|
|
Listings: 1 to 32 of 32
|
1.
|
“A court clerk may suggest you need only look at the grantee index, and not the grantor index. Don’t listen! There can be a variety of reasons why the purchase was not entered in the grantee index, although later the sale appears in the grantor index. The first deed may have been a patent or grant from the state or federal government, inherited, overlooked when the index was prepared, or just not recorded. Always check both indexes.” Christine Rose and Kay Germain Ingalls, The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Genealogy
Last Updated: 13 August 2015 [Located in Category: Tips for Courthouse Research]
|
|
|
2.
|
“Land transfers weren’t always recorded. The land may have been inherited rather than transferred by deed, or deeds among family members may mot have been taken to the courthouse to save the recording fee. Diligent searching, however, should produce something, perhaps even years after the original purchase, when the land was sold out of the family.” Ibid
Last Updated: 13 August 2015 [Located in Category: Tips for Courthouse Research]
|
|
|
3.
|
“Sometimes the buyer never returned to the courthouse to retrieve the now-recorded document. The original deed of your ancestor’s property may be in that old box marked “original deeds” or “unclaimed deeds” on the top shelf, gathering dust.” Ibid
Last Updated: 13 August 2015 [Located in Category: Tips for Courthouse Research]
|
|
|
4.
|
Always bring a magnifying glass to the courthouse to assist with documents that are difficult to read.
Last Updated: 13 August 2015 [Located in Category: Tips for Courthouse Research]
|
|
|
5.
|
“The signatures in the transcribed deed books aren’t the original signatures of your ancestors. The clerk copied them and often tried to duplicate the appearance. If the seller signed with an X (or other mark), the clerk tried to duplicate that, too. This may be important. Two men with the same name who left records in the same area can be distinguished by their signatures or marks. One may be able to sign his name, while the other always signed with an X.” Ibid
Last Updated: 13 August 2015 [Located in Category: Tips for Courthouse Research]
|
|
|
6.
|
“It may be worthwhile to have the complete probate packet photocopied. Sometimes, items from the packet are lost, or the entire packet itself can be mislaid or misfiled. Get them while you can!” Ibid
Last Updated: 13 August 2015 [Located in Category: Tips for Courthouse Research]
|
|
|
7.
|
Be aware that many documents are only available through a courthouse. Not everything is available online. If you can’t go personally, write a letter, or check with a nearby genealogical society which may provide a lookup service for a small fee.
Last Updated: 13 August 2015 [Located in Category: Tips for Courthouse Research]
|
|
|
8.
|
When researching cemeteries be aware that written records (burial registers, plot records) can give you additional information; just keep in mind that the facts you locate were provided by an informant and could be in error. Verify your information from other sources.
Last Updated: 13 August 2015 [Located in Category: Tips for Courthouse Research]
|
|
|
9.
|
Periodically re-examine the data you have collected. A name that earlier had no significance may take on new meaning as your research has expanded.
Last Updated: 13 August 2015 [Located in Category: Family Research Tips]
|
|
|
10.
|
A simple scrap of paper may actually contain a clue for your research. Hang on to it! At some time it could point the way to information you are seeking.
Last Updated: 13 August 2015 [Located in Category: Family Research Tips]
|
|
|
11.
|
It’s been estimated that about 90% of genealogical manuscripts, records, documents, photographs, and other sources are not available on the internet. (p. 63, The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Genealogy, Third Edition)
Last Updated: 13 August 2015 [Located in Category: Family Research Tips]
|
|
|
12.
|
Information found on the internet can be fleeting. Make a note of anything that may interest you, including its URL, for future reference.
Last Updated: 13 August 2015 [Located in Category: Family Research Tips]
|
|
|
13.
|
Try your census searches on several different sites. Indexing differences can result in image quality variations.
Last Updated: 13 August 2015 [Located in Category: Family Research Tips]
|
|
|
14.
|
Always try to find the original record to glean as much information as you can. Indexes and abstracts may contain transcription errors.
