BGS Newsletter July 2021 Vol 120 Issue 85

Pres: Jim Winston Vice Pres: Elly Pollock

Recording Secy: Mary Roesler Treas: Melanie Ferguson
Librarian: Larry Dennis, Property Manager: Open
Reporter: Melanie Ferguson
BS Property Manager: Mark D. Sharron
BGS Website:
www.baytowngenealogysociety,weebly.com
THE BAYTOWN GENEALOGY SOCIETY, INC. E-Mail: piper965@aol.com
ORGANIZED 1996 - 501 (©)(3)
©
NEXT BGS MEETING

The next BGS Meeting will be in September – Watch for the date
Hopefully, we can resume our normal meetings in September thru June at the Baytown Sterling
Municipal Library

Heritage Circle Members

Larry and Lise-Marie Dennis – Supporter

Major Contributors: presentation using the Wiki and Search commands

Larry and Lise-Marie Dennis in Family Search. Using, the state-of-the-art large
screen wall mounted computer, everyone was able
Roy and Sandra Whitaker
to easily follow Laurie’s examples as she skillfully
Joy Huntington maneuvered through each step. Following Laurie’s
(Thank You!!) presentation everyone had an opportunity to visit
and enjoy light refreshments. Several contributions
were received to help further our search for a new
research facility.

