Kate Jackson

These Old Fire Insurance Maps Reveal a Surprising Amount of Genealogy Data

When’s the last time you used a paper map? More than likely it’s been a while.

Smartphones and browser-based geographical applications have, for many of us, replaced the physical maps we once so heavily relied on. However, our ancestors did not have the luxury of this technology and so they depended exclusively on paper maps for a wide variety of purposes. One such use that often seems long forgotten was for fire insurance purposes!

Were Your Ancestors American Pioneers? Here’s How to Track Them Down Online

From Conestoga wagons on long, dusty trails to pioneers struggling for success on a homestead in Oregon – America’s westward expansion in the latter part of the 1800’s has long held promise for genealogists. There’s a lot to consider when investigating your ancestor’s movement into the American West, primarily because no singular resource or database has it all. In fact, the sheer number of options in this category can make for some very trying research, especially if you are new to the topic.

Searching for Lost Family: These Heartbreaking Ads by Former Slaves Are a Vital Genealogy Resource

Last Seen is a genealogy resource that is as heartbreaking as it is hopeful. Here you can search for personal ads, typically with the headline “Information Wanted,” that former slaves posted in newspapers around the United States and Canada in search of their children, parents, siblings, and friends who had been sold away before the end of slavery. These short newspaper clippings are transcribed for ease of searching and offer some amazing genealogical information. They also pack an emotional wallop!

What is My Family Crest? How to Find Out Without Getting Fooled

Do you have a family crest in your tree? Is it associated with an entire family line or surname? Find out why, according to Jack Turton of The Coat of Arms Database, “family crest” is a misnomer and how to understand the actual meaning and history behind these symbols.

Millions of Immigrants Never Set Foot on Ellis Island – Find Their Records Here

While we can certainly use the existing records from Ellis Island and Castle Garden, two of the better-known immigration points for the United States, these collections only represent part of what is available. These resources leave out many other important historical locations such as Galveston, Texas and Angel Island, California, or even New Orleans.

The Important National Death Registers That Many Family Historians Miss

Are you in search of a date or place of death for a certain member of your family tree, but keep coming up empty-handed? If the individual passed away in the mid to late 1800s, U.S. Mortality Schedules – conducted in connection with the federal census – may be the key to finding the missing piece of your genealogy puzzle.