They Returned to a Divided Country

Tracing Ancestors is in the digitizing and indexing stage of this reference guide. This will be a part of our NEW Eternal Valor Network Project. (More information is on its way.) We rely on your donations!

Veterans Day

Veterans Day is to remind the nation that my ancestor, too, fought and served for this country. My ancestors fought in the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, the Spanish American War, WWI and WWII, the Korean Conflict (aka War).

America’s military history is still not properly told in America's History books. But, the truth is documented in USA and world newspapers, Congressional and court case documents, local histories and military records, etc. Here are 5 other resources to use when researching your veteran. 

Let's do what we can to preserve and share America’s real history. Do not go silent! Our ancestors, all of our ancestors, must be honored for their “honorable” veteran service to the USA. linktr.ee/hittinthebricks

5 Military Research Resources:

Spanish-American War/Philippine Insurrection

Military Service by African Americans: America's History Part 1

Resources for Military History Research: Tips for Everyone
America's History Part 2

My Veteran: National Guard or Army / Navy Reserve: How to Research?

Military Records Lost in Fire? Let's Reconstruct Them!

They Returned to a Divided County

In the Great-Grandmother Underwood old cedar chest there are ancestral pictures, quilts, and a family Bible. There are also letters and notes, and a semi-hard cover book from 1919 “

Victory – History of the 805th Pioneer Infantry American Expeditionary Forces” authored by Major Paul S. Bliss in 1919. In the right hand corner “July 5th 1918 July 8th 1919” is written.

It was no secret that Great-Uncle George Strader served in WWI, his service.  His military files were destroyed in the 1973 NARA - St. Louis Fire, but Victory gives a thorough overview of the duties, challenges and environment of the 805 Infantry during this one year span as they were transported from Kansas to Europe and mobilized throughout France. Photos of thes service men were featured.

The 805th Pioneer Infantry Regiment, AEF, known as the Bearcats, was a "colored" unit formed at Camp Funston, Kansas. This unit served with the 1st Army and Advance Section Command in France during WWI and was a labor force of ditch diggers, undertakers and railroad mechanics. The 805^th landed in France on July, 1918 and served in Europe until July 1919. They saw saw 39 days of action.

Great Uncle George,with Company D, traveled from Ft. Riley Camp Funston 25 August 1918 to Kansas City where they boarded the Wabash train to Detroit. They were able to stop in Moberly, Mo. for a proper military send off by the “colored citizens” of the town. From Detroit, they took passage by ferry to Canada, stopping in Niagara Falls for a short visit before reporting to Camp Upton, Long Island, 30 August 1918. On Sept. 1, they were shuffled off to Montreal Canada where they were shipped to Camp Romsey in England. Having yet to arrive in France, they crossed the English Channel for France on 28 September. (pgs 107-111)

He wrote home and the Lyons Republican, local paper for Lyons, Rice County, Kansas posted the lenthgy letter in the 14 Jan 1919 newspaper. He shared news of other black soldiers who were within a 30 mile radius: Sterling Kansas, Geneseo Kansas, and Great Bend, KS.

 

  

  

Great-Uncle George, noted as a local "Colored Hero" in Lyons, Kansas, was not so loved by the county he fought for.

Kathleen Brandt
a3genealogy@gmail.com 

Researching Ancestors: The Enemies Within?

Confederate States

4 Tips to Research Confederacy, Traitors, and the Denaturalized
The Confederacy were made up of eleven Southern States which formed the Confederate States of America (CSA).  After the Civil War, previously fellow American citizens, were labeled to be the "enemy from within" our borders. Or, mostly commonly called the Confederate States. They had seceded from the USA and were accused of being "traitors."  They had in-effect forfeited certain rights due to their rebellion against the Union. Treason is defined narrowly in the U.S. Constitution as "levying war" against the United States or "adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort. From the Union’s perspective, the Confederacy’s secession and rebellion were treated as acts of treason.

