Tracey, I belong to the Johnston County Gen. & Hist. Society and live in California. My research has now taken me to Wilson County. I am looking for ancestors or descendants of Samuel & Annie Edwards. I believe both were born just before the turn of the century (1890s). Also, if anyone can provide me with clues such as obituaries etc. I would appreciate the help. Victor Edwards.

GRS Volume 2, Issue 2 April 11, 1999 Welcome! I think you will enjoy this issued featured article by professional genealogist Joan Benner. If you have any questions about PERSI, please direct them to her. If you are waiting on a reply from me, hold on, I'll will get to you as soon as possible. Don't forget to tell your friends all about the GRS newsletter. Directions to subscribe to the list are listed below! Enjoy, Tracey ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1. PERSI…aka "The Information Jackpot for Genealogists" By: Joan M. Benner 2. Queries-Look for Your Names! (see listing below article) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ PERSI…aka "The Information Jackpot for Genealogists" By: Joan M. Benner PERSI is an acronym for the PERiodical Source Index, the index to more than 1.1 million articles appearing in nearly 6000 genealogy and local history journals and newsletters, developed by the Allen County Public Library Foundation in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Before PERSI, there were several different genealogical indexes published, but they were not as comprehensive, and only scratched the surface. PERSI covers nearly all of the genealogy and history periodicals that are written in English (and some French-Canadian) published since 1847. It is an under-used source and a fabulous tool for both beginners and experienced family historians. It can make you aware of new sources you would have never discovered by using traditional sources, and topics found in the research methodology section will enhance your skills as an ancestor detective. Over one million articles have been published in thousands of local history and genealogy society newsletters and other periodicals, far more than any one person could possibly subscribe to or read. Before PERSI, it was nearly impossible to find out if an article had ever been published about your ancestor or the locale in which they had lived. PERSI is published annually and is carried by most genealogical libraries in book and/or CD-ROM version. PERSI does not contain the actual article, but is an index to tell you whether an article was published and which magazine it appeared in. For the price of photocopies, you can then obtain copies of articles relevant to your surname, locale, or research method of choice. PERSI makes it possible to consult the knowledge of local history and genealogy societies that thoroughly research, index and write articles for the states and counties where your ancestors lived, without your large investment in subscription fees or time spent sifti! ng t hrough years of periodical back issues. Read on, and I'll show you how to hit the genealogists information jackpot. The published index has over 27 volumes, published annually. There is also a new PERSI CD-ROM available for sale containing 27 volumes in one index, and is also available as a subscription database from Ancestry. Indexing a vast number of periodicals requires several volumes, and the breadth of the index can make using PERSI a bit confusing at first. Once you realize how many volumes are required to index nearly 6000 periodicals, and learn the system, PERSI becomes much less intimidating. Topics are divided into five categories. Places-United States Places-Canadian Places-Foreign Families Research Methodology The first sixteen volumes all have the same titles, either Places 1847-1985 or Families 1847-1985. They are divided into four retrospective series and a current series. The difference in each series is only the articles that have been indexed; the format remains the same throughout all of the volumes. The Allen County Public Library is continually discovering more genealogy and local history publications previously unknown, and continues to publish new volumes that include these periodicals. 1st Series Volume I Places 1847-1985 Volume II Places 1847-1985 Volume III Families 1847-1985 Volume IV Families 1847-1985 2nd Series Volume V Places 1847-1985 Volume VI Places 1847-1985 Volume VII Families 1847-1985 Volume VIII Families 1847-1985 3rd Series Volume IX Places 1847-1985 Volume X Places 1847-1985 Volume XI Families 1847-1985 Volume XII Families 1847-1985 4th Series Volume XIII Places 1847-1985 Volume XIV Places 1847-1985 Volume XV Families 1847-1985 Volume XVI Families 1847-1985 Current 1986 Annual 1987 Annual 1988 Annual 1989 Annual 1990 Annual 1991 Annual 1992 Annual 1993 Annual 1994 Annual 1995 Annual 1996 Annual 1997 Annual PERSI contains citations which reference specific articles. Each PERSI entry lists the title of the article, name of the periodical, volume and issue number in which the article appeared, the date it was published, and a PERSI reference code. The code refers to the appendix at the back of each volume, and refers to the title of the periodical, its general topic and area, and other bibliographic information. Since the index is compiled by the Allen County Public Library, they have every article from every periodical referenced. If your local library does not have the magazine, the Allen County Public Library Foundation will send copies for a reasonable fee. To obtain copies of articles in the PERSI index, contact the Allen County Public Library Foundation, P.O. Box 2270, Fort Wayne IN 46801-2270. Describe the articles to be copied, provide the full entry from PERSI and the name of the journal. The charge is $7.50 per letter prepaid and .20 per page copied to be billed to you. R! eque sts for copies cannot be accepted by telephone, fax or e-mail, and you will receive your copies in 6-8 weeks. Directions for requesting photocopies are listed at the front of each volume, and at http://www.acpl.lib.in.us/database/index/welcome_persi.html PERSI is a major genealogical source that has been underused for years, possibly due to the difficulty of searching through so many volumes, which is solved by the electronic version of PERSI. Whether you choose to consult traditional PERSI volumes at a genealogical library or electronically, it is a great help for every English speaking ancestor, and may be just what you need to solve some of the difficult searches for your roots. Joan M. Benner, member Association of Professional Genealogists, is a professional genealogist, researching in Wood and Portage Counties of Wisconsin. For friendly professional service at a reasonable price, guided by the Golden Rule, please see http://www.rootsweb.com/~wiwood/resource/r-joanb.htm Contact Joan at [email protected] or Post Office Box 1559, Wisconsin Rapids WI 54495-1559. Copyright 1998 by Joan M. Benner * Genealogy Research Sources is a free periodic newsletter covering queries and genealogy subjects of interest to researchers. Please remember to attribute any article you use to our newsletter. Also, please get permission from the author before republishing. Send any articles or queries to: [email protected] with the subject line GRS. To subscribe or unsubscribe to this newsletter send one email message to: [email protected] In the body of the message type your command either: subscribe or unsubscribe Happy Hunting, Tracey