Last Updated: 13 August 2015 [Located in Category: Family Research Tips]
|
|
|
15.
|
Establish an electronic log (on your computer’s word processing, spreadsheet or database program) to keep a record of every website you search. Consistently tracking these visits will help keep you organized and focused.
Last Updated: 13 August 2015 [Located in Category: Family Research Tips]
|
|
|
16.
|
Be aware that a surname you are researching may have been spelled a variety of different ways over time.
Last Updated: 13 August 2015 [Located in Category: Family Research Tips]
|
|
|
17.
|
Be aware that two or more people could have the same name in the same area.
Last Updated: 13 August 2015 [Located in Category: Family Research Tips]
|
|
|
18.
|
When researching at a university library, ask about their manuscript catalog. You may be able to find information about surnames, localities and subject matter.
Last Updated: 13 August 2015 [Located in Category: Family Research Tips]
|
|
|
19.
|
Be open minded in your research. Many a person thinks their relative was born in a certain place and they can’t find them. Further research show the ancestor was actually born some other place and raised where you thought they were born.
Last Updated: 13 August 2015 [Located in Category: Basic Genealogy Tips]
|
|
|
20.
|
Leave all originals at home….pictures, birth certificates, etc. It is better to make photocopies and file originals in protective sleeves with your family group records.
Last Updated: 13 August 2015 [Located in Category: Basic Genealogy Tips]
|
|
|
21.
|
Record the call number, film number on EVERYTHING you copy. Be sure you also record the library where you found it. You may want to look at this source again in five years and you may not remember where you found it. (This also applies to ALL online records you find as well.)
Last Updated: 13 August 2015 [Located in Category: Basic Genealogy Tips]
|
|
|
22.
|
Put your name, address and phone number on ALL binders and files that you take to a library or research location just in case you accidentally leave something behind.
Last Updated: 13 August 2015 [Located in Category: Basic Genealogy Tips]
|
|
|
23.
|
DOCUMENT YOUR WORK – LIST ALL SOURCES OF INFORMATION
The only acceptable genealogy is a documented genealogy. There are many ways to document your research. Ask a local genealogist or join our meetings to get help on how to document your research.
Last Updated: 13 August 2015 [Located in Category: Basic Genealogy Tips]
|
|
|
24.
|
If exact information is not known, write “abt” (about) or write in a question mark. Abt. 1930 – Birth: Weed?, Siskiyou, CA. These are the least clues as to where and when.
Last Updated: 13 August 2015 [Located in Category: Basic Genealogy Tips]
|
|
|
25.
|
Record places in the following order: city, county, state, country. Be sure to put comas between each. (Example: Redding, Shasta, California, USA)
Last Updated: 13 August 2015 [Located in Category: Basic Genealogy Tips]
|
|
|
26.
|
Record dates in the following manner: day, month, year. Months are to be abbreviated with standard three letters: 06 Sep 1902. Do NOT use a number for a month.
Last Updated: 13 August 2015 [Located in Category: Basic Genealogy Tips]
|
|
|
27.
|
If a child was adopted or one of twins, indicate to the side of the name: (adopted) or (twin).
Last Updated: 13 August 2015 [Located in Category: Basic Genealogy Tips]
|
|
|
28.
|
ALWAYS use MAIDEN names of FEMALES.
Last Updated: 13 August 2015 [Located in Category: Basic Genealogy Tips]
|
|
|
29.
|
A woman’s surname before she is married is called her MAIDEN name.
Last Updated: 13 August 2015 [Located in Category: Basic Genealogy Tips]
|
|
|
30.
|
A person’s first and middle names are called GIVEN names.
Last Updated: 13 August 2015 [Located in Category: Basic Genealogy Tips]
|
|
|
31.
|
A person’s last name is called a SURNAME.
Last Updated: 13 August 2015 [Located in Category: Basic Genealogy Tips]
|
|
|
32.
|
Things to Remember when Filling Out Genealogy worksheets
ALWAYS USE PENCIL – Keep a good eraser handy.
Last Updated: 13 August 2015 [Located in Category: Basic Genealogy Tips]
|
|
|
|
