Targeted Research: How to Find Full Probate Packages on FamilySearch and More
In this episode, I walk you through a real-time example of how I conduct what I call targeted research—zeroing in on a single record type for a single ancestor. In this case, we’re hunting for the full probate package for Benjamin Franklin Booth of Wayne County, West Virginia, who died in 1884.
You’ll see exactly how I:
• Move beyond the basic will index to find settlements, appraisals, and guardian bonds
• Use the FamilySearch card catalog strategically
• Tap into the Research Labs tools, including Full Text Search
• Work forward and backward through digital images to ensure nothing is missed
• Correlate probate findings with property clues, land boundary mentions, and timelines
• Determine when an ancestor likely died intestate
• Add newly found material to research notes for continued analysis
Targeted research is all about staying laser-focused on a specific research goal. Follow along as I show how even a simple administratrix bond can lead to a fuller probate trail—complete with settlement records, appraisals, and new leads for land research.
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