USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. V > Part 40
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77
"JAMES HAMILTON.
" August 10th, 1749."
Then the Governor laid before the Board a short Message relating to the Paper Money Bill, which was read & order'd to be deliver'd to the House along with the Poor Bill :
397
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
" Gentlemen :
" As we have certain Information that a Bill was brought into the Parliament of Great Britain at their last Session for restraining His Majesty's Colonies in America from issuing Paper Bills of Credit to pass in lieu of Money, and as we are hitherto uncertain what may have been the fate of that Bill, I am of opinion it may be highly imprudent & attended with very bad Consequences to the Province should we take upon us to pass a Law for increasing the quantity of our Currency until such time as we are better acquainted with the Sentiments of our Superiors upon a subject they have had so lately under Consideration.
" JAMES HAMILTON.
" August 10th, 1749."
The Governor having received Information from Mr. Weiser that the other Deputies of the Six Nations were on the road, making in all - Indians, & that it wou'd not be in the Power of the Inter- preter to stop their Journey here, thought it proper to issue the fol- lowing Proclamation, forbidding all Persons to sell Rum to the Indians, which was read and approv'd.
" By the Honourable JAMES HAMILTON, Esqr., Lieutenant Governor & Commander-in-Chief of the Province of Pennsyl- vania & Counties of New Castle, Kent, and Sussex, on Dela- ware.
" A PROCLAMATION.
" Whereas, upon the Settlement of this Province it was early dis- cover'd, and constant experience since shews, that the Selling or giving Strong Liquors to the Indians is attended with great Mis- chiefs & Inconveniences by reason of its pernicious Effects in prompting them, when under the influence of it, to commit many Outrages & Irregularities, and notwithstanding the wise & good Laws provided against it, we still find upon every Indian Treaty or other Occasion of Large Companys of Indians coming to Philadel- phia, that many Persons there do presume, in contempt of such Laws, to sell or indiscreetly give Rum or other strong Liquors to the Indians, to the great 'Danger, Disturbance, & Offence of the Inhabitants. Wherefore, for the preventing these Mischiefs & Disorders I have thought fit, with the advice of the Council, to issue this Proclamation, hereby in His Majesty's Name strictly for- bidding all Persons (those only excepted to whom the Care of the Indians at their Treaties with us is committed) upon any pretence whatsoever to sell or give any Rum or other Spirituous or Strong Liquors to the Indians, on pain of being prosecuted with the utmost rigour of the Law. And I do hereby earnestly recommend it to all & every the Justices of the Peace within the said Province, & es- pecially those within the City of Philadelphia, that they take all
·
398
MINUTES OF THE
proper measures to detect & bring to condign Punishment all Offenders herein, & give all due encouragement to Persons to dis- cover & give Information against such Offenders, & to take Care that the Moiety of the Penalty of Twenty Pounds forfeiture by the said Laws for each Offence be recover'd & paid to such Informers ; & in case of the inability of the Offenders to pay the same upon their Conviction, that then the Justices do give the Informer or Prosecutor a Certificate or Order upon the Provincial Treasurer for the five Pounds, which upon sight of such Certificate he is by the said Laws required to pay. And hereof all Persons concern'd are to take Notice & not to fail in their obedience, as they will answer the contrary at their Peril.
" Given under my Hand & the Great Seal of the Province of Penn- sylvania at Philadelphia, this Eleventh Day of August, in the Twenty-third Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord, George the Second, King of Great Britain, France, & Ireland, &ca., & in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred & forty-nine.
" JAMES HAMILTON.
"By His Honour's Command.
" RICHARD PETERS, Secretary. " GOD SAVE THE KING."
At a Council held at Philadelphia, Wednesday, 16th Augat., 1749. PRESENT :
The Honourable JAMES HAMILTON, Esqr., Lieutenant Gov- ernor.
