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How to Recognize your United States Ancestor: Difference between revisions

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How to Recognize your United States Ancestor (view source)

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*Is the possible match person too young or too old to have been my ancestor?  
*Is the possible match person too young or too old to have been my ancestor?  
*Are names of children of the possible match consistent with what I know about the children of my ancestor?  
*Are names of children of the possible match consistent with what I know about the children of my ancestor?  
*Do the ages of the children seem logical? Are they too young or too old to belong to my ancestor?
*Do the ages of the children seem logical or are they too young or too old to belong to my ancestor?
 
For more questions to help you analyze, see Tip 2 '''Is this my ancestor?'''


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=== Tip 2. Is this my ancestor?  ===
=== Tip 2. Is this my ancestor?  ===


==== <br>3. Is this the right spouse? ====
#1Is this the right spouse?
 
To verify the name of a wife, check marriage records, children's birth records, land records, cemetery records, church records, and probate records.


==== 4. Are the economic conditions of this person consistent with the known family history?  ====
:To verify the name of a wife, check marriage records, children's birth records, land records, cemetery records, church records, and probate records.


It is highly unusual for a wealthy person to suddenly be farming in a poor section of the county on a small, rented acreage, or a poor person to suddenly be a noted county official, living in a mansion. The following records give a good indication of the economic condition of the family.
#2Are the economic conditions of this person consistent with the known family history?


<br>Census records: see the column listing property values. <br>Tax lists: see property tax and personal property taxed. <br>Land records: see acreage of lands owned, and number of properties owned.  
:It is highly unusual for a wealthy person to suddenly be farming in a poor section of the county on a small, rented acreage, or a poor person to suddenly be a noted county official, living in a mansion.  


==== <br>5. Do the relatives and associates of your ancestor appear in records with the possible match?  ====
:The following records give a good indication of the economic condition of the family.  
*Census records: see the column listing property values.
*Tax lists: see property tax and personal property taxed.
*Land records: see acreage of lands owned, and number of properties owned.<br>


<br>Check land records of the possible match person for neighbors and witnesses of deeds to see if their names are the same people you know associated with your ancestor. <br>Check marriage records of the possible match person and his children to see if the bondsmen and witnesses are persons who you know associated with your ancestor. <br>Check church records of the possible match person to see if the names of members in the congregation were also associates of your ancestor. <br>Check other records to see what the possible match person did after this record was made. Migration can be a good clue:
#3Does the FAN Club of your ancestor match the FAN Club of the possible match?
:The following records are rich resources for learning the Family, Associates, and Neighbors (FAN Club) of both your ancestor and the possible match:
*Land records for witnesses and neighbors
*Censuses for neighbors
*Marriage records to learn the names of grooms for sisters or aunts
*Church records to learn names of other members


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#4Check other records to see what the possible match person did after this record was made.
:Migration can be a good clue:
*If your ancestor moved, see if the possible match person stayed around or did they seem to have migrated?
*Conversely, if you have a burial record or other proof that your ancestor stayed around, try to determine if the possible match moved.
:If there data matches, the possible match person is still a candidate.


- If the possible match person migrated to a new location, does that eliminate him or her because you have a burial record or other proof that your ancestor remained in the old location? - If the possible match person migrated to a new location, could this be your ancestor, and you did not know he or she had moved? <br>
#5Is the possible match person affiliated with the church you know your ancestor belonged to?  


==== <br>6. Is the possible match person affiliated with the church you know your ancestor belonged to? ====
:For example, does the possible match person appear in Presbyterian church records, but you know your ancestor was a Quaker?
:Be careful here, since people may have changed religions. For example, your ancestor may have been a Quaker originally, but went to war or married out of the faith.


<br>Does the possible match person appear in Presbyterian church records, but you know your ancestor was a Quaker? <br>Is there evidence that the possible match person changed religions, such as from Quaker to Presbyterian? Was he a Quaker originally, but then married out of the faith and was disowned? Could this actually be what happened to your ancestor, and they are the same person?  
#6Could the possible match person (living in a neighboring county) be my ancestor?  


==== <br>7. Could the possible match person, living in a neighboring county, be my ancestor?  ====
:Check county boundary changes on a map to see if the county where you know your ancestor lived could have once been part of another county. Your ancestor could have lived in the other county for a time, without actually moving his or her residence.


Check county boundary changes on a map to see if the county where you know your ancestor lived could have once been part of another county. Your ancestor could have lived in the other county for a time, without actually moving his or her residence.  
:For more information, see County Boundary Changes.  


For more information, see County Boundary Changes.
#7Why is the name of the possible match person spelled differently from my ancestor's name?


==== <br>8. Why is the name of the possible match person spelled differently from my ancestor's name?  ====
:The name of a person was commonly spelled differently in different documents. For more information, see Name Variations.


The name of a person was commonly spelled differently in different documents. For more information, see Name Variations.


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=== Tip 3. If I am still not sure I have found my ancestor, what should I do next?  ===
=== Tip 3. If I am still not sure, what should I do next?  ===


Choose another record which has a possible match person, and repeat the first 4 steps in this guide.  
Choose another record which has a possible match person, and repeat the first 4 steps in this guide.  


Other major records available in most places in the United States include:  
Other major records available in most places in the United States include:  
*Census records, both federal and state
*Birth, marriage and death records, frequently known as "Vital Records"
*Cemetery records
*Church records
*Land records
*Probate records (wills, administrations, inventories).


<br>Census records, both federal and state. <br>Birth, marriage and death records, known as "Vital Records." <br>Cemetery records. <br>Church records. <br>Land records. <br>Probate records (wills, administrations, inventories).
Many of these records were created on a county or town level. In this FamilySearch Wiki, search for the county you need. The county page will list various types of records with links to online resources and to records available through the Family History Library or Family History Centers.
 
<br>To locate these records, see the Records Selection Table in the United States Research Outline to help you decide which records to search.
 
For descriptions of records available through Family History Centers or the Family History Library, click on Family History Library Catalog on the bar above.
 
<br>Click on Place Search, and type the name of the state, county, or town in the Place box. When searching towns or counties, add the name of the state in the Part of (optional) box. <br>Select from the list of topics for that place. <br>Select from the list of titles to see descriptions of the records with the film or book call numbers. <br>Use that information to obtain the records at a family history center or at the Family History Library.
 
<br>To find birth and death records, search for state records, then for county records, and then for town records.
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