How does that document or entry in a register of numerous entries compare to other documents or other entries in the register? Obviously the details identifying the specific individual are different, but other aspects of the item should be similar to other documents or entries? If your document (a death certificate perhaps) is partially typed and partially handwritten are others? If different types of handwriting appear on the document are others similar? If parts of the document are left blank do others have the same blank spaces? If the item of interest is an entry in a register of baptisms, are other entries similar to yours in how they are worded, phrased, and organized? Are there other pieces of information in most of the other entries that are […]
You shouldn’t ignore subpoenas in your genealogical research even though most times there’s not much information on them. From the standpoint of trying to “find and connect” people subpoenas can be helpful. An 1830-era court case in Virginia involved the heirs to an estate probated in the 1810s. The subpoenas were issued to the heirs and they were directed to the county sheriff in the county where the person was believed to be living at the time the court action was initiated. The counties where the subpoenas were directed were residential clues and told me where the heirs were living in the 1830s. That was helpful in tracking migrations from Virginia and confirming where the heirs had lived. That information was just as helpful as what was actually […]
We all have gaps in our knowledge of genealogical records. Those gaps are exposed when the records we typically use to “answer our questions” either are not available or don’t provide enough information upon which to make a reasonable conclusion. The United States Revolutionary War Pension Payment Ledgers, 1818-1872 (available on FamilySearch and on microfilm from the US National Archives) were one set of records that I initially did not use when researching individuals who received these pensions. That was a mistake. The ledger can provide additional details on the pensioner that may not be available elsewhere–particularly their date of death. What sources are out there that you might not have used? When was the last time you asked this yourself this question and really tried to find the answer?
Issue 5-15 of Casefile Clues has been sent to subscribers. As a reminder, it’s more detailed and more in-depth than Genealogy Tip of the Day. Learn more about Casefile Clues on our website.
If a court or other official record indicated that your relative received a “divorce a vinculo matrimonii” it means an absolute and complete divorce. Both parties were released from the original marriage contract, could function as completely un-married individuals, were free to marry, etc. This compares to a “divorce a mensa et thoro” which is a divorce from the bed and the board–but the couple remains legally married. These couples typically are ones who no longer want to live together but for one reason or another choose not to be legally divorced. Couples with this divorce are not able to marry other individuals. In some locations where this specific terminology is not used, a couple choosing this type of relationship may be involved in litigation for separate maintenance.
Your relative who served in the United States military may have enlisted in a state other than the one in which he lived. This was common for wars through the 19th century. Do not assume that your Ohio ancestor had to enlist in an Ohio unit. He may not have. I have several Illinois relatives who served in the US Civil War. Most of them enlisted in units from Illinois, but not all. One enlisted in an Iowa unit and another enlisted in a Missouri unit. And an Iowa relative enlisted in a unit from Wisconsin. This was sometimes done to help those state meet quotas in terms of volunteers.
From a while back… If your ancestor had more than one spouse, consider the possibility that the spouses were siblings. It was not unheard of for a widower to marry a sister of his deceased wife as his next wife. Sometimes the different wives can be merged into one individual–after all the maiden name of each wife is the same. This can easily happen if the first names of the wives are similar. Occasionally a widow may marry a brother of her deceased husband as well. In this case the subsequent marriage may not be noticed as the last name of the newly married former widow does not change.
For that missing (or not missing) ancestor, do you know where the nearest three of these buildings, geographic features, organizations, social groups, etc. were when your ancestor lived in the area. It could help you through those research road blocks. Things to think about include the nearest three: There are others besides these. In some cases. three may not be enough. In some cases it may be more than you need for effective research. Get your copy of Genealogy Tip of the Day–the book.
An ad in an October 1860 Warsaw, Illinois, newspaper placed by A. Behle indicated that his wife had left his bead[sic] and board and that he would no longer be responsible for any bills she contracted after that date. Such ads were not uncommon during the time period. It was a way of making the public aware that the couple had separated and that one would no longer be responsible for the debts of the other. At the very least for the genealogist a hundred or so year later the ad can be a sign that the couple was on the outs. Whether they ever divorced is a separate matter entirely. Couples did choose to permanently live apart or even get married again without benefit of divorce. It […]
A reminder… Putting a clause in your will that “my genealogical papers are to go to the BlahBlah Library” without some advance planning could have unintended consequences. Some thoughts on preserving your “files” and papers by donating to a library or archives:
From a while back: It is not the most startling of genealogical revelations, but it is instructive. I was reading through the entries in my Grandpa Neill’s farm ledger absentmindedly in hopes of finding something that met my loose definition of interesting. There were two entries for the dentist in the fall of the year. The second entry for $60 caught my eye. Then I wondered, “are those Grandma’s dentures?” What happened next is instructive. I shut the book without looking in it any further and forced myself to think what I knew about Grandma’s dentures. There was one thing I was absolutely certain of because I had first hand knowledge: she only had a lower plate because I had seen it several times and, as far as […]
We’re offering our first webinar on this ethnic region of Germany. Details are on our announcement page.
A relict is the surviving spouse. Most of the time the reference is to the widow, but occasionally it can refer to a man who survives his wife. The concept is similar to relicts being things from the past that have survived until the present.
An attorney-in-fact is someone who has been appointed by someone, usually by a power-of-attorney, to act in their stead and sign legal documents for them. Sometimes the power-of-attorney may be a limited one in which only a certain act or type of act can be performed. This differs from an attorney-at-law. An attorney-at-law is a practicing attorney authorized to represent a person in legal matters. An attorney-in-fact is often someone trusted by the person appointing them and is not necessarily a practicing attorney.
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