Family History

Origins of

the Surname

Variations of

the Surname

Armorial Bearings

and Motto(es)

Ancestral Lineage

Researching

by Location

Migrations of the

American Family

Source Documents

Gen-Resources

Family Images Gallery

Contact Information

Family history

    Our 9^th great-grandfather Theodore Cartor was a native of Gloucestershire, England  .  He was most likely born around 1610.  Theodore fathered at least five known offspring between 1633 and 1641. The name of his spouse is not known.  Our family lineage continued through his only known son Giles Carter.  

     Giles Carter, Sr., was born 1634 in the Cirencester Parish of Gloucestershire, England.  He came to America as an indentured servant in 1653.  The indenture was probably for a period of seven years. This stature was common, even for a third or fourth son of a well-to-do man.  Primogeniture was in force at this time and even the second son had to hope for the early death of the first son, without heirs, in order to gain the fortune of his father.  Subsequent to his indenture Giles’s fortunes increased rapidly wherein he became a fairly large landowner in   Henrico County, Virginia who in turn, also transported indentured servants to America.  Giles may have married Hannah Rowen the daughter of John Rowen around 1660.  If this was the case no children are known to have been born to this union.  Around 1670 Giles married again to Hannah Crewes, the illegitimate daughter of Captain James Crewes.  Between 1672 and 1682 six children are known to have been produced.   At his passing Giles was about 67 years old.

     Giles Carter’s son Theodorick Carter, born in Virginia around 1662 was the father of our 6^th great-grandmother Susanna Carter Scruggs.   He married Elizabeth Webb around 1704.  To this union at least eight known offspring were produced between 1704 and 1736.     Prior to the writing of his last will in 1699 Giles Carter had transferred land on "Run of Turkey Island Creek" to his son Theodrick.  Theodrick also bought a place known as "Round Hills" on the south side of Chickahominy Swamp.  He resided at this locale in southeastern Henrico County until his death around 1737. 

     Susanna Carter was born in Henrico County around 1711.  It is probable that around 1736 she married John Scruggs of nearby New Kent County.  About 1745 Susanna and John removed to Albemarle County where they may have settled along the Rockfish River.  This area became a part of Amherst County where she lived her life until her passing in 1798.  Our lineage continues through her grandson Samuel Scott Scruggs who, In her Last Will and Testament, is named as her executor and sole heir.

Origins of the surname

An Introduction

to the Surname

Source/Meaning

of the Surname

History of

the Surname

More About Surnames

An Introduction to the Surname

                 The practice of inherited family surnames began in England and France during the late part of the 11^th century.     With the passing of generations and the movement of families from place to place many of the original identifying names were altered into some of the versions that we are familiar with today.  Over the centuries, most of our European ancestors accepted their surname as an unchangeable part of their lives.  Thus people rarely changed their surname.  Variations of most surnames were usually the result of an involuntary act such as when a government official wrote a name phonetically or made an error in transcription.  Research into the record of this Carter family line indicates that the variations, meanings and history of this surname is most likely linked to that area of Europe where English, Scottish, and Irish linguistic traditions are commonly found. 

Source(s) & Meaning(s) of the Surname

               Most modern family names are a means conveying lineage.  For the most part, Anglo-Saxon surnames were developed from the following major sources: (1) patronym or matronym, names based on the name of one's father, mother or ancestor, (Johnson, Wilson); (2) occupation (i.e., Carpenter, Cooper, Brewer, Mason); (3) habitational or locational (Middleton, Sidney, or Ireland); (4) topographical (i.e. Hill, Brook, Forrest, Dale); (5) descriptive nickname (i.e., Moody Freeholder, Wise, Armstrong);  (6) status (i.e. Freeman, Bond, Knight); and (7) acquired ornamental names that were simply made up.

