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How to Recognize your United States Ancestor (view source)
Revision as of 17:52, 30 July 2010
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*Is 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. | :To verify the name of a wife, check marriage records, children's birth records, land records, cemetery records, church records, and probate records.<br> | ||
*Are 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? | ||
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:It is highly unusual for a wealthy person to be 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. | :It is highly unusual for a wealthy person to be 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: | ||
:*Census records: notice the column listing property values. | :*Census records: notice the column listing property values. | ||
:*Tax lists: check both property and personal property taxed. | :*Tax lists: check both property and personal property taxed. | ||
:*Land records: see both the number of properties and the acreage of lands owned. | :*Land records: see both the number of properties and the acreage of lands owned. | ||
* | *Is the FAN Club of your ancestor the same people as the FAN Club for the possible match? | ||
: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: | :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: | ||
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:*Conversely, if you have a burial record or other proof that your ancestor stayed around, try to determine if the possible match moved. | :*Conversely, if you have a burial record or other proof that your ancestor stayed around, try to determine if the possible match moved. | ||
If their data matches, the possible match person is still a candidate. | :If their data matches, the possible match person is still a candidate.<br> | ||
*Is the possible match person affiliated with the church you know your ancestor belonged to? | *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? | :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. | :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> | ||
*There is a person living in a neighboring county who has the same name as my ancestor. Could they be a possible match person? | *There is a person living in a neighboring county who has the same name as my ancestor. Could they be a possible match person? | ||
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: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. | :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. | :For more information, see County Boundary Changes.<br> | ||
*Why is the name of the possible match person spelled differently from my ancestor's name? | *Why is the name of the possible match person spelled differently from my ancestor's name? | ||