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A. Learn about the nature of censuses. | A. Learn about the nature of censuses. | ||
{{Block indent|#Use the Wiki at '''''wiki.FamilySearch.org''''' to learn about federal, state, and local censuses on (a) [[United States Census]] page, and (b) (State) Census pages, for example, [[Illinois Census]] }} | |||
{{Block indent|#Explain a census is in the order of visitation, and what happened if no one was home. }} | |||
{{Block indent|#Discuss why some information on a census may vary from year to year. }} | |||
{{Block indent|#Discuss what is primary, what is secondary, and what is usually reliable information.}} | |||
B. Mental preparation | B. Mental preparation | ||
{{Block indent|#Avoid the "census taker skipped my family" attitude trap }} | |||
{{Block indent|#Develop a "track 'em down!" attitude – plan on finding each family member in every federal, state, local, and school census during their lifetime. }} | |||
{{Block indent|#Be thorough – plan to look up each city directory, tax record, voter list, and plat map.}} | |||
C. A well-documented family group record is important for providing search clues. Add a "new event" line for each census. | C. A well-documented family group record is important for providing search clues. Add a "new event" line for each census. | ||
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B. ''For your 1st computer search “less” is good'' - start with name and state of residence only. | B. ''For your 1st computer search “less” is good'' - start with name and state of residence only. | ||
{{Block indent|'''''If your 1st search fails—'''''}} | |||
{{Block indent|*Never assume your ancestor was skipped in the census. }} | |||
{{Block indent|*Never assume your ancestor's name appears exactly as you expect. }} | |||
{{Block indent|*Always assume you can find an elusive ancestor on the census with more research.}} | |||
C. '''''If too many hits—'''''one-by-one begin adding fields doing the search over with the added info. | C. '''''If too many hits—'''''one-by-one begin adding fields doing the search over with the added info. | ||
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D. '''''If not enough hits—''''' | D. '''''If not enough hits—''''' | ||
{{Block indent|#Try alternate competing indexes for the same census }} | |||
{{Block indent|#Search neighboring counties, states, or nations for the family (change jurisdiction). }} | |||
{{Block indent|#Use Soundex searches (a phonetic index). }} | |||
{{Block indent|#Try wildcard searches (*, $, and ?). }} | |||
{{Block indent|#Keep the same surname, but search for the given name as an '''initial only'''. }} | |||
{{Block indent|#Keep the same surname, but search for '''abbreviations''' of a given name (Wm/William, Jno/John). }} | |||
{{Block indent|#Keep the same surname, but search '''nicknames''' of the given name (Polly for Mary, Bill for Wm). See Wiki at [[Traditional Nicknames in Old Documents - A Wiki List]]. }} | |||
{{Block indent|#Keep the surname, drop the first name, search on the '''middle name''' or middle initial. }} | |||
{{Block indent|#Keep the same surname, search '''without any given names''' at all (narrow to state and/or county), and go through the hits one by one. }} | |||
{{Block indent|#Narrow down the locality to a state and/or county, then search on '''first name only''' (or age only) and go through the hits one by one. Watch for sibling’s first names in case the surname changed. }} | |||
{{Block indent|1=#Search the surname with '''different vowels''' (GIL = GAL, GEL, GOL, GUL, GYL). |2=1}} | |||
{{Block indent|#Search for the surname with '''double letters''' added or deleted (BAKKER, FULER). }} | |||
{{Block indent|1=#Search the surname with the first 3 '''letters transposed''' (WIGHT = IWGHT, WGIHT, WIHGT). |2=1}} | |||
{{Block indent|#Substitute '''frequently misread letters''' in searches - ''Printed Sources''<ref>G. David Dilts, “Censuses and Tax Lists” in Kory L. Meyerink, ''Printed Sources: A Guide to Published Genealogical Records'' (Salt Lake City: Ancestry, 1998), 336.</ref> page 336. }} | |||
{{Block indent|#'''Phonetic substitutes''' in searches - ''Printed Sources''<ref>Dilts, 331.</ref> page 331. }} | |||
{{Block indent|#Search for '''relatives''' (children, parents, siblings, uncles, aunts, cousins). }} | |||
{{Block indent|#Search for next door '''neighbors''' from the previous or following census year. }} | |||
{{Block indent|#If your ancestor had an unusual occupation, search without any names for that occupation. }} | |||
{{Block indent|#Search the '''original census''' in the area where the person lived (without indexes). }} | |||
{{Block indent|#Search census substitutes like tax records, directories, and plat maps.}} | |||
=== When you do find an ancestor in the census— === | === When you do find an ancestor in the census— === | ||
