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.
Academy members, use this link to watch on the dashboard now. Be sure to grab the handout either below the video in the lesson or in the Materials Tab. https://genealogytv.org/courses/2026-youtube-videos/lessons/beyond-the-big-four/
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