Subsequent to our meeting, we learned that one of

2021-2022 Membership Renewal 10/1/21
President’s Message
Thanks to the Baytown Sterling Library and staff, the
Baytown Genealogy Society, Inc. was able to have an
actual face-to-face meeting in June. While the
number of attendees had to be limited with the
never-ending Covid restrictions, the meeting was
fully attended. Following the opening and pledges
to the American Flag and the Texas State Flag, our
speaker, Laurie Jensen had a most informative
our members would like to donate his research
collection and books he has authored to our
collection. We look forward to receiving his
collection.
Our search continues to find a new home for our
research collection. Baytown is growing and
expanding and the need for a genealogy research
facility is greatly needed. The community is growing
and the need for an ancestral research facility is also
a growing need. Genealogy has become a growing
national pastime.
 Have you forgotten that night?
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed
Have you forgotten that fateful evening around 2:00
AM when we lost our Baytown Genealogical
Research Library? Here is a reminder of what we lost
that evening. Not only has it been our loss, but it has
also been a great loss to the citizens of Baytown and
the surrounding areas. Genealogy research in
Baytown has come to a standstill.
I remember receiving the police call early that
morning!
After having a construction engineer examine the
facility, it was concluded that the facility would need
to be demolished. Even though the facility was
leased at a minimal annual rate, it was nevertheless
a great loss. Not only was it a loss for the use of the
facility but also much equipment was damaged or
destroyed. What was salvageable had to be placed
into storage. Mark David Sharon who was our facility
and property manager at the time, purchased a
large, portable storage unit to house our chairs and
other physical equipment. It still remains on the
property on Market Street. Mark has since passed
away, but the storage unit remains on the property.
OUR SEARCH CONTINUES FOR A NEW
FACILITY
The Baytown Genealogy Society has been around for
almost fifty-six years and incorporated in 1996 but
continues to strive to live up to its mission
statement.
• To educate
• To teach
• To promote the interest and preservation of
records
• To encourage historical research
• To support the Baytown Genealogical
Research Library
During the many years, members have volunteered
hundreds of hours in making this organization a
success and a place of enjoyment and education for
its members and the citizens of Baytown. It is our
primary goal to establish once again the important
Baytown Genealogical Research Library!
Did you know that 56 years ago, the Baytown Sun ran
an article Friday, Sept. 17, 1965, announcing Mrs.
John Brunson Sr. as the first president of BGS!
----James Winston
The Royal Navy
Royal Navy ratings were senior rates or junior rates
designed thus:
Senior Rates:
Chief Petty Officer, Petty Officer
Junior Rates:
Leading Seamen, Leading Hands,
Able Seaman
Ordinary Seaman – This was the lowest rating on a
ship. The Ordinary Seaman was someone who was
not experienced as a sailor. Most gained their
experience through working on board a ship and
specializing and progressing up the rating ladder.
Able Seaman – They were to be able seamen. Those
who were competent in their job and had gained
their knowledge through experience. Once they
became able, they did not lose that rating.
Boys – Boys were rated first, second or third class
depending on their age. Those who joined under the
age of fifteen were rated third class, between fifteen
and seventeen were second class. They would be
rated higher if they had served and graduated from
a training ship.
The Prerogative Court of Canterbury, prior to 1818
had the responsibility for proving the wills of ratings
who died abroad. Up to 1815 it also had the
responsibility for those who died in service with
more than £20 being owed to them in wages. The
indexes will often show the name of the ship when the will
was made. PTS would indicate a “foreign port”.
After 1858 naval wills were under the jurisdiction of the
Principal Probate Registry although the will of seamen for
the period up to 1882 were the responsibility of the Navy
Inspector of Wills.
The wills provide:
• The seaman’s name
• Date the will was made
• Rank or rating
• The name of the last ship on which he served
• Details of his effects
• The name (sometimes the address) of the person
who was to receive the effects in the event of his
death which was normally the next of kin
Many servicemen who served in the Second World War
or time of National Service took their service records with
them when discharged.
If a seaman served before 1853, one way to trace the
service is the use of ship’s musters and it is possible to
trace a seaman’s service both backwards and forwards
using ships’ muster rolls. You must know at least one ship
on which he served.
Royal Naval Service Records Online – (some are
incomplete)
Findmypast
Service records 1704-1919
Ship’s musters
RND service records
RNR service records
World War One Naval Casualties.
Ancestry
Registers of Seamen’s Service 1848-1939 (ADM139 &
ADM188)
Navy Medal Rolls (ADM171)
Excerpts taken from:
Tracing your Naval Ancestors by Simon Fowler Published
by Pen & Sword www.familyhistorybooksonline.com
Nelson’s Navy 1793-1815 By Keith Gregson
Published by Family History Partnership Available
www.familyhistorybooksonline.com
Your ancestor may have served in one of the many
divisions of the Navy and as such records will be in
different locations.
Scotland Records
Most churches keep registers of baptisms,
marriages, and burials and some keep registers of
other events relating to people. On the
ScotlandPeople site you can search the registers of
the Church of Scotland, the Roman Catholic Church
in Scotland, and some other Presbyterian churches.
For information on kirk sessions, presbytery, and
synod records, please see the separate guide on
church court records.
https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/record-
guides/church-court-records
The Old Parish Registers (OPRs) comprise the
records of births and baptisms, banns and marriages
and deaths and burials kept by individual parishes of
the Established Church (Church of Scotland) before
the introduction of civil registration in 1855.
Roman Catholic parish registers
Roman Catholic parish registers comprise records