              Carter is an English occupational name for a transporter of goods from the  Middle English cartere, from an agent derivative of Middle English cart(e) or from Anglo-Norman French car(e)tier, a derivative of Old French caret.. The Old French word coalesced with the earlier Middle English word cart(e) ‘cart’, which is from either Old Norse kartr or Old English cræt, both of which, like the Late Latin word, were probably originally derived from Celtic.  All of these sources have been merged to form the modern English surnames Carter and Charter.

History of the Surname

     Surnames as we know them today were first assumed in Europe from the 11th to the 15th century. They were not in use in England or Scotland, before the Norman Conquest of 1066, and were first found in the Domesday Book of 1086. The employment in the use of a second name was a custom that was first introduced from the Normans who had adopted the custom just prior to this time.    Soon thereafter it became a mark of a generally higher socio-economic status and thus seen as disgraceful for a well-bred man to have only one name.  It was not until the middle of the 14^th century that surnames became general practice among all people in the British Isles.

     This surname was first found in Winchester, where the Carter family was seated from ancient times.  Among the first written documentation of persons with this name are Nicholas le Carter who appears in the Oxfordshire Hundred Rolls of 1273.  Edmond, son of James Carter was christened 1549, in London.  The marriage of Elsabethe Carter and William Evans took place at St. Margaret's, Westminster, London on July 17th 1553, and Agnes Carter was christened at the same place in January 1556.  A very early Coat of Arms granted to a Carter family depicts two gold lions rampant combatant on a black shield. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Rannulf le Caretier, which was dated 1192 - 1193, in the "Pipe Rolls of Huntingdonshire".  

     Some noteable bearers of the name are: Jimmy Carter, the 39th president of the United States;  Dixie Carter (1939–2010), American actress;  Gary Carter (1954–), nicknamed "The Kid", American professional baseball player;  Hodding Carter II (1907–1972), American journalist and author ; Joseph E. Carter, American Medal of Honor recipient;  June Carter, Country singer and wife of Johnny Cash;  Lynda Carter (1951–), American actress: Wonder Woman;   Maybelle Carter (1909–1978), American country music musician;  Robert "King" Carter (1663–1732), American plantation owner, one of the wealthiest men in the early Colonies, former governor of Virginia Colony; and  Rubin "Hurricane" Carter (1937–), American boxer 1961–1966.   

      Carter is the 40th most popular surname in the United States.  Today about 1,333 persons per million in the United States have this surname.  The heaviest concentration of the name is found in Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Utah.  In the United Kingdom almost about 1,527 persons per million have this surname.    The most significant clustering of the name is found in the East Anglia counties of England.

Variations of the surname

Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to unfold and expand often leading to an overwhelming number of variants.  As such one can encounter great variation in the spelling of surnames because in early times, spelling in general and thus the spelling of names was not yet standardized.  Later on spellings would change with the branching and movement of families.  Spelling variations of this family name include:  Carter, Carters,  and many others.   

The complexity of researching records is compounded by the fact that in many cases an ancestors surname may also have been misspelled.  This is especially true when searching census documents.   The Soundex Indexing System was developed in an effort to assist with identifying spelling variations for a given surname.  Soundex is a method of indexing names in the 1880, 1900, 1910, and 1920 US Census, and can aid genealogists in their research.  The Soundex Code for Carter is C636.  Other surnames sharing this Soundex Code:  CARDER | CAROTHERS | CARROTHERS | CARRUTHERS | CARTER | CARTIER | CARTWRIGHT | CARUTHERS | CHARTIER | CHARTRAND | CORDER | CORDRAY | COURTER | COURTRIGHT | CRETORS | CRIDER | CROTHERS | CROWDER | CROWTHER | .

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Coat of arms

In the Middle Ages heraldry came into use as a practical matter. It originated in the devices used to distinguish the armored warriors in tournament and war, and was also placed on seals as marks of identity. As far as records show, true heraldry began in the middle of the 12th century, and appeared almost simultaneously in several countries of Western Europe.  In the British Isles the College of Arms, (founded in 1483), is the Royal corporation of heralds who record proved pedigrees and grant armorial bearings.

