Washington County, Maryland Genealogy

Guide to Washington County, Maryland ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records.



Description
Washington County was named for George Washington. The county is located in the northwestern area of the state.

County Courthouse
Washington County Courthouse P.O. Box 229 24 Summit Avenue Hagerstown, MD 21740 Phone: 301-733-8660 Washington County Website Email: Washcocc_clerk@mdcourts.gov

Clerk of the Circuit Court has marriage records from 1799, divorce and land records from 1776, court records from 1797 and military district records Other records may be found at the Washington County Free Library in Hagerstown.

Populated Places
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit Hometown Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:

History Timeline
Washington County was the first county in the United States named for General George Washington, who later became the first President of the United States. Washington County lies in the heart of the Great Valley, which extends down from Central Pennsylvania through Tennessee. The county is located in the portion of the Great Valley known as The Cumberland Valley located north of the Potomac River. The lower portion of the Cumberland Valley is drained by Antietam Creek and Conococheague Creek. Washington County has 24 graceful stone arch bridges built between 1819 and 1863.

Cemeteries

 * A complete list of cemeteries in Washington County can be found on the Washington County Cemeteries page. For more information about Cemeteries in Maryland please refer to the Maryland Cemeteries page.

Census Records
Federal Census reports available 1790-1930 including slave and veterans schedules.

Church Records
The following records, taken from its collection, have been digitized and made available to view for free online:
 * 1668-1995 at FamilySearch — index- How to Use this Collection
 * St. Mary’s Catholic Church Records: 1818-1900, Hagerstown, Washington County, Maryland by Marsha Lynne Fuller, CGRS. The Church, its history, cemetery, and the poet priest, Father Abram J. Ryan. It includes copies of church records and information taken from Priest’s Journal, 1786-1911, Baptisms, 1818-1900, Marriages, 1818-1900, Confirmations, 1852-1871, and Deaths, 1853 - 1900. (2001) $
 * Maryland State Archives' Guide to Maryland Religious Institutions is not intended to be a complete listing of all Religious institutions in Maryland. It was originally based upon the churches recorded by the Federal Works Progress Administration during a records survey conducted from 1935 to 1941. It has been expanded by later acquisitions from religious organizations to the Maryland State Archives.


 * Evangelical Lutheran, Elizabethtown Church, includes various records 1760s-1960s
 * Lutheran, (German) St. John's Church, includes various records 1790s-1830s, including English translations
 * Protestant Episcopal, St. John's Church, includes: Parish Registers 1816-1963 (baptisms, marriages, burials) and Vestry Minutes 1787-1873

Additional Washington County church resources include:


 * List of Churches of Washington County gives a link to individual church's locations.

For more information about Churches in Maryland please refer to the Maryland Church Records page. List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places

Court Records

 * Washington County Register of Wills Clerk of Orphan's Court has Probate Records from 1777.
 * Washington County Circuit Court Clerk has Land Records from 1777 and Marriage Records from earliest to 1919.
 * - How to Use this Collection
 * Indexed - How to Use this Collection
 * Fuller, Marsha Lynne, CGRS. Family Bible Records in the Washington County Free Library, Hagerstown, Maryland. Westminster, MD: Willow Bend Books, Heritage Books, 2003.
 * Fuller, Marsha Lynne. African American Manumissions of Washington County, Maryland. Westminster, MD: Willow Bend Books, Heritage Books, 1998.
 * Fuller, Marsha Lynne. Naturalizations of Washington County, Maryland, Prior to 1880. Westminster, MD: Willow Bend Books, Heritage Books, 1998.
 * Fuller, Marsha Lynne, CGRS. St. Mary’s Catholic Church Records: 1818-1900, Hagerstown, Washington County, Maryland. Westminster, MD: Willow Bend Books, Heritage Books, 2001.

