You are going to find more records for your own generation, and the two or three just before you, than anything farther back in time. There are a few reasons for this. At first, it will be because certain vital records were not required until the late 19th to the early 20th century. As you go even farther back in time beyond the 1880s and 1890s, you will discover that all or most of the records you need simply aren’t there, because they have been lost during the passage of time. Courthouse fires are a common reason for lost records. Others are lost in courthouses, archives, and the families that kept them.
Some may actually still be out there, but hidden, in places no one has looked in centuries. They will most likely come to light one day, but may not be available while you are researching. Do not get discouraged and quit if you can’t find a record you need. There are usually alternative sources for most things, and articles have been written on them. Look for them, instead.
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