However, after the Civil War, the southern states did not resist rejoining the Union for survival. One key step involved was for the Confederates to take an "Oath of Allegiance" to the United States, promising loyalty to the Union and the Constitution. This oath was part of the Reconstruction process, aimed at reintegrating former Confederates back into the country. 

So, Were Children of Traitors Americans?

Even though most ordinary Confederates were not barred from regaining citizenship and could take the Oath of Allegiance to be reintegrated into the Union, Confederate leaders who had held prominent military or political roles were initially barred from regaining citizenship. However, President Andrew Johnson offered amnesty through various proclamations from 1865 to 1867, allowing many former Confederates to take the loyalty oath and be "renaturalized" as U.S. citizens. In 1872, Congress passed the Amnesty Act, which restored citizenship to most former Confederates. 

However, Confederate military and political leaders were often excluded from amnesty.

Were They  Denaturalized?

During the Confederacy, the concept of "denaturalization" (the process of revoking a person’s citizenship) did not exist in a formalized way as it does today. However, the secession of Southern states and the establishment of the Confederate States of America created a unique situation regarding citizenship and loyalty, which raised questions about the legal status of individuals in the Confederacy.  

While the CSA didn’t officially denaturalize Union sympathizers, the CSA did treat anyone with Union loyalties as a potential enemy or traitor. People who expressed Unionist views or refused to swear allegiance to the Confederacy often faced persecution, imprisonment, or forced exile. Confederate states also enacted laws to punish or suppress Union sympathizers. However, the Confederacy didn’t or couldn't implement formal denaturalization as it wasn’t a fully recognized government.

The Union’s approach was more about controlling territory and loyalty than about denaturalizing citizens, as it did not recognize the Confederacy’s authority to "naturalize" its own citizens. This is not to say that the denaturalization practice never occcured in America. It has; and is still in place. 

Denaturalization is the process of revoking citenzenship from naturalized citizen. American born citizens are USA citizens by birth. This is different from the denaturalization process which applies only to those who acquire citizenship through naturalization. The denaturalization process in the US was actively practiced during periods like the Red Scare. Supposedly, it targeted people accused of disloyalty, communism, or other forms of subversion. 

Press of Atlantic City, Atlantic City, New Jersey, Sep 9, 1942

Case of Louisiana

Louisiana is just one of eleven states that made up the CSA:  South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina. 

After the Civil War the Ironclad Oath, was passed by Congress in 1862. It became a requirement for
1) former Confederate states rejoining the Union and 2) for citizens seeking certain privileges, including the right to vote, hold office, or receive federal jobs to swear they had never voluntarily supported the Confederacy or engaged in activities against the Union. It remained in place until 1884. 

The purpose of the Ironclad Oath was to ensure loyalty to the Union and exclude former Confederates and sympathizers from political and public positions. Congress also required that the Southern states adopt new constitutions affirming loyalty to the Union and outlawing slavery.

Let's take a look at Louisana, but know that the others followed suit. Louisiana established their new state Constitution on 7 Mar 1868. The State of Louisiana was restored to the Union 9 Jul 1868.

Figure 1 Constitution of Louisiana, 7 March 1868[1]\

 

The Confederate military paroled soldiers, granting them safe passage and a promise not to fight again. Tennessee was the only former Confederate state exempt from the Ironclad Oath. Tennesse was readmitted to Union in 1866; before the 1867 Reconstruction Acts. But, the oath proposed by Congress was rejected by many of the traitor states. Instead, the states complied with the terms in order to be readmitted to the Union (i.e. like Louisiana). Researchers will want to trace ancestors with knowledge of the state:

• Tennessee: The only former Confederate state to be readmitted to the Union in 1866, before the Reconstruction Acts, Tennessee was exempt from the strict requirements of the Ironclad Oath.
• Arkansas and Louisiana: Initially attempted partial reconstruction efforts during the war, adopting revised constitutions under Union control, but still had to follow the Ironclad Oath requirements during post-war Reconstruction for full readmission.
• Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and Texas: These states were each part of military districts set up by the Reconstruction Acts, which enforced the oath requirement for any participation in state constitutional conventions and government. Under pressure to end military occupation and re-enter the Union, they complied, though often reluctantly.
• Georgia: Initially readmitted in 1868, but when it expelled Black legislators and allowed former Confederates back into power, Congress re-imposed military rule, and Georgia had to enforce the oath again before final readmission in 1870.

