The Legacy Tree Genealogists Blog

Hand-picked, tested and trained, our professional genealogist team knows how to find your story. We search the world for answers. Find the un-findable. And we’re experts at everything from tracking down rare international records to analyzing DNA test results. Based near the world’s largest family history library in downtown Salt Lake City, we also work with researchers and archives around the globe. Contact us today if you would like help discovering your ancestors!

The Window Tax: A Window into Your Ancestry

June 22, 2021 by Jim - Legacy Tree Genealogists Editor Leave a Comment

Legacy Tree Genealogist, James (Jim) Beidler explains how a short-lived tax created in 1798 can be a valuable source of information for genealogy researchers. Discover which states retained this information and how to find it.Taxes. They're a subject from which many people wish to stay away - almost as much as they want to avoid paying them.There are many types of taxes, historically speaking, and records of them can vary greatly. In some cases, they are not even public records. Those that are public sometimes have no more data than a name and possibly the amount of tax paid. But there's one tax—covering but a single year near the close of the eighteenth century—which defies those caveats by being open to public view as well as chock-full of details for genealogists and house historians.That levy is the 1798 U.S. Direct Tax, nicknamed the "Window Tax." It was so unpopular that Congress repealed the legislation after the initial set of returns was created.But, oh, …

Setting the Record Straight: 6 Common Myths About Hiring a Professional Genealogist

June 17, 2021 by Carolyn - Legacy Tree Genealogists Project Manager 4 Comments

One of our genealogists breaks down some of the myths about genealogical research and provides valuable insight into the process of hiring a professional. This article may answer some of the questions you have about hiring a genealogist to research your family's history.As professional genealogists, genealogy is our passion as much as it is our profession. We love nothing more than to sink our teeth into a juicy ancestral mystery, gather up all available evidence, and piece together the truth, however surprising (or mundane) the truth might be.We understand that when you hire a professional genealogist, you are placing your hopes and dreams of discovering your heritage in our hands. Connecting with your ancestors is intensely personal and meaningful, and there are strong emotions involved for you and for us. We take the trust you place in us to discover your personal family history very seriously and are committed to providing each client with the exceptional …

Legacy Tree Onsite: Navigating Italy’s Archives for Family Research

June 4, 2021 by Legacy Tree Genealogists Leave a Comment

Legacy Tree Genealogists works with researchers from across the globe to access records for our clients. We asked one of our on-site researchers in Italy to explain how to navigate the complex maze of archives in Italian Research.It is incredible to me that America, as a country, is older than Italy!Between 1859 and 1870, the various territories in the peninsula came together to unify the country, but it would be another 76 years before a constitution was written and Italy declared a Republic.All of the above dramatically affects the organization and archiving of documents. In Italy, this comes under the direction of the Ministro per i beni e le attività culturali e per il turismo (Minister for Cultural Heritage and Activities and for Tourism) except the Vatican Archives, as this is technically a different country.Vatican Archives The Vatican Archives includes documents from the former Papal States and the current Vatican government archives. It has 50 miles of shelving …

Was Your Ancestor a Outlaw in the Wild West?

May 27, 2021 by Melissa - Legacy Tree Genealogists Researcher 2 Comments

Legacy Tree researcher Melissa Finlay takes you back to the old west to find your "Most Wanted" ancestors to determine if they were outlaws, bandits, or rustlers. Did your ancestors ride with notorious outlaws or did they obey the law of the land in the old west?Jesse James, Wild Bill Hickok, Calamity Jane, Doc Holliday, Billy the Kid. You may have heard about some of these famous outlaws of the Wild Western United States. But have you ever wondered if your ancestor was a criminal in the Wild West? Or perhaps they were a victim of a crime or a lawman fighting for law and order in the Wild West? There are records available to find out if your ancestor was involved!Fort Smith, Arkansas, U.S. Federal District CourtMen and women living in western Arkansas, the Indian Territory, or any part of the 74,000 square miles covered by the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas were tried for their crimes at Fort Smith, Arkansas.[1] The fort sat just across …