If you have ancestors in Delaware, this 1868 Hundreds Map may be worth a visit.

It may seem obvious, but we all need to be reminded to make certain that a database contains the regions in which we have an interest or think our people resided.

Have you searched for yourself in this database at FamilySearch–“United States Public Records, 1970-2009?” It’s not perfect. It has my wife’s birthdate as mine.

In 1909, street numbers changed in the City of Chicago. This guide to the changes is a PDF file from the Chicago History Museum’s website:

From the Chicago Street 1909 era renumbering guide from the Chicago History Museum Website

1909 changes

In 1911, street numbers in the Chicago Loop area changed. This guide to those changes is a PDF file from the Chicago History Muesum’s website:

1911 changes in the Loop

This guide covers street name changes and is also from the Chicago History Museum’s website (click here).

Here are some places online to find US city directories:

• List of directories on Fold3.com—fee based.
• View the Ancestry.com page and browse–fee based.
• Search at http://books.google.com –free
  • try “city state directory year”
• Search at http://www.archive.org– free
  • use the advanced search options as above
• Search at http://www.hathitrust.org/ – free
  • click on “catalog” and do a title search as above
• Local library websites may have some
• Local or regional genealogical societies may have some

Feel free to enter your favorite search sites for these in the comments.

This page of German abbreviations may be helpful to those translating documents from German.

Just a little reminder that sometimes one needs to search for themselves. This directory from Champaign County, Illinois contains the last name of “Fecht” but that did not turn up as a result when a full text search was conducted using the search box on this item which is available digitally on Archive.org. 

Many databases containing items from a variety of locations allow users to use a drop-down menu to view an inventory of specific locations.

Make certain you check out any listing that could be statewide or for more than one location. I almost missed an 1878 farmers’ directory in Illinois because it was classified as a “various” location.

As of this posting, FamilySearch, has the following Seamen’s Protection Certificates available online:

Maine, Bath, Seamen’s Proofs of Citizenship, 1833-1868

Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Seamen’s Proofs of Citizenship, 1791-1861

Ancestry.com also has the following databases of these documents–FamilySearch does not have them all online and they have not yet been indexed.

• U.S., Seamen’s Protection Certificates, 1792-1869
• Indexes to Seamen’s Protection Certificate Applications and Proofs of Citizenship
• Register of Seamen’s Protection Certificates from the Providence, Rhode Island Customs District, 1796-1870

The National Archives also has a PDF file from 2014 with information on these records as well:

• Seamen’s Protection Certificates, 1792-1940