Genealogy Search Help

Genealogy Search Help for Google, which helps you run targeted genealogical Google searches

Get the Best Genealogy Searches for Google by Using Your Family Tree
This free genealogy site will help you use Google™ for your research. It will create a series of different searches using tips or "tricks" that will likely improve your results. The different searches will give you many different ways of using Google to find ancestry information on the Internet.
Just complete the small family tree from the above link for an ancestor and this site will set up the best searches for you, based on what you enter. Tip: If you don't know an ancestor's parents, but know one of the ancestor's children, use the child's name for the First Name and Last Name below (and spouse, birth, and death) and then enter the ancestor as the Father or Mother. This gives more information for building a search.

Great Resource - New Source

If you go to the New York Times site, you can enter your search terms in the bar near the top of the page and select whether you want to search articles since 1981 or before 1981.
Once you have your results, you can select the Advanced option to limit your search to specific dates. The stories are downloadable as PDF documents. (If you happen across articles that aren't in the free years, they're $4.95 each, or you can get a monthly pass for $7.95 that allows 100 story downloads.)
I used a couple of place names and found real gold...many surnames, too. Try it.

Sharing information

If anyone would like to share information about the McCarley family, please leave a post with your email address so I can contact you. (Especially Michelle and Amanda). Thanks

Research comment

He who cares nothing about his ancestors will rarely achieve anything worthy of being remembered by his descendants. —author unknown

Mary Jane McCarley

Mary Jane McCarley, daughter of Moses, granddaughter of John, married Mattias Wilbarger who died 4 years after their marriage. She then married James Robert Gooch and bore 8 children: Moses, Elizabeth, Charles, James,William, John, Sarah, and Hiram.

She was born in Gallia County, Ohio March 1, 1820 and died 27 Dec 1905.

From Probate Court Record of Deaths, page 55:#271,

Mary Jane Gooch, died Dec 27, 1905, age 85 years, 10 months, 3 days, born & died in Raccoon Twp., died of old age while living in Bidwell.

I have a tin type of her at a young age, but this is taken much later in life.

Moses McCarley's will 1851

Moses was the son of John:

In the name of God, Amen. I Moses McCarley of the Township of Raccoon Gallia County Ohio Being of sound mind and memory but of feeble health and considering the shortness and uncertainty of this mortal life do make and publish this my last will and testament in manner and form following: That is to say that after all my just debts are fully paid and the expenses of my funeral together with the expenses of settling my estate are satisfied, I give and bequeath to my beloved and affectious wife Sarah McCarley all my personal and real estate of every kind and names of which I am possessed for her use and benefit during the term of her natural life. With the following exceptions, That if my wife Sarah McCarley shall live until my two sons Samuel E. B. McCarley and Hiram L. McCarley shall each become of the age of twenty-one years. Then and in that case it is my will that upon their arrival at the age of twenty-one years respectively they shall have fifty acres of land each. said fifty acres of land to be selected in such manner as can be agreed upon by them and their Mother at such time as they shall each become of the age of twenty-one years.

If anyone would like to read the rest of Moses' will, please leave a comment with your email address and I will email it to you.

John McCarley's Will

John McCarley's will: [spelling as I received it]

In the Name of God, Amen. I, John McCarly, of the County of Gallia and State of Ohio, considering the uncertainty of this mortal life and being of sound mind and memory, Blessed be Almighty God for the same, do make and publish this my Last will and Testament in manner and form following that is today. Further, after all my just debts and funeral expenses be paid. Further, I give and bequeath to my three Daughters, Elizabeth, Margaret and Zebiah fifty pounds each including that which they have heretofore received and also I give and bequeath unto my eldest son, William, all the Lands belonging to me on the South Side of Dryrun up on Indian Creek quarter section also twenty acres adjoining the same off Dryrun quarter section. Also all the Land that belongs to me on the East of Raccoon Creek below the mouth of Dryrun. to him, the said William, his heirs and assigns for ever. Also, I give and bequeath unto my son, John, my mills and Dutch Fan and all the Lands that belong to me on the East side of Raccoon Creek above the mouth of the aforesaid Dryrun with one acre remind, the west end of the mill dam by him, the said John, paying four hundred dollars in annual payments, one hundred dollars per year which money to go towards paying up my three daughters their legacies. This I give to the said John, his heirs and assigns forever. The remainder of my estate, real and personal, I wish to be equally divided between my two youngest sons, Samuel and Moses, to them, their heirs and assigns for ever. If either of my two sons mentioned, youngest sons, should decease without leaving lawful heirs, his part to return to the surviving one. Also, I hereby appoint John McCarley, Joseph W. Rose and John Cherington executors of this my Last Will and Testament, hereby revoking all former wills by me made. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my Hand and seal this twenty sixth day of September, One thousand Eight Hundred and Fourteen.

John McCarly Signed, sealed, published and declared by the above named John McCarley to be his Last Will and Testament in the presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses in the presence of the Testator.

Samuel W. Blagg

William Blagg, Farmer

The first McCarley: John

John was born in 1754 in Pennsylvania


John McCarley came to Gallia County, Ohio in 1804 or 1806, probably from York County, Pennsylvania, via West Virginia. He took patent deed to the west half of section 13, Raccoon Township, Gallia County, Ohio in February 1806, later adding the northeast quarter section 23, Racoon Twp. John died May 17, 1814 at age 60. Among his chattels were three Bibles and a pot-still.


(Source: Gallia County Historical Society-People in History to 1980)