---------- From: MS LOUISE T OVERTON <DFGM43A@PRODIGY.COM> Date: Tuesday, October 13, 1998 6:41 AM Just a few hints that have helped me in my research where many records have been lost. Perhaps they may help others? TACTIC.... Verify the report that the County that you are researching has indeed been burned or lost records for unknown reasons. Tactic #2.... Do your homework Verify everything published on problem area Tract down all publications Use interlibrary loan Tactic #3.... Join major Genealogical Societies example: National Genealogical Society State Genealogical Societies County Genealogical Societies Read every word in those journals, most important..read the footnotes also! Tactic #4 Use everything that has survived Search for reconstituted records Track Books Federal Land Office Order Pension Records Tactic #5 In Census records, look at those neighbors, at least a dozen on each side County Clerks Fee Books Search surviving Counties Lawsuits District Court Records Tactic #6 Follow Rivers Cross State Lines Tactic #7 Comb State level Records Tax Record Rolls Appeals Court Records Each County made two copies of all records. Take an in house inventory of what you have. Tactic #8 Extend search to Federal Archives Rev. War Era Records Civil War Era Records Wartime Damage Claims Captured Confederate Records Preliminary Capture Records Tactic #9 Homestead Act Applications Homestead Files Tactic #10 Cross Ethnic Lines Slave Narrations Pursue Slaves Check for Government Documents