Sixty Percent Webinar Sale On Today-Wednesday

Our 60% genealogy webinar sale is back on–save 60% off on our already low-price of $8.50 per presentation.

Our topics include:

Sections, Townships, Base Lines, and More–Legal Property Descriptions

Charts, Charts, and More Charts
Creating Research Plans
Female Ancestors
Probate Process
Did Your Ancestor Get A Civil War Pension?
What Is Not Written
Crossing The Pond
Preparing for Mother’s Death
The Genealogical Proof Standard
and much, much more.
This 60% discount makes our presentations the most affordable in the industry. 

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)  24 October 2012. Don’t wait–your ancestors are not getting any younger. 


Orders can be processed here:

Thanks!

Michael

A Witness is..

A witness to a document typically is only indicating that they know who signed the document in question. A witness has to be of legal age and sound mind, but does not have to have any relationship to the person actually making out the document.

Don’t draw too many conclusions about a person who only witnesses one of your ancestor’s documents. The witness just might have been another warm body in the office the same time as your ancestor.

Not Everyone Naturalized

Most immigrants to the United States did naturalize after they had been in the United States for some time. Some never naturalized, which would explain the lack of a naturalization record. Some naturalized before 1906 when any court of record could naturalize and if you don’t know where your ancestor resided for every moment of his life, you might not locate the record. And others may have thought they were naturalized by their father’s naturalization and that they did not need to naturalize themselves.

Keep in mind that especially before the 1920s, naturalization laws were confusing to many. One of those confused might have been your ancestor.

Do You Research Willy-Nilly?

Do you plan your research and decide what to do and how to do it before you it? Or do you just start typing things in search boxes and hoping? Do you randomly look for families in various records, hoping something comes up as the result?

While there is nothing wrong with hope, a little organization of your search can save you from frustration later and allow you to better trouble-shoot unsuccessful searches.

And do you have any research goals?

What Are You Searching on FamilySearch? Webinar

We’ve just released the media file for my latest webinar which focuses on knowing what you are searching on FamilySearch.

If you are confused by states that have multiple indexes to the “same” set of vital records, why a marriage entry appears multiple times in an index, or how to see what was used to create the index, then this webinar is for you.

We focus on American sources, but the methods will apply to other locations as well. This presentation is not for complete beginners–some research experience is necessary.

You can download the media for only $4 during our introductory price offer. A PayPal account is not necessary, you can “click through” and when time for payment comes, click as a “guest” and use your non-PayPal credit card.

Start Local

When trying to obtain a copy of a vital record, begin searching at the local level first (town, county, etc.), then try the state records office. Avoiding search firms that advertise for “immediate” delivery will be easier on your pocketbook. Determine if any records are available online or on microfilm via FamilySearch (http://www.familysearch.org).

Chances are you do not need the death certificate tomorrow, via overnight mail. Don’t pay for services you do not need.

Ignoring the Rules?

Sometimes ancestors might appear in records where they are “not supposed to.”

Recently while using draft registration cards for men in Georgia born between 1 July 1924 and 31 December 1924, I ran across a card for a man born on 13 September 1925. It was marked “cancelled,” but still appeared with the other cards.

Sometimes things that are not supposed to be, are.