Genealogy Research Using Local Resources

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Genealogy Research Using Local Resources

• Cab Vinton, Director
• Sanbornton Public Library
• 286-7422 / spl_at_metrocast.net

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Outline

• I. Local resources in Sanbornton
• II. In-state resources
• III. Out-of-state resources
• IV. Sanbornton Public Library databases
• V. Free, high quality internet resources

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Types of Primary Sources / Records

• Census materials
• Vital records
• Parish and other local registers
• Cemeteries / Graveyards
• Court records
• Immigration records
• Land records
• Military records
• Historical maps
• Newspapers
• City, Telephone, Post Office directories
• Colonial and State records
• Town and County records
• School, Business, Professional, Organization
  records directories

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I. Local Resources 1. Sanbornton Public
Library a.) Guides to Genealogical Research
(929s)

• The Source A Guidebook to American Genealogy. 3d
  rev. ed. Szucs, Loretto Dennis Sandra
  Hargreaves Luebking. Provo, Utah Ancestry, 2006.
• Complete Idiots Guide to Genealogy. 2nd ed.
  Rose, Christine, Kay Germain Ingalls.
  Indianapolis Alpha Books, 2005.
• They Came In Ships A Guide To Finding Your
  Immigrant Ancestor's Arrival Record. 3rd ed.
  Colletta, John Philip. Salt Lake City Ancestry,
  2002.
• Courthouse Research for Family Historians Your
  Guide to Genealogical Treasures. Rose, Christine.
  San Jose, Calif. CR Publications, 2004.
• Identifying Tartans The New Compact Study Guide
  and Identifier. Urquhart, Blair. London Apple,
  1994.

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I. Local Resources 1. Sanbornton Public
Library b.) New Hampshire Collection

• Over 400 items
• Published Family Genealogies
• Unpublished Family Genealogies
• Cemeteries / Gravestones
• Town Reports
• Town County Histories
• Family papers, including Diaries and Letters
• Genealogical periodicals
• County atlases and land ownership maps
• Reference works, such as biographical
  dictionaries bibliographies

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I. Local Resources 1. Sanbornton Public
Library c.) Books We Dont Own

• For example
• Taylor, Maureen A. Uncovering Your Ancestry
  Through Family Photographs. 2d ed. Family Tree
  Books. 2005. 138p.
• Neagles, James C. U.S. Military Records A Guide
  to Federal and State Sources, Colonial America to
  the Present. Ancestry. 1994. 441p.

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I. Local Resources 1. Sanbornton Public
Library d.) Books We Dont Own / Publishers

• Higginson Books
• http//www.higginsonbooks.com
• Ancestry
• http//shops.ancestry.com
• Genealogical Publishing Company
• http//www.genealogical.com
• Heritage Books
• http//www.heritagebooks.com

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I. Local Resources 1. Sanbornton Public
Library e.) Books We Dont Own / Interlibrary
Loan

• As long as an item is held by a NH library,
  theres a good chance we can get a hold of it for
  you
• Cooperative service run by the State Library
• Van comes once a week (Fridays), so try to submit
  your request early in the week

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I. Local Resources 2. Sanbornton Historical
Society

• http//lanetavern.org/
• Sanbornton burial ground information
• http//lanetavern.org/shs-burial-ground.htm
• Town Historians/ Locals with Deep Knowledge
• Milly Shaw
• Evelyn Auger

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I. Local Resources 3. Town Clerks Office /
286-4034

• Several different inventories of available
  records over the years
• N.H. Historical Records Survey, 1941
• Sanbornton town records and maps located at the
  Town Clerk's office and the Town Hall / compiled
  by Jean Nudd, 1978
• Sanbornton Historical Documents Foundation
  inventory, 2006

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I. Local Resources 4. Sanbornton Historical
Documents Foundation

• http//sanbornton.org/
• Membership, 35 annually 25 for SHS members
• Records available for all
• Land Use Map for Sanbornton, October 2003
• Sanbornton Tax Maps, current as of April 1, 2007
• Town Hall Restoration Report, June 2003
• Town Reports, 2004, 2005

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I. Local Resources 4. Historical Documents
Foundation, contd

• Restricted access documents
• A History of Sanbornton, Moses T. Runnels
• Text is not transcribed or searchable
• Early Settler Meetings, 1750, 1752 1753
• Handwritten records of the meetings after the
  purchase of the land for the Town
• Town Reports, 1822-1827, 1887, 1997-2002
• Vital Statistics - Marriages, Births Deaths
• Ledger (labeled 1824-1845) w/ Index
• Family Pages, 1755-1844

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I. Local Resources 5. Other Local Resources

• Other public libraries
• Laconia, Franklin, New Hampton, etc.
• Laconia Courthouse Registry of Deeds and Registry
  of Probate
• Wills, deeds, probate information

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II. In-State Resources 1. New Hampshire State
Library

• http//www.nh.gov/nhsl/
• Genealogy Section Zelda Moore
• 20 Park Street
• Concord, NH 03301
• 271-6823
• zmoore_at_library.state.nh.us
• Online catalog holdings from libraries around
  NH
• http//www.nhu-pac.library.state.nh.us/

