Books by Carol Wells

Early records of court minutes provide an excellent source of names, because these records precede the county's first extant census of 1820. Almost everyone had dealings with the courts, whether they were serving on a jury, suing a neighbor, or being sent to jail! The information, chronologically arranged, was transcribed from microfilm. Every name has been indexed for easy reference. The court minutes include the names of the officials who were present at each session and the names of the parties involved in the court proceedings. Records of meetings could include appointments to offices, applications for licenses, petitions, descriptions of deeds, new roads and property boundaries, sales of slaves, etc. These records also provide a glimpse of life as it was long ago: "Tavern Rates till Next Court, half a pint Whiskey 16 2/3 Cts, half pint Brandy 21 Cents, half pint rum or Wine 25 Cents, Breakfast or supper 25 Cents, Dinner 33 1/3 Cents" (July 1796).

Family historians can hardly find a better way to add life to genealogical records than by reading county court minutes. On these pages can be found references to remarriages, heirs, apprenticeships, orphans, transients, indigents, and the insane. Mentioned here are: the laying out of roads, licensing of officials, mills, ferries, and ordinaries, as well as suits for assault, trespass, debt, paternity, land, and other county matters. Giles County was cut from Maury County in 1809. By this time, Indian problems were in the past, and the area was filling rapidly with settlers. Some families farmed only for a season or two before going elsewhere. Depositions and powers of attorney show connections to counties in South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, and Kentucky. Court was held in private homes until a courthouse was built, which soon burned. These records were abstracted from two surviving county court minute books and one circuit court minute book dating from before 1820. In the absence of census records for early Tennessee, and considering the destruction of many other early records, the information obtained from these three small books is an important discovery for genealogists. This book is arranged chronologically and has an every-name index.

Few records survive from this formative period in Tennessee history when Davidson County encompassed all of middle and western Tennessee. They are important because many people mentioned in the court minutes do not appear in other records.

These court minutes are important because few records survive from this formative period in Tennessee history when Davidson County encompassed all of middle and western Tennessee. They are also important because many people are mentioned in the court minutes who do not appear in other records. County court responsibilities went beyond the hearing of lawsuits; roads and ferries had to be provided, brands and marks registered, orphans cared for, estates settled, and many other details of life handled in an orderly manner. In addition to providing a wealth of genealogical information, these abstracts give insight into life during the formative days of the county. A name index is included

"The County and Circuit Court Minutes abstracted in this book are new to family historians. So untouched for the last 170 years that the pages have never been numbered, these minutes open to us new insights on life in Dickson County in the early 1800s." Court minutes may provide the missing link in some family histories. Questions about family relationships may be answered by paternity suits; relatives may be found when orphans are given guardians or impoverished folk are provided with care-givers. For example: "Richd M Jones allowed $36 each for maintaining for one year Jno, Robt, & Mary Jordan minor orphans of Seth B Jordan decd." These minutes contain all of the county court business for the years 1816-1828, including divorces, administration of estates, deeds of conveyance, debts, and more. Presiding officials, names of jurors, and names of parties involved in the court proceedings are also included. The witness docket names the principal parties in each case, the witness, and the number of days and miles they spent travelling to court. (Sometimes witnesses were called from other counties or even other states.) These minutes were abstracted from microfilm and appear in chronological order. Every name written in the original minutes is in this book, which includes a handy index.

The eleventh volume in this series of deed book abstracts is particularly useful to genealogists because the documents were recorded in 1825 and 1826, midway between the 1820 and 1830 censuses. In addition to the names, dates and land descriptions one wou

Natchez, Mississippi, was under Spanish rule from 1779 until 1798. Official documents were translated from the Spanish in 1818. At some later date, the handwritten translation was transcribed into type. This work is compiled from that typed transcript, which is located at Northwestern State University of Louisiana. It includes such records as depositions, declarations, wills, deeds, bills of sale and reports of disagreements. Most of the records date between 1781 and 1798, although there are scattered earlier and later dates. Over 550 surnames are given, over 100 slaves are named, and there are fifty-five connections to other cities and regions. Each entry includes the page number of the original typescript so that the reader can easily reference the subject. A surname index is included.

This third volume of county court minutes provides a glimpse into the early years of the fledgling state. "Constant creation of new roads and ferries reveal the influx of new settlers to middle Tennessee. Unfamiliar names appeared in the minutes as the justices of the peace dealt with disputes, orphans, poverty, estates, wills, sales, apprentices, licenses, and the multiplicity of other matters that fell to their jurisdiction." This work condenses the often flowery language of the original minutes to a brief accounting of the subject brought before the court and the people involved. Many citizens who would not appear in other records may have had business with the court, and would therefore be listed in the court's minutes. The index lists surnames, places and organizations mentioned in the text.

The deed book abstracts in this volume were gleaned from documents that were recorded between 1829 and 1832. In addition to the names, dates and land descriptions one would expect to find in such records, these deed abstracts also reveal names of children

For genealogists, delving into a package of probate records is an adventure. Probate records are sworn documents that go beyond the will to show how the estate was settled. These records offer insight even when persons left no will. They may reveal names,

Here is the latest in this useful series of deed book abstracts. In addition to the names, dates and land descriptions one would expect to find in such records, these deed abstracts also reveal names of children and neighbors, ties to other areas, clues t

Here is the latest in this useful series of deed book abstracts. In addition to dates of conveyances and names of grantors and grantees as listed in courthouse indexes, deeds name place of residence which may be in another district, state or country. Deed

Recorded between 1814 and 1817, years which saw many families leave Edgefield County to settle in newly acquired territories in the South and West.

Deed books contain not only land conveyances, but also powers of attorney, depositions, judicial sales, and sales of household and farm equipment, livestock and slaves. These transactions often name wives, children, parents, assorted kinfolk, previous own

Cut from Davidson County in 1786, Sumner was the fastest growing county in central Tennessee. Sumner covered a large area which is now divided into many other counties. When the Indian troubles ended, Sumner was a hive of activity: ferries and mills were

Probate records are sworn documents that go beyond the will to show how the estate was settled. These records offer insight even when persons left no will. They may reveal names, relationships, date of death, items being sold, names of buyers, final distr

By the end of the 18th century, Edgefield County veterans of the American Revolution were becoming the older generation. Changes surrounded them. The cotton gin gave a profitable crop to the South and strengthened the once-fading institution of slavery. P

The deed book abstracts in this volume were gleaned from documents that were recorded between 1826 and 1829. In addition to the names, dates and land descriptions one would expect to find in such records, these deed abstracts also reveal names of children

In this book are mentioned the names of more than 3,700 free persons. They are sellers, buyers, orphans, widows, adjoining neighbors, previous owners, and donors of gifts to children and friends. Most deeds concern land conveyances. There are also prenupt

At the time these deeds were written, Edgefield contained all or parts of the present counties of Aiken, Greenwood, McCormick and Saluda. Deed books contain not only land conveyances, but also powers of attorney, depositions, judicial sales and sales of h

Although these abstracted deeds were recorded from 1798 to 1800, the years in which they were written stretch from the 1760s. Many chains of title reach back to the 1750s and may tell of land sold, disputed and inherited; they name heirs, kinfolk of other

At the time these deeds were written, Edgefield contained all or parts of the present counties of Aiken, Greenwood, McCormick and Saluda. Deed books contain not only land conveyances, but also powers of attorney, depositions, judicial sales and sales of h