You Need an Eye to Detail #kentuckypioneers #kygenealogy

You Need an Eye to Detail

Tips by Jeannette Holland Austin

A number of clues exist in public records which help the genealogist to locate lost relatives. One ancestor which I had researched for many years was discovered by reading Revolutionary War Pensions for that surname. It was Joseph Lane, resident of Missouri whose application stated that he had two sons who'd left home years ago, one who went west and the other to either Kentucky or Georgia. Although no given names were provided, my detailed notes provided two brothers in Georgia fitting that description. From there, I studied their estate records, viz, inventories, sales, annual returns and vouchers to see who was listed and where they resided. The names given in these types of records bear close relationships to the deceased. I found one lost ancestor by searching Jasper County annual returns (for everyone with that surname) and discovered that a trip to Kentucky was an item paid for and listed in the annual returns. This linked "the origin" of the family. Other great digs are deed records where heirs sell their inheritance and name other heirs in the deed. Every single record of that surname must be researched for little clues. . . . more . . .

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Index to Kentucky Wills and Estates

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The meaning of "Child in Esse" #kentuckypioneers #kygenealogy

Child in Esse

Tips by Jeannette Holland Austin 

It is not uncommon for a wife to be expecting a child at the time that her husband writes his last will and testament, or dies intestate. To learn if this was the fact, one should look for the legal language of "in esse" in the will. It means "in existence". Otherwise, a complete study of the probate records is indicated. If the person died intestate (without a will), then the letters of administration, annual returns, vouchers, receipts, sales, inventories, etc. should be closely examined for any activity which resembles the birth of another heir. This includes Inferior Court cases which might be on the books as well as Minutes of the Inferior Court. There are some census records which could help. Say, the husband died in 1841. The 1850 census should reveal the name of the widow and all of her children. Then there is the court for orphans where bonds are given and guardians are appointed. Old newspapers (announcing births and deaths), cemetery plots which contain infant graves, and so on, need to be carefully considered. One of the most interesting facets of researching in Virginia is that the wills, inventories, sales and deeds are contained in one book. This is the best source for learning little tid-bits of information which help to form the puzzle. 
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Index to Kentucky Wills and Estates

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Annual Returns are Part of Every Estate #kentuckypioneers #genealogy

Annual Returns are Part of Every Estate

Tips by Jeannette Holland Austin

Even if a person dies intestate, you can still find the heirs. This is done by examining the annual returns for every year until the estate is closed. The first thing which happens is that an administrator is appointed who makes an inventory of the estate, has a sale to sell off the items and subsequently files a return every year thereafter to the probate county in the county which the person died. This return lists all disbursements ranging from funeral expenses to distributions to the heirs which may occur at any time over the period the estate is active. The heirs then give receipts, called vouchers. Examine the expenditures closely. Try to ascertain the identity of the payees. One easy method is a study of the census records for that county. Some of the heirs are husbands of daughters, so check out these names in the marriage records. . . . more . . .

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Index to Kentucky Wills and Estates

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The Stuff That We Are Made Of

Tips by Jeannette Holland Austin 

The stuff that we are made of literally flows through our veins. Our DNA is a blueprint of ourselves which may be traced back in time to our ancestors. And we are a mixture of many individuals who played their roles in history. Siblings born of the same parents possess features from a variety of ancestors, and the dosage is not equal. Although it is quite interesting to discover the origin of our features, statue, and personality traits while viewing old photographs (everyone should do this), the more interesting aspect of it is the decisions made in the face of adversity. No generation escapes troubles, for all are tested. We share many common elements of those past lives, viz: war, religious beliefs, immigration, marriages, divorce, death and so on. And our trials of today run a pretty close parallel to those of the past. After it is all done, scholars write a history of those days. Owing to the difficult times of our ancestors, how did they stack up? Everyone's history is not written by the scholar. Yet, the ancestors left their story for us to tell. It is in the records (census, county court houses, pensions, bibles, cemeteries, etc.) During troubling times, the memories of their era is somewhat consoling, especially when we know that they stood among the righteous, exhibited bravery in the wars, and had a strong belief in freedom. Yes, this country was founded upon that one belief. Freedom! I found some old letters of one of my great-grandfathers and discovered that he was overtaken by a deep sadness when he left his family during the Civil War. In this way, I understood that same sadness existed during my own unhappy moments. As one traces the families further back in time, the old last wills and testaments display a virtual reality of those days. We can almost put ourselves there, in the shoes of our kin. There are many questions concerning the migrations and lifestyles of our ancestors. And the answers are there, but require a great diligence and patience. And might I say, time? During this era, genealogy research is very much improved, however, as more records are added to the internet. Kentucky Pioneers is processing more old wills and estates, and I must say, the answers are in the details. . . . more . . .

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Index to Kentucky Wills and Estates

SPECIAL GENEALOGY OPPORTUNITY NOW for yourself and friends! $7 (auto expires after 1-month) Try it out now to see if you can find your ancestors

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