of
• births and baptisms
• marriages
• confirmations
• deaths and burials
• communicants
• sick calls
• status animarum
• converts
• first confessions
• seat rents
The records cover all Scottish parishes in existence
by 1855 – before the introduction of civil registration;
the records of Glasgow's Catholic cemetery; and the
records of the RC Bishopric of the Forces, which
records all sacramental events for British service
men and women serving in the armed forces
worldwide.
Under the provisions of Church Law, all faithful are to
have sacramental information recorded in the
registers of the parish. Record format and content
varied over time, with the responsibility for the
information gathered being placed with the parish
priest - since there was no standard format
prescribed, record keeping varied enormously from
parish to parish and also from year to year.
As a result, the information may be sparse,
unreliable, and difficult to read. Approximately 700
registers have survived, the earliest dating from
1703, but most records only begin in the 30 years
following the relaxation of legislation against
Catholics in the 1790s up to the Roman Catholic
Relief Act of 1829 when it was permitted to be a
member of a Catholic church.
Bear in mind that the Church of Scotland parishes did
not cover the same areas as Roman Catholic
parishes and the parishes of other churches.
For further information about the content of these
records see the national records of Scotland’s guide
on Catholic parish registers.
https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/research/guides/cath
olic-parish-registers
Other church registers
As well as the Church of Scotland, other
Presbyterian churches in Scotland kept registers of
baptisms, marriages, and burials from 1716
onwards. These other church registers are in the
course of being added to the ScotlandsPeople site.
The churches concerned were Presbyterian
churches that were originally outside the Church of
Scotland (or left the Church of Scotland) but joined
(or re-joined) the Church of Scotland at various
points. These churches were as follows:
• The Reformed Presbyterian Church
• The Original Secession (or First Secession)
Church
• The Associate Synods (Burghers and
Antiburghers, and the Auld Licht Burghers,
New Licht Burghers, Auld Licht Antiburghers
and New Licht Antiburghers)
• The Relief Church
• The United Secession Church
 • The United Presbyterian Church
• The Free Church
Bear in mind that the other churches did not have the
same parish structure as the Church of Scotland.
Delayed Birth Records
It was during the late 1930s and early 1940s that the
federal government encouraged people to register
delayed birth records. The advent of Social Security,
which began in 1935, was an important inducement
for people to have a written proof of their birth, and a
delayed birth record was a way of doing that.
Regular birth records are usually recorded first at a
town, city or county office, and a record copy of the
original record is then sent to a state’s vital statistics
office. However, a genealogists may discover that
delayed birth certificates are only available at the
county level and copies of them never made it to the
state office.
Was Your Ancestor an Outlaw?
Jesse James was Jim Winston’s 4th cousin 4x
removed through the Woodson line. How about you?
Any famous outlaws?
Jesse James, Wild Bill Hickok, Calamity Jane, Doc
Holliday, Billy the Kid. You may have heard about
some of these famous outlaws of the Wild Western
United States. But have you ever wondered if your
ancestor was a criminal in the Wild West? Or
perhaps they were a victim of a crime or a lawman
fighting for law and order in the Wild West? There are
records available to find out if your ancestor was
involved!
Men and women living in western Arkansas, the
Indian Territory, or any part of the 74,000 square
miles covered by the United States District Court for
the Western District of Arkansas were tried for their
crimes at Fort Smith, Arkansas. The fort sat just
across the Arkansas River from Indian Territory. The
court did not try crimes between native peoples but
tried all federal crimes involving non-natives, from
larceny to cattle rustling, forgery, murder, and
everything in between.
Until 1889, what the court’s say was final; one could
not appeal to any other court—the only chance for a
reprieve after a conviction was a pardon by the
President of the United States.
Over the years, the court’s case files were moved to
several repositories, shuffled, and reorganized, and
a fair number – destroyed. The files that remain
paint a colorful picture of the actual frontier and wild
west during the period.
The National Archives provides a detailed online
finding aid explaining how the case files were
created, organized, and interpreted. Although the
original filing system was complex, modern digital
databases make access easier.
• Find the general research guide here:
https://www.archives.gov/fort-worth/finding-
aids/fort-smith-case-files
• Ancestry.com ($) houses a digital index for
the case files:
https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections
/3119/
• Many of the full case files can be found
digitally on Ancestry.com as well:
https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections
/2117/
Although the case documents were filed under the
name of the alleged criminal, many court papers
named victims. A victims’ index is available on the
National Archives finding aid to assist in finding your
ancestor who may have been the victim of a crime
instead of perpetrator.
https://www.archives.gov/fort-worth/finding-
aids/fort-smith-case-files#victimindex
Fort Smith, Arkansas, newspapers were filled with
daily court notices and stories about the most
sensational crimes during this time period. Several
websites offer digital copies of the newspapers,
including the Fort Smith Elevator, the Fort Smith
Weekly Herald, and more.
Search for the newspaper articles about the court • Newspapers ($)
https://www.newspapers.com/papers/#conta
case your ancestor was involved in with one of
ining=fort%20smith
these newspaper sites:
Resources together combine to create an interesting
• Fort Smith Public Library Digital Archive story of the outlaws and criminals, lawmen, and
(FREE) victims of the true Wild West our ancestors lived in.
http://fortsmithlibrary.advantage-
preservation.com/
• GenealogyBank ($)
https://www.genealogybank.com/explore/ne
wspapers/all/usa/arkansas/fort-smith