But remember, your ancestor lost voting rights and other benefits. So as seen below in Louisiana many ancestors signed the Oath, as did Frank Stanga. “Oath to be taken by those who were never Disfranchised” was offered to those who never registered as an enemy of the United States, or did not serve as a leader of guerilla bands during the “late rebellion.” It worked in tandem with the new Louisiana Constitution.  And, Frank Stanga, of Covington, St. Tammany Parish, was an early signer of the Oath. Stanga recorded his State Oath 18 Oct 1868 which also restored his voting rights. Of course that was a Presidential election year; voting being held 3 Nov 1863.

Figure 2 Oath of Citizenship, 19 Oct 1868

The Amnesty Proclamation was signed by President Andrew Johnson 25 Dec 1868 (Christmas Day), granting a blanket pardon to most former Confederates, except for high-ranking officials.

4 Key Resources

Researchers may find these records in military record files on Ancestry.com and Fold3. Familysearch.org also has digitized military service records and pension records.

1. National Archives (NARA),

• RG94; includes Confederate records, paroles, and oaths taken by individuals after the war
• Civil War and Reconstruction Record
• Pardon and Amnesty Records

2. State Archives and Libraries

• The Virginia State Library and Archives holds collections of loyalty oaths taken in Virginia.
• The Texas State Library and Archives has a collection of Confederate pardons and oaths.
• Pardon and Amnesty Records

3.  County Courthouses and Local Archives. This is where the Frank Stanga Oath was loated.

4.  Library of Congress. Manuscript Division or Rare Books Division may contain oaths for certain states or regions.

Kathleen Brandt, a3Genealogy

---

[1] Constitution adopted by the State Constitutional Convention of the state of Louisiana, March 7, 1868, https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=loc.ark:/13960/t9w10bd3n&view=1up&seq=24

 

Genealogy Hints in Poll Tax & Voter Registration Docs

Don't Pass Over Poll Taxes and Voting Registration RecordsFew researchers claim poll tax records and voter registration docs as their favorite set of records. But why not? These records can really move along your family research in USA and Europe. Here are just a few ways I've used these records to solve mysteries.

Learn More About the Poll Tax Here
Starting at 15:36

Are Your Ancestor On Voter Lists?

Voting rights have historically been reserved for citizens, but privileges comes with a plethora of law changes. Knowing the laws will help ferret out information on your ancestor. Let's take Poll Tax Laws as an example. 

California Voter Register 

In the USA poll taxes were used slightly different than Europe. In Europe poll taxes were traditionally used as a revenue source for the government rather than as a means to restrict voting. This practice dates back to the medieval period. In the U.S., poll taxes were widely imposed in the 19th and early 20th centuries, especially in Southern states. Adopted as a way to prevent African Americans and low-income individuals from voting, poll taxes was a tool used for voter suppression. Of course prior to the Civil War tax records were not available for disenfranchised persons. This practice continued up to 1964, with the passage of the 24th Amendment which abolished poll taxes in federal elections. Two years later, the Supreme Court extended this to state elections in Harper v. Virginia Board of Elections, ruling that poll taxes were unconstitutional under the Equal Protection Clause.

While these taxes often served as a barrier to voting, they also produced detailed records that listed individuals by name, residence, and often occupation or age. 

Why Use Poll Taxes?

For genealogists poll taxes often provide a glimpse into the social and land financial standing of our ancestors. Researchers may find gaps in ancestors' information, due to racial or economic barriers, however, even these gaps provide clues. If an ancestor appears on one poll tax record and not another, it might indicate a move, a change in financial status, or other life events worth exploring. 