From: Shirley Hornbeck <[email protected]> Subject: This and That Land Survey LAND SURVEY: There are two types of land survey which vary chiefly by the part of country in which you are located. 1. Along the Atlantic coastal states land surveys were at one time strictly by metes and bounds. Thus you will see: "Beginning at an oak tree in the bank of X creek, proceed North by East 27 degrees for 16 chains, 6 links, to a large stone; thence ......" This entire system derived from the fact that people moved into the frontier and claimed land, marked by natural boundaries, which were later surveyed. 2. The other system is based on the Geodetic Survey and makes use of the latitude and longitude lines. This was in existence by the time US land grants were being made (but not the British). a. This system breaks down the area into squares within squares. The largest square after latitude and longitude is located by Range (East or West from a Meridian) and Township which are North or South of a line). b. Each of these squares is broken down into sections, numbered in a prescribed order. c. Each Section is one square mile. d. Now divide each Section into four equal parts with a + at the center. Label these NE, SE, SW & NW. e. Now divide each 1/4 into four equal parts the same way. Each will contain 40 acres. Now lets describe the 40 acres in the NE corner of the section: "NE 1/4 of the NE 1/4, Section Section 16, Range 2 West, Township 3 North." A larger plot might be described as: "N 1/2 of the NE 1/4......" or "SE 1/4 of the NE 1/4 and NW 1/4 of SE 1/4 of...." Multiple 1/4's are each described before naming the section. f. This is not to say that a surveyor might not at times follow other lines but he was required to orient the plot by this system, and his starting point will always be one of the corners in the system. In many parts of the country the four major corners of the section are marked with a concrete marker, properly labeled. g. Fortunately most of the US now uses this system. This also explains why most of the lesser roads in a community run N-S or E-W with square corners. The other side is that they did not have as many hills and streams to go around. With a deed and a topographical map, using the 2nd system you can walk directly to the spot described. (In the former, you get into all kinds of platting, and hope with enough research and knowledge of the neighbors, you can find it.) One problem is that the deed maker did not always spell out all the words. Thus it helps if you know what he was abbreviating. Any good topographical map dealer can help you get on the right map and point you to the section. EXPLANATION OF PERCH, ROD, POLE, CHAIN: A "perch" equals 16.5 feet or one rod. It is sometimes called a "pole". Surveyors also speak of a "chain" which is 66 feet or four rods (or perches). A link - from the 1/100th part of a chain, is 7.92 inches. A good page for US Public Land Survey methods: <http://users.rootsweb.com/~mistclai/landsurv.htm> Shirley Hornbeck - [email protected] My Home Page: <http://www.s-hornbeck.com/home.htm> HORNBECK SURNAME RESOURCE CENTER: <http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~hornbeck/hsrc/home.htm> THIS & THAT GENEALOGY TIPS: <http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~hornbeck> Carol P. Martoccia 903 East Fifth Street Greenville, NC 27858 Pridgen Home Page: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Meadows/6297 Pridgen Archives: http://searches.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/listsearch.pl