The San Jacinto Monument battleground and Museum

By Permission

Lisa Struthers, director of the Albert and Ethel Herzstein Library at the San Jacinto Monument, shares the hidden library of
history and genealogy that is inside the monument on the 2nd Floor. Here is a link to the various library’s holdings and
family Bibles at the library. https://s90006.eos-intl.net/S90006/OPAC/Index.aspx
Library information and visual tour go to: www.sanjacinto-museum.org/library/

Family Bibles in the Herzstein Library, San Jacinto Museum of History

Bibles or New Testaments from the following families include genealogical information:

Ashford, Joe W. (Weatherford) Gresham, (Ashford)

Austin, Maria Brown (Bryan, Perry) Head, Anne Kinsolving
Bryan, Moses Austin McDowall, Ruth (House)
Clayton, Joseph Alvey, Ruddell, John (Taylor)
Dickson, John Paxton (McKneely, Smith, William C. (Waterhouse, Browne)
Witaker) Tod, John G.
Gresham, Thomas (Ashford, Weatherford) Wallace, Mrs. J. J. (Felps, Jenkins)

Bibles or New Testaments from the following persons include the name of the owner.

Box, Thomas Griffin Lewis, Mary F.

Campbell, Julia Russell Mitchell, Maria (Austin, Bryan, Perry)
Eckerman, Clara Moore, Beachel
Goodwin, Ellen O’Bannion, Jennings
Harris, Robert W. Nicholson, Mary A. (House)
Head, Eugenie Rotan, George V.
House (family of T.W.) Williams, Hezekiah R.
Labadie, Nicholas D.

Useful Location limitors in the Herzstein Library Catalog (Search Options)

Map – for maps

NEWS – for newspapers
MSS – for manuscript collections
If you check Truncated Search, you can limit your search by century: ex Publication Year 18
Lisa A. Struthers
Library Director
Albert and Ethel Herzstein Library
One Monument Circle
La Porte, Texas 77571-9585
(281) 479-2421
Family Histories, Biographies and Autobiographies Collection
Allen, A. C. family
Anderson, Doris E.
Anderson, Dr. Thomas
Anderson, Washington
Arnold, Capt. Hayden
D’Asti, Father Augustin
Attree, William H.
Austin family
Austin, Moses
Austin, Stephen F.
Badgett, Jesse B.
Baker family
Barclay, James
Barnett, Thomas
Batterson, Isaac
Beard, James Henry
Behrens, William Wohlsen
Bell, William W.
Black/Smith/Messner
Families
Blanton, W.N.Sr.
Box, family
Branch, Edward Thomas
Bricker, John
Brighton Moses W.
Brummet, Hiram
Bryan, Guy M.
Bryan, Katherine McGown
Bryan, Lewis Randolf
Bryan, Moses Austin
Bunting, Rev. Robert
Franklin
Burnet, David G.
Calder, Elizabeth
Campbell brothers
Cayce, Henry Petty
Cayce, Thomas Dodson
Cellum, James
Chamberlain, Sam family
Open by appointment on Fridays and 2
Saturdays a month, from 9 – 5:00
Free admission to members of the San
members
www.sanjacinto-museum.com/Herzstein_Library/
lstruthers@sanjacinto-museum.org
Chambers, Thomas Jefferson Hall, Robert
Christy, William Harn, Zala Duval
Cherry, John Harris family
Cloud, John Wurts Hearn, Madge Williams
Colton, William (Coltrin) Henderson, Sophia
Connaly, John Larkin Hill, Mary Van den Berge
Coppola, Vince Horton, Alexander
Cox, Catherine sabella House, T. W. family
Crockett, David Houston, Sam family
Dale, Samuel Hume, Annie
Darling, James Richard Hunt, Lucy Sherman Brady
Day, W. C. Huston, Felix
Dick, John Iglehart, Fanny Chambers
Dickson, Abishai Irish, Milton
Duncan, Meridith Jack family
Duncan, William Jackson, Humphrey
Edward, Daniel Barnett Jenning, N.A.
Edwards, Haden Johnson, Benjamin
Eldridge, Joseph Conklin Johnston, Hugh Blair
Ferris, Charles Drake Johnston, William Henry H.
Fisher, Rebecca Gilleland Jones, Anson
Flake, Ferdinand Jones, Augustus
Fletcher, Herbert Herrick Jones, Oliver
Franklin, Eliza Carter Brantly Jones, William J.
Franklin, Robert Morris Kibbe, William
Gates, Isaac Edwin Kilman, Edward
Geltilz, Theodor Kirby, George
Giberson, Wm J. James Kokernot, David Levi
Giesecke family Kuykendall family
Gilbert, Charles Edwin Jr. Labadie, Nicholas D.
Givens, Delma Lafitte, Jean
Goodrich, Ada Menard Lamar family
Gordon, Boris B. Lanier, Sidney
Gray, Andrew Belcher Lawrence, Joseph
Grayson, Thomas W. Lehman, Theodore
Grayson, William H. de Lesdemierm, Louis F.
Greens Brigade Lockhart-Lubbock family
Gritten, Edward Loe, Elizabeth Morrow
Habermehl Cemetery Lott, Robert A.
Lotter, Tobias Conrad
Lubbock family
McFadin, David H.
McGown family
McHorse, John W.
McNeal family
McVey, William
Magruder, J. Bankhead
Mann, Walter L.
Mann, William
Margil, Father Antonio
Menefee, John S.
Mexican POS after San Jac
Ministers in early TX
Moore, Henry J
Moore, Joseph Baker
Morgan, Joseph I.
Moses, Peter H.
Munger, Sylvester Stanbury
Nay, Elizabet
Nolan, Phillip
O’Bannion, Jennings
Page, Joseph
Patrick, George Moffit
Peebles, Richard Rodgers
Perry, Hally Bryan
Pierce family
Pinckbeck family
Ramey, Ben Neal
Redfield, Henry Prentice
Reynolds, Harriet Dickson
Riggs, Warner B.
Rogers, Joseph H.D.
Russell, Robert B.
Saks, Judith-Ann
Sandusky, William
Santa Anna, Antonio Lopez
Sartwelle, J. W.
Schiwetz, Edward M.
Sealsfield Charles
Shepherd, David P. Did you know our National Anthem had a 2nd verse? Check it out:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0fQd858cRc
HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!
Stay safe!
Sherman, Sidney
Smith, Ashbel
Smith, Erastus
Smith, family
Sparks, Stephen F.
Steele, Alfonso
Sterling, John William
Sutherland, John
Tanner, Edward Monroe
Thorn, Frost
Tod, John G.
Townsend, Nathan
Turner, Amos
Wade, John Marshall
Wallace, H. A.
Walling, Albert C.
Walling, Jesse
Walmsley, James
Welder, Julia Duncah
Williams, John A.
Wilkinson, Edward
Winnie, Carrie
Wofford, John T.
Woldert, John George
Wright, Jefferson
Yoakum, Henderson
Zavala family
 How much to you really know about Family Search?
There are many record categories on the FamilySearch.org website. If you have not worked with FamilySearch recently,
you are missing out on many valuable search sites. There are about or over 8.7 billion records on their website. There are
even about 4.5 billion digital images or more that are published.

