07 November 2008
Probate genealogy articles on our site
We have updated a few of my probate articles on our site:
- Introduction to probate records
- An overview of probate records
- When there is no Probate
- Analyzing a 1761 will
- Trientje's Testate Tidbits--analyzing items from a 1920s era probate.
Hopefully I've caught all the errors, but let me know if there are bad links by sending me an email at mjnrootdig@gmail.com We are working on modifying additional articles as well.
Probate records are an excellent genealogical source and researchers need to remember that most of them are not available on the Internet.
The book:
Elijah M. Haines, The Probate Manual, Being a Complete Guide for Executors, Administrators and Guardians, Under the Laws of Illinois, with Practical Forms, Chicago, Keen and Lee, 1856, can be purchased for $12 through our website.
03 November 2008
18th Century Virginia Election Antics
Juliana Smith over at Ancestry.com has posted my article on a relative's electioneering in 1742 in Virginia. Hopefully nothing quite this colorful happens on election day tomorrow--but if it did, I'm certain it would make CNN.
Labels: articles
29 September 2008
Here a Johann, There a Johann, Everywhere a Johann
Juliana Smith over at Ancestry.com's blog has posted my article "Here a Johann, There a Johann, Everywhere a Johann." It about too many people in a small town with the same first and last name and some thoughts on separating out individuals with similar names.
Feel free to read and post a comment.
Feel free to read and post a comment.
Labels: articles
04 August 2008
Getting the Most out of Obituaries on Ancestry's Blog
Juliana Smith recently posted my article "Getting the Most out of Obituaties" 
newspapers on the Ancestry.com site.
Some of the suggestions are general for searching any newspaper, online or not. Some suggestions are based upon the fact that the searches of Ancestry's papers are done with OCR technology.
I've spent some time searching the several Davenport, Iowa, newspapers on their site. The obituary for a Conrad Krebs is used as an illustration in the article.
The article can be viewed on Ancestry's blog here.
Some of the suggestions are general for searching any newspaper, online or not. Some suggestions are based upon the fact that the searches of Ancestry's papers are done with OCR technology.
I've spent some time searching the several Davenport, Iowa, newspapers on their site. The obituary for a Conrad Krebs is used as an illustration in the article.
The article can be viewed on Ancestry's blog here.
Labels: articles
30 June 2008
Married in Kentucky in 1820--Now What?
Juliana Smith at Ancestry.com just posted my article on some things to try to find information on that ancestral couple who were married in 1820 and just appear to have been dropped off by a UFO right next to a Justice of the Peace marriage license in hand.
The article "Married in Kentucky in 1820--Now What?" can be viewed on the Ancestry.com blog.
The article "Married in Kentucky in 1820--Now What?" can be viewed on the Ancestry.com blog.
Labels: articles
25 February 2008
The Baby was Thick and Fat--Clues in 1880s Letters to Nebraska
Regular blog readers know that I recently was given digital copies of letters written by my ancestor, Lina Ufkes. Juliana Smith over at Ancestry.com just blogged my article on those letters.
The article discusses how the letters were analyzed for further information and what types of clues they contained. Also included is a general discussion of how such letters should and should not be transcribed and ideas for how to utilize them.
The Baby was Thick and Fat: Clues in 1880s Letters to Nebraska can be viewed on the Ancestry.com blog.
The article discusses how the letters were analyzed for further information and what types of clues they contained. Also included is a general discussion of how such letters should and should not be transcribed and ideas for how to utilize them.
The Baby was Thick and Fat: Clues in 1880s Letters to Nebraska can be viewed on the Ancestry.com blog.
Labels: articles
11 February 2008
Genealogy A to Z
Ancestry has published my "Genealogy from A to Z" on their blog. Check it out and feel free to leave comments or additional suggestions of your own.
Labels: articles
04 January 2008
Avoiding Assumptions
Juliana Smith at the Ancestry.com Blog recently posted my article "Avoiding Assumptions."
It contains a list of suggested assumptions that we have to make sometimes and discusses when these assumptions should be dropped and the importance of realizing that you have made assumptions. There are times when we have made our own brick walls.
The complete article "Avoiding Assumptions" can be viewed on the Ancestry.com blog for free.
It contains a list of suggested assumptions that we have to make sometimes and discusses when these assumptions should be dropped and the importance of realizing that you have made assumptions. There are times when we have made our own brick walls.
