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How to Find Descendants in the United States (view source)
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The goal of descendancy research is to find | The goal of descendancy research is to find descendants of an ancestral couple. While ancestral research starts with you and goes back in time, descendancy research starts with an ancestral couple you have identified and comes forward to the present time. Before you can do descendancy research, you must first identify a starting ancestral family. To find that family, you may need to do some traditional family history research and then move to descendancy research. | ||
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One great advantage of descendancy research is the number of names you can find. For example, if you search from you to your grandparents and then to your great-grandparents (doing ancestral research), the number of direct-line ancestors you can find is 14 people. However, if you begin your research with your great-grandparents and locate all their descendants (doing descendancy research), the number of people you can find can be in the hundreds. The results of descendancy research can be amazing. | One great advantage of descendancy research is the number of names you can find. For example, if you search from you to your grandparents and then to your great-grandparents (doing ancestral research), the number of direct-line ancestors you can find is 14 people. However, if you begin your research with your great-grandparents and locate all their descendants (doing descendancy research), the number of people you can find can be in the hundreds. The results of descendancy research can be amazing. | ||
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Descendancy research can lead you to important clues, contacts, or records you might not find if you researched only direct ancestors. These clues and contacts can often help you get past dead ends in your ancestral research. | Descendancy research can lead you to important clues, contacts, or records you might not find if you researched only direct ancestors. These clues and contacts can often help you get past dead ends in your ancestral research. | ||
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=== '''''Step 1: Choose a Family to Start With''''' === | === '''''Step 1: Choose a Family to Start With''''' === | ||
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=== '''''Step 2: Collect Previous Research''''' === | === '''''Step 2: Collect Previous Research''''' === | ||
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''— For additional search tips, go to the help section of the search engine.'' | ''— For additional search tips, go to the help section of the search engine.'' | ||
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=== '''Quick Reference Chart 1 – Where to Look for Previous Research''' === | === '''Quick Reference Chart 1 – Where to Look for Previous Research''' === | ||
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=== '''''Step 3: Consult Additional Sources''''' === | === '''''Step 3: Consult Additional Sources''''' === | ||
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'''Census records.''' Many governments have taken regular censuses of their citizens. In the United States, these censuses have taken place every decade since 1790. Many census records are available in a digital, searchable format. If you have census records available, you should search them for a record of your family. This record will guide the rest of your research by placing your family in a particular place at a specific time. Census records can be searched free of charge at any Church family history center with an Internet connection. | '''Census records.''' Many governments have taken regular censuses of their citizens. In the United States, these censuses have taken place every decade since 1790. Many census records are available in a digital, searchable format. If you have census records available, you should search them for a record of your family. This record will guide the rest of your research by placing your family in a particular place at a specific time. Census records can be searched free of charge at any Church family history center with an Internet connection. | ||
'''''Expert Tip<nowiki>:&amp;amp;nbsp;</nowiki>'''''<nowiki>Starting in 1850, U.S. census records listed the names of each person living in the household. This census and those that followed are an effective resource for finding the names of an entire household.</nowiki> | '''''Expert Tip<nowiki>:&amp;amp;amp;nbsp;</nowiki>'''''<nowiki>Starting in 1850, U.S. census records listed the names of each person living in the household. This census and those that followed are an effective resource for finding the names of an entire household.</nowiki> | ||
Here are some hints for searching through census records: | Here are some hints for searching through census records: | ||