Coat-of Arms

Image Gallery

Descriptions of the

Armorial Bearings

Motto(es) of

this Surname

More About Hearldic Bearings

Image gallery

Fig. 1

Fig. 2

Fig. 3

Fig. 4

Fig. 5

Fig. 6

ARMORIAL BEARINGS

The associated armorial bearings for this surname and close variant spellings are recorded in Burke’s General Armorie and Reitstap’s Armorial General.  The additional information, presented below, is offered with regard to the armorial bearings depicted above:

FIGURE 1:  This coat-of-arms was registered to Thomas Carter, Esq, Sergeant-of-Arms then of Bobertstown and Rathnally House, in County Meath, Ireland, and the father of the Right Hon. Thomas Carter, Master of the Rolls of Ireland.  The arms are of a silver shield containing two black lions rampant and combatant.  The crest shows a Talbot (bird) sitting on a mural crown of gold charged with three silver hurts.  The motto of this Carter is Vietrix patientia duris.

     Similar arms were also granted to Carter of Watlington Park, in Oxfordshire, England.  The difference was in the crest wherein the mural crown of gold charged with three blue buckles.   The motto of this Carter is “Sub libertate quietem” meaning “Rest under liberty”.

FIGURE 2: Sir Bernard Burke lists these armorial bearings as belonging to a Carter of the British Isles.  They are described as a black shield with two golden lions rampant and combatant.

FIGURE 3: These armorial bearings have been attributes to a McCarter probably of Scotland.  The arms feature a blue shield containing three gold crowns and a silver cross.  The Crest shows two laurel branches in orle.

FIGURE 4: These armorial bearings were bestowed upon a Carter, prior to 1620. This Carter was originally from Staffordshire and then from St. Columb, Cornwall, England.   The blue shield features two golden lions rampant and combatant. The crest is a silver lion’s head erased.  This Carter family also maintains a similar coat-of-arms but the crest shows a white Talbot (bird) sitting on a black mural crown.  A Carter of Cold Aston and Sevenhampton, in Gloucestershire also maintains the same arms.

FIGURE 5: This shield is a part of the coat-of-arms that was recorded as a Funeral Entry at the Ulster Office of the Ireland King of Arms, upon the death James Browne in 1634.  Browne was a Six Clerk in the Court of Chancery and the husband of Margaret the daughter of the Reverend John Carter, Rector of Killucan in County Westmeath.

FIGURE 6: Granted to a Carter of London, England in 1612, this coat-of-arms features a silver shield containing a green chevron between three green cart-wheels. The crest is made up of a greyhound, charged with a green cartwheel, sitting on a green mound.

MOTTO(ES)  

     A motto is a word or sentence usually written upon a scroll and generally placed below the shield, but sometimes, especially in Scotland, above the crest.    Many ancient mottoes were war-cries such as the Douglas motto of “Forward.”    Many mottoes refer to the name of the bearer, for example “cole regem” for Coleridge.   In general most mottoes convey a sentiment, hope, or determination, such as the Cotter motto “Dum spiro spero” where the meaning is “While I have breath I hope“.     Mottoes are often used by several successive generations, but may be changed at any time by the grantee. The languages most in use are Latin, French, and English.  Exceptions are seen in Scotland where they are often in the old Lowland dialect, and in Wales, often in the language of the principality.    

 The following listed mottoes and their translations are attributed to Carter: A posse ad esse - From possibility to being;  Deus nobis quis contra? - God for us, who shall be against us?;  Passez avant - Pass forward;  Sub libertate quietem - Rest under liberty.  McCarter: Fide et opera - By fidelity and work.

Heraldic bearings

The art of designing, displaying, describing, and recording arms is called heraldry. The use of coats of arms by countries, states, provinces, towns and villages is called civic heraldry.   A Coat of Arms is defined as a group of emblems and figures (heraldic bearings) usually arranged on and around a shield and serving as the special insignia of some person, family, or institution.  Except for a few cases, there is really no such thing as a standard "coat of arms" for a surname.  A coat of arms, more properly called an armorial achievement, armorial bearings or often just arms for short, is a design usually granted only to a single person not to an entire family or to a particular surname.  Coats of arms are inheritable property, and they generally descend to male lineal descendents of the original arms grantee.  The rules and traditions regarding Coats of Arms vary from country to country. Therefore a Coat of Arms for an English family would differ from that of a German family even when the surname is the same. 

