What is Your Favorite Genealogy Resource

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Sandra Taliaferro on July 13, 2009 at 10:59pm

Angela, I use the Georgia Archives in Morrow for most of my research. The National Archives at Atlanta is right next door which is an added convenience. Although I live in the same state as my counties of interest, I have not made a research trip to any county courthouse. I have been able to find many wills and other documents at the Georgia Archives, but with all the brick walls I'm hitting it's just of matter of time before I venture into courthouse research. We have several Family History Centers in the metro area; I have attended several workshops there, but I have not used one for individual research. The Georgia Archives is about 30 minutes from me, and it's open on Saturdays; a big plus for me!!


Sandra

Permalink Reply by Angela Walton-Raji on July 14, 2009 at 7:41am

Hello Sandra---wow you are lucky the National Archives is right next door to the the state Archives! Can't get much better than that!! Have you obtained marriage records? I supposed state archives would be useful for those, but the county courthouse holds a treasure trove as well, so you will probably hit a gold mine there, as well. At some time you will be searching for land records and then the courthouse will be a useful place for you also.
-Angela-

Permalink Reply by Rochelle Robinson on July 14, 2009 at 11:55am

I have to admit, right now my favority genealogy resource is the Edgecombe Library, NC. I'm in Pa and all my research falls below the mason-dixon line. The genealogists there has been especially helpful because my ancestors directly intertwine with the plantations in that area. I too envy those who have ready access to records in their area.

Permalink Reply by Art Thomas on July 20, 2009 at 3:00am

Angela, you got me. :)) ~Art

Hello Rochelle, I'm in Ohio and I too have roots in Edgecombe County, NC,

My paternal great-grandparents, Peter & Louisa Lawrence, were enslaved in Edgecombe County. Peter and Louisa are found in the 1860 Slave Schedule for Edgecombe County, NC as Slaves of Henry Lawrence along with their 5 oldest children. They are again found in the 1870 Federal Census for Edgecombe County with their 8 children living in Deep Creek Township as Freedmen.

Peter and Louisa are found in Volume I, Page 248, of Barnetta McGhee White's "Somebody Knows My Name" Marriages of Freed People in North Carolina County by County. They filed for a marriage record in 1866 following the Civil War in Edgecombe County, NC and stated that they had been co-habitants for the prior 19 years. The listed surname for both was Lawrence.

One of their children Flora (Lawrence) Dickens Thomas is my grandmother.

Flora is first located in the 1860 Slave Schedule as a 6 yr. old female along with her parents (Peter & Louisa) and 3 other siblings Harris (8), Elizabeth (3) and Lafaetta (4 mos.). They are the slaves of Henry La(u)rence. The next record of Flora is the 1870 Edgecombe County Census record, here the Lawrence family consists of Peter & Louisa, Harris/Horris (18), Flora (16) Elizabeth (12), Peter (13), Lafaetta (9) and now 3 new children Louisa (8), and twins Molly and Andrew (5).

By 1880 Flora has married Lafayette Dickens and has a son, B. Louis Dickens, who is recorded as being 9 mos. old on the 1880 Census record dated 4 Jun 1880. Much research is still needed for the period 1880-1900, but we do know Lafayette Dickens died 21 May 1891 in Edgecombe Co. NC. Flora migrated to Indiana sometime prior to 1892. At this time it is not known, by this writer, if this migration was before or after the death of Lafayette Dickens.

The 1900 Census records for Putnam Co. IN find Flora living in Greencastle, IN with her second husband, my grandfather, George Thomas. Putnam County records indicate that Flora and George were married 4 Mar 1892 in that County. The 1900 Census record also indicates Flora had 11 children, 5 of whom were still living. They were Louisa, Mary Elizabeth "Lizzie" and Henry Dickens, her children by Lafayette Dickens and two (2) of her three (3) children by George Thomas, They were James Arthur and Walter William, my father. A daughter, Josephine died in Infancy.

Flora (Lawrence) Dickens Thomas, born a slave, died a free woman 11 Aug 1912.
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Angela, please excuse my using this group for such a lengthy reply to Rochelle...... Rochelle, I hope we can connect and share our Edgecombe County research and any connections we may possibly have.

Art Thomas

Permalink Reply by Rochelle Robinson on July 21, 2009 at 9:35am

LOL! I'll reply back offline!

Permalink Reply by George Geder on July 15, 2009 at 9:14am

Hi Angela,

If I had to pick a 'favorite', I would say AfriGeneas.com.
RAOGK (random acts of genealogical kindness, for those who may not be familiar with the accronym) and the internet have been my mainstays.

Since I'm in New Mexico and my Ancestors are in New York, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina, it's hard for me to get to the courthouses. When I first started my family research, I did go to the courthouse in Binghamton, NY. I found a ton of stuff but didn't know what I was doing, lol. I made all of the rookie mistakes back then in the early 1980's. I need to go back.

Peace,
"Guided by the Ancestors"

Permalink Reply by msualumni on July 19, 2009 at 8:49pm

For many years, my favorite was pension records, for obvious reasons. The past 3 years, it has become court records. The unique nature of what you can find in them has me hooked;) While I love going into county courthouses, alot of the records I have been looking at lately have been more accessible (ie, able to be copied) at State Archives. I've also seen some incredible information in historical society libraries that are not available anywhere else. It's funny to me how in genealogy you have to really utilize every available avenue of research, sort of a leave no stone unturned technique. I also use my local FHL quite frequently.

Permalink Reply by Angela Walton-Raji on July 21, 2009 at 10:29pm

Which FHC do you use? I have used the one in Kensington, and not the one in Ellicott City, though, I guess because at the time the hours were not as frequent. Since I research multiple states, it is good to have access to certain state records not found at the National Archives in Washington, DC.