Step-by-Step California Research, 1850-1905

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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 information can relatives help with??
In order to extend research on ancestors, look for names, dates, and places. Any information about when and where a relative lived is a clue to a new record search. Be sure to ask questions that lead to that information, including about their occupations, military service, or associations with others, such as fraternal organizations. See also:


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

Step 2: Search the 1900, 1880, 1870, 1860, and 1850 census records 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 you might find (depending on the year) their name, age, birthplace, relationship to head of household, place of birth for father and mother, citizenship stat

Using family clues to lead to census record searches.
A grandmother, Juanita Cooper, says that '''Since Juanita was born just eight years before the 1900 census, the first step would be to search the 1900 census. At the age of eight, she ought to be living with Bob and Terry Johnson either in Texas of in Monterey, California'''. - The 1900 census of Monterey, California.
 * she was born 24 June 1892 in Texas
 * but her parents were from Monterey, California
 * all of her siblings were born in Monterey, California
 * her parents were Bob and Terry Johnson.

Finding the next generation back.
Working back in time, the next goal would be to find Robert F. Johnson in the 1860, 1870, and 1880 censuses of California.
 * In the 1900 census "Bob" Johnson's full name was Robert F. Johnson,.
 * He was born in May 1860 in California.

1880 census of Monterey City, Monterey, California

1870 census of Monterey township, Monterey, California

1860 census of Alisal, Monterey, California

These censuses show that Robert F. Johnson was the son of William S. and Louisa Johnson. They identify seven of their children. They show that William E. Johnson was born in England.



Step 3: Collect additional details in death certificates, Social Security records, obituaries, and cemetery records online.
These are record collections that document a person's death. The value of these records is that they are available in recent record collections but give details during earlier times, even times when birth and marriage records were not kept.

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For more information, see California Obituaries and California Cemeteries.

Step 4: Search for county birth and marriage records online.
Counties recorded births, marriages, and deaths prior to state civil registration which began in 1905. Records may state: Births (and Deaths)
 * The child's name, birth date, and place of birth
 * Birthplaces of the parents, their ages, and occupations.
 * Spouse's name.
 * 1866-1910 California, Great Registers, 1866-1910 at MyHeritage — index ($)


 * 1800-1994 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1812-1988 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index; Also at: Ancestry ($)
 * 1849-1994 California, U.S., County Birth and Death Records, 1849-1994 at Ancestry — images ($)
 * 1872-1987 California, U.S., Birth Records from Select Counties, 1872-1987 at Ancestry — index & images ($)

Records at the County Courthouse.
These record examples were originally created by county clerks. 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: California Counties.

World War 1 Draft Registration

 * One of the most helpful military records is the draft registration of 1917-1918. During three separate registrations, men born between 1873-1897 were required to register in the draft for World War I. Cards may give birth date, birth place, residence, occupation, employer, physical description, next of kin (usually the wife or mother), and number of dependents. Search for your male relatives born in this time period at:


 * 1917-1918 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

World War II Draft Registration
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Civil War Pensions

 * Pensions were given to Union Civil War soldiers who sustained war-related disabilities from the Federal Government.
 * There are several Civil War pension indexes online:


 * 1861-1917 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1861-1934 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * This collection indexes approved pension case files of widows and other dependents of soldiers submitted between 1861 and 1934 and sailors between 1910 and 1934. The pension files are being uploaded and attached to this index as they become available. If the pension images are not available, they must be obtained from the National Archives. The wife's maiden name is used in the index along with her married name.


 * 1861-1934 U.S., Civil War Pension Index: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
 * 1887-1942 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * This collection consists of two card indexes to widows who had applied for a pension renewal. The first covers service between 1812-1860 and the second covers service in the Civil War and later. This is helpful in locating a woman in census and death records under her new surname.


 * Civil War Pensions Index at Fold3 — index & images ($)

Pension Records for Other Wars
These records might help by naming a wife or widow of a veteran who settled in California.
 * 1798-1914 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * This record gives name, rank, regiment, company commander, regimental commander, height, weight, color of eyes, hair, complexion, age, occupation, county or state of birth, date and place of enlistment, miscellaneous remarks. Additional records include Indian Scouts, 1878-1914.


 * 1800-1900 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
 * This record might help by naming a wife or widow of a Revolutionary War veteran who settled in California.