Some of the more prominent elements incorporated into a  coat of arms are :

Crest - The word crest is often mistakenly applied to a coat of arms.  The crest was a later development arising from the love of pageantry.  Initially the crest consisted of charges painted onto a ridge on top of the helmet.

Wreath or Torse – The torse is a twist of cloth or wreath underneath and part of a crest. Always shown as six twists, the first tincture being the tincture of the field, the second the tincture of the metal, and so on.

Mantling – The mantling is a drapery tied to the helmet above the shield. It forms a backdrop for the shield.

Helm or Helmet - The helmet or helm is situated above the shield and bears the torse and crest. The style of helmet displayed varies according to rank and social status, and these styles developed over time, in step with the development of actual military helmets.

Shield or Arms - The basis of all coats of arms.  At their simplest, arms consist of a shield with a plain field on which appears a geometrical shape or object.  The items appearing on the shield are known as charges.

Motto - The motto was originally a war cry, but later mottoes often expressed some worthy sentiment. It may appear at the top or bottom of a family coat of arms.

Direct ancestors

Additional information about the persons

in our database  as  well  as  a  complete 

Listing of individuals with this surname may be reviewed by clicking on this LINK.

Descendant Register

Generation 1

Theodore Cartor-1 was born on Abt. 1610 in Gloucestershire, England ?.  He died on Aft. 1641 in Gloucestershire, England ?. He married on Bef.  1633 in Gloucestershire, England

2.                  Mary Cartor, B: 26 Oct 1633 in Cirencester Parish,  Gloucestershire, England.

Generation 2

Giles Carter Sr.-2(Theodore Cartor-1) was born on 1634 in Cirencester  Parish, Gloucestershire, England. He died on 02 Feb 1701 in Henrico  County, Virginia. He married Hannah Crewes on Abt. 1670 in Turkey Island,  Henrico County, Virginia, daughter of James Crewes. She was born on Abt.  1638 in Turkey Island, Henrico Co., Virginia. She died on Aft. 1699 in  Henrico County, Virginia.

Children of Giles Carter Sr. and Hannah Crewes are:

i.                    Thomas Carter, B: Abt. 1672 in Henrico County, Virginia, D:  1738 in Cumberland County, Virginia.

ii.                  Susannah Carter, B: Abt. 1674 in Turkey Island, Henrico  County, Virginia, M: Bef. 1696 in Virginia.

3.                  Giles Carter II, B: Abt. 1682 in Turkey Island, Henrico Co.,  Virginia, D: Aft. 1760 in Halifax County, Virginia.

Generation 3

Theodrick Carter-3(Giles Carter Sr.-2, Theodore Cartor-1) was born on Abt.  1676 in Turkey Island, Henrico Co., Virginia. He died on Abt. 1737 in  Henrico County, Virginia. He married Elizabeth Webb on Abt. 1704 in  Virginia. She died on Abt. 1751 in Henrico County, Virginia.

4.                   ^i.       Theodrick Carter Jr., B: Abt. 1706 in Henrico County, Virginia,

D: 1777 in Prince Edward Co., Virginia.

^ii.       John Carter, B: Abt. 1708 in Henrico County, Virginia.

5.                   ^iii.      Susanna Carter, B: Abt. 1711 in Henrico County, Virginia, D:

Bet. 06 Mar-15 Oct 1798 in Amherst County, Virginia, M: Abt.  1736 in Henrico County, Virginia.

6.                  ^iv.      Martha Carter, B: Abt. 1712 in Henrico County, Virginia.

v.                   Hannah Carter, B: Abt. 1716 in Henrico County, Virginia.

vi.                 Ann Carter, B: Abt. 1718 in Henrico County, Virginia.

vii.                Elizabeth Carter, B: 22 Aug 1736 in Henrico County, Virginia.