The complete article "Avoiding Assumptions" can be viewed on the Ancestry.com blog for free.
14 December 2007
Undocumented Chaos
Undocumented Chaos
from the Ancestry Daily News Michael John Neill – 10/16/2002As genealogists looking to the past, we are forced to focus on paper records left behind by our forebears. We also use historical records and information about larger historical movements and cultural trends to reasonably infer things about our ancestor's lives. For many of us, there are times when neither of these sources or approaches is particularly helpful. Sometimes things just do not make any logical sense. There are times when our confusion stems from a misconception or ignorance we have about records, history, or cultural practices. But there are times when we've tried to learn as much as we can about the situation and perhaps have asked others more knowledgeable about the area to help us out. At times even the experts are stumped.
And so I occasionally wonder: Did some event in my ancestor's life throw the entire family into chaos?
Some of these events may be easily documented. There generally are records of epidemics, natural disasters, or the closing of a major employer (the main exception being when these first two events took place on the extremely raw frontier). The impact may have been very direct and very immediate. County historical societies, newspapers, county histories, or other sources may provide at least some information on an outside event in our ancestor's life. The loss of employment by the father, the death of three family members due to an epidemic, or a massive flood might have easily thrown a family into turmoil. The more difficult situation is where the causal event left no record.
The connection may not always be easy to make.
Maybe . . .
In these cases the causes are partially discernable. Rash generalizations should not be made. When the outside factor is something large and something relatively well known it is easier to logically connect it to events that took place within the family. It is important though not to grasp at straws and create convoluted soap operas to fit scant ancestral records.
Where's The P?
In logic classes, students study implication, cause, and effect. If p happens then q happens as a result. The problem in some family history situations is that we have the q, but have no idea what the p was that preceded it.
There are many explanations for the p above, but we'll focus now on events within the family that might have caused other family members to react. They might have responded in ways that do not always make sense when analyzed two hundred years later without the perspective of living within the actual family itself as it endures the turmoil.
Did Some Event Throw Your Ancestor's Life Into Chaos?
Did one parent die at a young age? The death of the father (typically the breadwinner) might have been a major challenge for the family. The death of the mother (typically the housekeeper and minder of the children) would have been equally difficult, especially if the older children were not of an age to take care of the younger ones. If your ancestral family was living in an
area outside their kin network, the death of one young parent might have hit them especially hard.
Hubby Dead . . . Mouths To Feed
One ancestor died in the 1850s while in his early thirties. His widow Barbara was left with two small children in a town several hundred miles from where they had married and had family. As a German immigrant, Barbara likely spoke little English and had few marketable skills. The small river town where she lived offered few employment opportunities. Her options were
extremely limited, she did not have some of the options her great-great-great-grandchildren may have today. Within six months of her husband's death she married a man who left her two months later. The records only point towards the recorded facts, they provide little idea of the
likely situation in Barbara's home. And while we cannot find a tombstone, the breadwinner of her family was buried in the local cemetery and she was left with two young children to care for. She did the only thing she could: she ran her husband's tavern for several years until she married for the third time. And from newspaper records, that tavern was quite a place.
I had another ancestor die and leave a widow with children in Kentucky in 1814. The children were old enough to help out and the husband left the wife with a few hundred acres of property. Records are scant, but it appears this forty-something widow was not in quite the same situation as my German immigrant in the 1850s. Still, the road after her husband's death was likely not easy.
In some cases, children may have scattered after the father's death as a necessity. Some may have gone to live with other family members or even strangers. Some may have been apprenticed to learn a marketable skill, potentially leaving records. These apprenticeship records (if available) are typically found at the county level. In some cases, there may be records of guardianships as well. But if the family was particularly poor, records of
guardianships may be non-existent.
Wife Dead . . . Mouths To Feed
A young widower with small children was in a similar situation, especiallyif there were no nearby family members to provide childcare. Widowers who had older female children may have enlisted them to help care for younger siblings. One of my own ancestors married three times, wives one and two likely dying in childbirth and leaving behind several small children. This ancestor waited a year, at most, to remarry.
My own great-great-grandmother "disappears" ca. 1882 and her two young daughters live with other families for several years, apparently while the father gets things "together." I am not exactly certain what happened in this family. All I know is that the mother "left" (or so I've been told) and was never heard from again.
Unknown Chaos?
