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== '''Value of Descendancy Research''' == | == '''Value of Descendancy Research''' == | ||
'''More names per generation.''' One advantage of descendancy research is the potential number of names you could find. Most families have more than two children per couple. If all those children marry and have more than two children, there is a potential to find more relatives by descendancy research than in the same number of generations of pedigree research. However, to be fair, pedigree researchers also usually research the immediate children of each couple on their pedigree. In theory, assuming each generation has exactly four children who live, marry once, and have exactly four children, in three generations, pedigree researchers would find 42 relatives (counting spouses and | '''More names per generation.''' One advantage of descendancy research is the potential number of names you could find. Most families have more than two children per couple. If all those children marry and have more than two children, there is a potential to find more relatives by descendancy research than in the same number of generations of pedigree research. However, to be fair, pedigree researchers also usually research the immediate children of each couple on their pedigree. In theory, assuming each generation has exactly four children who live, marry once, and have exactly four children, in three generations, pedigree researchers would find 42 relatives (counting spouses and immediate children), and descendancy researchers would find 106 relatives. With larger families the difference can increase dramatically. This way of counting names does not change the number of actual people who have lived—it only changes because of who you count as a relative. | ||
[[Image:Descendancy research 3.jpg|left|Descendancy research 3.jpg]] | [[Image:Descendancy research 3.jpg|left|Descendancy research 3.jpg]] | ||
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<br>'''Find people who are doing research | <br>'''Find people who are doing research for names that tie into your pedigree. ''' If you can locate a genealogical collection that someone else has done, you can get in touch with them and share information and sources--extending your pedigree. | ||
'''More clues.''' Descendancy research can lead you to important clues, contacts, or records such as family Bibles that you might not find if you researched only direct ancestors and their immediate children. Collaborating with new contacts about the new clues you find may help you get past dead ends in your ancestral research. | '''More clues.''' Descendancy research can lead you to important clues, contacts, or records such as family Bibles that you might not find if you researched only direct ancestors and their immediate children. Collaborating with new contacts about the new clues you find may help you get past dead ends in your ancestral research. | ||
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You may find family histories in libraries in the area where your ancestors lived. The Library of Congress and the FamilySearch Library also have extensive collections of published family histories.'''''<br>'''''<br>'''Finding Internet information compiled by others.''' Internet genealogical databases are another possible source. Someone may have already posted information on the family you are seeking. A quick search of web sites may yield complete and well-documented research that only requires verification. You may even discover family members with whom you can collaborate. | You may find family histories in libraries in the area where your ancestors lived. The Library of Congress and the FamilySearch Library also have extensive collections of published family histories.'''''<br>'''''<br>'''Finding Internet information compiled by others.''' Internet genealogical databases are another possible source. Someone may have already posted information on the family you are seeking. A quick search of 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 [https://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 [https://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). Websites such as [http://usgenweb.org/ GenWeb] and [http://wc.rootsweb.com Rootsweb] have collections of genealogies. You may want to post on genealogy boards the names and timeframe you are searching for, in order to get in touch with others who are looking for the same people. [http://boards.ancestry.com Ancestry] has both genealogy collections and a board for posting notes. | ||
'''Internet search engines.''' Search engines, such as [http://www.google.com/ Google] or [http://www.yahoo.com/ 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 Websites, cemetery records, personal histories, family Bibles, and so forth.<br> | '''Internet search engines.''' Search engines, such as [http://www.google.com/ Google] or [http://www.yahoo.com/ 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 Websites, cemetery records, personal histories, family Bibles, and so forth.<br> | ||
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*You many also want to try the name without middle initials. | *You many also want to try the name without middle initials. | ||
*Remember to try [[Guessing a Name Variation|alternate spellings, abbreviations, nicknames]], and so forth. | *Remember to try [[Guessing a Name Variation|alternate spellings, abbreviations, nicknames]], and so forth. | ||