Researchers often use Poll Tax Records as a substitue for incomplete or missing Census Records. Poll tax records were typically assessed yearly or biennial. 

Don't Forget Other Voter Registration Records

Again researchers must be familiar with the laws for their time frame.

• For example in 1867 ex-slaves were added to voter registrations. In 1920 women were extended the privilege to vote thanks to the ratification of the 19th Amendment.
• If you are researching in Europe, you will find that typically only land-owners were added to voter rolls.
• Another note of importance -  not all registered to vote, often because they were not naturalized. Many of our immigrant ancestors never became naturalized citizens, but their country-born children were eligible to vote. 

Here are some Uses of Voter Registration Records

“North Carolina, Voter Registration Records, 1868-1898,” FamilySearch

Separate Common Named Ancestors

When researching common named ancestors, family historians can not afford to overlook voter registration records (when available).  Identifying ancestors by age, nativity and occupation, I use voter registers to create a preliminary snap shot of an ancestor's residence. You must pair your ancestor's name with other distinctions: age, occupation, country of nativity (may simply state the country of Kentucky) to separate common named ancestors (especially if the name is repeated within families). Some voter registrations list physical descriptions: height, unique marks, etc.

Voter Registers and Land Claims

What good is a land deed, if you don't know which Moses owned it?  Sometimes, the deed itself will note Sr. or Jr. or a wife's name to assist the researcher, but what if these distinctions are omitted? My Moses was born in 1804, his youngest son 1848 and a grandson, a descendant of an older son, born in 1855, was also named Moses. It did not help that generations of this family died intestate (without a will). Using voter registrations coupled with the census records, tax records, deeds and probates, this active migratory family was traced making it easier to determine the owner of various land plats based on dates and county of residence.

Where Was Your Ancestor Naturalized?

It's not enough to know that your ancestor was naturalized. To obtain records, you may need to identify the specific court  (not all were naturalized in Federal Courts even after 1906).  You may find the court of naturalization listed on the voter register. 

Where to Find Poll Tax and  Voter Register Records?

Scott County, KY

After an online state and county search, turn to the State Archives or State Historical Society to retrieve any salvaged records like that at the Colorado State Archives. Of course these records may be found at a local level.

For More Information

• Family History Library has a healthy catalog of voter registration records also.
• Ancestry.com offers various Chicago Voter Registrations between 1888-1892, and California Voter Registers, 1866-1898 and 1900-1968. 
•  Be sure to reference Cyndi's Lists: Voters, PollBooks, Electoral Records: Locality Specific.

(Adopted from Should Genealogists Care About Voter Registers?; posted 6 Sep 2011)

Kathleen Brandt, a3Genealogy

Did Your Ancestors Celebrate Allhallowtide?

Allhallowtide,  31 Oct - 2 Nov
Halloween, 31 Oct, begins the three days of Allhollowtide. Keep in mind that this historic 3 day celebration encircles the historic New Year timeframe of 1 November. The historic New Year was traditionally the transition from harvest to the cold days of winter. Of the three observed days, Halloween is the most secular. 

Halloween, 31 Oct
Why Did Our Ancestors Want/ Need  Halloween? Halloween has around for over 2000 years. It is an evolved celebration of the Celts festival of Samhain. It was the eve of the new year, 1 Nov., for northern France, UK and Ireland. Since the belief was that ghosts of the dead returned to earth on the eve of the New Years, the traditional practice was to ward off the dead, ghosts and spirits using bonfires. These bonfires were also used for the community to prepare the final harvest. 

Read here for the Origins of Halloween Traditions as penned by Heather Thomas of the Library of Congress: The Origins of Halloween Traditions.

Samhain, a Celts / Druid early practice, was not welcomed in America. The California Dispatch practically denounced it and dismissed it as a dying celebration.  Yet, This 1881 news article entitled  All-Hallow Eve, provided us with  memorable quotes

"...no generation of men is altogether
separated from earlier generations."

