How to Find Ancestors

I am going to make a few suggestions, however, suffice it to say that searching for the ancestors requires your loving dedication and time. Indeed. Finding an ancestor never before discovered is an exciting experience! It could be the result of oblivion to the fact that you had the answers all along, or seeing a name in an obscure record.

So, what are obscure records that need to be discovered?

1. Read old Wills and Estates for everyone in the counties where your ancestors resided. To simply go there and research your one name is not good enough. The reason is that neighbors married neighbors, witnessed documents, administered estates, and conveyed property. The neighborhood was a close unit of friends working together, especially in former times. In fact, the whole region functioned and built itself into villages, towns, and cities because of people helping one another.
2. The first land grants and earliest deeds did not have neighbors. But they did specify the acreage, so this is what to look for. The land lotteries in Georgia, for example, had lots of 202–1/2 acres. So this is what to search for in subsequent deeds or documents. You can actually follow the bequeathing or passing down the land by using the county tax digest. First, list everyone with the same surname and the acreage designations. Begin at the beginning of the county’s origin and continue each year thereafter.
3. Note the beginning date for each of the 13 colonies (and each county therein).
4. Study the history of…