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How to Find Descendants in the United States (view source)
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=== '''''Step 3: Consult Additional Sources''''' === | === '''''Step 3: Consult Additional Sources''''' === | ||
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'''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. | ||
'''''Expert Tip<nowiki>:&nbsp;</nowiki>'''''<nowiki>Starting in 1850, U.S. census records listed the names of each person living in the household. This census and those that followed are an effective resource for finding the names of an entire household.</nowiki> | '''''Expert Tip<nowiki>:&amp;nbsp;</nowiki>'''''<nowiki>Starting in 1850, U.S. census records listed the names of each person living in the household. This census and those that followed are an effective resource for finding the names of an entire household.</nowiki> | ||
Here are some hints for searching through census records: | Here are some hints for searching through census records: | ||
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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 '''[http://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. | 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 '''[http://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> <div class="Section4"></div> | ||
=== '''Quick Reference Chart 2 – Records to Consult''' === | === '''Quick Reference Chart 2 – Records to Consult''' === | ||
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| Thousands were published by counties for the U.S. Centennial in 1876. Most include biographies of residents and contain information about children, grandchildren, siblings, and ancestors. Because fees were often charged for inclusion in the county history, not all residents were included. | | Thousands were published by counties for the U.S. Centennial in 1876. Most include biographies of residents and contain information about children, grandchildren, siblings, and ancestors. Because fees were often charged for inclusion in the county history, not all residents were included. | ||
| Find the county of residence; then search by surname among the county or town history records. | | Find the county of residence; then search by surname among the county or town history records. | ||
| From: '''[http://www.familysearch.org www.familysearch.org]''' '''Library''' > '''Family History Library Catalog''' > '''Place Search'''. Type the name of the county in the '''Place''' field. Type the name of the state in the '''Part of''' field. Click on the '''History''' link.<span | | From: '''[http://www.familysearch.org www.familysearch.org]''' '''Library''' > '''Family History Library Catalog''' > '''Place Search'''. Type the name of the county in the '''Place''' field. Type the name of the state in the '''Part of''' field. Click on the '''History''' link.<span style="font-style: italic;" class="Apple-style-span"> </span>Repeat the process, using the name of the town of residence. | ||
| Go to: [Address] for a lesson on using county historical records. | | Go to: [Address] for a lesson on using county historical records. | ||
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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: '''[http://www.switchboard.com www.switchboard.com]''''' <span | | Go to: '''[http://www.switchboard.com www.switchboard.com]''''' <span style="font-style: normal;" class="Apple-style-span">to f</span><span style="font-style: normal;" class="Apple-style-span">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 | To download the latest version of this program, visit [http://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 ''' | 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]].''' | ||
=== '''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.</div> | |||
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. | |||