Your information on the surveying and the western grid system is essentially correct. However, for various reasons, one section does not always equal one square mile. One big unavoidable reason is the curvature of the earth. As one travels north,approaching the poles, the longitude lines converge, thereby compressing the distance between the north and south sides of a section. This problem was generally accomodated by periodically adjusting the size of individual sections. For this reason, the north- south sides of some sections may not run exactly north and south. Al Bass, (former) Registered Land Surveyor (ret.)

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The GRS newsletter is returning with more of the same great information but with a new name. Genealogy Research Source is the new name. We need new queries so, if you're looking for an ancestor, send us your queries! There is no cost for this service! Remember, we have over 27,000 subscribers! This month, we will feature a wonderful article on PERSI. The newsletter will go out on Monday. If you have an address change, please remember to send it to [email protected] For queries please reply to this address and keep the subject line the same. Thanks, Tracey

Sorry I misread the note. The Basse Manuscripts can be purchased from the Nansemond Indian Tribe and the address and introduction are on the Web page listed below. >http://nansemond.nativeland.com/bass.htm > > Carol P. Martoccia 903 East Fifth Street Greenville, NC 27858 Pridgen Home Page: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Meadows/6297 Pridgen Archives: http://searches.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/listsearch.pl

Lea, Thanks for letting the NCWilson list know about the url site for reading the accurate history of the Bass family. I think you and your cousin Patti have done quite a service in donating this manuscript to the Web and in a location where all people can benefit. Once again, the site is >http://nansemond.nativeland.com/bass.htm > > THanks. Carol At 12:17 PM 4/10/1999 -0400, you wrote: >Carol, > >As a follow up to the original message that you got me involved in.... The >first BASSE manuscript has been completed. My cousin Patti and I have >donated it to the Nansemond Indian Tribal Association for the purpose of >raising money for the Nansemond IndianTribal Cultural Center. > >Hopefully, people will read this manuscript and the copies of the original >records that have been included. They speak for themselves. > >Best, >Lea > >http://nansemond.nativeland.com/bass.htm > > Carol P. Martoccia 903 East Fifth Street Greenville, NC 27858 Pridgen Home Page: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Meadows/6297 Pridgen Archives: http://searches.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/listsearch.pl

Carol, As a follow up to the original message that you got me involved in.... The first BASSE manuscript has been completed. My cousin Patti and I have donated it to the Nansemond Indian Tribal Association for the purpose of raising money for the Nansemond IndianTribal Cultural Center. Hopefully, people will read this manuscript and the copies of the original records that have been included. They speak for themselves. Best, Lea http://nansemond.nativeland.com/bass.htm

