Aug. 20, 2008
BOOK NEWS: VA Genealogist Janie Sherman Publishes Augusta County Will Index Book
Author: 'It’s More than a Will Book, And your ancestors might be in it!'
By David M. Kinchen
Huntingtonnews.net Book Editor
Staunton, VA (HNN) -- Janie Sherman, a Staunton-based certified genealogist whose specialty area is Augusta County, VA, has published a book with Gateway Press, "The Augusta County Earliest Will, 1745 to post 1900."
Today's Augusta County is the Old Dominion's second largest county, with 970 square miles of area. Its county seat is the independent city of Staunton. Back in the day, the county included the present states of West Virginia and Kentucky, as well as much of the area north of the Ohio. Virginia claimed all the land to the Pacific Ocean, in fact.
The 280,000 square mile Northwest Territory -- today's Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and part of Minnesota and bigger than today's state of Texas --- was formed from Augusta County when Virginia relinquished its claim in 1784.
As Augusta County once included West Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio and neighboring Tennessee and North Carolina, many residents of Appalachia and much of the Midwest today have ancestors from Augusta County, VA, Sherman said.
Besides the No. Will Index Book, Sherman has included 4 additional will books, 2A through 5A, that pertain to wills of the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century. The earliest will, that of Robert O. Wilson, dates 3 Nov 1745, and the old index is not in alphabetical order.
"Not only is the published index in alphabetical order," says Sherman, "but it contains genealogical documents of interest that one might not suspect as early as 1745.”
She said the book contains estate matters such as, wills, codicils, and administrations, property inventories, appraisals, settlements and sales; but also random documents pertaining to emancipation of slaves, bonds, liens and crop loans; guardianships, apprenticeships, indentures, and marriage agreements and separations; nominations for public office and military qualifications, promotions and appointments; power of attorneys, widow relinquishments, recantations, executor appointments, deed of gifts, trusts, surveys, contracts and agreements.
"It's more than just a will index book," adds Sherman. "It is a gateway to the collection of Augusta County cultural history and valuable documentation needed for the many family histories that are being researched today. Genealogy has become the number one hobby in America, and with old Augusta County being so vast, many will find their roots right here. In addition, I have added an Appendix Index that includes a list of all names mentioned within the context of the Will Book entry. This published work will allow researchers all over the nation to have access to these grand Augusta County records.”
"In genealogy classes that I have presented for 10 years, I ask, 'Doesn't EVERYBODY come from Augusta County?' Before the Revolutionary War, this county once stretched from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Mississippi River and up to the Great Lakes. It was huge! Also it contained the Great Wagon Road, a north-south migration path to the southern and western territories. If your ancestor didn't live here, then they may well have passed through," she says. "Furthermore, we are so fortunate to have an Augusta County Courthouse that is not a 'burned courthouse' neither by war or accident, thus, the early records have been amazingly well preserved beginning with the clerk in 1745 to the present clerk, John B. Davis -- 260 years of wills and deeds recorded since 1745."
Sherman conducts research for clients from as far away as England and Australia. “The New England states are sort of their own little country,” she says, “but still some English migrated south to Augusta County, but not in such large numbers as the Germans and Scots-Irish from Pennsylvania. Augusta County is rich with historical documents of such immigrants, and this book will help them be found more easily.”
Sherman, a graduate of East Tennessee State University in English/Sociology/teaching, also has certification from the University of the South in Education for Ministry, and has been certified for 13 years by the National Board of Certified Genealogists for which recertification is applied every five years.
She conducts client research and is a member of about 30 societies, including the Jamestowne Society, Huguenot Society, Dames of Colonial Cavaliers, Colonial Dames, United Daughters of the Confederacy, First Families of Tennessee, Society of Indiana Pioneers, Descendants of Colonial Physicians and Chuirgeons, Colonial and Antebellum Bench and Bar, Descendants of the Knights of the Bath, The Order of Charlemagne and is presently working on the Hereditary Order of the Families of the Presidents and First Ladies of America applications.
