Your Genealogy Proof Awaits You in these Research Records and Sources
1. Genealogies, Family Histories, and Pedigree Charts. Your genealogy may already be compiled–a survey I did of my clients’ surnames and the compiled sources at the Family History Library in 2000 revealed that more than 80% of these client surnames had one or more compiled genealogy records already on file in the Library! Break your Losing Streak! Search these sources. And first! You can get up to 300 years of genealogy in one source.
2. Sources of Birth, Marriage, Death, and Divorce. What sources yield births, marriages, and deaths? Did you know that there are at least 16 official marriage records and more than 125 different sources with marriage evidence? Most of us give up too soon in our search for these vital dates.
3. Census Records, Inhabitants Lists, and Census Substitutes. More than 30 different kinds of census enumerations were recorded throughout the American Colonies before 1800: pre-1850 lists can be used to match them with other records that identify the members of the household. No other source category is better indexed, has such uniform and consistent data fields, or is as easily searched as American census records. Special search strategies can reveal “hidden” evidence often overlooked in your rush to gather ancestors quickly.
4. Probate and other Court Records. Over 95% of all American adults have appeared in at least one court during their lifetimes. These records are essential to your genealogy and ignoring them or by-passing their data usually leads to an incorrect lineage or a connection to the wrong origins.
5. Land and Tax Records. Tax records list most persons who live in a given area–they are recorded annually. Some localities record their population every 6 months! At what age can persons own land, buy and sell land, and gift land to others. Does the land come from the husband’s family or from the wife’s relatives? How do you read a deed? Are witnesses related to the people named in the documents? And many other questions are raised and answered in land and tax records.
6. Cemetery Records, in the cemetery and outside it. And evidence of ancestor origins appears in cemetery data more than any other source.
7. Other Important Genealogy Records: Search these records to fill in gaps in dates, places, and relationships. Genealogy and History Periodicals. Military Records. Church Sources. Personal Genealogy Websites. And more.
Use this quick checklist to ensure that you do not overlook an important genealogy source–and give up too soon. Your favorite genealogist, Arlene Eakle http://arleneeaklecom.
PS Got my flu shot. Pharmacist suggested that, since I had Whooping Cough twice this past year, I get a DPT shot too. So I had one shot in each arm–couldn’t lift either one. He said if I had a “good take” I would know that I was susceptible to both this year. Who could have predicted that I, of all people, who renewed my immunizations regularly, would still need a Whooping Cough shot?
PPS And all of a sudden I recalled my prep for Nursing School many years ago–my doctor knew he wouldn’t get me back in the office for immunizations for a long time–so he gave me 6 shots in each arm! I couldn’t even dress myself for the better part of a week. Of the 12, which included boosters, 7 were required for admission. So I was well protected during and after my training.
PPSS This is my testimonial–2 bouts of Whooping Cough, 4 weeks apart–I would rather have the shot! I coughed and coughed and coughed–nothing I took stopped the cough. And I speak for a living. Antibiotics helped get rid of the infection–in the meantime, I coughed.