Janice loves researching scoundrels and black sheep – they leave behind such wonderful records! This webinar looks at seven types of records family historians rarely use: police records, criminal court records, jail records, coroner’s records, church disciplinary records, divorce records and juvenile reformatory records.
In her lively and insightful webinar, “Researching Scoundrels and Black Sheep: Criminal and Institutional Records,” professional genealogist Janice Nickerson pulled back the curtain on lesser-used historical sources that can reveal fascinating, sometimes scandalous, details about ancestors who lived outside the lines. As part of the 24-Hour Genealogy Marathon, Nickerson guided viewers through eight categories of criminal and institutional records—most of which lie outside the usual genealogical toolkit. Whether your ancestors were lawbreakers or law enforcers, these records can dramatically enrich your family history with depth, context, and vivid storytelling.
Key Takeaways:
This presentation is a must-watch for anyone hoping to uncover untold stories and connect with the full complexity of their ancestors’ lives. Watch the full webinar at FamilyTreeWebinars.com and discover the unexpected treasures that scoundrel research can unlock.
Don’t forget to download the extensive syllabus packed with links, definitions, and record type explanations. It’s a valuable reference whether you’re just starting out or diving deep into criminal justice archives, and it will help you turn even the most notorious ancestor into a rich and revealing chapter of your family history.
Excellent, learnt lots. I appreciate the time the presenter put in to putting it all together.
Another great webinar.
Excellent presentation – very organized with great infiormation on specific types of records to look for and interesting illustrative examples. Gave me lots of ideas of records to investigate for a couple of my “scoundrel” ancestors.
another great session
This webinar was surprising. I had no idea of all the different types of legal records that were kept.
Interesting topic and great presentation. Thanks for sharing your knowledge!
Many new sources for records!
Fascinating. These would be good reading even if you weren’t looking for a particular person. Thank you Janice for the detailed syllabus.