Category: genealogy

• July 9, 2026

  Separating identities

  John Phillips in 1830 & 1840 BACKGROUND OBJECTIVE FINDINGS AND ANALYSIS Separating John from John Who is the 1840 John Phillips? Who is the 1830 John Phillips? Was John the father of William? PRELIMINARY CONCLUSION SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE RESEARCH Appendix BACKGROUND William Phillips (Abt 1785 – Abt 1865) was living in St Clair County, Alabama…
• June 22, 2026

  Alabama Dower Rights

  A very under appreciated tool in genealogy and misunderstood legal doctrine is the dower right. Long established in common law, it was codified as early as 1215 in the Magna Carta (in modern English): (7) A widow, after the death of her husband, is immediately and without any difficulty to have her marriage portion and…
• March 14, 2010

  Putting together deed records

  Sure, it doesn’t say outright I don’t have a life, but it is sure implied. I was excited for spring break because it means I have time to go do genealogy research! I’ve started transcribing deed records from St Clair county, which leads me to a hint for beginning genealogists: Take photo’s of the records,…
• March 9, 2010

  Review of my trip yesterday

  According to the Phillipsdnaproject.com, the next grandfather on my Phillips line is a William Phillips who either married a Sarah Hays or Sarah Burleson. I’m not quite sure why there is a debate, since no one can produce a marriage license for either woman! Still, I’m very sure that he is the right person to…