Genealogical research many times is more about establishing a relationship between two people than it is determining a date precisely. Connecting a parent to a child is usually more important than proving someone was born on the 15th or the 16th of January of 1823. Knowing a date of birth to the month is usually sufficient. It’s connecting a husband to a wife or a mother to a daughter that is usually key and where we don’t have wiggle room like we do with dates. In genealogy, it’s often about the relationship more than it is the date. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
An affidavit in a Civil War pension file was made by two men with the same last name. No relationship was stated, but I concluded two things immediately: the two men were somehow related the men lived near each other After all, it was a joint affidavit signed by both of them. They even lived in the same state. Turns out that they lived 300 miles from each other. Thanks to my Casefile Clues proofreader for catching my rather glaring error. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
Our fundamental webinars are each approximately 20 minutes in length. These short session are geared for beginner or somewhat experienced beginners who would like to learn more about the following topics. Each presentation includes the 20 minute or so presentation and the handouts. Downloads of previous fundamental webinars can be ordered here. Quick Google Ideas—this is geared towards the advanced beginner to intermediate genealogist as all the fundamental webinars. Our focus will be on searching, what to search for and how to search for it. Runs on 20 April 2012 at 2:30 PM Central. Register for $2. · Comparison Shopping (Part 1)—We will see some elementary ways to determine whether the person/family you have found on a passenger manifest or census is the same family you’ve located on a census elsewhere. Runs on 20 […]
If I’ve got three sources that say the same thing then the statement they make is correct. Not necessarily. If source A, source B, and source C agree–do you know where source B and source C got their information? Did they get it from source A? If so, then you really don’t have three sources–you’ve got two sources that copied from another. It can’t always be done, but you want sources that were created independently of each other. An obituary, death certificate and tombstone agreeing about the date of birth doesn’t mean the information they provide about the date of birth is correct–it could mean they have the same informant. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
If it’s been a while since you’ve looked at Casefile Clues, we’ve changed out our free samples for two new ones just tonight–10 April 2012 We’ve initiated new download procedures for free samples of Casefile Clues. Visit this page, click “checkout” and enter your email You do NOT need Paypal, you do NOT need a credit card, (name is actually optional). Do need an email address. You will not be asked for a credit card or any other information. Your email will not be shared. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
If you estimate someone’s year of birth, in your notes/sources/documentation, include how you arrived at that estimation. Some time later you may want to recall why you thought that estimated date was correct. No one’s memory is 100% and including your reason may help you to re-evaluate that date if necessary. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
There is a difference between being someone’s heir and being their descendant. A descendant “descends” from the person–is their child, grandchild, great-grandchild, etc. An heir is someone who (usually according to state statute) is entitled to a share in a deceased person’s estate. If the deceased person had living children, they are usually heirs. The children of a deceased child would also be heirs.If the deceased had no children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, etc. (and left no surviving spouse) then their heirs could be their siblings, or their first cousins, depending upon the family structure. And of course, the definition of heir is dependent on statute–so check that out for the time period of interest as well. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
Before long, there will be several indexes online to the 1940 census. Same data–just different indexes. Which brings us to a good reminder. Is there another index or finding aid to a set of records you have been using? Keep in mind that for some records, particularly vital records, local offices may have created their own indexes in addition to those that might have been created by historical/genealogical societies or interested individuals. Maybe another finding aid will help you with that missing reference. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
We have added two new webinars in our April 2012 series: Creating Research Plans–12 April 2012 Google Docs for Genealogists-13 April 2012 Details and registration information are on our webinar page. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
When was the last time you learned about a new genealogical resource, method, or term? Sometimes learning about something new, even if it doesn’t directly relate to our research, is the best way to get our own genealogical research back on track. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
If you can type quickly make certain that at some point in time you actually read the document that you’ve transcribed. Fast typists sometimes don’t always comprehend what they are typing–at least I don’t. A recent document indicated at the end how the person signing the document was related to another individual. When I re-read the original document again that phrase had been used twice in the document. My transcription was correct and I had typed the relationship twice. But I certainly did not remember that first reference although I obviously read it. Think about it after you type it and make certain something didn’t just pass through your mind without being retained. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
I’ve been working on finding people from the 1940 census and I’ll admit that I relied on memory for one thing and now I wish I had not because I was wrong. For some reason, when I was making my 1940 list, I got it in my head that my wife’s great-grandfather had died and his wife had married her second husband by 1940. In doublechecking the spelling of the second husband’s last name (Fluegel), I realized that husband number one died in 1941, which means I should be looking for her with him (and his last name) in 1940. Don’t rely on memory. Even when you think you’re right. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
The release of the 1940 census without an index has me thinking about which people I will search for manually and which ones I will wait for until the index comes out. There are some people that I am certain enough of their residence that I can look for them. There are others who are in rural areas where searching will not take an inordinate amount of time. There are others that I do not have good addresses for and are living in urban areas. Looking for them may take hours, if not days. In those cases, I’m going to wait for the index. Sometimes one has to decide if the time spent is worth it. In those cases there’s likely nothing “earth-shattering” in the enumeration and my […]
Don’t always assume that census ages are incorrect. I found the entry for my children’s grandmother in 1940 and I thought there had to be a mistake–as I knew there were no twins in the family and their children were listed with ages: Two 7 year olds One 5 year old One 4 year old One 2 year old One 1 year old One under a year–7/12 The ages were correct–just a lot of children close together and the census date combined with the birthdates didn’t help either.You can see the image here. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
Last minute registrants can sign up for $4! Everyone’s crazy about the 1940 census…including me–I’ve found 11 of my ancestors and a few others in the first few days since it’s release. We’re going to help those who need it see how to navigate the free 1940 census sites. Our focus is on how to search and use the sites. I’m not an employee of any of the sites and don’t have any agenda other than helping you to use them. On 5 April 2012 at 7:30 PM Central time (Thursday–rescheduled ), I’ll be presenting a webinar on using the free 1940 census sites. Not all have everything uploaded (NARA does), but we’ll see how to navigate, download, and work with the free 1940 census images that are […]
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