Step-by-Step Maryland Research, 1880-Present

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 :
 * 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, 1850-1950, 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 you might find (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.

Using the clues to lead to census record searches.

 * You will want to find and keep notes on census records from every census during each ancestor's lifetime. For example, if your ancestor was born in 1897 and died in 1945, you will want to find them in the 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, and 1940 censuses.
 * With the census records, you will then be able to estimate approximate birth dates and marriage dates. These records will lead you to new searches because you will find the names of other members of the family. You will find clues to other states and countries your family lived in before coming to Maryland.


 * You can use what you learned from the census records to help you search for birth, marriage, and death records. Possibly the clues you find in the certificates will lead you back to the census records again for new names of family members.

Using the census clues to lead to a birth certificate.
Now, we want to try to find important birth records for the various people represented in these census records. We were not able to find any birth records online for these McKenzie families. Here is an example of an unrelated birth certificate, which will demonstrate the detailed information you can expect in writing for a state certificate for a birth that took place since 1898 (since 1875 for Baltimore).

Using the census clues to lead to a marriage certificate.
One main purpose for locating records for is to establish the identity of the wives--their maiden names. In some cases, particularly more recent records, the names of the parents of the bride and groom are given. Here is an example of a marriage record (not related to the McKenzie family) that would be obtained by writing to a county clerk.

Using the census clues to lead to a death certificate.
By studying the census records, and assuming that most people lived to be 65-70 years old, you can decide the time frame where you would expect to see a death certificate. '''It is very important to send for death certificates. Even though you might feel that knowing a death date is not high priority, the death certificate is important because of all the secondary data: 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. This certificate shows how sending for the death certificate of the child of an ancestral couple can help locate information about the couple. (Later records below will show that Sabrus McKenzie in this record is our Simon McKenzie.

Some of the examples shown above are index entries. That means for each of them an actual, original, full certificate exists. It is highly advisable to order the original certificate. It will contain many details not given in the index. In some cases, the image of the original is found online. Instructions are given below on obtaining the original certificate in other cases.

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 death certificate may give the person's birth date and place, parents' names and birthplaces, and spouse's name.

Obtaining the certificates

 * There are basically four ways to find these certificates, or the information from them: by finding them in an online database, by reading a microfilm, by writing to a county clerk, or by purchasing them through the mail.

Online databases, usually indexes, with some images

 * This chart gives links to some Maryland online databases for these records:

Finding Microfilm Copies of Certificates
Many Maryland state or county birth, death, and marriage certificates and vital records indexes are available on microfilm through the FamilySearch Library. These may be searched at a FamilySearch center near you. Most notably, you will find: Many of these microfilms are also available online, as the film description will indicate.
 * Maryland, births and christenings, 1650-1995
 * Maryland, marriages, 1666-1970
 * Maryland marriage records
 * Maryland, deaths and burials, 1877-1992

Records at the County Courthouse
From the date of the formation of a county until the establishment of state civil registration, birth and marriage records were kept by the County Clerk. They may have been microfilmed, or you can write for them. It is appropriate to write asking for either a single record or for a list of all the marriages for a given surname. This Letter Writing Guide will help you with phrasing a letter. This online directory by Genealogy Inc. will give you the address of the County Clerk. Click on the map to select a county, then scroll down to the "Courthouse and Government Records" to find the address and phone number. If you are at the main FamilySearch Library, check first to see if microfilms of the county vital records are available. In the search field of the FamilySearch Catalog, enter the state and county. Then click on the "Vital Records" subject. The cost of renting the microfilms at a FamilySearch Center probably makes it less expensive to just write to the County Clerk.

Ordering certificates through the mail
Even if you find an online indexed entry for a birth, marriage, or death, almost always the full original certificate will contain a wealth of information not contained in the index. A death certificate will usually give the names and birth places of the parents of the deceased. A marriage certificate frequently asks for the parents names of the bride and groom. A birth certificate frequently asks for the birthplace, occupation, residence, and age of the parents. Although it costs money, consider sending for the full original certificates at least of your direct line ancestors (grandparents, great-grandparents, etc.).


 * Click here for information on how to order birth records. Ask for an informational copy or an uncertified copy. Provide as many details as possible on the application, but you may leave some fields blank.


 * Click here for information on how to order marriage records. Ask for an informational copy or an uncertified copy. Provide as many details as possible on the application, but you may leave some fields blank.


 * Click here for information on how to order death records. Ask for an informational copy or an uncertified copy. Provide as many details as possible on the application, but you may leave some fields blank.

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.

Obituaries

 * Try these Maryland links:
 * Online Maryland Death Indexes, Obituaries and Cemeteries
 * Archives.com Obituaries ($)
 * Ancestry.com United States Obituary Collection for Maryland ($)
 * Polish Death Notice Index Search, 1926-1946, index.
 * GenealogyBuff.com - Maryland Obituary Collection
 * ObitsArchive.com - Maryland
 * Maryland Obituaries
 * — index and images
 * Search for obituaries in ProQuest Newspapers.com Library ($)

Cemeteries

 * Try these Maryland links:
 * Online Maryland Death Indexes, Obituaries and Cemeteries
 * Maryland, Find A Grave Index, 1636-2011
 * Find A Grave for Maryland
 * Interment.net for Maryland
 * Billion Graves for Maryland
 * Maryland Gravestone Photo Project
 * Maryland Tombstone Transcription Project.
 * Names of Interred at Pt. Lookout Cemetery Prisoner of War camp
 * Maryland Cemetery Records
 * Maryland Cemetery Records

Here are some FindAGrave records for members of the McKenzie family.

