Tuesday's Tip: Using FamilySearch to Order French-Canadian Records

Most genealogists start by reviewing the same set of records, no matter what country they are researching: census, vital and church records, land records, probate files, military records, newspapers, and city directories. For French Canada, census records, military records, newspapers, and city directories may be online. But how do you find land and probate records?

You can order many land and probate records (called notaire records in Quebec) on microfilm and have them sent to the Family History Center at Godfrey.  To do so, go to www.familysearch.org and follow the instructions below.

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First, "sign in." If you don't have an account, you can create one by clicking on "Free Account." Once you are signed in, you'll be brought back to the main page. Click on "Search," and then "Catalog."

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Enter Canada and then the province name under "Place."

Entering "Canada, Quebec" and then clicking on "land and property" results in a number of titles related to the topic.

For example, click on Land Records, 1754-1857. Clicking on the title brings up a page about the item. Going to the bottom of page, you can see how the land records are available.

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This particular set of records is available on microfilm. Once you see the years you need, click on the film reel to order that roll.

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Follow directions to add it to your cart and have it shipped. Hope to see you soon at our Family History Center!

How a Gazetter Can Help Your Research

"Gazetteer" is an unfamiliar word to most researchers, but it can be a huge help in your research. 

Columbia Gazetteer

Also known as "geographical encyclopedia," a gazetteer provides detailed information about a place. This includes current and former names, the boundaries, major geographical features, and more.  

Why would you want to use a Gazetteer? Often our ancestors' places of birth, death, or marriage have changed names since they lived there. A gazetteer can help ensure that you're looking in the right place. It can also provide important hints about their way of life in that location, including why they choose to fish or farm, and what crops they might have grown. 

How do you access a gazetteer? Library members have access to the Columbia Gazetteer through Godfrey Scholar. To get there, go to http://www.godfrey.org, click on "Godfrey Scholar+" and log in. Then click on "Maps" and "Columbia Gazetteer."

Happy hunting!

Tuesday's Tip: Getting Started with the Canadian Census

Canadian Maple Leaf

Bonjour à tous! We're getting ready for our May 7 Genealogy Club meeting by delving into French-Canadian records. If you've never researched your Canadian ancestors and want to be ready for the meeting, the census is a great place to start.

Begin by visiting the Library and Archives Canada site. Canada began taking censuses in 1825 (well before Canada was a country!) and are open to the public up to 1921.

The first modern census was 1851.

To search a census, click on the year, and search census. You'll see the search screen next. 

Fill in as much information as you know, starting with the surname (last name).

The results will include the first name, last name, location, and an image of the census enumeration. Click on the links under the names to pull up the image.

To go back, click on "Census" on the left-hand side.
 
Need help? Feel free to stop by the library.

Tuesday's Tip: Finding the Full Run of Connecticut Newspapers

With obituaries that provide date of death, social columns that track vacations, and more, newspapers can be a valuable resource - but how do you locate them?  

If your ancestor was from the Middletown area, Godfrey may have the resources you need at the ready. Middletown's Penny Press covered the area in the late 19th and early 20th century - and still does today as the Middletown Press. The Library has a nearly full run of newspapers on microfilm from 1885 to 1921, as well as an index covering 1884 to 1921. 

If your ancestor was from the Hartford area, try The Hartford Courant instead. If you're a Connecticut resident, did you know you can access historic issues on ResearchIT CT? To do so, go to http://researchitct.org/, 

click on "Newspapers," the title you want to look at, and enter your library card number to begin searching. 

Stuck? Consider joining our next internet genealogy club, which will cover how to use ResearchIT CT. 

Happy hunting! 

Tuesday's Tip: Where to Find Real Estate Deeds

Thanks to Al for today's guest post... Don't forget you can order deeds on microfilm directly from the Family History Library. 

Where to Find Real Estate Deeds

            The first two installments of this series discussed various uses of real estate deeds in genealogical research.  This installment will discuss where the researcher can find real estate deeds.

            When a property is acquired, an original deed is prepared and becomes the evidence of ownership for the buyer.   The genealogical researcher is typically interested in those deeds from the early 20^th century backwards.  The writer has worked extensively with early deeds from New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut.  In New Jersey and Pennsylvania, the early deeds were written on preprinted forms and then a copy was made into the master deed books maintained at the county level.  This was the process of recording the transaction onto the official land records.  In Connecticut, the deeds were recorded at the town level.  Each deed was referenced by its Book and Page number.

            These old deed books are available for inspection by the public at either the county or town repository.  In Connecticut, the town clerk will often not allow the general public to inspect these books, but will make copies requested.  Having a Godfrey Library card generally allows the holder direct access.

            A more efficient way to examine the old deeds is to view them on microfilm at a local Family History Center such as at Godfrey.  The Family History Library at the Church of LDS has microfilmed numerous old deed books around the nation.  For instance, the writer found all the old deeds on microfilm for his areas of interest in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania.  Generally, there are also master index books for the old deeds, so obtaining the microfilm for the index books is the best place to start.  These books are typically divided by grantor (seller) and grantee (buyer).  With this knowledge in hand, the specific microfilm of interest can be ordered for viewing.  Knowing the year title passed on a property will not be sufficient to zero in on the correct deed book since often times the recording authority had multiple books going at the same time in which deeds were recorded and often times many months, if not years, passed between the date of the sale and the date it was recorded in the deed books.  To find these master indexes, search in the FHL catalogue with the state name, followed by the county name and look for land records.  In Connecticut, add the town name to the search string as deeds are recorded at the town level here.

            More recently, the FHL has been digitizing microfilms of these deeds.  This process has just begun; however, if you find a film of interest, the FHL will note if it is available for online viewing.

            Certain other towns and counties around the country have also been adding real estate deeds to their websites for online viewing.  This process will continue so conducting a general web search is also a good way to locate these deeds.