Casefile Clues just sent out our 9th edition since we began distribution on our own website. This week’s article focuses on the analysis of several pre-1850 census entries for a family in rural Kentucky. Interpreting these census records correctly is not terribly difficult, but one does have to be careful so that mistakes are minimized. There’s more information on Casefile Clues on our sister website. And we’ll be getting back to more tips! ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
Is your ancestor’s “middle” name one that could be construed as a “last” name? If so, have you searched for him (or her) in all records where he is “missing” with that middle name as his last name? Might be the trick to finding him. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
I’ve mentioned it before, but repeating it might not be a bad idea. Consider writing up one of your ancestors or families you’ve “finished” or think you are reasonably close to finishing. Write it and explain your reasoning and methodology. I virtually guarantee you that in the writing you will notice something you neglected to do, an assumption that you think now might not be correct, or an error in your reasoning. And if you don’t, then get it published! Since I’ve been writing Casefile Clues I have really noticed a few things of this kind in my own research and it’s forced me to pick up the loose ends, organize, etc. Even if you have no intention of publishing, putting it together as if you are can […]
Are you trying to cross the pond too fast? Sometimes frustration with a “I don’t know where to reseach my German/English/Irish, etc.” ancestor is because the homework has not been completely done. Have you looked at EVERYTHING in the area where your immigrant ancestor settled? Everything means everything, even things you think might not help. You never know what a document will say until you look at it. Clues can be in the most unexpected of sources sometimes. Then research his or her children completely as they might have left clues as to their parents’ origins. Don’t start your German/English/Ireland research the minute you learn your ancestor was German/English/Irish. Do your complete homework first. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
When downloading a census page or viewing census on microfilm, look at the page numbers that are written on the page. There might be more than one. View the previous image on the website or the microfilm roll. View the one before that. How many different page numbers are written on the census page/image? An 1810 census entry from Bourbon County, Kentucky indicated three sets of page numbers. One was stamped, one was written in ink (apparently) and another looked like it was written in pencil. And sometimes the page numbers are one every other “page.” ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
Look at that census or tax list? Do the names on the page for your ancestor all begin with the same letter? If so, the collector or census taker tried to sort the names. Good for him. Bad for us as it strips all sense of neighborhood. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
Old documents usually have pages (except for tombstones), but they might not have page numbers. Church records are especially notorious for this, especially in the days when records were kept in ledgers without printed forms. To keep track of where you got it, at least indicate the year of the record and what type of record it was (christenings, funerals, marriages, etc.). The name of the church and the location should also be included as a part of your source, but the year and type of record are essential to know where you got the information. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
I have added a “fan” page for Genealogy Tip of the Day on Facebook. Actually I added it twice and am trying to figure out how to get rid of the other one. If you are on Facebook, do a search for “genealogy tip of the day” and choose the the Fan page that has the lovely image you see on this post. I am working (again) getting caught up on “tip of the day.” Stay tuned and feel free to interact with us on Facebook via our Fan Page. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
Evidence Explained by Elizabeth Shown Mills is not just about citing sources. The first two chapters are wonderful genealogical lessons on methodology and sources in and of themselves. Before discussing how to cite a specific type of record, Mills briefly discusses that record, providing a wonderful overview. While Mills’ book is not for the new genealogist, this not-so-new genealogist finds its discussion of sources an excellent quick review and primer when I need reminding. And then there is the other 80% of the book, which is about citati ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
Our 8th issue of Casefile Clues goes out on Sunday. To anyone who subscribes before 8 goes out, I’ll start your subscription with issue 8 and send you issues 1-7. Anyone who started subscribing after issue 1 and would like the issues they missed should email me at mjnrootdig@gmail.com. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
When was the last time you accessed a record that was not on microfilm, not in digital form, not published and not indexed? Remember that there are millions of documents in courthouses, archives, etc. that only exist on paper. Is the answer to your question written on a piece of paper that you or someone else will have to actually see face to face to get a copy of it? Not everything is on film or on computer. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
Recently I needed 8 land entry files from the National Archives. I knew some of these files would not contain very much information at all, perhaps just a few sheets. There were three that had the potential to contain valuable information as they were homestead and preemption claims. To order the files direct from the National Archives would have cost me $320. I hired a researcher to go to the Archives and copy the files for me. Her fee was approximately 1/4 of what the archives would have charged me. Is it possible that hiring someone at the remote record site is the way to go? ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
Just to confuse genealogists, some states have towns that are not located in the county with the same name. Des Moines, Iowa, is not located in Des Moines County, Iowa. Keokuk, Iowa, is not located in Keokuk County, Iowa. It’s not just an Iowa thing. This can happen anywhere. Make certain your place descriptions are complete and not misleading. I always use the word “county” just to keep things clear. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
State land states are those states where the original “seller” on the first deed was the state–actually the colony. This is generally the 13 colonies and a few states that border those states. Federal land states are those where the original “seller” on the first deed was the federal government. Usually areas settled after the Northwest Ordinance of 1787, but not always. State land states usually describe their land in metes and bounds. Federal land states usually use base lines and meridians. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
My wife and I both have a set of ancestors who were immigrants and I think the groom wrote back and said “I need a bride.” One might be tempted to think that the bride and groom were born in the same village. In both cases, that’s not what happened. In the case of my ancestor, her father was a “windmill mechanic” and moved occasionally for his work. In the other case, the bride was working as a hired girl in the village where the groom was born and raised. Sometimes romantic visions of our ancestors need to discarded. It makes for good fiction, but not necessarily good genealogy. And oftentimes the real story is more interesting anyway. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day […]
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