WikiProject:Full Text Search Part A

Current Projects Page

Wills and Probates Database Part 1

Project Leader

Danielle

Purpose

Check the United States Wills and Deeds Experimental database to see if a county's probate and land records are included in the database.

Task List

• Task List

Video Instructions

Video Instructions

Instructions

Sign into FamilySearch

• Click on this link and sign into FamilySearch. If you are only signed into the Wiki it will not work.

• Sign In
  

Step One - Choose a State

1. From the tabs on the spreadsheet, choose a span of states to work on: Task List.

2. You can sign up for individual states by putting your name directly below "Name" above a list of counties for a state.

Note: there will be multiple states on one tab. Be sure to scroll right to see them all.

Step Two - Select a County

1. On the task list, copy the name of the first county link for the state you are working on.

Step Three - Go to the Database

1. Click on this link: https://www.familysearch.org/search/textprototype/.

2. It will open a new tab and take you to the database.

Step Four - Search the Database for the County and the State

Do the following:
1. Paste in the county name in the Keyword field then click on Search. For example, Autauga

2. A list will appear of all of the states that county's name is in. Find the state you are working on and click on the box. For example, choose Alabama.

3. You will now see a list of counties for that state. Find the county you typed in and click on the box.

Step Five - Search for Land and Property

1. Below the list of counties, you will see another list called, Record Types. Find Land and Property and click on the box.
Note: if you do not see Land and Property, look for the "more" blue link under the last record type in the list and scroll down the page.

2. You are looking for the name of the county in the title of the records listed on the results list. In the example you see Autauga County Deeds and Mortgages, V. 11 (also D-F) 1851-1854. This indicates there are records for this county.

Other Land and Property keywords: Deeds, Mortgages, Land grants

3. If you find records for the county, go back to the task list and put a check mark in the column for Land and Property records.

4. If you do not see Land and Property records in the titles, go to Step Six.

Note: Usually when there are not records for a county, the county name is not in the title of any of the records listed, although they may be mentioned in other county collections. For example the first title entry lists Geneva, Clark, Shelby, Vigo, Monroe, Putnam. St. Clair County is not in the title and is only mentioned in regards to individuals from that county found in these records. This means there are no land records for St. Clair County and you should next search for probate records.

Step Six - Search for Probate Records

1. Go back to Record Types and uncheck Land and Property on the website.

2. Then, click on Probate.

Note: if you do not see Probate, look for the "more" blue link under the last record type in the list and scroll down the page.

3. You are looking for the name of the county in the title of the records listed on the results list. In the example you see Autauga County Probate, this indicates there are records for this county.

Other Probate keywords: Wills, Estates, Inventories, Letters Testamentary, Letters of Administration

4. If you find records for the county, go back to the task list and put a check mark in the column for Probate records.

5. If you do not see any probate records in the titles, go to Step Seven.

Note: Usually when there are not records for a county, the county name will not be seen in the title of the collections listed. See Step Five above.

Step Seven - What to do if you are Unsure

• Sometimes the results given by the website are confusing and don't immediately list probate, land or corresponding keywords. If that happens, go to the task list and make a note in the date column and move on to the next county. We will double check it for you.

Step Eight - Sign off on the Task List

1. Once you have checked for each record type, you are completed with the task. Type the date in the column labeled Date and go to the next county on the task list.

Step Nine - Go back to the Task List

• Go to the Task List and add the date next to your name.
• Copy the next county to work on and paste it into the Keyword search: Task List

What to do if the Website is not working

1. Because this is an experiment, the database may not always be working. Try the following when you cannot get results when you make a search.

• Make sure you are signed into FamilySearch (not just the Wiki)
• Try rebooting your browser by closing and starting over with a new window.
• Try opening an incognito window in Chrome or another browser (such as Firefox or Edge) and search the index

• Chrome: Ctrl + Shift + N
• Mac: Command + Shift + N

• Take a break and get a cookie. The database might work after a few minutes.