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B. Nine things you must do before you lay your head on the pillow (to bring out clues, and prepare for better analysis later): | B. Nine things you must do before you lay your head on the pillow (to bring out clues, and prepare for better analysis later): | ||
{{Block indent|#Capture a photocopy for later analysis (flash drive or paper copy). }} | |||
{{Block indent|#Type the footnote on the front of the copy to start you thinking about the source. }} | |||
{{Block indent|#Assign a file number electronically or on back of paper copy. }} | |||
{{Block indent|#Summarize your findings on all appropriate research logs–often more than 1 family. }} | |||
{{Block indent|#Transfer all parts of the data to the family group for each family member. At least add a new event (census) for each census year for each family member. }} | |||
{{Block indent|#Add a footnote for each piece of data added to the family group. }} | |||
{{Block indent|#Give a preliminary assessment of the data in each footnote's comments field. }} | |||
{{Block indent|#Print an updated family group (discard the old). }} | |||
{{Block indent|#File the new family group (and paper photocopy)}} | |||
C. Move on to the next census year for the same family's members. | C. Move on to the next census year for the same family's members. | ||
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B. Do NOT trust censuses fully. Limitations and how to overcome them. | B. Do NOT trust censuses fully. Limitations and how to overcome them. | ||
{{Block indent|#Over counts: IF you find a person more than once, check EACH locality for more records. }} | |||
{{Block indent|#Under counts: compare the tax lists, directories, plat maps, and consult other record types. }} | |||
{{Block indent|#Misspellings: be flexible, search for alternate spellings<ref>Dilts, 331 and 336.</ref> , see Printed Sources page 331. }} | |||
{{Block indent|#Name changes: search all available records, search on given names or for neighbors. }} | |||
{{Block indent|#Misunderstandings (hearing, language, or alphabet problems): see misspellings. }} | |||
{{Block indent|#False Information: compare a variety of sources to recognize misleading information. }} | |||
{{Block indent|#Missing years and records (between "snapshots" of lost records): use all available sources. }} | |||
{{Block indent|#Boundary confusion: Thorndale & Dollarhide, ''Map Guide to the U.S. Federal Censuses, 1790-1920''.<ref>William Thorndale, and William Dollarhide, ''Map Guide to the U.S. Federal Censuses, 1790-1920'' (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1987).</ref>}} | |||
C. For 1790-1840 censuses with tally marks list which family members the tally marks most likely represent based on corresponding gender and age. | C. For 1790-1840 censuses with tally marks list which family members the tally marks most likely represent based on corresponding gender and age. | ||
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F. Analyze your family in community context, especially in census and land records.<ref>Mills, “Census: Analysis, Interpretation & Correlation,” 4M3.</ref> | F. Analyze your family in community context, especially in census and land records.<ref>Mills, “Census: Analysis, Interpretation & Correlation,” 4M3.</ref> | ||
{{Block indent|#Extract full information on individuals in the area with the same surname. }} | |||
{{Block indent|#Extract full information on individuals by a different surname living in the same household. }} | |||
{{Block indent|#Identify the neighbors, at least a dozen before and after. Notice who the land owners were. }} | |||
{{Block indent|#If the family lived near a county or state line, study individuals of the same surname in the adjacent counties or states. }} | |||
{{Block indent|#Comb the neighborhood for families with similar naming patterns, origins, or occupations.}} | |||
G. Correlate a variety records of neighbors and infer relationships.<ref>Mills, “Evidence Analysis Workshop,” 4F2.</ref> | G. Correlate a variety records of neighbors and infer relationships.<ref>Mills, “Evidence Analysis Workshop,” 4F2.</ref> | ||
{{Block indent|#Use census, directories, tax records, court records, plat maps, & land to identify neighbors. }} | |||
{{Block indent|#Use proximity, naming patterns, occupations, document witnesses, analysis, and deduction to infer probable relationships. }} | |||
{{Block indent|#Correlate other sources about neighbors and use logic to confirm or reject those inferences.}} | |||
H. Draw a map of the route the census taker went in order to learn the whereabouts of neighbors.<ref>Noel Barton presented this concept in a lesson about the census in Kaysville, Utah, at the FamilySearch Library about 1988.</ref> | H. Draw a map of the route the census taker went in order to learn the whereabouts of neighbors.<ref>Noel Barton presented this concept in a lesson about the census in Kaysville, Utah, at the FamilySearch Library about 1988.</ref> | ||
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