am a contributor to rootsweb because I am a list manager and because I use Rootsweb constantly---all of you do thru the various lists you belong to. Their address is at the end of the message. Thanks Carol ________________________________________________________________________ NEWS AND NOTES FROM ROOTSWEB 163,035,217 EMAIL MESSAGES AND A LOT MORE. In March, RootsWeb supported the following for the Internet genealogical community: o 4,030 independently authored Web sites. o 108,887,834 total Web hits: 28,801,459 were HTML pages. 17,209,828 were cgi-bin database searches and such. 62,815,960 were graphics (GIFs, JPEGs, etc.). o 2,154,058 file downloads from the USGenWeb Archives and the ROOTS-L Library. o 6,100 independently operated RootsWeb-hosted mailing lists. o 163,035,217 pieces of e-mail shipped to our mailing lists. That's about a 14% increase in traffic just since January. What folks may not realize is just what those numbers mean. It takes a huge amount of bandwidth to transfer all these Web pages and e-mail messages to the Internet, and RootsWeb's monthly Internet costs have grown from about $10,000 to about $12,000 in just the last two months. It also takes about 30 servers (very large computers) to handle all these Web pages and mailing lists, and RootsWeb is having to spend $10,000 or more each month adding new servers and upgrading its older servers to keep up with demand. No government agency or big corporation pays for RootsWeb: we're entirely supported by contributions made by users like you. If you like the support RootsWeb is providing for the genealogical community and if you want help RootsWeb provide even better support for the community, please consider supporting us and becoming a RootsWeb Contributor: <http://www.rootsweb.com/rootsweb/how-to-subscribe.html> or send e-mail to: <[email protected]> RootsWeb's address is: RootsWeb Genealogical Data Cooperative, P.O. Box 6798, Frazier Park, CA 93222-6798. (Please include your e-mail address on all correspondence and checks.) Carol P. Martoccia 903 East Fifth Street Greenville, NC 27858 Pridgen Home Page: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Meadows/6297 Pridgen Archives: http://searches.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/listsearch.pl

Rae Jean, >From "Wilson County, North Carolina Cemeteries - Volume II", Joan Howell, et al, Wilson County Genealogical Society, 1993: p. 265-266 Rowe Cemetery Located about 800' SE of Wiggins Mill Rd (SR 1103), .8 mi SW of Willing Worker Rd (SR 1109) Peed, Etta M. Rowe b. 01 May 1900 d. 03 Dec 1974 "Not my will but Thine be done" Shared the stone with: Peed, Irving Milton b. 28 Mar 1894 d. 04 Sep 1972 Same inscription Hunter Ferrell Louisville, KY [email protected] ----- Original Message ----- From: Rae Jean Hay <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, April 08, 1999 1:58 AM Subject: [NCWILSON-L] Peed - Rowe > Seeking information on: > > Etta M Rowe Peed 1 May 1900 - 3 Dec 1974 > > Irving Milton Peed 28 Mar 1894 - 4 Sep 1972 > > Any help appreciated. Rae Jean >

Seeking information on: Renford W Peed 13 Apr 1907 - 12 Dec 1988 Mae Williamson Peed Any help appreciated. Rae Jean

Seeking information on: Etta M Rowe Peed 1 May 1900 - 3 Dec 1974 Irving Milton Peed 28 Mar 1894 - 4 Sep 1972 Any help appreciated. Rae Jean

Hello all! I am wondering if anyone would know of a Richard or Maude Hale Murphy from this area. I am having a hard time on this line. My granddad was born there in 1904 and I do not have much information on his parents. Any help would be very appreciated. Beth

The creators of The Genealogy Home Page and Helm's Genealogy Toolbox have teamed up to release eight new genealogy-specific search engines. You can find these search engines at http://www.genealogyportal.com. The eight search engines include indexes of the following categories of sites-- Archives and Libraries Guides to Research Historical Sites Location-Specific Sites Names and Personal Sites Primary Records Research Supplies Software and Utilities The search engines are free to all users. (Received from NC ROOTS list) Carol P. Martoccia 903 East Fifth Street Greenville, NC 27858 Pridgen Home Page: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Meadows/6297 Pridgen Archives: http://searches.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/listsearch.pl

