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Strategies for making research progress on families who lived in a place where most of the records are lost. | Strategies for making research progress on families who lived in a place where most of the records are lost. | ||
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The phrase "burned counties" was first used for research in Virginia where many county records were destroyed in courthouse fires, or during the Civil War.< | The phrase "burned counties" was first used for research in Virginia where many county records were destroyed in courthouse fires, or during the Civil War.<ref>An example of relatively early use of the phrase “burned counties” is found in a regularly featured periodical article which first appeared as “Records from Burned Counties,” [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/61483708&referer=brief_results ''Virginia Genealogical Society Bulletin''], 4, issue&nbsp;3 (July 1966), [FHL Book 975.5 B2vs v.&nbsp;1-5].</ref> The strategies for researching places where a local courthouse or repository was wiped out by flood, fire, war, or cleaning-streak clerks are useful in similar situations all around the United States, Canada, and throughout the world. | ||
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|+ '''Burned Counties: A Partial List for Selected States'''<br>(as listed on the Internet at My[State]Genealogy.com)<br> | |+ '''Burned Counties: A Partial List for Selected States'''<br>(as listed on the Internet at My[State]Genealogy.com)<br> | ||
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=Mental Preparation and Tools Needed for Success= | = Mental Preparation and Tools Needed for Success = | ||
Before starting on burned county research, be sure you have these five tools ready and working for you. | Before starting on burned county research, be sure you have these five tools ready and working for you. | ||
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*Find ways to '''''collaborate''''' with other genealogists, archivists, and librarians on solving the problem. Get help where ever you can.<br><!--{12072793477230} --> | *Find ways to '''''collaborate''''' with other genealogists, archivists, and librarians on solving the problem. Get help where ever you can.<br><!--{12072793477230} --> | ||
=Find Substitutes= | = Find Substitutes = | ||
When a record goes missing, there may be some other records available with the same information. | When a record goes missing, there may be some other records available with the same information. | ||
===Record Type Substitutes=== | === Record Type Substitutes === | ||
Stay focused on one person and event in that person's life, but change the record type you search to find the event. Here are some ideas to help you find good substitutes for missing burned county records. | Stay focused on one person and event in that person's life, but change the record type you search to find the event. Here are some ideas to help you find good substitutes for missing burned county records. | ||
'''''Record Selection Tables.''''' Use the “[[United States Record Selection Table|Record Selection Table]]” on the Wiki (or just before the "Map of the United States" in the [http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/RG/Guide/Usout.asp#map_of_the_united_states ''United States Research Outline'']) to identify alternative record types you could use to find documentation for various events. <br>'''''Death records.''''' More records result from death than any other event. Perhaps the event you want to document will be mentioned in a record created at the time of death.<br>'''''Land records.''''' These records are so important they are usually the first to be re-recorded after a disaster. Local title companies, the state, and feds may have land records too.<br>'''''Local histories and biographies''''' may be based on sources that were not destroyed in the disaster.<br>'''''Censuses''''' (federal and state) were rarely stored at the burned courthouse. They show family changes over time.<br>'''''Tax records''''' show residence and neighbors. If they were not stored at the burned courthouse they may be a source of information about your family.<br>'''''Newspapers''''' mention our ancestors, and a copy somewhere usually survives a disaster. First see if nearby newspapers have been digitized and are available on the Internet. If not, you can get a microfilm copy of almost any newspaper through inter-library loan at college or public libraries. Use the [http://www.neh.gov/projects/usnp.html ''U.S. Newspapers Program''] (www.neh.gov/projects/usnp.html) will help you find newspapers and obtain newspaper microfilms.<br>'''''Legislative petitions''''' were sent to the state capitol and show residence and neighbors.