Key Records & Repositories
Where Washington evidence usually lives.
Core series for Washington County families:
- Census — every decade the household should appear; track occupations and neighbors.
- Land & probate — longest paper trails for freeholders and many free Black households after emancipation.
- Church & cemetery — often pre-date civil vitals; note denomination and meeting/congregation.
- Newspapers — marriages, obituaries, legal notices, mill/rail news around Plymouth and market towns.
- Military — Revolution through 20th century when service is claimed.