Friday, July 12, 2024

Comparing Notes

 

I've been awaiting the chance to compare the much-anticipated copy of Hugh Stevens' First Declaration with that of his possible brother, John Stevens. While I'm curious to compare notes on the two forms for the slightest clue I might have missed, during this time, I stumbled upon another aspect of this project which also called for comparing notes: the originating facility, itself.

As it turns out, a fellow member of our genealogical society had just returned from a research trip to Arkansas. The week had been filled with plans for multiple stops to check county records for those elusive ancestors we are all chasing. While some local repositories had been helpful, others were somewhat of a disappointment, especially considering the time and expense invested in a research trip of this type. My friend certainly had my sympathy.

That was before I actually went through the process of finding the resource for Hugh Stevens' immigration records. While I remembered traveling to the archival collection where I first found the Stevens records in  Lafayette, Indiana, I was delighted to discover, this time around, that the county collection can now be searched online and copies ordered and paid for in a quick and easy electronic transaction. Thus, all it took was an emailed inquiry, then an order placed and paid, and it was only minutes before I had the digitized copy in my in-box.

Granted, not all local facilities are that organized and efficient. It takes years of painstaking work to locate records, determine their historical value and make the decision to invest in preserving them in a way that provides accessibility. I'd say the Tippecanoe County Historical Association's investment in time and effort has certainly made my research efforts go more smoothly.

That said, I'm looking forward to delving into the record received for this Hugh Stevens. While there may not be any surprises contained in this one slip of a page, I'm hoping I will at least find a clue to point me back to this Irish immigrant's origin in County Mayo. And that's what we'll discuss when we return to this project in the coming week.


2 comments:

  1. I'm sad to hear about a bad experience in Arkansas. The biggest family mystery on my husband's side is in Arkansas and my bucket list includes an in-person trip . . . .

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    1. Oh, by all means, do go, Miss Merry! Just be sure to plan in advance. Among the comments my friend shared was an observation that resources improved, the closer she traveled to the larger cities--but also that, had she checked ahead of time with the smaller locales, she would have learned of the best time to schedule her arrival. Some small organizations are totally staffed by volunteers, and some volunteers are more knowledgeable than others, as the only ones on duty that day admitted.

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