7.                  ^viii.     Mary Carter, B: Henrico County, Virginia.

Generation 4

Susanna Carter-4(Theodrick Carter-3, Giles Carter Sr.-2, Theodore Cartor-1)  was born on Abt. 1711 in Henrico County, Virginia. She died on Bet. 06  Mar-15 Oct 1798 in Amherst County, Virginia. She married John Scruggs ?  on Abt. 1736 in Henrico County, Virginia. He was born on 1709 in St.  Peter's Parish, New Kent Co., Virginia. He died in Virginia.

Child of Susanna Carter and John Scruggs ? is:

                       John Carter Scruggs ?, B: Abt. 1737 in Virginia.

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Ancestral locations

Researching the locations where our ancestors lived has provided us with valuable evidence needed to fill-in the gaps in our family trees.  It has also led us to many interesting facts that enhance the overall picture of each family group.

Locations of

Direct Ancestors

Locational Distribution

of  this Surname

Where In the World

are my Ancestors?

Locatiof Direct Ancestors

The names of states and counties on the following list were derived from the known places where the Direct Ancestors in the “Ancestral Lineage” (see above) were born, married, and / or died.

COUNTRY

STATE

COUNTY / SUBDIVISION

UNITED KINGDOM

ENGLAND

Glouchester

UNITED STATES

OF AMERICA

VIRGINIA

Amherst Co.,  Henrico Co.

Use this LINK to find out more

about the locations listed above.

Locational distributionstors

     Knowing the geographical areas where the surname you are researching is clustered and distributed is an indispensable tool in deciding where to focus your research.  We believe that the “Public Profiler” website will open up to you a wide range of solutions which implement current research in spatial analysis.  This site provides an array of local spatial information tools useful to the genealogist.

          The information presented below shows where the CARTER surname is distributed within the United States as well as in the United Kingdom, the country of origin of this family.   The United Kingdom is found to be the country in the world where this surname is the most highly clustered having almost 1,527 persons per million of population.  

United States of America

Key

European Country of Origin

Click on the LINK to the right to see more information about the World distribution of a surname.  You can

get greater detail for any of the following maps by clicking on the area, i.e state, county that you are interested in.

Wjere are my ancestors Ancestors

Resources which enhance our knowledge of the places inhabited by our ancestors are almost as important as their names. The LINK to the right will take you to Maps, Gazetteers,   and  other  helpful   resources  

that will assist in discovering Ancestral Locations.  These web sites comprise only a small portion of what is available for researchers interested in learning more about where their ancestors lived.

Migration routes

       Tracing our own family’s paths of migration can prove crucial in identifying previous generations and eventually, figuring out where and how they arrived in the “New World” as well as where they eventually settled.  Knowing the network of trails American pioneers traveled can help you guess where to start looking.  The trail map(s) provided below may assist you in understanding the routes that our direct ancestors of this family may have taken to find new homes and opportunities in the vast area now encompassed by the United States.

      During the 17^th, 18^th and 19^th centuries hundreds of thousands of Europeans made the perilous ocean voyage to America.  For many it was an escape from economic hardship and religious persecution.  For most it was an opportunity to start over, own their own land, and make a better future for their descendents.  Immigration records show a number of people bearing this surname, or one of its variants, as arriving in North America between the 17^th and 20^th centuries.  Most of the Carter immigrants came from the British Isles.  Some of these immigrants were:  one Robert Carter who was a passenger on the "Mayflower", the ship that carried the Pilgrim Fathers to New England in 1620; Ambrose Carter, who settled in Virginia in 1663; Thomas Carter and his wife Frances, who came to Philadelphia in 1685 with their children Thomas, Henry, Ann, and John, Chris Carter, who immigrated to St. John's, Newfoundland in 1705.  By 1840 most persons with this surname were living in Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina, New York, and Massachusetts.

