When using a document that contains several dates make certain you grab the right date for the right event. A marriage record may contain the date of the license, the date of the marriage, and the date of the recording. Make certain that the date you put as the marriage date is the marriage date and not one of the other dates on the document. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
If you are really stuck, consider starting over and documenting every piece of information from scratch. Don’t throw away what you already have, but put it aside and start with the “most recent” facts and re-work your way through the research starting with your raw material from scratch. It might even be advised to wait a few days before working on the family again to allow yourself time to forget some of the information. Ask yourself along the way questions, including: How do I know these two records refer to the same person? Am I recording assumptions as facts? Could I explain the research process to someone unfamiliar with the family? It may seem like a lot of work, but sometimes it is what it takes. ———————————— Check […]
Sometimes I avoid using online trees, GedCom files, etc. for as long as possible–avoiding them completely if I can. I’m working on a family of my wife’s in Missouri and there are online files about this family, but most have the same gaps that I do and others repeat undocumented claims made by researchers decades ago. In this family, I’m finding that a better use of my time is to review original materials (or digital copies of them) and really research the family from scratch. Going through the compilations of others was not getting me anywhere and seemed to be an ineffective use of time. There are times where I have used online trees to get good suggestions or leads. This family (which I won’t name), just isn’t […]
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If you are using paper to take handwritten notes, never ever use slips of paper smaller than your hand. You will lose them. I even avoid anything smaller than 8.5 by 11 inches because it’s too easy to get lost. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
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Remember that even if your ancestor did not enlist or was not drafted, there still should be a World War I or World War II draft card for him if he was in the US during this time. World War I Draft Registration cards are on microfilm and available through several subscription services. World War II Draft Registrations for the “old men” are on microfilm and online at FamilySearch. World War II registrations for traditional age registrants are available via mail from the National Archives for those men who are deceased. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
If your ancestor has a boarder, hired man, or anyone else living in the household who is not a member of the immediate family, have you researched that person thoroughly? They may be related to the family even if the relationship is not specifically stated. My ancestor Barbara Haase and her husband Conrad have a fellow German living with them in the 1860 census. I discovered this years ago and really had not thought about it since. I now know Barbara’s maiden name which is somewhat close to the last name of this unknown individual living with them in 1860. Researching this man further may be worth my time. He may be totally unrelated to Barbara and Conrad or there may be a connection. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s […]
When using indexes to county or local records, remember that they are likely NOT strictly alphabetical. The “B” section of the index may (should) include all the last names that start with the letter “B,” but they are likely entered in chronological order, not purely alphabetical. Remember also that “Mc” and “Mac” names may have their own section of the index. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
The 1880 census in Clark County, Missouri, indicated that two relatives were “mantamakers.” The term was foreign to me.A google search indicated that, generally speaking, a mantua is type of dress. This was discovered by just googling what the word looked like and going from there. Wikipedia has a short reference on this type of women’s apparel at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mantua_(clothing). Even if you think you are reading something incorrectly, consider googling the term. If nothing else, someone else might have posted a blog entry about it! ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
If you think, based on family tradition, an obituary, a death certificate, etc. that a person is buried in a certain cemetery, keep in mind that there might not be a stone for them. Some families, for whatever reason do not erect a stone after the burial. It can be difficult to find what was never there. It is always possible that the marker was a wooden one that did not pass the test of time. And some stones fall down and are buried themselves. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
There are some states that have counties and towns or cities with the same name. Often these towns are not located in the county of the same name causing confusion. For this reason whenever referring to a political jurisdiction, indicate it is a county by using that word in the location. If you consistently use the word “county,” you will know that Des Moines, Iowa, refers to the city of Des Moines and not the county. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
In some jurisdictions that retain the original will in the packet of probate papers, there still may be a will record book that contains a transcription of the will made at the time it was admitted to probate by the court. If the original will is difficult to read, the transcription may clarify things that are illegible on the original. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
Is there a newspaper clipping, photograph, family bible, etc. that you have that no one else does? Have you made a copy or digital scan of it that can be saved in a remote place from the original? If there’s something you have and your copy IS THE ONLY ONE, consider duplicating it as a way to preserve and share it so that you increase the chance that in 100 years it still exists in at least some form. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
A relict is that which survives. A “relict consort” (if the phrase is used) is usually referring to the widow or widower, “consort” meaning spouse. “Relict,” generally used alone, usually means widow or widower. Do not assume the word means that two people were not married. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
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