Maps are useful tools in family history research.
Maps are essential tools in genealogical research. They can pinpoint the location of your ancestor's residence or land, identify neighbors and other relatives, track migration trails, and provide detail of local schools, cemeteries and churches. Maps can depict changes in political boundaries and show locations of nearby towns, which will improve your chances of finding genealogical records in the right place. Once you have determined the locality in which your ancestor resided, begin the map research.
Instructions
1. Obtain a good contemporary map to find the name and location of your ancestor's residence. These can be printed area maps, road atlases, county or highway maps. Make sure the map shows details such as natural landmarks, cemeteries, churches or unnamed county roads. Study the map carefully; noting county seats, adjacent counties and communities.
2. Search the United States Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System (USGS GNIS) for renamed towns or towns that no longer exist. The GNIS allows you to search by name and location and to narrow your search to a specific feature type, including modern or historical populated places. The results give you a detailed report, latitude and longitude of the site and map links to the location.
3. Locate a historical map to determine when your ancestors lived in the area. You may find historical atlases and plat maps in a local library's history and genealogy collection or in a historical society archive. Online resources include the Historic Map Works digital map collection, where you can access United States property atlases and plat maps. The David Rumsey Historical Map Collection features 18th and 19th century maps and atlases of North and South America. The Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection contains an extensive collection of historical maps encompassing the United States and abroad. (See links to these websites in Resources.)
4. Pinpoint the location of your ancestor's land using the information found in the historical maps. In public-land states, plat maps may give the precise section, township and range of the property. Using Google Earth's Earth Point township and range tool, type in the section, township and range, and Google Earth will "fly" you to the exact location on the Google Earth map. Google Earth will also let you add an image overlay. Using digital images of historical maps, you can note the similarities and differences between historic and current maps.
5. Compare the historical maps to the present-day maps you have studied. Note any surrounding towns and landmarks on the modern map and locate them on the historical map. Place and street names may have changed over time, towns may have come under different jurisdictions or some towns may have disappeared all together. Also, note changes in state, county, parish or province boundaries. It is possible for a family to have lived on the same property for years but have records pertaining to it filed in several counties. It is vital to know about any changing boundaries so you can determine the right location of the genealogical records you seek.
Tags: Google Earth, historical maps, your ancestor, location your, location your ancestor
