Transcribing some estate inventories can be difficult. The handwriting can appear to be a scrawl. The names used for items may be archaic. The transcriber may be unfamiliar with the life and lifestyle of the ancestor who owned the property. Items in inventory generally appear in broad groups, household goods, farm equipment, animals, etc.–depending on the time period and your ancestor’s occupation. Use “context clues” to help transcribe items that are hard to figure out. And there is no such animal as a Ditto.
When searching any new-to-you database, read about what it contains. Read the Frequently Asked Questions (if available). Do not just look for the search box and being searching until you know what you are searching. Get the Genealogy Tip of the Day book. Great for reading cover to cover, browsing, taking notes in, or reading at random to get your research started.
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