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II. In-State Resources 1. New Hampshire State
Library, contd

• Town, county family histories
• Town reports
• City County directories
• NH newspapers on microfilm
• Genealogical journals, including columns from the
  "Boston Transcript"
• American Genealogical Index
• U.S. Census reports, 1790 to present

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II. In-State Resources 1. New Hampshire State
Library, contd

• Early New Hampshire Town Records, 1640-1840 on
  microfilm, w/ surname index, including tax
  assessments
• 18 towns excluded for reasons unknown see
  Catalog of Ancient Towns, Parishes, and Other
  Divisions of the State as Recorded in the Office
  of the Secretary of State
• Minorities under-represented
• Index to vital records

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II. In-State Resources 2. NH Division of
Archives and Records Management

• 71 South Fruit Street
• Concord, N.H. 03301
• 271-2236
• http//www.sos.nh.gov/archives/genealogy.html

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II. In-State Resources 3. NH Division of Vital
Records Administration

• 71 South Fruit Street (note new location!)
• Concord, NH 03301
• 271-4650
• http//www.sos.nh.gov/vitalrecords/

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II. In-State Resources 3. NH Division of Vital
Records Administration, contd

• State records dating back to 1640, as well as
  state archival records
• Local genealogists volunteer their time to assist
  you in locating your family histories
• Photo ID required to obtain certified copies of
  vital records (12)
• Unrestricted access to
• Birth records, 1640 - 1901
• Death records, 1640 - 1948
• Marriage divorce records, 1808 1948
• Records for Sanbornton are incomplete

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II. In-State Resources 4. New Hampshire
Historical Society

• http//www.nhhistory.org/
• 30 Park Street
• Concord, NH 03301
• 225-3381
• Always call for hours to lay the groundwork for
  your visit
• Free parking at the Museum of New Hampshire
  History three blocks away

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II. In-State Resources 4. New Hampshire
Historical Society a.) Print Collection

• About 50,000 items
• Over 5,000 genealogies, many unpublished, of New
  England families
• Over 4,000 biographical works
• About 3,000 volumes of periodicals on New England
  history and genealogy
• Over 200 volumes of manuscript church records
• Compilations, mostly unpublished, of cemetery
  records from over 100 New Hampshire towns
• Extracts from DAR wills (also at Laconia Public
  Library)
• Largest existing collection of New Hampshire
  newspapers from 1756 to 1900 (about 800,000
  pages)
• Card index of about 30,000 "New Hampshire
  notables," gathered from biographical
  dictionaries, local histories, obituaries

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II. In-State Resources 4. New Hampshire
Historical Society b.) Print Collection

• Special Collections
• 3,000 manuscripts
• 200,000 images (photographs, stereographs,
  postcards, slides)
• 1,000 maps
• Thousands of printed ephemera
• Fees
• 7 per day for nonmembers, plus photocopying
  charges
• Free for members, full-time students,
  volunteers
• Research time billed at 30 per hour for members,
  40 per hour for non-members
• Memberships Family 50 / Couple 40 /
  Individual 30

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II. In-State Resources 5. Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-Day Saints Family History Center

• 90 Clinton Street
• Concord, New Hampshire
• 225-2848
• Open to the public
• Free to use beyond standard photocopying costs
• Call for hours available resources

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II. In-State Resources 6. Town Historical
Societies

• Association of Historical Societies of New
  Hampshire
• http//www.historicalsocietiesnh.org/

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II. In-State Resources 7. Genealogical Societies

• New Hampshire Society of Genealogists
• P.O. Box 2316
• Concord, NH 03302
• http//www.nhsog.org/
• New book New Hampshire Families in 1790 a
  project to document all of the families living in
  New Hampshire at the time of the 1790 census
  (48)
• New Hampshire Genealogical Record (quarterly)
• New Hampshire Society of Genealogists Newsletter
  (biannually)
• Family Register database 2 per search for
  members
• Guide to member research surname interests

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II. In-State Resources 7. Genealogical
Societies, contd

• American-Canadian Genealogical Society
• P.O. Box 6478
• Manchester, NH 03108
• http//www.acgs.org/
• Merrimack Society of Genealogists
• P.O. Box 1035
• Concord, NH 03302
• Rockingham County Society of Genealogists
• 28 Prentiss Way
• Exeter, NH 03833
• Strafford County Society of Genealogists
• P.O. Box 322
• Dover, NH 03821

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II. In-State Resources 8. Hereditary Societies

• N.H. Sons of American Revolution
• http//www.nhssar.org/
• New Hampshire Society of Mayflower Descendants
• http//www.nhmayflower.org/
• New Hampshire Society Children of the American
  Revolution
• http//www.nhscar.com/nhscar/
• N.H. Founders Patriots
• N.H. Society of Colonial Wars
• Piscataqua Pioneers

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III. Out-of-State Resources 1. New England
Historic Genealogical Society

