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How to Find Descendants in the United States: Difference between revisions
How to Find Descendants in the United States (view source)
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• ''Begin with individuals or families alive around 1850.'' People who lived in the period from the mid-1800s to the present are usually more easy to find. In many countries, records began to be created by the mid-1800s; that will make your search much easier. Birth and death records became more complete at that time and are more easily accessed. Some countries began to keep census records, including the names and ages of each family member. In addition, more individuals were literate by that time and kept family Bibles and journals. | • ''Begin with individuals or families alive around 1850.'' People who lived in the period from the mid-1800s to the present are usually more easy to find. In many countries, records began to be created by the mid-1800s; that will make your search much easier. Birth and death records became more complete at that time and are more easily accessed. Some countries began to keep census records, including the names and ages of each family member. In addition, more individuals were literate by that time and kept family Bibles and journals. | ||
'' | • ''Record what you find on family group records.'' On a pedigree chart, you can only trace the ancestry of one child, leaving out the rest of the children. A family group record will enable you to record information for all the children in a family, as well as for the parents and grandparents. As you search for the descendants of your ancestors, family group records will help you organize your work and compile what you find. | ||
'' | • ''Begin with real curiosity.'' As you search for the descendants of your ancestors, remember to follow your heart. If you feel strongly that you need to learn about a particular family, listen to those feelings and search for that family. | ||
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'''Finding family records.''' Immediate or extended family members can be a rich resource of information. They may have access to family Bibles, photographs, letters, and personal histories, or they may know where you can go to find these records. | '''Finding family records.''' Immediate or extended family members can be a rich resource of information. They may have access to family Bibles, photographs, letters, and personal histories, or they may know where you can go to find these records. | ||
'''Finding published family histories. '''Family histories are books that give genealogical information about one or more generations of a particular family. These books are often very well-researched and a great resource for finding family information. Some family histories have been poorly researched and documented, however. You should verify that the information you find in published family histories is accurate and documented. | '''Finding published family histories.''' Family histories are books that give genealogical information about one or more generations of a particular family. These books are often very well-researched and a great resource for finding family information. Some family histories have been poorly researched and documented, however. You should verify that the information you find in published family histories is accurate and documented. | ||
You can often find family histories in libraries in the area where your ancestors lived. The Library of Congress and the Family History Library also have extensive collections of published family histories. | You can often find family histories in libraries in the area where your ancestors lived. The Library of Congress and the Family History Library also have extensive collections of published family histories. | ||
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— HeritageQuest Online (Go to: http://heritagequestonline.com.) | — HeritageQuest Online (Go to: http://heritagequestonline.com.) | ||
'''Finding Internet information compiled by others. '''Internet genealogical databases are an excellent additional source. Someone may have already compiled and posted information on the ancestral family you are seeking. A quick search of a few Web sites may yield complete and well-documented research that only requires verification. You may even discover family members with whom you can collaborate. | '''Finding Internet information compiled by others.''' Internet genealogical databases are an excellent additional source. Someone may have already compiled and posted information on the ancestral family you are seeking. A quick search of a few Web sites may yield complete and well-documented research that only requires verification. You may even discover family members with whom you can collaborate. | ||
A good place to start your search for family information that has been compiled by others is [http://www.familysearch.org www.familysearch.org]. This site has several compiled databases that may help you find information, including the Ancestral File, the Pedigree Resource File, and the International Genealogical Index (IGI.) | A good place to start your search for family information that has been compiled by others is [http://www.familysearch.org www.familysearch.org]. This site has several compiled databases that may help you find information, including the Ancestral File, the Pedigree Resource File, and the International Genealogical Index (IGI.) | ||
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'''''Expert Tip'''''''<nowiki>: Your search may result in several sources of information about an ancestor. Focus on records that provide information about other extended family members. These records may not be accurate or complete, but they will give you a starting point. </nowiki>'' | '''''Expert Tip'''''''<nowiki>: Your search may result in several sources of information about an ancestor. Focus on records that provide information about other extended family members. These records may not be accurate or complete, but they will give you a starting point. </nowiki>'' | ||
