FamilySearch Photo Duplication

Recently FamilySearch launched a new form for requesting documents online.  This service is through their photo duplication department (you may read more about the request process through the link).  With this new form has come quicker turnaround times.  I made my allotted five requests for the month on Wednesday, and had received a response for all five by Friday afternoon.  Although, future requests can only tell if this is the new standard.  The information page still says allow four to six weeks for the delivery of images.

I have found this service particularly useful while being on a frugal research budget.  Especially, with the addition of the death records for the city of Chicago, 1959-1994.  Currently the Cook County Clerk's Office charges $17.00 per death certificate requested.  This is a search fee charged whether or not it the correct individual.

Below is a screen shot of a transcribed record.  Each of the highlighted areas are necessary pieces of information for making a request.  The second image is the actual form used for requesting the image.  The first part of the form will ask for your contact information.  They will email the image of the record once it is located.

Using the "Illinois, Northern District Naturalization Index, 1850-1950" to Locate Original Naturalization Records

Many have used the "Illinois, Northern District Naturalization Index, 1850-1950" available through www.familysearch.org.  In this collection you may have discovered an index card for one or more of your ancestors.  However, did you know this card can lead to more than just the date of arrival and naturalization?  You may also discover further information the person abstracting the information did not index.  Take for instance the following index card for John Maslan.

From this index card we see that John Maslan naturalized on December 13, 1915.  His citizenship was granted by the Will County Circuit Court in Joliet, Illinois.  However, missing from the index card is the date and port of arrival.  Not to fret though; this card gives us all the information we need to locate the original record!  In order to locate the original record you must contact the following: 

Will County Circuit Court Archives*

806 N. Nicholson St.

Joliet, Ill.  60435

(815)-774-7494

You may submit a written request to the address above, or make a request via the phone number above.  When making a request provide the following:  name of the individual (as it appears on the card), certificate/volume/page number, and date of naturalization.  Additionally, if submitting a written request provide your name, address, and phone number.  The phone number will help if the archivist searching has any questions regarding your request.  

Once the search has been completed you will be notified of the findings.  In some cases; although rare,  the document may have been lost or misfiled.  If the documents are found you will be charged a copy fee.  Payment** must be received before they will mail copies of any records.  

In the case of John Maslan his "Petition for Naturalization" was located with the indexed information.  

From this we learn additional information regarding John and his family.  We learn the ship he arrived on; the date he arrived; and the port he arrived in.  Also, is listed the place of his wife's birth, and name and birth dates of his children.  He also stated that he made his "Declaration of Intent" at the circuit court in Waukegan, Lake County, Illinois (If the "Declaration of Intent" and "Petition for Naturalization" were both filed in Will County the archivist will generally provide copies of both).  

With the information from this document you have the option of locating several more documents.  You may write the circuit court in which the "Declaration of Intent" was made, and request copies of that document.  Also, available is the original ship manifest from his arrival to the United States.  In the case of John it was located on www.ellisisland.org.  

*The Will County Circuit Court Archives is a separate facility maintained by Will County.  Admittance is by appointment only, and access to records is limited to archivist.  

**The Will County Circuit Clerk only accepts payments in the form of cash or money orders.  Personal checks are not accepted by the circuit court.  

Finding a Missing Death Certificate

We have all been in the same position before; not being able to find a family member's death certificate.    They are buried in a local cemetery, the family has never moved, and now you cannot find proof of their death.

You have searched multiple databases online, and still no results!  You ask your self how can this be?! Exasperated by multiple search attempts you give up.  The search is pushed aside for another day.  After several attempts you find yourself wanting to give up.

What you might not be taking into account is an error in the index.  Some records are transcribed incorrectly when entered into a electronic database.  In most cases this is a hand written document or index that is being prepared for a searchable database.  The original record was handwritten, and now it's up to the volunteer to decipher the writing.

For instance the surname Feehan has been a difficult name to locate death certificates for.  The second E in the surname can be interpreted as a C, L, or R.  The following are examples of how a transcription have been entered in the "Illinois Statewide Death Index, 1916-1950".

Matthew Feehan's death certificate has been entered under the name Matthew Felhan.

You can see that the transcriber interpreted the second E as a L.  This could be due to the fact the loop is larger on the second E.  

Charles Joseph Feehan's death certificate has been entered under the name Charles Joseph Fechan.

You can see that the transcriber interpreted the second E as a C.  This could be because of the curve on the loop of the second E.  

Ellen Feehan's death certificate has been entered under the name Ellen Ferhan. 

You can see the transcriber interpreted the second E as a R.  This could be the formation of the second E in comparison to the first E.  

When searching try using a broader search.  Instead of entering the full surname, enter only the first few letters of the surname.  In the case for the surname Feehan I entered only the first two letters.  To help narrow the results enter the first name of the individual.  Be creative and imagine what your sloppy penmanship might look like.  It may take a few wildcard searches, however, you may find that death certificate you have almost given up on.  

Note:  This method was illustrated with the Illinois State Archives database titled "Illinois Statewide Death Index, 1916-1950".  The method can be used in any online database you are searching and allows wildcard searches.