Abrams Collection Genealogy Highlights
Spring 2006
Volume 8, Number 2
A PDF version of Courthouse Records is also available.
Thousands of courthouses exist across the United States, and most, if not all, have some records that are valuable to genealogists searching for information on their family. Researchers may discover property records, land transfers, probates and estate records, guardianships, tax records,
civil and criminal proceedings including coroner's records, naturalizations, divorces, paternity, and even information indicating if your ancestors were paupers, insane or felons.
Since official vital records did not exist in most states prior to the 20th century, researchers
should consider court documents in their family history research. For example, wills and estate
records typically list family members, and land title transfers can provide important clues to an
ancestor's death or relocation. Civil and criminal records can reveal names and relationships of
family members, while naturalization records can show when our ancestors immigrated to the
United States, from where, and in some cases, the exact place of birth.
This publication is a sample of courthouse resources available at the Library of Michigan.
Titles may be located by searching ANSWER, the Library's catalog, which is online at
www.answercat.org. Clicking on the links in this publication will take you to the ANSWER catalog search results or the catalog record for a particular item. The easiest way to locate courthouse resources in ANSWER is with a keyword search using the term court, followed by the type of information you are looking for. Below are some additional suggestions to help maximize your search results:
Adding a geographic location will allow you to narrow your search. For example, new york and monroe county will retrieve genealogical resources that focus on Monroe County, New York. When searching by keyword, it is not necessary to capitalize proper nouns.
Franklin, Charles M. Keys to the Courthouse. 3 vols. Indianapolis: Heritage House, 1985-1986.
Genealogy CS 49 .F73 1985
Rose, Christine. Courthouse Research for Family Historians: Your Guide to Genealogical Treasures. San Jose, CA: CR Publications, 2004.
Genealogy CS 49 .R66 2004
Sourcebook to Public Record Information: The Comprehensive Guide to County, State, and Federal Public Records Sources. Edited by Peter J. Weber and Michael Sankey. Tempe, AZ: BRB Publications, 2005.
Reference JK 468 .P76 S69 2005
United States. National Archives and Records Administration. Federal Court Records: A Select
Catalog of National Microfilm Publications. Washington, D.C.: National Archives Trust Fund Board, National Archives and Records Administration, 1987.
Genealogy KF 4 .U556 1987
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Deeds Copied from the First Book of Deeds on Record in the Court House Records of Kalamazoo County, Michigan. Kalamazoo: Mrs. J.P. Everett, 1935.
Michigan F 572 .K2 D44 1935
Index Cards to Naturalization Petitions for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Southern Division, Detroit, 1907-1995. 280 reels. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2004.
Genealogy Microfilm F 566 .V2 2004
Index to Justice of the Peace, 1878-1904: Baldwin Township and Village of East Tawas, Iosco County, Michigan. Oscoda: Huron Shores Genealogical Society, 2003.
Michigan F 572 .I63 I57 2003
There are other volumes covering Tawas Township.
Index to Special Sessions of the Michigan Supreme Court, 1857-2003: As Recorded in the Michigan
Reports. Lansing: Michigan Supreme Court Historical Society, 2004.
Law KFM 4245 .A332
Kent County Circuit Court Surname Index. Lansing: State Archives of Michigan,
1990.
Michigan Documents F 572 .K3 K36 1990
Michigan. Court of Chancery (Allegan County District). Chancery Calendar, Allegan County. 2 reels. Salt Lake City: Genealogical Society, 1983.
Genealogy Microfilm F 572 .A3 M5 1983
Michigan Territorial Court. Records of the Territorial Court of Michigan, 1815-1836. 9 reels. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Service, 1980.
Genealogy Microfilm KFM 4245 .A35 1980
The records consist of case files and a bound volume written in the style of a journal.
Saint Joseph County, Michigan Justice of the Peace Records. Salt Lake City: Genealogical
Society, 1981.
Genealogy Microfilm F 574 .M674 M6 1981
Serrell, Alice D., comp. Abstracts of Probate Files in the Probate Court, Oakland County, Michigan. Pontiac: General Richardson Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, 1996.
Michigan F 572 .O2 S47 1996
Stevens, Carol A. Bowen. Indexes to Naturalizations, Lenawee County, Michigan. Tipton: C.A. Stevens, 1999.
Michigan F 572 .L5 S74 1999
Szucs, Loretto D. Naturalizations, Declarations of Intent and Final Oaths: Circuit Court, Eastern District of Michigan, Detroit. Midlothian, IL: L.D. Szucs, 1977.
Michigan F 574 .D4 U6 1977
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Austin, Jeannette Holland. Georgia Intestate Records. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1986.
Genealogy F 285 .A8895 1986
Brown, Virginia Alleman. Abstracts of Partitions and Divisions of Morris County Estates Filed at Morristown, New Jersey, 1785-1900. Baltimore: Clearfield Co., 1992.
Genealogy F 142 .M8 B76 1992
Craft, Kenneth Fischer, Jr. Ohio County (WV) Index: Index to County Court Order Books, 1777-1881. 4 vols. Bowie, MD.: Heritage Books, 1997-1999.
Genealogy F 240 .C73 1997
Dexter, Darrel, comp. Union County Illinois Probate Records, 1818-1855. Carterville, IL: Genealogy Society of Southern Illinois, 1996.
Genealogy F 547 .U5 D4966 1996
Another volume covers 1856 to 1868.
Graver, William H. Index to Selected Hamilton County, Ohio, Recorder's Books, 1801-1820. Milford, OH: Little Miami Publishing Company, 2000.
Genealogy F 497 .H2 G66 2000 Index
Grove, Helen E. Clinton County, Indiana, First Guardianship Book: 1836-1866, Books 1 & 2. Kokomo, IN: Selby Pub., 1995.
Genealogy F 532 .C65 G764 1995
Hester, Gwendolyn Lynette. Sumter County, Alabama, Wills: 1828-1872; Mortality Schedules:
1850-1880. Dallas: Southern Roots, 1998.
Genealogy F 277 .S8 H47 1998
Index (Soundex) to Naturalization Petitions, 1792-1906. 293 reels. North Salt Lake, UT:
HeritageQuest, 2000.
Genealogy Microfilm F 118 .I642 2000z
Naturalization petitions filed with the federal, state and local courts of New York City.
Mackey, Howard, and Marlene A. Groves, eds. Northampton County Virginia Record Book:
Orders, Deeds, Wills &c. 6 vols. Rockport, ME: Picton Press, 1999-2003.
Genealogy F 232 .N85 M32 1999
Parker, Mattie E., ed. North Carolina Higher-Court Records. 5 vols. Raleigh, NC: State Department of Archives and History, 1968.
Genealogy KFN 7919 .A4 A7 1670
Sanders, Carol L. First Order Book, Court Orders of Russell County, Kentucky. Blue Ash, OH: C.L. Sanders, 1991.
Genealogy F 457 .R8 S34 1991
Sherman, Ruth Ann Wilder. An Index to Plymouth County, Massachusetts Warnings Out from the Plymouth Court Records, 1686-1859. Plymouth, MA: General Society of Mayflower Descendants,
2003.
Genealogy F 72 .P7 S54 2003
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Archives of Michigan
www.michigan.gov/archivesofmi
The Archives houses many records from Michigan county courthouses, including naturalization records and indexes.
The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints Family History Centers
www.familysearch.org
Microfilmed courthouse records can be requested from the Family History Library through your
local Family History Centers.
United States GenWeb Project
http://www.usgenweb.com/
This Web site has links to courthouse records.
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Updated 08/07/2008
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