> I have my ancestor from 1790, Allegheny Co., PA to Beaver Co., PA
> where he died 1848. I have his intestate records that include
> division of his lands in which the names of all his children and
> their spouses are found.
>
> Allegheny County land and tax records have been searched from its
> creation to about 1830; my ancestor re-located 1815 to Beaver
> County.
>
> Wa****ngton County records at the Historical Society have been
> searched and land records at the Courthouse. My ancestor has not
> been found from creation of Wa****ngton to the time Allegheny County
> was formed.
>
> I do not know how to backtrack my ancestor from 1790 to his unknown
> origins. Will someone recommend to me a guide book that describes
> such a search? Google search has not been helpful. I have
> intermediate research skills.
>
> Donny Jones
HOW to fish:
Can you clarify whether your ancestor (presumably male?) was born in
1790 or if that's just your first glimpse of him?
Was he German, English, Scots, Irish, Welsh, or other? What
counties in PA did that ethnic group seem to cluster? For the
Germans, it would be Philadelphia, York, Lancaster, and Adams
counties (off the top of my head).
Follow the Penna. Turnpike route across the state and match the
major interchanges with modern towns, and look there. From the
Breezewood exit, drop down I-81 into the Valley of Virginia and see
if the name pops up anywhere North of Staunton; if it doesn't
retreat back into PA; if it does, drop down further to where
I-whatever heads off toward Asheville SC. Many of the Pa. Dutch
(who were of course Deutsch German) went down that-away decided they
didn't like it and came back North.
If you're still coming up dry (a saying from oil-wildcatting
circles), go back to Rupp's 30,000 Immigrants and see if the surname
pops up there; check Hetrinka (on line now I hear) -- the list of
German soldiers who came as British mercenaries for the surname.
BUYing a fish for dinner:
Post the man's name and known details; you'd be amazed at what some
of us have on our bookshelf or tucked into a hidden corner of our
memory.
Cheryl
singhals <singhals@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
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