reprinted from our old blog Don’t forget to identify (if possible) the person who identified the photos by trying to determine whose writing it is. It’s always good to know (if you can) the identifier of the people in the photos. Fortunately I know who wrote on the back of this picture. Sometimes we can’t determine that.
Registration for my DNAPainter webinar ends at noon central time on 6 November. Our introductory rate for downloads ($9.99 instead of $18.99) ends at that time as well.
Keep in mind that if your ancestor “translated” his or her name they might have used conventional translations others from their ethnic area used or they might have made up their own. Some non-English names had common translations (Jans and Johann for John, for example) and others did not (the Greek Panagiotis, for example). Some individuals just might take an English name that had the first letter as their original name. I have relatives whose names were actually Trientje. Some used Tena because it had part of the same sound. Others used Katherine as the names have the same original root. It just depends. People had options of what name they could use if they chose to translate.
If you’re just getting started with a new software package or consider trying features of your current program that you’ve never used before, considering doing the experimentation on a “dummy” database. Then if things do not work correctly or you mess things up entirely, you still have the original.
Just because something is handwritten does not always mean that it is the original. Many older courthouse records are handwritten transcriptions of the original documents-commonly referred to as the record copy. This is especially true with deeds before other reproductive techniques were developed. Some wills were copied by transcriptionists into record books as well. It is not bad that something is a handwritten copy, but bear in mind that you could be looking at a handwritten reproduction of the original document. And some handwritten documents are the original document.
If you need a list of churches, try a city directory. They often have lists of churches grouped by type of denomination. Addresses and names of ministers may also be listed which may help in determining which church your ancestor attended.
If you have a chronology for an ancestor and, during their adult lifetime, you have five year gaps where you are not certain where the ancestor lived or what they were doing, try and locate a record to provide that information. Answering those questions may help you determine more about where the ancestor was from and what her origins were. Did they head west? Were they in an institution? Did they have a financial setback? Did they have a “short-term” marriage that did not last?
Did that obituary confuse the half-siblings, step-siblings, and the full siblings? An estate settlement will be concerned about the accuracy of those relationships. An obituary, being a less formal document (and certainly not a legal one), may not be. Always consider the possibility that relationships in an obituary may not be entirely correct.
When a man naturalized in the United States in the 19th and early 20th century, his minor children automatically became naturalized as well, even if their names are not listed in the naturalization. When foreign born Ekke Behrens applied for a homestead in Nebraska in the 1880s, he included his father’s naturalization as proof of his citizenship. If you are unable to locate a naturalization for your foreign born ancestor, consider the possibility that his father’s naturalization served as his naturalization as well.
I maintain the following genealogy blogs: Rootdig.com—Michael’s thoughts, research problems, suggestions, and whatever else crosses his desk Genealogy Tip of the Day—one genealogy research tip every day–short and to the point Genealogy Search Tip—websites I’ve discovered and the occasional online research tip–short and to the point Casefile Clues–free updates on my how-to genealogy newsletter. Please let others who may be interested in these blogs know about them. Subscription and unsubscription options are on every page of the blog and in every update email that is sent out. Thanks for your continued support. –Michael
“I put something in my tree if three sources agree.” I see that kind of statement on a regular basis–implying that “three” is somehow a magic number. Analysis of information is not quite that simple. Might does not make right. Three sources can easily agree if the information was provided by the same person, regardless of whether they were correct or not. John Trautvetter’s church record of his marriage says his wife’s maiden name was Franciska Haase. The county courthouse record of the marriage indicates his wife’s maiden name was Franciska Haase. And his wife is living the the Haase family shortly before her marriage as their child. Problem is that Franciska was not the child of Mr. Haase. He was her step-father. There is no “magic” number […]
We’re excited to offer this new session on 6 November 2018! Check out the details on our announcement page.
Female relatives can often be in plain sight, hiding under a title instead of their actual name. It’s not unusual for a woman to simply be listed as “Mrs. Jones” or, as in the illustration “Widow” Goldenstein. That may be why they aren’t located in indexes when their first name is used. In the illustration all the children are listed with their first name–just not the mother.
That one record you’ve found, a deed, a death certificate, a will, an estate settlement, probably was created because something else happened. For some documents it may be obvious what caused the document to have been created. But a deed? Why was the property being sold? Was the couple planning to move? Had they fallen on hard times? If a guardianship was filed and the parents were still alive, what was the reason? Was there an inheritance that someone didn’t want a parent frittering away? Always ask if what you are seeing or have located is just the shadow of a larger event. Records weren’t created in isolation. And even if you know what caused a document to have been created ask yourself what other documents might also […]
We’ve converted my AncestryDNA class into a series of presentations–no “online attendance.” Download and view at your convenience. More details on our announcement page–take advantage of our introductory rate.
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