Category: Research Methods

The Clerk of the Court’s Office: Unlocking History’s Treasures

Over the years, I have come to appreciate the immense value of the Clerk of the Court’s office as a repository of historical information. This sentiment was greatly reinforced during my recent visit to the Atlantic County Courthouse in May’s Landing, where I had the pleasure of meeting County Clerk Joseph J. Giralo.

When I stepped into the Clerk’s office, I was struck by his passion for local history and commitment to preserving the rich tapestry of the past in the Jersey shore county. Rather than simply handing me a stack of dusty files and sending me on my way, Clerk Giralo took the time to personally guide me through the meticulously organized records housed within his office.

Atlantic County Clerk of the court Joseh J. Giralo
Atlantic County Clerk of the Court Joseph J. Giralo discusses an official volume.

As I pored over the aging bound volumes, I found his expertise and deep knowledge of Atlantic County’s public records invaluable. He pointed out hidden gems that would have otherwise eluded my search and offered insightful explanations about the significance of these often-overlooked documents.

Clerk Giralo’s enthusiasm and commitment to his role as the custodian of public records transformed what would have been a routine research experience into an enlightening and energizing journey. His guidance helped me uncover connections and insights I would have likely missed had I not had the privilege of his expertise.

By the way, a few years ago, I discovered that the clerk had digitized Atlantic County newspapers and provided free access to them online.

 When tackling challenging research questions, remember that the Clerk of the Court’s office can be a source of elusive traces. Within these constitutional offices, the public records custodians maintain official documents, naturalization papers, land records, court proceedings, and other historical records. Of course, practices vary from state to state and county to county, so having a public official orient you to the practices of the jurisdiction is helpful.

For Family History Research Ask What’s in Your Attic

family history research
Faith Broadwater Selters holds an old fire-damaged insurance policy. All sorts of papers can be helpful for family history research.

You never know what treasures you might find tucked away in attics, closets, or other places. Faith Broadwater Seltzer discovered this firsthand when she stumbled upon a relative’s unclaimed insurance policy during a family history research course I teach at Cecil College.

Faith and her classmates were in the computer lab exploring the rapidly growing array of online newspapers. While doing this, I asked class members to give me a few names so that we could practice search strategies.

Faith offered one, and soon, we located a long list of names in a paid legal advertisement in a 1960s Philadelphia newspaper.  It was a listing of unclaimed assets from the Commonwealth Treasurer’s office. With this discovery, she tracked down the asset associated with the policy.

This story highlights the importance of delving into old family papers.  You never know what valuable information might be hiding in long unexamined documents.

The retired nurse also volunteers at the Historical Society of Cecil County.  One of her colleagues was processing these old insurance policies from the Cecil Mutual Fire Insurance Company and the Farmers and Mechanics Fire Insurance Company there. While curating the collection, they discovered fire-damaged policies. While she had no connection with this instrument, someone may have collected on one of the policies, providing another clue for those interested in tracing their family history. 

So don’t forget to explore your attic or closets while checking out online newspapers.  You might uncover something valuable to help you better assemble your family story or assist your wallet. 

Unearthing Genealogy Through Military Records – A Fallen Soldier

Bible page joseph v wise
A page from the Wise family Bible notes the death of Private Wise (Source: Tim Gavin)

During a genealogy class I led at the South Coastal Library in Bethany Beach, we delved into advanced methods for tackling complex family history inquiries. After asking the class to provide examples of challenging problems, Tim Gavin offered this fascinating account about his ancestor, Joseph V. Wise, who served in the 7th U.S. Calvary during the Indian Wars.

Tim and his cousin used military records to uncover many details about Private Wise’s life. They learned that he enlisted in the 7th U.S. Calvary on July 30, 1866, and was guarding cattle and horses near Fort Dodge, Kansas, when a Kiowa Indian raid occurred on June 12, 1867. Private Wise sustained wounds in three places and died the next day at the fort hospital.

While Tim and his cousin had some clues from various databases, the Family Bible, and stories passed down by the generations, they found the most valuable information in the military records of the National Archives. The 37-page pension file contained lots of information. For example, Wise’s mother, Elizabeth, began receiving a monthly pension of $8.00 from the U.S. Government starting April 1, 1868.

Through their hard work, Tim and his cousin also discovered that the Army Medical Museum had preserved the arrows that killed Private Wise. They were able to obtain photos of the arrows from the museum curator.

Tim’s research highlights how exploring historical records can unearth remarkable details about ancestors. If you face challenges in your genealogical research, check out digital collections at the National Archives, particularly military records. The institution has made significant progress in digitizing its collections, which can be a valuable resource for historians and genealogists.

I want to thank Tim for sharing his intriguing story and allowing me to view some family artifacts, such as the Wise Family Bible he brought to one of the classes.

Here are a few links from the FamilySearch Wiki that provide more guidance on military and pension records.

FamilySearch Resources for Military Records
pension military record joseph v wise
One of the 37 pages with the pension military record for Joseph V. Wise (Source: National Archives)

Researching the Pandemic of 1918 in the Baltimore-Washington D.C. Corridor

Some of my current research is focused on investigating the impact of the 1918 pandemic in communities along an extended corridor stretching from Baltimore to Philadelphia. This work has or will take me to cities and counties along I-95, as well as jurisdictions near this region.

In the summer of 2019, before the novel coronavirus upended normal life, part of my fieldwork took me to rural Salem County. As I worked in South Jersey, the Salem County Historical Society asked if I would write an article for the quarterly newsletter. When the piece appeared in the print, no one could have guessed that in six months, another pandemic of historic proportions, the novel coronavirus of 202o, would rip across the world, shutting Salem County down for months as public health officials struggled to control the pathogen’s spread.

Thus this summer, as the nation battles the COVID-19 outbreak, the editor asked if I would take a further look at the fight against the disease there, 102-years-ago. This installment focused on the frontline workers when the so-called Spanish influenza ripped across the county in 1918.

My research continues as I have been working with the Delaware Public Archives death records, police blotters, public health reports, death certificates, governor’s correspondence, workhouse journals, Wilmington city records, and much more. As conditions permit, I plan to do additional fieldwork in Harrisburg, Trenton, and Philadelphia.

Here is the front page from the Quarterly Newsletter.

Salem Countians on the Frontline of the Global Pandemic of 1918, an article in the Quarterly Newsletter of the Salem County Historical Society (Fall 2020)