Step 5: Search military records: World War I and World War II draft cards.
'''Notice the more complete names we find in this record for both Raymond and Lula McKenzie. Notice that here we pick up full birth information for the sons of Simon (Saydrus) Mckenzie, even though we could not locate birth certificates for them. '''

World War II Draft Registration
Likewise, the World War II draft in 1942 may give birth date, birth place, residence, occupation, employer, and other family members as contacts. Search for your male relatives born in this time period at
 * , index and images.
 * , index and images.

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Step 6: If any ancestor was an immigrant, search immigration and naturalization records online.
The census records may show that your 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 are the next goal. Immigration refers to people coming into a country, such as the United States, and emigration refers to people leaving a country to go to another. Usually these records are passenger lists of the ships they sailed on. A typical record will show name, age, and country of origin, but in ship lists after 1906 you can find the actual town of birth, the next of kin still living in the old country and their residence, and the names of relatives in the place they are traveling to.

Immigration records
Passenger lists and border crossing lists are the most common immigration records. There are many immigration records available. Click here to see a complete list of available immigration records online. Notice that they are listed by state, but under the letter "U" there is a long list of records that cover all of the United States. Unless family information tells you the port where family arrived, you will need to search all of the United States Immigration Online Genealogy Records for the time period when your ancestors arrived.

There are also many immigration records unique to Maryland:
 * One Step Webpages by Stephen Morse Links to free and $ online passenger lists
 * To Maryland from Overseas ($)
 * Scots On the Chesapeake, 1607-1830 ($)
 * , index/images
 * , index/images
 * Index and Images.
 * — index and images

Naturalization (Citizenship) Records
Naturalization is the process of becoming a citizen. Records can include the immigrant's declaration of intent to become a citizen, petitions for citizenship, and final certificate of naturalization. Naturalization records after 1906 can show birth date and place, spouse's name, marriage date and place, and lists of children with their birth dates.

Maryland naturalization records could be recorded at the county court or the Federal District or Circuit Court. You must look for them in both locations. Try searching first in any county where the person lived, unless the census tells you the year they were naturalized, and you have evidence of where they lived that year. If you cannot locate them in the county records, try searching for them in the Federal courts.

Maryland Naturalization and Citizenship Online Records

 * Indexes to Naturalization Petitions to the U.S. Circuit and District Courts for Maryland, 1797-1951 ($)
 * Naturalization Petitions of the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, 1906-1930 ($)
 * U.S. Naturalization Records Indexes for Maryland, 1797-1951 - U.S. District and Circuit Courts ($)
 * U.S., Naturalization Records - Original Documents, (World Archives Project) for Maryland, 1906-1930 - U.S. District Court ($)
 * Selected U.S. Naturalization Records - U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, 1906-1930 ($)
 * Maryland, Federal Naturalization Records, 1795-1931, index & images ($).
 * Selected U.S. Naturalization Records - U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, 1906-1930 ($)
 * Maryland, Federal Naturalization Records, 1795-1931, index & images ($).

Local histories

 * Published histories of towns, counties, and states usually 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 Maryland; that will bring up too many hits. Just use the name of the county and "county": for example, "Hyde County"
 * Google Books. Use keywords "Maryland" 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 "Maryland" and the county name.
 * Genealogy Book Links, Maryland. Browse list; county histories are interspersed.
 * Ancestry.com, ($). In the Card Catalog search box, use Maryland and the name of the county.


 * 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 out about local histories the library has by checking the FamilySearch Catalog. In the "place" field, type the name of your county and select it from the drop down list, then click "Search". A list of subheadings for the county will appear. Local histories containing genealogies and biographies will be found under Biography, Genealogy, History, and History - Indexes.

Biographies
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 and Town Histories, with biographies
 * American Biographical Library for Maryland ($)
 * Biographical sketches of distinguished Marylanders, ($), index/images
 * Enoch Pratt Free Library African American Biographical Database
 * Maryland State Archives, Biographical files available from SPECIAL COLLECTIONS, index only but gives birth/death date
 * Men of Maryland, Vol. 1, e-book, Vol. 3, Vol. 4
 * Genealogical and memorial encyclopedia of the state of Maryland Vol. 1, e-book, Vol. 2
 * The founders of Maryland as portrayed in manuscripts, provincial records and early documents, e-book
 * Biographical sketches of distinguished Marylanders, e-books
 * Men of mark in Maryland ... biographies of leading men of the state ... Illustrated with many full page engravings. v.1, e-book, Vol. 2, Vol. 3, Vol. 4

Step 7: Search for online wills and probate packets.
For more information, see U.S. Probate Records Class Handout.

County probate records

 * 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.


 * Currently, these records for this time period are microfilmed and digitized:
 * Maryland, Wills and Probate Records, 1604-1878, ($), index and images, incomplete.
 * images.
 * index and images.
 * The Maryland Calendar of Wills, 1635-1743, 8 volumes at FamilySearch; images. Also at Ancestry ($); index and images.


 * Eventually more of these records may become available online.


 * In the meantime, this online directory by Genealogy Inc. will enable you to arrange to have them searched for a fee: Click on the map to select a county, then scroll down to the Courthouse and Government Records to find the address and phone number of the County Clerk of Court. Ask them about the years covered by their probate records and their procedure and fees for ordering copies probate packets. When you write, always ask for the full probate packet, not just the will or administration.

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.
 * 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.


 * 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.

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.