Step-by-Step Michigan Research, 1850-1910

Michigan Step-by-Step Research, 1850--1910 Step-by-Step Research, 1880-present Step-by-Step Research, 1850--1910

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 are the best questions to ask?
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 :


 * 50 Questions to Ask Relatives About Family History at ThoughtCo.com
 * Creating Oral Histories at FamilySearch Wiki

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, 1850-1950, online.
Example of a census record.
 * A census is a count and description of the population for a given date. A census took a "snapshot" of a family on a certain day.
 * For each person living in a household (depending on the year), 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.
 * Searching for a family in census records every ten years can identify all the children in a family.
 * Searching in earlier census records to find someone as a child can identify parents.





Michigan State Censuses
- For more information, see Michigan Census and United States Census.

Step 3: Try to find additional details in death certificates, Social Security, obituary and cemetery records online.
When a person dies, several records will be created: death certificates, Social Security records, obituaries, and cemetery records.
 * Death certificates can give birth information for people born before actual birth registration began. Death certificates frequently give the birth date and place, parents' names, and birth places of parents.


 * The Social Security Death Index includes those who had a Social Security number and/or applied for benefits. The index entries give the person's full birth date, last known residence, and residence at the time they first enrolled.


 * The Social Security Applications and Claims Index provides information filed in the application or claims process, including valuable details such as birth date, birth place, and parents’ names.


 * Cemetery records can be as simple as the information on the headstone or, in some FindAGrave records, they can report more thorough information about birth, parents, spouses, children, and siblings.



Death Indexes

 * 1800-1995 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1867-1897 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1867-1952 Michigan, U.S., Death Records, 1867-1952 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
 * 1867-1995 Michigan, U.S., Deaths and Burials Index, 1867-1995 at Ancestry — index ($)
 * 1897-1929 Michigan, U.S., Death Records, 1897-1929 at Ancestry — index ($)
 * 1921-1952 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1971-1996 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index; Also at: Ancestry ($)
 * Death Records at Michiganology — index
 * Online Michigan Death Records and Indexes at DeathIndexes.com — index

Writing for Full Death Certificates
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 Michigan Birth, Marriage, Death and Divorce Records at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC.gov

U.S. Social Security Records

 * 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


 * 1935-2014 U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014 at Ancestry — index ($)
 * 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry — index ($); Picks up where the Social Security Death Index (SSDI) leaves off by providing information filed in the application or claims process
 * 1962-2014 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index


 * If you find an 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.

Obituary Collection

 * 1820-2006 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1875-2012 Web: Southwest Michigan, U.S., Obituary Index, 1875-2012 at Ancestry — index ($)
 * 1980-2014 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * Michigan Newspapers and Obituaries at LDS Genealogy — index
 * Michigan Obituaries at ObitsArchive.com — index & images ($)
 * Michigan Obituaries Help and Genealogy Resources at ObituariesHelp.org — index
 * Online Michigan Death Records and Indexes at DeathIndexes.com — index

Cemetery Record Collections

 * 1799-1999 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1800-2010 Web: Indiana and Michigan, U.S., Michiana Genealogical Cemetery Index, 1800-2010 at Ancestry — index ($)
 * 1949-1969 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
 * BillionGraves — index & images
 * at FamilySearch — How to Use This Collection; index; Also at: Findmypast ($)
 * FindaGrave — index & images
 * at FamilySearch — How to Use This Collection; index; Also at: Ancestry ($)
 * Michigan Cemeteries at I Dream of Genealogy — index
 * Michigan Cemetery Records at AccessGenealogy — index
 * Michigan Cemetery Records at LDS Genealogy — index
 * Michigan Death Records and Michigan Cemetery Records at Interment.net — index
 * Michigan: Family History & Genealogy, Census, Birth, Marriage, Death Vital Records and More at Linkpendium — index
 * Michigan Tombstone Project at USGenWebTombstones — index
 * Online Michigan Death Records and Indexes at DeathIndexes.com — index

For more information, see Michigan Obituaries and Michigan Cemeteries.

Step 4: Search for county birth and marriage records online.
'''Vital records registration of births and marriages at the state level started in 1867. Prior to that the individual counties kept some records. The starting dates of those records vary from county to county, depending on when the county was formed.'''

Online Records
Births Marriages
 * Index only.
 * Index and Images.
 * , index and images.
 * Michigan, Births and Christenings Index, 1867-1911 ($)
 * Michigan Marriages to 1850 Index only ($)
 * Index and Images.
 * — index
 * Index only.
 * Michigan Marriages, 1851-1875 Index only ($)
 * Michigan, Marriage Records, 1867-1952($)
 * Index and images.
 * Michigan marriage records, 1870-1887($)

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.

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.

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.'''



Search the World War I and World War II Draft Collections for 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. Church records are particularly helpful prior to the advent of civil registration in 1867.
 * 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.

'''Example of a church record: baptism or christening. '''



Search for church records that can provide additional birth, marriage, and death information.
- 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 an ancestor's religion, go to Searching for Church Records by Denomination.

Step 7: Search for online wills and probate packets.

 * 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.

Search these indexes and images for probate records.

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

Probate Information in County Wiki Articles
Each Michigan county Research Wiki page lists additional probate sources, including where to write for records: Michigan Counties

For more information, see Michigan Probate Records and United States Probate Records.

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 ($)

Step 9: Search land records online.
These records will give the They can contain clues to
 * names of the buyer (grantee) and seller (grantor),
 * previous or new residence of the parties to the deed
 * the date they obtained the land,
 * the description of exact location of the land, sometimes mentioning neighbors.
 * family members who shared ownership of the land,
 * sold or gave land to a child, or
 * officially witnessed the sale.

Search for any ancestor's land records.

 * United States Wills and Deeds Experimental Search: Michigan
 * Pre-1908 Michigan, Homestead and Cash Entry Patents, Pre-1908 at Ancestry ($)
 * 1788-1960s U.S. Land Patent Search at Bureau of Land Management, index and some records
 * 1820-1908 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; images only
 * 1861-1932 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection, images
 * 1863-1908 U.S., Homestead Records, 1863-1908 at Ancestry - index and images ($)
 * Survey Plats and Field Notes at Bureau of Land Management - index
 * Land Owner Search at Historygeo.com ($), index to maps of original land owners

For more information, see Michigan Land and Property and United States Land and Property.

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
 * County and Town Histories:*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 use the "Find" function on a 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 11: Contact a local historical or genealogical society.
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 * 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 area.
 * Most keep track of queries about families that once lived in the area from other distant relatives who may actually have more family memorabilia.
 * Most keep track of queries about families that once lived in the area from other distant relatives who may actually have more family memorabilia.

- The online directory by GenealogyInc. lists historical and genealogical societies by county: Click on the list 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.
 * Find the society on the internet, and 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, one of their members can be hired to search the collection for you.
 * For more information, see Michigan Societies. Here you will find societies focusing on First Nations, African-American, Cornish, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Flemish, French-Canadian (includes Acadian, Cajun and Metis), German, Irish, Italian, Jewish, Polish, and Scottish.

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 13: 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. These articles give information, office addresses, and links to county records.