Geography always matters in genealogical research. It is even more imperative that the researcher contemplate the distances between places during that time period when travel was more difficult and a ten mile trip would have been on foot or horeseback.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sometimes with a map, it can be difficult for some to really get a feel for how far apart two places are. One way is to compare the distance between two places to the distance between your home and a local place with which you are familiar. The best way is to see the actual geographic area, but most of us are not able to travel to every ancestral location. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
When I see that two towns are ten miles apart, I think of several places that are that far from where I live know–just to give perspective. Of course, I also need to consider the local geography of the area (mountains, rivers, etc.) and not the geography of where I live. Political lines that might have been crossed also are a concern in certain locations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The modes of travel available to your ancestor in 1750, 1850, and 1950 were different–make certain you are aware of those as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n