A notice to our new followers and fans on Facebook—“Genealogy tip of the Day” is sponsored by Casefile Clues, my weekly genealogy how-to newsletter. Every week we analyze a document, record, or “problem” focusing on method and procedure. Several brick walls are updated on a regular basis, letting readers see how the research progresses. More information is on the Casefile Clues website. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
Whether or not there are “stupid questions” is debatable. However, if there is something about a record, a resource, or an ancestor you do not understand, consider asking someone. They may be able to point out some nuance that you overlooked that even seasoned researchers don’t always see. And if it turns out you are missing something obvious, you probably won’t die of embarrassment. And if you do, well then you can ask your ancestors those questions personally….. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
Is there a one-day genealogy seminar or workshop near you? Consider going. Even if the topics do not necessarily seem like they will interest you, you might learn something. Workshops are often a good way to network with others before the lectures, during lunch, etc. And you can always volunteer to help with future workshops and maybe help choose the speaker, topics, etc. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
If you can’t find an ancestor in a specific record, go back and review his entries in other records or consider searching in different materials altogether. It may be that in working in those other materials that you find the clue that explains why the ancestor is “missing” in the record that had you stymied. That’s how I found an ancestor in the 1840 census, by looking in non-census records I got my answer. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
Remember that the date a document is signed is the date of execution. The date a document is recorded at the appropriate office is the date of recording. There is a difference. Not every document was recorded promptly. Wills are usually recorded after someone’s death. Deeds may not be recorded for years, but most are. Sometimes deeds will finally be recorded when the purchaser wants to sell the property and realizes the deed of purchase was never recorded. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
One of the biggest hangups for genealogists just getting started is working before the 1850 census. Try taking those pre-1850 enumerations and “practicing” on a family where you have already discovered the children’s names and ages with other records. See if the enumerations “fit.” Then expand your work to individuals where you don’t have as much information on the children. It helps to practice first. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
For those new to research, it is imperative to remember that last names are rarely spelled the same from someone’s birth until their death. Sometimes the variants are obvious and sometimes they are not, but I’d never find the Demar family if I didn’t look under Demarrah and Desmarais. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
Are you researching in complete isolation? Even if you cannot find relatives to bounce ideas off of, there are genealogy societies, mailing lists, message boards, online groups, and a variety of other ways you can interact with other genealogists. Don’t research in complete isolation. Discussing problems with other and sharing concerns is a great way to learn and expand your research. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
Are you analyzing that information you have before you start performing searches of online databases? If you have found a census enumeration for a family, have you estimated the year of birth for everyone in the household? Have you estimated the date of marriage for the suspected parents? These are good things to do before you start searching as it allows you to compare information. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
Before you start doing wildcard and other searches at an online database, make a complete list of all spelling variants. Use this list to decide what wildcard searches need to be conducted in order to not overlook any variants. Keep a written list of search options so that searches are not missed either. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
Have you looked at the date the document was drawn up and the date it was recorded? Was there a delay? Is there any significance to the date a document was executed? Fit the record into the context of the family? Had a child just become of age? Had someone recently died? There might be a reason even if it is not clearly stated. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
Is it possible that the person who said they would do a quick “lookup” for you in a certain record didn’t really know what they were doing? Did they overlook it? Did they not consider all the spellings? Anyone can make a mistake. Might it be worth a second try? Please don’t get me wrong, those who volunteer to do lookups do us a GREAT service, but since they are human, every once in a while they can overlook something. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
If possible, learn why your ancestor “broke the rules” or went against tradition. I’m not certain why my wife’s Roman Catholic great-grandmother didn’t have her last two children christened as infants. She waited until they were nearly 7 and 8 which is unusual. The baptisms were likely done then as she got married in a church ceremony a few weeks after her children were christened. She could easily have had them christened at birth. They were born in Chicago in the 1910s—there would have been plenty of opportunities. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
If you could ask 1,000 genealogists a question, what would it be? Casefile Clues, Genealogy Tip of the Day Sponsor, is going to survey up to 1,000 genealogists and is looking for question ideas. More information about the survey can be found here: http://www.casefileclues.com/2010/03/if-you-could-ask-genealogists.html Results will be posted publicly on the site. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
If your ancestor was a farmer, was he a farm owner, a tenant farmer, or farm laborer? The differences are significant and knowing which helps indicate how mobile your ancestor likely was, what types of records he left behind, etc. Farming isn’t the only occupation where these distinctions are important? Did your ancestor work in a blacksmith shop, or own his own shop? Again, the difference is important. Sometimes all we have are vague ideas of what our ancestor did–but sometimes we do have more. Use that information to your advantage. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
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