On Wed, 27 Jan 1999, Doris Crawford wrote: > > I guess I still have a lot to learn on land records. For one thing I > had thought since Cornelius MILLER had taken his family to Michigan from > New York in the early 1830s that he was looking for something better > than he had in New York, meaning that he was broke. If I am correct in > my research, his mother was a widow during his youth and living very > precariously (a relative sold her property back to her for $1 after she > had originally lost it). So, I did not think he had any money and > would have gone to Michigan to get a start. But, he had $100 to buy 80 > acres! So, I guess I didn't know the difference between homesteading > and purchasing the land. Anyway, I appreciate all the help I receive. > > Thanks, Doris Thank you for the flowers, Doris. One of the things I stress is think in terms of Family History, not the genealogy we usually call it. And, history covers a lot of territory. There is a history of settlement on the land in this country as well as the history of the people and the records they left behind. Even a history of the record keepers. That is the part that bothers me, all that history to read. Thank goodness for microfilm, regional archives and e-mail. Check at the regional archives nearest you. They should be able to let you know where the records you want are held and whether they are on microfilm. Perhaps you can even get the microfilm copy sent to a nearby library. I know that a year ago the Kansas City and Atlanta regional web sites had a detailed listing of their holdings. Perhaps by now some of the others have also gotten detailed listings. They all have e-mail contacts. As for your family in Michigan, don't forget that some counties have had histories published about their early settlers. More history to read. John *====*====*====*====*====*====*====*====*====*====*====*====*====* # John Wm Sloniker <johnwms@serv.net> Seattle, WA # # (206) 789-6663 7323 - 19th Ave NW 98117-5612 # *====*====*====*====*====*====*====*====*====*====*====*====*====*