EXPERT GENEALOGY Editor: Jeannette Holland Austin Series: Naturalization Subject: Locating Naturalization Papers Date: April 5, 1999 If you can locate the naturalization papers on your ancestors, you will learn exactly where they came from, date of arrival in US, and place of arrival. All immigrants were not naturalized, as it was not required, and the process was not regulated by Congress until 1790. Before 1903, some courts required more detailed information. After 1903, expect to find the name, birthdate and place, date of departure, port of departure, arrival date, port of arrival, name of ship, if married with name and birthplace of wife, year/place of marriage, and if children, their names, agres and birthplaces. In order to understand what to expect in the papers, I will explain a little bit about the process: (1) It took 5 years to get naturalized, and a person could apply after they had resided in the US for 2 years. This is when they could file their Declaration of Intent. (2) After the filing of the Declaration of Intent and 3 more years had passed, they could petition for naturlization, after which a certificate of citizenship was issued. Here are some guidelines on how to locate Naturalization Papers: (1) Search in local courts where the person resided. (2) Family History Centers have microfilms available. Look under US Immigration, Naturalization, first in the indexes, and then search for the papers. Also, you can search their catalog for the local courts. (3) Submit Form G-639 to the Immigration and Naturalization Service (for those deceased persons naturalized after 1940) in Washington, D. C. Request forms at this site: http://www.ins.usdoj.gov/forms/index.html For additional information, see the National Archives and Records Administration web site - http://www.nara.gov/genealogy/natural.html. This site is a good one, and even lists the microfilm numbers for various States. (4) You can email the branch of the National Archives which covers the region where your ancestor lived. Include as information - name, place of residence when naturalized, country of origin, year, birth year, etc., along with your snail mail address. They will send you the matches for that information. If you locate a match, then send them a check. ================ NEW RELEASES ================ c1985. MARRIAGE RECORDS FROM BRUNSWICK COUNTY, VIRGINIA, 1730-1852 by Augusta B. Forthergill. 153 pp., indexed, paper (1953), repr. 1999. $28.50 This compilation was originally undertaken at the request of the Board of Supervisors of Brunswick Co., for the marriage bonds from 1752, when they first appear in the miscellaneous papers, until the commencement of vital records in 1852. She added inferential marriage proofs from estate settlements, wills and deeds, from 1730 to 1852. Total work identifies 7500 brides, grooms, parents and suretities. C1995. WILLS OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY, VIRGINIA 1654-1800 by Augusta B. Fothergill. 229 pp., indexed, paper (1925), repr. 1999. $33.50 Fothergill's work improves upon William A. Crozier's efforts for Westmoreland County by including abstracts of wills of one entire volume (1665-1677) omitted by Crozier, and extending Crozier's period of coverage by six years to 1800. About 8,000 invididuals are mentioned in 1200 will abstracts. c4910. ARMORIAL GENERAL by Johannes Baptiste Rietstap. Two volumes 1,149 and 1,316 pp., paper. (1884,187,1950), reprinted 1998. $160.00 This is the most authoritative work on coats of arms in the world. The descriptions of the arms public those of more than 100, 000 families, alphabetically arranged and accurately described. The work was compiled from hundreds of armorial's, and contains an extensive glossary of terms. In addition to a full description of the all arms, most entries identify the nationality of the arms bearer, his title, and the date his title was conferred. The basic text was established with the publication of the second edition of 1884-1887. In 1950 a reprint was published in a limited edition, with a new preface and new additions and corrections. The present reprint is an exact reproduction of the 1915 edition. ===================================== BACK ISSUES OF EXPERT GENEALOGY NOW AVAILABLE ON CD ===================================== 1998 newsletters published in Expert Genealogy are now available on cd. Topics of discussion include family history centers, wars, publishing your book, odd sources, field trips, census, immigration, National Archives, land records, county records, Quakers. Organized by category. Windows compatible. Price: $15.00 Postage: $3.50 ORDER FROM - Jeannette H. Austin GENEALOGY BOOKS 175 Thornton Drive Fayetteville, GA 30214 Phone 1-800-899-9524 Local 770-719-1754 Fax 770-719-8699 To Order online -http://www.genealogy-books.com/orderexp.htm ACCEPT VISA, MASTERCARD ===================================== EXPERT GENEALOGY is sponsored by GENEALOGY BOOKS and may be freely re-distributed or published. ===================================== Do you find this list useful? If so, contact your local genealogical or historical society so that their members may benefit from this FREE online newsletter. ===================================== To subscribe to EXPERT GENEALOGY - Email: [email protected], or, go to the homepage (http://www. genealogy-books.com/) and click on "subscribe". ===================================== === ON THE HOMEPAGE === http://www.genealogy-books.com/ 1. Online Bible Records 2. Genealogy Events Calendar (interactive, you may post events such as reunions, workshops, etc.) 3. More than 1200 genealogy books, cds and disks for sale. Will upload or mail. ======================================= == HEL-LO CENTRAL - NOW ONLINE === Can't find a book? Would you like a central listing on the internet? Just go to one place, one time.....no surfing? This is it! Books are listed alphabetically. Hel-lo Central - A Bookfinder for Genealogists. Website== Http://www.genealogy-books.com/locator.htm This is it! Books are listed alphabetically. Site will be kept current daily. Hel-lo Central - A Bookfinder for Genealogists http://www.genealogy-books.com/locator.htm =================================== Carol P. Martoccia 903 East Fifth Street Greenville, NC 27858 Pridgen Home Page: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Meadows/6297 Pridgen Archives: http://searches.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/listsearch.pl

