When you discover a new last name in your ancestry, ask yourself: how else could this name be pronounced other than the “way” I’ve already assigned to it in my head; what letters in this name could be read incorrectly by someone making an index; what letters in this name often look like other letters; how common is this name in the area where I’m searching; does the name provide any clues as to origin or ethnicity of this person; what have I assumed about this name that might not be true?
Probate case files can be full of wonderful old items besides the will and names of heirs or beneficiaries. If you’re lucky, there may be a copy of the sale bill announcing when the property of the deceased was to be sold. This one from 1920 included items from the estate of Sarah Newman and her son. Some of the items in the handwritten records were difficult to read and the printed sale bill made transcription of some of those items easier. In this case it’s mentioned that lunch will be served. Sometimes, if a church group is serving lunch, they will be named. That could be a clue. And these are just neat items to locate.
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