by Judy G. Russell | Nov 24, 2021 | Methodology, My family, Statutes |
Preserving the union, 1830s style It was on this day 189 years ago that it began, in South Carolina. A special state convention voted 136 to 26 to declare that certain tariffs imposed by acts of Congress in 1828 and 1832 “unauthorized by the constitution of the United...
by Judy G. Russell | Nov 8, 2021 | Statutes |
Nope, not Franklin The Legal Genealogist is no fan of changing the clocks twice a year. It doesn’t truly save time anywhere. It throws off circadian rhythms for days, even weeks, after each change. And you will never ever get my cat to accept that a clock change...
by Judy G. Russell | Oct 4, 2021 | Methodology, Primary Law, Statutes |
For heaven’s sake, look at the law! Fair warning: The Legal Genealogist is on a rant. No matter how many times I make one key point, it seems that way too many genealogists just don’t get it. That point: if we want to understand the records, we have got to...
by Judy G. Russell | Sep 9, 2021 | Primary Law, Statutes |
Recording California The Preamble was short and sweet: Whereas the people of California have presented a constitution and asked admission into the Union, which constitution was submitted to Congress by the President of the United States, by message dated February...
by Judy G. Russell | Sep 6, 2021 | Resources, Statutes |
First Monday in September No matter how fast or slow any particular summer seems to be, it always seems to catch The Legal Genealogist by surprise. It’s the first Monday in September. Here in the United States, today is the first holiday of the fall: Be it...
by Judy G. Russell | Jul 9, 2021 | General, Statutes |
About those guardians… It’s institute season here at The Legal Genealogist — which means busy times! When I’m not teaching genealogy courses in one institute, I’m doing it at another, or at a conference, like today and tomorrow in...
by Judy G. Russell | Jun 11, 2021 | Legal definitions, Statutes |
A third leg to the consent tripod The age of consent has been an issue the last couple of days. Yesterday, The Legal Genealogist responded to a discussion on Facebook, and explained the difference between the age of consent (in criminal law) and the age of consent (in...
by Judy G. Russell | Jun 10, 2021 | Legal definitions, Primary Law, Statutes |
A isn’t always A The age of consent isn’t the same thing as the age of consent. Really. Yes, The Legal Genealogist knows that’s confusing. So let’s try to untangle it. The issue came up yesterday on Facebook where the question was the ages of...
by Judy G. Russell | Jun 9, 2021 | Records Access, Statutes |
Adoptees to get original birth certificates In just a few weeks, on 1 July 2021, adult adoptees born in Connecticut will have the unrestricted right to get what everyone else takes for granted. A new law, signed into law on 7 June by Governor Ned Lamont, will give all...
by Judy G. Russell | Jun 2, 2021 | Resources, Statutes |
From pounds and pence to dollars and cents Reader David Watson poses a terrific question: “The US government established the U.S. dollar as the unit of currency in 1792,” he writes. “Nevertheless, I’ve seen marriage bonds where the bond is expressed in ‘pounds’ well...