Use the following URL for useful FREE public record databases: http://www.pac-info.com/ Each one is listed by State and a number of States have unclaimed Property databases. Carol P. Martoccia 903 East Fifth Street Greenville, NC 27858 Pridgen Home Page: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Meadows/6297 Pridgen Archives: http://searches.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/listsearch.pl

Do you have a Mary Fisher that married George Kornegay in late 1700's Thank you Ruth At 04:47 PM 4/1/99 -0500, you wrote: >FORMATION OF NC COUNTIES (975.6C in our local library. >Maps included. >Shelby > >* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * >http://www.geocities.com/Vienna/Choir/3843/ >CROCKER/QUALLS/ROSE/PREVETTE >WINSTEAD/BRIGHT/WILLIAMSON/FISHER/JOINER/CREDLE/FLOWERS/BENTON >NC Counties: Edgecombe/Nash/Franklin/Johnston/Beaufort/Hyde/ >Shelby Jean CROCKER-Smith >* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * > >-----Original Message----- >From: Vanessa Carol Barnes Schatz [mailto:[email protected]] >Sent: Wednesday, March 24, 1999 4:39 PM >To: [email protected] >Subject: [NCWILSON-L] Wilson County Maps > > >I'm trying to determine county lines for North Caroline in 1880, 1900, >1910 and 1920. Does any one know where I might be able to obtain maps >for these time periods? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank >you. > >Vanessa >

FORMATION OF NC COUNTIES (975.6C in our local library. Maps included. Shelby * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * http://www.geocities.com/Vienna/Choir/3843/ CROCKER/QUALLS/ROSE/PREVETTE WINSTEAD/BRIGHT/WILLIAMSON/FISHER/JOINER/CREDLE/FLOWERS/BENTON NC Counties: Edgecombe/Nash/Franklin/Johnston/Beaufort/Hyde/ Shelby Jean CROCKER-Smith * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * -----Original Message----- From: Vanessa Carol Barnes Schatz [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Wednesday, March 24, 1999 4:39 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [NCWILSON-L] Wilson County Maps I'm trying to determine county lines for North Caroline in 1880, 1900, 1910 and 1920. Does any one know where I might be able to obtain maps for these time periods? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. Vanessa

