirs at Law, Sons-in-Law, and Others Probate Court Minutes and Court Orders The Estate Packets But Keep in Mind Chapter Points to Ponder Chapter 6: Estate DocumentsWills (Testate Proceedings) Codicils to Wills More Than One Kind of Will The Probate Process Other Documents Associated with Estates Petition Bond "Letters" Issued Inventory Account Accounts of Sale and Sale Bill Petition for Sale of Real Estate Final Settlement or Final Distribution Renunciation Administrations Relinquishment in an Administration Public Administrator or Other Public Official Guardianship Guardianship of Minors Bonds for Guardians Entailed Property in the Hands of Minors Choosing a Guardian for a Minor Next Friend Guardianship for Incompetents Committee (in Case of Incompetency) Guardian's Accounts Chapter Points to Ponder Chapter 7: Milking Every Clue from EstatesLet's Consider Entails Were There Two Wills? Wills of Unmarried Adults Making it Fair Gleaning Clues from Wills More on Packets Varied Documents in the Estate Packet (Annotated) Transcribing a Will Abstracting a Will Wills are Marvelous in More Ways Than One Is a Search Among Estates Worth the Effort? Don't Be Content With One Record Chapter Points to Ponder Chapter 8: Understanding the Court SystemThe Court System Types of Courts Our Legal System Record Books Type of Documents Civil Court Indexes The File Packets: Civil and Criminal Terminology Chapter Points to Ponder Chapter 9: Civil and Criminal CourtCivil Records Finding Civil Court Records in the Courthouse Indebtness Judgments Your Strategy in Becoming Acquainted with Civil Court Records The Civil Court Process Other Records Which Might Be Found Changes of Name Tax Records How Tax Records Help You What was Taxed Land Books Tax Assessor Tax Foreclosures Road Records Road Commissioners Coroner's Records Registrar of Voters Naturalization Locating the Naturalization Papers Naturalization of Women Formation of Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization Divorces Can't Find the Divorce Proceeding? Criminal Matters The "Gaols" Bail Bond Duties of a Criminal Court Clerk Juries Chapter Points to Ponder Chapter 10: Birth, Marriage, and DeathRegistrations of Vital Records Which Courthouse Office? Cities May Keep Their Own Records Are the Records Open to the Public? Register Book Indexes and Their Organization Transcribing and Abstracting Vital Records Birth Records Delayed or Corrected Birth Records Other Courthouse Documents Can Substitutes for Birth Records Local Customs Help Marriages The Process by License or by Banns Marriage Applications and the License Marriage Bonds Marriage Certificates Marriage Registers Marriage Contract Where Did They Marry? Substitute Marriage Records Breach of Promise Common-Law Marriages Special Notes on Marriages Deaths Where is the Death Register and What's In It? When You Cannot Find the Death Record Substitute Records Can Prove a Death Vital Records Assistance One Action Can Prove Birth, Marriage, and Death Chapter Points to Ponder Chapter 11: The Internet, Microfilm, and LibrariesThe Internet and Courthouses Cyndi's List is Always a Place to Start Other Cyndi's List Resource Items USGenWeb County Forums County Sites Other Than USGenWeb State Archives on the Internet Federal Land Records Online Local Land Records Online Probate Records Online Vital Records Online Civil Records Online Online Subscription Services Microfilm for Courthouse Records Family History Library (FHL) and Their Microfilm Finding Family History Centers FHL Catalog Ordering FHL Microfilm Microfilm Other than FHL Microfilm Problems Library Genealogical Collections Family History Library Books Other Major Library Collections Advantage of Library Preparation Use WorldCat OCLC Law Libraries for Statutes United States Statutes Newspapers Other Finding Aids Using NUCMC PERSI Index to Published Articles County Inventories and County Guides Work Project Administration (WPA) Original Courthouse Records Found Elsewhere Unusual Sites Chapter Points to Ponder Chapter 12: Strategies that WorkExample 1: Allow One Record to Lead to Another Example 2: Locating the Children Example 3: Locating Parents Example 4: Following the Separations and Divorces Example 5: The Will is Missing Example 6: Widening the Search Strategies for Letter Writing General Rules When Writing Stating the Request Clearly Strategies for Finding African-American Records Strategies for "Knowing" Our Ancestors Keeping Us Going The Saga of a Revolutionary Soldier Resource References Glossary Index "Courthouse Research for Family Historians" Book ReviewMore Books by Christine Rose: |