One of my favorite sites since beginning my genealogy work has been FamilySearch. Not only are the records free to access, but they often have some hidden gems! In particular, I’ve really benefited from the property records for the state of New York in my work. In fact, I really wished there was something similar for Michigan, where most of my research is located.
And recently, I discovered that there was. I just was not paying close enough attention! When accessing the FamilySearch catalog for Ottawa County, I can browse through land deed records.
Not only were these great in finding when certain ancestors of mine first moved to the state, but I got a new clue on my elusive Meeker line when I found that my great great great grandmother, Sophrona, had sold her land just around the time her husband Horace Meeker died. The buyer? Someone named Edwin Meeker from nearby Jackson County. I even found some potential DNA match support for Edwin. While I have not made the connection yet, it is a tantalizing clue.
So, when you run out of indexed records, try the catalog! While it is time-consuming to wade through records page by page, you may just find a useful hint lurking in that microfilm.
Don’t have time to wade through long rolls of microfilm, or just having trouble tracking down that vital clue you need? Let me tackle that! Check out our About section for a detailed list of services, or Contact us for a free quote for your project.
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