Those who delve into their family history usually look forward to finding relevant records. But sometimes those records document a dark side of history.
The past several hundred years have produced many wars, each with its own set of records. Many ancestors died, leaving families destitute. Some were prisoners of war. Some ended up in concentration camps or internment camps. This year marks 400 years since the arrival of the first slave ships in what is now the U.S. Slave descendants have some of the longest, but not necessarily documentable, lineages in America. Many Irish ancestors arrived here due to the potato famine of the 1840s. Even if a person arrived here unscathed by any of the issues, our ancestors were faced with health issues and diseases without cure. Only a century ago, the Spanish flu infected a third of the world’s population, killing 195,000 Americans in October 1918 alone, according to National Geographic.
Diabetes runs in my family, and a great-aunt died of that at age 20 in 1925. So, when researching your family, take into account all the various issues swirling about them. Only through their survival against the odds could you, as a descendant, be here to research the family tree.
Alabama and Kentucky research guides
Alabama and Kentucky are the latest states featured in the “Genealogy at a Glance” series by the Genealogical Publishing Co. These four-page, laminated research guides were both written by Michael A. Ports. They give good, concise information about accessing vital records, as well land, probate and military records. Also, the guides list major published books on those subjects in Alabama and Kentucky, the major research repositories, books about doing research on each state and available online resources. The guides are $9.95 each plus shipping from the Genealogical Publishing Company at genealogical.com or call 1-800-296-6687.
Loose estate or probate packets
One of the most interesting sources shedding light on our ancestors are loose estate or probate packets that are most easily studied when scanned and online, like those for North Carolina. They are useful for learning about the deceased and their heirs, debtors, occupation and personal possessions, as well as finding out if an ancestor appeared at the estate sale and what they bought or owed.
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