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Maps Can Show Researchers The Way

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By SHARON TATE MOODY, Tribune correspondent

Published: November 18, 2007

As 21st century families, we leave a forwarding address with the post office when we move, and perhaps our descendants will trace us through such records. Our forefathers, however, didn't leave a lot of clues in the old neighborhood to show where they headed.

Few of our early ancestors stayed in one place for long - many moved through several states as the country stretched south and west with new land acquisitions from American Indians and the French, Spanish and Mexican governments.

Our success in finding them may depend on studying maps of the area they traveled and understanding the lay of the land. We also need to study the history of mass migrations and ethnic groups. In other words, we should be multifaceted researchers to document our family histories and find elusive ancestors.

Traveling By Water

I usually joke with my genealogy students that their ancestors may have traveled south on the interstate. Actually, such a remark isn't as far from the truth as you might think. Many of today's roads have been straightened and slightly rerouted but follow the same basic routes of long ago.

For example, a crude horse-riding trail was created in 1664 to carry the mail from Boston to New York. Eventually, it became known as the Boston Post Road. Today the Massachusetts Turnpike follows the same route.
Early settlers to the New World clung to the coastlines because travel by water was much safer than venturing into the thick forests teeming with natives of unknown intentions. They cautiously ventured inland as far as boats would carry them on rivers. Crude roads eventually extended from Boston, Philadelphia and other seaport towns.

Once into the interior, pioneers again used waterways. Various materials for trade and commerce were placed on flatboats and floated from Pittsburgh to New Orleans. Families built their own flatboats and used those same commercial routes.

Initially, white settlers traveled by foot or on horseback, using well-worn American Indian paths. Eventually, families began to use wagons. They had to cut trees and widen the foot paths. The stumps often remained until enough wagon wheels leveled them.

In our research, we should study the history of communities to learn how a region was first settled and by what groups. We need to identify how the settlers to an area arrived. Was it by water, rail or land? By studying these routes, we can trace their journeys.

Here's an example:

If your Scotch Irish ancestors were in Big Lick (now Roanoke), Va., in the early 17th century, they would have traveled there on the Great Valley Road, also known as the Philadelphia Wagon Road. As a researcher, you must find a historical map of the road to determine its route back to Pennsylvania and determine other colonial roads to which it connected.

You should work backward from Big Lick, and look for clues in every jurisdiction or community through which the road passed. You will conduct routine genealogical research in censuses, land, probate, vital and other records to see where your ancestors put down roots. Sometimes a family bought a farm and had two or three children before picking up and moving down the road.

A Long And Winding Road

Before you start, understand that this research likely will be slow and methodical. Maps are just one of many tools you will use. Research on a trail such as the one from Big Lick probably will take months, if not years. Some of your work can be done on the Internet, but you will have to go to courthouses and archives to find many records.

There are different kinds of maps and successful research depends on using a variety of them. Topographic maps display relief, water and cultural features. Knowing the geographic features that surrounded your ancestor is important in understanding his or her lifestyle.

For instance, when you look at a map without topographic features, two locations may appear to be close in proximity. But with a topographic map, you might see that a high mountain range made direct connection between those locations impossible.

The Internet abounds with good sites for studying topographic maps online or for ordering physical maps. The most popular are Topozone ( www.topozone.com) and Terra Server (terraserver .microsoft.com). Terra Server is my favorite because it also offers high-quality aerial views.

Maps that show early trails and roads are critical to migration study. These can be found at a number of locations. One of the premiere sites for historical maps is the Perry-Castaneda Library Collection at the University of Texas ( www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/histus.html). Another is at the Library of Congress (memory.loc.gov/ammem/gmdhtml).

Other good research sites include Reise Nett's Historical Maps of the United States ( www.reisenett.no/map_ collection/histus.html), U.S. Digital Map Library (www .rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/maps/table2.html), Digital History (www.digitalhistory .uh.edu/maps/maps.cfm) and National Geographic (plasma.nationalgeographic .com/mapmachine/index .html).

Street Maps A Helpful Resource

Street maps usually are available through the transportation departments of individual states. A consumer can order maps for individual counties for just a few dollars. These maps are wonderful because they show unpaved roads and cemeteries, including those where adjoining churches disappeared long ago. Digital street maps also are available on Google Maps or MapQuest.

But seldom do researchers find the perfect combination of topo, historic and street maps to serve their needs. I frequently use tracing paper to create a master map and then add to it only the roads and features relevant to the specific time my ancestors were in an area. By creating my own maps, I can draw in the land that was owned by them or their neighbors.

Remember that not all ancestors traveled by land or on flat-bottom river boats, though. Railroads, steamships and canals each gave a unique twist to travel. In addition to published books, many online resources are available to help researchers.

Check the Steamship Historical Society of America ( www.sshsa.org), the National Canal Museum (www.canals .org) and the railroad collection at the Library of Congress (memory.loc.gov/ammem/gmdhtml/rrhtml/rrhome .html).

Next week, we'll explore how to use history books to trace migrating ancestors.

Sharon Tate Moody is president of the Association of Professional Genealogists. Send your genealogy questions and event announcements to her in care of BayLife, The Tampa Tribune, 200 S. Parker St., Tampa FL 33606; or e-mail wmoody3 @tampabay.rr.com. She

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