Sometimes errors in genealogical records are unintentional. Census and christening records indicate my grandmother was born in Wythe Township, Hancock County, Illinois. Grandma always thought she was born in Tioga, Hancock County, Illinois-in nearby Walker Township. On every record from her marriage through her death, Grandma’s place of birth was put down as Tioga–because that is what she thought it was. The error wasn’t intentional, but rather was based upon her belief as to where she was born. I have noted the discrepancy in all the records and made a note about what Grandma thought in her file so that someone else will know why there are the differences in her records. Errors happen for a variety of reasons. I was lucky in this case because I knew […]
Genealogy information does not always agree. Several years ago I wrote an article for Genealogy.com on discrepancy charts that can be used to organize inconsistent information. That article can be viewed here: http://www.genealogy.com/37_neill_print.html Too long for a “short tip,” but it’s worth taking a look at. I have linked to the printer friendly version. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
In some cases, there may be several sites that index the same set of records. Consider using other indexes when available and when one index does not help you to find the desired person. Another person making their own index may read something differently than did the first person. Don’t assume someone is not in a record because one index fails to include him. And remember that a manual search of the records may be necessary. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
If you have an original copy of a document or photograph, do not do anything do that paper or photograph that cannot be undone. Putting it in a frame or an envelope (usually) is one thing. Taping it in a book is another. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
Make certain you have maps of all the areas where you are doing your family research and that those maps are contemporary to the time when your family lived in the area. County lines change as do other political jurisdictions. Modern maps are a good idea too, particularly when trying to determine where the farm is today or where that cemetery is located. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
Remember that there is more to reading records in a foreign language than simply learing the vocabulary. Foreign language records are often written in a different script and that letter that looks like an “L” may actually be a “B.” There are script guides on a variety of how-to websites. The Family Search Site (http://www.familysearch.org) has online images to scripts from several countries in their section of research helps. Checking out the appropriate country’s page on Cyndislist (http://www.cyndislist.com) or her page on handwriting may also locate links to pages to help you read the handwriting. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
Here’s an off-the-wall idea–but some days I find writing tips a little difficult. Make a calendar with your ancestor’s dates of birth on it. Then on the ancestor’s birthday, review the information you have about that person. This might help you find something in your files that you had forgotten. Today would have been my great-grandmother Ufkes’ birthday–she would have been 114. She was born Trientje Marie Janssen on her parents’ farm near Basco, Hancock County, Illinois. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
Did your ancestor make a return trip home to visit family? It was not unheard of for 19th and 20th century immigrants to the United States to make one or two return trips home to visit. Records of their arrivals on these subsequent ocean crossings may provide more details on them than their original entry records do. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
When you locate that ancestor in a cemetery, look at the neighboring stones. There is a reasonable chance they are relatives. At least copy down the names and information (or take pictures) while you have the chance. Five years later (when you have discovered their names in other records) it may be too late to get information from their stone. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
For many genealogists, a legal dictionary is a great help. This is especially true when analyzing court and probate records where legal terms may be used profusely. I picked up on on Ebay several years ago. A current in print one is not necessary and may be beyond your genealogy budget. Mine dates from the 1980s and serves my purpose well. In fact, I may pick up a few more from earlier time periods if I happen to spot one at an auction. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
Some records are organized geographically (census), some records are organized chronologically (vital records), and some are organized by name (indexes). Learn how a record series is organized before you use it. That will help you glean as much from it as you can. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
Never take your only copy of a document with you on a research trip. You may use it. Never put the original copy of a document out for permanent display. Sunlight will permanently fade it. Use copies. Save yourself the pain of losing or destroying the only copy of something you have. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
Remember that birthplaces in census and other records may have been written down as they were at the time the record was created, not the time the birth took place. At different times, my ancestor indicated she was born in Prussia, Hanover, or Germany. This was because of who was “ruling” the village where she was born at the time of the census or other record. It may just seem like great-great-grandma was confused when she really was not. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
A nuncupative will is a will that is orally dictated by the testator. These are typically deathbed type wills. This will is to be written down as soon as possible by the witnesses and presented to the court within the time allowed for probate. Not all jurisdictions have honored these as valid. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
Miltary pensions, especially if the widow survived and claimed her pension, may provide information about more than just the veteran and his widow. Relatives might have had to testify to the marriage of the veteran and his wife, their residences, their children and other information in an attempt to document the pension. These documents are more detailed if the widow cannot find her marriage certificate or the courthouse burned. Relatives who were present at the marriage or who knew of the couple’s marriage might have testified. Wonderful records these are. My ancestor’s Civil War pension provided information about the wife’s family, including her siblings. She also indicated who was at her 1867 wedding and the sister-in-law who was present at the birth of one of her children. ———————————— […]
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