Step-by-Step Michigan Research, 1880-Present

Michigan Step-by-step research 1880--present

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Step 1. Find out everything possible from living relatives and their family records:
Every good genealogy project starts with finding all the clues that can be gathered from living relatives — both from their memories and from documents or memorabilia in their homes.

What should be asked?
In order to extend research, ask for names, dates, and places. Everything about who a relative was and when and where they lived is a clue to a new record search. For ideas, see :
 * Fifty Questions for Family History Interviews What to Ask the Relatives
 * Genealogy: 150 questions to ask family members about their lives
 * Creating Oral Histories

What documents should be collected or copied?
Because these records cover names, dates, places, and relationships, they are a valuable source of clues. Look for them in your home, your parents' home, and ask living grandparents to check for them.

Step 2. Find ancestors in every possible census record, 1880-1950, online.
A census is a count and description of the population of a country, state, county, or city for a given date. A census took a "snapshot" of a family on a certain day. For each person living in a household their name, age, birthplace, relationship to head of household, place of birth for father and mother, citizenship status, year of immigration, mother of how many children and number of children living, native language, and whether they were a veteran of the military can be listed, depending on the year.



Use the clues found through family sources to lead to census record searches.
Let's assume that, for example, this old military release is found in the home of a relative. Analyzing this document tells which census records to search for the family. Between 1928 and 1946, there are two censuses that should be searched: 1930 and 1940, in St. Clair County, Michigan.
 * The document shows that John P. Pemberton was born in 1928 in Port Huron, Michigan.
 * In 1946, he enlisted in the military at Port Huron, St. Clair County, Michigan.

1940 census of Port Huron, St. Clair County, Michigan

1930 census of Port Huron, St. Clair County, Michigan

Notice the new information found: The next step would be to search the 1910 and 1920 census for John V. Pemberton listed living with his parents. - Here is the next generation. The next step would be to search for Lovell listed in his parents' home in the 1880 and 1900 U.S. censuses and the 1884, 1894, and 1904 Michigan state censuses. - 1880 census of Mt. Clemens, Macomb County, Michigan
 * John P. Pemberton's parents were John V. and Mabel E. Pemberton.
 * They were born in about 1908 and 1910 in Michigan.
 * Five of his siblings are listed: Eva M., William H., Franklin M., Evelyn M., and Nancy L.
 * John V. Pemberton, father of our John P. Pemberton, was the son of Lovell and Alvina Pemberton.
 * They were also born in Michigan, in about 1878 and 1887.

Here are the search results.
 * The Michigan state censuses, it turns out, do not cover every county, particularly St. Clair and Macomb County.
 * The indexes did not show Lovell Pemberton in 1900, but he did show up in an 1880 index.
 * His parents are John and Mary Pemberton:, both born in Canada, with parents born in New York.



Find your ancestors in as many censuses as possible. Use the clues from each census for hints where to find families in both earlier and later census records.
For more information, see Michigan Census and United States Census.

Step 3: Find birth, marriage, and death certificates for ancestors and their children.
States, counties, or even towns in some states recorded births, marriages, and deaths.
 * In addition to the child's name, birth date, and place of birth, a birth certificate may give the birthplaces of the parents, their ages, and occupations. *A marriage certificate might list the parents of the bride and groom.
 * A death certificate may give the person's birth date and place, parents' names and birthplaces, and spouse's name.

Using census clues to lead to a marriage certificate.
The census records identified three generations of Pemberton couples. In each case, the census record does not give the maiden name of the mother. Finding marriage records can: Guess that the marriage would be recorded searching in the year of the first child's birth working backwards in time.
 * establish the full identity of the wife, with her maiden name and possible birth details.
 * find the names of the parents of the bride and groom.

Using census clues to lead to a death certificate.
Moving forward in time, older generations stop showing up in the census. That is a clue that they probably died in the last 10 years. The death certificate is important because of all the possible secondary data beyond just the date and place of death:
 * birth date and place of the deceased
 * maiden name of the wife
 * names of the deceased's parents
 * birth places of the deceased's parents.

Study what you have found and what you need to find:
- For more information on birth, marriage, and death records in Michigan, see How to Find Michigan Birth Records, How to Find Michigan Marriage Records, and How to Find Michigan Death Records.

How to Find the Records
There are basically three ways to find these indexes or full original certificates:
 * online databases
 * writing to a county courthouse (prior to state civil registration beginning in 1867)
 * purchasing them from the state through the mail

Records at the County Courthouse.
These records were originally created by county clerks, and then copies were sent to the state. County clerks can be willing to help find all the birth records for one family or perform other searches that the state would not do. To contact county clerks by e-mail or telephone, go to the Wiki article for each county. Links to the county Wiki articles are found at the end of this page or by clicking here: Michigan Counties.

Ordering certificates through the mail.
Almost always the full original certificate will contain information not contained in the index. Although it costs money, consider sending for the full original certificates, particularly for direct line ancestors (grandparents, great-grandparents, etc).