Emigration and Immigration

 * 1897-1952 at FamilySearch — index and images - How to Use this Collection
 * [http://www.pricegen.com/immigrantservants/search/advancedResults.php?surname=&amp;amp;givenName=&amp;amp;varientSurnameSpellings=&amp;amp;gender=&amp;amp;dateOfBirthDay=&amp;amp;dateOfBirthMonth=&amp;amp;dateOfBirthQuantifier=&amp;amp;dateOfBirthYear=&amp;amp;placeOfBirthParish=&amp;amp;placeOfBirthTown=&amp;amp;placeOfBirthCity=&amp;amp;placeOfBirthCounty=&amp;amp;placeOfBirthColony=&amp;amp;placeOfBirthNation=&amp;amp;occupations=&amp;amp;religions=&amp;amp;orphan=&amp;amp;familyPosition=&amp;amp;immigrationYearQualifier=&amp;amp;immigrationYear=&amp;amp;portOfDepartureTown=&amp;amp;portOfDepartureCity=&amp;amp;portOfDepartureCounty=&amp;amp;portOfDepartureNation=&amp;amp;placeOfArrivalTown=&amp;amp;placeOfArrivalCounty=&amp;amp;placeOfArrivalColony=&amp;amp;shipName=&amp;amp;convict=&amp;amp;yearOfIndentureQualifier=&amp;amp;yearOfIndenture=&amp;amp;lengthOfIndentureYears=&amp;amp;lengthOfIndentureMonths=&amp;amp;yearOfFreedomQualifier=&amp;amp;yearOfFreedom=&amp;amp;placeOfIndentureTown=&amp;amp;placeOfIndentureCity=&amp;amp;placeOfIndentureCounty=Washington&amp;amp;placeOfIndentureColony=Maryland&amp;amp;agentSurname=&amp;amp;agentGivenName=&amp;amp;agentTitle=&amp;amp;masterSurname=&amp;amp;masterGivenName=&amp;amp;masterTitle=&amp;amp;residenceParish=&amp;amp;residenceTown=&amp;amp;residenceCity=&amp;amp;residenceCounty=&amp;amp;residenceColony=&amp;amp;residenceNation=&amp;amp;landowner=&amp;amp;literate=&amp;amp;spouseSurname=&amp;amp;spouseGivenName=&amp;amp;spouseMarriageDateDay=&amp;amp;spouseMarriageDateMonth=&amp;amp;spouseMarriageDateQualifier=&amp;amp;spouseMarriageDateYear=&amp;amp;spouseMarriageLocationParish=&amp;amp;spouseMarriageLocationCounty=&amp;amp;spouseMarriageLocationColony=&amp;amp;spouseMarriageLocationNation=&amp;amp;deathDateDay=&amp;amp;deathDateMonth=&amp;amp;deathDateQualifier=&amp;amp;deathDateYear=&amp;amp;deathLocality=&amp;amp;deathCounty=&amp;amp;deathColony=&amp;amp;deathState=&amp;amp;testate=&amp;amp;proofServantStatus=&amp;amp;proofConvictStatus=&amp;amp;headright=&amp;amp;preServitudeSources=&amp;amp;postServitudeSources=&amp;amp;comments=&amp;amp;family=&amp;amp;sourceCitations=&amp;amp;interestedResearchers= List of imported servants and transported convicts from Europe] who served labor terms in Colonial Washington County, Maryland (work in progress), courtesy: Immigrant Servants Database. Includes Richard J. Cox's abstracts of Maryland Gazette runaways.
 * Naturalizations of Washington County, Maryland, Prior to 1880 by Marsha Lynne Fuller, CGRS. This is an essential source book for anyone researching immigrant ancestors. Washington County was in the middle of two major migratory routes: the National Road and the southern access to the Valley of Virginia. The naturalization documents include the ancestor’s name, date of birth, place of birth, date and port of emigration from Europe and immigration into this country, as well as witnesses. Records are from 1798 to 1879. This work abstracts text of 1700 courthouse documents and provides an alphabetical listing of all immigrants plus an index of full witness names. (1998, 2001). $

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
African American
 * African American Manumissions of Washington County, Maryland. By Marsha Lynne Fuller. This is an essential source book for anyone researching African American ancestors. Washington County was in the middle of two major migratory routes, the National Road and the southern access to the Valley of Virginia. The manumission documents include names and full physical description of the ancestor. They frequently include dates and places of birth as well as names of children. Records are from 1806 to 1862. This work is a full text of courthouse documents in their entirety with an index of all persons. $

