Virginia Research Guide: Bypassing the Burned Counties - Paperback

by Arlene H. Eakle Ph. D. (Author), James L. Tanner (Author), Holly T. Hansen (Author)

The words, "the courthouse burned," or "the family Bible was lost coming West," or "the church house was torn down when the Mall was built," can strike terror to a genealogist's heart. You finally have what you need to begin your research in Virginia sources-when you discover that the courthouse burned in the county where your ancestors lived. Not to worry-genealogists, and those who support their efforts, have been at work for generations, reconstructing official marriage records from originals in private hands and collecting substitutes: newspaper announcements, court and estate files, family Bibles, biographical statements in church books and legislative claims, tombstone inscriptions, military pensions, and other sources. In-depth analysis, historical understanding, and using the correct jurisdictions are critical to your research success. How much data you extract from the records, how carefully you study that information, and your level of understanding of the records and the context of the facts they hold dictates your research success. This research guide will give you some great resources, strategies, and instruction helping you with your family history research questions.

Author Biography

Holly T. Hansen: President and founder of Family History Expos, Inc., has been instrumental in helping thousands understand the principles, strategies, and sources they can use to trace their roots in today's ever-changing technological environment. Holly's titles include author, lecturer, editor and publisher. She has produced more than 100 unique syllabus and class handout books for Family History Expos attendees. She is a former editor of Everton's Genealogical Helper magazine, and editor of the 10th and 11th editions of The Handybook for Genealogists, with more than one million copies sold. She has also authored The Directory of North American Railroads, Trekking for Ancestors, and co-authored a series of 16 family history interview books entitled Celebrating and Capturing the Memories. Arlene H. Eakle, Ph.D.: President and founder of The Genealogical Institute, Inc., Dr. Eakle is a professional genealogist with more than 30 years' experience in research, consulting, lecturing, and writing. An expert in tracing families from New York, Southern U.S., British Isles, Switzerland, and parts of Germany, she claims a 96% success rate. James L. Tanner: Is a retired attorney and business owner with over 33 years of experience in genealogical research. James was an intelligence officer during the Vietnam War, has a BA Degree in Spanish, a Masters' Degree in Linguistics from the University of Utah, and a JD Degree in Law from Arizona State University. He has nearly 40 years' experience as a trial attorney in Arizona with experience in both real estate and probate law among other areas of the law. He taught classes at the Mesa FamilySearch Library for 10 years. He is currently teaching from nine to eleven hours a week at the BYU FamilySearch Library.