Is it possible that your ancestor changed his name simply because he wanted to and with no official paperwork to document the change? For much of American history (and possibly in other locations as well), names could be changed with little formality. If your ancestor naturalized after 1906, his naturalization papers may mention the change. Land records may occasionally reference a change, especially if the name on a deed of purchase is different from the name on a deed of sale. Probate records may indicate if the deceased used any other names. And lastly, pension records may also provide alternate names, aliases, etc. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
We’ve announced our schedule of genealogy webinars in December of 2011. Registrants who are unable to attend can receive (at no charge) download links for the recorded webinar and handout. Topics include: More Brick Walls from A to Z Constructing Families from pre-1850 Census Records American Naturalization Records Before 1920 Sarah & Susannah: Two 18th Century Virginia Woman and Their Property Each webinar is $8 or you can sign up for all 4 for $28. Details at http://www.casefileclues.com/webinars_neill.htm ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
I’ve been working on the children of a Wesley Jones who died in Missouri in 1872. Researching the family is somewhat difficult as two daughters also married men with common last names. Completing the family group is an exercise in what is common. To make it somewhat easier, I’m researching the son with a somewhat unusual first name first along with his sister whose husband’s name was not as common as Jones. Then I’ll work on the other children in the group. The hope is that information on the children with less common names will shed light on the others. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
I have copies from a facility that shall remain nameless. The copies were made from a set of microfilm the facility had of the records. The copier that was used was not great and parts of my copies are very difficult to read. There is a chance that copies made from the Family History Library’s microfilm might be easier to read. And copies made from the original records (which are in the courthouse) would  probably be even better yet if I could get there or have someone who could.  If what you have is not a great copy, is it possible to get a better one elsewhere?  ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
When using a document that contains several dates make certain you grab the right date for the right event. A marriage record may contain the date of the license, the date of the marriage, and the date of the recording. Make certain that the date you put as the marriage date is the marriage date and not one of the other dates on the document. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
If you are really stuck, consider starting over and documenting every piece of information from scratch. Don’t throw away what you already have, but put it aside and start with the “most recent” facts and re-work your way through the research starting with your raw material from scratch. It might even be advised to wait a few days before working on the family again to allow yourself time to forget some of the information. Ask yourself along the way questions, including: How do I know these two records refer to the same person? Am I recording assumptions as facts? Could I explain the research process to someone unfamiliar with the family? It may seem like a lot of work, but sometimes it is what it takes. ———————————— Check […]
Sometimes I avoid using online trees, GedCom files, etc. for as long as possible–avoiding them completely if I can. I’m working on a family of my wife’s in Missouri and there are online files about this family, but most have the same gaps that I do and others repeat undocumented claims made by researchers decades ago. In this family, I’m finding that a better use of my time is to review original materials (or digital copies of them) and really research the family from scratch. Going through the compilations of others was not getting me anywhere and seemed to be an ineffective use  of time. There are times where I have used online trees to get good suggestions or leads. This family (which I won’t name), just isn’t […]
We are giving away 100 copies of my “Brick Wall webinar”–free. Simply go tohttp://rootdig.blogspot.com/2011/10/recorded-copies-of-recent-webinars.htmland order the “Brick Wall webinar” use brickwall for your coupon code. That’s it. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
If you are using paper to take handwritten notes, never ever use slips of paper smaller than your hand. You will lose them. I even avoid anything smaller than 8.5 by 11 inches because it’s too easy to get lost. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
Webinars on the Bureau of Land Management Site and DeedMapper were released today on our website. Thanks to our low overhead, copies of webinars are moderately priced at around $8.50 per download, a third of what others charge. We also released recently webinars on Using Ancestry.com’s Census, Seeing Patterns, and other topics. There is more information and ordering details at: http://rootdig.blogspot.com/2011/10/recorded-copies-of-recent-webinars.html Save $1 per webinar by using the coupon code tipoff ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
Remember that even if your ancestor did not enlist or was not drafted, there still should be a World War I or World War II draft card for him if he was in the US during this time. World War I Draft Registration cards are on microfilm and available through several subscription services. World War II Draft Registrations for the “old men” are on microfilm and online at FamilySearch. World War II registrations for traditional age registrants are available via mail from the National Archives for those men who are deceased. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
If your ancestor has a boarder, hired man, or anyone else living in the household who is not a member of the immediate family, have you researched that person thoroughly? They may be related to the family even if the relationship is not specifically stated. My ancestor Barbara Haase and her husband Conrad have a fellow German living with them in the 1860 census. I discovered this years ago and really had not thought about it since. I now know Barbara’s maiden name which is somewhat close to the last name of this unknown individual living with them in 1860. Researching this man further may be worth my time. He may be totally unrelated to Barbara and Conrad or there may be a connection. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s […]
When using indexes to county or local records, remember that they are likely NOT strictly alphabetical. The “B” section of the index may (should) include all the last names that start with the letter “B,” but they are likely entered in chronological order, not purely alphabetical. Remember also that “Mc” and “Mac” names may have their own section of the index. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
The 1880 census in Clark County, Missouri, indicated that two relatives were “mantamakers.” The term was foreign to me.A google search indicated that, generally speaking, a mantua is type of dress. This was discovered by just googling what the word looked like and going from there. Wikipedia has a short reference on this type of women’s apparel at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mantua_(clothing). Even if you think you are reading something incorrectly, consider googling the term. If nothing else, someone else might have posted a blog entry about it! ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
If you think, based on family tradition, an obituary, a death certificate, etc. that a person is buried in a certain cemetery, keep in mind that there might not be a stone for them. Some families, for whatever reason do not erect a stone after the burial. It can be difficult to find what was never there.  It is always possible that the marker was a wooden one that did not pass the test of time.  And some stones fall down and are buried themselves.  ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
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