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How to Recognize your United States Ancestor: Difference between revisions
How to Recognize your United States Ancestor (view source)
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= Introduction = | = Introduction = | ||
Imagine you have searched a record and found a person who is a possible match for your ancestor. | Imagine you have searched a record and found a person who is a possible match for your ancestor. It gets exciting, for finding your ancestor in a record is one of the true joys of genealogical research. | ||
However, there are pitfalls along the way. Sometimes | However, there are pitfalls along the way. Sometimes we want so much to find our ancestor that we ignore the pitfalls and end up "barking up the wrong family tree." Correct connections come from building the identity of your ancestor and comparing what you know with what you learn about each possible match. | ||
This guide will help you ask | This guide will help you ask questions and help you decide if a person is, in fact, your ancestor. | ||
As you compare what you already know about your ancestor against the new information you found | As you compare what you already know about your ancestor against the new information you found, you can decide whether you can feel reasonably sure that you have located your ancestor. | ||
= Steps = | = Steps = | ||
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=== Step 1. Build an identity for your ancestor === | === Step 1. Build an identity for your ancestor === | ||
As you research, your goal is to build on the identity of your ancestor. You need to know enough to be able to recognize him or her in the records you search. Your ancestor's identity also helps you to not be sidetracked when you find | As you research, your goal is to build on the identity of your ancestor. You need to know enough to be able to recognize him or her in the records you search. Your ancestor's identity also helps you to not be sidetracked when you find another person with the same name—a possible match. | ||
These will help you identify your ancestor clearly: | These ideas will help you identify your ancestor clearly: | ||
*Make a time line with dates and places of events in your ancestor's life. | *Make a time line with dates and places of events in your ancestor's life. | ||
:Include everything—when they bought or sold land, children, military service, and of course births, marriages, and deaths. | :Include everything—when they bought or sold land, children, military service, and of course births, marriages, and deaths. | ||
:Consider mentioning what was happening in | |||
:Consider mentioning what was happening in the community and how those events may have affected your ancestor. | |||
:On your time line, include other people named in documents you find for each date and event. | |||
:Briefly give the source of your information. | :Briefly give the source of your information. | ||
:Here's an example of a timeline: [to do] | |||
<br> | *Use an analysis chart to identify and evaluate what you know. [Link to analysis chart?] | ||
*Consider what your findings may suggest. <br> | |||
=== Step 2. Learn about the person who is a possible match === | === Step 2. Learn about the person who is a possible match === | ||
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*Make a time line of information given in the record of the possible match person. This time line may be quite small but will establish dates and places clearly. | *Make a time line of information given in the record of the possible match person. This time line may be quite small but will establish dates and places clearly. | ||
*On | *On that time line, include other persons mentioned in the record. | ||
*Use an analysis chart to identify and evaluate what you know. | *Use an analysis chart to identify and evaluate what you know. | ||
*Evaluate what that information may suggest. | *Evaluate what that information may suggest. | ||
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For helps in making a time line, see Tip 1. | For helps in making a time line, see Tip 1. | ||
POSSIBLE MATCH Analysis Chart for a Single Record: Samuel Richman and others (name of person) Woodstown Methodist Church Records, Salem Co., NJ (name of record) <br> | POSSIBLE MATCH Analysis Chart for a Single Record: Samuel Richman and others (name of person) Woodstown Methodist Church Records, Salem Co., NJ (name of record) <br> | ||
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*Do the ages of the children seem logical or 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?''' | For more questions to help you analyze, see Tip 2 '''Is this my ancestor?''' | ||
<br> | <br> | ||
=== Step 4. Make a decision about the possible match === | === Step 4. Make a decision about the possible match === | ||
To decide about the possible match person, do one of the following: | To decide about the possible match person, do one of the following: | ||
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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" | *Census records, both federal and state | ||
*Cemetery records | *Birth, marriage and death records, frequently known as "Vital Records" | ||
*Church records | *Cemetery records | ||
*Land records | *Church records | ||
*Probate records (wills, administrations, inventories). | *Land records | ||
*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. | 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. | ||