Compiled trees (regardless of the compiler or the book, site, etc.) should not be your only source for a fact, relationship, date of an event, etc. These trees can lead you to other sources and give you research ideas, but do not simply “copy it down because you saw it online.” At the best, compiled trees provide references to original source materials. At the worst, they are completely incorrect. The truth is that most are somewhere in between. Use them as clues. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
In estates being settled in the United States, typically an heir, the potential executor, or a creditor petitions the appropriate court to begin probate proceedings within thirty days of an individual’s death. There can always be exceptions, but this is generally the tendency. State statute dictates the time frame for such petitions. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
An 1819 document used the abbreviation “M.T.” as part of the location in a document. It took me a moment to realize that the reference was to “Missouri Territory.” In 1850, such an abbreviation would not be used Abbreviations were always used in the context of the time and place. Keep this in mind when interpreting them. And remember that using abbreviations in your own work should be avoided precisely to avoid confusion. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
Always indicate that dates of baptism are dates of baptism. In churches that practiced infant baptism, dates of baptism are usually “close” to the date of birth, but do not assume that every baptism can be used to approximate the date of birth. Some children may be baptized as toddlers or even young adults, depending upon the availability of a minister, the strength of the parents’ convictions, etc. If parents are having one child baptized every two years over a fifteen year time span, then probably each one is being baptized as a small child. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
I’ll be presenting the following webinars in July: Crossing the Pond-Part II The American Revolution at Fold3.com 1820-1870 Census Case study—the Newmans Registration is only $8.50 for each one. Dates and registrations can be processed here http://www.casefileclues.com/webinars_neill.htm ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
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. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
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. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
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. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
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. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
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. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
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. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
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. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
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 BRICKWALLThis post is: http://genealogytipoftheday.blogspot.com/2012/07/brick-walls-from-to-z-this-lecture-is.html ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
Have you preserved one of your own stories today or recently? Don’t forget that someday you’ll no longer be an “active” leaf on the family tree and the greatest irony would be if you didn’t preserve and share a few of your own stories along the way. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
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. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
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