From our recent Ancestry
poll, Question #8, “What place is hardest for you to find documents?” showed
that researching the United States was the next hardest place to find
family genealogy information. This can
be attributed to records just not being available for a particular place in
time. Too many migration routes, and not
knowing which one(s) were used by your ancestor.
It is wonderful when we can find something out about our family
from a record that was easily found on line.
But when the low hanging fruit is dried up, you need to roll up your
sleeves and do some really genealogy research. Working with others, making
phone calls, looking through catalogs to find books with hints, ordering and
viewing microfilms, expanding your search to other relatives and friends that
lived in the same area, are all part of the quest to find something about your
ancestor.
Some popular types of
records that should be considered in your search include:
- Gazettes
- Digital Archives of the State
- Bureau of Land Management
- Land Grants and Warrants
- Books of all kinds
- WPA Documents
- Military Records
- Last Will and Testaments
- Probate Records
- Cemeteries
Click here for a larger list of potential types of genealogy
documents where you may find family information.
Genealogy Research
Tips:
Remember to think outside of the box and try different
things to discover your family story. Remember,
sometimes a family member may have changed their name, inadvertently given
wrong birth information, or changed details that can throw you off your track.
Names can be spelled wrong either on purpose, or
accident. Many people did not ask how a
person’s name should be spelled, and recorded the information according to how
it sounded to them.
Document your research.
It is important to know what you have looked at, and what research you
have conducted, so you don’t do the same research in the future.
Analyze your information for clues, for confirming or not validating
family data. Take the time to write your
conclusions based on your findings.