'''Internet search engines. '''Search engines, such as Google or Yahoo, help you learn if someone has posted information on the Internet about your ancestors or their descendants. Search engines may help you find pedigree charts, family Web sites, cemetery records, personal histories, family Bibles, and so forth. | '''Internet search engines.''' Search engines, such as Google or Yahoo, help you learn if someone has posted information on the Internet about your ancestors or their descendants. Search engines may help you find pedigree charts, family Web sites, cemetery records, personal histories, family Bibles, and so forth. | ||
'''''Expert Tip'''''''<nowiki>: You may find many references to your ancestor in a search engine, especially if he or she has a common name. The following search strategies can help to narrow your search: </nowiki>'' | '''''Expert Tip'''''''<nowiki>: You may find many references to your ancestor in a search engine, especially if he or she has a common name. The following search strategies can help to narrow your search: </nowiki>'' | ||
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Certain records are particularly rich in descendant information. Five record types—census records, wills and probate records, county histories, church records, obituaries—generally include information about parents and children and vital information for each person listed. These records will help you identify the descendants for whom you are searching. In this section you will learn: | Certain records are particularly rich in descendant information. Five record types—census records, wills and probate records, county histories, church records, obituaries—generally include information about parents and children and vital information for each person listed. These records will help you identify the descendants for whom you are searching. In this section you will learn: | ||
• '''What '''you can expect to learn from each type of record. | • '''What''' you can expect to learn from each type of record. | ||
• '''Where '''you can find each type of record. | • '''Where''' you can find each type of record. | ||
'''Census records.''' Many governments have taken regular censuses of their citizens. In the United States, these censuses have taken place every decade since 1790. Many census records are available in a digital, searchable format. If you have census records available, you should search them for a record of your family. This record will guide the rest of your research by placing your family in a particular place at a specific time. Census records can be searched free of charge at any Church family history center with an Internet connection. | '''Census records.''' Many governments have taken regular censuses of their citizens. In the United States, these censuses have taken place every decade since 1790. Many census records are available in a digital, searchable format. If you have census records available, you should search them for a record of your family. This record will guide the rest of your research by placing your family in a particular place at a specific time. Census records can be searched free of charge at any Church family history center with an Internet connection. | ||
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• Women occasionally gave one or more of their male children their maiden name. You can sometimes locate children and grandchildren by using the surname of the mother as the first name when you search census records. | • Women occasionally gave one or more of their male children their maiden name. You can sometimes locate children and grandchildren by using the surname of the mother as the first name when you search census records. | ||
'''Wills and probate records. '''Some counties and states began recording wills or estate probate procedures as early as the 1600s. This practice of settling the estates of property owners became almost universal in the United States by 1900. Family wills can help you identify descendants, since children were commonly listed by name. Even if your ancestor did not leave a will, a probate record containing vital information about heirs may still exist. | '''Wills and probate records.''' Some counties and states began recording wills or estate probate procedures as early as the 1600s. This practice of settling the estates of property owners became almost universal in the United States by 1900. Family wills can help you identify descendants, since children were commonly listed by name. Even if your ancestor did not leave a will, a probate record containing vital information about heirs may still exist. | ||
Wills and probate records are generally kept on a county level, so you will need to have some idea of where your ancestors died to see if they left a will. The Family History Library has a large collection of wills and probate records available on microfilm. | Wills and probate records are generally kept on a county level, so you will need to have some idea of where your ancestors died to see if they left a will. The Family History Library has a large collection of wills and probate records available on microfilm. | ||
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1. From the home page, click the '''Library''' tab at the top of the screen. | 1. From the home page, click the '''Library''' tab at the top of the screen. | ||
2. Click''' Family History Library Catalog'''. | 2. Click '''Family History Library Catalog'''. | ||
3. Click '''Place'''''' Search'''. | 3. Click '''Place'''''' Search'''. | ||