Some of the cases already discussed leave records that hint at the problems. Some situations can reasonably be explained by other historical records. Not all chaotic situations leave behind records delineating the problem. And the records that do document the results rarely focus on the past. There may be no record indicating a family member was mentally unstable or had an alcohol problem. Yet these situations may have impacted the family significantly, perhaps for generations.
The family of the sibling of one of my great-great-grandparents had particular difficulties. The mother apparently became mentally unstable in the 1880s while the children were young. She died a few years later. The father never remarried and knew two things: "how to acquire land and drink whiskey." A doctor who visited the family at about the same time said he never knew a family who lived in such squalor. One of the children was classified as "simple" and intentionally injured himself on at least one occasion. It is not difficult to see how the family lost contact with other family members, particularly the mother's family. Nor is it difficult to see
why some family members show little interest in their family's past.
This family's home life is partially documented only because upon the father's death there was legal trouble and court records provide a scant paragraph on the family's past. Had there been no money worth going to court about, this family's lifestyle would not have been documented.
Was there chaos in your ancestor's life? There might have been, but the problem will be in proving it. The real problem is that the chaos frequently creates records that make no sense without a rough knowledge of the underlying issues.
Copyright 2002, MyFamily.com, Inc.Used by the author on his website with permission.
10 December 2007
A New Ira May be "My" Ira
The image to the right shows the 1856 census enumeration for an Ira Sargent in Davis County, Iowa---who may be my missing ancestor. An article on my search for Ira appears in this weekend's edition of the Ancestry World Journal .
The census enumerations are not crystal clear---but that's not unusual for census enumerations. Coimpounding the problem with this family are the two marriages of the mother, which are not hinted at in other records.
06 December 2007
Right Under My Nose
My article "Right Under My Nose" was published last week on Ancestry.com's blog. It discusses my search for an 19th century Ohio resident who seemingly "disappears."
Sometimes those disappearing ancestors did not disappear the way we thought they did. Rather they are right there in front of us waiting to be found. This week we look at such a situation. Our search reminds us of several research techniques that any family historian needs to have in their repertoire when the ancestor seems to vanish without a trace.
Sarah Wickiser Calvert’s only known record of existence was an 1862 Delaware County, Ohio, deed
The rest of the article can be viewed here....
And anyone researching Sarah Calvert can email me mjnrootdig@gmail.com. She is an aunt of my wife--her sister Lucinda Wickiser Kile is my wife's ancestor.
Sometimes those disappearing ancestors did not disappear the way we thought they did. Rather they are right there in front of us waiting to be found. This week we look at such a situation. Our search reminds us of several research techniques that any family historian needs to have in their repertoire when the ancestor seems to vanish without a trace.
Sarah Wickiser Calvert’s only known record of existence was an 1862 Delaware County, Ohio, deed
The rest of the article can be viewed here....
And anyone researching Sarah Calvert can email me mjnrootdig@gmail.com. She is an aunt of my wife--her sister Lucinda Wickiser Kile is my wife's ancestor.
01 May 2007
Settlement Deed Article posted on Ancestry's Blog
Those who follow my column in Ancestry's blog know that several articles have been posted on pre-1850 census records. This week the followup was posted where the census records are analyzed in light of the settlement deed closing out the estate. That document confirms most of the conclusions from the census and builds upon them.
Those who want to view the article can do so on Ancestry's blog (at no charge).
And descendants of Augusta and Belinda Newman are always free to fire off an email to me---we're related.
Those who want to view the article can do so on Ancestry's blog (at no charge).
And descendants of Augusta and Belinda Newman are always free to fire off an email to me---we're related.
28 April 2007
More on Analyzing Pre-1850 Census Entries
I had nearly forgotten that several years ago we posted an extensive series of articles on searching per-1850 census records for Thomas Chaney of Bedford County, Pennsylvania. Those articles are housed on our site at:
http://www.rootdig.com/chaneythomas/
http://www.rootdig.com/chaneythomas/
Labels: articles, census, tips
Searching pre and post 1850 census records
One hurdle faced by family historians is working in pre-1850 census records. Although only the heads of household are listed, these records do have value. Head of household census records can provide valuable clues about family structure that may not be available in other records. Census records should be included as an integral part of any research plan for 1790-1850 era research.
Assessment of pre-1850 federal census enumerations needs to be done carefully, as occasionally different interpretations can reasonably be made. It is important to note assumptions....