*Try adding a place name or date to your search terms. For example, to find all the Werths from Chicago, enter a search phrase like '''''Werth Chicago'''''. | *Try adding a place name or date to your search terms. For example, to find all the Werths from Chicago, enter a search phrase like '''''Werth Chicago'''''. | ||
*Try typing the family name, along with the word "genealogy" or "family history." | *Try typing the family name, along with the word "genealogy" or "family history." | ||
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Click '''[https://www.familysearch.org/#form=trees here]''' to search | Click '''[https://www.familysearch.org/#form=trees here]''' to search the '''''Pedigree Resource File''''' | ||
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Internet Search Engines | Internet Search Engines | ||
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Click [http://www.google.com/ '''here | Click [http://www.google.com/ '''here '''] to use the '''Google''' search engine, or click '''[http://www.yahoo.com here]''' to use '''Yahoo'''<br> | ||
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=== '''''Step 4: Consult Additional Sources''''' === | === '''''Step 4: Consult Additional Sources''''' === | ||
<div class="Section3"> | <div class="Section3"> | ||
Five record types are | Five record types are especially rich in descendant information:<br> | ||
*[[United States Census|census records]]<br> | *[[United States Census|census records]]<br> | ||
*[[United States Probate Records|wills | *[[United States Probate Records|wills (probate records)]]<br> | ||
*[[United States History|county and local histories]]<br> | *[[United States History|county and local histories]]<br> | ||
*[[United States Church Records|church records]]<br> | *[[United States Church Records|church records]]<br> | ||
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'''Census Records.''' Censuses show where a family lived. When you know where someone lived you can search for other records created for them in that place. Censuses also may list all living members of a family, and tell their relationship to the head of house. | '''Census Records.''' Censuses show where a family lived. When you know where someone lived you can search for other records created for them in that place. Censuses also may list all living members of a family, and tell their relationship to the head of house. The best researchers use ALL the censuses available for every member of a family. <br> | ||
*To use the '''British''' 1881 census index online click [http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/frameset_search.asp?PAGE=census/search_census.asp here] and in the Census field select the ''1881 British Census''.<br> | *To use the '''British''' 1881 census index online click [http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/frameset_search.asp?PAGE=census/search_census.asp here] and in the Census field select the ''1881 British Census''.<br> | ||
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#Look for "History" among the record types. Microfilms of the listed records are available in the FamilySearch Library and may be available to viewing from a local FamilySearch center.<br> | #Look for "History" among the record types. Microfilms of the listed records are available in the FamilySearch Library and may be available to viewing from a local FamilySearch center.<br> | ||
<div class="Section3"> | <div class="Section3"> | ||
'''Church records. | '''Church records. '''Many churches kept christening (baptism) records showing a child and parents. If you can guess the denomination of your ancestor, look for church records. To see church records available at the FamilySearch Library and FamilySearch Centers, click here and follow these steps: | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
#In the '''Place''' field, type the name of the town (or county) where your ancestor resided. | #In the '''Place''' field, type the name of the town (or county) where your ancestor resided. | ||
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Each time you find information about an ancestor, [[Document AS YOU GO!|document it as you go]]. Good documentation will increase the value of your work when you share it with others. Sharing research with others helps verify the findings, and leads to new information.<br> | Each time you find information about an ancestor, [[Document AS YOU GO!|document it as you go]]. Good documentation will increase the value of your work when you share it with others. Sharing research with others helps verify the findings, and leads to new information.<br> | ||
'''Document what you find. | '''Document what you find. '''As you identify the members of your ancestral families, put the information on [[Research Logs|research logs]] and family group records. The family group record is the most widely-used means for recording information about parents and their descendants. | ||
Several computer programs make the creation and updating of family group records and descendancy charts easier. You can download programs starting from the [https://www.familysearch.org FamilySearch home page]. <br> | Several computer programs make the creation and updating of family group records and descendancy charts easier. You can download programs starting from the [https://www.familysearch.org FamilySearch home page]. <br> | ||
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