Land patents and homestead records document the transfer of land from the government to private individuals. These records are especially important in public land states and often contain terminology related to land acquisition, settlement requirements, and property description. Term Definition Acre Unit of land measurement equal to 43,560 square feet. Affidavit Sworn statement supporting a […]
Category: Reference
Background Historical Occupation Profiles explain what ancestors actually did for a living and how those occupations shaped the records genealogists rely on today. Occupation Overview Sharecroppers were agricultural workers who farmed land owned by others in exchange for a portion of the crops produced. This system became especially widespread in the United States after the […]
Alien registration records document non-citizens residing within a country. In the United States, large-scale alien registrations occurred during periods such as World War I and World War II. These records often contain detailed personal information and specialized terminology related to immigration status and legal identification. Term Definition Alien Person who is not a citizen of […]
Guardianship records document the legal responsibility for managing the care, finances, or property of a minor or an individual unable to manage their own affairs. These records often appear within probate courts and may contain valuable genealogical information about family relationships and inheritance. Term Definition Accounting Financial report submitted by guardian detailing expenditures. Administrator Person […]
Tax rolls and assessment records document property ownership, personal property, and taxable wealth within a community. These records often contain specialized terminology related to taxation, valuation, and property classification. Term Definition Abatement Reduction or cancellation of a tax assessment. Acreage Number of acres of land owned or taxed. Assessment Official valuation of property for taxation. […]
Background Historical Occupation Profiles explain what ancestors actually did for a living and how those occupations shaped the records genealogists rely on today. Occupation Overview Garment factory workers produced clothing and textile goods in industrial manufacturing settings. During the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the rapid expansion of the clothing industry created large factories employing […]
Wills and estate records contain specialized legal terminology describing inheritance, estate administration, and probate proceedings. Understanding these terms helps interpret wills, probate files, estate inventories, and court settlements. Term Definition Administrator Person appointed to settle estate without a will. Administrator Bond Financial guarantee ensuring faithful estate administration. Affidavit Sworn written statement used in probate proceedings. […]
Passenger lists document the arrival of immigrants and travelers entering a country by ship. These records often contain specialized terminology and column headings describing citizenship, destination, occupation, and travel details. Understanding these terms helps interpret immigration records and migration patterns. Term Definition Alien Person who is not a citizen of the destination country. Arrival Date […]
Federal and state census schedules include specialized terminology and abbreviations describing household composition, occupation, citizenship, and demographic characteristics. Understanding these terms helps interpret census entries and the information they contain. Term Definition Age Age of individual at time of enumeration. Agricultural Schedule Census schedule listing farms and agricultural production. Alien Person who is not a […]
Background Historical Occupation Profiles explain what ancestors actually did for a living and how those occupations shaped the records genealogists rely on today. Occupation Overview Tenant farmers cultivated land owned by someone else in exchange for rent, a share of the crops, or other forms of payment. This arrangement was common throughout the eighteenth, nineteenth, […]