Use the following links to find more early immigrants with this surname:

$ Search Ancestry.com Immigration Records; or Free Ship’s Passenger lists at OliveTreeGenealogy.com

The Development of an Historical Migration Route

It is understood that in many if not all cases we do not know exactly what routes our ancestors took as they migrated throughout the United States.   As such certain assumptions have been utilized to re-create the migration path presented above.  With regard to 18^th and 19^th century land routes we assume that they travelled along few trails and roads that were in existence at the time.  Research shows that a great many of these old paths and trails are today designated as U.S. Highway Routes.  For example, a major east-west route of migration known as the National Road is now U.S. Route 40, and a primary north-south migration route of the 18^th century followed the Great Indian War and Trading Path is now U.S. Route 11.  In some situations the re-created migration route may travel along state routes that connect or run through the seat of a county as that populated place is probably the oldest settlement in the area. The use of water as a migration route is also likely.  For example, during the late 18^th and early 19^th centuries many families travelled west on the Ohio River as they moved on the new lands in Missouri or the Old Northwest Territory.  As such when applicable water routes have been included as the possible migration route.   

The Migrations of our Carter Ancestors

     Giles Carter, (our 8^th great-grandfather), of Cirencester Parish, in Gloucestershire, England came to the Colony of Virginia in 1653.  He was most likely transported as an indentured servant by a William Fry (Frye).  Fry’s plantation was located on 750 acres near the head of Chickahominy River on southwest side.  It is most probable that Giles first landed at Fort Charles located at the “Falls of the James River” where navigable water for ocean going vessels ends.  This locale is now present day Richmond. Virginia, but it would be another 84 years before William Byrd II would even begin to lay-out the town.  At this time and place roads were non-existent as such Giles and his party probably moved west along the James River to the mouth of the Tuckahoe Creek a distance of about 12 miles.  From here they would follow the creek north to Fry’s plantation a distance of approximately another 15 miles.

     It is most probable that Giles stayed at this location for seven years until his indenture was satisfied whereupon he removed to the far southern area of present day Henrico County.  To accomplish this journey he most likely moved back along the aforementioned route to Fort Charles.  From here he would have travelled another 30 miles along the James River to the area around Turkey Island.   He may have arrived at this location as early as 1661.  In 1684 Giles purchased a parcel of land lying upon Turkey Island Mill Run.  It was near here that he most likely had his home.  In 1687 he was granted 800 acres of land due for the importation of 16 people.   Also in 1687, Giles purchased 552 acres on the main run of White Oak Swamp Creek.   Giles Carter would remain in this for the remainder of his life.  Upon Giles’s death in 1701 his property at Turkey Island was divided between his wife Hannah and his younger son Giles. 

         Prior to the writing of his last will in 1699 Giles Carter had transferred land on "Run of Turkey Island Creek" to his son Theodrick, (our 7^th great-grandfather).   Theodrick also bought a place known as "Round Hills" on the south side of Chickahominy Swamp.  Theodrick resided at this locale in southeastern Henrico County until his death around 1737. 

     Our 6^th great-grandmother Susanna Carter, a daughter of the aforementioned Theodrick was born circa 1711 most likely at the Carter home along the Turkey Island Creek.   It is believed that she married a John Scruggs around 1736.  Soon after Susanna and her husband moved westward into Goochland County.  It is probable that they either went there with Susanna’s brother Theodrick, Jr. or followed him to that locale.  1741 land records show John Scruggs and Theodrick Carter, Jr. transactions on property south of the James River in what is now Cumberland and Powhatan counties, then in Goochland county.  It is possible that around 1745 Susanna and John may have removed to the area of the Rockfish River in the newly formed Albemarle County.  To access this area they probably moved up along the James River to where it intersected with the Rockfish River.   This place was located in Albemarle until 1761 when it became a part of Amherst county.  The locale along the Rockfish River has been a part of Nelson county since 1808.  The belief that of Susanna’s settlement near the Rockfish River is based upon the following facts: (1) in 1777 Samuel Scott Scruggs enlisted into a military unit that mustered in Amherst County; (2) that Susanna was a resident of Amherst County upon her death in 1798; (3) Samuel Scott Scruggs was known to have lived on the Rockfish River most of his adult life until his death in 1830.