 * Where to Write for Vital Records

Step 4: Try to find additional details about ancestors in obituaries, cemetery records, and Social Security records online.
There are additional record collections available, based upon a person's death: obituaries, cemetery records, and Social Security records. These are a great source for more details about a person. Here are some examples; notice the level of details.

Now you try it. Gather as many obituaries, cemetery records, and Social Security records as possible.
For more information, see Michigan Obituaries and Michigan Cemeteries.

Obituary Collections

 * Index and image.
 * Online Michigan Death Records &amp; Indexes, links by county
 * Obits Archive Michigan
 * Obituaries Help Michigan
 * Michigan Obituaries
 * Web: Southwest Michigan, Obituary Index, 1875-2012, index, ($)
 * — index and images

Cemetery Record Collections

 * Online Michigan Death Records &amp; Indexes, links by county
 * Findagrave.com
 * Michigan Cemetery Records at Interment.net
 * BillionGraves.com Michigan Cemeteries
 * USGenWeb Michigan Tombstone Transcription Project.
 * Web: Indiana and Michigan, Michiana Genealogical Cemetery Index, 1800-2010 Index only ($)
 * Michigan Linkpendium
 * Michigan Cemetery Records (Michigan Genealogy), Cemetery inscriptions online organized by county and city.
 * I Dream of Genealogy Michigan Cemeteries
 * I Dream of Genealogy Michigan Cemeteries

U.S. Social Security Death Index and Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007

 * The U.S. Social Security program began in 1935 but most deaths recorded in the index happened after 1962.
 * The Social Security Death index includes those who had a Social Security number and/or applied for benefits.
 * You can search these records online at
 * Also at Ancestry.com, ($), index.
 * The Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 picks up where the Social Security Death Index (SSDI) leaves off, by providing information filed in the application or claims process.
 * The Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 picks up where the Social Security Death Index (SSDI) leaves off, by providing information filed in the application or claims process.


 * If you find your ancestor in the SSDI index, you can order a copy of their original Social Security application (SS-5). If you can prove the individual has died (by sending an obituary or copy of their cemetery headstone), the application will also give the deceased's parents' names, if listed.

Step 5: Search military records: World War I and World War II draft cards.
There are many different types of military records: draft records, enlistment records, service records, pension records, etc. Information in military records can vary from a simple list of name, age, and residence, to more detailed records including name, residence, age, occupation, marital status, birthplace, physical description, number of dependents, pensions received, disabled veterans, needy veterans, widows or orphans of veterans, and other information. '''Although more recent drafts required just 18-year-olds to register, World War I draft records covered men born between 1873-1897. The World War II draft covered a wide range of ages also. These records are the most likely to have records for the Pemberton men.'''

'''Now you try it. Search the World War I and World War II Draft Collections for your male relatives.
- For more information and additional collections, see Michigan Military Records.
 * , index and images.
 * , index and images.

Step 6: Look for church records.
Church records function as vital records. An infant christening or baptism record documents a birth. Many, if not most, people are married in a church, and then a record is created by the minister. Likewise, ministers presided over funerals, then creating a burial record, which documents a death. Church records are particularly helpful prior to the advent of civil registration in 1867. The Pemberton children recorded in this church baptism register may or may not be related to those we have been studying, but a record for them would have looked somewhat like this. Example of a church record: baptism or christening.

'''Now you try it. Follow the instructions and links in these articles to search for possible church records that might fill in the gaps for you.
Try these online records: - These are the easiest records to access, but more records are available:
 * 1819-1991 at FamilySearch  - How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1775-1995 at FamilySearch  - How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1822-1995 at FamilySearch  - How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1865-1931 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; images
 * 1800-1995 at FamilySearch  - How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1695-1954 U.S., French Catholic Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1695-1954, ($), index
 * 1867-1911 Michigan, Births and Christenings Index, 1867-1911 ($)
 * 1817-1850 Michigan Marriages 1817 to 1850 Index only ($)
 * 1867-1995 Michigan, Deaths and Burials Index, 1867-1995 ($)
 * For help with church records kept in Michigan, see Michigan Church Records.
 * To search records by denomination, if you know your ancestors religion, go to Searching for Church Records by Denomination.

Step 7: Search for online wills and probate packets.
For more information, see U.S. Probate Records Class Handout. - One page from the probate packet of Susanna Pemberton. Notice the listing of her children and their places of residence at the bottom of the page. Relationships can be the most valuable information in wills and probate records. The full Probate packet of Susanna Pemberton has 14 pages of different legal instruments. -


 * County probate records include '''probate proceedings, petitions, affidavits, orders for sales, reports of sales, administrators' and executors' bonds, guardianship papers, wills, and letters of administration.
 * In a will book, usually just a transcription of the will is recorded. But all of these other records are kept in a probate packet.
 * Administrations are probate proceedings that handled an estate if no known will existed.

Now you try it. Search these indexes and images for any probate records of your ancestors.

