If you estimate someone’s year of birth, in your notes/sources/documentation, include how you arrived at that estimation. Some time later you may want to recall why you thought that estimated date was correct. No one’s memory is 100% and including your reason may help you to re-evaluate that date if necessary. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
There is a difference between being someone’s heir and being their descendant. A descendant “descends” from the person–is their child, grandchild, great-grandchild, etc. An heir is someone who (usually according to state statute) is entitled to a share in a deceased person’s estate. If the deceased person had living children, they are usually heirs. The children of a deceased child would also be heirs.If the deceased had no children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, etc. (and left no surviving spouse) then their heirs could be their siblings, or their first cousins, depending upon the family structure. And of course, the definition of heir is dependent on statute–so check that out for the time period of interest as well. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
Before long, there will be several indexes online to the 1940 census. Same data–just different indexes. Which brings us to a good reminder. Is there another index or finding aid to a set of records you have been using? Keep in mind that for some records, particularly vital records, local offices may have created their own indexes in addition to those that might have been created by historical/genealogical societies or interested individuals. Maybe another finding aid will help you with that missing reference. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
We have added two new webinars in our April 2012 series: Creating Research Plans–12 April 2012 Google Docs for Genealogists-13 April 2012 Details and registration information are on our webinar page. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
When was the last time you learned about a new genealogical resource, method, or term? Sometimes learning about something new, even if it doesn’t directly relate to our research, is the best way to get our own genealogical research back on track. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
If you can type quickly make certain that at some point in time you actually read the document that you’ve transcribed. Fast typists sometimes don’t always comprehend what they are typing–at least I don’t. A recent document indicated at the end how the person signing the document was related to another individual. When I re-read the original document again that phrase had been used twice in the document. My transcription was correct and I had typed the relationship twice. But I certainly did not remember that first reference although I obviously read it. Think about it after you type it and make certain something didn’t just pass through your mind without being retained. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
I’ve been working on finding people from the 1940 census and I’ll admit that I relied on memory for one thing and now I wish I had not because I was wrong. For some reason, when I was making my 1940 list, I got it in my head that my wife’s great-grandfather had died and his wife had married her second husband by 1940. In doublechecking the spelling of the second husband’s last name (Fluegel), I realized that husband number one died in 1941, which means I should be looking for her with him (and his last name) in 1940. Don’t rely on memory. Even when you think you’re right. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
The release of the 1940 census without an index has me thinking about which people I will search for manually and which ones I will wait for until the index comes out. There are some people that I am certain enough of their residence that I can look for them. There are others who are in rural areas where searching will not take an inordinate amount of time. There are others that I do not have good addresses for and are living in urban areas. Looking for them may take hours, if not days. In those cases, I’m going to wait for the index. Sometimes one has to decide if the time spent is worth it. In those cases there’s likely nothing “earth-shattering” in the enumeration and my […]
Don’t always assume that census ages are incorrect. I found the entry for my children’s grandmother in 1940 and I thought there had to be a mistake–as I knew there were no twins in the family and their children were listed with ages: Two 7 year olds One 5 year old One 4 year old One 2 year old One 1 year old One under a year–7/12 The ages were correct–just a lot of children close together and the census date combined with the birthdates didn’t help either.You can see the image here. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
Last minute registrants can sign up for $4! Everyone’s crazy about the 1940 census…including me–I’ve found 11 of my ancestors and a few others in the first few days since it’s release. We’re going to help those who need it see how to navigate the free 1940 census sites. Our focus is on how to search and use the sites. I’m not an employee of any of the sites and don’t have any agenda other than helping you to use them. On 5 April 2012 at 7:30 PM Central time (Thursday–rescheduled ), I’ll be presenting a webinar on using the free 1940 census sites. Not all have everything uploaded (NARA does), but we’ll see how to navigate, download, and work with the free 1940 census images that are […]
I’ve been looking at 1940 census and was reminded that one should always make certain to analyze every tick mark and notation on the census (or any record for that matter). Some abbreviations on the census are statistical and have nothing to really do with the family’s entry specifically. Other items can be clues. Marriage and other records can contain small clues as well. The marriage register may list your ancestor as Sally Jones and the marriage license may list her as “Mrs. Sally Jones.” And that’s a big difference. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
Hasty research leads to brick walls, lineages that make no sense, and pedigrees that say things about an ancestor that never actually happened. There is no rush to the vast majority of genealogical research. Take your time. Make certain you really do have the same person in place A that you think you have in place B. Ask yourself if that family connection is logical and does that “far-fetched” tale really make sense. You can also reduce the chance of this sort of mistake by using online trees as clues, not grabbing the first match that appears “close,” and giving yourself some “soak time” between making a conclusion and using it to begin more research. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
The 1940 census images will be released on 2 April 2012 and those used to indexed census records are in for a challenge. My 1940 census webinar discusses ways to find addresses to help with 1940 census work, finding the correct enumeration district, using the enumeration district maps, and more. The webinar (including handout) can be downloaded for $4.00. Get ready for your 1940 census search. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
Here are a few links to articles from Modern Mechanix on the 1940-1960 census enumerations. Not a complete discussion to be certain, but an interesting one nonetheless. 1940 1950 1960 ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
Despite what some may think, the Family History Library in Salt Lake City does not have “everything.” Despite what the ads may imply, Ancestry.com does not have “everything.” Despite what we may think, the internet does not have “everything.” Nothing has “everything.” ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
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