Your relative answered a question for the census, death certificate, etc. Before you think they were simply dreaming up an answer, consider the other possibilities: did they understand the question? did they speak the language? were they even really listening? were they hard of hearing? were they lying? had someone else lied to them? There are many reasons why a piece of information may be wrong. Be open to other possibilities besides your first conclusion. Check out GenealogyBank‘s offer for our fans, followers, and subscribers.
In land deeds, the grantor is usually the person that has title in the real property and is transferring it to the grantee. A deed can have more than one grantor and more than one grantee. The grantor on a deed can be a judge if legal action is involved (perhaps a partition case or a divorce) or the sheriff if a tax sale is involved. Just make certain you are looking in the correct index. Check out GenealogyBank‘s offer for our fans, followers, and subscribers.
GedMatch.com Webinar 2 This presentation will focus on an overview of the Tier 1 search options of GedMatch. Tier 1 is the “fee-based” part of GedMatch–it costs $10 a month and helps support the free portions of the site. GedMatch allows you to “see more” of your DNA and analyze it in ways that simply are not possible on AncestryDNA and some of the other sites. We will look at the: One-to-many matches Matching segment search Relationship Tree Projection Lazarus Triangulation Our focus will be on interpreting the results and using them for continuing your genealogical research. A basic understanding of DNA is required. You do not need to be a “Tier 1” member of GedMatch to participate. Our approach is practical, easy-to-understand, and engaging. The grid shows […]
Don’t get so hurried in your data entry that you neglect to think about the location that “populates” the box when you type a few letters in. It may be the same name in a different state or country. Take just a second to double check and confirm. Or you may move your ancestor’s place of death from Quebec to South Carolina.
I will be taking two separate research trips in 2018. We always have a great time and welcome new participants. Our approach is relaxed–we don’t schedule activities non-stop. We want you to be in the library, not out sight-seeing. Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah. Allen County Public Library in Ft. Wayne, Indiana.
Last names that are compound words can be split into two names by some record clerks, enumerators, or transcribers. Troutvetter became Trout Vetter–with Trout being the “maiden” name and “Vetter” being the surname. Check out GenealogyBank‘s offer for our fans, followers, and subscribers.
Draft registrations are just that: registrations. There is a difference between registering for the draft, being drafted, and volunteering. Usually all men between a certain age were required to register when there was a draft registration. Some men were drafted. Some men volunteered. If your male relative fit in the range of years of birth to register, you should check for a registration–even if he did not serve. You can search World War Draft Registrations for US residents: World War I--at FamilySearch (read the “learn more” section if you’ve never worked with these before). World War II–old men’s registration for the draft–at FamilySearch (read the “learn more” section if you’ve never worked with these before). This is incomplete–you’ll have to browse. World War II–“young men’s” registration (these registrations cover the years 1940 […]
Some genealogists when they have an unknown name want to put something in that blank. That’s why in some databases you will see things such as: Nmi–No Middle Initial Nmn–No Middle Name Lnu–Last Name Unknown Unk–Unknown Blank–Blank [be careful as Blank can be an actual surname] My personal preference is to not use such terms. If you feel the need to put something in the spot, use actual blanks or dashes.
How much information in your genealogy files is there because you “thought” it instead of finding a record or source to provide evidence of it? You may think that your relatives were married in a certain town, but the marriage record only says the name of the county. You may think great-great-grandpa was born in Jackson Township, Coshocton County, Ohio, but all the records you have only say the name of the county. You may think that your grandparents attended the same church as your great-grandparents, but it’s possible they did not. Researchers want to think. It’s essential. Just remember that before putting down locations, events, etc. we need more than just what we think to be true. Review materials you compiled early in your research? Is there […]
Sometimes records are kept on forms with with small print. Read that print–it’s the question the person was actually answering and that might not be what you necessarily think it is at first glance. And when the clerk squeezes a word in a form? They are not trying to show how small they can write? Annotations and comments added in minuscule handwriting can be bigger clues than the rest of the entire record.
Knowing where something was located is helpful for a variety of reasons. Before saving an image, make certain you have adequate detail. I thought I had enough for this 1947 obituary–after all, I had the name of the newspaper. But in reading it I realized that the state was not listed in the item. Of course, I knew the state and readers at the time knew it as well. But someone later might not. Better to have too much detail than not enough. My new image has the city and state spelled out.
Research revealed that this 52-year draft registrant listed his mother as his “permanent contact” on this US World War II “Old Men’s Draft Registration” card. That’s not who I thought it was because of his age and the fact that the last name didn’t “match.” The name needed to be researched as it also could have been a sister or a married daughter. This card almost wasn’t looked at “because what can it really tell me?” I found out just what it could tell me–a name that I didn’t have before.
It can be easy to get stuck in a genealogical rut. Consider working on an entire new family–in a location that is different and with people who are members of a different ethnic group or social class. The location should really be different–three counties away in the same state usually isn’t different–unless one area is urban and one is rural. Consider changing up your time period as well. In trying to “figure out” my DNA matches, I’ve been forced to do more mid-to-late 20th century research than I usually do. That’s good. Doing it has allowed me to go back to my other time periods and locations with renewed interest. And I made a few discoveries in the process.
The 1950 obituary indicated that the deceased had been married in 1883 and that he died. That was true. They were married in 1883 and he did die–he just died after they were divorced and both of them had married again. Obituaries can leave out key details. Be careful in what you assume “just because you read it in an obituary.”
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