 * Michigan, Wills and Probate Records, 1784-1980, ($), index and images, incomplete.
 * Images
 * United States Wills and Deeds Experimental Search: Michigan

Step 8: If any ancestor was an immigrant, search immigration and naturalization records online.
The census records may show that an ancestor was born in another country. It will be necessary to try to find the town or city they were born in to continue research in the country of origin. Searches of immigration records (usually passenger lists) and naturalization (citizenship) records would be the next step. (Very early Pemberton families were from Canada but arrived long before these records were kept.)

Michigan Immigration Records

 * United States Immigration Online Genealogy Recordss
 * 1895-1956: US Border Crossings from Canada at MyHeritage; index & images, ($)
 * 1903-1965: Michigan Arriving Passenger and Crew Lists at Ancestry; index & images, ($)
 * 1905-1963: Detroit, Michigan Border Crossings and Passenger and Crew Lists at Ancestry; index & images, ($)
 * 1906-1954: at FamilySearch; index & images

Michigan Naturalization and Citizenship Online Records

 * United States Naturalization and Citizenship Online Genealogy Records
 * Michigan Eastern District Naturalizations Index only ($)
 * Michiganology Naturalization.
 * 1887-1931 - Michigan, Federal Naturalization Records, 1887-1931, index & images ($).
 * 1907-1995 - U.S. Naturalization Records Indexes for Michigan - Eastern and Southern Districts - U.S. District Court, 1907-1995 ($)

Local Histories

 * Published histories of towns, counties, and states sometimes contain biographies and accounts of early or prominent families.
 * Here are several websites that feature online copies of printed county histories:
 * Hathi Trust Digital Library. Don't use the keywords Michigan; that will bring up too many hits. Just use the name of the county and "county": for example, "Hyde County"
 * Google Books. Use keywords "Michigan" and the county name. Hits will list online readable books, lists of libraries that carry ;the book, and purchasing opportunities.
 * Family History Books
 * Internet Archive.Use keywords "Michigan" and the county name.
 * Ancestry.com, ($). In the Card Catalog search box, use Michigan and the name of the county.

FamilySearch Collected Local Histories

 * Local histories are extensively collected by the FamilySearch Library, public and university libraries, and state and local historical societies.
 * If you have access to the FamilySearch Library or a FamilySearch center, you can find local histories by:
 * Go to the FamilySearch Catalog.
 * In the "Place" field, type the name of your county and click "Search".
 * A list of subheadings for the county will appear. Local histories containing genealogies and biographies will be found under Biography, Genealogy, History, or History - Indexes.

Biography Collections
These collections of biographies can be searched online. Most have a table of contents and an index. Or you can use the "Find" function on your computer.
 * County Histories and Atlases, with biographies
 * Michigan Biographical Index.
 * Biographies &amp; Memoirs in Michigan History
 * Michigan Biographies, ($), index
 * Massachusetts Pioneers to the West Index, ($), index
 * Michigan, a centennial history of the state and its people, ($), index
 * Michigan Memories, 1837-87, ($), index
 * Michigan Biographical Sketches, 1870-1900, ($), index
 * Michigan Biographies, 1878, ($), index
 * Michigan pioneer experiences, 1710-1880 : with genealogical data and anecdotes, ($), index
 * Portrait and biographical record of northern Michigan, containing portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States
 * Michigan Biographical Index, use alphabetical links on the right side
 * But men are more interesting than rivers : Michigan biography, e-book

Step 10: Contact a county historical or genealogical society.
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 * County historical societies have collections that are frequently little known and often overlooked.
 * Many have a surname file, where they have collected genealogies, newspaper clippings, old photographs, etc.
 * Many have a sort of "pioneer ancestor" program, where people can submit pedigrees to prove they are the descendants of an early resident of the county. :*Most keep track of queries about families that once lived in the area from other distant relatives who may actually have more family memorabilia than you.
 * Many have a sort of "pioneer ancestor" program, where people can submit pedigrees to prove they are the descendants of an early resident of the county. :*Most keep track of queries about families that once lived in the area from other distant relatives who may actually have more family memorabilia than you.

- This online directory by GenealogyInc. lists historical and genealogical societies by county: Click on the map to select a county, then scroll down to the historical or genealogical society listings. Here is an example of an internet website for a local genealogical society.
 * If you can find the society on the internet, they may list their holdings. Or call them on the phone, find out what they have, and find out what arrangements can be made to search their collection. Frequently, you can hire one of their members to search the collection for you.

Historical Images
Records collected and digitized by FamilySearch can all be found through their Historical Images feature.
 * Michigan, United States Historical Images, New Version
 * Michigan, United States Historical Images, Old Version

Michigan Online Genealogy Records
The steps given here are intended to list a few record sources which can most efficiently identify descendants. Many other online records which might or might not mention descendants are listed in the Michigan Online Genealogy Records page, including compiled genealogies, immigration records, land records, military records, newspapers, and probate records, and others.
 * Michigan Online Genealogy Records

Step 12: Study the Research Wiki pages for any county in Michigan.
This article focused more on Michigan state or state-wide records. There is a separate Wiki article for each county in Michigan. This can help you with other records kept on a county level.