Hawkins County Archive Project Acomplishing Great Things

The Hawkins County Courthouse, ca. 1836, is the oldest courthouse in Tennessee and is the seat of county government. It is in Rogersville.

Hawkins County, TN is considered a gateway to the West, a "jumping off point" for many families. A huge body of information existed in the court records, but needed to be archived, preserved and microfimed in order to insure that this information be available to researchers now and in the future. In 2004, an effort was made to accomplish this feat. The Hawkins
County Archive Project has since contributed greatly to historical and genealogy record preservation and microfilming.

After a series of Hawkins County Court planning meetings in 2004, Jack Goins was elected as the Hawkins County Archivist. On Dec 9, 2004, the county commissioners approved a resolution, which reads: "Whereas a group of volunteers, known as Friends of the Hawkins County Archive Project under the supervision of the Hawkins County Archivist should be authorized to prepare old records from the public offices for a Hawkins County Archive Development".

The volunteer workers then began moving the records from the court house to the old health department building furnished by the county for this purpose. On Jan 14, 2005 they began the cleaning and indexing process with 28 volunteers and two archivist from the Tennessee State Archives who worked with them for 2 days to instruct them in proper preservation techniques.

Beginning in 2006, two different couples from the LDS Family History Center began microfilming the processed records. They were Dennis and Connie Powell of Pleasant View, Utah, who after 6 months completed their 2 year mission. They had been filming the Hamilton County Court records previously. GSU replaced them with Ron and Louisa Later of Layton, Utah. and they completed the filming on August 14, 2007. 194 rolls of microfilm consisting of Criminal Court 7,033 cases; Civil Court 1795-1930 -6,156 cases; Chancery Court -6,225; County Court 5, 80 were filmed. This consisted of the court cases, plus the marriages and wills and other miscellaneous records.

Since they were not receiving any funds from the county and the acid free folders needed for many thousands of cases were 25 cents each and the archival cleaning sponges were all very expensive, a collection was taken up at an organization meeting after which Mr. Goins sought help from downtown merchants and businesses, lawyers etc. The Hawkins County Genealogy Society donated 10 tables and chairs, as the group had nothing but a bare building. They also gave the organization $5,000.00 to buy folders, boxes and a racks for the cleaned records. With the help of Brent Kennedy, Hawkins County Memorial Hospital, a division of Wellmont gave a grant for $1,000.00, a new Dell computer and laser printer. They have continued operating the archives from state grants and donations from friends

Hawkins County, Tennessee has been labeled as the gateway to the west. The original pioneer settlers came here, set up a homestead and then migrated to others counties and states. Hawkins County was very large at it's formation in 1786, consisting of Grainger, Claiborne and Hancock Counties. Grainger and Claiborne left early, the archives has several Hancock records. The illegal voting trials so important to Melungeon research were in Rogersville, although the men being tried lived in the area of Hancock County, when they were charged, so the trial continued in Hawkins County until it ended in Dec.1848.

The Archives have had visitors this year from Washington State, California,Utah, Louisiana, and Arkansas, with the log book showing over 90% of their visitors are from another county or state.

Opening to the public on August 14, 2007, the Hawkins County Archives has continued to process the records and are now through 1960, but GSU only films to 1930 and the State Archives do not have the funds at this time to complete the filming. It would be of the utmost importance if this could be done so that all this work not be in vain if something were to happen to these invaluable historical and genealogy records which have not yet been filmed.

Donations are appreciated and may be sent to:

Hawkins County Archives
951 East McKinney Ave.,Suite A.
Rogersville, Tennessee 37857


Related Post:
http://historical-melungeons.blogspot.com/2010/05/award-of-distinction-presented-to-jack.html




© History Chasers Click here to view all recent Historical Melungeons Blog posts

Kentucky History "Doomsday Book " Discovered

A 'new' stash of old records being readied for viewing

By Josh Kegley - jkegley@herald-leader.com

Land, census and marriage records from the late 1700s to the early 1900s have recently resurfaced that could provide a treasure trove of information for genealogists and others.

The books, which are being indexed to make the information easier to pinpoint, were found in several places. The land and census records were at government archives in Frankfort, and several years' worth of marriage licenses were in the Fayette County clerk's storage area.

The documents are being scanned and eventually will be made available for public viewing on microfilm or a computer. But the original record books won't be available to the public in most cases.

Fayette County Deputy Clerk Emily Gentry showed a school census book about black students in the early 1900's These two books, which have been rebound, contain land records dating to 1779, before Kentucky was a state.

