Maryland, Allegany County Directories - FamilySearch Historical Records

Record Description
The collection consists of an images of an 1859 directory of Cumberland, Maryland and an 1878 directory for all of Allegany County.

Record Content
Directories usually contain:


 * Name of the individual
 * Name of spouse
 * Occupation or business
 * Post office or street residence

How to Use the Record
To begin your search, you must know the following:


 * Name of your ancestor
 * Identifying information such as the address, occupation, or names of other family members

Search the Collection
To search the collection: ⇒Select "Browse through images" on the initial collection page ⇒Select the "Record Type, Volume, and Year Range" which takes you to the images.

Look at the images one by one comparing the information with what you already know about your ancestors to determine which one is your ancestor. You may need to compare the information about more than one person to make this determination. Keep in mind:


 * There may be more than one person in the records with the same name.
 * You may not be sure of your own ancestor’s name.
 * Your ancestor may have used different names or variations of their name throughout their life.

Using the Information
When you have located your ancestor’s record, carefully evaluate the information given. Some directories list all members of the household separately, especially those 18 years of age and older. However, the information given in a directory is usually brief so it can be easy confuse individuals. Compare what information is given with what you already know about your ancestor to make sure it is the correct person.

Next, look at the pieces of information given in the directory for new information. Add any new information to your records of each family. You should also look for leads to other records about your family. For example:


 * Use the residence or address and family names to locate your family in the federal and state census records.
 * Use the residence or town and family names to search for other local records such as church records and land records.

Tips to Keep in Mind

 * Transcribe the information from the site, or download it for viewing or printing.
 * Compile the entries for every person who has the same surname. This is especially helpful if the surname is unusual.
 * Continue to search the records to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives. This can help you identify other generations of your family. Repeat this process for each new generation you identify.

Unable to Find Your Ancestor?

 * Look for variant spellings of the names. You should also look for alias names, nicknames and abbreviated names.
 * Search the directories of nearby towns and cities.

Related Websites
Genealogical Society of Allegany County

Related Wiki Articles
Maryland Directories

Citations for This Collection
When you copy information from a record, you should list where you found the information; that is, cite your sources. This will help people find the record again and evaluate the reliability of the source. It is also good to keep track of records where you did not find information, including the names of the people you looked for in the records. Citations are available for the collection as a whole and each record or image individually.

Collection citation:

Image citation: