“Land transfers weren’t always recorded. The land may have been inherited rather than transferred by deed, or deeds among family members may mot have been taken to the courthouse to save the recording fee. Diligent searching, however, should produce something, perhaps even years after the original purchase, when the land was sold out of the family."

Remember that each generation doubles the number of ancestors. It's easy to get lost if you don't plan ahead for your trip. Focus on one or two families. The others will still be there when you get to them.

The 1880 census was the first to identify the relationship between the household member and the head of house.