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The Marathon County Genealogy Society (MCGS) issues
certificates to persons who are directly descended from Marathon County
Pioneer, Early Settlers or Century Ancestors. Applicants must prove
descent and prove that the ancestors settled in Marathon County prior
to the year 1861 in the case of Pioneer Ancestors; prior to the year
1881 in the case of Early Settlers; or over 100 years preceding the
date of application in the case of Century Ancestors. Applicants may
apply for certificates to be issued to themselves or to other persons.
The person whom the certificate is issued need not currently live in
Marathon County.
The purpose of the Heritage Certificate
Program is to recognize families with Marathon County roots, encourage
people to undertake genealogical research, develop a database of
information for researchers, and to improve the quality of genealogical
research.
Instructions:
A
separate application is required for each certificate requested. More
than one ancestor may be identified on a certificate, but a separate
application is required for each ancestor claimed. Type or print all
entries. Legibility is important. Additional applications can be
printed from our web site.
A complete application consists of the following:
An
application form completed on BOTH sides. Only the current version of
the form provided by MCGS will be accepted. Applications submitted on
other forms will be returned for re-submission on the proper form.
Please
note that the second page of the application form calls for a listing
of the known children of the ANCESTOR, not the applicant or person to
whom the certificate is to be issued.
A Pedigree
Chart (also known as an Ancestor Chart) showing the ancestral line(s)
of the person to whom the certificate is to be issued. The chart must
begin with the person to whom the certificate is to be issued and
extend through the Pioneer/Early Settler/Century Ancestor. The chart
must show the dates AND places of birth, death and marriage to the best
of the applicant's ability to provide them. A MCGS chart is provided
with the application form. However, any standard pedigree/ancestor
chart form (including computer generated charts) is generally
acceptable, provided it is on 8 1/2 x 11 inch paper. Continuation
sheets may be used.
Two copies of the application
form and pedigree chart are provided. It is suggested that one copy be
used as a work sheet or draft. Photocopies of the application form are
acceptable only if they exactly match the form provided.
Proof
of settlement by the date claimed, and proof of direct descent. The
guiding principles for proof are that it should permit reviewers to
reach conclusions as to the validity of the claim without having to
undertake additional research, and that sources should be specifically
identified so that reviewers can locate and verify them if necessary.
List the documents enclosed with the application in the space provided.
If more space is needed, or if explanations are in order, use the
Remarks/Explanations section on the second page of the application.
Specific considerations related to forms of proof are presented below
(see no. 7).
A check payable to MCGS, for $5.00 for each certificate requested.
Send the completed application to:
MCGS, PO Box 1512, Wausau, WI 54402-1512.
If
more than one certifiacte based on the same ancestor is requested,
proof of the ancestor's settlement in Marathon County is required for
only the first such application. The remaining applications should be
cross referenced to it. Application form, pedigree chart and proof of
descent are still required for each person for whom a certificate is
requested.
An application based on a previously
issued certificate does NOT require re-submission of the proof of
settlement, cite the previous certificate in the Proof Section. Proof
of direct descent IS required.
Names and dates:
Enter
names of the person to whom the Certifiacte is to be issued and
Ancestors EXACTLY as you want them to appear on the certifiacte.
Enter
women's surnames in the order in which acquired, e.g., Mary, the
daughter of John Jones, who married first Sam Brown and second Amos
Black would be entered as Mary Jones Brown Black. Do not use parentheses.
Enter dates in day, month, year format, using three letter abbreviations for the month, e.g., 12 Feb 1805.
Forms of proof:
Proof must be provided in the form of copies of documents establishing the fact claimed.
Such documents include Census, Land, Church, School, Naturalization
(including Declaration of Intent), Probate and Vital Records. Copies
must clearly identify the nature of the document, the agency or office
which created it and the volume, page, sheet, line etc. by which it may
be located. Bible records, County histories and published
transcriptions of records must include copies of page(s) establishing
that fact claimed and a copy of the title page including publisher and
date.
Photocopies of dairies, letters, business
and other personal records may be submitted, but proof of authenticity
must accompany them and name and address of their current custodian
must be stated. Do not submit original records, they cannot be returned.
County
histories may be submitted (copies of appropriate pages and title pages
are required). Some recent commemorative publications (usually issued
in connection with a community or organization anniversary) containing
family histories submitted by modern family members are not acceptable.
Documents
that infer rather than establish that fact being claimed require
corroboration. For example, an 1870 Declaration of Intention from a
Marathon County court stating that the declarer arrived at the port of
New York in 1868 does not establish when he settled in Marathon County,
only that he was present in Marathon County on the date of the
Declaration. In this case, corroborating evidence should be submitted
before inferred dates will be accepted.
Published
or unpublished genealogies and family histories and family group sheets
are generally not acceptable as proof. Instead, submit the documents
(or extracts therefrom) that were used as proof for them.
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