Online Research at the Rogue Valley Genealogy Society

Undated view of the Rogue River Ranch

The Rogue Valley Genealogical Society (RVGS) is located in Medford, Oregon in the Rogue River Valley of Southern Oregon. This page contains a list of the genealogical indexes available on the society website, providing an easy and quick reference for the type and range of records available.

Essex County Massachusetts Probate Records 1675-1681

Sample Last Will and Testament

The “Governor and Company of Massachusetts Bay” established a judicial system in 1628, with a General Court in Boston and quarterly courts in major towns like Salem and Ipswich by 1635. These courts managed probate matters, and after Essex County’s formation in 1643, individual probate courts were later established in 1692. These are the probate records from 1675 to 1681, sourced from various original documents, including detailed wills and estate settlements.

Essex County Massachusetts Probate Records 1665-1674

Sample Last Will and Testament

The “Governor and Company of Massachusetts Bay” established a judicial system in 1628, with a General Court in Boston and quarterly courts in major towns like Salem and Ipswich by 1635. These courts managed probate matters, and after Essex County’s formation in 1643, individual probate courts were later established in 1692. These are the probate records from 1665 to 1674, sourced from various original documents, including detailed wills and estate settlements.

Essex County Massachusetts Probate Records 1635-1664

Sample Last Will and Testament

The “Governor and Company of Massachusetts Bay” established a judicial system in 1628, with a General Court in Boston and quarterly courts in major towns like Salem and Ipswich by 1635. These courts managed probate matters, and after Essex County’s formation in 1643, individual probate courts were later established in 1692. These are the probate records from 1635 to 1664, sourced from various original documents, including detailed wills and estate settlements.

The Storrs Family

Heraldry of Storrs and Storr

Charles Storrs of Brooklyn, New York, dedicated over 20 years to compiling “The Storrs Family: Genealogical and Other Memoranda,” which traces his family lineage from the immigrant ancestor Samuel Storrs in Connecticut. Although it includes some limitations regarding early history and distant branches, the 1886 publication remains a valuable resource for descendants and researchers interested in the Storrs family. Organized by generations, it serves as a guide for validating genealogical information rather than absolute proof.

Lancaster County Archives Historical Indexes

Wagner, William, Active 19Th Century. Map of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. York, Pa.: Wagner, 1821

This page offers quick access to a range of historical indexes available at the Lancaster County, Pennsylvania archives, which are valuable for genealogical research. These resources include indexes for wills, deeds, probate records, Orphans’ Court records, estate files, and more. Researchers can efficiently navigate through these records to trace family histories and gather details on ancestors from Lancaster County. Each index is organized to help locate relevant documents that provide critical information such as dates, property ownership, family connections, and other vital data crucial for genealogical research.

Vanderburgh County Indiana Will Abstracts, 1821-1873

Sample Last Will and Testament

Abstracts of over 600 wills for Vanderburgh County, Indiana, extracted by Mrs. Arthur C. Bitterman. Book A was typed by Mrs. James A. Gentry, book B typed by Mrs. Marvin J. Huff, and published as one by the Vanderburgh Chapter of the DAR. Book A primarily covers wills written or filed within the time period of 1823-1849 and book B includes the years of 1849-1873. In both cases there are wills that fall outside those dates.

Access Meade County Kentucky Genealogy

1905 Meade County Kentucky Map

Access Meade County Kentucky genealogy using this page. This guide provides you with information on available online ancestry records including birth, court, death, land, and marriage, etc., as well as the history of the Meade County KY and the biography and genealogy of her people. This is the most complete and accurate listing of online records for Meade County Kentucky.

Logan County, Kentucky Wills – Book A, with index

Will book A, Logan County, Kentucky

The wills in this book come from Book A of the Wills found at the Logan County Court house in Russellville, Kentucky. The information was extracted in 1957 by Mrs. Vick on behalf of the DAR located in Russellville. The text in this book was done with an old manual typewriter and has the usual faint and filled-in type often found with such papers. On top of the difficulty in interpreting the print from the typewriter, the scanning process was also deficient, and led to the creation of a faint digital copy exacerbating the difficult to read text.

