Applications for US military pensions often mention the act under which the veteran (or his widow) applied. The details of that act may explain why the veteran waited until then–and that reason could be a clue. Men or women who applied for federal property usually did so under a certain act. If you have records of your ancestor having “applied” for anything, look to see if the act under which the application was made is referenced. Learning about that act may tell you something about your ancestor that is not stated in the application.
If your ancestor naturalized, see what other people naturalized on the same day. If you found your ancestor’s declaration of intent, see who else made out declarations on that day. Look at the names of other people who got married on the same day as your ancestor. Are there clues in the other people who did certain things on the same day as your ancestor?
Plenty of original records are in bound volumes without page numbers. Frustrating as it is, researchers whose work extends before 1900 will encounter volumes with pages that have no numbering to them at all. The citation to this record needs to include enough detail so that you or someone else can easily find the record again. Don’t just make a copy without thinking about how you located the record. How did you find the record in the first place–were you in the births for 1850, the deaths from 1823, etc.? Were the entries within a specific year numbered? Your citation does not have to be in “perfect” form, but include enough detail so the record can be found again.
When you’ve reached a stumbling block in the research of your long-dead ancestors, consider writing some of your own story–childhood experiences, school experiences, etc. Record that information that rarely gets recorded and that we all wish our long-dead ancestors had left behind for us.
When you’ve reached a stumbling block in the research of your long-dead ancestors, consider writing some of your own story–childhood experiences, school experiences, etc. Record that information that rarely gets recorded and that we all wish our long-dead ancestors had left behind for us.
My German born ancestor was George Trautvetter–born in the 1790s. He had brothers Adam, Michael. and Henry. I was years into researching the family before I learned that at least two of them really had the first name of John or Johann–using that first name combined with the middle name made finding them easier. They dropped the “first name” after a while in the United States, but used it on passenger lists and records early in their settlement. Is your ancestor hiding under an “unknown” first name?
If you are fortunate enough to obtain a copy of your ancestor’s will, it may be that parts of it are difficult to read. Was there a contemporary transcription of the will made by the court that approved the probate of the will? Often the will was ordered to be “filed” for record and that transcription may be easier to read than the original. There’s always the chance that the record copy contains an error and it won’t contain the actual copy of your ancestor’s signature, but it may be easier to read than the original.
If any sibling or sibling-in-law of your ancestor received a military pension, especially a widow’s pension, consider obtaining the records. Widows needed to prove their marriage to the serviceman in addition to his service and need. Family members were frequently the ones who provided testimony, particularly to the marriage.
If your male ancestor died, is it possible that the mother married again and that her children with the first husband are listed in subsequent records with their step-father’s last name? Children could easily be enumerated in census records with the mother and actual step-father under his last name with no real indication that he was not the biological father and regardless of whether he legally adopted them or not. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
When you cannot find a record in the expected location, ask yourself if you are really certain the event took place in that spot. Do you have good information to cause you to believe that or are you operating under a hunch? That hunch could be wrong. Did a couple go a distance from home to elope? Did your great-grandparents live in another state for a year and that’s where one child was born? Was great-grandma living with a daughter out of state when she died? The event may not have taken place where you think it did–especially if if happened one hundred years before you were born. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
For those who are new… I currently write and maintain the following blogs: Genealogy Tip of the Day http://genealogytipoftheday.blogspot.com/ One quick tip every day on a wide variety of topics–meant to be short, quick, and to the point. Rootdig.com http://rootdig.blogspot.com Postings on a variety of research topics–difficulties with websites, quick analysis of records or sources, some opinion, research methdology, etc. No press releases, no “news,” and no posting of offers from database providers, equipmentn sellers, etc. Genealogy Transcriber http://genealogytranscriber.blogspot.com One piece of handwriting posted everyday–can you read it? Search Tip of the Day http://genealogysearchtip.blogspot.com/ A database search tip–published irregularly–not really every day, but I don’t post something just so I can say i posted something every day. Focuses on database and web searching. Casefile Clues Blog http://blog.casefileclues.com A […]
A surety is one serves as a guarantor on bond or other obligation such as a debt. If the person signing the bond performs their obligation, the surety does not have to “do anything.” If the person pays their debt, the surety does not have to pay it. If the person signing the bond does not perform as indicated on the bond, the surety is at financial or legal risk. The the person who is supposed to pay the debt does not pay, the surety becomes obligated. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
A dower is that part of a husband’s property that the law assigns to his wife. On land records, the wife may relinquish her dower rights when the real estate is sold. A dowry is usually property that the bride (or her family) brings to the marriage. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
In some locations, there are places that have similar sounding names that could easily be confused. Did someone confuse Bedford and Bradford Counties in Pennsylvania? Did someone confuse Williamsfield in Illinois with Williamstown? A few letters may not “really” change the sound, but they may very well change the location by a hundred miles or more. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
We’re a just under the wire in wishing readers a “Happy New Year.” Happy 2013! Hopefully you are ready to continue your family history discoveries in the new year. Fans and viewers have called our webinars one of the best genealogical bargains around. Today, to celebrate the beginning of 2013, we’re offering a coupon code through 11:45 PM 2 January 2013 that will reduce your webinar purchase price by 60%. Coupon code is yearendView the list of webinars here:http://rootdig.blogspot.com/2012/08/updated-list-of-genealogy-webinars.html This is the last webinar email you will receive from this email address–if you would like updates about webinar offerings, please email casefileclues@gmail.com to be added. Thanks for your support in 2012! It is appreciated.Michael ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
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