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Our discussion of the analysis of the census records of Augusta Newman 1820-1860 continues in the article posted on our site. I'd be interested in hearing from any descendants of Augusta--he's my 4th great-grandfather.
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Those interested can Search US Federal Census Records at Ancestry.com
Assessment of pre-1850 federal census enumerations needs to be done carefully, as occasionally different interpretations can reasonably be made. It is important to note assumptions....
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Our discussion of the analysis of the census records of Augusta Newman 1820-1860 continues in the article posted on our site. I'd be interested in hearing from any descendants of Augusta--he's my 4th great-grandfather.
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Those interested can Search US Federal Census Records at Ancestry.com
06 April 2007
Surviving Four Husbands...
Wills can answer questions or raise them. Sarah Turberville's Orange County Will is one such document.
From Orange County, Virginia, Will book 2, pages 310-311:
In the Name of God Amen I Sarah Turbervile of Orange County in the Colony of Virginia . . . do make & Ordain this my last Will . . .
I give to my Son John Willis one Shilling sterling . . .
I give to my son William Willis Ten Shillings . . .
I give to my son Henry Wood Two pounds . . .
I give to my son David Hudson one Shilling sterling . . .
I give to my son Joshua Hudson one Shilling Sterling ....
and so it goes. The question is, how many times was Sarah married? And how many husbands did she outlive? The search for information on Sarah led me through several husbands and taught me about Virginia inheritance and probate settlement in the mid-18th century.
Articles about Sarah on our site:
The Oftmarried Sarah
Rushing Around to Figure Sarah Out
The Reality of Sarah's Realty
Sarah is my ancestor. She's also the ancestor of a well-known radio personality who shall remain anonymous.
From Orange County, Virginia, Will book 2, pages 310-311:
In the Name of God Amen I Sarah Turbervile of Orange County in the Colony of Virginia . . . do make & Ordain this my last Will . . .
I give to my Son John Willis one Shilling sterling . . .
I give to my son William Willis Ten Shillings . . .
I give to my son Henry Wood Two pounds . . .
I give to my son David Hudson one Shilling sterling . . .
I give to my son Joshua Hudson one Shilling Sterling ....
and so it goes. The question is, how many times was Sarah married? And how many husbands did she outlive? The search for information on Sarah led me through several husbands and taught me about Virginia inheritance and probate settlement in the mid-18th century.
Articles about Sarah on our site:
The Oftmarried Sarah
Rushing Around to Figure Sarah Out
The Reality of Sarah's Realty
Sarah is my ancestor. She's also the ancestor of a well-known radio personality who shall remain anonymous.
Labels: articles
Working with pre and post 1850 census records
We recently posted an article about my work on a family in the 1820 through the 1860 census, determining what the records said and what they did not say. In a future posting, we'll look at how this analysis compared with additional records.
04 April 2007
Searching the Census the Old Fashioned Way
Let's face it. Sometimes the index does not work and a manual search of the census is necessary. Some names are impossible to read or simply get transcribed in such a way that wildcard and soundex searches are not effective. This was the case with my search Panagiotis Verikios in Chicago--the index just did not locate him. The details of the search , Panning For Panagiotis can be found on our site.
Labels: articles
A $31.44 Inheritance
In the 1950s, my grandmother inherited $31.44 from a relative, Anna Haase. The estate settlement of Miss Haase points to the importance of tracking down such records for relatives who die with enough property to probate and no descendants of their own. The article I wrote on the estate settlement and estate records in general may be worth a look if the only wills/probates you have searched for have been for your own direct line ancestors.
A $31.44 Inheritance explains how Grandma's $31.44 inheritance was determined and how intestate probate cases in these situations usually work.
A $31.44 Inheritance explains how Grandma's $31.44 inheritance was determined and how intestate probate cases in these situations usually work.
From their Mouth to your Screen
Have you ever really thought about how that word got from your ancestor's mouth to your computer screen? There are many steps from the time your ancestor said his name until the index entry appears on your at-home terminal. Each step has the potential to create an error or "brick wall."
From Their Mouth to Your Computer Screen was posted a while back on our site, but it's comments on how your ancestor's name gets into a database are still valid and worth thinking about.
From Their Mouth to Your Computer Screen was posted a while back on our site, but it's comments on how your ancestor's name gets into a database are still valid and worth thinking about.
