[DGS LOGO] DELAWARE FAMILIES PROJECT
of the
DELAWARE GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY

2,718 NAMES REGISTERED as of November 7, 2002*

[heads of families in Delaware between 1787 and 1800 and their spouses]
Over 81% are connected to a submitter's email address


For the most recent update (a pdf file):

Click here --->Registered Delaware Families.

Reader Logo To view, use Acrobat Reader. If you do not have it, you may download a free copy using the button at the right.

See also Project Description, Sample Entry, Quality Standards,
Format Guide, Abbreviations, References, We Need Help,
Families for Vol. #1 (2004), Registration and All Families Registered

If for some reason you cannot view the new list on Acrobat Reader,
you can view a very old April 16, 2000 list by clicking here

While we already have enough entries for our first volume, there is still time to submit new entries because in volume one we will use the best 100-150 entries we have to ensure that our Delaware Families work is of the highest genealogical quality possible. Entries are judged on several criteria, primarily the quality and amount of original research with primary record documentation and completeness of entry. Accepted rules of evidence should be followed: "Any statement of fact that is not common knowledge must carry its own individual statement of source." [Ref: Elizabeth Shawn Mills: Evidence! Citation & Analysis for the Family Historian (1997)]. Other judging criteria will be to represent every "hundred" in every county and, assuming quality and completeness standards are met, to choose at least one entry from each submitter.

Volunteers Needed
The main reason we had to delay publishing until 2002 is because we do not have enough volunteers to act as write-up coordinators and researchers. Since we lack volunteer time, the more an entry requires volunteer time the more likely it will be delayed. Submitted information needs to be confirmed and often missing information must be found. Submitters can help move their entry up in the priority by taking extra care when submitting their entry, such as closely adhearing to the required format and including copies of documentation.

We welcome all volunteers to be write-up coordinators, researchers and proofreaders.
To volunteer contact Tom Doherty at tdoherty@delgensoc.org.
You do not have to live in Delaware to help. Much can be done on the Internet!

For entries most likely to be in volume one click here: Delaware Families: Vol. 1
To Register Your Families
Click on electronic registration or by E-mail or snail mail:
Simply send us the names of your "focus people" and, if known,
* their given name and surname
* their approximate birth year
* their approximate death year
* their spouse's given name and surname
* their spouse's approximate birth year
* their spouse's approximate death year
* the proof that at least one of your focus persons resided in Delaware sometime between 1787-1800
* the hundred(s) wherein they resided 1787-1800
You are under no obligation to submit an entry, but we may be able to link you up with others working on the same families. For further details about the project, write to
Tom Doherty at tdoherty@delgensoc.org

E-mail address (over 80% of names in pdf file):
E-mail addresses with an "old" written to the right of them are no longer valid. There are certainly others that are no longer valid as well. To contact these people by E-mail, try searching WhoWhere or Switchboard to find an updated E-mail address. If you find an updated E-mail address, please let me know at tdoherty@delgensoc.org. If you have registered your family and have an E-mail address, but it is not listed or incorrect, please E-mail me the correct address at tdoherty@delgensoc.org You may also include additional information, if known.

Why is My Ancestor Not Listed?
The most frequently asked question we receive is from people saying that they just can't believe that their ancestor is not listed in the Delaware Families 1787-1800 project because their ancestor was a very prominent and wealthy man during that time period. Our answer is that it doesn't matter at all if your ancestor was famous or infamous, a slave or a slave owner, wealthy or poor, a farmer, common laborer, merchant or criminal. What only matters is if someone (like you) has registered their name.

Most of the names listed in the pdf file qualify for the project (an adult living in Delaware 1787-1800), but some do not. These additional names are included to help you link up with others working on the same families. Some that don't appear to qualify, may qualify because their spouse qualifies. For names below that are preceded by an "s" more information, such as a family group or a full-fledged entry has been submitted.

Automating the Registration
Adding names to the data base is a laborious process which we hope to automate as we have done for DGS Genealogical Queries. To do this we need some web programming help. Judging from the queries web site, it would take about 9 months once we begin. Would anyone like to volunteer to manage that project?

Some Notes: Families Registered and/or Submitted
[In the pdf file, you may scroll up/down and left/right as well as zoom in or out]
Reader Logo For the most recent pdf file update, click: Delaware Families update. To view, use Acrobat Reader. If you do not have it, you may download a free copy using the button at the right.

WARNING: This over 370Kb pdf file may be slow to load or won't load on some systems.

Some abbreviations in pdf file:
s=entry submitted; ^=same person as above; x=not in 1800 census; Write date (of last contact): 1st number=year (6='96), 2nd number=month (a,b,c=Oct,Nov,Dec)


We are not equipped to answer general queries - see Submitting Queries
© Delaware Genealogical Society - comments to Webmaster Tom Doherty at [mail it]