<br>'''''Collections.''''' Use the ''Genealogy'' section of each [http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/RG/frameset_rhelps.asp?Page=./research/type/Research_Outline.asp&ActiveTab=Type state research outline] to identify important collections in that state to research for your ancestors. | '''''Record Selection Tables.''''' Use the “[[United States Record Selection Table|Record Selection Table]]” on the Wiki (or just before the "Map of the United States" in the [http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/RG/Guide/Usout.asp#map_of_the_united_states ''United States Research Outline'']) to identify alternative record types you could use to find documentation for various events. <br>'''''Death records.''''' More records result from death than any other event. Perhaps the event you want to document will be mentioned in a record created at the time of death.<br>'''''Land records.''''' These records are so important they are usually the first to be re-recorded after a disaster. Local title companies, the state, and feds may have land records too.<br>'''''Local histories and biographies''''' may be based on sources that were not destroyed in the disaster.<br>'''''Censuses''''' (federal and state) were rarely stored at the burned courthouse. They show family changes over time.<br>'''''Tax records''''' show residence and neighbors. If they were not stored at the burned courthouse they may be a source of information about your family.<br>'''''Newspapers''''' mention our ancestors, and a copy somewhere usually survives a disaster. First see if nearby newspapers have been digitized and are available on the Internet. If not, you can get a microfilm copy of almost any newspaper through inter-library loan at college or public libraries. Use the [http://www.neh.gov/projects/usnp.html ''U.S. Newspapers Program''] (www.neh.gov/projects/usnp.html) will help you find newspapers and obtain newspaper microfilms.<br>'''''Legislative petitions''''' were sent to the state capitol and show residence and neighbors.<br>'''''Collections.''''' Use the ''Genealogy'' section of each [http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/RG/frameset_rhelps.asp?Page=./research/type/Research_Outline.asp&ActiveTab=Type state research outline] to identify important collections in that state to research for your ancestors. | ||
===Jurisdiction Substitutes=== | === Jurisdiction Substitutes === | ||
The county records may have burned, but the town, state, or federal governments may have similar records. Do not forget to check in neighboring towns and counties too. Try an area search. Draw a circle around the home of your family and search all the jurisdictions with the circle. Slowly expand the circle searching the area farther and farther from home. | The county records may have burned, but the town, state, or federal governments may have similar records. Do not forget to check in neighboring towns and counties too. Try an area search. Draw a circle around the home of your family and search all the jurisdictions with the circle. Slowly expand the circle searching the area farther and farther from home. | ||
===Repository Substitutes=== | === Repository Substitutes === | ||
Make friends with librarians and archivists at local repositories and ask where various kinds of records ended up. When hunting down documentation for an event look for it in each of these kinds of repositories; | Make friends with librarians and archivists at local repositories and ask where various kinds of records ended up. When hunting down documentation for an event look for it in each of these kinds of repositories; | ||
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*National Archives branches | *National Archives branches | ||
===Kin or Associate Substitutes=== | === Kin or Associate Substitutes === | ||
If research on the main family members fails to produce results, try studying relatives and associates. Make a list of people who show up in records of the family and study how closely and frequently they were in contact with the family.<sup>6</sup> If necessary, track down the kin and associates to learn more about your family. | If research on the main family members fails to produce results, try studying relatives and associates. Make a list of people who show up in records of the family and study how closely and frequently they were in contact with the family.<sup>6</sup> If necessary, track down the kin and associates to learn more about your family. | ||
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*comb the neighbors for families with similar naming patters, origins, or occupations <!-- Tidy found serious XHTML errors --> | *comb the neighbors for families with similar naming patters, origins, or occupations <!-- Tidy found serious XHTML errors --> | ||