Thomas Lawrence,
Benjamin Shoemaker,
William Logan,
Samuel Hasell, Robert Strettell, & Esqrs. Richard Peters,
The Minutes of the preceding Council were read and approv'd, & then the Governor order'd the Secretary to read a Bill deliver'd to him yesterday for his Concurrence by two Members, Entitled " An Act for erecting part of the Province of Pennsylvania, West- ward of Sasquehanna & South Eastward of the South Mountain, into a County," which was approv'd, & return'd to the House with one or two amendments to some of the immaterial parts of the Bill.
" On Information receiv'd from Mr. Weiser that the Deputies of the other Indian Nations who shou'd have join'd the Senekas' De- puties were at Samokin in their way to this City, the Governor sent express directions to him to try all Methods possible to divert them from proceeding on their Journey, and Mr. Weiser accordingly did, but it was so much resented by them that he was oblig'd to drop it, & there were now arrived in Town not only these Deputies but the
399
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
Seneka Deputies, & with them Mohickons, Tutelas, Delawares, & Nantycokes, amounting in number to Two hundred & eighty. The Governor paid them a ceremonious Visit as usual, & having appointed this Day to hear what they had to say, the Council was call'd for this purpose.
The Indians not being in their usual place of Audience the Gov- ernor order'd the Interpreter to tell them to take their Places, where- upon Canassatego came forward & inform'd His Honour that they were not ready, but desir'd time till the Afternoon, & that if they might be indulg'd this favour, they wou'd then deliver what they had to say to the Government; whereupon the Council was adjourn'd to the Afternoon, and then Canassatego spoke as follows:
" Brethren the Governor & Council & all the People of Penn- sylvania :
"You are sensible that by Treaties there is a firm & good Road establish'd between us and you, but as there has been a long War this has given us so much Employ that we have not during all the time of War used the Road; now, therefore, as the War is finished we thought we wou'd once more see the Road & come & pay you a Visit."
A String of Wampum.
"Brethren :
"It is our Custom after a long absence to brighten the Chain of Friendship that the better Regard may be had to what we have to say, & it is the more necessary now as we have something to com- municate of a disagreeable Nature, that you may not think it pro- ceeds from any previous Ill Will. We, therefore, give you this Belt to brighten the Chain, assuring you therewith that we have a very hearty Friendship for you, and desire you may have the like for Us."
A Belt of 8 Rows.
" Brethren :
"Since our last renewal of the Treaties of Friendship there has been a War, in which a variety of Accidents have fallen out, in what light the Conduct of each may have been represented to the other, & what construction may have been put thereon we cannot tell, & therefore, on our parts, we think it right to declare, that notwithstanding all that has happen'd, we are not chang'd in our Regards for you but continue to be the same still to the People of this Province as ever. In confirmation whereof we give you this
" Belt of Wampum.
" Brethren :
" You know that by one of the Articles of the Treaties subsist- ing between us we engage to see and hear from one another, this we have done for you during all the War. You are sensible that
400
MINUTES OF THE
we are a frontier Country between your Enemy & You, so that we have been your Guard, & things have been manag'd so well as to keep the War from your Doors, and tho' we have been expos'd to many Calamities & Blood has been shed among us, yet we did not trouble you with any account of our hardship during all this War, nor has any thing that has happen'd lessen'd our Affection for you, which we assure you of by this Belt, & desire the same return of Affection from You."
A Belt.
" Brethren :
" Now that we have brightened the Chain & inform'd you that our Regards have not been alienated from you, but have remain'd firm amidst the various occurrences of War, that we have now leisure & are poor, we by this Belt desire to make our coming agre- able to you, having no other Business with you than to pay you a Brotherly Visit."
A Belt.
" Brethren :
" We now speak only to the Governor & Council. By Treaties all white People were to have been hinder'd from settling the Lands not purchased of Us, or if they shou'd make any settlements, as they might at such a distance from you without your knowing of it, you engag'd to remove them when discovered. Notwithstanding your Engagements many People have settled on the East side of Sasquehanna, & though you may have done your Endeavours to remove them, yet we see these have been without Effect, & that white People are no more obedient to you than our young Indians are to us ; & since it may now be attended with a great deal of trou- ble, we have taken this thing into consideration, having while we were on our Journey observ'd your People's Settlements, and are willing to give up the Land on the East side of Sasquehanna from the Blue Hills or Chambers' Mill to where Thomas M'Gee the Indian Trader lives, & leave it to you to assign the worth of them."
