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Vermont Research Outline |
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Table of Contents
Records Of The Family History Library
Familysearch™
Familysearch™ Internet Genealogy Service
Family History Library Catalog
Archives And Libraries
Computer Networks And Bulletin Boards
Bible Records
Biography
Cemeteries
Locating Cemeteries And Cemetery Records
Internet Tombstone Transcripts And Index
Cemetery Transcripts
Census
Federal Censuses
Church Records
Baptist
Congregational
Episcopal
Methodist
Roman Catholic
Universalist And Unitarian
Court Records
Directories
Emigration And Immigration
People
Records
Gazetteers
Genealogy
Nationwide Indexes
Statewide And Regional Collections
History
State Histories
Local Histories
Land And Property
Maps
Military Records
Revolutionary War (1775–1783)
War Of 1812 (1812–1815)
Spanish-american War (1898–1899)
World War I
World War II
Additional Records
Minorities
Native Races
Naturalization And Citizenship
Index
Newspapers
Inventory On The Internet
Published Index And Guide
Periodicals
Probate Records
Public Records
Societies
Lineage And Heritage Societies
Genealogical And Historical Societies
Family Associations And Surname Societies
Clubs Or Other Organizations
Taxation
Town Records
Vital Records
Birth, Marriage, And Death Records
Indexes
Divorce Records
For Further Reading
Comments And Suggestions
PROBATE RECORDS Probate records are court records created after a person’s death that relate to a court’s decisions regarding the distribution of his estate to his heirs or creditors and the care of his dependents. You may find the person’s death date, the names of family members (including married daughters), family relationships, and residences. You may also learn about the adoption or guardianship of minor children and dependents. These documents are important to family history researchers because they usually exist for time periods before civil birth and death records were kept. Adoption cases over 99 years old are open to the public.
See the United States Research Outline (30972) for more information on probate records and their genealogical value.
Probate records of Vermont are kept by probate courts. The records include wills, inventories, estates, guardianships, name changes, adoptions, and relinquishments. There are 14 counties and 19 probate districts in Vermont. The five southern counties (Bennington, Orange, Rutland, Windham, and Windsor) have two probate courts each. You can obtain copies of the records by contacting the clerk of the appropriate probate district.
For the addresses of the probate district courts, see the Genealogist’s Handbook for New England Research mentioned in the “For Further Reading” section near the end of this outline. You can find similar information in:
“Vermont Probate Districts.” In VTGenWeb [database on-line]. N.p., 12 August 1999 [cited 25 August 1999]. Available at www.rootsweb.com/~vtgenweb/probate.htm; INTERNET. This site lists the counties, brief county history sketches, each probate district with its address, telephone number, office hours, and the years for which probate records are available.
Many of the records are on microfilm at the Family History Library. They can be found in the Family History Library Catalog by using a Locality Search under:
Records of officials, assembly proceedings, governor’s papers, overseers of the poor, petitions, state papers, and schools are examples of public records that may give information about ancestors not contained in other records. Most of these collections contain a variety of records such as land, history, tax, court, legislative or other records. They can be used to find a persons place of residence.
The Vermont State Papers are available through the Vermont State Archives, and the Vermont Department of Libraries. For a description of volumes 1–82 of the state papers, see:
Wallace, Marlene, and John Williams. “Vermont State Papers: Rich Sources for the Study of Vermont History.” Vermont History 38, no.3 (Summer 1970): 214–249. (FHL book 974.3 H25vaa v. 38; computer number 154214.) This describes the contents of volumes, including the record type, years covered, contents, and comments on their value. The Family History Library does not have the manuscript volumes, but has only the published volumes in:
Vermont. Secretary of State. State Papers of Vermont. 22vols. Montpelier, Vt.: Secretary of State, 1918–1991. (FHL book 974.3 B4s; computer number 167646.) These volumes include petitions, laws, proceedings of the General Assembly, records of the Surveyor General, Loyalist land confiscations, and New York land grants. The Family History Library has only volumes1–17.
For other public records, see the Family History Library Catalog Locality Search under:
Societies often maintain a genealogical file for historical families of the area or for ancestors of society members. Most genealogical societies focus on local and regional records, while others concentrate on the records and migrations of ethic groups or minorities.
Societies may guide you to useful sources, suggest avenues of research, put you in touch with other genealogists who are interested in the same families, or perform research for you. The resources of the society may help determine immigrant origins. Genealogical and historical societies may publish transcriptions of original records, and many publish quarterly periodicals.
Some genealogical and historical societies hold conferences in which lecturers discuss genealogical research methods, available sources, and other topics. These lectures include information on records or research. Transcripts, audio tapes, and conference class outlines are often available to the public.