Genealogies

 * Beal - Bounds, Eleanor Poe. Biehl/Beal--Kuefer Descendants. Effingham, Ill.: E.P. Bounds, 1997..
 * Fuller - Fuller, Marsha Lynne, CGRS. Family Bible Records in the Washington County Free Library, Hagerstown, Maryland. Westminster, MD: Willow Bend Books, Heritage Books, 2003 $
 * Fry - Fry, Ronald E. Andrew Fry (1765-1842) and Some of His Descendants: With Notes on Allied Families: Motz, Frederick, Secrist and Others ... Monticello, Ind.: R.E. Fry, 1989, c1982..
 * Ginder - Kintner, Elgin P. Ginder--Gindner--Kintner--Lamb connection to Crites--Earhart. MSS. Microfilmed 1982:.
 * Heflibauer - Rohrbach, Lewis Bunker. Hoffelbauer Genealogy, 1585-1993, The American Families Hefelbower, Heffelbower, Heflebower, Hefflebower, Heflybower, Hefflibauer, Heflibauer and Heffelbauer Together with Their German and Austrian Ancestry. Camden, Me.: Picton Press, 1993..
 * Householder - Rogers, Bessie R. The Householders of America: A Genealogy of the Descendants of Jonathan Householder of Butler, Pa., With Families from Pa. and Elsewhere. Salt Lake City, Utah: B.R. Rogers, 1947..
 * Householder - Rogers, Bessie R. Householders of America: A Geneology [i.e. Genealogy] of Johannes Hausshalter, an Early Inhabitant of Maryland and Pennsylvania: With Families from Pennsylvania and Elsewhere of Householder, Housholder and Haushalter. Salt Lake City, Utah: B.R. Rogers, 1948..
 * Nead - Wurstner, Betty Miller. Genealogy of the Matthias Nead Family in America, 1752-1973. Typescript, Dunbar Library, Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio. Copy:.
 * Oliver - Rossin, Richard J. "Otho Oliver of New York City and Washington County, Maryland: His Parents and Descendants," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Vol. 143, No. 1 (Jan. 2012):5-20. Digital version at The New York Genealogical and Biographical Society ($);.
 * Parrott - Parrott, Irma Holter et al. Historical and Biographical Sketch, Parrott - Parrotte Family. 1954-1955..
 * Randolph - Randolph, Blanche Willie Grace and Deborah Ann Kraemer Small. The Randolphs of Prince William County, Virginia. Little Rock, Arkansas: B. Randolph, 1979.
 * Randolph - Small, Deborah Ann Kraemer and Blanche Willie Grace Randolph. The Randolphs of Prince William County, Virginia, Volume II. Winter Park, Florida: D. Small, 1989.
 * Randolph - Raski, Arma, James Randolph, and Glenita Guthrie. Additions, corrections to Vol. II, the Randolphs of Prince William Co., VA by Deborah K. Small.
 * Rule - Rule, William. The Rule Family of East Tennessee and Extended Points. Knoxville, Tenn.: W. Rule III, 1984..
 * Rule - Rule, William. Up-date of "The Rule of East Tennessee and Extended Points." Knoxville, Tenn.: W. Rule, 1990s..
 * Shaver - Shaver, Chester L. History of the Shaver Family in Washington County, Maryland and Somerset County, Pennsylvania. 2 vols. Clear Water, Md.: Jean Woods, 1980..
 * Shockey - Shockey, Donald E. and Thelma Irene Peterson Shockey. The Shockey Chronicles: Biographical Annals of the Shockey Family. 2 vols. Baltimore, Md.: Gateway Press, c1986..
 * Shryock - History of Colonel Henry Shryock: Ancestor of Miss Nettie Carbaugh, Mrs. T. S. Montgomery, Miss Sarah Sryock, Miss Lynn Carbough, Miss Elissa Montgomery, Mrs. John J. Klouss, Miss Louise Lemley, Mrs. K. P. Jones, Mrs. William Miller, Jr., Colonel William Byrd Chapter, Wichester, Virginia. Typescript. Microfilmed 1978:.
 * Shultz - Bushman, Katherine G. Shultz of Augusta County, Virginia: Being A Supplement to the Material Recorded in The Genealogical Record of the Schwenkfelder Families, Edited by Samuel K. Brecht, 1923. Staunton, Va.: K.G. Bushman, 1974..
 * Slusher - King, Hatcher and Alta King. Turman and Slusher Genealogy, 1757-1974: Christopher Slusher Sr., Wife, Eva, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, Fredrick, Washington counties, Maryland, Montgomery, Floyd counties, Virginia. MSS. Microfilmed 1974-1975:.
 * Studebaker - Studebaker Family National Association and Ruth Epler Studebaker. The Studebaker Family: From the Palatinate Germany to America 1736, Our Forefathers Clement, Heinrich, Peter Studebaker. Tipp City, Ohio: Studebaker Family National Association, 1966-. 47+ vols..
 * Vanswearingen - Daniels, Frances C.T. Some Descendants of Garrett Vanswearingen of St. Mary's, Maryland. Georgetown, Del.: A.B. and R.P. Thompson, 1983. Digital version at FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Williams - Birch, Nicki Peak. "Tracking Basil Williams of Maryland and Pennsylvania Through Changing Residences and Multiple Marriages," National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 96, No. 1 (March 2008):23-37.

