Old deeds or surveys taken in metes and bounds states may have individuals listed besides the grantors, grantees, and witnesses. There may be individuals listed with “cc” or “cb” listed after their name. Chain carriers or chain bearers helped the surveyor by carrying the measuring chain. These individuals generally had to swear an oath, had to be of legal age, and some times were relatives of the surveyor or the family whose land was being surveyed. Chain carriers or bearers would have been viewed as reliable and trustworthy. “CC” on an old deed does not mean “Carbon Copy.” [That was an attempt at humor.]
I recently discovered an 1860-era map for a county where I have researched family for decades. One of the place names listed on it was new to me. A search of the United States Geological Survey place names database in the United States did not include a reference to it nor did the county histories I have saved digitally. So it just goes to show you that there is always something to learn and that it never hurts to look at “one more item” even when you think there’s nothing there you have not already seen. It is also possible as well that the place name reference is incorrect and was the result of some error.
One might be tempted to say that I don’t need to get a copy of the record of my ancestor’s second marriage to one of the men she married after the husband who was my ancestor died. That would be a mistake. In my case, that 1882 marriage in Ft. Madison, Iowa, was the only one that asked for parental information. The ancestor in question listed her parents’ names on that marriage record. It was a short marriage (50 days), but in terms of genealogical information it was perfect.
It’s uncommon for a will to say something to the effect that “the children listed in this will are the only ones I have ever had and there are no others. I have included all my children in my will.” Many genealogical arguments result from a will that appears to list only some of the testator’s children or a genealogist’s belief that a child (usually their direct ancestor) has been omitted from the will. Wills that do appear to list only some of the testator’s children can be frustrating for the genealogist. Wills that omit known children can be confusing as well. It’s possible that other children were provided for separately or were intentionally left out. Children do get left out of the parents’ wills for a variety […]
It can be tempting to ignore subpoenas in court records as “necessary details” that don’t warrant reading. That’s a mistake. Those slips of paper can provide significant details. In the United States, they should provide the jurisdiction where the individual was living (usually the county) which may not be the county in which the case was being heard. In the case of the example, the subpoena contained an easier reading of the names of the witnesses to the will that was being admitted to probate.
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