Research Information
I have received many e-mails
from people wanting information on genealogical research. I had the idea of
adding this page to my website, giving details on sources I used when doing
research. I hope that some of them may be of help to anyone wanting to begin
the adventure of finding their roots. The sources refer only to Rio Grande
Valley research, specifically Cameron and Willacy Counties. Many, though,
are universal sources, no matter where you are researching.
Please feel free to e-mail me anytime. Happy researching!
My first advice would be to begin with what you know. Make a list with all the details you have. For instance, if you only know as far back as your grandparents, you might make a page that looks something like this:
1. Grandfather's name, date
& place of birth, date & place of death, place of burial, date &
place of marriage
....+Grandmother's name(use maiden name), date & place of birth, date
& place of death, place of burial
....2. Your Father's name, date & place of birth, date & place of
death, place of burial, date & place of marriage
........+Your Mother's name(use maiden name), date & place of birth, date
& place of death, place of burial
...........3. Yourself, your date & place of birth, date & place of
marriage
...............+Your spouse, their date & place of birth
..................4. Your child, date & place of birth
You can add aunts, uncles,
cousins, and your siblings if you wish. You may not have all the information
on these family members, especially grandparents. Here is where you begin
your research. Visit family members and, as I say, "pick their brains".
Your aunt may not remember the date that Grandpa was born, but she may remember
where, or she may remember where he is buried. Your great-uncle may recall
the names of Grandma's siblings or their children, and maybe where some of
them lived.
No bit of information is too small, because you can build on it. You may never
find anything documented about your grandmother, but it's possible you'll
find records about her siblings, which could give you much information, including
names of Grandma's parents, and even her grandparents.
If your relatives tell you that they don't know anything at all, don't give
up. They do know something, they just don't realize it.
I once had an elderly man, when I asked his parent's names, ask me how I expected
him to remember things like that from so long ago. He didn't listen to what
I was asking because he was too preoccupied with thinking that he didn't know
anything. Of course he knew his parent's names. Like I said, don't give up!
Just keep asking.
Now, you're ready to begin the hunt for real. The following sources are in
no particular order. You may find them all useful, or only access some. Remember
also, that any source can be incorrect. I've seen birth and death certificates
with incorrect names of parents, and even a gravestone or two with the wrong
information.
Census Records - Cameron Co.
census records are available for 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920,
and 1930.
They are available at many libraries on microfilm. They can also be ordered
in many cases by inter-library loan. Membership in Ancestry.com gives you
access to census on-line. Heritage Quest on-line gives free access to census
records. Ask at your library if they participate in Heritage Quest. You will
need their password to access the site.
When reading census records, again, begin with what you know. If you find
your grandparents in, say, the 1900 census as a married couple, then go back
to 1880 and look for them as children. If you find them, you will also find
the names of their siblings born at that time and their parents (your first
generation to discover on your own!). Take your newly found information and
go to the 1870 census and search for your grandparent's parents as a married
couple. Again, if you find them, you will also find your grandparent's siblings
born at that time. Just keep going backward. Also, read the names of families
listed near those of your relatives. You may find other relatives who lived
nearby, or in-laws.
Texas Birth & Death Indexes - These are available on microfiche at my local library. I think they are also available at courthouses. They begin with 1903 and go through the 1960's. They are listed by year, with names for the year listed alphabetically. The date of birth or death is given, along with the county, and the number of the birth or death certificate. Copies of these certificates can be ordered. I'll put the details of that later on.
Cameron Co.Marriage Index Records - These records were a gold mine for me! Listed by bride and by groom, they begin in the late 1800's through the late 1940's, if I remember correctly. They are listed alphabetically by the first letter of the last name, so it does take a bit of searching. Included are the names of bride and groom, date of marriage, and number of book and page in which they were recorded at the courthouse. Copies of many marriage certificates can be ordered from Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral in Brownsville, using the names of bride and groom, and date of marriage. Unfortunately, I've been told that this index may no longer be available. I always ordered it by inter-library loan. It was obtained from Pan Am University in Edinburg. In October 2003, I was told by employees there that it was no longer available. I haven't followed up to see if they really have it or not, or where else it may be available from.
Query Boards - There are genealogy sites on-line on which you can post queries regarding the information you're seeking. They include Surname Boards and County Boards. Try Ancestry.com, Genweb.com, and Rootsweb.com.
