Researching ancestors involved in War of 1812

A generation of men was involved in the War of 1812 and, in Georgia, the simultaneous Indian conflicts, generating records of service as well as pensions.

The Winter 2012 issue of the Georgia Genealogical Society Quarterly had several articles on the subject. Alice Noble wrote about the War of 1812 and related genealogy research; Robert S. Davis on how to research a Southerner in the War of 1812, with sources state by state; James R. Miller on postal envelopes from the war; and editor Elizabeth Snow wrote about Georgia laws concerning widows and children of the soldiers.

This issue can be found at libraries and archives with genealogy collections, or you can contact the Georgia Genealogical Society at P.O. Box 550247, Atlanta, GA 30344-2747 or www.gagensociety.org.

South Carolina state grants

Brent H. Holcomb, who recently completed a seven-volume series of abstracts of the South Carolina royal land grants, has begun a new series on the state land grants. “South Carolina’s State Grants, Volume One: Grant Books 1 Through 6, 1784-1790” is the first installment.

State grants continued in South Carolina until the 1880s. During the American Revolution in South Carolina, as in other states, the land office was closed. Many grants reflect earlier plats and warrants, indicating that people probably lived on the land before ownership.

The abstracts are recorded in the order found in the books, with minimal information: amount paid, name of grantee, acreage, location and date. The originals are in the South Carolina Archives in Columbia.

This new series will be an important source for genealogists. The book is available for $35 plus $4.50 postage from Brent H. Holcomb, P.O. Box 21766, Columbia, S.C. 29221.

Family Bibles at Goodwill

At Goodwill’s online auction site, www.shopgoodwill.com, you can find many family heirlooms for sale from all over the country. Included among these are family Bibles. Under books you can search for “Bible” and see those that are for sale, many of which have the family pages scanned.

It’s tragic that a family Bible would end up being auctioned off. While you probably won’t find your long-lost Bible there, it’s a wake up call. Be sure you know where your Bible is, have copies of the pertinent family pages, or be sure you leave it to a responsible party.