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| Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a [[Use_Appropriate_Forms#Prepare_a_Research_Log |research log]]. | | Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a [[Use_Appropriate_Forms#Prepare_a_Research_Log |research log]]. |
| == What Do I Do Next? == | | == What Do I Do Next? == |
| === I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now? === | | === I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now? === |
| *Add any new information to your records | | *Add any new information to your records |
| *Use the age to find an approximate birth year to begin your search in church or civil records | | *If available, check the image for additional information |
| *Continue to search the records to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives who may have moved, been recruited or lived nearby. This can help you identify other generations of your family. Repeat this process for each new generation you identify. Compile the entries for every person who has the same surname; this is especially helpful in rural areas or if the surname is unusual. This compiled list can help you identify possible relations that can be further verified by researching [https://familysearch.org/wiki/en/South_Africa_Vital_Records_Index vital records indexes] in the country | | *Analyze the entry to see if it provides additional clues to find other records of the person or their family |
| *When you have located your ancestor’s record, carefully evaluate each piece of information given. Save a copy of the image or transcribe the information. These pieces of information may give you new biographical details such as a title, an occupation, or land ownership. Add this new information to your records of each family. You should also look for leads to other records about your ancestors
| | === I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now? === |
| *[[South Africa Church Records|Church Records]] often were kept years before government records were required and are a good source for finding ancestors before 1900
| | *The person may be recorded with an abbreviated or variant form of their name |
| ===I Can't Find the Person I'm Looking For, What Now?=== | | *Try searching by surname only |
| *Switch to a different record collection. Depending on the time period, either Civil Registration records or Church Records may be more useful | | *Remember that spelling was generally not standardized until the early part of the 20th century |
| *While searching, it is helpful to know such information as the ancestor’s given name and surname, some identifying information such as residence and age, and family relationships. Remember that there may be more than one person in the records with the same name as an ancestor and that the ancestor may have used nicknames or different names at different times
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| *Keep in mind that there may be more than one person in the records with the same name
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| *Standard spelling of names typically did not exist during the periods our ancestors lived in. Try variations of your ancestor’s name while searching the index or browsing through images. Pay special attention to how the name should have been pronounced and try variations on the pronunciation | |
| *Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames or alternated between using first and middle names | |
| *Search the indexes and records of [[South Africa Societies|local genealogical societies]]
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| *Earlier records may not contain as much information as the records created after the late 1800
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| *There is also some variation in the information given from one record to another
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| *Be aware that there may have been some transcription errors
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| === Research Helps === | | === Research Helps === |
| The following article will help you in your research for your family in [[South Africa Genealogy|South Africa]. | | The following articles will help you in your research for your family in [[South Africa Genealogy|South Africa]]. |
| * [[South Africa Record Finder]] | | *[[South Africa Record Finder]] |
| {{HR Tip|Don't overlook {{FHL|South Africa, Church records|keywords|disp}} items in the FamilySearch Catalog. For other libraries (local and national) or to gain access to items of interest, see the wiki article [[South Africa Archives and Libraries]].}}
| | *[[South Africa Finding Town of Origin]] |
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| == Citing This Collection == | | == Citing This Collection == |
| Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used. | | Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used. |