A Belt of 12 Rows.
" Brethren the Governor & Council :
" We still speak only to the Governor & Council. Some of our Company that have been here a while ago hearing that numbers were Settling & design'd to Settle the Lands on the Branches of Juniata, made Complaint to you, and as we came along we saw Papers which were Interpreted to us to be Orders for these People to remove, in consequence of the Complaints made on our behalf by the Deputies of the Seneca Nation. We thank you for taking Notice of the Complaint and taking measures to turn them off ; but we are apprehensive that no better Effects will follow these than former Ones of the same nature-if not we must insist on it that as this is on the hunting Ground of our Cousins the Nanticokes,
401
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
& other Indians Living on the Waters of Juniata, you use more vigorous measures & forcibly remove. We must not be depriv'd of our hunting Country, & indeed it will be an hurt to You, for all we kill goes to You, and you have the profit of all the Skins. We, therefore, repeat cur earnest entreaties that they may all be immedi- ately made to go away with their Effects, that this Country may be entirely Left vacant."
A String.
" Brethren the Governor & Council :
" We have offer'd to assign over to You the Lands on the East side of Sasquehanna, from the Blue Hills to Thomas McGee's House, & have left it to You to affix the Price. In doing so we have an entire Confidence in the honour of the Governor & Council. Peo- ple tell us that the Proprietors receive immense Sums for the Lands we have sold to them, & that Lands are now worth a great deal of Money; you know this better than us, & we trust you will have a regard to this when you fix the price to be paid for them; It may be all in Money or Goods, as you please to order it. That you may do for us in the best manner you can, we give you this
" Belt.
" Brethren the Governor & Council :
" We shou'd have mention'd at first what we are now going to say, but as it is of a disagreeable nature, we choose first to brighten the Chain, & to declare our Regards for you previously to it. As we came along we found Blood in the way & Blood spill'd within your own Doors ; We enquir'd who did it & were told so many odd and dif- ferent Stories that the People who gave the Accounts seem'd to us Like Drunken Men, & we could not tell what to believe. Indians, it is true, are apt sometimes to speak untruths, but white People do so too, & can utter falsehood full as readily as Indians. There are many bad People among you who are not worthy of Credit. The Governor & Council are wise and understanding Men, & can dis- tinguish who tells truth & who does not, & as we will not take up- on us to say how our Warrior was killed (here the Interpreter said the Person was Nephew of the Speaker Canassatego) so many dif- ferent Accounts are related of it we desire the Governor will take pains to examine minutely in the truth, not to be too credulous of what every white Man will say, but to find out the whole truth & how this - came to his Death, & whoever the Governor shall say committed this murder, whether Indians or white People, we shall say so too, & acquiesce in his determination & to induce you to examine carefully & to judge impartially without favour or affec- tion to your own People we give you this
" String.
" Brethren the Governor & Council :
"We now speak in behalf of our Couzins the Nantycokes. You VOL. V .- 26.
·
. 402
MINUTES OF THE
know that on some differences between the People of Maryland & them we sent for them & placed them at the Mouth of Juniata, where they no live; they came to Us while on our Journey & told us that there were three Settlements of their Tribe Left behind in Maryland who wanted to come away, but the Marylanders kept them in fence & would not let them ; we desire, therefore (being urg'd thereto by our Couzins the Nantycokes), that you wou'd write to the Gov". of Maryland & use your utmost Interest that the fence in which they are confin'd may be taken away, & that their demands on the Maryland Government may be satisfied & that they may be allowed to come & settle where the other Nantycokes are & Live with them amongst us. We have further to tell you that the Peo- ple of Maryland do not treat the Indians as you & others do, for they make Slaves of them & sell their Children for Money, & this makes us more importunate with you to get the rest of our Couzins from among them, and to urge this we give you
" A Belt of 7 Rows.
