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Often you do not begin a search with exact information about you ancestor. The marriage date may have been approximated from the birth date of the first child; you may not know the town or native spelling of the place where they lived. To increase your likelihood of success, establish reasonable ranges for your searches. Learn to [[Select Records | Often you do not begin a search with exact information about you ancestor. The marriage date may have been approximated from the birth date of the first child; you may not know the town or native spelling of the place where they lived. To increase your likelihood of success, establish reasonable ranges for your searches. Learn to [[Select Specific Records#Helpful_Guessing_Skills|guess well]]. For example, identify the following: | ||
*'''''[[Guessing a Place|Geographic areas]].''''' Your information about an ancestor’s residence may not be correct or specific. Some residents near boundaries may be listed in several jurisdictions. Search all appropriate jurisdictions. For example, if you find children's baptisms in a church register, but not the parents' marriage, look in the records of neighboring churches. | *'''''[[Guessing a Place|Geographic areas]].''''' Your information about an ancestor’s residence may not be correct or specific. Some residents near boundaries may be listed in several jurisdictions. Search all appropriate jurisdictions. For example, if you find children's baptisms in a church register, but not the parents' marriage, look in the records of neighboring churches. | ||
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*'''''[[Guessing a Name Variation|Spelling Variations]].''''' The spelling of names and places may vary greatly from record to record and even within the same record. Spelling was not standardized in early records. Many names were not spelled as they are today. Look for the many ways a name could have been spelled. Most record keepers spelled names the way they sounded. | *'''''[[Guessing a Name Variation|Spelling Variations]].''''' The spelling of names and places may vary greatly from record to record and even within the same record. Spelling was not standardized in early records. Many names were not spelled as they are today. Look for the many ways a name could have been spelled. Most record keepers spelled names the way they sounded. | ||
You may want to make a list of all the spelling variations to look for. For example, for the name "Tyrell" you could check for T<u>e</u>rrell, T<u>u</u>rrell, T<u>e</u>rr<u>i</u>ll, Tyrel, Tyr<u>o</u>l, and Tyr<u>a</u>l. Consider translations of the name or place or how persons speaking another language may have spelled the name. The German Johann Schmidt may be found under ''Smith'' if an Englishman made the record. | You may want to make a list of all the spelling variations to look for. For example, for the name "Tyrell" you could check for T<u>e</u>rrell, T<u>u</u>rrell, T<u>e</u>rr<u>i</u>ll, Tyrel, Tyr<u>o</u>l, and Tyr<u>a</u>l. Consider translations of the name or place or how persons speaking another language may have spelled the name. The German Johann Schmidt may be found under ''Smith'' if an Englishman made the record. | ||
== Be Thorough == | == Be Thorough == | ||