Check out these categories:

1. The Historical Record Collection has digitized records that are cataloged and indexed. Not all record collections are
indexed. Those that are published can be viewed. Many of the collections are “Browse only.” This simply means that they
are there but not yet indexed. They may show records that may not yet be fully indexed. You can usually tell by checking
the catalog entry against the number of records to see if they are fully indexed.

2. The number of indexed records is a small percentage of all the records on the website. Indexing does not always include
all of the information on the record. Many only appear in the catalog. Many records are digitized but not indexed. Some
may have an index but have to be searched page by page. Usually, they are geographically organized and then by category.
You just have to look. A simple name search will only access the indexed records but not the entire collection.

3. The website contains approximately 510,000 digital books. You will need to check the search menu in the Book section.
Currently, there are 509,768 digital books on the website. This number continues to increase as more books are digitized.
The books are searchable from the Books section of the Search menu.

4. Some of the digital records are restricted due to copyright, etc. Sometimes they can only be viewed in a Family History
Center. Further explanation can be found at: "Why are there access restrictions on Historical Records?"

5. The effort made by FamilySearch to digitize records is far outstripping the effort needed to catalog and index all the
records. There are millions of digital images that have been collected that are not indexed or cataloged. You can search for
these images by country. These records are only searchable individually, page-by-page. As new images are digitized the
collection of these records increases day by day and week by week.

There are more records in the Family History Library in Salt Lake City and the Brigham Young University Library in Provo,
Utah that are not on the website at all. You may want to make a visit to those libraries.

WHAT BIG STORM??

If you tried Google looking for a big storm, you will probably automatically be directed to ‘THE GREAT STORM”
that struck Galveston, Tx. Out of all the major storms referenced, the Galveston storm that hit September 8,
1900, will be the first storm to appear. The storm was so destructive and monstrous that it ranks as the worst.

People went about their normal daily routines. The island was ranked the third largest port in the nation at the
time. Before the dawn of a new day a quarter of the island’s population would be lost. The remaining percentage
would have no shelter. Three fourths of the city was completely destroyed. Law and order were non-existent at
the time. Looting was rampant. Once the National Guard had arrived law and order were once again restored.
Those found looting were shot on sight.

Dead bodies were everywhere and disposing of the bodies was a major task. Even bodies were robbed of
anything worth salvaging. There were stories of heroism and kindness. Clara Barton and the Red Cross played
a major role in helping to relieve all of the suffering. Money was raised by many organizations and private citizens,
including children and those incarcerated.