" Brethren :
" This kindness has been always shewn us that when we came to see you our Guns & Hatchets and other things of this kind have been mended for us, we request by this String you will continue this favour to us & give the like Orders now as you have been us'd to do."
A String.
" Brethren the Governor & Council :
" We return two Belts & a String of Wampum which were sent to Us by Gov". Thomas. At the Instance of the Governor of Vir- ginia who sent him the Belts, he became a Mediator to procure a Peace between the Catawbas and us, & that if we were willing to treat with them, some place in Virginia might be appointed for both sides to come to, and dispatch'd Conrad Weiser with a Mes- sage to Us on that head; and out of Regard for the Governor of Pennsylvania we promised to call our Warriors together & to lay the proposal before them, but then told him that if they were will- ing to accommodate matters, we shou'd rather chuse to come to Philadelphia than Virginia, but the War broke out soon after & we have never been able to get them together till lately & now we say we neither offer nor reject Peace, nor do we think that the Ca- tawbas whom we know to be a false People dealt sincerely with the Governor of Virginia when they made him believe that they desir'd Peace. This is our answer, but we request that you wou'd write to the Governor of Virginia that he wou'd find out what are the true Sentiments of the Catawbas, but let him be on his Guard for they will deceive him, & when he has reason to think that he knows their Hearts that he wou'd inform us of the truth by you. We do not lay any stress on this Matter, but if you will take this trouble
403
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
on you we shou'd be glad to know the present disposition of the Catawbas."
The Indians having declar'd that they had nothing further to communicate, they withdrew, & the Secretary was order'd to pre- pare a fair Copy of these Minutes & to Lay it before the Assembly to-morrow with the following Message :
" Mr. Speaker-
"The Governor for expediting Business sends to the House the Minutes of Council containing the Speech made yesterday by the Indians; and as they have been faithful to Us during the War, recommends it to the House to take into Consideration the making them a Present at this time."
At a Council held at Philadelphia 19th Aug., 1749.
PRESENT :
The Honourable JAMES HAMILTON, Esqr., Lieutenant Gov- ernor.
Thomas Lawrence, Samuel Hasell,
Benjamin Shoemaker,
Robert Strettell,
Esqrs. -
William Logan
Richard Peters,
The Minutes of the preceding Council were read & approv'd.
The Governor inform'd the Board that he had receiv'd from the House by two of their Members a Bill Entitled " An Act for imposing a Duty on Persons convicted of heinous Crimes, & to pre- vent Poor & Impotent Persons being imported into this Province," & that having compar'd it with former Acts of the same kind & found it exactly agreeable to them, he had return'd it with a Mess- age that it shou'd be pass'd when presented to him for that purpose. And that the two Members acquainted him that the House had agreed to the Amendments propos'd to the Bill for erecting a new County ; and that as to the Bill relating to the Poor, though the House wou'd have been better satisfied to have had it pass'd entire, yet as several things still remain'd in the Bill that might be ser- viceable to the Publick, they had agreed to the Amendments pro- pos'd & had order'd it to be engross'd.
The Governor further inform'd the Board that two Members of Assembly had deliver'd to him some Resolutions of the House on the Message to them, with a Copy of the Indian's Speech, which are as follow :
" Resolu'd,
"That besides the Sum of One hundred Pounds lately given to the Indians, 'a Sum not exceeding Five hundred Pounds be now presented to them.'
404
MINUTES OF THE
" Resolu'd,
" That the Governor be acquainted with the Sentiments of the House, & the hope they entertain that in Consideration thereof the Proprietaries' Agents are impowered & will accordingly make an additional Present to the Indians, as well as contribute to the Ex- pence arising on this Visit."
And after the Governor had read them, They said they were order'd by the House to acquaint the Governor that as great Injuries were done by the Indians to several Persons as they came down, the House requested he wou'd take proper Notice of them in his Speech to the Indians, in order to prevent the like Outrages for the future; and that he had made them this answer, viz., that he wou'd strongly represent to the Indians the Injuries done by some of them to the Inhabitants, and would Likewise consider the other part of the Message relating to an Addition to the Present.
