Be careful in assuming the gender based solely upon how a name is used today. My ancestor Augusta Newman is a male–sometimes he used Auguste or August, but there are numerous records where the name is written as Augusta. Today Augusta would typically be considered a woman’s name. And of course today there are several names that could refer to a male or a female. Don’t assume. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
Remember that even after a county was formed, it is possible that the county line was eventually “tweaked” years or decades later. Your ancestor’s farm might have “moved” from one county to another–which impacts where records are recorded. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
Witnesses to wills generally are not heirs of the testator, the person who signs the will. They can be relatives or someone totally unrelated to the testator. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
If your ancestor “disappears” consider the possibility that he changed his name. In earlier times, a person could simply change their name without any court or other record thereof–especially if they were changing it to be distinguished from others with the same last name or similar names. It could also have been a way for an ancestor to make a new start. And it’s always a way to try and evade the authorities. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
If your ancestor “disappears” ask yourself what historical events were going on at that time. Was there a gold/silver rush? Was there a war? Had new territory opened? It could be that your ancestor or other relative was swept up in a historical event. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
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