Category Archives: Court Cases

Those odd-looking books

Posted on May 17, 2012 by Judy G. Russell

Those odd-looking books on the shelf So I’m back in Kentucky for the last few days of this combination NGS-and-research trip, still hunting for so much as a footprint to prove my 2nd great grandfather George Washington Cottrell really was … Continue reading →

Posted in Court Cases, Resources | 8 Comments

Free APG webinar: TLG on copyright

Posted on April 12, 2012 by Judy G. Russell

Free APG webinar: copyright law for genealogists There are a lot of great benefits to membership in the Association of Professional Genealogists. One new benefit — and it’s one open to all genealogists and not just APG members — is … Continue reading →

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The joy of unindexed records

Posted on March 16, 2012 by Judy G. Russell

Poking around in unindexed records I’d be happy to write a blog post right now, except that I’m busy. Very busy. Did you know that thousands and thousands more pages of North Carolina Supreme Court case files have gone online … Continue reading →

Posted in Court Cases, Resources | 4 Comments

What’s in a name?

Posted on March 12, 2012 by Judy G. Russell

When the name’s not what you wanted Reader Susan Clark wonders about the need for some sort of official legal process to change an immigrant’s name. She notes: My grandfather arrived in this country in 1920 under the name Stefan … Continue reading →

Posted in Court Cases, General | 10 Comments

Who’s your Mommy?

Posted on March 2, 2012 by Judy G. Russell

Technology, parentage … and family Though some sources give the phrase a somewhat different origin,1 to me it’s a sure bet that it was a genealogist who first asked the question: “Who’s your Daddy?” The so-called NPE (non-parental event, which … Continue reading →

Posted in Court Cases, General | 17 Comments

The beer bust and the surety bond

Posted on February 28, 2012 by Judy G. Russell

A beer bust leads a widow into probate court Reader Margie Beldin found a probate file for her great great grandfather Francis (Frank) McHugh’s estate in Berkshire County, Massachusetts. And came away from the documents with more questions than answers. … Continue reading →

Posted in Court Cases, Legal definitions | 14 Comments

Same name, not same man

Posted on January 4, 2012 by Judy G. Russell

Even judges get it: the same name does not mean the same man. On 16 November 1930, Henrietta E. Garrett died in Pennsylvania.1 She left no will saying who should get that part of her estate that wasn’t specifically left … Continue reading →

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Partition and Emeric v. Alvarado

Posted on January 3, 2012 by Judy G. Russell

The language of the law. Part Latin, part Anglo-Saxon, all confusing. Whenever there’s a moiety (or, for that matter, any joint or common ownership) of land, there’s also a good chance that there will someday be an action for partition. … Continue reading →

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