From a while back… “I think Isaac Rucker died in May 1799…” That’s what Archeleus Reynolds said in August of 1834 in a deposition taken in Amherst, Virginia. The statement needs to be understood and evaluated based on context. There were several Isaac Ruckers in Amherst County, Virginia. The one Reynolds is talking about is his father-in-law–that’s made clear in other records in this case. Reynolds is making the statement 35 years after Isaac Rucker is claimed to have died. While this document should be transcribe exactly as written (along with a citation clearly stating where the deposition can be found and when it was made), the analysis should take into account the amount of time that has passed and how long it has been since Rucker died. […]
Do you keep a list of those dead-end ancestors–the ones that seem to disappear and for whom you can’t find any end of life information? Create a table or spreadsheet of their names, basic details on them, and the last date you took a look for them. The table doesn’t need to include all your information on them. That you can easily find in your database. The list can serve as a handy reference and a way to make certain you’re working on all disappearing people and not just the same ones over and over again. Today, 17 May 2025, we’re offering More Genealogy Tip of the Day for $25 (postage included). Learn more about the book here, but return to this page to process order.
Recent Comments