Charles Bertram Tim Tingle, manager of the archival services branch at the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives in Frankfort, opened a land entry book from the late 1700s that once was in the Fayette County clerk's office. Charles Bertram A land claim made by Daniel Boone is in a commissioners book at the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives. Call the Fayette County clerk's office at (859) 253-3344. For more information on early Kentucky land patents, visit

"The documents are so old and the pages are so fragile that I really would not be willing to put them out there for the public to peruse through," Deputy Fayette County Clerk Linda Potter said.Potter found out about a large volume of applications for land patents from an article in the October issue of The Kentucky Explorer magazine. The article said the Fayette County clerk's office had a "Doomsday Book" containing names of the commonwealth's earliest settlers.

According to Potter, this was news to her."We got a call from a customer saying they wanted to come down and look at it, but no one here knew anything about it," Potter said.After researching the book, she and deputy clerks Emily Gentry and Jennifer Tapia discovered that the Doomsday Book had been moved to the Kentucky Land Office in Frankfort in the early 1970s.



© History Chasers

Click here to view all recent Historical Melungeons Blog posts

USA Archives for Every State

Thanks to Joy King for the following:


From Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter 7/13/08
http://www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/History_Family/State_Genealogy.shtml

Has URLs for the Archives of every state.

Genealogy Blogs Have Much to Offer

A genealogy blog? What's that?
A “blog” is one of those made up words coined by the Internet.

Click here to see the Wikipedia definition.

Click here to visit the GenealogyBank.

Here are some blogs that come highly recommend. They are each must read sites.

Ancestry Insider
This well informed blogger’s daily posts are focused on Ancestry.com and familysearch.org Knowledgeable and on target it is a must read blog written by an Ancestry employee – BUT it is not an “official” corporate blog.

DearMYRTLE’s Genealogy Blog
DearMYRTLE has been working in genealogy for decades. Her blog is essential reading and can be counted on for breaking news and insight. Count on her to make new resources easy to use and understand.

Eastman’s Online Genealogy Newsletter
Dick Eastman’s blog is essential reading. Dick is up to date and knows the field. His blog comes in two flavors – free and a paid version. You’ll want to pay the nominal fee and subscribe to his blog - it’s worth it.

Everton Publisher’s Genealogy Blog
Leland Meitzler posts 3-4 times a week and puts his decades of experience to work in reporting what is happening in genealogy. Leland has the pulse of the field and hey, he’s a heck of a nice guy too.

The Footnote Blog
This blogger usually posts 2-3 times a month. The articles are usually brief and focus on the latest developments at Footnote.com – you’ll want to read it to keep up with what’s new on that site.

Genealogy Insider
Diane Haddad, Editor of Family Tree Magazine is a great blogger. Well informed and with an upbeat writing style. Haddad is essential reading. Don’t miss this blog – its terrific.

http://blog.genealogybank.com/

10 Days Only: Sizzling Hot Opportunity to Upgrade Y Chromosome Markers

The following letter was sent to all Family Tree DNA project administrators:

Family Tree DNA has been an industry leader in helping families find lost connections. As a result, the size of our database is unmatched and has achieved critical mass, allowing more and more family members and even adoptees or descendants of adoptees to find their biological paternal lines, including the surname of the original family. Are there missing (participants) among these adoptees looking for their connection to this direct paternal line?

In an effort to help answer that question Family Tree DNA is offering, for the first time ever, a discount on all Y DNA upgrades! We will be notifying each participant in the database who qualifies for this offer by email, and will provide them a direct link they may use to take advantage of this upgrade. There will be no need for participants to contact us directly in order to receive the reduced price; our prices will be adjusted in the system accordingly.

The offer will be from June 20th to June 30th. During this time, Family Tree DNA will reduce all of our Y-DNA upgrade prices. On average, the reduced prices will be 25% lower than the original upgrade price.

This is a great opportunity to increase the data in your surname project. Are there members who have been hesitant to upgrade due to price? This rare discount is an opportunity for them to upgrade and help both their group and potential lost relatives at the same time. When encouraging members to upgrade, you may wish to note that genetic matches allow people to find their biological lines rather than a specific individual.

This promotion is for upgrades only and does not apply to new kit orders. It’s our way to thank past customers for their patronage.

As always, we appreciate your continued support.

Family Tree DNA

=============================================

This is a fantastic opportunity and one not likely to be repeated, so if you have already Y-tested or sponsored someone at some level with Family Tree DNA, go to the personal page and order an upgrade as usual. The new pricing schedule is already in effect and visable.

