Webinar Closeout Ends–6 April

I’ve decided to focus more on genealogy research, writing, and blogging. To that end, I’m closing out my webinar sales effective 6 April. Downloads are immediate, items can be viewed multiple times once they’ve been downloaded, and replacements can be sent if necessary.  Coupon code 50PERCENT will reduce your order charge by 50% at checkout.

A Life Estate

At the risk of oversimplifying, a “life estate” in property (generally a widow but not always) is the right to use the property and receive income from the property during the person’s lifetime. They do not have the right to bequeath the property to someone, to mortgage it,  or to sell it. Oftentimes a widow is given a “life estate” in a piece of property from her husband and in so doing, he specifies to whom it is to pass after her death.

Leave a Trail

When a researcher is “hot on the trail” of an elusive ancestor or relative, it is tempting to research as fast as possible to find the answers.

Avoid that.

Chances are the relative for whom you are looking is already dead, so time is not of the essence.

Leave a trail of exactly what records you looked at and, more importantly, why you looked at them. Do this as you are doing the research when it is all fresh in your mind. Failure to do so may leave you wondering later where there records were from or what made you connect them to the same person.

Webinar Closeout Sale–ends 6 April

I’ve decided to focus more on genealogy research, writing, and blogging. To that end, I’m closing out my webinar sales effective 6 April. Downloads are immediate, items can be viewed multiple times once they’ve been downloaded, and replacements can be sent if necessary.  Coupon code 50PERCENT will reduce your order charge by 50% at checkout.

Who Owed the Dead Person Money?

In reviewing your relative’s estate settlement, pay close attention to individuals that owed the deceased person money. They could be relatives (by birth or marriage) or close associates of the deceased. Sometimes–but it’s always worth some investigation.

Houses Renumbered?

If you are researching in an urban area, are you aware if the house numbers were changed at any point during your research time period?

Are the contemporary numbers different from what they were during the time your ancestor lived there?

Location matters.

And if you don’t have the answers to these questions, start with the reference section of the town/city library and go from there.

Mary, Mary Makes My Research Contrary

If certain details of your ancestor’s wife change, but the first name remains unchanged, have you considered that he had two wives with the same first name?