Alabama, Southern Claims Commission Approved Claims - FamilySearch Historical Records

Record Description
This collection will include records from 1871-1880. The images of approved claims from civilians seeking compensation for lost or destroyed property as a result of the Civil War. The collection is NARA publication M2062 Southern Claims Commission Approved Claims,1871-1880: Alabama and is from RG 217, Records of the Accounting Officers of the Department of the Treasury. It contains 828 approved applications arranged by county and then alphabetical by name.

Citation for This Collection
The following citation refers to the original source of the information published in FamilySearch.org Historical Record collections. Sources include the author, custodian, publisher, and archive for the original records.

Suggested citation format for a record in this collection.

Record Content
These records generally contain the following information:
 * Name of claimant
 * Date
 * Description and value of property
 * Date of incident
 * Details of incident
 * Witnesses' names
 * Relationships
 * Place of incident
 * Residence of claimant

How to Use the Record
To begin your search it is helpful to know
 * Name of claimant
 * Identifying information such as residence

Search the Collection
To search the collection image by image select "Browse through images" on the initial collection page ⇒ Select the 'County' category ⇒ Select the 'Approved Claims (Name)' category 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 if the image relates to them. You may need to look at several images and compare the information about the individuals listed in those images to your ancestors to make this determination.

Look at the images one by one comparing the information with what you already know about your ancestors to determine if the image relates to them. You may need to look at several images and compare the information about the individuals listed in those images to your ancestors 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 each piece of information given. Save a copy of the image or transcribe the information. These pieces of information may give you new biographical details. Add this new information to your records of each family. You should also look for leads to other records about your ancestors. For example:
 * Use the claimant's name and residence to search for other records such as census, church and land records.

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Citing FamilySearch Historical Collections
When you copy information from a record, you should list where you found the information. This will help you or others to find the record again. 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.

A suggested format for keeping track of records that you have searched is found in the wiki article Help:How to Cite FamilySearch Collections.

Citation Example for a Record Found in This Collection
“Argentina, Buenos Aires, Catholic Church Records, 1635-1981,” images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org: accessed 28 February, 2012), La Plata &gt; San Ponciano &gt; Matrimonios 1884-1886 &gt; image 71 of 389 images, Artemio Avendano and Clemtina Peralta, 1884; citing Parroquia de San Ponciano en la Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Matrimonios. San Ponciano, La Plata, Buenos Aires.