Labels: articles
28 March 2007
Finding Peter, Paul, and Margarete
This article focuses on a group of immigrants to Davenport, Iowa in the 1850s. My search initially focused on Paul Freund, the direct ancestor. The article discusses how in this case, locating immigrant origins was possible only by COMPLETELY researching the immigrant in his new location first. This plan gave me adequate information in order to locate the desired family members in passenger lists. The problem with looking for just Paul Freund is that there were several Paul Freunds from Bavaria who came to the United States.
Those who want to read more about my search for Peter, Paul, and Margarete can do so here. And anyone who is related is more than welcome to send me an email at mjnrootdig@gmail.com.
Those who want to read more about my search for Peter, Paul, and Margarete can do so here. And anyone who is related is more than welcome to send me an email at mjnrootdig@gmail.com.
27 March 2007
1880 Female Head of Household
It is unusual to find a female listed as the head of the household, especially when her able-bodied husband is living with her and enumerated as well. The initial article I wrote on this subject generated a great deal of response and the follow up dealt with most issues presented by readers.
My ancestor in 1880 is a head of household and her husband is listed as the last member in the household (on the next page, no less). It is a somewhat unusual situation.
Part of the entry for the family of Anna Fecht in Prairie Township, Hancock County, Illinois' 1880 census follows.
Anna Fecht, aged 65, [head], married
John Habben, aged 20, son, single
George Habben, aged 18, son, single
Anna Habben, aged 13, daughter, single
Mattie Halts, aged 10, granddaughter, single
George Fecht, aged 12, stepson, single
Henry Fecht, aged 65, no relationship stated, married
Part I of the article can be viewed here and part II has been posted on our site as well.
My ancestor in 1880 is a head of household and her husband is listed as the last member in the household (on the next page, no less). It is a somewhat unusual situation.
Part of the entry for the family of Anna Fecht in Prairie Township, Hancock County, Illinois' 1880 census follows.
Anna Fecht, aged 65, [head], married
John Habben, aged 20, son, single
George Habben, aged 18, son, single
Anna Habben, aged 13, daughter, single
Mattie Halts, aged 10, granddaughter, single
George Fecht, aged 12, stepson, single
Henry Fecht, aged 65, no relationship stated, married
Part I of the article can be viewed here and part II has been posted on our site as well.
26 March 2007
Courthouse Suggestions
The county courthouse is one of my favorite places to research--remember that many of these records are not available online or on microfilm. A few years ago, we posted an article about visiting the courthouse--suggestions that are still valid today.
Courthouse Lessons Learned
Courthouse Lessons Learned
Labels: articles
Where Did the $$ Go?
Tracking your ancestor's money after his or her death can provide signficant genealogical clues. There are many sources of this information, not just limited to the will. An older article on our site discusses ways to locate this information and provides some clues for interpreting this information.
Where Did the Money Go?
Where Did the Money Go?
Labels: articles
22 March 2007
At least we didn't get any bones
To view the death date for Lucinda Kile in the Greenmound Cemetery in Keithsburg, Mercer County, Illinois, we had to do a little digging. Fortunately the stone is in excellent shape and teh inscription is very legible.
There are a number of tombstone pictures and "how-to" articles on our site for taking pictures, making rubbings, etc. Plan before you go, don't leave a mess, and treat the cemetery and stones with respect.
Labels: articles, tombstones
Naming Patterns...
Have you thought about where your ancestor got the first names of all their children? While some families break the rules just to confuse us, many obtained names of their children from other relatives. Keep in mind the potential that a child was named for a parent, grandparent, or ancestral sibling. Our article Named for Whom? discusses naming patterns and issues one must be aware of when using these tendencies in research. Naming patterns are clues, clues, clues, not fact, fact, fact.
Labels: articles
21 March 2007
Where Did I Get That?
Ever find a copy of something and wonder where you got it from? It can happen to anyone. And even if we know now to track all our sources, most of us researched for at least a while before we came to appreciate the importance of tracking where our information originated (for how can we compare and evaluate if we have no idea of the original source?).Even if we keep track of everything we get, a relative can easily send us something and have no idea where they got it. An older article on our site discusses such situations and some ways for determining where a document really came from.
We called it Orphaned Papers.
We called it Orphaned Papers.
Labels: articles
17 March 2007
Articles on French-Canadian Research
I've posted a few articles on French-Canadian research on my site, particularly focusing on my wife's family who came to upstate New York. One series focuses on census analysis of a French-Canadian family from 1850 until 1900. The others discuss beginning your French-Canadian Research.