 * 1815-1926 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1887-1926 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1892-1926 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

For a more complete list of available online military records and indexes, see United States Online Military Records.

Military Indexes Unique to California

 * 1861-1867 Records of California Men in the War of the Rebellion, 1861 to 1867 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
 * 1917-1918 California, U.S., World War I Soldier Photographs, 1917-1918 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
 * 1917-1918 California, U.S., World War I Soldier Service Cards and Photos, 1917-1918 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
 * 1918 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1918-1921 California, U.S., World War I Death Announcements, 1918-1921 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
 * 1918-1921 California, U.S., World War I Soldier Citations, 1918-1921 at Ancestry — index & 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.
 * 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.



FamilySearch Historical Records

 * 1776-2000 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1812-1988 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1850-1945 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1864-1985 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index

Congregational

 * (*) American Missionary Association (Congregational) at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Dutch Reformed

 * 1639-1989 U.S., Dutch Reformed Church Records in Selected States, 1639-1989 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
 * 1701-1995 U.S., Selected States Dutch Reformed Church Membership Records, 1701-1995 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
 * 1856-1970 U.S., Dutch Christian Reformed Church Vital Records, 1856-1970 at Ancestry — index & images ($)

Lutheran

 * 1781-1969 U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Church Records, 1781-1969 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
 * 1800-1947 U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Swedish American Church Records, 1800-1947 at Ancestry — index & images ($)

Presbyterian

 * 1701-1970 U.S., Presbyterian Church Records, 1701-1970 at Ancestry — index & images ($)

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 * For help with church records kept in California, see California 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 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.

 * 1833-1991 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1850-1953 California, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1850-1953 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
 * Early California Wills at Ancestry — index & images ($)

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

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

Step 8: Search land records online.
They can be useful in tracking an ancestor who lived in more than one county in California. With the additional county name where the family lived, the probate and vital records of that county can then be searched.
 * These records will give the name of the owner, the date they obtained the land, the county, and the exact location of the land.
 * They can contain clues to family members who shared ownership of the land, sold or gave land to a child, or witnessed the sale.
 * Sometimes they show the previous or new residence of the parties to the deed.


 * 1784-1868 California, U.S., Spanish Land Records, 1784-1868 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
 * 1788-Current U.S. Land Patent Search at Bureau of Land Management — index and some records
 * 1800-1955 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1827-1871 Spanish and Mexican Land Grant Records at California State Archives — index & images
 * 1921-1952 California, U.S., Alien Land Ownership Records, 1921-1952 at Ancestry — index & images ($)

Step 9: If any ancestor was an immigrant, search immigration and naturalization records online.
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.



California

 * 1500-Onward All U.S. and Canada, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s at Ancestry — index & images ($); includes those with destination of California Also at: MyHeritage ($)
 * 1882-1959 California, U.S., Arriving Passenger and Crew Lists, 1882-1959 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
 * 1893-1957 California Passenger Lists, 1893-1957 at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
 * 1895-1956 United States, Border Crossings from Canada, 1895-1956 at MyHeritage — index & images ($); includes those with destination of California
 * 1895-1964 All U.S., Border Crossings from Mexico to U.S., 1895-1964 at Ancestry — index & images ($); includes those with destination of California
 * 1907-1956 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1920-1939 Germany, Bremen Emigration Lists, 1920-1939 at MyHeritage — index ($); includes those with destination of California
 * 1947-1948 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * Germans Immigrating to the United States at MyHeritage — index ($); includes those with destination of California
 * Immigrant Ships Transcribers Guild at MyHeritage — index ($)
 * Italians Immigrating to the United States at MyHeritage — index ($): includes those with destination of California
 * One Step Webpages by Stephen P. Morse at SteveMorse.org; Links to free and $ online passenger lists
 * Russians Immigrating to the United States at MyHeritage — index ($); includes those with destination of California

Los Angeles

 * 1900-1948 United States, Passenger and Crew Lists - California, Los Angeles, San Pedro, and Wilmington Passenger Lists, 1900-1948 at Findmypast — index ($)
 * 1907-1948 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1907-1948 (*) United States Immigration and Naturalization Service and Claire Prechtel-Kluskens at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1907-1948 (*) United States Immigration and Naturalization Service, Charles Ponders and Claire Prechtel-Kluskens at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Mexico