Cemeteries - Cemeteries are obviously a great place to find information. If you are fortunate enough to be in the valley or take a research trip, you can visit them yourself. Make sure to take a camera to photograph the gravestones. Also, chalk may be needed to bring the letters out on older stones, plus some shears to cut back weeds from around graves that may not have been tended. I also have quite a few Willacy County cemetery gravestone listings on my website, which may be of some help.
Tax Records - I utilized these records for my husband's great-great grandfather. I found how much he paid in taxes in 1902, plus a listing of livestock he owned, along with their monetary value. A great source for information that's off the beaten path. I ordered the records on microfilm through inter-library loan, but they should also be available at courthouses.
Deed Records Indexes - Another gold mine! Again, I ordered mine on microfilm through inter-library loan and used the information I found to order copies of the actual deeds from the Cameron County Courthouse. If you're fortunate enough to go to the courthouse in person, the indexes are available there and you can get copies of the deeds while you're there. The indexes are listed by Grantee and Grantor. One deed enabled me to find names of ancestors that I had not been able to find elsewhere, as they were co-owners of land sold by a great-great grandfather's children.
University of Texas Pan Am at Edinburg - This facility has an enormous amount of historical information for genealogists. Their holdings are cataloged on their website at http://www.lib.panam.edu/libserv/speccoll/lrgv.asp. You must know what you want to see and request them to bring it out to the research area, so it's a good idea to take a copy of the catalog along. A visitor's parking pass is required, which can be obtained at the front of the facility. Parking for visitors is sometimes a ways away from the building, so wear comfortable shoes.
Draft Cards - Dennis Carter, of Alamo, has a website listing of WWI draft card holders for Cameron/Willacy counties. One of his pages is at http://hometown.aol.com/dennisvcarter1/myhomepage/writing.html. Copies of these cards can be obtained through him.
Family History Center - The Family History Center website at http://www.familysearch.org, enables researchers to type in the names of ancestors from many areas of Mexico, and, if found, will list information on births, marriages, and deaths. More detailed information can be found by ordering microfilm of Mexican records from an area Family History Center. These records are endless, all wonderfully compiled long ago, and handwritten in Spanish. If your ancestor does not appear after searching on the website, don't think that you won't find them on microfilm. I found very few using the website, but have found many, many records on the microfilm. There is a very detailed listing of films available. Civil listings of births, baptismal records, marriage records, and death records are available.
Libraries - Both the Brownsville
and Harlingen libraries have genealogy and historical information. I haven't
visited either in a very long time, so I won't attempt to list any of their
holdings, as they may have changed. They are both, though, worth visiting.
If you are researching Willacy County, the Raymondville Reber Memorial Library
is a little known resource. They have a room filled from floor to nearly the
ceiling with filing cabinets. These cabinets hold notebooks containing newspaper
clippings dating back to the 1930's. If anyone was born, married, or died
in the Raymondville area, there most likely is a clipping about it in these
notebooks. There are also clippings about notable happenings, such as arrests
(if you're looking for skeletons in the closet!), engagements, accidents of
all kinds, and almost anything else imaginable.
Addresses:
Family History Center 200 La Vista Avenue McAllen 956 682-1061
Brownsville Library 2600 Central Blvd. Brownsville 956 548-1055
Harlingen Library 410 - 76 Drive Harlingen 956 430-6650
Reber Memorial Library 190 N. 4th Raymondville 956 689-2930
Immaculate Conception Cathedral 1218 E. Jefferson Brownsville 78520 956 546-3178
Cameron County Courthouse 964
E. Harrison Ave. P. O. Box 2178 Brownsville 78520
Vital Statistics: 956 554-0817 ...........Deeds: 956 544-0882
Willacy County Courthouse - 540 E. Hidalgo Raymondville 78580 956 689-2710
Pan American University 1201 W. University Dr. Edinburg 956 381-2726.....956 381-2799.....956 381-3763(Census)
Texas Dept. of Health - Bureau
of Vital Statistics P. O. Box 12040 Austin, TX 78711-2040 512-458-7111
**Willacy County was not established until the early 1900's. Prior to that,
the area was part of Cameron County, so older records will be found under
Cameron County.