Sherman is also the Organizing Regent of the Augusta Parish DAR Chapter in Staunton. Sherman, founder of First Families of Augusta Co, VA, with the Augusta County Historical Society.Ms. Sherman, reared in KY and TN, and a resident of Staunton, is married to Terry R. Mitchell, a family genealogist and founding President of the General Daniel Morgan SAR Chapter.
Sherman was the founding Director of Trinity Pre-school in the late 1970s.The soft cover book of 325 pages is expected out the Fall of 2008 and will sell for $32, but interested buyers can purchase the book now at the pre-sale price of $24.50 +$2 shipping. Send check made out to Sherman to Jane Sherman, CG, 701 Donaghe St., Staunton, VA 24401-2838 or by contacting Sherman at 540 885-1357 or HYPERLINK "mailto:societydame@verizon.net" societydame@verizon.net .
***
Editor's Note: From Wikipedia entry: "Augusta County VA":
Augusta County was formed in 1738 from Orange County, although county government was not organized until 1745. It was named for Augusta of Saxe-Gotha, Princess of Wales and and mother of the future King George III.
Originally, Augusta County was a vast territory with an indefinite western boundary. Most of what is now West Virginia as well as all of Kentucky were formed from it, and it also claimed the territory north and west of those areas, theoretically all the way to the Pacific Ocean. Reductions in its extent began in 1770, when its southern part became Botetourt County. In 1776 part of western Augusta County, an area also known as the District of West Augusta, became Monongalia County, Ohio County, and Yohogania County (abolished in 1786). In 1778 the part of Augusta County west of the Ohio River became Illinois County (abolished in 1784); the northeastern part of what was left became Rockingham County, and the southwestern part was combined with part of Botetourt County to form Rockbridge County. In 1788 the northern part of the still shrinking county was combined with part of Hardy County to become Pendleton County. Augusta County assumed its present dimensions in 1790, when its western part was combined with parts of Botetourt County and Greenbrier County to form Bath County.
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BOOK NEWS: VA Genealogist Janie Sherman Publishes Augusta County Will Index Book
Author: 'It’s More than a Will Book, And your ancestors might be in it!'
By David M. Kinchen
Huntingtonnews.net Book Editor
Staunton, VA (HNN) -- Janie Sherman, a Staunton-based certified genealogist whose specialty area is Augusta County, VA, has published a book with Gateway Press, "The Augusta County Earliest Will, 1745 to post 1900."
Today's Augusta County is the Old Dominion's second largest county, with 970 square miles of area. Its county seat is the independent city of Staunton. Back in the day, the county included the present states of West Virginia and Kentucky, as well as much of the area north of the Ohio. Virginia claimed all the land to the Pacific Ocean, in fact.
The 280,000 square mile Northwest Territory -- today's Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and part of Minnesota and bigger than today's state of Texas --- was formed from Augusta County when Virginia relinquished its claim in 1784.
As Augusta County once included West Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio and neighboring Tennessee and North Carolina, many residents of Appalachia and much of the Midwest today have ancestors from Augusta County, VA, Sherman said.
Besides the No. Will Index Book, Sherman has included 4 additional will books, 2A through 5A, that pertain to wills of the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century. The earliest will, that of Robert O. Wilson, dates 3 Nov 1745, and the old index is not in alphabetical order.
"Not only is the published index in alphabetical order," says Sherman, "but it contains genealogical documents of interest that one might not suspect as early as 1745.”
She said the book contains estate matters such as, wills, codicils, and administrations, property inventories, appraisals, settlements and sales; but also random documents pertaining to emancipation of slaves, bonds, liens and crop loans; guardianships, apprenticeships, indentures, and marriage agreements and separations; nominations for public office and military qualifications, promotions and appointments; power of attorneys, widow relinquishments, recantations, executor appointments, deed of gifts, trusts, surveys, contracts and agreements.