 * 1895-1964 U.S., Border Crossings from Mexico to U.S., 1895-1964 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
 * 1907-1956 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1908-1952 (*) United States Immigration and Naturalization Service and Claire Prechtel-Kluskens at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1910-1952 (*) United States Immigration and Naturalization Service and Claire Prechtel-Kluskens at FamilySearch Catalog — images

San Diego

 * 1904-1952 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images; Also at: Findmypast ($)
 * 1905-1923 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1929-1954 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images; Also at: Ancestry ($), Findmypast ($)

San Francisco

 * 1850-1864 San Francisco Ship Passenger Lists Vol. I (1850-1864), Vol. II (1850-1851), Vol. III (November 7, 1851 to June 17, 1852) at Ancestry — index & images ($)
 * 1882-1888 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1882-1947 California, San Francisco Chinese Passenger Lists, 1882-1947 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1882-1953 United States, California Immigration Office Special Inquiry Records at Findmypast — index & images ($)
 * 1883-1924 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1886-1890 United States, Passenger and Crew Lists - California, San Francisco, Shangaiers Crew List, 1886-1890 at Findmypast — index ($)
 * 1893-1934 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1893-1953 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images; Also at Findmypast ($)
 * 1896-1921 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1903-1918 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1903-1944 California, U.S., Index to Chinese Exclusion Case Files, 1903-1944 at Ancestry — index ($)
 * 1907-1911 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1910-1941 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1912-1943 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1912-1946 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1918 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1928-1942 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1930-1949 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1936-1949 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1954-1957 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * One Step Webpages by Stephen Morse at StephMorse.org — index; Links to free and paid online passenger lists

San Pedro

 * 1900-1948 California, Los Angeles, San Pedro, and Wilmington Passenger Lists, 1900-1948 at Findmypast — index ($)
 * 1907-1948 (*) United States Immigration and Naturalization Service and Claire Prechtel-Kluskens at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1907-1948 (*) United States Immigration and Naturalization Service, Charles Ponders and Claire Prechtel-Kluskens at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1930-1936 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

Ventura

 * 1907-1956 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index

Passport Records Online

 * 1795-1925 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images; Also at: Ancestry ($)

California Naturalization and Citizenship Online Records

 * United States Naturalization and Citizenship Online Genealogy Records


 * 1794-1995 U.S., Naturalization Records Indexes, 1794-1995 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
 * 1831-1985 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1840-1957 U.S., Naturalization Records, 1840-1957 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
 * 1843-1999 California, U.S., Federal Naturalization Records, 1843-1999 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
 * 1850-1986 California, U.S., State Court Naturalization Records, 1850-1986 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
 * 1852-1932 Shasta County, California, U.S., Naturalization Records, 1852-1932 at Ancestry — index ($)
 * 1852-1989 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1868-1958 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index; Also at: Fold3 ($)
 * 1876-1915 US, Naturalizations - CA Los Angeles, 1876-1915 at Fold3 — index & images ($)
 * 1883-1958 US, Naturalizations - CA San Diego, 1883-1958 at Fold3 — index & images ($)
 * 1887-1940 US, Naturalizations - CA Southern, 1887-1940 at Fold3 — index & images ($)
 * 1906-1946 San Francisco, California, U.S., Surrendered Alien Certificates, 1906-1946 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
 * 1915-1976 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * Online California Naturalization Records and Indexes at GermanRoots.com — index

For more information, see California Emigration and Immigration and California Naturalization and Citizenship.

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: California; that will bring up too many hits. Just use the name of the county and "county": for example, "Hyde County"
 * Google Books. Use keywords "California" 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 "California" and the county name.
 * Ancestry.com ($). In the Card Catalog search box, use California 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.