Orange County, Virginia, will book I, 1735-1743

Orange County, Virginia, will book I, 1735-1743

In the heart of Virginia, amidst the rolling hills and rich history, lies Orange County. Established in 1734, this vast expanse of land, originally stretching from the Rappahannock River to the Blue Ridge and further west to encompass what would become West Virginia and Kentucky, has been a witness to the early stories of America. “Orange County, Virginia, Will Book I, 1735-1743,” meticulously compiled by John Frederick Dorman and published in Washington, D.C., in 1958, serves as a crucial link to this foundational past.

Logan County, Kentucky Wills – Book B, with index

Will Book B, Logan County, Kentucky

The wills in this book come from Book B of the Wills found at the Logan County Court house in Russellville, Kentucky. The information was extracted in 1957 by Mrs. Vick on behalf of the DAR located in Russellville. The text in this book was done with an old manual typewriter and has the usual faint and filled-in type often found with such papers. On top of the difficulty in interpreting the print from the typewriter, the scanning process was also deficient, and led to the creation of a faint digital copy exacerbating the difficult to read text.

Abstractions from Huron County Ohio, Will Book A

Volume A, Huron County Wills to 1852

This volume is “Abstractions from Huron County Ohio, Will Book A.” These will abstractions cover the years from 1828 to 1852. They have been taken out of order as they appeared in the original volume and sorted by name. This abstraction was done by Henry Timman of Norwalk, Ohio, in 1960.

Early Records of Lee County, Virginia

Early Records of Lee County, Virginia, vol 2

This manuscript is a compilation of various early records of Lee County, Virginia. It is suggested that you use the index liberally for your searches which starts on page 152. Surnames will appear under a variety of spellings so be sure to check them all.

Remarks on Valentine Switzer

Valentine Switzer’s will was probated in Hampshire County, Virginia (now West Virginia) on May 14, 1817. He was the son-in-law of Stephen Hotzenbella, marrying Mary Hotzenbella. Valentine is recognized as the father of John Switzer, who owned lands in Bath County until relocating to Ohio. His descendant, William Franklin Switzer, dedicated years to tracing the Switzer lineage, discovering connections to significant historical records. Born in 1857, William contributed greatly to genealogy and the Methodist Episcopal Church over his lifetime.

Will of Nancy Austin

In her last will, Nancy Austin bequeaths her enslaved individuals to her grandchildren, children, and specifies their divisions among them. She instructs for the sale of her house and remaining personal property, with debts to be settled first. Proceeds are to be divided among her children and grandsons. Additionally, she grants freedom to her servant Amanda upon her death, ensuring her support if needed. Executors named include Samuel Casey, Gibson B. Taylor, and William Grundy. The will is dated May 26, 1837.

Abstracts of Wills on File in the City of New York Surrogate’s Office 1660-1680

Sample Last Will and Testament

Abstracts of wills on file in the surrogate’s office city of New York 1660-1680. From May 1787 to the present, county surrogate’s courts have recorded probates. However, the court of probates and court of chancery handled estates of deceased persons who died in one county but who owned property in another. An 1823 law mandated that all probates come under the jurisdiction of the county surrogate’s courts. Each surrogate’s court has a comprehensive index to all probate records, including the unrecorded probate packets. Interestingly enough, there are wills existing and on record at the Surrogate’s Office in New York City for the time-span of 1660-1680. Genealogical extracts of these wills have been provided below.

Early Pulaski County Georgia Register Books

The early Register Books of Pulaski County, Georgia, include four volumes documenting wills and estates. The first volume contains six wills from 1809 to 1816, followed by Book A (1810-1848), Book B (1853-1906), and Book C (1910-1935). These records, organized primarily by surname, provide insights into familial relations, including spouses, children, and other relatives, often using abbreviations for clarity. They serve as a vital resource for understanding the social and familial structures of early residents in Pulaski County.

Coosa County, Alabama Wills 1834 – 1861

The following dataset contains brief extracts of wills found in Coosa County, Alabama Probate Court minutes, books A + B. Wills can often provide the genealogist with concrete family clues, referencing family names and their relationships. The data we provide in this dataset contain only brief mentions of the actual will, and we highly suggest anyone finding a positive match in this dataset contact the Coosa County, Alabama probate court to obtain copies of these records.