Volume two of Missouri Genealogical Records and Abstracts was compiled by the author in her search for her elusive French ancestor–Achille Godin (or Gaudin); it collectively spans 1752-1839, a time period which is often puzzling to the Missouri/Arkansas researcher because the region changed ownership from France to Spain, then back to France, and finally to the United States in what became known as the Louisiana Purchase. The records were chosen, in part, to help fill the gap created by the lack of a complete extant Federal census for Missouri prior to 1830. A wide variety of information from over forty counties is included: petitioners, tax lists, cemetery listings, estrays, wills and bonds, marriage records, licenses, grand jury members, Indian trade records, indictments, letters at the post office, marks and brands, and much more. This volume also includes a special section devoted to the French and Spanish of the Mississippi Valley, because when researching a French or Spanish ancestor that lived in Missouri, Arkansas, Indiana, Illinois, or Louisiana, one must think of the Mississippi Valley as one area. The French especially were a mobile people engaged in trade in this area with the Indians. French and Spanish records include censuses, military statements, grants, petitioners, regiment members, and more. The surname index includes the French dit names (aliases) and has several thousand entries. This volume covers the following counties: Arkansas, Audrain, Barry, Benton, Boone, Callaway, Cape Girardeau, Cass/Van Buren, Chariton, Clay, Cole, Cooper, Franklin, Gasconade, Greene, Henry, Howard, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Lafayette/Lillard, Old Lawrence, Lewis, Lincoln, Macon, Miller, Monroe, Montgomery, New Madrid, Perry, Pike, Platte, Ralls, Randolph, Ray, Saline, Shelby, Ste. Genevieve, St. Charles, St. Francois, St. Louis, Warren, Washington, Wayne and Warren.
