Pick a Random One to Review

Instead of banging your head against the wall on the same person, pick an ancestor or relative you think you have “finished.” Go back and double-check your conclusions on that person, cite sources that weren’t cited, originally, look for gaps in their life chronology.

The time away from the brick wall may give you a fresh perspective on it…and save some wear and tear on your head!

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Genealogy Tip of the Day is sponsored by GenealogyBank. In December, they are offering an annual subscription for a monthly rate equivalent to less than $5 a month!

About Genealogy Tip of the Day

We’ve picked up quite a few fans/followers of this blog, so I thought I’d briefly post a little bit about Genealogy Tip of the Day.

Genealogy Tip of the Day is written by Michael John Neill. Our goal is to provide at least one short research tip every day. The tips are not meant to be long or overly academic. We’ll leave that to my other blog, Rootdig. Research tips are generated from my own research and range from things that are basic and elementary to ideas that are more advanced and complicated. I don’t reuse tips, but it’s difficult after writing these for five years to not discuss the same topic once in a while. Because I only use my own research, tips may not be applicable to all research areas and time periods. Those who want to know more about my own personal family tree can see my ahnenlist.

Our goal is to keep people thinking about their research and give them ideas to help them move forward.

We are sponsored by GenealogyBank, but they exercise no editorial control over anything we do or say. Genealogy Tip of the Day is totally free–although we do appreciate those who use our affiliate links to make purchases or purchase one of my webinars.

Thanks to everyone who participates in any way, shape, or form in Genealogy Tip of the Day. I appreciate everyone who has helped to make this site what it is.

 

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Genealogy Tip of the Day is sponsored by GenealogyBank. In December, they are offering an annual subscription for a monthly rate equivalent to less than $5 a month!

Crop With Care

Don’t get “crop happy” and cut away too much of a document. There may be clues in the edges that may not be immediately relevant.  The illustration has obvious clues in the license plate and the home. Neighbors in the census may be relatives, cutting them out of the image you save may cause to miss that clue years later. Handwritten records where just the “entry of interest” is saved can be hard to analyze without the context of other records to serve as a guide.

Clues in the edges aren’t as clear-cut as they are in this image. mom-grandma

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It is a Naming Pattern Not a Naming Law

Certain ethnic groups tend to follow certain naming patterns when choosing names for children. Keep in mind that these patterns are cultural norms. They are not set in statute. They are not part of an ecclesiastical edict. There can be exceptions, particularly when both grandfathers (or grandmothers) have the same first name or when there has been a significant argument with a certain relative.

Use the naming patterns as a suggestive clues not as an established certainty.

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Genealogy Tip of the Day is sponsored by GenealogyBank. In December, they are offering an annual subscription for a monthly rate equivalent to less than $5 a month!

Check Before You Go

Always check those digital images before you leave the facility. When at the Family History Library on my group trip, I made a few images for myself. In reviewing them months later, I realized I bypassed the bottom of page 256 and only got the top of page 257 (partially shown in the illustration).  get-it-all

What Could an Immigrant Do?

In some locations during some time periods, aliens (immigrants who were not naturalized) could not own real property or could not bequeath real property. State statute dictated what the rights of aliens were in regards to real property ownership. By the end of the 19th century most US states did not have restrictions on property ownership by aliens. But–refer to contemporary statute in your state of interest for specific information.

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Genealogy Tip of the Day is sponsored by GenealogyBank. In December, they are offering an annual subscription for a monthly rate equivalent to less than $5 a month!

Will New Names Jog Memories?

Sometimes all it takes is a “new” name to open the door to an entire set of memories. My grandmother-in-law remembered a fair amount about her family originally. After a little research, I located the maiden name of her grandmother, which she had not originally remembered.

As soon as I mentioned that last name, more memories came to her mind. Sometimes all it takes it a word or a name to unlock an entire set of memories.

Always go back and re-interview that person when you have located new information.