2021 has passed into the books and 2022 is here providing new opportunities for your genealogical research. In 2022 we can look forward to the 1950 United States Census being released and the 1921 United Kingdom Census. First up, however, is the advent of free access to the Periodical Source Index (PERSI). PERSI is the largest subject index to genealogy and local history periodical articles in the world. Our own Nassau County Genealogist is indexed within it. This index has moved multiple times through the years from website to website, first being located at Ancestry.com, then MyHeritage.com and to its present location at FindMyPast.com. It is however moving again, and this time will finally be free at the Allen County Pulbic Library Genealogy Center website. The BIG reveal occurs on a virtual genealogy program occuring Tuesday, 11 Jan 2022 at 2:30 pm EST. I plan to attend! Details on their website!
As I prepare for the classes I instruct in our Beginner’s Course this year I am reminded of the importance of Land Records, a record which often is overlooked by genealogists as non-genealogically important. I discovered one of my 3rd Gr-Grandfather’s land records includes a list of personal items that he sells to his son along with his land parcel, thereby he didn’t need a will to close out his estate. There are no estate records for him. If you have ancestors for which you cannot find estate records, and they died in old age, perhaps you should check those land records!
Land records can largely be found online at FamilySearch. Use their card catalog to access the location for your ancestor and if land records are available through them they’ll show up under the category “Land”. Remember to search in concentric circles from the smallest known place, usually a township, then work your way outward to the County and then State. It depends on the State laws as to where those records will be found, as FamilySearch usually places the digital images under the jurisdiction they found them. Some of these records may be restricted and you will need to travel to one of our nearby Family History Centers or affiliated libraries. As in all research using the FamilySearch website you will need to register for a free account. If you have any questions on how to find these records, please ask, I can help you find them.
Our own Jean Mann will present her talk on the Last Spanish Land Grant in Florida this month for our General Meeting. I will not be able to be present, but I am certain Jean will give an informative and entertaining look at the Fernandez Family of Amelia Island.