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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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=== '''Before You Begin''' === | === '''Before You Begin''' === | ||
Fill in a pedigree chart, or locate a pedigree chart for your family. This chart will provide some dates and places to help you get started. <br> | Fill in a pedigree chart, or locate a pedigree chart for your family. This chart will provide some dates and places to help you get started. <br><br> | ||
== '''Doing Descendancy Research''' == | == '''Doing Descendancy Research''' == | ||
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''— For additional search tips, go to the help section of the search engine.'' | ''— For additional search tips, go to the help section of the search engine.'' | ||
</div> <div class="Section2"></div> | </div> <div class="Section2"></div> | ||
=== '''Quick Reference Chart 1 – Where to Look for Previous Research''' === | === '''Quick Reference Chart 1 – Where to Look for Previous Research''' === | ||
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| A search engine may help you find documents anywhere on the Internet that mention the search name you entered. This search often leads to descendant data. | | A search engine may help you find documents anywhere on the Internet that mention the search name you entered. This search often leads to descendant data. | ||
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Go to: '''[http://www.google.com www.google.com]''' or [http://www.yahoo.com '''' | Go to: '''[http://www.google.com www.google.com]''' or [http://www.yahoo.com ']''''''''''''''''''''''''''[http://www.yahoo.com www.yahoo.com]'' | ||
| Type in the information in the search box; then click '''Search'''. Click on the links that seem to contain relevant information. Narrow the search by placing quotation marks around the first and last name—“John K. Doe.” Try putting the surname first—“Doe, John K.” If you do not get any relevant results, try searching without the middle initial or middle name. If you get too many results, try adding a place name or a date. | | Type in the information in the search box; then click '''Search'''. Click on the links that seem to contain relevant information. Narrow the search by placing quotation marks around the first and last name—“John K. Doe.” Try putting the surname first—“Doe, John K.” If you do not get any relevant results, try searching without the middle initial or middle name. If you get too many results, try adding a place name or a date. | ||
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Many obituaries contain information about extended family members related to the person who has died. You can use print and Internet telephone directories to locate people mentioned in an obituary. | Many obituaries contain information about extended family members related to the person who has died. You can use print and Internet telephone directories to locate people mentioned in an obituary. | ||
If you do not know when or where your ancestor died, you may be able to find this information in the Social Security Death Index at [[www.socialsecuritydeathindex.gov]] for ancestors who lived and worked in the United States. The index lists names of deceased individuals from the mid-1960s to the present. It provides the date an ancestor was born, when the person died, and where the person resided at the time of death. This index only includes individuals who had a social security number in the United States. | If you do not know when or where your ancestor died, you may be able to find this information in the Social Security Death Index at [[Www.socialsecuritydeathindex.gov|www.socialsecuritydeathindex.gov]] for ancestors who lived and worked in the United States. The index lists names of deceased individuals from the mid-1960s to the present. It provides the date an ancestor was born, when the person died, and where the person resided at the time of death. This index only includes individuals who had a social security number in the United States. | ||
</div> <div class="Section4"> | </div> <div class="Section4"> | ||
=== '''Quick Reference Chart 2 – Records to Consult''' === | === '''Quick Reference Chart 2 – Records to Consult''' === | ||
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| Local newspapers often publish obituaries, including information about siblings and children. Some began reporting deaths in the 1800s; others started even earlier. Many local libraries and newspaper publishers maintain archives of past newspaper editions on microfilm or on the Internet. | | Local newspapers often publish obituaries, including information about siblings and children. Some began reporting deaths in the 1800s; others started even earlier. Many local libraries and newspaper publishers maintain archives of past newspaper editions on microfilm or on the Internet. | ||
| Find the library or newspaper office. Search the files, or pay the fee to have the librarian or archivist find editions close to the death date. | | Find the library or newspaper office. Search the files, or pay the fee to have the librarian or archivist find editions close to the death date. | ||
| Go to:''' '''[[ | | Go to:''' '''[[Www.switchboard.com|'''www.switchboard.com''']]'' <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">to f</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">ind the telephone number of a newspaper or library in your ancestor’s town. Ask the archivist or librarian what you need to do to obtain information or to arrange an interlibrary loan.</span><br>'' | ||
| Go to: [Address]''''''for a lesson on using obituaries.''''' | | Go to: [Address]''''''for a lesson on using obituaries.''''' | ||
|} | |} | ||
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If you own a computer, you may prefer to record the information you find in an electronic database. There are many computer programs that allow you to do just that. One that is free of charge is Personal Ancestral File (PAF). | If you own a computer, you may prefer to record the information you find in an electronic database. There are many computer programs that allow you to do just that. One that is free of charge is Personal Ancestral File (PAF). | ||
To download the latest version of this program, visit '''[[www.familysearch.org]]''' and follow these steps: | To download the latest version of this program, visit '''[[Www.familysearch.org|www.familysearch.org]]''' and follow these steps: | ||
1. From the home page, click the '''Download PAF''' link located at the bottom of the screen. | 1. From the home page, click the '''Download PAF''' link located at the bottom of the screen. | ||
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3. Follow the download instructions found on the screen. | 3. Follow the download instructions found on the screen. | ||
Although PAF requires some computer experience, the program is not hard to learn. PAF includes numerous tutorials. For additional help, visit '''[[www.familysearch.org/eng/paf]].''' | Although PAF requires some computer experience, the program is not hard to learn. PAF includes numerous tutorials. For additional help, visit '''[[Www.familysearch.org/eng/paf|www.familysearch.org/eng/paf]].''' | ||
=== '''Conclusion''' === | === '''Conclusion''' === | ||
Finding the descendants of your ancestors can be rewarding. This approach to family history research will help you find hundreds of relatives you would have missed had you focused your research only on your ancestors. It might also provide the clues and information you need to get past dead ends in your search for ancestors. Descendancy research will help you locate living relatives you didn’t know about. You can collaborate with living relatives and share the workload with others. Learning about the children, grandchildren, and even the great-grandchildren of your ancestors gives you a more complete picture of your family. | |||
Finding the descendants of your ancestors can be rewarding. This approach to family history research will help you find hundreds of relatives you would have missed had you focused your research only on your ancestors. It might also provide the clues and information you need to get past dead ends in your search for ancestors. Descendancy research will help you locate living relatives you didn’t know about. You can collaborate with living relatives and share the workload with others. Learning about the children, grandchildren, and even the great-grandchildren of your ancestors gives you a more complete picture of your family.</div> | |||