And take a look at the last paragraph:

1881 The California Dispatch

All Saints' Day, 1 November
So we know Halloween, or Hallows Eve, ushered in the New Year on Nov 1. This day, known as All Saints Day, is a day to observe the lives of the many saints for whom there is no specific feast day during the year.

Brisbane Telegraph, 1935

All Saints Day, and All Souls Days, became most popular during WWI.  

All Saints Day & All Souls Day, The National WWI Museum and Memorial

All Souls Day, 2 November
It is said that All Souls' Day is a "family history day" and a favored amongst family historians. It's a family holiday, filled with sharing memories and visiting cemeteries. Whereas, All Saint's Day honors the lives of Saints, and martyrs, the following day, Nov. 2, marks a day of prayer, and remembrance of faithful relatives, friends and strangers who have departed. 

It must be noted that All Souls' Day has been observed on November 2 since the 11th century. The Eastern Orthodox Church, the Eastern Catholic Church, and the Eastern Lutheran Church, along with the East Syriac Rite observe All Souls’ Day during the Easter Season.

Whereas, El Día de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dad, also considered All Souls Day, is honored between Oct 28 -Nov 6, depending on the country, .

Be sure to read An Introduction to All Souls' Day: Family History's Favorite Holiday by David Nielsen.

Kathleen Brandt, a3Genealogy

8 Tips: Puerto Rican Research

Hispanic Heritage Month (Sep 15 - Oct 15, 2024

Let's feature Puerto Rican Family Research for Hispanic Heritage Month. In our latest Under the Umbrella genealogy newsletter, we touched on Mexican research. Other Hispanic countires are Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru,  Spain, Uruguay, and Venezuela.

 

World War II Era 

In 1918, the U.S. A. government began recruiting its new Puerto Rican citizens (as of March 1917) as mainland laborers. The idea was to place workers in New York and other states to assist with the shortage of war time in manufacturing, railroad, agriculture, construction, etc. Initially the goal was to register approximately ten thousand people, but that increased to over seventy-five thousand registered Puerto Ricans agreeing to the .35¢ per hour plus military housing/boarding and transportation via military vessels. Your ancestors may have been one of these registered laborers.

What is Puerto Rican DNA
Take a listen to this podcast highlight on Hittin' the Bricks with Kathleen as she explains in 48 seconds the DNA when conducting Puerto Rican and other Hispanic DNA. and you will learn there's really no DNA that designates Puerto Rican!

Must Use Record Collections

1.  New York National Archives (NARA). The Guide to Puerto Rican Records in the National Archives, New York City, is a great place to begin your Puerto Rican ancestor research. 

2.  Newspapers. The New York Puerto Rican newspapers reported news of its community. Although much was in Spanish, these OCR digitized copies are easily available with the New York Public Library database resources, or other comprehensive historical/genealogical libraries that hold newspaper database subscriptions (i.e. Midwest Genealogy Center, MO. -  library card will get you home access).

- La Democracia

- La Correspondencia de Puerto Rico

- El Tiempo y Union Obera

3.  Passenger Lists.
--Puerto Rico, Passenger and Crew Lists, 1901 – 1962, ancestry.com
--National Archives Record Group (RG85) Manifests of Ship Passengers Arriving at San Juan, PR in Transit to Other Destinations, 07/01/1921 – 06/30/1947 (microfilm only)
--RG 85.3.1 Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at San Juan PR 10/7/1901 – 6/30/1948

4.  Military Records. Selective Service System draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 are digitally available on FamilySearch.org or ancestry.com.

5.  Passports. Many Puerto Ricans worked in neighboring countries, (i.e. Dominican Republic).  For easier entry and exist many applied for their U. S. passports. Visit U.S. Passport Applications, 1795-1925 on ancestry.com. For Puerto Rico, this collection holds records from 1907-1925. This is a good place to begin your passport research.

