Over the past couple of months, I have tried to share some basic tips and information on approaching and succeeding with your family history efforts. We have started from the beginning; talked about the importance of planning; how to deal with the inevitable files both paper and digital; best first steps; explored some of the … Continue reading Wrapping Up the Year – Genealogy Tips
Genealogy
Miles Jerome King and Dorothy Marie Rice King: Military Lives Well Spent
The end of the year with its holidays focused on family and gratitude always bring me back to thinking about my ancestors and their lives and being grateful that I’ve had the time and funds to research and explore their lives for the last thirty plus years. One ancestor who I heard a lot about … Continue reading Miles Jerome King and Dorothy Marie Rice King: Military Lives Well Spent
“Family” Research – Genealogy Tips – Ancestors & Their Families
I am always surprised at the number of times I search for an ancestor on Ancestry.com and see entry after entry for a person of the same name and when you click on one of the family trees and look at the family, the person appears to be an only child, at least from that … Continue reading “Family” Research – Genealogy Tips – Ancestors & Their Families
Tricks of the Trade – Genealogy Tips – Timelines
If you’ve been doing family history for a while, you have at least one, and likely several, brick walls. Those lines that just seem to slam the wall and make you wonder if they were born under rocks. And if you’ve followed my blogs, both history and genealogy, you’ve probably noticed I’ve said several times … Continue reading Tricks of the Trade – Genealogy Tips – Timelines
Military Records – Genealogy Tips – Make the Journey More Than Names and Dates
There is no doubt that our male ancestors left more records behind than our female ancestors did. One place where nearly all the records will be about male ancestors is military records, at least through World War I. When I say military records, I mean not only the actual record of service but also military … Continue reading Military Records – Genealogy Tips – Make the Journey More Than Names and Dates
Probate Records – Genealogy Tips – The Dead Do Talk
If there are any genealogy records that most people don’t try to find, transcribe and understand as they should, it is probate records. There are few that are online, though FamilySearch does have some they just aren’t indexed, and going to a courthouse and wading through records can seem intimidating. But if there is one … Continue reading Probate Records – Genealogy Tips – The Dead Do Talk
Using Land Records and Maps – Genealogy Tips – Location, Location, Location
One good way to separate your John Smith from other John Smiths is to locate him in a specific location. Coupled with age and spouse, it can really help to separate out people with the same name. Let’s assume you’ve discovered all of your ancestors up through your great-grandparents. You’ve identified all the children, maiden … Continue reading Using Land Records and Maps – Genealogy Tips – Location, Location, Location
Census Records – Genealogy Tips – Getting the Most from Censuses
As I mentioned in the previous genealogy post, once you’ve finished entering what you know and what you acquire from your interviews, the records to start with are census records. Even if you obtained birth, death and marriage dates from an interview or a family Bible, it doesn’t hurt to search for the family in … Continue reading Census Records – Genealogy Tips – Getting the Most from Censuses
Start with What Your Know – Genealogy Tips – Build out the Foundation of Your Tree
You now know where you want to go on your first stop up your family tree and you’ve given some thought to a filing system that will work for you. It is now time to start fleshing out that family tree that is hidden just around the corner. You just have to get started. Most … Continue reading Start with What Your Know – Genealogy Tips – Build out the Foundation of Your Tree
Too Many Files – Genealogy Tips – Slay the Dragon with Organization
I know of no better way to find yourself eyeball deep in information than to get busy collecting lots of stuff about possible ancestors. When I started many years ago, the majority of what you collected was either loose paper or entries in a notebook when you went to the library or on a walkabout … Continue reading Too Many Files – Genealogy Tips – Slay the Dragon with Organization