His Honour further inform'd the Board that two Members of Assembly had waited on him, acquainting him that the Bills which had pass'd the House with his concurrence were engross'd in the manner agreed on, and desir'd to know when the Governor wou'd be pleas'd to receive the House in order to the enacting those Bills into Laws; and further, that they desir'd the Governor would appoint two Members of Council to join a like number of the House, in order to compare them; whereupon he had order'd the House to attend him at 12 o'Clock this morning, Mr. Peters & Mr. Strettell having compar'd the engross'd Bills with the Originals.
A Message was sent to the House that the Governor was ready to receive them in the Council Chamber, & they coming accordingly, the Speaker presented to His Honour the two following Acts, En- titled " An Act for Erecting part of the Province of Pennsylvania Westward of Sasquehannah & South Eastward of the South Moun- tain into a County," And "a Supplement to the Act intitled ' An Act for imposing a Duty on Persons convicted of heinous Crimes, & to prevent poor and impotent Persons being imported into this Province,' " and " An Act for amending the Laws relating to the Poor," which were pass'd into Laws; and then the Speaker pre- sented to the Governor an Order of the House for Six Hundred Pounds, the Remainder of his Support, for which he was pleased to thank the House, & say he hoped the good Agreement which had subsisted between the several Parts of the Legislature hitherto was a good presage of its continuance during his Administration.
405
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
At a Council held at Philadelphia, Monday, 21st of August, 1749. PRESENT :
The Honourable JAMES HAMILTON, Esqr., Lieutenant Gov- ernor.
Thomas Lawrence,
Samuel Hasell, 1 Esqrs.
Abraham Taylor,
Robert Strettell,
Benjamin Shoemaker,
Joseph Turner, Richard Peters,
William Logan,
The Minutes of the preceding Council were read & approv'd .
The Indians being seated the Governor spoke to them as follows :
" Brethren of the Six United Nations-
" Be pleas'd to Attend. I am now going to return a distinct an- swer to what you said to us on Wednesday.
" Brethren :
" So true a Regard has been paid both by you and Us to the en- gagements enter'd into by mutual Treaties that the Road between us has ever been open & pleasant to travel in. Even in the time of War had you tried it you wou'd have found nothing to obstruct the Passage, & now the War is over & you are come to see us you will find a kind & affectionate Reception. In testimony whereof we pre- sent you with this
" String.
" Brethren :
" We approve the Custom you mention of brightening the Chain after a long absence ; it is a strong Evidence of the Wisdom of the old Men who lived before you, and we heartily do the same on our part, desiring that as we have also some disagreable things to say to you, you may do us like Justice in imputing what we say of this nature to its true Cause, that is a sincere regard to remove every thing that may obstruct the good understanding hitherto preserv'd between us; by this Belt we join with you in brightening the Chain."
A Belt of 8 Rows.
" Brethren :
" We thank you for your firm adherence to the Interest of His Majesty during the War, & for the particular declaration of regard you have express'd for the People of this Province. Your Neutra- lity was undoubtedly of great Service to the common Cause and de- serves our acknowledgements, which we gratefully make you.
" You cannot think but we have had full Accounts of your Affairs from time to time, & had there been any reason to believe that the Governors of New York & New England, to whom the King com- mitted the management of the War, had not taken you into their
406
MINUTES OF THE
protection and made sufficient Provision for your subsistence & safety, we shou'd have done you all the good Offices in our Power ; but as this was not the Case, on Information given us that the In- dians to the Westward of us were starving for want of Necessaries, we sent Mr. Weiser to them with a seasonable & expensive Pre- sent. We only tell you this that you may see we have not been unmindful of our Brethren ; this double Belt expresses our thanks for your Concern for and attachment to us during the War."
A Double Belt.
" Brethren :
" The last thing addressed to the Governor & Council & People of the Province in the order you spoke is, that having assur'd us. of the continuance of your Amity, you had at your setting out no particular Business with us, but were prompted by your Brotherly Inclinations to make us a Visit.
