The Family Historian

Mary Alice Dell

January 2008 Column

                              

 

Is Your Ancestor’s Name in a Book in the Boerne Library?  It’s Possible!

 

All of us have ancestors who either already lived in, or arrived in, this country in the 20^th century. We are fortunate to have census, birth, marriage, death, newspapers articles, and other recorded documents available to tell us a great deal about them.  It is mostly just a matter of our visiting court houses and other depositories to find these records. Some of this information we can find on the Internet. 

 

As we go further back in time, into the 19^th century, we still have every name census records from 1850 to 1880, newspaper, marriage, and in a few states birth and death records available. Many probate, court, and land records are available at county court houses.  The 1800 through 1840 census only gives the name of head of household and the number and approximate ages of the other males and females in the household, so putting family units together becomes a bit more of a challenge.  Analysis of these records can be helpful, but does not give direct evidence of relationships.

 

The 17^th and 18^th century becomes even more difficult, as there is only one federal census (the 1790) and it named only head of household and the total number of males and females in the household. Many marriage records, although most were recorded, were lost in fires, floods and other mishaps.  Generally the only birth and death records are those found in Bibles or personal journals recorded during that time.  The exception to this loss of vital records is in New England as many “town” records are extant.

 

Even locating these 17^th and 18^th century records can be a challenge as most are no longer  in the local court house or town hall,  but in the state archives, state libraries, or in special collections at university or private depositories.  But don’t throw up your hands in despair; there is a solution to finding information in the Colonial period and 19^th century. Many have been extracted and published in books and genealogical periodicals that can be found in your local library. Some of these books are being digitized and are available on line, mainly at subscription sites. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Genealogical Research Focus Changing in County

 

When we first became a member of the Genealogical Society of Kendall County, the majority of the members had a tie to early local ancestors.  Today, the number of members with local genealogical roots is in the minority.  This is a reflection of the

changing population of the county.  Although many of the ancestors of the local community came from Germanic states to Texas in the mid-1800s, many also had ancestors from Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky and Virginia. 

 

Today’s residents have all the above and yes, even ancestors from the Yankee states of Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, New York, Pennsylvania, and New England.  Many of those folks that came to Texas from the Southern states now accept that they also have some roots above the Mason-Dixon line.  

 

Although we have a good Texas collection, which I discussed in an earlier column, our genealogical library also reflects today’s interest in ancestors who lived in other states. We have an excellent collection of books from Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania, thanks to the donations of researchers with interests in those areas.  The New England collection has expanded tremendously in the past few years.  In addition to many volumes in our southern states, we have some good basic informational volumes on Ohio, North Carolina, New York and New Jersey. 

 

Hundred New Genealogy Books Being Added

           

Recently, we gained over one hundred books from the closing of the library of the Fredericksburg Genealogical Society. This nearly doubled our collection of Georgia, South Carolina and New England books, and added many out-of-print volumes to other states. 

 

If your ancestor was in this country before the1850, the chances are excellent his or her name is in a book in your local library.  Regretfully, I have discovered no Texas ancestors (I keep looking!).  But, I have found the names of many of my ancestors here in books of records from Virginia, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, Maryland, and New York to name a few.  In fact, I have found at least one listed here in every state, except Illinois, in which my ancestors once lived.

 

My husband found his link to ancestors who came over in the Mayflower in a book in our library; and later found information linking him to the royalty of England and Europe. (Since he now expects me to treat him in a more kingly fashion, I rather wish he had not discovered that book!)

 

 

 

 

One local researcher made a trip to North Carolina seeking information about an ancestor.  When he triumphantly returned home with some long sought information he found in a book there, we pointed out to him that book was on the shelf behind him. 

To discover what books we have from the state in which you are interested, go to the Boerne Library on-line catalog, go to advanced search, insert the name of the state in one of the blank boxes and the word GEN in the other.  This will give you a list of all the books we have in the genealogical library with information from that state.  Volunteers are in the Library most days of the week to help you find your ancestors that are lurking on our shelves, or on out-of-print books on CDs.

 

Learn about 20^th Century Research and DNA at Seminar January 26

 

If you have traced your ancestor back so far and are stopped because you don’t know which state to look in for earlier records, you may be interested in learning more about the latest tool to help family historians.  This is through the science of DNA matching.  Although pre-registration for the 4^th Annual Hill Country Family History Seminar has closed, you can still pay at the door. Come hear Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak explain how family DNA projects are helping genealogists.  For more information contact me at 830-537-5325 or madel35@gvtc.com. 

Published in the Boerne Star & Recorder January 2008 and reprinted here with their permission.