ESSEX BOOKS - NEWS APRIL 1999 We're a little early with the April edition because we're adding two new genealogies and three new CDs. Our focus continues to move toward New England references as we feel that this is where our expertise (however limited) :>) lies and we are, therefore in a better position to make the best selections from the increasing amount of material becoming available, particularly on CDs. We've included an informational piece on Revolutionary War Bounty Records for you information. We'll begin with that, followed by our new offerings. Lastly a note of caution: The new items on this listing are our initial shipments of titles from the publishers and supplies may be limited. With our sale items last month, a number of folks simply mailed in their orders and were disappointed to find that the item was sold out. In the case of new items there will be a continuing supply but if the e-mails to reserve exhaust our supply, you may have to wait. Help us to help you, by acting quickly. Bob & Elaine ___________________________________________________________ REVOLUTIONARY WAR BOUNTY and LAND WARRANT APPLICATIONS FEDERAL SOURCES Bounty-land warrants, which entitled their holders to free land in the public domain, were given to veterans or their survivors for wartime service performed between 1775 and 3 March 1855. Bounty-land warrant application files, which provide evidence of military service, are part of Record Group 15, Records of the Veterans Administration. Since most bounty-land warrants were transferable, an approved bounty-land warrant application is not evidence of land ownership. Bounty-land warrants surrendered for land in the public domain, usually by someone other than the veteran who applied for the warrant, document ownership of land at a given time and place. These surrendered warrants are part of Record Group 49, Records of the General Land Office. A bounty-land warrant application is especially valuable in an instance where the veteran or his widow did not apply for a pension. Not all Revolutionary War veterans and widows met the qualifications for pensions during their lifetimes, and some who did qualify did not apply. Since there was no need requirement for bounty land, many of these veterans and widow did apply for bounty-land warrants. In addition to his rank, military unit, and period of service, a bounty-land warrant application by a Revolutionary War veteran will give his age and place of residence at the time of the application. An application by a widow will normally give, in addition to her age and place of residence, the date and place of her marriage to him, and her maiden name. An application by a survivor may list all of the veteran's heirs at law. BOUNTY LAND LEGISLATION In 1776, the Continental Congress promised land to officers and soldiers who engaged in military service and served until the end of the Revolutionary War or until discharged and to the survivors of those killed in the war. The amount of land varied with rank. Privates and noncommissioned officers were to receive 100 acres, ensigns 150, lieutenants 200, captains 300, majors 400, lieutenant colonels 450, and colonels 500. In 1780 the law was extended to generals, granting brigadier generals 850 acres and major generals 1,100. This was the basic law under which bounty land was granted for Revolutionary War service until 1855. In 1788 Congress directed the Secretary of War to begin issuing warrants to eligible veterans upon application. This law provided that the veteran could transfer his warrant to another person, and most of the warrants issued under this and succeeding acts were assigned at least once before being surrendered for land. Actual patenting of land in exchange for bounty-land warrants did not begin until about 1800. Until 1830 the U.S. Military District of Ohio was the only place a Revolutionary War bounty-land warrant could be used. Beginning in 1830 a bounty-land warrant could be exchanged for scrip which was receivable at any land office in Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. In 1842 all federal bounty-land warrants were made good at any land office. In 1855 Congress amended the basic law governing bounty land granted for Revolutionary War service by making the minimum entitlement 160 acres regardless of rank and reducing the service requirement to fourteen days or participation in any battle during the war. A veteran or survivors who had previously received fewer than 160 acres could apply for the balance. In 1856 the benefits of the 1855 act were extended to Revolutionary War naval officers and enlisted men and their heirs. Many applications for bounty land warrants were made under the 1855 act by persons who met the service requirement for the first time. Claimants for bounty-land warrants based on Revolutionary War service forwarded their applications to the Secretary of War until 1841, to the Commissioner of Pensions in the War Department from 1841 to 1849, and to the Secretary of the Interior after the Pension Office was transferred to that department in 1849. Some applications were accompanied by affidavits testifying to the military service performed, marriage records, and other forms of evidence. When an application was approved, a warrant for a specified number of acres was issued to the claimant or his assignee. The holder of the warrant then selected the portion of the public domain he wished to have in exchange for the warrant and surrendered the warrant at the appropriate district land office. The papers were forwarded to Washington where the Treasury Department and, after 1849, the Interior Department issued a patent for the land. BOUNTY-LAND WARRANT APPLICATION FILES Bounty-land warrant applications and related papers approved before the War Department fire of November 1800 are presumed to have been lost in that fire. These