Years ago I was transcribing and translating a 1790 era baptismal entry from a Belgian church. The entry listed the parish of residence of the child’s baptismal sponsors–clearly not the same as that of the parents. The child was baptized when a few days old. That was when it dawned on me. The sponsors had to live nearby. While it was possible they had travelled from a distance to help with the birth, the more likely scenario was that they lived within a distance where the news could have easily gotten to them within a few days. Sure enough, when looking at a map, I was able to realize the name of the town the priest had messily scribbled in the church book. Of course, today a Google […]
While it’s always advised to research extended family, the reality is that there simply is only so much time one can devote to certain problems. That said, why would one look at the US passport of an ancestral sister-in-law in the 1920s? Because during that time period some women still derived their citizenship through their husband and knowing something about the passports issued during that time as well, I know that there’s a good chance the ancestral sister-in-law’s passport mentioned her husband. And he’s the brother of the ancestor. And that may help me on my actual problem. Sometimes records on the in-laws are more likely to be of immediate assistance than others. And while an exhaustive search is always good…we all have limitations.
Attend live or order recording–see below for details. This session on 7 July 2022 will be an overview of United States Federal Land records, including: Cash land sales Military warrants Homesteads Preemption claims and more Focus will be on how to determine if your relative had a complete or an incomplete federal land claim, how to locate the records, and what details are typically included in each file. This session is geared to those who have a basic understand of elementary land record terminology. Our discussion will focus on the federal land acquisition process, the flow of paperwork, and how the process was completed. More people participated in federal land sales (either through outright purchase, military benefit, or other qualifying activities [ie. homesteading]) than people sometimes think. Learn […]
My 3rd great-great-grandmother’s sister had a baby a few years before that same sister married her husband in the 1860s. Court records from the estate of the baby’s grandfather (the father of the sisters) make it clear that the grandparents raised the baby–not the baby’s father nor the baby’s mother and her subsequent husband. The child grew to adulthood and have children of her own. One researcher decided to change the child’s date of birth, the couple’s date of marriage, and the baby’s last name in order to make it appear to be the husband’s child. Report what you find, but don’t change what you locate in order to present a different story from the reality.
Some rural cemeteries, especially very small ones that are no longer used, may require crossing private property to access. If this is necessary, obtain permission from the landowner before attempting to access the cemetery. Cemeteries that are along a roadside or have public access are a different story, but there also may be restrictions about “visiting hours,” decorations that are allowed, etc.
There is my Benjamin Butler and then there are the other ones. Mine was born about 1819 in New York State and is known to have lived in Michigan, Ontario, Iowa, and Missouri (and possibly a few other locations as well). There are other men of that same name who were of about the same age. I’m always encountering them when I’m looking through records on my Benjamin. So I made a list of these other Benjamin Butlers and what I have about them–focusing on those who lived reasonably close to my Benjamin and were of about the same age. I also made a note that there was a Benjamin Butler born in 1818 in New Hampshire who was eventually a governor of Massachusetts. His name comes up […]
In 1858 a patron of my relative’s bar was killed in an altercation with a tenant who lived in an apartment next door. For years, I referred to the incident as a “murder.” The reference to the incident was inaccurate. I should have referred to it as a “killing,” a “shooting,” or something similar. Are you using the right word when referring to something? Are you using a word that may be conveying a message that’s not entirely accurate? And I actually need to review what charges were brought up against the shooter. Just because a newspaper called it murder does not mean that a court did.
Have you used old entries from Amazon gift registries for your genealogical research? Perhaps not the typical source, but you never know.
I had one cancellation in my group trip to the Family History Library this coming August. Email me at mjnrootdig@gmail.com for registration information if you are interested as online registration via the website has been disabled.
Your ancestral couple are enumerated in the 1850 US census with 13 children. Be careful drawing immediate conclusions–particularly because 1850 US census enumerations do not list the relationship of the individuals listed as living in the same household. Here are a few thoughts. Do not jump the conclusion that the children all have to be the biological children of the apparent husband and wife. Children living with a step-father during this time period may be enumerated with the step-father’s last name even if it that child never used that last name in other records. The oldest man and woman enumerated are likely husband and wife. One or both of them may have had other spouses before 1850. An age gap may suggest the probable wife was his second, […]
One of my new DNA matches turned out to be the great-grandson of a distant relative who died recently. Since many of the individuals involved are living, I won’t go into the details of the search or the specifics of the family, but there are some reminders about DNA match analysis with this match. Obituaries do not necessarily list all descendants. The great-grandmother (on the maternal side) of the match died in 2019. Her obituary indicated she had grandchildren (they are named) but does not reference great-grandchildren. It it possible that certain family members do not acknowledge the great-grandchild. To confuse the issue the paternal grandfather of the match was apparently adopted or raised by his step-father and uses that name. Until I reached that conclusion, the tree […]
From 2018–still good reminders. Depending upon which genealogist you ask there are either brick walls or there are not. Sometimes you get to a “stuck place” in your research and what it’s called doesn’t really matter. There are several ways to try and get around those places, including: making certain you have looked at all records making certain you are aware of all records created in the location of interest looking at how someone solved a similar problem thinking about whether your assumptions are valid writing up your problem for someone else to read making certain you are not relying on someone else’s conclusions making certain that what you think you know is actually correct. etc. There are other approaches, but starting with this list is a good […]
They’re here! Our Genealogy Tip of the Day magnets. These magnets are standard business card sized and perfect for your refrigerator, filing cabinet, genealogy room, or for use on microfilm cabinets while at the Family History Library. Order yours today!
AncestryDNA allows users to have trees that are unlinked to their DNA results. That tree may be for someone who is not biologically related to the testee or the tree may be for grandparent, grandchild or someone else. Be careful devoting too much time looking for the genealogical connection when you do not know how the principle person in the tree is related to the DNA testee.
Way back in 2003, I thought I had “figured out” an 1860 census entry with a few irregular entries. I even had a list of reasons why my conclusion was correct. Flash forward to 2012. In attempting to “redo” the research, I reached a different conclusion about the 1860 census entry–one that meant I had more work to do. Genealogical conclusions are always subject to new information, new procedures, and the potential that a misinterpretation was made along the way. Don’t be afraid to revise.
Recent Comments