United States passport applications between 1795 and 1925 are available on several different sites for those whose ancestors may have temporarily left the United States. Keep in mind that many people who traveled before World War I did not obtain passports. However these applications can contain significant genealogical clues, particularly for those whose applications are from the 1890s and after. They can be found (with indexes) at: free on FamilySearch –in progress fee-based at Ancestry.com fee-based at Fold3 They are on microfilm, but the microfilmed copies are arranged chronologically making it difficult to find the person of interest if you do not know when they applied.
Record copies of deeds and wills at the local courthouse infrequently contain a “replica” of your signer’s signature. What you see is simply the clerk’s transcription of the document and of the signature. If your ancestor made a mark that was different from an “X,” the clerk may have tried to replicate that, but a signature that appears to match the script of the document most likely means that you are looking at a record copy of the document and not your ancestor’s actual signature. It is rare to have an ancestor actually write out his own documents.
Don’t rush right to the name you want in a local records index. Take a quick look in the very front (and the back) of the index. Sometimes there can be guides to the index or other interesting and helpful bits of information–like this list of alternate names.
I just completed my “Genealogical Problem-Solving” webinar today. It is geared toward advanced beginners and intermediate level genealogists. In it, we discuss a problem-solving techniques and approaches that may be helpful when a person is “stuck.” Also discussed is a generalized problem-solving process. Our presentation is relaxed and informal–but there’s no 15 minutes of advertising at the beginning and the end of the presentation. That’s not how our presentations are made. It’s entirely content. Genealogical Problem-Solving can be purchased for immediate download–handout and media file included.
Microfilm and digital images of some records usually appear in sequence, front of first document, back of first document, front of second document, back of second document, and so on. There are always exceptions. This marriage bond was split over three images on FamilySearch: Just the middle of the front The entire back Then the entire front If I had assumed every piece of paper was two images, I would have missed the best part of all–the third image. I always move forwards and backwards on any set of digital images to make certain nothing is overlooked.
There are several ways a chronology of all the events in your ancestor’s life can be useful in genealogical research. Here are a few quick things searchers can do with a chronology: look for gaps in the time line–where was the person during the gap? see census years where you’ve not found the person use it as a scaffold to start writing your ancestor’s biogrphy simply organize what you have on the ancestor
It is easy to go in circles searching for information from genealogical databases. That’s why the most effective searches are ones that are organized and structured. This allows the researcher to not overlook possible search options and see how to troubleshoot when the desired individuals are not located. In this hour-long presentation, see practical and down-to-earth approaches to making better use of your online search time. After discussing general strategies, we will look at two detailed examples which can then be modeled for your own problem ancestors. Order Michael’s presentation on “Online Search Strategies” (and handouts) for immediate download. The presentation can be viewed as many times as you want.
A minor could have had several guardians during their minority if one or both of their parents were deceased. Guardians generally fall into two categories: Guardian of the person–watched over the child and the child typically lived with them. Parents were often “guardians of the person,” and were sometimes referred to as “natural guardians.” Guardian of the estate–watched over the child’s inheritance. These guardians may have been the same person, may have been relatives, and may have changed during the child’s minority. Or not–it depends upon the situation. There is also the possibility that a guardian ad litem was appointed for a minor. A guardian ad litem was usually appointed for a child when that child was somehow involved in legal action and did not have a guardian of their […]
Unless you have solid information to the contrary, never assume: that your ancestor was not married before they were married to your ancestor that your ancestor was not married after your ancestor’s spouse died that your ancestors would never have divorced Many brick walls are made because of the first two assumptions and records are overlooked when people make the third one. ————– Genealogy Tip of the Day is sponsored by GenealogyBank. Their latest offer for Tip of the Dayfans/followers is an annual rate less than $5 a month.
Never include in a database that which you do not know. If the only record you have on an ancestor is a newspaper death notice which says: Mrs. Anton Flagstone died on the 5th of August [1890] then you don’t have her first name. You don’t have her maiden name. The newspaper may not even provide a location of death or burial. There is one thing that you do know. You know that the wife of Anton Flagstone died on 5 August 1890. Don’t enter in her last name as “unknown,” “[—–],” or “who knows?” Leave it blank. You do not know it. Do the same thing for her first name. Do not enter her first name as “Mrs,” “Mrs. Anton,” or anything similar. It is fine to […]
It is not the size of your genealogy database or how far back you can extend your family tree that matters. What matters is that you tried to document the lives of your ancestors and relatives as accurately as possible. Try and record your relatives’ lives as carefully as you would want someone to document yours. Would you want someone to have you married to the wrong person, born in the wrong place, and having children before you were born? If that means you have a small tree that only goes back to the 1820s, then so be it. There’s nothing wrong with being stuck in 1820 if that’s as far back as the records allow you to go. ————– Genealogy Tip of the Day is sponsored by GenealogyBank. Their […]
I’m looking forward to returning to Southern California for the Southern California Genealogical Society’s Genealogy Jamboree. I’ll be giving three lectures at this annual genealogy extravaganza: Reconstructing Families in pre-1850 Census Records Abraham’s Not There in 1840. How Ohio Land Records Explained a Missing Census Enumeration Restacking the Blocks: Organizing Your Information If you’ll be at Jamboree, please come up and introduce yourself after a presentation! If you’d like me to present at your seminar or conference, email me at mjnrootdig@gmail.com.
Create a chart summarizing the census enumeration for your family of interest in every census 1850 or after in which they are listed. The chart will help you to visualize the family structure better and estimate approximate years of birth for the family members based upon the census. These enumerations may be inaccurate, but for some of us they are the only age estimates we have. ————– Genealogy Tip of the Day is sponsored by GenealogyBank. Their latest offer for Tip of the Day fans/followers is an annual rate less than $5 a month.
Memory is not as constant as some may think. When I was younger, I could “sing” “The Gambler” from memory. It was on the radio yesterday and my attempt to sing along was mediocre. My words were slightly different, the tune was not quite how I remembered, and I was certain the rhythms had changed. If your relative heard a story one time when they were a child, what’s the chance they remember a few details differently from what they were told? If I can’t remember a song I heard numerous times, the odds are good that I’m going to remember less of something I only heard once.
There are many ways to use a pedigree chart to see something other than relationships and dates. I chose to color code each entry on this pedigree chart with the burial location of each individual. One could see a trend of where individuals tended to be buried. I also noted two burials in the same cemetery that were more coincidental based upon residence than anything else.
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