This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.northcarolina.counties.wilkes/3965.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: The Southern Claims Commission is a government entity that was created to handle the problems in the South following the civil war. The National Archives holds the original documents and its microfilm copies. You can ask your local librarian for a general genealogy book which describes more info about these documents. Come to think of it, I'm sure the NARA.gov website also describes these documents. My personal experience with these documents: extensive, difficult to search, able to glean much general information about the attitude of the times. Hope this helps. Good luck!