Books were written about the horrors of the storm and the devastation imposed on the island and its inhabitants.
 Having Trouble Finding the Right County?
Did you know that city and county boundaries changed
over time? Over the next number of years, you will see
more changes.
State Changes as of June 1920:
Arizona – La Paz County created out of Yuma 1983
Florida – New Counties
Dixie Co. created from Lafayette in 1921
Counties created from DeSoto Co. in 1921
Charlotte
Glades
Hardee
Highlands
Sarasota created from Manatee in 1921
Union created from Bradford in 1921
Collier created from Lee and Monroe in 1923
Hendry created from Lee in 1923
Gilchrist created from Alachua in 1925
Gulf created from Calhoun in 1925
Indian River created from St. Lucia in 1925
Martin created from Palm Beach & St. Lucie in
1925
Georgia new and abolished counties:
*Brantley from Charlton, Pierce, and Wayne in Nov 1920
*Lamar from Monroe and Pike in Nov 1920
*Lanier from Berrien, Lowndes, and Clinch Nov 1920
*Long from Liberty in Nov 1920
*Seminole from Decatur and Early in Nov 1920
*Peach from Houston and Macon in 1924
*Campbell and Milton were abolished in 1932 and their
areas were annexed to Fulton
Montana – New Counties
*Daniels from Valley & Sheridan in 1920
*Golden Valley from Musselshell in 1920
*Judith Basin from Fergus and Cascade in 1920
*Lake created from Flathead and Missoula in 1923
*Petroleum from Fergus and Garfield in 1924
Nevada -
*The 1861 Washoe eastern boundary was defined by
range/township in 1924, impacting adjoining counties of
Humboldt and Pershing
New Mexico-new counties
*Catron from Socorro in 1921
*Harding from Mora and Union in 1921
*Los Alamos from Sandoval and Santa Fe in 1949
*Cibola from Valencia in 1981
South Dakota – abolished
*Armstrong enumerated with Dewey 1920-1950 but not
officially annexed to Dewey until 1952
*Washington abolished and annexed to Shannon in 1943
Texas – one change
*Willacy migrated south one county in 1921 – the area of
1920 Willacy is identical today to Kenedy, except for a
1.4-mile strip below the southern boundary of Kenedy
Virginia – new and abolished
*Independent cities have existed in Virginia since
Williamsburg was chartered in 1722. In 1987, 41
independent cities were outside county boundaries and
jurisdictions. Three are now defunct:
1) Manchester, incorporated in 1874 and absorbed into
Richmond in 1910
2) South Norfolk, incorporated in 1921 and merged with
Norfolk County in 1962 to form the city of Chesapeake
3) Warwick became the City of Warwick in 1952 and then
was absorbed into the city of Newport News in 1957; these
changes abolished the counties of Norfolk and Warwick.
*Also extinct are Elizabeth City County, which merged
with the city of Hampton in 1952, and Princess Anne
County, which was consolidated with the city of Virginia
Beach in 1962.
Excerpt taken from U.S. Counties Created or
Abolished, 1920-1983 by William Dollarhide.
Visit Genealogical.com
3600 Clipper Mill Road, Suite 229
Baltimore, Maryland 21211
(800) 296-6687
The lists of counties were derived from Map Guide
to the U.S. Federal Censuses, 1790-1920 by William
Thorndale and William Dollarhide (Baltimore:
Genealogical Publish Co., Inc.,1987).
Many changes will be seen in 2072. An excellent
Review of the many city/county changes can be found at
the Wikipedia page:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consolidated_city-county
The article includes a detailed lists of city/county
consolidations and mergers and county/county mergers.
 Do you like Free?
The following list are always free genealogy records
at Ancestry.com
• 1880 Census
• Index to Find A Grave
• JewishGen Online Worldwide Burial Registry
(JOWBR)
• Mexico’s 1930 national census
• Aiken County, South Carolina: Cemetery
Records
• Arizona, Prison Records, 1875-1929
• 1881 UK Census
• 1881 England Census
• 1881 Wales Census
• 1881 Isle of Man Census
• Quebec Vital and Church Records
There are also many Free data collections
Free Ancestry.com databases
https://www.ancestry.com/search/categories/freeind
exacom/
Do you research in the South then check our
Documenting the American South (DocSouth) –
Collections of resources focused on the south and its
people.
https://docsouth.unc.edu/browse/collections.html
Ellis Island - https://www.libertyellisfoundation.org/
Castle Garden – Passenger list search
http://www.castlegarden.org/
Patriot and Graves Index – SAR
http://patriot.sar.org/
Daughters of the American Revolution
http://www.dar.org/
Jewish GenWeb
http://www.jewishgen.org/
American Battle Monuments Commission
https://www.abmc.gov/
The UCF Africana Heritage Project
http://www.africanaheritage.com/
AfriGeneas
http://www.afrigeneas.com/
Low Country Africana-African American Genealogy
in SC, GA, and FL
http://www.lowcountryafricana.com/
The Freedman’s Bureau
http://www.archives.gov/research/african-
americans/freedmens-bureau/
Digital Library of American Slavery
http://library.uncg.edu/slavery/
IrishGenealogy.ie
https://www.irishgenealogy.ie/en/
General Register Office Online Historical Birth and
Death indexes (England and Wales)
https://www.gov.uk/research-family-history
The British Columbia Provincial Archives
https://search-bcarchives.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/
The Norfolk Transcription Archive
http://doun.org/transcriptions/index.php
Trove - digitized Australian newspapers
https://trove.nla.gov.au/?q=
British Columbia Historical Newspapers
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspaper
s
The UK National Archives
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/
Free UK Genealogy
https://www.freeukgenealogy.org.uk/?fbclid=IwAR1c
d57RzwZR5VhG5LLJV9W1BZmia14BQO8jJObtIup
mriuW7m1taxB1OoI
Genuki
https://www.genuki.org.uk/?fbclid=IwAR135yx5vXiXS-
SaU03r-
LgRNIM9vGXbM9PcuFJMzOzdg2b3HkZU2rhlaJ0
General Register Office (GRO)
https://www.gov.uk/research-family-history
National Library of Scotland Bureau of Land Management
https://www.nls.uk/family-history www.blm.gov

