New to Kentucky Research?

Here Are A Couple of Things to Know if you are going to research in Kentucky.

• Kentucky was established in 1792 from Virginia
• Today, there are 120 counties in Kentucky and research/records are organized with this in mind.
  • Identify the county
  • Consider surrounding counties –  county boundaries changed over time – land didn’t move, but counties did.
  • Consider Parent counties –  Become familiar with when the counties were formed and from which county/counties they were formed
  • Note courthouse disasters and resulting record loss if any.  Not all records were kept at the courthouse and many counties have attempted to reconstruct/recreate what records they could.  For instance:  Deeds may have been refiled years later to keep the chain of land ownership in the records.
• Remember general genealogy/research ‘rules’
  • Go from the known to the unknown
  • Time and Location are key
  • Even though you think you have a unique name-don’t count on it!
  • Timelines are your friend
  • Don’t forget to check county histories and Genealogy publications that may contain pieces to your puzzle
• Tax Lists
  • As soon as the white male (initially) turned 21 they should be reflected in that tax year.
  • Absence after a number of years could be due to any of the following
    • – Aged, deemed to old to pay taxes
    •  – Death, look at next year or two for either widow or estate (especially if land owned)
    • – Moved, this is a good way to narrow down relocations
    • – Disabled, Prison/Jail, school etc
  • Around the 1820’s, the tax listed identified school age children in the household – ie boys between 6 and 18
  • Land – owned, bought, sold, inherited – can help deed research

Stay tuned….