Please note that the state names listed here refer to current U.S. state lines, rather than the territory demarcations that may have existed when the record was taken. By presenting the data in this way, we intended to remove a major obstacle for modern researchers who may not necessarily know where territory boundaries were drawn during each particular era of American history. For example, you may know that your ancestors originated in present-day Alabama, but you may not know that, in 1790, Alabama was part of the Spanish province of West Florida.