Land and Property Records
Through a Joint eGovernment Service of the Maryland Judiciary and the Maryland State Archives, free images and indexes of the complete series of Washington County Deed Books (1776-present) have been uploaded to their website: MDLandRec.Net: A Digital Image Retrieval System for Land Records in Maryland. (Requires free registration.)

Local Histories

 * History of Leitersburg District, Washington County, Md.. 1898. By Herbert Charles Bell. Leitersburg, Md. : H.C. Bell. Online at: Internet Archive;.
 * A History of Washington County, Maryland, from the Earliest Settlements... . 2 volumes. 1906. By Thomas John Chew Williams. Hagerstown : n.p. Online at: Vol. 1 - Internet Archive; . Vol. 1 contains county history; vol. 2 contains biographical material.
 * History of Western Maryland. 2 volumes. 1882. By J. Thomas Scharf. Philadelphia : L. H. Everts. Online at: Vols. 1 & 2 - Hathitrust, Vol. 1 - Internet Archive, Vol. 2 - Internet Archive;.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Gazetteers
 * Profiles for 248 Populated Places in Washington County MarylandFor more information about Gazetteers in Maryland please refer to the Maryland Gazetteers page.


 * Interactive Map of Maryland County Formation History
 * Washington County USGenWeb Project This site has numerous old maps and/or links to old maps online of Washington County, including the map of the original patent holders of the county, Washington County Hundreds, 1859 William Taggert Map, 1877 Illustrated Atlas, 1879 Ilustrated Atlas, and 1895 County Atlas.
 * 1877 Washington County Atlas is an Illustrated Atlas of Washington County, Maryland and was published in 1877 by Lake, Griffing &amp; Stevenson of Philadelphia.
 * 1895 Atlas of Washington County.
 * Military Maps by David Rumsey of Washington County in the 1800's.
 * Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection has State Maps, City Maps, Maps of National Parks, Monuments, and Historic Sites.

Military Records

 * A Census of Pensioners for Revolutionary or Military Services: With their Names, Ages, and Places of Residence, as Returned by the Marshalls of the Several Judicial Districts, Under the Act for Taking the Sixth Census. 1841. Digital version at Google Books. 1967 reprint: 973 X2pc 1840. See Maryland, Washington County on page 127.
 * List of Pensioners on the Roll, January 1, 1883; Giving the Name of Each Pensioner, the Cause for Why Pensioned, the Post-Office Address, the Rate of Pension Per Month, and the Date of Original Allowance... Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1883. 973 M2Lp v. 5; digital versions at Google Books and Internet Archive. See Vol. 5, Maryland, Washington County, pp. 156-159. Identifies War of 1812 veterans living in this county in 1883.

