Posts in September 27, 2025

The Gum Drop Cookie recipe we mentioned recently contained coconut as an ingredient. The reference to coconut reminded me of evidence when constructing a genealogical argument. Genealogists research records to obtain information about a problem. Sometimes the information contained in the records directly addresses the problem. Sometimes the information indirectly addresses the problem. Sometimes information supports our conclusion and sometimes it conflicts it. All relevant records should be referenced in any discussion of the problem and the information they contain should be examined. We might not choose to use every piece of information from every record to make our case, particularly if we have numerous records stating the same thing. In this case, we may choose to mainly include those contemporary-to-the-event records with information contained by informants who […]