Midland Genealogical Society Meeting and Program

“Magnificent Land Records and where to find them." Presented by Jeffrey Mason.

7pm on Wednesday, January 15, in the Orchard Room

Although land records don’t typically carry the degree of immediate gratification that you might get from finding other original source documents such as birth or death certificates, marriage licenses, will, estate, or probate records, they are especially helpful in locating ancestors in the pre-every name census years prior to 1850. Land records can form or assist you in forming the basis that can help you to make conclusions about your ancestors in situations where a relationship may not be clear cut.

Jeffrey Mason has been an active genealogist for the last 48 years, doing extensive research in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. He has also performed extensive research of records in England & Wales, as his English research has taken him to the former Family History Centre in London, the Society of Genealogists in London, the Worcestershire County Records office, and visits to ancestral hometowns in rural England. Jeff is a contributor to the Find-A-Grave project, is responsible for requiring his daughter to hold membership in the DAR, is the administrator and co-founder of the Nason Family DNA project through FamilyTreeDNA.com, and for the last 13 years a frequent speaker at genealogical and historical societies throughout Michigan.