From now until 31 March 2007, Ancestry.com is offering free access to
its Drouin Collection--used extensively by French-Canadian researchers.
From now until 31 March 2007, Ancestry.com is offering free access to
its Drouin Collection--used extensively by French-Canadian researchers.
Labels: articles
Name Games
First and last names can create all kinds of problems for the genealogist. Two older articles on our site discuss concerns family historians need to keep in mind with both last names and first names. Phonetics can be a problem with either one, but there are differences--particularly if your ancestor came from a country where they practiced patronymics as late as the nineteenth century as my Ostfriesens and my wife's Swedes did.
The Last Name Game
The First Name Game
The Last Name Game
The First Name Game
13 March 2007
Federal Land Patents
An article I wrote several years ago about the Bureau of Land Management website is still accurate--thankfully they leave the search interface alone for the most part.
A search for William Newmans in Indiana resulted in one match for my William. The legal description for his property is as shown in the image below. 
The legal description is available on the patent image, but the quarter section can be viewed on the BLM site as part of the database entry for William's patent.
Then using the legal land description of William's 40 acres, I searched the BLM database of patents again. This time I searched for patents granted to people for property in the same section of the township.
I was excited when I viewed the names. One last name was the same last name as William's wife, Rebecca Tinsley. Viewing the patent for William Tinsley indicated he was living in the same county William was when William purchased the land in Tipton County. Both men were listed as residents of Rush County, Indiana.
Patents are not only for "early" or pre-statehood settlers. There were federal land sales in many states long after statehood. After all, these sales are in Indiana in 1850.
The article goes into more detail on using these patents. I would view the BLM website's information on patents and the rectangular survey system descriptions before I did extensive searches.
Labels: articles, newman, tips
12 March 2007
Making Certain you have the "right" Guy
Tracking ancestors across state lines can be difficult, especially so when they have left few records and the searching is done before the everyname censuses begin in 1850. Some time ago we posted an article on my search for Levi Rhodes across Missouri and back into Tennessee. The discussion is still relevant today.
Here are a few reminders from our searches for Levi in Tennessee:
Here are a few reminders from our searches for Levi in Tennessee:
- Don't just grab the first name that matches. Check all possible reasonable matches in the area and eliminate them systematically.
- Make logical connections.
- Fit as many pieces together as possible. Realize that some pieces may not fit, but make note of the fact that they do not fit.
- Research the most recent era first.
- Make certain you have copied everything you needed.
The rest of the article can be viewed on our website.
Labels: articles
10 March 2007
Where did they get THAT?
Confusion is often in the mind of the beholder. The every name 1900 census index at Ancestry.com has caused me to revisit some relatives in this census. When I viewed one entry, I remembered how confused I was when I first saw it. Like many genealogical records, the enumeration contained an error. And like many errors, the incorrect statement was a clue. In this case it was a clue that I failed to notice.
The article Where Did they Get That? continues on our site...
The article Where Did they Get That? continues on our site...
07 March 2007
Clarifying Clara
I wrote "Clarifying Clara" long before the Missouri Death Index and images came online, but the article still makes valid points about how a record can be analyzed.
It is also important to note that a record can easily contain errors--the birth place of Clara's father, William Rhodus/Rhodes is most likely Tennessee and not Kentucky. The birth place of Matilda Jones, the mother, is likely Missouri and not Kentucky either.
Clara is my wife's great-grandmother and I'd love to hear from anyone else researching this family.
Labels: articles, lake, missouri
Get Some Culture
Do you know enough about your ancestor's culture in order to research him or her effectively? It is very easy to make incorrect conclusions when we assume our ancestor would make decisions the same way that we would. Our upbringing, educational level, and personal experiences make a significant impact on how we make decisions. Our ancestors had different experiences from us, lived in a different time, and a different educational experience.
All this impacts how they made decisions.
Get Some Culture on our site discusses some ways to learn culture and common social practices so that we don't create more brick walls than we already have.
All this impacts how they made decisions.
Get Some Culture on our site discusses some ways to learn culture and common social practices so that we don't create more brick walls than we already have.
Labels: articles
My now wife is the late grantee
Terminology can get genealogists in all kinds of trouble--if for no other reason that misinterpreting something can easily lead us down the incorrect road and convince us there is a brick wall when the problem lies with us.
