Search the Records: Difference between revisions

''[[Principles of Family History Research|Principles of Family History Research]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[Obtain and Search the Records|Step 4. Obtain and Search the Records]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[Search_the_Records|Search the Records]]''  

Do not trust indexes (that do not list your ancestor). If he should be in the index but is not, try an [[Guessing a Name Variation|alternate spelling of the name]]. Or, search the record page-by-page until you find him. Even if you do find him in the index, thumb through the records for places they missed him in the index until you answer the research question.

Each person’s record may include clues for identifying other family members. Therefore, search for complete families, not just individuals in the record. For example, in passenger lists, search for your ancestor then seek parents, children, and siblings who may be listed. Sometimes other family members are recorded at a later date or on another page. Even if your focus is only on one individual, your research will likely be more successful if you [[Research a Family in Community Context|keep the person in a family and community context]].  

*'''''[[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 Date|Time period to search]].''''' Determine the range of time in which the events could have occurred. For example you may want to search military records for the time period when the person was between 15 and 45 years of age. Dates obtained from some sources may not be accurate. Look several years before and after the date you think an event occurred.

*'''''[[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.

[[Genealogical Proof Standard|Be reasonably thorough]] in order to compare and contrast several records of the same event. A minor detail in a record may be the specific information you need to trace the family further. Look for small clues. Note the occupation of the person and the names of witnesses, godparents, neighbors, relatives, guardians, and others. Search for references to prior residences. Knowing where the family came from is crucial to continued research.  

*It may have been [[Burned Counties Research|destroyed in a flood or fire]].  

On occasion, several different families you are interested in may have lived in the same location and therefore be in the same records. If you are searching for several persons in the same record (see [[One Research Objective at a Time|One Research Objective at a Time]]), be sure to carefully watch for all of them. Don't try for too many. Describe the results on each appropriate research log.  

[[Category:Obtain_and_Search_the_Records|Obtain_and_Search_the_Records]] </div>