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If you do not know when or where your ancestor died, you may be able to find this information in the Social Security Death Index at '''[http://www.socialsecuritydeathindex.gov www.socialsecuritydeathindex.gov]''' for ancestors who lived and worked in the United States. The index lists names of deceased individuals from the mid-1960s to the present. It provides the date an ancestor was born, when the person died, and where the person resided at the time of death. This index only includes individuals who had a social security number in the United States. | If you do not know when or where your ancestor died, you may be able to find this information in the Social Security Death Index at '''[http://www.socialsecuritydeathindex.gov www.socialsecuritydeathindex.gov]''' for ancestors who lived and worked in the United States. The index lists names of deceased individuals from the mid-1960s to the present. It provides the date an ancestor was born, when the person died, and where the person resided at the time of death. This index only includes individuals who had a social security number in the United States. | ||
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=== '''Quick Reference Chart 2 – Records to Consult''' === | === '''Quick Reference Chart 2 – Records to Consult''' === | ||
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| Thousands were published by counties for the U.S. Centennial in 1876. Most include biographies of residents and contain information about children, grandchildren, siblings, and ancestors. Because fees were often charged for inclusion in the county history, not all residents were included. | | Thousands were published by counties for the U.S. Centennial in 1876. Most include biographies of residents and contain information about children, grandchildren, siblings, and ancestors. Because fees were often charged for inclusion in the county history, not all residents were included. | ||
| Find the county of residence; then search by surname among the county or town history records. | | Find the county of residence; then search by surname among the county or town history records. | ||
| From: '''[http://www.familysearch.org www.familysearch.org]''' '''Library''' > '''Family History Library Catalog''' > '''Place Search'''. Type the name of the county in the '''Place''' field. Type the name of the state in the '''Part of''' field. Click on the '''History''' link.<span class="Apple-style-span | | From: '''[http://www.familysearch.org www.familysearch.org]''' '''Library''' > '''Family History Library Catalog''' > '''Place Search'''. Type the name of the county in the '''Place''' field. Type the name of the state in the '''Part of''' field. Click on the '''History''' link.<span style="" class="Apple-style-span"> </span>Repeat the process, using the name of the town of residence. | ||
| Go to: [Address] for a lesson on using county historical records. | | Go to: [Address] for a lesson on using county historical records. | ||
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| Local newspapers often publish obituaries, including information about siblings and children. Some began reporting deaths in the 1800s; others started even earlier. Many local libraries and newspaper publishers maintain archives of past newspaper editions on microfilm or on the Internet. | | Local newspapers often publish obituaries, including information about siblings and children. Some began reporting deaths in the 1800s; others started even earlier. Many local libraries and newspaper publishers maintain archives of past newspaper editions on microfilm or on the Internet. | ||
| Find the library or newspaper office. Search the files, or pay the fee to have the librarian or archivist find editions close to the death date. | | Find the library or newspaper office. Search the files, or pay the fee to have the librarian or archivist find editions close to the death date. | ||
| Go to: '''[http://www.switchboard.com www.switchboard.com]''''' <span class="Apple-style-span | | Go to: '''[http://www.switchboard.com www.switchboard.com]''''' <span style="" class="Apple-style-span">to f</span><span style="" class="Apple-style-span">ind the telephone number of a newspaper or library in your ancestor’s town. Ask the archivist or librarian what you need to do to obtain information or to arrange an interlibrary loan.</span><br>'' | ||
| Go to: [Address] for a lesson on using obituaries. | | Go to: [Address] for a lesson on using obituaries. | ||
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=== '''Conclusion''' === | === '''Conclusion''' === | ||
Finding the descendants of your ancestors can be rewarding. This approach to family history research will help you find hundreds of relatives you would have missed had you focused your research only on your ancestors. It might also provide the clues and information you need to get past dead ends in your search for ancestors. Descendancy research will help you locate living relatives you didn’t know about. You can collaborate with living relatives and share the workload with others. Learning about the children, grandchildren, and even the great-grandchildren of your ancestors gives you a more complete picture of your family.</div> | Finding the descendants of your ancestors can be rewarding. This approach to family history research will help you find hundreds of relatives you would have missed had you focused your research only on your ancestors. It might also provide the clues and information you need to get past dead ends in your search for ancestors. Descendancy research will help you locate living relatives you didn’t know about. You can collaborate with living relatives and share the workload with others. Learning about the children, grandchildren, and even the great-grandchildren of your ancestors gives you a more complete picture of your family.</div> | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:United_States]] | ||