Instructions for Pioneer Family Certificate
Primary Sources required:
Primary Sources deemed as acceptable-- Vital Records (birth, marriage & death); Probate Records; Land Records; Tax Records; Census Records (local, state, federal); Military Records (state & federal); Church, Mortuary, Cemetery & Court Records; School Records; Naturalizations; Michigan Historical and Pioneer Papers (available at the Library of Michigan).
Descent should be proven using Primary Sources, and in the few cases where that is not possible, Secondary Sources, or Preponderance of Evidence may be accepted. Please include proofs for spouses also.
Secondary Sources:
The use of secondary sources is encouraged because they may be acceptable as proof of lineage: Bible Records; Obituaries and Newspaper Clippings; Tombstone Inscriptions; Published Family Histories; Published County Histories; Published Biographical Records; City & County Directories; Atlas & Plat Books; Unofficial School Records; Private Papers, Manuscripts, Diaries, Journals & Reminiscences. All other Sources may contribute to Preponderance of Evidence.
Do not send Original Documents
--Send only photocopies of pertinent material--copies should be clear and readable.Please identify women by their maiden names on the generation chart.
Dates should be written as --day, month, year (ex.; 01 Jan. 1900) (year written in 4 digits please).
All proof documents must show a complete source, such as Author, Title, year of publication, page number, Volume number, type of document, and/or location of original document.
All proof documents should be numbered on the upper right corner, or on the back if there is no available white space on the front. Note: If additional ancestors are needed, you may add them on a separate sheet of paper or copy the generation sheet.
Put applicant name on the back of all proofs.
Document the ancestor property with land records and plat maps for each generation and time period.
You may make a copy of this Certificate Application as needed for Children or Siblings.
The Eaton County Pioneer application will be evaluated for completeness of the submission. You will be contacted if there are extensive omissions of the questions and their proofs. This should in no way imply that the genealogy is accurate. It is not our responsibility to check your presentation, proofs or lineage.
Submission of additional information is encouraged but not required, to give dimension to the subject, such as Biographical Sketch of the Ancestor, Family Group Sheets, etc.
We invite and encourage you to submit your Application Form to this Project, and remember to make a copy of your Application and Information for your own records.