=Think About Your Burned County Research in New Ways= | = Think About Your Burned County Research in New Ways = | ||
Be innovative. Break out of the box. Force your brain to break old connections and make new ones. | Be innovative. Break out of the box. Force your brain to break old connections and make new ones. | ||
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'''''Use logic, deduction, inference, and inspiration.'''''<br>1. Correlate records of neighbors to infer relationships.<br>2. Study migration patterns to infer where the family’s place of origin.<br>3. Try to disprove uncertain connections. | '''''Use logic, deduction, inference, and inspiration.'''''<br>1. Correlate records of neighbors to infer relationships.<br>2. Study migration patterns to infer where the family’s place of origin.<br>3. Try to disprove uncertain connections. | ||
=Continue Your Education and Follow-Up= | = Continue Your Education and Follow-Up = | ||
'''Get an education.''' | '''Get an education.''' | ||
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[[Sharing: a good way to FIND ancestors|'''Share''']] what you know [[Create a genealogy web page|on the Internet]], or through books, or articles in order to make contacts with other researchers. They may contact you with additional helpful information. | [[Sharing: a good way to FIND ancestors|'''Share''']] what you know [[Create a genealogy web page|on the Internet]], or through books, or articles in order to make contacts with other researchers. They may contact you with additional helpful information. | ||
Burned counties do not have to be end of the line research situations if you prepare well, look for substitute records, search a variety of jurisdictions and repositories for the family, approach such research problems in innovative ways, and follow-up well. | Burned counties do not have to be end of the line research situations if you prepare well, look for substitute records, search a variety of jurisdictions and repositories for the family, approach such research problems in innovative ways, and follow-up well. | ||
= Sources = | |||
{{reflist}} | |||
1. An example of relatively early use of the phrase “burned counties” is found in a regularly featured periodical article which first appeared as “Records from Burned Counties,” ''Virginia Genealogical Society Bulletin'', 4, issue 3 (July 1966). | |||
1. An example of relatively early use of the phrase “burned counties” is found in a regularly featured periodical article which first appeared as “Records from Burned Counties,” ''Virginia Genealogical Society Bulletin'', 4, issue 3 (July 1966). | |||
2. Elizabeth Shown Mills, “Genealogical Mindset & Principles of Scholarship” (lecture in Course 4 Advanced Methodology & Evidence, Institute for Genealogical and Historical Research at Samford University, Birmingham, Ala., 13 June 2005). | 2. Elizabeth Shown Mills, “Genealogical Mindset & Principles of Scholarship” (lecture in Course 4 Advanced Methodology & Evidence, Institute for Genealogical and Historical Research at Samford University, Birmingham, Ala., 13 June 2005). | ||
3. G. David Dilts, "Research Logs: The Most Important Tool for Organizing Your Family History," ''Genealogical Journal'' 30 (2002): 10-11. | 3. G. David Dilts, "Research Logs: The Most Important Tool for Organizing Your Family History," ''Genealogical Journal'' 30 (2002): 10-11. | ||
4. Carol Harless, et. al., PAF Documentation Guidelines (N.p.: Silicon Valley PAF Users Group, 1993), 1. | 4. Carol Harless, et. al., PAF Documentation Guidelines (N.p.: Silicon Valley PAF Users Group, 1993), 1. | ||
5. Elizabeth Shown Mills, "Dissecting the Research Problem” (lecture in Course 4 Advanced Methodology & Evidence, Institute for Genealogical and Historical Research at Samford University, Birmingham, Ala., 17 June 2005). | 5. Elizabeth Shown Mills, "Dissecting the Research Problem” (lecture in Course 4 Advanced Methodology & Evidence, Institute for Genealogical and Historical Research at Samford University, Birmingham, Ala., 17 June 2005). | ||
6. ''Ibid.'' | 6. ''Ibid.'' | ||
7. Mills, “Genealogical Mindset & Principles of Scholarship.” | 7. Mills, “Genealogical Mindset & Principles of Scholarship.” | ||
8. Mills, “Dissecting the Research Problem.” | 8. Mills, “Dissecting the Research Problem.” | ||
=Related Content= | = Related Content = | ||
[[Solving Tough Research Problems—Overcoming Brick Walls|Solving Tough Research Problems—Overcoming Brick Walls]] | |||
[[Solving Tough Research Problems—Overcoming Brick Walls|Solving Tough Research Problems—Overcoming Brick Walls]] | |||
[[Category:United_States]] | [[Category:United_States]] [[Category:Canada]] | ||
[[Category:Canada]] | |||