Notaries are Residential Clues

Your ancestor’s residence may not be stated on an affidavit, but if the document is notarized there may be a residential clue there. Notaries usually had jurisdictions in which they were authorized to operate. This one from 1886 was authorized to work in Dawson County, Nebraska.

This does not mean that the affiant (Goldenstein in the illustration) lived in Dawson County–only that he was there on that date. But it is still a clue.