Lineage societies, such as the DAR A few national lineage societies have chapters in Vermont:
Daughters of the American Revolution (Vermont). Vermont Miscellaneous Records. 20vols. Salt Lake City: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1952. (FHL films 227742–47; computer number 184454.) These are Vermont records of Bible, church, and cemetery records; 1850 and 1860 census mortality schedule abstracts; town, vital, and family records; deeds; Revolutionary War records; lineage records; school records; some wills; and tax lists. Each volume is individually indexed.
Hinman, Alice A.. Vermont State Conference, Daughters of the American Revolution, 1892–1930. Rutland, Vt.: Tuttle, 1931. (FHL book 974.3 C4h; computer number 164629.) This source contains detailed biographical information on the members and includes genealogical facts.
Allen, Charles Edwin, The Society of Colonial Wars in the State of Vermont. Burlington, Vt.: Free Press Printing, 1906. (FHL book 974.3 C4cw; computer number 165016.) This book lists the officers, member claims, and member biographies.
Society of Colonial Wars (Vermont). Society of Colonial Wars in Vermont: Officers, Committees and Members. 3vols. Burlington, Vt.: Free Press Printing, 1909–1922. (FHL book 974.3 C4cwc; film 1673335, items5–6; computer number 166045.) This contains biographical and genealogical information of members.
Genealogical and historical societies can provide historical information about families in the area or ancestors of society members.
The majority of the New England genealogical and historical societies deal mainly with all the New England states. There are a few which specialize in Vermont histories and genealogies. For the addresses and telephone numbers of the following societies, see the “Archives and Libraries” section of this outline.
Genealogical Society of Vermont. Founded in 1971, it is dedicated to assisting genealogists with Vermont research. They publish a quarterly journal, Vermont Genealogy, which contains genealogies, source records, and book reviews.
Vermont Historical Society. The largest historical society in the state, it collects family histories, published vital records, cemetery inscriptions, town histories, and military and biographical information. Their holdings include a large manuscript collection, letters, diaries, and account books
New England Historic Genealogical Society. Founded in 1845, it is dedicated to the collection, preservation, and publication of materials relating to family and local history. There is a large section of both books and microfilm devoted entirely to Vermont records.
Vermont French-Canadian Genealogical Society. Founded in 1966, they publish Links, a semiannual journal. They have a library and research facilities.
“Local Historical Societies.” In Vermont Historical Society (database on-line). Montpelier, Vt.: VHS, 24 August 1999 (cited 25 August 1999). Available at www.state.vt.us/vhs/lhs/lhsindex.htm; INTERNET. This list gives addresses, telephone numbers, collection descriptions, contact persons, hours, and admission fees.
Family associations and surname societies have been organized to gather information about ancestors or descendants of specific individuals or families. See the “Societies” section of the United States Research Outline (30972) for a directory and more information about these societies.
Clubs or occupational or fraternal organizations may have existed in the area where your ancestor lived. Those societies may have kept records of members or applications that may be of genealogical or biographical value. Though many of the old records have been lost, some have been donated to local, regional, or state archives and libraries.
Public librarians and county clerks may be aware of other local organizations or individuals you can contact for information and services. In many small communities, the elderly are a wonderful resource for history and memories. Some maintain scrapbooks of obituaries and events in the community.
Additional sources about Vermont societies can be found in the Family History Library Catalog by using a Locality Search under:
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VERMONT, [COUNTY]- PROBATE RECORDSVERMONT, [COUNTY]- GUARDIANSHIP
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PUBLIC RECORDS
VERMONT- PUBLIC RECORDSVERMONT, [COUNTY]- PUBLIC RECORDSVERMONT, [COUNTY], [TOWN]- PUBLIC RECORDS
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SOCIETIES
Lineage and Heritage Societies
, Colonial Dames, and the Sons of the American Revolution, require members to prove they are descended from people such as colonists or soldiers. The applications for membership in these societies are usually preserved and occasionally published. National lineage societies such as the DAR are described in the “Societies” section of the United States Research Outline (30972).
Genealogical and Historical Societies
Vt-FCGS
Local historical societies often have records related to family history, but may have limited hours. For a list of local historical societies, see:
St. John’s Club
9 Central Ave
PO Box 65128
Burlington, VT 05406-5128
Internet: http://members.aol.com/vtfcgs/genealogy/index.html
Family Associations and Surname Societies
Clubs or Other Organizations
VERMONT- SOCIETIESVERMONT, [COUNTY]- SOCIETIESVERMONT, [COUNTY], [TOWN]- SOCIETIES
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Version of Data: 6/9/2001]