6.  Consular Records. 

Did your ancestor travel overseas for work, missionary work, U.S. government work? Was a child of an American citizen born overseas? This occurred frequently with customary long overseas visits. The Department of State records, various records of death notices of US citizens abroad should be scoured for your elusive ancestor. Don’t dismiss these records as only for those who were naturalized USA citizens and returned to their native land to visit family. Vacationers fell sick, were victims of violence, automobile accidents, or were imprisoned, etc. These records also included deaths that occurred in Canada and the Americas.

7.  Guide to Puerto Rican Records in the National Archives NYC, (these records may be transplanted to Pennsylvania 

8. Puerto Rico Civil Registration, familysearch Wiki

Be sure to review our Sept - Oct Under the Umbrella genealogy newsletter.

Looking for the podcast episodes? linktr.ee/hittinthebricks
Help our Fund Grow: tracingancestors.org
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Kathleen Brandt, a3Genealogy

September - October 2024 Newsletter

Why Are the September and October Newsletters Combined?

We know that combining the September and October Newsletter is unusual, but hear us out! We are always celebrating our ancestors. Hispanic Heritage Month is honored Sep 15 to Oct 15. It began in 1968 under President Johnson. At the time it was a week-long celebration. However, it was expanded to a month celebration 20 years later in 1988 by President Reagan. So, we are celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month! It's a perfect time to uncover your Hispanic family's history and trace your ancestral roots.

 September - October Happenings

Thank You Donors! 

Let's begin with why September is so special. It was birth month! For my birth month, Tracing Ancestors received generous donations from Tracing Ancestors and a3Genealogy followers, listeners to HTB podcast and readers of the Tracing Ancestors Newsletters and a3Genealogy blog posts. Donations received were from $5.00 to $500 dollars and the Board of Tracing Ancestors would like to thank all of our donors. This fundraising campaign kickstarted our 4th quarter financial goals.

Note: if you missed the opportunity to donate, visit tracingancestors.org. All donations are tax deductible (501c3). Visit TracingAncestors.org.

September - October Highlight 

Thank You Civil War Veteran Joseph Chedester

60 Second Soundbite

Many of you may have seen, via social media that I was honored to accept the military flag and dogtags for Civil War Veteran Joseph Chedester. This memorial event, The Final Salute was in late September in Des Moines, Iowa. Be sure to listen to the associated podcast: Honoring Veterans: The Final Salute. 

Prior to going and joining family and representatives for the other nineteen (19) veterans (WWI, WWII) and five of their spouses, I found this article posted by Military OneSource to be helpful: What to Expect During Military Funeral Honors.

September - October: Hispanic Heritage Research 

Here are the 5 tips to uncover your Hispanic heritage.

1. Vital Family Records: Begin by gathering vital records like birth certificates, marriage records, and immigration papers. 

2. Church Records: These may cover baptisms, marriages and deaths. In many Hispanic cultures, Catholic Church records are a goldmine for genealogy. Baptismal, marriage, and burial records often date back centuries. Many can be accessed through church archives or online databases like FamilySearch.org.

3. Immigration and Naturalization Records: These records can reveal when and where your ancestors entered new countries. Ancestry.com and the National Archives are excellent resources for U.S. records, while similar archives exist for countries across Latin America.

4. DNA Testing: Genetic testing through MyHeritageDNA, FamilyTreeDNA,  and ancestryDNA can provide insight into your ancestral origins and connect you with distant relatives for up to 5 generations.

5. Hispanic Genealogy Groups: Online communities and genealogy groups specifically focused on Hispanic ancestry can offer support, share resources, and help overcome language barriers.

And don't forget to interview the elders in your family for both personal and family stories. Oral histories can provide valuable leads and stories that might not be documented elsewhere. Curious how to talk to family. Listen in to this NY -Puerto Rican Genealogy Case. Plus, there's a review on DNA too. 

All Souls Day

In America we celebrate Halloween, 31 Oct. It is celebrated the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Hallows' Day . "All Hallows Eve" or Halloween is of  Christian origin. As in Christmas Eve, it was traditional to celebrate the eve of a holiday. This would be the eve of all Hallows' Day, also called All Saints' Day (1 Nov).. 

