GAZETTEERS DESCRIBE AND INDEX PLACES
(Please be aware this post was written in 2003 and published at that time in the Houston Chronicle (Houston, Texas) newspaper. Some of the news in this post, therefore, may not be current. Current and future posts on this blog may revisit and update news on this and other posts on this blog. If you have questions and/or suggestions, please send Mic a note using the comment page -Don’t forget to use the orange “subscribe” button to receive new posts-Thanks, Mic)
When viewing maps it is common for a map or book of maps to include the word gazetteer in its’ title. A Gazetteer can simply mean and usually does mean there is an index accompanying the map. On the other hand the word gazetteer in the title may refer to a dictionary-like publication describing cities and towns as well as physical features such as creeks, rivers, mountains and the like.
One important gazetteer for Georgia was and is Adeil Sherwood’s A Gazetteer of the State of Georgia, Third Edition published in 1837 and more recently republished by the Clearfield Company. It is available for $32, postpaid, from the publisher at 200 E. Eager Street, Baltimore, MD 21202 or online from the publisher’s website at http://genealogical.com .
The full title of the book is a descriptive mouthful, A Gazetteer of the State of Georgia: Embracing a Particular Description of the Counties, Towns, Villages, Rivers, &c. and Whatsoever is Usual in Geographies and Minute Statistical Works.
As the title insinuates the gazetteer devotes about half of the book to detailed descriptions of places in Georgia including counties, towns, villages, post offices, and physical characteristics such as rivers, streams, mountains, ridges and the like.
Preceding the actual gazetteer, however, is a history of the State from colonial times plus a plethora of helpful items of interest to people of the period and to those who need to know what people in the 1830’s knew, wanted to know or did.
There are lists and descriptions of heath springs and retreats, post offices, a list of roads in the state and stages from and to Augusta, Macon, Madison, Greensboro and other towns. There are lists of colonial and state officials, a description of the militia and the state financial appropriations through 1834. Also of interest is a list of counties, the county population, the county capital, and villages and public places within each county. There is also a breakdown of the state population according to the 1830 federal census.
LEARN ABOUT DNA
Taught by one of the antrogenealogists at Family Tree DNA, Inc. Leisure Learning will host a class on DNA and Genealogy Wednesday November 19 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Leisure Learning’s 2990 Richmond Avenue Campus.
The class will discuss the different types of DNA tests, what the tests suggest and the benefits of using DNA test results in one’s genealogical pursuits. It will explain who can take the various types of tests, what is involved in taking a test, privacy, how to find out if this is an ongoing surname DNA study about your family and, if not, how to organize one. For those wishing to organize a DNA or One Surname Genealogical Project, this class will offer strategies on how to establish and promote the project. It will also discuss some of the rewards, pitfalls, and problems associated with recruiting and running the project.
Tuition for the class is $30. To register or learn more about the class contact Leisure Learning at 713-529-4414.
INDEX TO FINAL ROLLS ONLINE
Jim Cowan of Spring requested I let the readers of this column know the Index to the Final Rolls of Citizens and Freedmen of the Five Civilized Tribes, one of the two books discussed in last week’s column, is digitized and online on the website of the Southwest Branch of the National Archives. The website is located at http://www.archives.gov/research_room/arc/arc_info/native_am ericans_final_rolls_index.html#list .
TAYLOR TALKS ON AFRICAN-AMERICAN RESEARCH
Marie Taylor, a dynamic speaker and the person most instrumental in getting the Freedman’s Bank Records digitized and made available on CD-Rom will be the featured speaker this Sunday November 9 at 7 p.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, located at 7699 Fallbrook Drive in Northwest Houston. The lecture is free and open to the public.
The Freedman’s Savings and Trust Company was chartered in 1865 by the United States Congress to benefit ex-slaves who deposited more than 57 million dollars in the bank. The bank collapsed in 1876 due to mismanagement and fraud.
It is estimated that 8-10 million African Americans living today descend from the 484,083 depositors of that failed bank. Within the records are identifying data supplied by the depositors to identify themselves as the owner of the account. That identifying information routinely includes the name, age, sex, and physical description of the depositor as well as the name of spouses, parents, children, names of former plantations and owners and a host of other information.
Readers may view the CD-Rom of the Freedman’s Bank Records at most libraries with genealogical collections including Clayton Library at 5300 Caroline Street in the Museum District. In addition the CD may be purchased online for $6.95 from Mormon’s Family History Library website at http://familysearch.org or by calling the Church distribution center at 1-800-537-5971.