A while back we posted an article on our site with some basic legal terminology useful to genealogists.
Remember: "my now wife" doesn't mean I have had more than one.
A while back we posted an article on our site with some basic legal terminology useful to genealogists.
Remember: "my now wife" doesn't mean I have had more than one.
Labels: articles
After the Marriage...
After a marriage, sometimes there is a divorce. Contrary to what some would have us believe, divorce and marital problems have been happening for a very long time. A recent article on our site discusses divorce records and how to search for them.
You may be surprised to find an ancestor divorced and what those records contained. These records should be a part of every search.
You may be surprised to find an ancestor divorced and what those records contained. These records should be a part of every search.
Labels: articles
Proof of Marriage
One doesn't to get married to reproduce---theoretically we could have no marriage records for our ancestors. Fortunately, most of the time we do. A recent article posted to our website discusses the main types of marriage records and ways to search for them:
"I know they were married, but I cannot find it. They had to get married; after all they had children. Well . . . not necessarily. Usually a marriage precedes the children. It is finding the record of that marriage that sometimes creates headaches for the genealogist. "
The rest of the article is in our article archives.
"I know they were married, but I cannot find it. They had to get married; after all they had children. Well . . . not necessarily. Usually a marriage precedes the children. It is finding the record of that marriage that sometimes creates headaches for the genealogist. "
The rest of the article is in our article archives.
Labels: articles
04 March 2007
Undocumented Chaos
As genealogists looking to the past, we are forced to focus on paper records left behind by our forebears. We also use historical records and information about larger historical movements and cultural trends to reasonably infer things about our ancestor's lives. For many of us, there are times when neither of these sources or approaches is particularly helpful. Sometimes things just do not make any logical sense. There are times when our confusion stems from a misconception or ignorance we have about records, history, or cultural practices. But there are times when we've tried to learn as much as we can about the situation and perhaps have asked others more knowledgeable about the area to help us out. At times even the experts are stumped.
And so I occasionally wonder: Did some event in my ancestor's life throw the entire family into chaos?
Read the rest of the article Undocumented Chaos on our site
Labels: articles
When There is No Probate
Probate records are one of the best genealogical sources. The problem is that not every ancestor who lived left a probate record. There are several research methods that should be done when a probate cannot be located and many reasons why your ancestor might not have a probate file even when they owned property upon their death.
Read the rest of the article When there is no Probate on our site...
Read the rest of the article When there is no Probate on our site...
Labels: articles
01 March 2007
Brick Walls from A to Z
A is for Alphabetize Have you created an alphabetical list of all the names in your database and all the locations your families lived? Typographical errors and spelling variants can easily be seen using this approach. Sometimes lists that are alphabetical (such as the occasional tax or census) can hide significant clues.
B is for Biography Creating an ancestor's biography might help you determine where there are gaps in your research. Determining possible motivations for his actions (based upon reasonable expectations) may provide you with new areas to research.
the rest of it is here...
B is for Biography Creating an ancestor's biography might help you determine where there are gaps in your research. Determining possible motivations for his actions (based upon reasonable expectations) may provide you with new areas to research.
the rest of it is here...
27 February 2007
Analyze the Tradition
We all have family traditions. Some are colorful, some are entertaining; some are exaggerations, and some are bold-faced lies. All can be used genealogically, whether for actual clues or just to provide "colorful" stories to add to the family history.
Most traditions are not completely false and contain a buried grain of truth. Finding that grain of truth and determining the difference between truth and fiction is not a simple matter.
The rest can be read in our "Analyze the Tradition" which was posted to our site some time ago in the pre-blog era.
Most traditions are not completely false and contain a buried grain of truth. Finding that grain of truth and determining the difference between truth and fiction is not a simple matter.
The rest can be read in our "Analyze the Tradition" which was posted to our site some time ago in the pre-blog era.
26 February 2007
The Space Time Continuum
I have long been aware of the importance of developing a chronology in working on the life of a specific ancestor. A simple ordering of the events in an ancestor's life from their birth to their death helps the researcher to see unaccounted for time periods, gaps in research, and records that have not been accessed. A chronology can also be an excellent synopsis of an ancestor's life, albeit a limited one. It provides a different perspective on an ancestor than does a family group or pedigree chart and can even be the framework for creating an ancestral biography.
The rest of the article on chronologies was posted as The Space Time Continuum on my website.
The rest of the article on chronologies was posted as The Space Time Continuum on my website.
