Just because a 19th century ancestor was married twice, do not assume that the first spouse either died or divorced your ancestor. It is very possible that your ancestral couple went separate ways and one of them married again. This was easier to do if the ancestor in question moved several counties away and “started over.” Civil War pension files are full of stories of deceased veterans who had more than one surviving widow. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
Sometimes what appears to be a connection is not a connection. One of my wife’s Jones families in northern Missouri has another Jones family living nearby. The same last name appears to be a coincidence as one family is from Tennessee and the head of household in the other was born in Wales. Coincidences such as these are more common when the last name is common. But even with unusual last names, remember that there may be no connection between two individuals with the same last name. Look for a connection, but if you don’t see one, remember that sometimes a coincidence is just a coincidence. Of course, sometimes there is a connection, but try and prove is. Don’t use “it has to be” as a reason for […]
Do you have pictures, newspaper clippings, or other family history “paper” that you have not scanned or preserved? Is the only copy the one you have? Might be time to reproduce the image. If yours is lost, will that be the end of it? ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
If information is inconsistent, and even when it isn’t, ask yourself, “which records am I really certain are my ancestor?” Is there a deed that might not be his? Is there a census enumeration (especially before 1850) that might not be for the right person? Consider each source or record you think refers to your ancestor and contemplate what really makes you think that. You might realize that there is a record or two that might not really be for the person you are researching. And that may be causing your confusion. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
When writing any genealogical note, commentary, etc. avoid the use of relationship terms without the name of the person attached to it. “Grandma gave me this picture.” “My Uncle told me where Grandpa was born.” What Grandma? What Uncle? What Grandpa? You may know to whom you are referring–will someone else? If you indicate in the first paragraph that you are talking about “Grandma Matilda Johnson,” it’s not necessary to refer to her using that complete phrase in every sentence that follows. That makes your prose bulky. However, otherwise you should be clear about exactly to whom you are referring. This is especially true in families where names are used more than once. My mother has three Aunt Ruths. One was always referred to with her last name, […]
There is a good chance that within the next year, my address will change even though my residence will not. When the post office closes, we’ll have a different address even though we never really moved at all. In fact our new post office will be in a different county. Is it possible that your ancestor’s address changed even though she never moved at all? ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
The US federal government first began keeping records of passenger arrivals in 1820. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
Until Sunday 20 November at 11:59 PM CST, we are running a Pre-Thanksgiving Sale on my recorded webinars–Spend 30 Get 30%. There’s more information here on my other site. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
For those who don’t know, I have three daily sites: Genealogy Tip of the Day–one how-to tip every day–http://genealogytipoftheday.blogspot.com/ Daily Genealogy Transcriber–one piece of handwriting to read every day–http://genealogytranscriber.blogspot.com/ Genealogy Search Tip of the Day–one database or online search technique–as I think of them–not every day–http://genealogysearchtip.blogspot.com/ I also have two other blogs: Rootdig–also free where I blog about general research ideas, things that confuse/frustrate/irritate me, etc. —http://rootdig.blogspot.com Casefile Clues–where I blog about things I’m working on for my newsletter Casefile Clues–http://blog.casefileclues.com Enjoy. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
Before you post a question or query to a message board, email list, etc., try and remember to include enough information so that a person can help you. This typically includes the name of the person for whom you are looking, an approximation of the date of the event, a guess as to the place of the event, sources you have tried, etc. You need not go into a paragraph discussion about everything, but just asking for help finding Grandma in the 1930 census is not sufficient. Researchers should know: Grandma’s name Where Grandma probably lived When Grandma was probably born Who might have been living with Grandma in the 1930 census ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
Is it possible that your ancestor changed his name simply because he wanted to and with no official paperwork to document the change? For much of American history (and possibly in other locations as well), names could be changed with little formality. If your ancestor naturalized after 1906, his naturalization papers may mention the change. Land records may occasionally reference a change, especially if the name on a deed of purchase is different from the name on a deed of sale. Probate records may indicate if the deceased used any other names. And lastly, pension records may also provide alternate names, aliases, etc. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
We’ve announced our schedule of genealogy webinars in December of 2011. Registrants who are unable to attend can receive (at no charge) download links for the recorded webinar and handout. Topics include: More Brick Walls from A to Z Constructing Families from pre-1850 Census Records American Naturalization Records Before 1920 Sarah & Susannah: Two 18th Century Virginia Woman and Their Property Each webinar is $8 or you can sign up for all 4 for $28. Details at http://www.casefileclues.com/webinars_neill.htm ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
I’ve been working on the children of a Wesley Jones who died in Missouri in 1872. Researching the family is somewhat difficult as two daughters also married men with common last names. Completing the family group is an exercise in what is common. To make it somewhat easier, I’m researching the son with a somewhat unusual first name first along with his sister whose husband’s name was not as common as Jones. Then I’ll work on the other children in the group. The hope is that information on the children with less common names will shed light on the others. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
I have copies from a facility that shall remain nameless. The copies were made from a set of microfilm the facility had of the records. The copier that was used was not great and parts of my copies are very difficult to read. There is a chance that copies made from the Family History Library’s microfilm might be easier to read. And copies made from the original records (which are in the courthouse) would probably be even better yet if I could get there or have someone who could. If what you have is not a great copy, is it possible to get a better one elsewhere? ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
When using a document that contains several dates make certain you grab the right date for the right event. A marriage record may contain the date of the license, the date of the marriage, and the date of the recording. Make certain that the date you put as the marriage date is the marriage date and not one of the other dates on the document. ———————————— Check out GenealogyBank’s Offer for Tip of the Day Fans!
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