WEBINAR-Pathways to Spicy Stories: An Overview of Court Records with Laura E. Chaplin, November 12, 2020 7:00 PM (CT)

Court records, in their infinite variety, are a treasure trove for genealogists because they are not just legal documents. They are pathways into the stories of our ancestors’ lives, often leading to clues we might otherwise miss. While vital statistics like birth, marriage, and death dates and places are important, it is the stories we uncover that add something extra. Attend this humorous attempt to give an overview of the various documents found in the American courthouse!

Owner of Willowtree Research Genealogy Services, and currently living in Sugar Grove, Illinois, Laura was raised in southeastern Iowa and has lived all around the Midwest. She and her husband, Mark, were inspired by the “Roots” miniseries in college, which began a lifelong love of research and genealogy learning, raising their three daughters tramping through graveyards – now with 6 grandkids in training!

In addition to her genealogy business, Laura is currently the History & Genealogy Manager at the Lawrence J. Martin Heritage Center in Elburn, IL. She has been active as a genealogical presenter for several years in Kane, and surrounding counties. She is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists, the Genealogical Speakers Guild, several societies, and on the Kane County Genealogical Society Board, and the Illinois State Genealogical Society. She holds the Certificate in Genealogical Research from Boston University.