I thought you all might find this helpful! :-) List Mom [email protected] > Tips on Finding > Maiden names > > (Author Unknown) > > Tips on finding maiden names from the 1992 Jackson County (MI) Genealogical > Society: > Nothing will give greater clues to maiden names than the witnesses to old > wills. In the lower left hand corner of most deeds, you will find > signatures of two to four witnesses. The first is always from the husband's > side. The next is almost always from the wife's side and that is to protect > her one-third dower right under law. > > Mortgages: In the 1800s and before, it was traditional when the daughter > married, as part of her dowry, for the father to either cover their mortgage > or carry a note for his son-in-law. If you can find to whom their mortgage > payments were made, 70% of the time it will be the bride's father. > > ______________________________