Labels: articles
Figuring Out Iam Jones
A few years ago, we looked at an interesting census enumeration for an "Iam Jones." Our two part analysis discussed which parts of this census entry we thought were in error and which parts we thought were correct. It is important to note that the census taker occasionally makes mistakes.
The first article I am Jones or am I Something Else? begins our analysis and the second I am what I am, or am I?
24 February 2007
Where Did the Farm Go?
Determining how your ancestor's farm left his possession may provide valuable genealogical clues. Land research is not complete until you have all the "ins and outs" the purchases and the sales or transfers of each piece of property. An article we posted on our site a few years ago discusses ways to locate these records--all of which may not be deeds. Of course, if your ancestor "bought the farm" before he had a chance to sell the farm, you will need to look at probate or estate records. That is, assuming had a farm in the first place.
23 February 2007
Using UK Census Records 1841-1871
For those who have never seen or used census records from the United Kingdom, we have posted samples from the family of Robert Frame in Carlisle, Cumberland, England on our site. Also included is an article discussing how these records were analyzed for clues to help us continue research on this family.
One of the Frame children emigrated to Chicago, Illinois, where many of his descendants live today.
I'd be interesting in hearing from anyone who is related to the Frame family, as Robert is my wife's 3rd great-grandfather.
One of the Frame children emigrated to Chicago, Illinois, where many of his descendants live today.
I'd be interesting in hearing from anyone who is related to the Frame family, as Robert is my wife's 3rd great-grandfather.
When the Index does not help
Research is much easier when the names are spelled and indexed correctly. Researchers who've progressed beyond surfing internet sites quickly realize that alternate spellings are a reality, especially in a time when ancestors were either not literate or unable to speak the language of their adopted land.
We've posted a couple articles on our site to hopefully give readers some ideas of what to do when the index is not helpful and you are "certain" the person is in there:
The article also discusses how the error likely happened. Sometimes this cannot be determined, but if the genealogist can figure out "why" or reasonably explain the error, it helps to make the case.
We've posted a couple articles on our site to hopefully give readers some ideas of what to do when the index is not helpful and you are "certain" the person is in there:
The second article discusses why I think an 1893 birth record for an individual named Eliney is actually supposed to be Frederick. 
The article also discusses how the error likely happened. Sometimes this cannot be determined, but if the genealogist can figure out "why" or reasonably explain the error, it helps to make the case.
22 February 2007
Booze, Politics, and My Ancestor
Political oneriness is nothing new. My own ancestor, John Rucker, was involved in some interesting events in a 1740s era election in Orange County, Virginia. Booze, dancing on the courthouse tables, and swords were involved.
Of course, this was during the era when only propertied men were allowed to vote ;-)
Of course, this was during the era when only propertied men were allowed to vote ;-)
Labels: articles
21 February 2007
How Do I Know I Have the Right Family?
Sometimes knowing one has the right family can be difficult and in some situations it can be "easy" to inadvertantly connect two unrelated families. We've posted an article on our site that focuses on 1850-1900 census records with migrating families that discusses some ways one can avoid barking up the wrong tree.
Labels: articles
20 February 2007
Did Your Ancestors Get Divorced?
Some would have us believe that divorce and family discord started in the 1960s and that it has been all downhill ever since. Genealogists who have spent time searching in court records know that is far from the truth.
Divorce is not a 20th century invention. Court records from the early 20th and nineteenth century contain numerous divorce records. These are records that every genealogist should include as a part of a conprehensive research design.
My wife's great-grandmother was divorced in Chicago twice in the early twentieth century.
My 3rd great-grandmother was divorced twice in rural Illinois in the late nineteenth century.
In both cases the records of these divorces were very telling and provided significant genealogical clues.
We've posted an article on divorce records on our site--something you should consider--unless you think your ancestors never never had a disagreement ;-)
Divorce is not a 20th century invention. Court records from the early 20th and nineteenth century contain numerous divorce records. These are records that every genealogist should include as a part of a conprehensive research design.
My wife's great-grandmother was divorced in Chicago twice in the early twentieth century.
My 3rd great-grandmother was divorced twice in rural Illinois in the late nineteenth century.
In both cases the records of these divorces were very telling and provided significant genealogical clues.
We've posted an article on divorce records on our site--something you should consider--unless you think your ancestors never never had a disagreement ;-)
Labels: articles
