Genealogy Resources for Milwaukee County, Wisconsin

Milwaukee Public Library - Genealogy Resources

Milwaukee County was created in 1834 in Michigan Territory from Brown and Iowa Counties. The National Genealogy Examiner’s Top Sites for Milwaukee County resources are Wisconsin and Milwaukee County: Online Genealogy and Family History Library. See more resources linked below.

Archives

Search through this finding aid to learn about collections held in 19 different repositories across Wisconsin: Archival Resources in Wisconsin: Descriptive Finding Aids

Census

The following Wisconsin State Census records are searchable online:

• 1855
• 1865
• 1875
• 1885
• 1895
• 1905

Search the United States Census here.

Immigration and Naturalization

• See Wisconsin Emigration and Immigration and Immigration.
• See Wisconsin Naturalization and Citizenship.
• Wisconsin, Milwaukee Naturalization Index 1848-1948 (Learn more)

Library

Milwaukee Public Library Resources

• This PDF file will help you learn about the genealogical resources at the Milwaukee Public Library: Researching the Family Tree
• Genealogy: Obituary Resources for Milwaukee County will help you locate a death notice or obituary.
• Genealogy: Vital Records will help you understand what birth, marriage, divorce, and death indices are available and their scope.
• The African American Genealogy Pathfinder helps beginning researchers know how to start.

Family History Library Catalog resources

See Wisconsin, Milwaukee.

Military

See Wisconsin Military Records. Also, search the following databases at the Wisconsin Veterans Museum:

• Civil War Database
• Spanish –American War Database
• World War I Database

Probate

Contact the Milwaukee County Probate Division to locate wills, estate records, and guardianships.

Societies

Milwaukee County Historical Society: Genealogy & Historical Research Collections

Vital Records

See Wisconsin Vital Records

Birth

• Wisconsin Birth Index, 1820-1907 (Learn more)
• Wisconsin Births and Christenings, 1826, 1926 (Learn more)

Marriage

• Wisconsin Marriage Index 1973-1977 (Learn more)
• Wisconsin Marriages 1836-1930 (Learn more)
• The Milwaukee County Marriage Certificates Collection from 1822 to 1876 is accessible online at the Milwaukee Public Library website.

Learn about other marriage record collections here.

Death

• Wisconsin Death Index, 1820-1907 (Learn more)
• Wisconsin Death Index, 1959-1997 (Learn more)
• Wisconsin Deaths and Burials, 1835-1968 (Learn more)

See also, Deaths and Obituaries

Divorce

Wisconsin Divorce Index, 1965-1984 (Learn more)

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Trouble Documenting a Virginia Death?

Did your ancestor die in Virginia? You may have noticed that fewer death records are online for Virginia than many other states. Hopefully, the resources below will make it easier for you to find death records for Virginia.

Before 1853

Death records were not officially kept before 1853. If you want to learn about an ancestor’s death, you will have to do what most people do in other states when they want to discover more about an ancestor’s death before records existed. Look for other records to use in place of death records.

For probate records before 1800, search the index at Library of Virginia. For probate records after 1800, search the Family History Library Catalog or contact the county courthouse to see if your ancestor’s name appears on a probate index.

For more probate record resources, see:

· Virginia Land, Marriage, and Probate Records, 1639-1850

· Chancery Records Index

· Probing the Past

· Virginia Vital Records

· See Virginia Probate Records and other Virginia records to learn more.

1853 to June 1917

Counties in Virginia recorded deaths beginning in 1853, but no deaths were officially recorded between 1896 and 1912 according to the Research Wiki at FamilySearch.org.

1853-1896 Death Index at Library of Virginia (free) – This index is not complete, and the original record is on microfilm.

Virginia Deaths and Burials Index, 1853-1917 (subscription) – In addition to civil records, this collection contains copies of records from churches and families. Any data that is not from an official record would need to be verified for accuracy. The same is true for the following database which you can access for free at FamilySearch.org

Virginia, Death and burials, 1853-1912 (free) – Be sure to locate the original document and verify any details that you learn from a family record. They are available on microfilm through the Family History Library.