The 1778 Oath of Fidelity lists for Washington County have been published in:


 * Brumbaugh, Gaius Marcus. Revolutionary Records of Maryland. Washington, D.C.: R.H. Darby Print., 1924. Digital version at FamilySearch Digital Library, Ancestry ($)

For more information about the Military in Maryland please refer to the Maryland Military Records page.

Civil War

 * 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
 * 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — index- How to Use this Collection


 * - 1st Regiment, Maryland Infantry, Potomac Home Brigade, Company E, F, and H
 * - 2nd Regiment, Maryland Infantry, Potomac Home Brigade, Company F
 * - 3rd Regiment, Maryland Infantry, Potomac Home Brigade, Company E
 * - 4th Regiment, Maryland Infantry, Potomac Home Brigade, Company A
 * - 6th Regiment, Maryland Infantry, Company H
 * - 7th Regiment, Maryland Infantry, Company A and I


 * Roster of Civil War Soldiers from Washington County Maryland. Second Edition. By Roger Keller. Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing Company, Inc., 2008. Online at: Ancestry ($).

Civil War Battle The following Civil War battles were fought in Washington County:


 * January 5-6, 1862 Hancock
 * September 14, 1862 South Mountain, also known as Crampton's, Turner's, and Fox's Gaps
 * September 16-18, 1862 Antietam
 * July 6-16 Williamsport, also known as Hagerstown and Falling Waters
 * July 8, 1863 Boonsboro


 * Map showing Civil War battles in Maryland


 * The Bivouacs of the Dead: The Story of those Who Died at Antietam and South Mountain by Steven R. Stotelmyer. Includes histories, maps and rosters of Antietam, Washington, Mt. Olivet and Elmwood Cemeteries.

In Sharpsburg, the Battle of Antietam took place on Sept 17, 1862. This tragic battle found 23,110 men that had been either killed, wounded, or listed as missing. If they didn't die in the battle, they succumbed to disease or from the wounds that they had received. The little village was turned into a burial ground with the farm of William Roulette becoming the final resting place for 700 soldiers. Other of the dead were buried in fields surrounding this once peaceful little community. Antietam is considered a turning point of the Civil War.


 * Crossroads of war: Washington County, Maryland, in the Civil War by S. Roger Keller. Cross-section of the happenings of both civilians and the military with eyewitness accounts of events in Washington County history.
 * Events of the Civil War in Washington County, Maryland By S. Roger Keller, Dennis E. Frye. 1994. Events of the Civil War shows that War through the eyes of one community drawn from letters, newspapers, regimental histories, diaries, family histories, and published and unpublished archival sources.

Military Websites
 * Battle of Antietam: Two Great American Armies Engage in Combat
 * Confederate Soldiers Online transcription of 1869 record of original Confederate Burials in Washington County, Maryland, including Antietam Battlefield
 * Herald of Freedom and Torch Light newspaper articles about the Battle of Antietam.

World War II

 * 1940-1945 at FamilySearch — index and images - How to Use this Collection

Newspapers
For more information about Newspapers in Maryland please refer to the Maryland Newspapers page.
 * Washington County newspapers are identified in "Guide to Maryland Newspapers," available online, courtesy: Special Collections, Maryland State Archives.
 * The Historic Newspaper Indexing Project had its beginnings in 1980 as an excellent resource for patrons researching Washington County history and genealogy.
 * Washington County and Hagerstown, Maryland historical newspaper articles.
 * 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)

Periodicals

 * Maryland Historical Magazine article found on Google Books: "Washington County, Maryland" by T. J. C Williams

For more information about Maryland Periodicals please refer to the Maryland Periodicals page.