In many Latin countries, ancestors celebrated All Soul's Day, to remember the ancestors.  This holiday is not restricted for the Catholic church, as many other Christians oberseve the holiday. It's a celebration that genealogists dream of: family, cemeteries, family tradiditions, and the ancestors! 

This holiday is filled with traditions:

• Mexico, many create private altars for their ancestors. The alters are decorated with photographs, flowers, candy skulls, and candles. 
• Guatemala, people fly kites. There's even a festival, Barriletes Gigantes Festival, or Giant Kites Festival. These kites may be up to 65 feet across! Just write a note to your ancestor and tie it to the kite’s tail. It is said your ancestor can read iit n heaven.
• Peru, families share a sweat bread called loaf of t’anta wawa with a friend or relative. T’anta wawa is baked into the shape of a doll or small child.

As mentioned, others celebrated Allhallowtide  - the 3 days of 31 Oct - 2 Nov. 

Did you ancestor celebrate any of these Allhallowtide?

September - October: Research Tip 
 FamilySearchWiki

Have You Used the FamilySearch Wiki?
When in doubt turn to the FamilySearch.org Wiki on all genealogical topics. This resource will give you tips on beginning your research, record types that are available, and it even points you to other research resources.  There are maps, digitized resources, and guidance on best practices. 

You can use it for your Irish, German, Native American, African American research project. ...you get the point. 

Since it is Hispanic Heritage Month, and we have been flooded with relevant genealogical questions. We have been directing family researchers to this FamilySearch site: Hispanic Family History Resources. First of all it in English and Spanish which helps to bridge generations. Here are just a few of the other features we love:

     1) Online Databases that hold additional information

     2) Records organized by country
      3) Country Maps that can assist with not only the regions but parishes.

These types of outlined resources are available, as mentioned, for a plethora of topics. Don't forget this free resource. It's free. All you need is to set up a user login/password, and plunge in. 

Under the Umbrella
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  TracingAncestors.org
                                   

Kathleen Brandt & The Board of Tracing Ancestors   

6 Steps Revolutionary War Era Research

Who Were The Parents? 

There’s so much you can do for this era to find parents' names. In genealogy research where each region has records reflecting its community and where each era and generation of records evolve, we are reminded daily that historical record searching is never static. Yet, there are still some basic guidelines to follow. Here is a sample of my strategy for identifying Revolutionary War Era parentage. It’s simple, but these six steps put me back in action when I’m paralyzed with the “Now What?” Syndrome.

1) County Formations of your state. Revolutionary War Era Research is Colonial Research.  To learn more here is a link: Chasing Counties: Use County Formation Maps.

2) Tracing Land Inheritance using Deeds and Probate Records is another way to prove parentage. These records can show when and where the land was probated and to whom. Often the eldest son, if not a minor, inherited the land. However, the land could also be left to the wife. In the interest of minor children, names may be revealed showing kinship. Records can also show the relationship of siblings of other family members. Here is a good case of Researching Revolutionary War Veterans families of Virginia and Kentucky.

3) Territories had their own records prior to the state. This is tip really helps if your ancestor migrated west to a territory.   Be sure to check out State Archives.

4) Church Records. During the Revolutionary War Era churches kept a lot of family records to include children baptism, christening, marriage banns, and licenses. You are doing a disservice if you haven’t researched these genealogical gems.

5) Guardianship Records. Mothers were not usually granted guardianship of their minor children during the Revolutionary War Era, but if they did, it usually was through the court system. 

6) Newspapers 

Don’t forget old newspapers. Have you tried They may not be indexed, but you may get lucky with a local library or State Archive. Some of these repositories (like both the Mo. State Archives and the Kansas Historical Society), may have a surname index in their card catalog. Don’t underestimate the holdings at these repositories. At minimum, old newspapers are often preserved on microfilm at these repositories. What a great way to spend a bad climate day!
We love feedback. Feel free to drop us a note.

Kathleen Brandt
a3Genealogy

a3Genealogy@gmail.com