 * 1769-1848 California, Pioneer Index, 1769-1848 at Ancestry — index ($)
 * 1781-1990 California, U.S., Biographical Index Cards, 1781-1990 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
 * 1790-1950 California, U.S., Pioneer and Immigrant Files, 1790-1950 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
 * 1822-1964 California, U.S., Biographical Collection: Responses to Vital Record Inquiries, 1822-1964 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
 * 1928 U.S., Women of the West, 1928 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
 * A History of California and an Extended History of Its Southern Coast Counties : Also Containing Giographies of Well-Known Citizens of the Past and Present, Vol. II, by J. M. Guinn. Los Angeles, California: Historic Record Company, 1907. Online at: HathiTrust
 * A History of the New California, Its Resources and People, by Leigh H. Irvine. New York: Lewis Publishing Company, 1905. Online at: Vol. 1 - HathiTrust; Vol. 2 - HathiTrust
 * A Memorial and Biographical History of Northern California. Chicago: Lewis Publishing Company, 1891. Online at: HathiTrust
 * A Memorial and Biographical History of the Coast Counties of Central California. Chicago: Lewis Publishing Company, 1893. Online at: HathiTrust
 * A Volume of Memoirs and Genealogy of Representative Citizens of Northern California, Including Biographies of Many of Those Who have Passed Away. Chicago: Standard Genealogical Publishing Company, 1901. Online at: HathiTrust
 * Biographical Materials for the State of California at Online Archive of California
 * California and Californians, by Rockwell D. Hunt. Chicago: Lewis Publishing Company, 1926. 'Online at:'' Vol. 1 - HathiTrust; Vol. 2 - HathiTrust; Vol. 3 - HathiTrust; Vol. 4 -  HathiTrust; Vol. 5 -  HathiTrust
 * California Biographies at California Genealogy
 * California Pioneer List - Master Index at CAGenWeb — index
 * DAR California Pioneers at CAGenWeb — index
 * Historical and biographical record of southern California at Ancestry — index & images ($)
 * Men of Achievement in the Great Southwest. n.p.: Los Angeles Times, 1904. Online at: HathiTrust
 * Personal Sketches of California Pioneers I have Known, by Rockwell D. Hunt. Stockton, California: University of the Pacific, 1962. Online at: HathiTrust
 * Roster of California Pioneers at Native Daughters of the Golden West — index
 * Sullivan, G. W. Early Days in California. San Francisco: Enterprise Publishing Co., 1888. Online at: HathiTrust
 * The New Empire and Her Representative Men; Or, The Pacific Coast, Its Farms, Mines, Vines, Wines, Orchards, and Interests; Its Productions, Industries and Commerce, with Interesting Biographies and Modes of Travel, by Wilson Hamilton. Oakland, California: Pacific Press Publishing House, 1886. Online at: HathiTrust
 * Who's Who Among the Women of California by Louis S. Lyons and Josephine Wilson. San Francisco and Los Angeles, California: Security Publishing Company, 1922. Online at: HathiTrust

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.


 * 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.

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.

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

California Online Genealogy Records
Search any other online records listed in California Online Genealogy Records. The steps given here are intended to list record sources which can most efficiently identify descendants. Many other online records which might or might not mention descendants are listed in the California Online Genealogy Records page, including immigration records, land records, military records, newspapers, and probate records, and others. These can be records that cover a smaller group within the population, such as men who served in the military, etc.
 * California Online Genealogy Records

Step 13: Study the Research Wiki pages for any county in California.
This article focused more on California state or state-wide records. There is a separate Wiki article for each county in California. These articles give information, office addresses, and links to county records.  Alameda Alpine Amador Butte Calaveras Colusa Contra Costa Del Norte</li> El Dorado</li> Fresno</li> Glenn</li> Humboldt</li> Imperial</li> Inyo</li> Kern</li> Kings</li> Lake</li> Lassen</li> Los Angeles</li> Madera</li> Marin</li> Mariposa</li> Mendocino</li> <li>Merced</li> <li>Modoc</li> <li>Mono</li> <li>Monterey</li> <li>Napa</li> <li>Nevada</li> <li>Orange</li> <li>Placer</li> <li>Plumas</li> <li>Riverside</li> <li>Sacramento</li> <li>San Benito</li> <li>San Bernardino</li> <li>San Diego</li> <li>San Francisco</li> <li>San Joaquin</li> <li>San Luis Obispo</li> <li>San Mateo</li> <li>Santa Barbara</li> <li>Santa Clara</li> <li>Santa Cruz</li> <li>Shasta</li> <li>Sierra</li> <li>Siskiyou</li> <li>Solano</li> <li>Sonoma</li> <li>Stanislaus</li> <li>Sutter</li> <li>Tehama</li> <li>Trinity</li> <li>Tulare</li> <li>Tuolumne</li> <li>Ventura</li> <li>Yolo</li> <li>Yuba</li> </ul>

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