Family References - Yarbrough, Robert Price Yarbrough, Charlotte, NC, 1982.
- Southern Journeys: The Joshua Yarbrough Line, Cleveland "Cy" Yarborough, Salem, VA, 2009.
- Remember Who you Are, Ruth Shipp Yarbrough, Durham, NC 2010.
- Southern Colonial Families, Richard Avant.
- Southside Virginia Genealogies, John W. Pritchett, Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc.
- The Blandford Series of Yarbrough Family Records, Leonard Yarbrough, Editor, Yarbrough NGHA, Blountsville, AL, 2017.
Please inform the YNGHA about any known references about a family line.
Libraries and Archives - Anniston Library, Anniston, Al
- DAR Library, Washington, DC
- Fort Belknap Public Library, Fort Belknap, TX
- Huntsville Public Library, Huntsville, AL
- Library of Congress, Washington, DC
- National Archives, Washington, DC
- National Records Center, St. Louis, MO.
- North Carolina State Archives, Raleigh, NC
- North Carolina State Library, Raleigh, NC
- Tennessee State Library, Nashville, TN
- Virginia Library, Richmond, VA
- Wallace State Coummunity College Library, Hanceville, AL
- Williamson County Public Library, Frankln, TN
Please inform the YNGHA about recommendations for additions to this listing.
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History & Geography  Most of us tend to think that counties and states were created as unchangeable thereafter, when in fact a great deal of tinkering and altering of both county and state boundaries has occurred since the country was established. It's still going on, too. There are numerous instances where an ancestor was presumed to have moved, only for it to be learned that the ancestor stayed in or near one spot all his life -- the county boundaries were moved from time to time time in response to population shifts and other situations.
A useful software package, AniMapTM ($79.95), shows how newer counties were created from state (or colony) lands and older counties as time progressed. Some county names have died out; others have changed spellings, and some have even been re-absorbed into subsequently created counties. The package also has a feature that allows searching on names that are no longer extant; it's a godsend for determining where the modern equivalent of an obsolete term or name is located.
Also, there were a network of Indian trails, at least east of the Mississippi River. While these were established primarily as hunting trails, they were adopted by the colonists as migration routes as the country began to expand. Of course, waterways were used, as well, but the rivers of the time were untamed, uncharted, and for the colonists, a risky mode of travel.
An overlay of these trails, the rivers and the changing network of counties make a useful tool for determining just where records of an elusive ancestor might be found, assuming that there were records to be found in the first place. Local historical and genealogical societies are a treasure trove of information, as are county records offices. More and more of the latter have computerized records, either accessible at the courthouse or online.
More Computer Information  It's a sad fact of life, but cash-strapped federal, state and county governments (some cities, too) sell their data to for profit information providers. This includes census records and other vital statistical records, which means that access to these "public" records can be quite expensive. Fortunately, many libraries — including those of local community colleges — subscribe to these services. They have knowledgeable staff, too, and sometimes a very good family history section. Pay them a visit.
Besides the AniMap software package cited above, there are other resources:
- Find A Grave, which offers a variety of ways to search for the burial place of ancestors;
- Google, which can find all sorts of useful (and useless) information, trivia and facts;
- Cyndi's List, which offers a variety of search options.
Of course, it makes sense to keep genealogical records in digital format, too. There are several quite good genealogical software packages, including Family Tree Maker, Legacy, RootsMagic, Family Tree Heritage, Ancestral Quest, Family Historian, Brother's Keeper, DoroTree, etc., and whose acquisition costs vary from $20.00 to over $80.00. Be warned that some also require an outlay of additional funds for the privilege of accessing online records through the software maker's online search site.
Whichever package is selected, insure that it recognizes (at least) files that are in GED, Family Tree and Legacy formats. The GED format is sort of a "universal" standard for genealogical records, and its use facilitates transfer of records from one software platform to another with minimum difficulty.
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