Sussex County Genealogical Society | Forgotten Family: Pauper Records and Genealogy at the Delaware Public Archives

In-Person or Online

The Delaware Public Archives contains a wealth of resources for genealogists, covering centuries of vital records, wills, deeds, and much more. However, many researchers encounter dead ends, in which a family member seems to drop off the face of the earth. No birth record, no property records, no will or probate. How then do we find these forgotten family members? Pauper records can be indispensable resources for filling these gaps, as they document the Delaware residents history was most likely to forget: the poor, illegitimate children, unwed mothers, and others. This presentation will guide you through the evolution of public welfare and poor relief in Delaware, the types of records that are available to genealogists for research, and how to access these records at the Delaware Public Archives.

Sussex County Genealogical Society (SCGS) is a non-profit organization and its mission is to promote genealogy and educational work in a professional manner, encourage and instruct its members in genealogical research through careful documentation and maintain quality genealogical standards.

NOTE: this session is available to attend in-person or through Zoom. You MUST REGISTER and indicate which you prefer.

If you need assistance with registration or getting your Zoom invitation, please email the library. Basic written instructions for using Zoom may be found here and a brief video tutorial may be found here.

For more information, visit the SCGS website. This program is co-hosted by the Lewes Public Library.