How to Recognize your United States Ancestor: Difference between revisions

How to Recognize your United States Ancestor (view source)

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 === Tip 2. Is this my ancestor?  ===
-#1Is this the right spouse?
+*Is 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.
-#2Are the economic conditions of this person consistent with the known family history?
+*Are the economic conditions of this person consistent with the known family history?
-: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.
+:It is highly unusual for a wealthy person to&nbsp;be&nbsp;found in a poor section of the county on a small, rented acreage, or for 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.
+:The following records give a good indication of the economic condition of the family:<br>
-*Census records: see the column listing property values.
+:*Census records: notice the column listing property values.
-*Tax lists: see property tax and personal property taxed.
+:*Tax lists: check both property and personal property taxed.
-*Land records: see acreage of lands owned, and number of properties owned.<br>
+:*Land records: see both the number of properties and the acreage of lands owned.
-#3Does the FAN Club of your ancestor match the FAN Club of the possible match?
+*Does 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
-#4Check other records to see what the possible match person did after this record was made.
+:The following records are rich resources for learning the '''F'''amily, '''A'''ssociates, and '''N'''eighbors (FAN Club) of both your ancestor and the possible match:
-: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.
-#5Is the possible match person affiliated with the church you know your ancestor belonged to?
+:*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
-:For example, does the possible match person appear in Presbyterian church records, but you know your ancestor was a Quaker?
+*Check other records to see what the possible match person did after this record was made.
-: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.
-#6Could the possible match person (living in a neighboring county) be my ancestor?
+:Migration can be a good clue:
-: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.
+:*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.
-:For more information, see County Boundary Changes.
+If their data matches, the possible match person is still a candidate.
-#7Why is the name of the possible match person spelled differently from my ancestor's name?
+*Is the possible match person affiliated with the church you know your ancestor belonged to?
-:The name of a person was commonly spelled differently in different documents. For more information, see Name Variations.
+: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.
+*There is a person living in a neighboring county who has the same name as my ancestor. Could they be a possible match person?
+:They may be the same person. Check county boundary changes or parent counties. Your ancestor could own land in a neighboring county, or could have lived on his farm when a new county was formed, finding himself in another county without actually moving.
+:For more information, see County Boundary Changes.
+*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.
 === Tip 3. If I am still not sure, what should I do next?  ===