Lesson Nine

AT THE COURTHOUSE

Courthouse records should be familar to all researchers. These include vital records (births, marriages, deaths), probate records and land records (covered in lesson eight). Not all events are recorded, even after required by law, and prior to 1900 many births, marriages and deaths are not reported to the county clerk.

Most early records will list Native Americans as Indian, red or copper. Later Native Americans can be found listed as white. This happened for several reasons. Some persons did not want the stigma attached to being Indian and therefore hid their true heritage. Others were told that Indian meant someone from India and that Native American did not fit in the space available, so the clerk put down white.

When looking for marriage records don't limit the range of years to the customary 3 years before the birth of the first child to several years afterward. Many Indian couples considered themselves marriage by Indian custom and did not have a legal ceremony until a white authority (either church or government) told them is was necessary. I've found marriages for couples taking place after the couple not only had children, but grandchildren.

Native American records for Leelanau County prior to 1920 are available on-line. births | marriages 1862-1887 | marriages 1888-1920 | deaths
Mackinac Marriages 1821 - 1868 is a surname index to all the marriages including many marriages between Natives and whites. Also check the Lookups Page.
Rev. Bingham's records inlcude marriages he performed at Sault Ste. Marie.

While at the courthouse don't overlook probate records. These include wills, estates, and guardianships. Due to the land allotments resulting from the treaties, many Indians had estates that were recorded in the probate and/or land records after their deaths. These records can link heirs with English names to the ancestor with an Indian name.

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