It may take years for the estate of your ancestor to have been completely settled. As a result, the probate file for your ancestor who died in 1840 may be filed with those cases settled in the 1860s. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
Do you plan your research and decide what to do and how to do it before you it? Or do you just start typing things in search boxes and hoping? Do you randomly look for families in various records, hoping something comes up as the result? While there is nothing wrong with hope, a little organization of your search can save you from frustration later and allow you to better trouble-shoot unsuccessful searches. And do you have any research goals? ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
We’ve just released the media file for my latest webinar which focuses on knowing what you are searching on FamilySearch. If you are confused by states that have multiple indexes to the “same” set of vital records, why a marriage entry appears multiple times in an index, or how to see what was used to create the index, then this webinar is for you. We focus on American sources, but the methods will apply to other locations as well. This presentation is not for complete beginners–some research experience is necessary. You can download the media for only $4 during our introductory price offer. A PayPal account is not necessary, you can “click through” and when time for payment comes, click as a “guest” and use your non-PayPal credit […]
When trying to obtain a copy of a vital record, begin searching at the local level first (town, county, etc.), then try the state records office. Avoiding search firms that advertise for “immediate” delivery will be easier on your pocketbook. Determine if any records are available online or on microfilm via FamilySearch (http://www.familysearch.org). Chances are you do not need the death certificate tomorrow, via overnight mail. Don’t pay for services you do not need. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
When was the last time you visited the FamilySearch site to see if there were scanned images of local records in areas where you have family? Even if you ignore the “compiled trees,” (which isn’t a bad idea), there are still many, many actual images of records on the site–all free. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
Sometimes ancestors might appear in records where they are “not supposed to.” Recently while using draft registration cards for men in Georgia born between 1 July 1924 and 31 December 1924, I ran across a card for a man born on 13 September 1925. It was marked “cancelled,” but still appeared with the other cards. Sometimes things that are not supposed to be, are. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
Remember that for a person to be born in a location, their mother has to be in that location. The same is not true of the father. The father and mother have to be in the same location nine or so months before the birth. Basic biology, but make certain your conclusions, assumptions, and premises don’t violate it. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
Try and stick to information or evidence you have found in original records or sources. Avoid putting speculation into your family files, particularly regarding details of your ancestor’s life that are not even remotely suggested in the records. It is difficult for someone over a hundred years later to really understand everything about what motivated their ancestor. A woman being left as a widow in 1855 with small children may have remarried out of necessity to support herself and her children, but whether that marriage was unhappy or not is not suggested merely because it took place early in 1856. In a similar fashion, your inability to find a marriage record does not mean the couple was not married and the failure to record the birth of a […]
At the request of one of our fans, I’m reminding readers about our Genealogy Tip of the Day mug. Mugs are available from CafePress. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
I wrapped up a beginning genealogy class last week. One of the records sources we discussed were local court records. These materials are full of genealogical information. Yet many genealogists do not use them because they are frequently only available in their original paper form and have minimal indexes. Do not limit yourself. Local court records (divorce, estate fights, bastardry, etc.) involving your family could provide more information than you ever dreamed of. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
Remember when using digital versions of old newspapers and relying on optical character recnognition that an “s” may appear to be an “f.” That’s how I found Absalom in the index as Abfalom. Human eyes might not have read it that way. But computers, reading millions of letters will do that. The option, for those that find this irritating, is to read the newspapers one at a time. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
When reading newspapers for information on someone’s death and funeral, be certain to check out the “gossip” columns even after the funeral for mention of relatives who came back for the funeral. Sometimes their visit will be mentioned in a “gossip” column a week or two after the obituary. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
A few gentle reminders: When at the library, be considerate of other researchers who may need materials besides you. When at any research facility, don’t have phone conversations where other researchers can hear you. They really do not care about your personal life. Leave research facilities as you found them. Don’t remove records from a research facility. Don’t tear pages from books. Be respectful of staff. If you must “vent,” do away from the facility. You may need to go back later and they will remember that you had a little “fit” the last time you visited. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
Are you leaving behind information on yourself as well as your ancestors? On those days when you are stuck on your dead ancestor, consider taking a break and writing down some information about yourself. Getting away from your long-lost relatives may give you some new perspective and leaving details about your own life behind is never a bad idea either. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
If you make a copy from a published history or any reference, do you also copy enough of the material so that the item is in context? A relative copied one page from a county history that is only a list of names. No idea why the list was created, what year it was created, or any other detail as to how the people’s names got on the list. Without any idea at all, the list is merely a list of names. They could have been gathered arbitrarily for all I know. Always include a complete citation and enough information from the original so that you know what you really copied. A name by any other name is just a name. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip […]
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