"It's more than just a will index book," adds Sherman. "It is a gateway to the collection of Augusta County cultural history and valuable documentation needed for the many family histories that are being researched today. Genealogy has become the number one hobby in America, and with old Augusta County being so vast, many will find their roots right here. In addition, I have added an Appendix Index that includes a list of all names mentioned within the context of the Will Book entry. This published work will allow researchers all over the nation to have access to these grand Augusta County records.”
"In genealogy classes that I have presented for 10 years, I ask, 'Doesn't EVERYBODY come from Augusta County?' Before the Revolutionary War, this county once stretched from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Mississippi River and up to the Great Lakes. It was huge! Also it contained the Great Wagon Road, a north-south migration path to the southern and western territories. If your ancestor didn't live here, then they may well have passed through," she says. "Furthermore, we are so fortunate to have an Augusta County Courthouse that is not a 'burned courthouse' neither by war or accident, thus, the early records have been amazingly well preserved beginning with the clerk in 1745 to the present clerk, John B. Davis -- 260 years of wills and deeds recorded since 1745."
Sherman conducts research for clients from as far away as England and Australia. “The New England states are sort of their own little country,” she says, “but still some English migrated south to Augusta County, but not in such large numbers as the Germans and Scots-Irish from Pennsylvania. Augusta County is rich with historical documents of such immigrants, and this book will help them be found more easily.”
Sherman, a graduate of East Tennessee State University in English/Sociology/teaching, also has certification from the University of the South in Education for Ministry, and has been certified for 13 years by the National Board of Certified Genealogists for which recertification is applied every five years.
She conducts client research and is a member of about 30 societies, including the Jamestowne Society, Huguenot Society, Dames of Colonial Cavaliers, Colonial Dames, United Daughters of the Confederacy, First Families of Tennessee, Society of Indiana Pioneers, Descendants of Colonial Physicians and Chuirgeons, Colonial and Antebellum Bench and Bar, Descendants of the Knights of the Bath, The Order of Charlemagne and is presently working on the Hereditary Order of the Families of the Presidents and First Ladies of America applications.
Sherman is also the Organizing Regent of the Augusta Parish DAR Chapter in Staunton. Sherman, founder of First Families of Augusta Co, VA, with the Augusta County Historical Society.Ms. Sherman, reared in KY and TN, and a resident of Staunton, is married to Terry R. Mitchell, a family genealogist and founding President of the General Daniel Morgan SAR Chapter.
Sherman was the founding Director of Trinity Pre-school in the late 1970s.The soft cover book of 325 pages is expected out the Fall of 2008 and will sell for $32, but interested buyers can purchase the book now at the pre-sale price of $24.50 +$2 shipping. Send check made out to Sherman to Jane Sherman, CG, 701 Donaghe St., Staunton, VA 24401-2838 or by contacting Sherman at 540 885-1357 or HYPERLINK "mailto:societydame@verizon.net" societydame@verizon.net .
Editor's Note: From Wikipedia entry: "Augusta County VA":
Augusta County was formed in 1738 from Orange County, although county government was not organized until 1745. It was named for Augusta of Saxe-Gotha, Princess of Wales and and mother of the future King George III.
Originally, Augusta County was a vast territory with an indefinite western boundary. Most of what is now West Virginia as well as all of Kentucky were formed from it, and it also claimed the territory north and west of those areas, theoretically all the way to the Pacific Ocean. Reductions in its extent began in 1770, when its southern part became Botetourt County. In 1776 part of western Augusta County, an area also known as the District of West Augusta, became Monongalia County, Ohio County, and Yohogania County (abolished in 1786). In 1778 the part of Augusta County west of the Ohio River became Illinois County (abolished in 1784); the northeastern part of what was left became Rockingham County, and the southwestern part was combined with part of Botetourt County to form Rockbridge County. In 1788 the northern part of the still shrinking county was combined with part of Hardy County to become Pendleton County. Augusta County assumed its present dimensions in 1790, when its western part was combined with parts of Botetourt County and Greenbrier County to form Bath County.
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