You cannot tell much from these indexed records, so knowing the name of your ancestor, approximate date and place of birth and death, and parents’ names can help you narrow down the results some. Search other records in an attempt to verify what you find after looking at the original record.

In some cases, you may not be easy to find other records to verify information. For example, according to this indexed record, John Solomon Carter was born in 1852, and he is five years old when he died. He is not going to show up on a census. Unless you find a headstone or church record documenting a birth or christening, this may be the only evidence that he lived.

June 1912 to Present

There are no indexes online right now for deaths from 1912 to the present. If your ancestor died after June 1912, you should find a death certificate in the county where the death took place or in the Virginia Department of Health State Office. If you are not the parent, grandparent, spouse, sibling or legal guardian of the deceased, you will not be able to obtain a death certificate for anyone in Virginia prior to 25 years from the date of death.

More resources

Review the following resources where you may find access to more death records, obituary and cemetery information: Online Virginia Death Records and Indexes. Also, if you are unable to find a death record or a probate record, try:

· cemeteries

· Social Security Death Index

· obituaries

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Documenting Vermont Deaths

Are you trying to document the death of your ancestor in Vermont? You may not be aware of the different places to look for resources. Below, you may be able to find one or more resources that will help you.

Vermont vital records online

Vermont, Deaths and Burials, 1871-1965 (free) – This is an index of deaths. You will want to order the original on microfilm to see if it contains more information. If you do not find your ancestor, check to make sure the database contains records from your ancestor’s locality:Record Coverage.

Both of the following collections contain deaths for Vermont as well as births and marriages. Neither collection is complete. To learn more, see Record Description. Death records are sometimes a great place to learn the names of an ancestor’s parents.

Vermont, Vital Records, 1760-1954 (free)

Vermont, Vital Records, 1760-2003 (free)

Vermont, Vital Records, 1720-1908 (subscription) - From the record description of this collection, you learn that before 1857, vital records were kept at the town level. Also you learn about gaps in death records. Always read the record descriptions to learn more about the content and how to use a collection.

Vermont, Death Records, 1909-2008 – (subscription) Earlier records are probably on microfilm, but the later ones will needed to be ordered as the record description advises.

Vermont Death Index, 1981-2001 – (subscription)

Family History Library Catalog

Be sure to search the Family History Library Catalog for the county in Vermont where your ancestor lived. You may discover more records that are not online. For example, a search for Vermont, Essex County brings up a reference on microfilm to vital records of unorganized towns of Essex County. See search results.

Cemeteries

Discovering the cemetery where your ancestor is buried can lead you to information about his or her death. You may also discover other people related to you in the same cemetery. Start by searching Find A Grave to see if the cemetery is listed and if your ancestor’s name has been added.

Some older cemeteries or tombstones may no longer exist. In that case, contact genealogical or historical societies to see if a list of burials exists for the cemetery. If you have no idea where your ancestor was buried, you will need to begin researching local cemeteries. Hopefully, the local library will have books documenting the burials in older cemeteries. Use this search engine to search for resources about Vermont cemeteries.

It is much easier to research cemeteries once ancestors’ burial places and funeral homes are included on death certificates.

Probate Records

Vermont, Probate Files,1800-1921 (free) – It will be helpful if you know the county where your ancestor lived and the approximate year of death. You can discover much more information in a probate record besides the death date. See this example. For now, only the counties of Chittenden and Essex have been included. Check back for the addition of other counties.

Check the probate records for the county in Vermont that you are researching. Also, find out if your ancestor is listed on the probate index at the county probate court office. Remember that not everything can be found online.

Other ideas

If you are not able to locate death information using the resources above, try newspaper obituaries. Newspapers are both online and on microfilm. Family bibles may also have recorded deaths. If your ancestor died within 12 previous to the years 1850, 1860, 1870, or 1880, he or she could be listed on a US Census Mortality Schedule.

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Genealogy: Digging Deeper Into Newspapers

You can collect names, dates of events, and places for only so long before you yearn to know more about your ancestor's story. When there just are not many folks left to pose your questions to, you will certainly wish you had been more interested earlier when the right people were around to share with you. All may not be lost though if pieces of your ancestor's story were captured in the local newspaper. Hopefully, the following finds will encourage you to begin your own newspaper research journey.