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records


 * Maryland, Wills and Probate Records at findmypast - index
 * 1634-1777 Maryland, Index To Colonial Probate Records, 1634-1777 at findmypast - index
 * 1629-1999 Images of Maryland, Register of Will Books, 1629-1999.
 * 1635-1743 Maryland Calendar of Wills 1635-1743 at Ancestry — index and images ($)
 * 1635-1777 Maryland Wills and Probate Records, 1635-1777 at Ancestry — index and images ($)
 * 1778-1890 Distribution of Estates Accounts, Washington County, Maryland, 1778-1890, Google Books, on microfilm through Family History Library.
 * 1796-1940 at FamilySearch — index and images - How to Use this Collection

Probate records from 1777 are at:
 * Washington County Register of Wills/ Clerk of Orphan's Court 24 Summit Avenue, Room 213 Hagerstown, MD 21740 Phone: 301-739-3612

Social Security Records

 * 1935-2014 at FamilySearch - How to use this collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
 * 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — index, click here for more information.

Tax Records

 * 1783 Washington County Tax List of 1783: This is an alphabetical index to names to all property owners assessed. The index cards at the Maryland State Archives include county, hundred, names of tracts of land and whether individuals were paupers or single males as provided in the law. NOTE: Although the county name is not at the top of this list, it is for Washington County.
 * 1783 "Washington County 1783 Tax Assessment," Western Maryland Genealogy, Vol. 7, No. 2 (Apr. 1991):77-82; Vol. 7, No. 3 (Jul. 1991):119-125; Vol. 7, No. 4 (Oct. 1991):169-174; Vol. 8, No. 1 (Jan. 1992):20-23; Vol. 8, No. 2 (Apr. 1992):65-71; Vol. 8, No. 1 (Jul. 1992):118-126; Vol. 8, No. 4 (Oct. 1992):169-175; Vol. 9, No. 1 (Jan. 1993):23-27; Vol. 9, No. 3 (Jul. 1993):126-131.
 * 1803-1804 Western Maryland's Historical Library has Washington County Taxes. 1803 - 1804

Birth

 * 1650-1995 - index - How to Use this Collection

Marriage

 * 1658-1940 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
 * 1666-1970 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
 * 1778-1860 Marriage records can be found at Distribution of Estates Accounts, Washington County, Maryland, 1778-1860, available
 * 1886-1970 Washington County Marriages. An index and digital images from the Washington County Public Library.
 * Maryland Marriage References by Robert Barnes - free.
 * Marriage Records, Maryland State Archives

Death

 * 1898-1944 Maryland Death Index 1898-1944
 * - How to Use this Collection

Family History Centers

 * Frederick Maryland Family History Center
 * Hancock Maryland Family History Center
 * Franklin County Library System - Coyle Free Library - Pennsylvania - an affiliate library.
 * Meyersdale Public Library - Pennsylvania - an affiliate library.

Libraries
Washington County Free Library 100 South Potomac Street Hagerstown, MD 21740 Phone: 301-739-3250 Website (Multiple locations) Simms Jamieson Historical and Genealogical Library Washington County Historical Society 135 West Washington Street Hagerstown, MD 21740 Phone: 301-797-8782 Email: [mailto:info@washcomdhistoricalsociety.org info@washcomdhistoricalsociety.org] Website

Societies
Washington County Maryland Genealogy Facebook Washington County Historical Society 135 W. Washington Street Hagerstown, MD 21740 Phone: 301-797-8783 Website Smithsburg Historical Society 20 East Water Street P.O. Box 403 Smithsburg, MD 21783 Phone: 301-824-7154 The Maryland National Guard Military Historical Society, Inc. Fifth Regiment Armory 219 29th Division Street Baltimore, MD 21201-2288 Phone: 410-576-1496 Fax: 410-702-9060 Email: [mailto:historian@marylandmilitaryhistory.org historian@marylandmilitaryhistory.org] Website

Websites

 * The Washington County USGenWeb Project This site has online records and links to records for historical and genealogical information pertaining to Washington County, Maryland.
 * FamilyHart Online Database with many Washington County families listed.
 * Washington County, Maryland Genealogy Facebook Group
 * The USGenWeb Archives Project for Washington County.
 * Jew's Genealogy - This website contains information on many families from the Washington County, Maryland area.
 * "Washington Co.," in Genealogical Sources in Periodicals at The Maryland State Archives.
 * - The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection.  Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records