Full or partial transcriptions of original records, along with commentary on their genealogical significance and how to use them as evidence
I was researching a Philadelphia family who had moved to Wilmington, Delaware about 1905. I had evidence that they were members of a reformed Jewish congregation in Philadelphia, so I hoped to find them in Delaware belonging to a similar congregation. A clue led to The Temple of Truth in …
In the days before ballpoint pens, typewriters, and computers the court clerk transcribed wills, estate appraisals, and inventories into the county record books. It must have been tedious work because they used quills and metal nibs dipped in ink wells. An entire page could be ruined by a careless dribble …
I’m pleased to share the publication of my article, “Members of The Good Templars Lodge #637 at Dry Fork, Sumner County, Tennessee,” which transcribes the membership roll of a temperance organization that formed in Sumner County in the late 1870s. It appears in Middle Tennessee Journal of Genealogy & History, …
I’m pleased to announce the publication of my latest article: “A Forfeited Recognizance Bond and 118 Signatures: An 1805 Legislative Petition Fills Gaps in Anderson County Records.” This article is in the Summer 2026 issue of The Tennessee Genealogical Society Ansearchin’ News. A Juicy Story Often an interesting tale is …
What secrets can handwriting reveal about a 215-year-old murder case? Back in March I was able to view a Tennessee legislative petition while in Nashville. Petitions are fascinating, especially ones signed by numerous citizens. Because there isn’t an 1800 or 1810 U.S. census for Wilson County, Tennessee these documents are …