FamilySearch Native American Research

https://www.familysearch.org/ http://www.archives.gov/reearch/native-americans/

The Proceedings of the Old Bailey 1674-1913 Czech Research:

https://www.oldbaileyonline.org/
The National Archives of Ireland
http://www.genealogy.nationalarchives.ie/
The National Library of Wales Newspaper Collection
https://newspapers.library.wales/
Ancestry.com’s free records index
https://prf.hn/click/camref:1101l4xIU/destination:https%
3A%2F%2Fwww.ancestry.com%2Fsearch%2Fcategories
%2Ffreeindexacom%2F
Still looking or more help – Try these sites:
Cyndi’s List: Surnames, Family Associations & Family
Newsletters.
https://www.cyndislist.com/surnames/
RootsWeb Surname/Family Lists
https://sites.rootsweb.com/~maillist/surnames/index.html
FamilySearch Surname Search
http://www.familysearch.org/
Cousin Connect/Adopted.com
https://www.adopted.com/cousin-connect.html
GenCircles/MyHeritage
https://www.myheritage.com/site-183473742/family-site-
gencircles
https://www.mzv.cz/washington/en/culture_events/cz_us
_community/genealogy/index.html
https://www.myczechroots.com/
https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/Czechia_Genealogy
http://www.czechfamilytree.com/links.htm
https://www.archives.com/genealogy/family-heritage-
czech.html
https://www.myczechancestors.com/?utm_source=googl
e&utm_medium=ppc&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIlIPd16-
V8QIVApfICh3X-AFaEAAYBCAAEgKApvD_BwE
https://www.archives.com/genealogy/family-heritage-
czech.html
https://www.thoughtco.com/begin-search-for-czech-
ancestors-1421875
https://www.etour.com/web?q=Czech+Surnames&qo=rel
atedSearchExpand&o=814815&l=dir
https://guides.slsa.sa.gov.au/c.php?g=410334&p=27947
12
https://ebadatelna.soapraha.cz/pages/IndexPage;jsessio
nid=8D5F6CF9CB2D2E3BED2998DAFECF686C?0
https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/T%C5%99ebo%C5
%88_Regional_Archives,_Czechia

GenForum/Genealogy.com https://digi.ceskearchivy.cz/Introduction
https://www.genealogy.com/forum/
https://cgsi.org/southern-bohemia-trebon
Gengateway
https://myczechroots.com/search-tools/digital-archives
https://www.gengateway.com/
https://www.en.nkp.cz/digital-library
Surname Web
https://www.surnameweb.org/ https://www.myczechroots.com/archives/regional-
archives
Bureau of Indian Affairs
www.bia.gov https://cgsi.org/southern-bohemia-trebon

