Lesser Known Records

Root and Branches
by Josie Plescia Vaughn

When Standard Vital Records Aren't Enough...

Question: I have checked the common records such as birth, death, marriage and census for an ancestor, what are some of the lesser known records?

Answer: Institutional records may help you. To name a few: prisons, orphanages, schools, hospitals, coroners, and poorhouses. Some time periods may not be available to the general public. The first place to look is on the Family History Library Catalog to see if the records have been filmed for the time period and area you are searching. Another suggestion is go to the internet for the county you are interested in and see if there are records listed there. If not, put in a query and ask. Check surrounding counties as not every county had a foundling home, poorhouse, prison, etc. These may be found by looking at the state records. Check to see if special school census were made. Coroner examiner records can give the date and reason for the death. This is usually at the county level.

Church records are another source to locate an ancestor. Many churches wrote histories and show the original members, or list pastors and board members. Some have baptismal, marriage and death records. Any other ceremony practiced by the various churches may be available.

Newspapers are full of information. Besides the births, marriages and obituaries, the early newspapers reported when someone visited a relative and when their home was located. Trials, elections and juries may show where your ancestors lived.

Voter registers are available such as the 1890 California Great Register.

I found my husband's great grandfather's birth in 1859 on a film of medical records from a doctor's notes in Marion Co, IL.

The main thing is to review everything you can available on a particular area.

Reprinted with permission from The Union, January 4, 2003.Josie Plescia Vaughn writes "Roots and Branches", a monthly column discussing subjects of genealogical interest in the Grass Valley-Nevada City California newspaper, The Union.

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