lost files are represented by 10" x 14" cards that show the name of the veteran, his rank, the state or organization for which he served, the symbol "B.L.Wt." followed by the warrant number and the number of acres granted, the date the warrant was issued, and the name of a person other than the veteran to whom the warrant was delivered or assigned. This information was transcribed from surviving registers of bounty-land warrants issued before 8 November 1800. Files for bounty-land warrants applications approved after 8 November 1800 are in envelopes that have headings consisting of the name of the veteran, his widow's name if she applied for the warrant, the state or organization for which he served, the symbol "B.L.Wt." followed by the number of the warrant, the number of acres granted, and, in the case of applications made under the act of 1855, the number "55". Records in the files may include applications, family Bible records, marriage records, affidavits testifying to the veteran's service, and their papers. Envelopes containing rejected bounty-land warrant applications are marked B.L.Reg." (for bounty-land register) followed by the register number assigned to the application. Bounty-land warrant applications and related papers have been consolidated with pension application files based on the service of the same veteran. Frequently a widow's approved pension application is consolidated with her approved bounty-land warrant application under the act of 1855. A veteran's pension application and bounty-land warrant application may be in the same file. Rejected pension application files may also contain approved or rejected bounty-land warrant application papers. MICROFILM PUBLICATION The Revolutionary War pension and bounty land warrant application files have been microfilmed on 2,670 rolls of National Archives Microfilm Publication M804. The files are arranged alphabetically by the surnames of the veterans. A pamphlet describing the contents of this publication roll by roll is available free of charge from the National Archives. Microfilm Publication M804 is available to researchers at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. and at the eleven National Archives field branches. Individual rolls can be borrowed for you by your local library through the Census Microfilm Rental program. The publication is also available at the LDS Genealogical Department Library in Salt Lake City and through its branch libraries. Microfilm rolls can be purchased from the National Archives. As an alternative to using the microfilmed records, a copy of a Revolutionary War bounty-land warrant application file can be ordered by mail from the National Archives using NATF Form 80, Order for Copies of Veterans Records. Check "Bounty-Land Warrant Application" on the form and provide the name of the veteran, the war in which he served, the state from which he served, and, if you have it, the bounty-land warrant application file number. "Index to Revolutionary War Pension Applications in the National Archives," published by the National Genealogical Society gives the name of the veteran, the state from which he served, the bounty-land warrant application file number, and, in the case of a widow's application, the given name of the widow. This index is available in many libraries and can be purchased from the Society. Information found in a bounty-land warrant application file for your Revolutionary War ancestor should be properly identified in your family records. A citation should include the following: (Descriptive title of the document), (name of the veteran), Revolutionary War Bounty-Land Warrant Application File (symbol and numbers), Records of the Veterans Administration, Record Group 15, National Archives Microfilm Publication M804, roll number. The Genealogist's Guide (c) 1996 Heritage Associates ___________________________________________________________ NEW ITEMS BOSTON - PASSENGER AND IMMIGRATION LISTS 1821-1850 This CD is a veritable gold mine for those tracing early Boston Irish as well as others who came to the port of Boston in this period. It contains an alphabetical listing of over 161,000 individuals who arrived in Boston between 1821 and 1850. For each individual listed, you will find the name, age, gender, arrival date, country of origin and occupation. Each record also has a microfilm reference to the original passenger list. using this CD as a base, you may be able to determine the name of the ship on which the individual arrived as well as the specific location in which they intended to settle. The records were meticulously indexed by Maryann Flaherty of the Irish Ancestral Research Association. CODE FT256 $39.00 + $4.00 S&H ___________________________________________________________ MASSACHUSETTS MARRIAGE INDEX, 1633 - 1850 This index CD contains the marriage dates, names, and soundex code of each spouse along with the county in which the marriage was recorded. Over 837,500 index marriage records on one CD. CODE FT231 $29.00 + $4. S&H ___________________________________________________________ MASSACHUSETTS REVOLUTIONARY WAR SOLDIERS AND SAILORS - 1775-1782 This CD contains images of the pages from all 17 volumes of "Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War". The materials date from 1775 to 1782 and follow the military careers of Massachusetts soldiers and sailors and their commanding officers. The records reference approximately 688,000 individuals who served in the Revolutionary War. CODE FT147 $39.00 + $4. S&H ___________________________________________________________ Master Charge/Visa or Check US funds. Inquire re shipment outside USA. TO ORDER: E-mail us your intention to purchase. We will reserve a copy for you ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ and send you an order form. 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