SA43 Poor Ancestors: Strategies for Finding Records and the Stories Those Records Can Tell

Saturday, 24 May 2025, 2:30 p.m., French room

Researching poor ancestors may require special strategies and unfamiliar records. Learn how to find and use the information to tell you ancestors’ stories.

Topics will include direct evidence such as records from poor houses, orphanages, overseers of the poor, town/county minutes, special censuses, sheriff’s sales, probate and financial records; evidence suggesting poverty such as property value changes, school records, boarding out, chattel mortgages, liens, local laws, court records; tracking records over time and sources of aid. We’ll put the records into context within the time and place and with others in their lives.

Pam Vestal specializes in genealogical research and biographies. Her articles have appeared in the National Genealogical Society Magazine and the Association of Professional Genealogists Quarterly.

Registrants who check in at the Louisville registration desk can access this and all the lectures they don’t catch in person on the Whova app until 15 July 2025.

Registration is now open!