There are a variety of ways that one can use the internet to help transcribe a document that has a difficult to read term or phrase: Google–-search the internet for what the word or item “looks like” and see if someone else has encountered it or something similar. Google does find reasonably close spellings. Search engines will not always help though–particularly if your document is extremely difficult to read. Online gazetteers for the area of interest–the United States Geological Survey’s Geographic Names Information System for areas in the United States. Other locations have similar finding aids. Some place names are colloquial, so abstract, or so old that they will not be located in an index or finding aid. Online groups--Facebook and other sites have genealogical groups where others may […]
When referring to family members in your writing, on pictures, etc. make certain you refer to them by name, not just by their relationship to you. Aunt Helen on the back of a picture could refer to more than one person. Uncle John in some families could refer to a multitude of people. And “Mom,” while a term of endearment for many, is about as vague as it gets. Use the person’s complete name at least once so that it is clear. In the same piece of writing they can later be referred to as “Aunt,” “Uncle,” “Dad,” etc. but the first reference should make it clear that you are talking about Fannie (Rampley) Neill, not just Aunt Fannie. And a range of their life span might also […]
The 1883 death certificate for my ancestor has the printed county name crossed out and the correct county written in its place. One might be tempted to jump to the incorrect conclusion as to why the county name was changed. While I was not around in 1883, my suspicion is that the doctor observed deaths in both counties and only had a stack of Adams County death certificates. The Rampley farm was a few miles from the Hancock-Adams County line and he likely had patients in both counties. That’s probably the reason for the write over on the certificate’s location. Elizabeth’s husband, James, died a year later. His certificate has the same write over. Sometimes an “error” isn’t really an error at all–and not that big of a […]
Apparently we had some distribution issues with the email version of our tips. We are looking into this. You can always go back and see tips you may have missed at http://www.genealogytipoftheday.com Thanks for your support! Michael
A chronology for an ancestor can be a great way to see if there are time gaps for which no records have been obtained. Keep in mind that at certain times during a person’s life they may leave fewer records. And consider including multiple people in a chronology or focusing on something other than a specific person. One chronology I found particularly helpful was a large one that included several families after they had arrived in Chicago from New York State over several years. Including more than one person in the same chronology helped me to notice things that might not have been noticed had I concentrated on just one person.
Some counties have more than one courthouse with each one having specific duties or perhaps responsibilities for a certain portion of the county. Does this apply to the county where you are researching? It may seem unusual to have more than one courthouse in a county, but it does happen. I once assumed there were no deeds for a certain relative until I discovered that the county had two courthouses and I was looking in the records of the wrong one. Genealogy Search Tip is sponsored by GenealogyBank. Check out their latest offer for our readers.
Are there photographs you’ve not scanned and identified? Don’t wait until it is too late. The holiday season is a good time to take those unidentified photographs to family gatherings. Someone may remember something.
One question: Is all your data backed up? or “Have you backed up all your data?” for those of you who don’t like to end questions with a preposition. Either way, make sure you “git ‘er done,” if you haven’t.
For those who use Ancestry.com this post on our Rootdig blog on “recommendations” and “hints” may be of interest. Crista Cowan of Ancestry.com tells what they recommendations and hints are and there’s some additional perspective from me.
A draft registration card does not mean the individual saw active service. The registration card means that the registrant registered for the draft. That’s why he was called the registrant. Obviously some men who registered served either because they were later drafted or volunteered. Requirements as to who had to register can vary from one time period to another.
You’ve been told a county or other location is a “burned county.” It can be frustrating and sometimes record have been lost forever. However there are some things to consider: the person who told you “the county records were burned” does not know what they are talking about the county may only have had a partial records loss some records may have been “recreated” after the incident the records were not really destroyed–sometimes it is easier for a clerk or an office to say they were when they actually were not local researchers living in the area may be familiar with “workarounds” or have knowledge of what records were actually destroyed–they may even know of records whose existence is not “common knowledge” historical or genealogical societies may be […]
When looking for documentation of a court action (divorce, guardianship, foreclosure, partition, probate, criminal action, etc.) make certain you are looking in the records of the right court. In some time periods a jurisdiction may have had more than one court–each court hearing specific types of cases. A county may have had a criminal court, a probate court, a guardian court, and other courts that heard other cases. Each court would have its own set of records and indexes. Make certain you are looking in the right court–or at least in the right records.
Using Online Trees This recorded session discusses using information and sources found in the “online trees” that some genealogists love and some genealogists hate. We discuss ways to analyze information in a tree, sorting out maybe good trees from probably not-so-good trees, keeping downloaded information separate from your “good information,” tracking the trees that you’ve used so you don’t waste time reviewing them again, times to use what you find in a tree in your own database, dealing with compilers, handling incorrect information, and more. The download of this presentation includes the fifty-minute presentation and the handout. A recording of this session is being offered at a special introductory price of $8 to celebrate our 80,000th fan for Genealogy Tip of the Day on Facebook. Offer ends on 11 […]
If a relative goes “poof” and appears to have dropped off the face of the earth, were they later an heir to a deceased relative? If that relative owned property at their death, the missing relative may have “reappeared” or at least may have been mentioned in the estate settlement. Arsulus Rampley disappeared in the 1920s somewhere “out West.” When his bachelor brother (who had no children) died in the 1940s, Arsulus had to be addressed since he was an heir. Arsulus never was found, but there was discussion of his disappearance in the court record and the court declared him dead before his brother–so the estate could be settled. He was never found, but at least the court record gave me more about his disappearance and the […]
GedMatch is a great site to get more from your DNA test results. My first webinar on using GedMatch is available for download and registrations are still being taken for our second upcoming session on using the Tier 1 options of GedMatch. Our announcement page has more details.
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