Old roads. It was free land, so why not? Whether or not they ever took it up is another question. That is where the deed records come in and such new information should send you forthwith to a search of that county's deeds. Also on the Tax Digests are other tracts of lands, names of waterways, names of adjoining neighbors, and (always) the county where the land was located. But wait, we are not finished. At the end of each district is a list of "defaulters". These are persons who did not pay their tax for that year. That could mean that the person died or left the county. Only the deed records in all of the counties where he owned land will provide further data. Remember, during the Indian removals, people were moving on. Get More Genealogy Real Estate
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When your genealogical research turns up zero, establishing facts for elusive ancestors is tough. One solution is to research around the facts and thus eliminate persons in that generation. We need to determine who is whoand prepare a family group sheet for that family irregardless of whether or not they are directly related. This process documents a family and eliminates them. First, locate your ancestor's surname in nearby counties and states. Then search court house records -- deeds, wills, tax records, estates, etc. and establish the facts for each person. Next, complete a family group sheet on that family, noting the sources you used. Proceed accordingly on all questionable families, thus identifying each person of the era and location. Third, examine each family group sheet. Look for nicknames. For example, Betsy, b. ca 1757 could be your Elizabeth, b. 1759. Fourth, once everyone is identified you probably have a number of loose persons for whom you need to discover more information. Try to trace that person so that he may be either identified or eliminated; use marriage records, estates, etc. In the earliest pioneering days the eldest son inherited the farm while others went into other acceptable occupations such as physicians, ministers, etc. This took them away from the home place. In other words, erase confusion by identifying and eliminating all families in prescribed areas having your same. | Get More Genealogy Real Estate
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If you really want to find your ancestors, a diligent and dedicated study is indicated. Not only do we need to search census and county records, but we need to know the history of the age during which they lived. There are all sorts of clues out there. For instance, City Directories offer street addresses, the names of family members and occupations. However, a visit to the old home place will open up a new world of information for the genealogist. Names of neighbors are gleaned from those directories and perhaps some childhood memories. But better still, there was a history of the times. What was it? Perhaps the First World War. If so, grandparents, uncles and sons would have enlisted and those records are available at the National Archives. Civil War pensions for the State of Georgia are available on this (Georgia Pioneers) website as well as some pensions of Revolutionary War Soldiers. Even the most remote neighborhoods had a church. These old buildings and adjoining cemeteries should be explored. Write down the names of neighbors listed in deeds and included as witnesses in probate records. One needs to have an understanding of those who shared the old days. Also, the identify of all families having the same surname, which is easily kept on family group sheets. In other words, in order to prevent researching the wrong lineage, the researcher needs to "know the neighborhood". It is a quest of time worthy of sharing with less interested family members. "Less interested" because until you insert the history, they will not grasp the sacrifices which brought the family to America, nor will they realize the powerful gifts of their blood heritage, and the brave road which the ancestors constructed to freedom. Our freedom. | Get More Genealogy Real Estate
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The technology of the Internet moves civilization forward and is a blessing because it is where we discover forgotten members of the family and more about our past. And, it is a place to post important genealogy data. As time moves forward and more people share their family histories, the Internet will contain the most valuable documents on earth. All that we need to do is to continue to share and add our information (no matter how trivial) to lasting websites. Initially at the first onset of the user experience, there was a rush of family group sheets added from computer programs. However, most of those have been taken down. Therefore, it is important that we post our information on more than one website. All over the Nation there are public libraries with a surprising amount of file folders containing family genealogy. I have found that people are still donating some pretty interesting to libraries and archives. Hopefully, the data will be digitized on library websites. Actually, local libraries are beginning to write their own websites and (for now) contains only a small amount downloadable data (usually out-of-date books). How much genealogy will be digitized and preserved on the Internet is a question of budget. We should continue to be supportive with our genealogy donations and attend local libraries. I have personally gathered and preserved a great deal of genealogical data over the years and those books which I published are contained as databases on my genealogy websites, viz: Georgia Pioneers Kentucky Pioneers North Carolina Pioneers South Carolina Pioneers Southeastern Genealogy and Virginia Pioneers | Get More Genealogy Real Estate
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The life of the Kentucky pioneer and backwoodsman was one of long and bitter struggle. His task was to hunt, clear the forest to plow, and to fight local Indian tribes. Small forts, or stations were established to help resolve local conflicts with the savages being driven from their hunting grounds. The pioneers were of necessity armed, and were their own soldiers. They built forts and fought under commanders which the community had chosen. The mode of warefare somewhat resembled that of the Indian, and was quite different than the old European-style of both sides queuing up in a field and shooting at one another. The early pioneers fought the enemy from ambush. There was no court system, thus, the backwoodsman was prompt to avenge a wrong. He was grimly stern back woodsman who loved his freedom, and easily swayed by stormy passions. The atrocities suffered at the hand of the Indians taught him to relaliate in kind, thus, in this way he was cruel an relentless towards his enemy. After hostilities with the Indians came to a close, development of towns in the mountains was slow, and the woods remained isolated and cut off. Not until the railroads spread their iron network through the mountains, tapping an almost inexhaustible coal veins and mineral deposits, did the frontiersmen emerge into the business of coal-mining.
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... more ...Shelby County was formedn 1792 and was named for Isaac Shelby, the first Governor of Kentucky. The county seat is Shelbyville.
Genealogy Records available to members of Kentucky Pioneers
Indexes to Wills and EstatesWills and Estates Bk No. 1, 1792 to 1804
- Book No. 1, 1796 to 1804
- Book No. 2, 1804 to 1811
- Book No. 3, 1812 to 1817
- Bagel, William | Bell, Henry | Boling, William | Boyd, William | Boyles, David | Bozwell, George | Breedon, Richard | Brice, James | Brown, James | Buckhannon, William | Burzan, Jesse | Butler, Elizabeth
- Clarke, John | Connely, John | Daniel, Robert | Dornas, Oliver | Dunn, John | Elam, Richard | Felly, John | Ford, John | Fullinwider, William
- Garrett, John | Gazway, Richard | Glover, Jonah | Green, Catherine | Green, Jonathan
- Hansbrough, Marias | Hansel, Phillip | Hartman, Anthony | Hill, Hardy | Hogland, Richard |
- Jacobs, Thomas | Johnston, Phillip
- Lane, Lambert | Lasley, Robert | Laurence, David | Leatherman, John | Lemaster, Richard | Lewis, John
- McCampbell, Samuel | McCLain, Samuel | McClure, Daniel | McClure, John | Meeke, Jesse | Metcalf, James | Newland, Isaac | Newland, Jacob | Owen, Brackett | Owens, George
- Pennington, Isaac | Perkins, William | Potts, John | Powell, William | Prewitt, Michael Sr. | Redding, William | Reid, James | Robins, William
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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. Kentucky Ancestors| Get More Genealogy Real Estate
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