Review Every Term

If there is a document or record that you do not understand, before you ask someone else to look at it–review every term or word and make certain that you understand the meaning of each word. When looking at meanings, it is important to keep in mind any legal meaning for the word and the time period in which the record was created.

And look up any word for which you do not know the meaning.

Recording the Execution of the Acknowledgement

A recorded deed in a county record office may have several different dates attached to it:

  • the date of execution–when it was signed.
  • the date of acknowledgement–when it was acknowledged.
  • the date of recording–when it was recorded.

There is a difference to these dates and in some cases all three may be the same, but the execution happens first, then the acknowledgement, then the recording. In some instances the recorded copy might not mention all three dates.

Every Age

Census records are not the only ones that may provide your ancestor’s age. Affidavits in pension applications, statements made in court, or other records may also give the age of your ancestor. These statements may be particularly helpful for individuals who died in the United States before the 1850 census began asking for specific ages.

Do You Trust Your Memory?

Are there facts or clues that you are still entrusting to your memory? Never assume that something is “impossible” to forget.  This temptation is greatest when researching a distance away from home. Don’t wait to “write it down later to save time.” It may take a little time during your research trip to write down “why” you copied something or “how” you reached a conclusion, but that time is well spent.

Waiting until you get home is only asking to forget.

Named for a Famous Non-Relative?

Anyone with a cursory knowledge of US history would know that an ancestor named George Washington Smith, Benjamin Franklin Butler, or Abraham Lincoln Jones was likely named for the famous American. But what about someone named Lorenzo Dow Smith or Jasper Newton Smith? Do not assume you have a connection to the Dow or Newton families just because your ancestor had these names. Sometimes names are simply popular cultural references that have faded from memory.

They Might Not Be What You Think

Just because Grandma insists her Grandpa was English doesn’t mean that he was. There are several reasons Grandma could be incorrect and make certain to research the grandfather completely in the location where he settled to see if he left clues as to his origins–clues besides what Grandma remembers.

My Grandma insisted her Grandpa was Irish. Turns out most of his family had been in the Americas at least one hundred and fifty years before he was born–and virtually all were English.

Are Names of Children Clues

My ancestral couple, James and Elizabeth (Chaney) Rampley had several children, including:

  • Thomas–father of James and Elizabeth
  • John–too common to be a real clue
  • James–grandfather of James and James himself
  • Riley–?
  • Martha–too common to be a clue
  • Elizabeth–too common to be a clue
Riley is a name that just seems to appear. Is it a clue to someone’s maiden name, perhaps that of Elizabeth’s mother? 
Clues contained in names are clues, not facts.

Free Brick Wall Webinar

There were some technical issues with this offer as posted on Facebook yesterday, so we’ve (hopefully) fixed the error and re-posted the offer here:

Brick Walls from A to Z–This lecture is based upon my article “Brick Walls From A to Z” and is geared towards the somewhat experienced beginner to intermediate researcher. Just a list of ideas to get beyond your brick walls discussed alphabetically. Handout included. Add to cart here


To get this free until 9:00 AM 6 July 2012, use coupon code BRICKWALL


This post is: http://genealogytipoftheday.blogspot.com/2012/07/brick-walls-from-to-z-this-lecture-is.html

An Index Entry is a Start Not an End

If you find an ancestor in an index, remember that the index entry is meant to guide you to the actual record. Mistakes and omissions can easily be made. Failing to locate the original may create brick walls where none exist. And there’s always the chance that there’s a neat bit of information on the original not included in the index.