" As the War is now at an end & the Roads opened so that they may be safely travelled, you did well to come & see us ; we take your visit kindly, & shall give you a substantial proof of your being welcome to the People of this Province by the Present which they have provided for you, the Particulars whereof will be read by the Secretary & the Goods deliver'd you by the Interpreter."
10 Pieces of Strowds, 6 Groce of Awl Blades,
10 Pieces of Striped Duffills,
12 Groce of Gartering,
10 Pieces of Half Thicks, 15 pieces of Ribbon,
10 Half Barrels of Gun-powder, 3 Pieces of Bed Lace,
10 cwt. of Barr Lead,
5 doz. of Scizzars,
3 cwt. of Small Shott,
3 Groce of Ear-Rings,
20 1b. of Vermillion,
5 Groce of Stone Rings & 5 Groce of Plain Rings,
140 Plain Shirts,
50 Ruffled Do.,
5 Pack of Morris' Bells,
15 Guns, viz., 10@42,6& 6 @45,4 Groce of Brass Thimbles,
20 Brass Kettles, 5 1b. of small white Beads,
3 doz. of Hatchetts, 1 Groce & an half of small Brass
20 doz. of Knives, viz., 14 @ 8 6, Jews Harps,
& 6 @ 9,
1 Piece of Handkerchief,
Tobacco & Pipes.
5 M. Flints,
5 doz. of Looking Glasses,
" Brethren :
" Having fully answer'd every part of your Speech which had a Relation to the Publick, I shall now proceed in the same manner to answer what was address'd to me & the Council :
" Brethren-
"We have taken into Consideration your offer of the Sale of some Lands lying on the East side of Sasquehanna, & tho' we have no directions from the Proprietaries, who are now in England, to
407
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
treat with you for Lands, yet as we judg'd it for their benefit & for the Publick Good not to reject the offer you have thought proper to make, we sent you word by the Interpreter that we would treat with you about a new Purchase, but at the same time we gave you to understand that we could by no means accede to your proposal in the manner you had limited it, viz., to take Land lying on the East side of the Sasquehanna, as far as Thomas McKee's, because you must be sensible that as the head of the River Schuylkill lies not far from the Sasquehanna, & not far from the head of Schuyl- kill there runs one of the main branches of the River Delaware, & that the Delaware Indians, in their last Treaty, had granted the Lands from this Branch to very near the Lechawachsein on Del- aware. I say, considering all these things, which were explain'd to you on a Draught, by which it appears that all you offer is moun- tanious, broken & poor Land, you must know that this is not worth our acceptance, but we added that if you wou'd extend your offer to go more Northerly on Sasquehanna as far as Shamoken, & that the Tract might carry its breadth to Delaware River, so as that we cou'd in any manner justify ourselves to the Proprietors, we wou'd close and give you a just Consideration for the Lands. On this you held a Council & made us a second offer that you would sign a Deed to the Proprietors for all that Tract of Land that lies within the following bounds, viz. : Beginning at the Kittochhinny Hills, where your last Purchase ends, on Sasquehanna, from thence by the Courses of the River Sasquehanna to the first Mountain North of the Creek, called in the Onondaga Language Cantawghy, & in the Delaware Language Makooniahy, on the said River Sasquehanna, this is the Western boundary ; then for the North boundary by a straight Line to be run from that Mountain to the Main Branch of Delaware River, at the North side of the Mouth of Lechawachsein, so as to take in the Waters of Lechawachsein; The East Boundary to be the River Delaware from the North of the Viskil to the Kittoch- tinny Hills; the South boundary to be that Range of the Kittoch- tinny Hills to the Place of Beginning, together with the Islands in the River Sasquehanna & Delaware in that Compass. Having re- ceived this second Offer, tho' neither in this is there any consider- able quantity of good Land, yet in regard to your Poverty more than to the real value of the Tract we sent you word that on your Signing a Deed we wou'd pay you the Sum of Five Hundred Pounds. " Brethren :
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.