Notices have been sent to all participants, but some email contact info is no longer current.

~History Chasers

Arlene Eakle's Virginia Genealogy Research Notebooks pt. 2

Arlene Eakle’s Virginia Genealogy Research Notebooks pt. 2:

Now you can get extra help with your Virginia genealogy research using these aids collected by and used daily by Dr. Arlene H. Eakle. Maps, little-known name lists, migration patterns, record checklists, jurisdiction facts, source collections, surname lists by locality–aids that will shorten your prep time and ensure that you find your hard-to-find ancestors.

CONTENTS


V: Map: Land Claimed by the Indiana Company. Land Speculations–Assets for Quick Return. Indiana Company Accounts. A Select Guide to the Manuscript Court Records of Colonial Virginia. Court Chart for Virginia. Maps: Virginia in Context, Virginia Migration from Tidewater Settlements, Gloucester County Churches, Mitchell’s Map of North America 1775: Virginia Section. Soldiers at the Battle of Point Pleasant. West Augusta: Research in Virginia’s District of West Augusta. Original Map of District of West Augusta, West Augusta and Ohio Valley Surnames–An Alphabetical List. Maps: French Occupation of Ohio Valley, Western Land Cessions 1780-1802, Western Parts of Colony of Virginia. Muster Rolls–Frontier Defense on the Upper Ohio 1777-1778.

VI: The One Hundred Wealthiest Men in Virginia. The First Residents of Jamestown. The History of Virginia from Its First Settlement to the Present Day. Map: Virginia. Names of the Adventurers for Virginia As They Were in the Year 1620. Virginia Genealogy Resources: The Antient Press, Jeannette H. Austin, Marian Dodson Chiarito, Genealogical Books in Print, Amelia C. Gilreath, Iberian Publishing Company, Peggy S. Joyner, Mrs. John C. Mullins, Rocky Ridge Press, Shenandoah History, T. L.C. Genealogy.

VII: Virginia Colonial Censuses. Virginia Censuses and Indexes. Virginia Census Information by County. Virginia Churches. Ages of Lower Norfolk County People. Potomack Company: Workmen at the Great Falls, 1786-87. Virginia Sources. Early War Records. Virginia Military District Records. Southside Virginia Publications. Genealogical Research in Virginia: A Migrational Approach.

VIII: Map: Historic Virginia: Counties, County seats, Cities. Historic Virginia: “The Mother State of the Nation:” General Description of Virginia, Names–County situated and Population of 217 Virginia Towns and Cities. Records Lost in Virginia Counties, Benjamin R. McBride. Separate Jurisdictions. County Tax Lists: Personal Tax List: Fayette County (now part of Kentucky), 1787, Land Tax List of Charles City County, 1787, Land Tax List of Campbell County, 1782, Land Tax List of Westmoreland County, 1782, Land Tax List of King and Queen County, 1787, Land Tax List of King George County, 1782, Personal Tax List: Fayette County, 1788. List of the Original Members of the Society of the Cincinnati in the State of Virginia. Virginia Stations: Place Description, Date. Map: The Colonial Churches of Spotsylvania and Caroline Counties, George Carrington Mason. Virginia Censuses and Indexes.

IX: New Sources for Virginia Research: Online Virginia Resources, New Resources for Virginia Research. Map: Enrico County Virginia. Heads of Families–Virginia Tax Rolls Used as Substitute Census, 1790. Personal Property Taxes on Microfilm, Library of Virginia. Land Taxes on Microfilm, Library of Virginia. Virginia County Marriage Records. Map: A New and Accurate Map of Virginia and Maryland From Surveys, Eman Bowen. Virginia Land Records in Kentucky and Ohio: Richard Clough Anderson Collection. How to Find Your Property on the Ground. References Bibliography. Pioneer Possessions: A Study of Wills and Appraisals of Southwest Virginia, 1745-86: A Review. Virginia County Records. Why Genealogies are Important. Why County and Local Histories are Important. Using the Virginia Historical Index. Computer News from Virginia. Burned Counties, Lost Records, and Substitute Evidence. Newly Discovered Records for Virginia. Abridgment of all the Public Acts of Assembly of Virginia, 1759–Counties, County Courts, Ferries, Parishes, Inspectors’ Notes: Tobacco Warehouses, Papists, Soldiers. Map: Colonial Gloucester. VIRGINIA: Contents. Virginia Genealogy: Sources and Resources.

http://virginiagenealogyblog.com/2008/02/21/arlene-eakles-virginia-genealogy-research-notebooks/