It’s best to be subtle when contacting DNA matches that are the result of an unexpected parentage. Lying is never advised, but it’s good to remember that the person you are contacting may have a different reaction than you to finding out that a near relative had a child that no one knew about. Even if you think you know the probable connection, it might be best to initially indicate that you are trying to determine the relationship more precisely than the results page indicates. And there is still no guarantee that you will ever get a response. If the individual’s tree is public, you might even want to take screen shots or save their information just in case they decide to make the tree private or take […]
There are numerous online “trees” that indicate my great-grandmother’s middle name was Ioan. It was not. It was Iona. Most of the trees list it as Ioan–one typographical error was multiplied over and over. One compiler apparently decided Ioan was a typographical error–only to “correct” it to Joan. Just because most trees have a “fact” does not mean that fact is right. See where they got it if possible. And if you differ with them…just make certain that you have records that are consistent with what you are stating to be true.
A “neighbor” filed a complaint about a relative’s homestead claim in Nebraska. While he was a geographic neighbor, he also was related by marriage to the person whose homestead he contested. A man wrote the US pension office in the early 20th century providing information that a widow wasn’t legally married to the soldier. While he was not directly related, his sister-in-law was a daughter of the veteran by a previous marriage. If someone is “complaining” about your relative in some way, shape, or form, find out what the connection is. Even if you can’t find the connection, your search will likely lead to more information. People don’t complain out of boredom–at least most of the time.
When using any record or database, ask yourself: how does someone get in this material? Do they have to live in a certain place? Do they have to own property? Do they have to have a job? Do they have to be dead? Do they have to be a member of a specific religion? Do they have to be a certain gender? Do they have to be a certain age? Do they have to have a certain marital status? Do they have to be a veteran? If you don’t know how someone gets into a record, database, or finding aid, it is difficult to use it effectively.
It never hurts to read over your conclusions more than once. Anyone can make typographical errors and those errors can run from ones that are irritating in a minor way (spelling “Burbon” when you mean “Bourbon”) to ones that restate facts (mixing up a father and a son). Even if the typographical errors have been removed and the facts are straight, have someone else look at your writing. They may catch errors you don’t–particularly conclusions that may not be clear or phrases that don’t convey quite the message you think they do.
Now available for immediate download! We’re excited to offer an hour-long presentation on the new ThruLines(TM) functionality at AncestryDNA. This functionality makes it easier to organize and sort some of your DNA matches at AncestryDNA. The session was held on 17 March 2018 and includes: understanding where the information in the tree comes from–what’s yours and what’s someone else’s; basics of evaluating the information in the tree; responsibly using ThruLines(TM) information; limitations of ThruLines(TM) basics of how much DNA you typically share with certain cousins and relationship prediction; do you really have the right genealogical connection with that DNA match; using ThruLines(TM) to sort your matches with linked trees; problem-solving and trouble shooting with ThruLines(TM). Our focus is on: being practical, hands-on, and easy-to-understand; not getting overly excited […]
For your ancestor’s residence, do you know all the political borders near their property? There may be borders at a variety of political levels and that impacts what records were created, where they are held, and even if they are extant. Were they members of a religious denomination that had ecclesiastical borders that impacted where they went to church and where those records are kept? Borders between cultures and languages are fluid, but those are good ones to know about as well–particularly how far did your ancestor have to travel before the common language(s) changed?
Military pension files may contain transcribed record copies of documents that you cannot find elsewhere–perhaps because the courthouse burned, the records are unindexed or you simply do not know were to look. Pension files for widows should contain proof of marriage. If the soldier was survived by minor children (usually for pension purposes under the age of 16), information about their birth may be in the file. And you just never know what may be in a pension file–you may even find an 1860 census record.
I recently obtained digital images of a Union Civil War pension file of a relative by marriage. It took over 200 images to digitize all the records. My interest in the file was to see if there was information on the claim of the widow and what information she had provided on herself. Having seen quite a few pension files, I knew where to look for the “good stuff.” There should be documents with “WIdow’s Declaration” or similar phrases at the top in large black letters. I zipped through the files and didn’t see any such statements. I nearly concluded there wasn’t anything on the widow in the file. A slower, page by page, reading located information on the widow and her claim in letters that at first […]
When you find records of your ancestor that indicate he or she “made out a statement” before an official, try and determine where your ancestor lived at the time and where that official was authorized to act and where the statement was witnessed or acknowledged. An 1868 statement signed by my ancestor who was living in Hancock County, Illinois, was acknowledged before a Justice of the Peace in Linn County, Iowa. In this case, it was not a huge clue but it did document his travel there to assist in the settling up his mother’s estate. Some times knowing that a person traveled from one place to another is a big clue. Other times it is not. But looking at details in document for all the little things […]
Maximizing 1850 and Later US Census Records Available for purchase ($45) We are excited to offer this new class on using US census records as a download set. Virtually every US genealogist uses census records, but not everyone is aware of how those records can be maximized for what they do contain. There are limitations to these records, but there are advantages to them as well. If you’ve wondered if you are getting the most out of US census records, this class is for you. Order today for $45. Content: This set of three lectures (handouts included) will look at US census records from 1850 through 1940. Topics discussed will include: enumerator instructions and how information “got in the census” organization of original records working with family structure in […]
When someone does not come up in an index, here are some things to think about: have you considered all alternate spellings? have you double checked what you put in the search boxes (right names in right boxes, no boxes with information from “old searches,” etc.)? could the person be in the record under a different last name (step-father, new husband, etc.)? have you used wildcards to expand your searches? do you know the index is complete or is it in “process?” are you certain the person really should be in the record? do you know how the original records were organized and preserved? have you performed a manual search of the records? have you asked someone else for a suggestion?
In most US census records when an individual is indicated as working on their “own account,” it generally means that they are not an employee and that they do not employ others as well. Learn more about US census instructions on the US Census Bureau website.
I do it myself and I see it countless times on the internet in postings and responses to postings: failure to completely read something and every little word of it Before you react to a document, interpret it, analyze it, and decide “where to go next,” make certain you have read every line of the document. Don’t just react to the “big” obvious things as it often is the details that seem trivial that can be the most important. Better yet…don’t react immediately at all. That’s when some of the biggest mistakes are made and the biggest clues overlooked.
Local newspapers are not the only place to look for ancestral tidbits. In December of 1916, Albert Cawiezell of Davenport, Iowa, advertised that he was willing to exchange one 22 caliber rifle for skunks or ferrets. Aside from the colorful reference, it indicated where Cawiezell was living at the time the advertisement was placed. In some situations that could be a big clue. Cawiezell didn’t want just any skunks. He wanted scentless skunks.
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