The best discoveries are sometimes made off the beaten path–without a map. That’s true with genealogical records as well. Indexes, inventories, and finding aids can be incomplete. This “family entry” from an Illinois Lutheran church was found by browsing images of the church’s records. The names were not index and the inventory did not indicate these items were included. Sometimes one simply has to browse things in order to make certain that everything was seen.
There is still time to join me in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, at the Allen County Public Library this August! Our group is informal, relaxed and focused on helping you when you need or want it. We don’t schedule other “non-genealogy” activities and other than our morning session and an “optional” evening meal, your time is your own to research, ask questions of me when you need to, etc. There are more details on our website.
If insects or weather could negatively effect your ancestor, it could have a financial impact. Did your ancestor only mortgage the farm once–right after a year of drought or an infestation of locusts? Did your ancestor move because there were several years of extremely uncooperative weather in a row? Newspapers and county histories may mention such events and they could be timed to documents that indicate your ancestor was under financial stress. In severe cases your ancestor may have moved, lost the farm, or both. Always keep an open mind for things outside your relative’s control that may have impacted his behavior. Genealogy Tip of the Day is proudly sponsored by GenealogyBank. Check our their July offer for “Tip of the Day” fans–offer ends 30 July.
Recent Comments