Page 45 - Family History

Family Stories

The first step when only a small amount of information is known is to examine
the various lists of claims available in the printed archives. Most of the lists

provide the names of vessels captured, masters of the vessels, and the claimant.
The do not always indicate how the claimant is involved in the claim.

If the name is found in one of the lists, then it is usually a simple task to
determine the claim number. If the number does not appear on the list, an
archivist can be consulted for the next step. If the name is not found, then the

task becomes more difficult. As with most research projects, the more you know,
the better off you are.

There is no comprehensive index to the claims. Most of the claims records are

organized by the vessel names, the claimants’ names, or the claim number. It
also helps to know when the claim was presented. Claims presented early tended
to involve fewer people that those that appear later because the early claims were
either bought by others or handed down through generations, with the children
of the first claimants possessing the right to divide the claims among them.

If a person is not on a list, and it is not known when he or she became involved

in the claims, the only recourse is to go systematically through the records.

[Note: Edited.]

Reference:
http://www.thepirateking.com/historical/french_spoliation_claims.htm

Go to the site above for more detailed information on the subject.

As regards our family – copies of three letters have been passed from person to

person and somehow remain preserved after more than 80 years.
I have reproduced the letters as documents elsewhere in this volume, links below:

French Spoliation Letter #1
French Spoliation Letter #2
French Spoliation Letter #3

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