FAQS

Why isn't my family in EARLY SETTLERS? I can prove they were in Jefferson County by the early 1800s.

EARLY SETTLERS is only a convenient name we gave to a list of early settlers found in one of the Jefferson County Histories. We posted that list back in 1996 in an effort to get something on the site as quickly as possible. The list has since been augmented by the good people who have sent in family group sheets of their ancestors who were heads of families in the county before 1850. These family group sheets we arbitrarily named "JEFFERSON COUNTY PIONEERS" and they are our signature feature. We chose 1850 because in 1850 and after, the federal and state census gives the name of every family member.
Although we still have a backlog, we welcome all Jefferson County Pioneers home to this site. Because of that backlog, and because of the popularity of the Jefferson County Pioneers, we don't add any more Early Settlers. Some day we hope to have them all as Pioneers. To that end we accept Pioneers, but not Early Settlers.

I want to start my family history. How do I begin?

Since we have received this question by email, we assume you have access to the internet. There are several really good sites out there for beginners. We recommend (only because these are ones we have visited and liked) the one at MACOUPIN COUNTY, ILLINOIS and ROOTSWEB'S INTRODUCTION TO GENEALOGY. In addition to on line courses, any library will have some books on how to start your family history. If by some remote chance your library has no how-to books, it can order one for you through inter library loan.

How do I go about finding my family in Jefferson County?

You've taken a good first step by looking at these faqs. This is a large site. Large, to me, is often confusing. Therefore we have a page on HINTS ON USING THE JEFFERSON COUNTY WEBSITE. Although it has been on the site for a couple of years, the email we receive indicates that many people don't know it exists. It's our effort to make sense out of the many pages we have on the site. Take the time to skim it, at least, before asking your question. It may be answered here, or it may help you sharpen the focus of your question before asking it.

What facilities does Jefferson County have to help me in my search for family data? How do I access these facilities?

Again, we have a page devoted to answering these questions: SEARCHING YOUR FAMILY'S PAST IN JEFFERSON COUNTY. This is an attempt to integrate standard genealogical research practices with our website.

Where can I find the address for...?

Although we have as complete a list of addresses as we can find, still people are emailing us to find out where to write. Click on ADDRESSES before you write us to see if the one you want is listed. If we have such a facility, and the address is not on the website, we will definitely want to include it.

Where can I stay while I research in Jefferson County?

This is not a commercial site, and we can accept no advertisements. We can, however, provide you with a link to the WATERTOWN site. Remember, we do not give recommendations!

Send me everything you have on the Davis family.

This is the warning sign of the beginning family historian. NEVER ask a person for "everything" on any family, especially such a common name as Brown, Greene, Davis, Williams, etc. Which branch of the family are you working on? What time period? You have no idea how much material this person has accumulated. Many of us are not willing to simply hand over sixty years' research to a stranger.

On another level, the County Coordinators of the GenWebSystem are just that: coordinators. We dedicate a large proportion of our time to maintaining the sites, and have neither time nor inclination to do another's research. Many of us are neglecting our own fascinating research to provide material of general interest to our viewers. We are not a research facility, nor do we have the entire county at our fingertips. For this Jefferson County, we have tried to point you in the right direction to find your material, but we cannot supply you with names and dates.