Have you ever gone on a genealogy trip? Not just a day trip to go to a cemetery but one where you go to a different state with the purpose of doing research and looking for family cemeteries? Summer of 2020 we were supposed to be doing our first family genealogy trip which of course was canceled. I have spent quite a bit of time figuring out what will work best for us to find what we are looking for as we head out this summer instead. So I thought I would share some tips with you.
Where did our ancestors settle or spend time when they came to the US? This time, Georgia to Pennsylvania is the path.
First, we figured out what states we would be traveling to. Where did our ancestors settle once they came to this country? Most of our ancestors started out on the east coast of the United States so we found a path that would cover relatives from both our families. Georgia to Pennsylvania is the path. With the largest concentration in North Carolina, West Virginia and Pennsylvania.
What records could we find and where?
Next, where would records be located that we cannot find online? I looked for the county seats near the towns the people lived in. I then found their websites to find hours of the locations records are kept and what kind of records and what years are available. It looks like this:
- Register of Deeds; Birth certificates, Delayed Birth Certificates, death certificates, marriages. 150 Government Circle Suite 2300 Jefferson, NC 8am to 5pm
- Ashe County Clerk of Court - Wills 150 Government Circle Jefferson, NC 8:30am to 5pm.
Finally, we looked for cemeteries. Quite a few of our families have family cemeteries, not with addresses but most had geo locations so we started by finding them on our maps, dropping a pin and putting in the name of the cemetery. Then I went through and put in each name and which cemetery each person was in. This way we know which names we are looking for. A side note, Find A Grave and Billion Graves sometimes have locators for the headstone you are looking for thanks to someone putting that in. If yours doesn’t have one you can add it if you have a cell signal at the site in the cemetery. Here is what my notes look like:
- Isaac Kuykendall (Olivet Cemetery). Issac Vanmeter Pratt (Snodgrass Cemetery Rig, WV). Rachel Pratt, Sarah Jane Pratt Reel, John Pratt, Doratha Pratt Hanline, Jacob Pratt, Isaac Hanline, William Hanline, Lucy Kuykendall Sindy, Walter Kuykendall, Hiram Kuykendall, Ronald Kuykendall, Margaret (Mary) Pratt, Roberta Riggleman (Newhouse Cemetery).
There are many other things you can also get ready if you can find or have the information. One example: look at census records to find the area your ancestors lived and then go try to find the area. We have done this before and plan to do this again. Good luck in all your searching, and if you have any tips you would like to share leave a note.
We can help
If you need any help finding your ancestors or planning a trip, just let us know.
