Need some advice researching pre-1850's sites

[TrpnBils]

I live in one of the oldest parts of the country, so I know they're around. My first goal of the year was ending my silver drought, and my second goal (still yet to be met) is big copper. Lately I've been door knocking quite a bit and having good success at it, but the problem is I can pretty much only find sites that are so old with this method. I have one house I've worked on and off that was built in 1799 and still standing (still inhabited, actually) but even that's a rarity.

So let's say I wanted to go older and look for colonial era sites...or let's make it more broad even, they stopped minting large cents in the late 1850's, so let's say I'm looking for anywhere prior to that. I dug one colonial coin last year by accident, but that was a fluke and I've been back there at least a dozen times (it's on the grounds of a school built just a couple of years ago) with nothing else old to show for it aside from a couple of Minie balls. Next oldest coin is late 1800s... Since the vast majority of those sites are gone, bulldozed, and/or paved over, what's an effective way to research such sites? I've found maps of the township I grew up in back to the 1860s, but that's hours from here and I can't find anything detailed enough to use around where I live now. It seems the best I can do in that regard is a county map with a few towns plotted out on it.

Where do you all suggest I start?

 

[fowlercharles]

Hi TrpinBils, Do a BLM, GLO search of your State, County for any info on land patent records locations etc. of particular areas you are interested in. These also include original survey plats that go back as far as the early 1800's (20-30's)Names not needed (but can help)for the patent plats,(1840's 50's and up) just ,, State ,County, Sec.#, Range, and Tsp.# and it will give you the Plat, legal disc, and names (if any). You can imagine easy enough where any home sites would have likely been from a TOPO of the area. Some of these State records are scarce to non existent for some but for some not so scarce.. Genealogy records/family journals/ travel logs etc are good but it takes lots of reading to find the random bits of info if they even exist. Historic Maps of your state that show the roads for your area will show plenty if you use a TOPO and your "imagine" , looking for possible crossings/ rest/camp sites and ferries along the way. Many roads began as Buffalo routes/Indian Paths, then Settler Trails.A trained "eyeball" will help you recognize old road beds, fields, foundations, footpaths, horse trails. and even some growth patterns in vegetation/trees. Don't forget to include any Aerials (earlier the better) for what info they may show. Some Soil Maps also go back to early 1900's and may be of help. These are just a few suggestions you may or not be able to use and certainly not all of these things take place at any one location at the same time but you would be surprised how much of it will come into play once you have tuned your thinking in that direction. HH, Charlie

 

[TrpnBils]

I'm assuming I'm doing something wrong here - http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/search/ This is the page you were referring to, right? I tried doing a search of my entire state (West Virginia) and didn't come up with anything at all...as in zero results. I've even cleared everything off back as far as just having the state selected and that's it.

Same kind of result for Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Maryland.... what am I doing wrong here?

 

[ecoast]

very little blm land in the east...

 

[fowlercharles]

You have the right site TrpnBils, and are doing all you can do but it is like I, and ecoast mentioned, some records are scarce to non existent for some states. Don't give up though, Did you try any of the Research Links suggested ( at bottom of BLO page)? Any "old family" names may give you some direction of search through Genealogy, or whatever may be offered there. Check out your local library genealogy section for all the local history and especially make a list of all the "old family" names mention of the first settlers there. Genealogy takes many directions when folks talk and record their family histories, This is where travel journals and life in general was sometimes recorded and now just waiting to be read by someone like us. Long shot,,, sure,, but what aint ? Just hang in there and what you can't discover on line, your library and local old folks are full of first hand info and can give you a break from the PC and maybe some different perspectives. Good Luck and HH. Charlie

 

[TrpnBils]

Haven't tried the links at the bottom yet, but I did go down to our library....apparently every piece of pre-civil war history for this county has to be obtained from the historical society, who make an appearance at the library from 10-1 three days per week. I even asked if they had any old maps or anything just at the library itself, but was told all of that came with the historical society. Not sure how anyone with an 8-5 job is supposed to make that work, but I'll see what kind of info I can dig up there.

On another note, having moved here to this (tiny) town from a (very large) city has been a real eye opener in terms of how much information is available for an area and how easily it can be accessed. What gets me though is that Washington did so much work in this area pre-1776 that I can't believe it's not better documented around here than it is.

 

[fowlercharles]

In all my jawing I forgot to mention your County Courthouse should have early maps and plats, all open to the public but you usually have to ask. The info your Historical Society has is stored somewhere and if not at the Library, where? It would be a good idea to join the Historical Society, the Arch. Club and the Genealogy Club if they have them., The Genealogy Club folks are likely mostly concerned with local Genealogies which is really where lots of your info may come from. Being an "outsider " can have its disadvantages until you get to know folks and feel at ease with them . I am from another State but made my home here in a distant State, I have been in the same local area for almost 55 years and because I was not born and raised here, I am considered by some to be an "outsider" simply because someone did know my Mother or Father or Aunt Mildred. I have belonged to our local Arch. club for over 40 years and made some great friends and almost from the beginning used my detector not just on club digs, but on sites some of the members invited me to.. Have to be cool though and keep your detecting desires low profile at first, until you know who all is receptive. Some folks are still touchy or downright hostile about detecting. folks. Your "real eye opener" about the amount of information is right on and I just want to add that many of these local and county clubs combine their interest and can provide a really great amount of info. The Historical Society in the County next to mine has its own building for records and have amassed some really fantastic land transaction records. My local Library has one of the most book filled History/Genealogy reading/research Sections for miles and miles around. Washington was a busy man alright and cool as they come, and there have got to be some records on him somewhere but I would stick to where the more likely sources of info will be found and bits on Washington will probably turn up as you pass through. HH Charlie