Newspaper articles can fill in missing details about your ancestor' education, residence, employment, and travels. The article, "Holmes Resided Here," gives the details about each of these. Thomas H. Holmes, an American mining engineer from Chihuahua, graduated from Massachusetts Institute of Technology once lived in Washington, D. C. His former residence is given. In three short paragraphs you learn about his education, where he lived and much more.

Most people researching their family history search for obituaries in newspapers, but how many think to look for the memoriam one year after ancestor's death? "In Memoriam," was published on December 18, 1920, exactly one year after the death of Melissa Johnson Gordon. It names her children and their spouses.

When an estate is probated, you can often find a notice that was required to be published in the paper. Emma Campbell died on Oct 2, 1918 without naming an executor of her estate. The probate notice in the newspaper shows that her son, Fred, filed a petition to be named executor. It is wonderful to find these probate notices because they point directly toward probate records that can be found online or in the courthouse or archives where you can learn more. You should search the newspaper for probate notices as readily as you search obituaries for family members.

The next event to document on the timeline after your ancestor's death and births of children would be marriage. Remember more events planned around the marriage could also have received publicity such as a prenuptial, engagement party, or reception. Miss Helen Morton Young and Miss California Marion Wilson were honored at a dinner given by Mrs. L. B. Jorgenson of Los Angeles in April of 1909. Miss Young was visiting friends, and this dinner would have given her the chance to see more of them. Miss Wilson was being honored due to her marriage to Mr. Ellis Paul Gray.

In this particular case, the article was more a notice about the dinner party rather than a marriage announcement. You might find a photo of the bride and groom in an engagement notice or marriage announcement.

Did your ancestor play a sport in school? If so, you will definitely search the sport section of newspapers for mentions. In "Coleville Defeats Oroville," Coleville beats Oroville 22-0 on Oroville's turf. The manager, coach, team members and the positions they played are all mentioned. Wouldn't it be great to collect the articles from the sports section that highlight your ancestor and the team they played on?

What details have you discover about your ancestor in the newspaper?

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Pride in Family Memoir Prompt: Stairway to Heaven

Some rights reserved by TheAlieness GiselaGiardino²³ Stairway to Heaven

 When I saw this prompt to write about someone in my childhood that made me very proud, I thought immediately of an aunt whose name I cannot mention because she is still alive. 

This aunt has never been married our had children. I am very impressed to be able to provide this example because I want those who have not had the opportunity to marry or have children to know that they have a powerful influence on the children around them. 

My paternal grandmother had come for a visit.  As I look back, I can tell she probably knew she did not have long to live.  As I mentioned in yesterday's post, she insisted I memorize the 23rd Psalm on this visit in one sitting. I was able to do it, and she was very pleased. She died soon after. 

 Everyone was so preoccupied, and rightfully so. The only problem is that I remember feeling very sad when my father returned from the hospital to tell us she had died.  I could see sadness on everyone's faces, but I did not know what it meant to die.  The family was busy with arrangements. 

I just had to ask my aunt where my grandma had gone to.  She patiently explained that I would not see her anymore.  She had gone to Heaven.  I asked her about Heaven and was more comfortable when she explained that it was a good place and that I would see her again someday. 

This was my Aunt's mother.  It must have been very hard for her to do this, but she did it very compassionately and convincingly.  On the day of the funeral, I can remember that after she had gone up to view my grandmother, she noticed I had not. 

My dad was very sad, and my mom was with him.   My aunt said, "Would you like to go up to say goodbye?"  I respectfully answered, "Yes."  She did not say anymore, but rather lovingly took me by the hand and walked me to the casket.  As soon as I saw my grandmother lying there, I remembered the story about her going to Heaven. This gave me much comfort, and I knew my grandmother really was not there because she did not look it. 

What could have been a very traumatic experience for a little girl who really loved her grandma, was eased by this Aunt who took out the time to explain.  She did not have to do it with a book, she believed in what she taught me.  I know she must have learned too from her mother.  I would hope that every young child who experiences the passing of a loved one has an angel like my aunt to take his or her hand.

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