https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/Plze%C5%88_Regi
onal_Archives,_Czechia_Church_Records
http://czechgenealogy.nase-koreny.cz/2011/09/czech-
archives-on-internet.html
https://cgsi.org/resources/intro-research/using-archives
https://www.myczechroots.com/archives
https://www.myczechroots.com/archives/regional-
archiveshttp://www.czechfamilytree.com/regarchives.htm
http://www.myczechrepublic.com/regions/
Now they are Deceased
Not all notices in a newspaper are really considered to be
a true obituary. An obituary is actually an editorial article
written by a member of the newspaper staff after
interviewing the family. The obituary can be a short
article, or it can be quite lengthy. The length depends on
the newspaper, the social standing of the deceased and
other factors. The newspaper may also print death notices,
usually on a daily basis but these are not actually an
obituary. A death notice may be sufficient for research
purposes. When calling or contacting the newspaper be
clear in whether you are asking for an obituary or a death
notice. At one time people used to include notices and
comments about the deceased in the local newspapers.
This also helps to support a death notice.
At one time obituaries were reserved for individuals of
some standing within their community. Some public
servants, soldiers or those of special interest were included
in obituaries. Otherwise, the average person could not
afford to pay to have a death notice in the local newspaper.
Small towns and rural areas were more likely to include
obituaries. Also, notorious people may be included in the
local newspaper. Early obituaries were more inclusive
about a person’s character. Later they were more inclined
to include accomplishments. Deaths of soldiers may have
included some of their special heroic deeds.
Newspapers are the usual source for obituaries but do not
forget to check trade publications, social clubs, college
newsletters, employment publications, church bulletins
and university libraries.
Also, look for dates, marriages, children, places where
they may have lived, grandchildren, etc. Look also for
married spouses of daughters. Pallbearers were often
family members or close friends. Look for funeral
arrangements, church affiliation and any other personal
information.
This afternoon there will be a
meeting in the south and north
end of the church. Children will
be baptized at both ends.
Where Do I Look?
If you are looking for information in court records, be sure
you are looking in the records of the court that would have
heard those types of actions. Criminal matters may be
heard in a court separate from those that hears civil
matters, disputes over inheritances, divorces, etc.
Civil War Enlistments
Men who served in the union Army in the US Civil War
may have not enlisted in the state in which they lived.
They may have enlisted in a neighboring state to meet a
quota.
Are Your Genealogy Records Safe?
Plan to keep your records from laying on the floor in a
storage area in case of water. Keep copies of your
research records off premise or in clouds. Case in point –
the sad situation in Florida where the apartment building
collapsed. Do you think there may be any records lost?
Some who may have lost data probably were planning to
store some files in the cloud or a copy kept in another
place. If they unfortunately lost their life and had
genealogy files, they may be lost forever. Maybe they
were from the “old” country and brought original files with
them. Take some time now and not tomorrow to review
your files that need to be stored off premise and let family
or friends know where the files are stored and how to have
access to them. In your final documents be sure to leave
instructions who will get the files and documents and
where the documents are stored. Also, how to access the
files via passwords, etc. If there is no family left or if
nobody wants the files, check with a local genealogy
society. Many larger libraries no longer want paper but
prefer scanned documents. Time may be of the essence
for all of us and we simply put it off for tomorrow or think it
is in our plans to get it done soon.
At some point we have to stop putting off tomorrow what
we should do today!
 The Baytown Genealogy Society, Inc.
Membership Application
Individuals and Households

Membership: New Renewal Date:

Name:
Household Member:
Street:
City: State: Zip + 4
County: Phone:
E-mail:

Support BGS and our Mission – join our Heritage Circle!

Heritage Circle Membership Level

__Friend $50 ___Individual $25

__Supporter $100 ___2 Year Individual $50

__Patron $250 ___Household $30

(Consists of two persons living at same address)
Name Included in Patron Section in Monthly Newsletter

__Benefactor $500 ___2 Year Household $60

Name Included in Benefactor Section in Monthly Newsletter (Consists of two persons living at same address)

___Heritage Circle $______

*Includes annual membership plus a household member, if (Check level in box at left)
desired
Total Amount Paid $____________
Make checks payable to Baytown Genealogy Society and
mail to: The Society needs your help. How would you like to help?

Treasurer
Baytown Genealogy Society, Inc.
PO Bo 2486
Baytown, Texas 77522-2486

The Mission of The Baytown Genealogy Society Inc. is to help and serve the charitable, educational, and scientific needs of its members
and that of the general public in the study and research of their family heritage and the historic settings in which their ancestors lived. Our
mission includes regular meetings which are open to the public with a variety of programs and seminars on all aspects of genealogical
research. Also. the society’s extensive reference library is open and available to the public providing many resources for researching their
family history.

The Baytown Genealogy Society, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) Organization Dues run October 1 to September 30 of each year. Dues
paid in June-September will be applied to the following dues period of October thru September 30 of the following year.