If you need a list of churches, try a city directory. They often have lists of churches grouped by type of denomination. Addresses and names of ministers may also be listed which may help in determining which church your ancestor attended. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
For years, Ellen Sargent was one of my “brick wall” ancestors. Her 1880 census enumeration indicated she was born in Missouri with parents who were born in Michigan.  After a while, I simply concluded that her 1880 enumeration was wrong and that instead of Michigan the place of birth had to have been somewhere else. I decided to completely ignore her 1880 enumeration and work from scratch. Funny thing is–her 1880 enumeration was just about right. Her parents were probably not born in Michigan, but spent at least ten or fifteen years there, shortly before Ellen was born in Missouri.  Those enumerations may be wrong or they may be closer to correct than you think.  ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
Is there a relative who never had any children of their own, had no siblings and died owning enough property to require a probate or an estate settlement? If so, the records of that settlement may be particularly interesting. The deceased person’s heirs-at-law typically would have been their first cousins or their first cousin’s descendants. Even if there was a will, these heirs-at-law typically would have had to have been notified of the probate. Those records could help determine relationships and indicate where people were living at the time the relative died. These estate or probate records would typically be filed at the local court level. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
When a person has never heard a last name said aloud, it can be difficult to get that “first way of saying it” out of your head, even if it is not right. This can be problematic if the way you “hear it” is not really close to how people with the last name actually said it. I’ve been working on the Liddell family lately–which often gets said and written as “Little.” Of course the “L” gets read as an “S” sometimes as well, but that’s a discussion for another tip. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
Are you trying too hard to make things fit when they actually don’t? Are people that you think are the same really two different people? Is one entry in a record a mistake which is the reason why it is inconsistent with other records? Are you insisting that every document you discover be completely accurate agree with everything else? And are you willing to admit when you are incorrect? It may rarely happen, but occasionally…. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
It’s rare for us to offer our 60% sale, but we’re doing it in honor of Labor Day.  There’s never been a better time to order one of our how-to genealogy webinars.  Now is a great time rev up your research skills as we swing into fall.  Our download rates are the best in the business. Our presentations are informal, down-to-earth, and practical. The only agenda we have is helping you with your research. Coupon code “sixty” at check out will reduce your order by 60%. Downloads are immediate. Sale ends at 11:59 PM (Central time) 4 September 2012. Don’t wait–your ancestors are not getting any younger.  Check out our list of over 30 presentations here: http://rootdig.blogspot.com/2012/08/updated-list-of-genealogy-webinars.html Topics include: Females Problem-Solving Brick Walls  Court Records Land Records Search […]
When a document is located on a relative, look at the pages before and after the document for additional references to your relative. Deeds sometimes get recorded in “batches,” when it is realized that they were forgotten. Children sometimes get baptized in groups when a minister finally arrives or someone decides it is time. And occasionally there is a supplemental death certificate when a correction needs to be made. Indexes will take you to a direct, exact page. It’s up to you to turn a few pages before and after that page to see if there’s an additional find. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
It’s rare for us to offer our 60% sale, but we’re doing it in honor of Labor Day.  There’s never been a better time to order one of our how-to genealogy webinars.  Now is a great time rev up your research skills as we swing into fall.  Our download rates are the best in the business. Our presentations are informal, down-to-earth, and practical. The only agenda we have is helping you with your research. Coupon code “sixty” at check out will reduce your order by 60%. Downloads are immediate. Sale ends at 11:59 PM (Central time) 3 September 2012. Don’t wait–your ancestors are not getting any younger.  Check out our list of over 30 presentations here: http://rootdig.blogspot.com/2012/08/updated-list-of-genealogy-webinars.html Topics include: Females Problem-Solving Brick Walls  Court Records Land Records Search […]
Our genealogy fundamental webinars are ready for download or purchase. These are geared towards the beginners with some research experience or those who are unfamiliar with the topic. Topics include:Land Deed BasicsFederal Cash Land Sale FileTypical Union Civil War Pension file19th Century Will20th Century Death Certificate1850 census1880 census1930 censushttp://www.casefileclues.com/fundamentals.htm Short, to the point and they include media file and handout.If you pre-ordered these and did NOT receive your download links, please let me know so that they can be sent to you again.Thanks!Michael—————Michael John NeillGenealogy Tip of the Dayhttp://genealogytipoftheday.blogspot.com ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
When you read through your research notes, summaries, commentaries, etc. is it always clear to whom you are referring when you use the word “she,” “he,” “they,” etc.? Pronouns are great, but if you are writing about several people and then starting using “she” or “he” are the references clear from the context? If not, consider re-writing or re-phrasing. Thomas Smith and Henry Johnson arrived in Colusa County, California, in 1856. Then he married one of the daughters of Jackson Brown and they moved to Oregon. Who got married to the daughter of Jackson Brown? It’s not clear, is it? ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
When transcribing a document that has one word that is difficult to read, try typing in the mystery word and two words before it and two words after it. You may get some suggestions in your search results. Of course search results may not indicate what the mystery word is in your document, but they may give you some ideas. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
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