• http//www.newenglandancestors.org/
• 99 Newbury Street
• Boston, MA 02116
• 617-536-5740
• info_at_nehgs.org
• Oldest genealogical society in the country
  founded 1845

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III. Out-of-State Resources 1. New England
Historic Genealogical Society, contd

• Individual Membership 75
• Access to all areas of NewEnglandAncestors.org
  website
• Unlimited use of Research Library, including rare
  books and manuscripts, in Boston
• Access to premium databases like the Early
  American Newspapers
• Subscriptions to New England Ancestors and The
  New England Historical and Genealogical Register
• Discounts on research services and sales

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III. Out-of-State Resources 2. American-French
Genealogical Society

• Genealogical historical organization for
  French-Canadian research
• http//www.afgs.org/
• 78 Earle Street
• Woonsocket, RI 02895

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III. Out-of-State Resources 3. National Archives

• http//archives.gov/genealogy/
• Branches in Waltham Pittsfield, MA
• Military service records, pension indexes
• Bounty land warrant application files for
  Revolutionary War
• Naturalization petitions
• Passenger arrival lists
• Native American records
• Postmasters and post office reports, 1830s-1950
• Genealogy workshops

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IV. Sanbornton Public Library Databases 1.
Ancestry Library Edition

• In-library use only
• Over 4,000 databases and two billion names, 1300
  to present
• Includes coverage of United Kingdom, Canada and
  other areas
• Census, vital, church, court, and immigration
  records
• U.S. Federal Census images, 1790 - 1930, w/ full
  name indexes
• More than 1,000 historical maps
• American Genealogical Biographical Index (over
  200 volumes)
• Daughters of the American Revolution Lineage
  (over 150 volumes)
• Social Security Death Index (updated monthly)
• WWI WWII Draft Registration Cards

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IV. Sanbornton Public Library Databases 2.
HeritageQuest Online

• http//www.heritagequestonline.com
• Access from Library or home. Call for username
  password.
• Over 20,000 book titles, including
• nearly 8,000 family histories compiled
  genealogies
• more than 12,000 local histories
• more than 250 primary source documents such as
  tax lists, city directories, church and probate
  records
• Periodical Source Index (PERSI), a comprehensive
  subject index covering more than 6,300 genealogy
  and local history periodicals written in English
  and French (Canada) since 1800
• Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant
  Application Files, identifying more than 80,000
  Americans who served in the war

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IV. Sanbornton Public Library Databases 3. Other
NHewLINK Databases

• http//www.nh.gov/nhsl/nhewlink/libraries/database
  s.html
• Full-text of magazine and newspaper articles
  online
• Most databases available from home

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V. Free, High Quality Internet Resources, pt. 1

• 1. Cyndi's List of Genealogy Sites
• http//www.cyndislist.com/
• 263,000 total links (!), organized into
  categories for easy reference
• 2. FamilySearch Internet Genealogy Service
• http//www.familysearch.org/
• From Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

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V. Free, High Quality Internet Resources, pt. 2

• 3. RootsWeb
• http//www.rootsweb.com/
• Free, volunteer-run
• Hosts thousands of surname discussion lists
• Primary documents that have been transcribed /
  scanned by volunteers obituaries, county
  histories, tax lists, cemetery lists, etc.
• 4. GenForum
• http//genforum.genealogy.com
• Over 14,000 online forums devoted to general
  topics specific surnames, US states, countries,
  etc.

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V. Free, High Quality Internet Resources, pt. 3

• 5. Google for Genealogy!
• Google Books
• http//books.google.com/
• Genealogy Search on Google
• http//www.genealogy-search-help.com/index.html
• Easy Google Genealogy Searcher
• http//www.searchforancestors.com/google/searcher.
  html

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V. Free, High Quality Internet Resources, pt. 4

• 6. WorldCat Database
• http//www.worldcat.org/
• Holdings of 41,000 libraries in 82 countries and
  territories
• gt 88 million individual items in all formats
• Town County histories
• Family histories genealogies
• Person as subject
• Examples
• Town history sources
• Historic buildings state town

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V. Free, High Quality Internet Resources, pt. 5

• 7. State and Provincial Papers of New Hampshire
• 40 volume set, w/ broad range of records from the
  earliest days of New Hampshire (1623 - 1800)
• Revolutionary Rolls, Town Papers, Town Charters,
  Probate Records, Court Records, etc.
• Full-text is available and searchable online
• http//www.library.unh.edu/diglib/bookshelf/NHPape
  rs/
• http//www.sos.nh.gov/archives/nhstatepapers.html
• also at New Hampton by request

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V. Free, High Quality Internet Resources, pt. 6

• 8. U.S. Genealogy Web Project
• http//www.usgenweb.com/
• 9. About.com Guide to Genealogy
• http//genealogy.about.com/
• 10. Genealogical Research on the Web
• http//www.kovacs.com/genweb.html
• Free online genealogy class

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Where Do We Go From Here?

• Formation of a genealogy/ local history interest
  group?
• Local oral history project?
• More classes/ presentations/ speakers?
• Thank you and please share your thoughts with the
  Library Historical Society!
• 286-8288 / spl_at_metrocast.net