Equity records are a wonderful source of genealogical information. In the course of settling disputed or complicated inheritance, names of children, stepchildren, half siblings, maiden names, deceased spouses, first, second, third spouses, and extended family relations may all be part of the revelation of troubles and relationships found in Equity Court holdings. In many suits, dozens of pieces of evidence have been compressed into a few paragraphs of names, dates, situations and decrees. These equity records cover the time frame 1782-1860.