FHSA-L Archives

From: "Sally Rolls Pavia" <>
Subject: [FHSA] Mapping Out Your Family Tree by Kimberly Powell
Date: Mon, 26 May 2003 18:15:39 -0700

http://genealogy.about.com/cs/ukmaps/a/maps.htm


Maps can help you locate your ancestors' neighbors and family members,
pinpoint county courthouses or town halls where records may be located,
provide insight into migration patterns, and can even be used in conjunction
with other genealogical records to distinguish between two individuals of
the same name.


Being familiar with the area in which an ancestor lived is essential to
family history research. By using maps, you can learn more about the name,
location, and history of the city or town in which your ancestors lived.
This, in turn, can help you uncover new record sources for your ancestors. A
number of different maps may be useful in your family history research,
depending upon your specific research needs and goals:


Road Maps & Atlases
While basic, these maps can be useful to genealogists as they can help us
pinpoint present-day towns and find our way from one location to the other.
Start your foray into maps by checking a standard road atlas or map for the
name and location of your ancestor's town. If you're not successful in
locating the place by name, then search out a historical map or atlas from
the time when your ancestors lived. You can also try using an online place
name finder to pinpoint your ancestor's former location.


County, Parish, & Province Maps
Atlases and road maps are excellent resources to start your search, but may
not provide the detail that you need. This is where more local maps come to
the rescue. Such maps are highly detailed, showing features such as unnamed
county roads, major landmarks, and cemeteries, and are usually available for
from county or other government offices.


Topographical Maps
Topographic and other relief maps show land forms - hills, valleys, rivers,
streams, and vegetation - as well as roads and landmarks. One of the most
widely used of all maps, a topographic map can help suggest patterns of
settlement and migration, as well as locate cemeteries, buildings, or your
ancestor's property, based on land descriptions and geographical features.


Land Maps, Surveys, & Plat Books
Land and property records provide a historical record of ownership and, as
such, are usually meticuously maintained by governments. A land map or plat
book from a county courthouse, town hall, or other government entity will
usually provide details on a specific property location as well as the names
of the property owners, neighbors, etc.


City Directory Maps
While used primarily by genealogists as an alternative to census records,
many city directories actually contain a street map providing details on
area streets and major topographical features (i.e. railroads, rivers).
Comparing the map from a city directory with a present-day map can reveal
streets that no longer exist or have undergone name changes.


Fire Insurance Maps
Used by insurance companies to determine the risk factors in underwriting a
business or home, fire insurance maps can provide interesting details for
many cities, towns, and neighborhoods, such as the outline of each building,
the size, shape and construction materials, function of the structures, and
location of windows and doors. The maps also give street names, street and
sidewalk widths, property boundaries, building use, and house and block
numbers.


Sally Rolls Pavia
Sun City, AZ

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