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How to Find Descendants in the United States (view source)
Revision as of 23:06, 28 January 2008
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=== '''Preparing''' === | === '''Preparing''' === | ||
Fill in a pedigree chart, or locate a pedigree chart for your family. This chart will provide some dates and places to help you get started. | Fill in a pedigree chart, or locate a pedigree chart for your family. This chart will provide some dates and places to help you get started.<br> | ||
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| '''Steps of Descendancy Research'''<br> | |||
Step 1: Choose a Starting Family | |||
Step 2: Collect Previous Research | |||
Step 3: Consult Additional Sources | |||
Step 4: Compile What You Have Learned<br> | |||
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=== '''''Step 1: Choose a Starting Family''''' === | |||
'''''Step 1: Choose a Family | |||
<div class="Section1"> | <div class="Section1"> | ||
Do you have an ancestor about whom you are curious? Have you heard intriguing stories about a great-grandparent? Possibly you are looking for a genetic connection to a great uncle who may have had the same illness you have just had diagnosed. Many reasons may spark your interest in a particular individual or family. Regardless of how you decide, the first step is to choose an individual or family to use as the starting point. | Do you have an ancestor about whom you are curious? Have you heard intriguing stories about a great-grandparent? Possibly you are looking for a genetic connection to a great uncle who may have had the same illness you have just had diagnosed. Many reasons may spark your interest in a particular individual or family. Regardless of how you decide, the first step is to choose an individual or family to use as the starting point. | ||
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• ''Record what you find on family group records.'' On a pedigree chart, you can only trace the ancestry of one child, leaving out the rest of the children. A family group record will enable you to record information for all the children in a family, as well as for the parents and grandparents. As you search for the descendants of your ancestors, family group records will help you organize your work and compile what you find. | • ''Record what you find on family group records.'' On a pedigree chart, you can only trace the ancestry of one child, leaving out the rest of the children. A family group record will enable you to record information for all the children in a family, as well as for the parents and grandparents. As you search for the descendants of your ancestors, family group records will help you organize your work and compile what you find. | ||
• ''Begin with real curiosity.'' As you search for the descendants of your ancestors, remember to follow your heart. If you feel strongly that you need to learn about a particular family, listen to those feelings and search for that family. | • ''Begin with real curiosity.'' As you search for the descendants of your ancestors, remember to follow your heart. If you feel strongly that you need to learn about a particular family, listen to those feelings and search for that family.<br> | ||
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'''''Step 2: Collect Previous Research''''' | === '''''Step 2: Collect Previous Research''''' === | ||
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Family history research is one of the most popular hobbies in the world today. Someone else could very well have already started gathering information about the very ancestral family you have selected. Your extended family members may have this information, or you may be able to find it in published family histories or on the Internet. | Family history research is one of the most popular hobbies in the world today. Someone else could very well have already started gathering information about the very ancestral family you have selected. Your extended family members may have this information, or you may be able to find it in published family histories or on the Internet. | ||
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'''Broadening your search.''' A quick review of published family histories, compiled genealogies, and resources on the Internet will tell you how much research may still be needed. For information on how to do basic research, go to [[How to Begin a Search for Your Ancestor]]. | '''Broadening your search.''' A quick review of published family histories, compiled genealogies, and resources on the Internet will tell you how much research may still be needed. For information on how to do basic research, go to [[How to Begin a Search for Your Ancestor]].<br> | ||
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'''''Step 3: Consult Additional Sources''''' | === '''''Step 3: Consult Additional Sources''''' === | ||
<div class="Section3"> | <div class="Section3"> | ||
Certain records are particularly rich in descendant information. Five record types—census records, wills and probate records, county histories, church records, obituaries—generally include information about parents and children and vital information for each person listed. These records will help you identify the descendants for whom you are searching. In this section you will learn: | Certain records are particularly rich in descendant information. Five record types—census records, wills and probate records, county histories, church records, obituaries—generally include information about parents and children and vital information for each person listed. These records will help you identify the descendants for whom you are searching. In this section you will learn: | ||
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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;amp;amp;amp;amp;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> | '''''Expert Tip<nowiki>:&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;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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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 | 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" style=""> </span>Repeat the process, using the name of the town of residence. | ||
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Go to: '''[http://www.switchboard.com www.switchboard.com]''''' <span | Go to: '''[http://www.switchboard.com www.switchboard.com]''''' <span class="Apple-style-span" style="">to f</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="">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>'' | ||
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'''''Step 4: Compile What You Have Learned''''' | === '''''Step 4: Compile What You Have Learned''''' === | ||
Once you have learned about the descendants of your ancestors, record the information, and share it with others. | Once you have learned about the descendants of your ancestors, record the information, and share it with others. | ||
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Although PAF requires some computer experience, the program is not hard to learn. PAF includes numerous tutorials. For additional help, visit '''www.familysearch.org/eng/paf''' | Although PAF requires some computer experience, the program is not hard to learn. PAF includes numerous tutorials. For additional help, visit '''www.familysearch.org/eng/paf''' | ||
'''<br>Conclusion''' | '''<br>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. | 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. | ||
[[Category:United_States]] | [[Category:United_States]] | ||