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Source documents

The documents contained within this “Source Documents Archives” have been located during our research of this family, and used as evidence to prove many of the facts contained within the database of this family’s record.   Use the LINKS below to view our collection.

·      Elizabeth WEBB Carter - 1747 Will & 1752 Estate Inventory

·      Giles Carter of Virginia (pgs.3-50)

·      Giles Carter of Virginia (pgs.51-100)

·      Giles Carter of Virginia (pgs.101-134)

·      Giles Carter, Jr. - 1704 Orphans Court Proceeding

·      Giles Carter, Sr. - 1699 Last Will & Testament

·      James Crewes - 1680 Last Will & Testament

·      Susanna CARTER Scruggs - 1798 Last Will & Testament

·      Theodrick Carter - 1736 Last Will & Testament

This Link will take you to our

archive of source documents.  

You are welcome to download any of the documents contained within this archive that does not cite a copyright.  Should you encounter a problem obtaining a copy you may get in touch with us via the contact information found at the end of this web-page.

     Most of these documents can be considered as primary or secondary evidence.  Primary evidence is usually defined as the best available to prove the fact in question, usually in an original document or record.  Secondary evidence is in essence all that evidence which is inferior in its origin to primary evidence. That does not mean secondary evidence is always in error, but there is a greater chance of error.  Examples of this type of evidence would be a copy of an original record, or oral testimony of a record’s contents.  Published genealogies and family histories are also secondary evidence.

     Classifying evidence as either primary or secondary does not tell anything about its accuracy or ultimate value.  This is especially true of secondary evidence.  Thus it is always a good idea to ask the following questions: (1) How far removed from the original is it, (when it is a copy)?; (2) What was the reason for the creation of the source which contains this evidence?; and (3) Who was responsible for creating this secondary evidence and what interest did they have in its accuracy?

SOURCE:  Greenwood, Val D., The Researcher’s Guide to American Genealogy, 2^nd edition, Genealogical Publishing  Co., Baltimore, MD 21202, 1990, pgs. 62-63

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·             Cyndi's List - Surnames, Family Associations & Family Newsletters Index - Sites or resources dedicated to specific, individual family surnames.

Free Records & Databases

All of the records and databases we’ve collected are FREE and can be accessed and searched online without having to pay for a subscription.   We have divided our collected into 14 record types as follows: Biographical; Birth; Cemetery; Census & City Directories; Church; Court; Death; Immigration & Naturalization; Land; Marriage; Military; Newspapers; Occupational; and Tax Records.    We try not to list any sites that have only a few records for the purpose of getting you to a website that will charge a fee to actually see the record beyond just a name.  

This Link will take you to our

collections of FREE Records.  

The following Link will take you to our library of genealogy reference books.   Here you will find bibliographies, family histories and books about names.  In addition, there are texts that pertain to ethnic and religion groups, history, geography as well as other books that will assist you with your research.

This Link will take you to our

collections of reference books.  

Images gallery

During our research we have collected images and photographs that are of general interest to a particular family.  Some of them are presented on this website because we believe they tend to provide the reader with additional information which may aid in the understanding of our ancestors past lives.

This Link will take you to our

collection of family photographs.  

Use the power of Google™ to find more interesting images about this topic. This button will link you to the Google Images Search   page.   Enter   the   topic   you   are

searching in the box and click “Search Images”. At the “Images” display page you will see the image, as well as the website of which it is associated.

Contact Information

Email

Snail Mail:

Fred
889 Dante Ct.
Mantua, NJ 08051

USA

Updated 01 July 2011

Email

Pony Express:

Tom
6484 Riverstone Dr

Sooke, BC V9Z 0Y7

Canada