The following USA vital records databases have been added or updated at FamilySearch.org since I last posted about the FamilySearch vital records on August 4. Really exciting additions are the Kentucky Probate Records 1792-1977, of nearly 700,000 images, and the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Deaths 1870-1905. Note that most of the databases posted are digital images with waymarks to locate one’s ancestor. Numerous imaged databases also include indexes, so in many cases, it’s not difficult to find one’s ancestor, even if the data isn’t indexed as such.
I’ve also updated all five of the GenealogyBlog Online Database Links Files. See:
- United States Birth & Christening Records Found at FamilySearch.org
- United States Marriage Documents & Indexes Found at FamilySearch.org
- United States Death & Probate Records Found at FamilySearch.org
- Canadian Vital Records Databases Posted at FamilySearch.org
- USA State & Territorial Censuses and Tax Records Found at FamilySearch.org
DATABASES POSTED OR UPDATED SINCE AUGUST 4, 2011:
California, San Mateo County Records – 1856-1967 – Browsable Images – County records including marriage intentions, naturalizations, deeds, patents, homesteads, and military service discharges – 318,349 images as of 25 August 2011 – up 290,462 images since 23 March, 2011
Kentucky Probate Records, 1792-1977 – Imaged Records – This a collection of records or probate matters from county courthouses in Kentucky. The records include bonds, wills, inventories, etc. – Although the collection currently has no overall index, many of the browsable books have indexes within them. Browsable by County, and book, it’s a pretty easy database to search within, even without the indexes that will be available at some point – 692,942 images as of 24 August, 2011 – Originals are from various county clerks throughout Kentucky, now on 956 reels of FHL microfilm.
Maryland, Register of Wills Books, 1792-1983 – Digital images from court records at the Register of Wills in Maryland. Includes the following counties: Baltimore City, Caroline, Cecil, Kent, Prince George’s, and Queen Anne’s. This collection is being published as images become available – Browse through 368,929 images as of 19 August 2011 – up 42,151 images since 22 July 2011
Montana, Cascade County Records, 1888-1945 – Imaged Records – Includes: Index to births 1893-1933, Certificates of birth 1918-1920, and Register of Births 1893-1933; Marriage license records 1950-1967; and County Court Records that include an Index to Wills Vol 1 1895-1930 and the Records of Wills Vol 1 1901-1930.- 65,732 images as of 19 Aug 2011 – up 37,715 images since 26 July, 2011.
New York Orange County Probate Records 1787-1938 – Imaged Records of probate records and estate files from the Orange County Surrogate’s Court in Goshen, New York. At this time this collection does not have a name index or any finding aid. – It is published by volume and year range – 143,124 images as of 16 Aug 2011 – up 20,882 images since 22 July 2011
North Carolina, County Records, 1833-1970 – Imaged Records – Collection of various county records including, wills, guardianships, estates, voter registration books, coroner’s inquests, etc. It was filmed at the North Carolina Department of Archives and History in Raleigh. This collection is being published as images become available. To date, the site includes Beaufort County wills , 1808-1968; Gaston County estates & wills, 1894-1970; Northampton Coroners’ reports Vol 1 1793-1905; and NEW! Richmond County Coroner’s Inquests Vol 1-7, 1906-1967 – 133,734 images as of 16 Aug, 2011 – up 26,391 images since 30 July, 2011
North Carolina Estate Files 1663-1917 – Imaged Records – Index and images of estate files from North Carolina counties. The originals were filmed at the North Carolina Department of Archives and History. The estate records contain loose papers relating to the settlement of estates including such matters as provision for heirs including minor children as well as distribution of funds, land and property, including slaves – 13,273 records and 276,696 images as of 20 August, 2011
North Carolina County Marriages 1762-1979 – Name index and images of marriage records from North Carolina county courthouses. These records include licenses, marriage applications, marriage bonds, marriage certificates, marriage packets and cohabitation registers. Currently, portions of the following counties are represented in this collection: Alexander, Ashe, Caswell, Craven, Cumberland, Currituck, Davidson, Davidson, Davidson, Gates, Granville, Halifax, Hanover, Hyde, Johnston, Lincoln, McDowell, Mecklenburg, Montgomery, Northampton, Pitt, Richmond, Rowan, Surry, Wilkes. This collection is 21% complete. Additional records will be added as they are completed – 196,313 records and 119,657 images – up 151,109 records since 3 December, 2010!
Ohio, Stark County Coroner’s Records – 1890-2002 – Imaged Records – Images of Coroner’s Inquest books, reports, and case files from the courthouse in Canton, Ohio. This collection is being published as images become available – 6,003 Imaged documents as of 16 Aug 2011
Oregon, Yamhill County Records 1857-1963 – Imaged Records – This collection includes images of deeds, mortgages, and military service records from Yamhill County. It also includes 6 volumes of “Miscellaneous Records” dated 1899-1957. The miscellaneous records include some land transactions, licensing records and other items. Records will be added to this collection as images become available – Included in the collection are Power of Attorney Probate Records 1918-1927 – 83,300 images as of 30 Aug 2011 – From the Yamhill County Clerk, McMinnville, Oregon – 299 digital folders
Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh City Deaths 1870-1905 – Imaged Records – Death registrations for the city of Pittsburgh. The records are arranged in numbered bound volumes and are chronological; month and year – 154,203 records and 38,853 images as of 25 Aug 2011 – From the Allegheny County Courthouse, Pittsburgh – on 69 reels of FHL microfilm.
Tennessee County Marriages 1790-1950 – Name index and images of Tennessee county marriage records acquired from local courthouses. Records include marriage registers, marriage licenses, marriage bonds, and marriage certificates from the following counties: Carroll, Cheatham, Cocke, Grainger and Greene. There may be others, I just can’t locate the information. Currently this collection is 8% complete. Records consist of packets, with multiple documents per packet. – 375,358 records as of 12 Aug 2011 – up 37,327 records since 10 June 2011.
Vermont Vital Records, 1760-1954 – Imaged Records – Name index and images (index cards) of town clerk transcriptions of births, marriages and deaths, 1760-1954. This collection is complete for years 1871-1908. Also completed are the books containing names alphabetically from surname ‘A’ to partway through surname ‘Phelps’ for years ‘Early to 1870.’ As more data is received, the remaining year ranges will be incrementally updated – 1,420691 Records and 1,775,325 images as of 16 Aug 2011 – up 214,085 records since 26 May 2011.
Virginia, Winchester, Evening Star Obituaries, 1899-1909 – Imaged Records – Obituaries from the Winchester Evening Star arranged by year then alphabetically by name. 5,819 records and 6,666 images as of 12 Aug 2011 – From the Handley Regional Library, Winchester, Virginia.
Washington State County Records 1885-1950 – Imaged Records – Collection of various records including official actions, probate records, indexes, etc. The records are from various counties in Washington State, 1885-1950. Currently data for Adams, Asotin, and Pierce counties is posted. This includes probate records for Adams, Asotin and Pend Oreille counties, as well as Marriage licenses, returns and certificates for Adams county, Marriage returns for Asotin county, and Marriage certificates for Pend Oreille county.. This is an ongoing collection. 358,159 images as of 25 August 2011.
