How to Find Descendants in the United States: Difference between revisions

The goal of descendancy research is to find the children (and spouses), grandchildren (and spouses), and so forth of an ancestral couple. Descendancy research starts farther back in time and moves toward the present. <br>  

'''Motives for descendancy research.''' Researchers sometimes do descendancy research in order to:  

*contact relatives who have moved to distant lands  

*show a relationship to a famous ancestor  

*find genealogical evidence such as the family Bible of a common ancestor  

*return a family heirloom such as an old photograph  

*find heirs of an unclaimed rich estate  

*locate possible compatable organ donors  

*identify family members who may have an inherited tendancy toward a disease  

*publish an article in a genealogical journal like the ''New England Historical and Genealogical Society Register''  

*submit an application for certification with the Board for Certification of Genealogists  

*find more names to submit for LDS temple ordinances.<br>

== '''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 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.  

'''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.  

'''To understand the family better.''' Understanding the children often leads to more information about the parents. The best researchers seek to understand a family in community context. Learning about descendants is part of understanding the family's community and why they lived their lives the way they did.<br>  

'''More recent records''' are usually easier to find, more complete, and easier to understand. Descendancy research takes advantage of more recent records over earlier, usually harder-to-find older records.  

On the other hand, some genealogists consider descendancy research easier—an opportunity to snatch the low-hanging fruit<ref>Sam Lower, "Picking the Low-Hanging Fruit," ''Ensign'', April 2007, 46. On the Internet with the article by George D. Durrant, "[http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&amp;locale=0&amp;sourceId=165c6f708ee71110VgnVCM100000176f620a____&amp;hideNav=1 Branching Out on Your Family Tree]," ''Ensign'', April 2007, 44-47.</ref> by the wagon full.  

'''''Latter-day Saints''''' have the responsibility to research and submit for temple ordinances direct-line ancestors and their children. Private extraction programs are not appropriate. Further, living children and spouses may wish to have the ordinances postponed for near relatives. Acting in conflict with the wishes of the closest living relative can result in bad feelings.<ref>[http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/31377165&referer=brief_results ''A Member's Guide to Temple and Family History Work: Ordinances and Covenants''] (Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1993), 14.</ref> Mass descendancy research and submissions by an overzealous distant cousin often deprive more closely related family members of the joy of contributing work on their nearer relatives.  

'''''Protect privacy and the feelings of others.''''' When doing descendancy research please be protective of the privacy of living people. Please be respectful and considerate of the feelings of living relatives regarding their deceased ancestors.  

== '''Doing Descendancy Research'''<br> ==

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <u>'''Steps of Descendancy Research'''</u>  

Step 1: Prepare  

Step 2: Choose a Starting Family  

Step 3: Collect Previous Research  

Step 4: Consult Additional Sources  

Step 5: Compile and Share What You Have Learned<br>  

<br>  

=== '''''Step 1: Prepare''''' ===

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.  

=== '''''Step 2: Choose a Starting Family''''' ===

Do you have an ancestor about whom you are curious? Have you heard intriguing stories about a great-grandparent? Possibly you are looking for a genetic connection to a great uncle who may have had the same illness you have just had diagnosed. Many reasons may spark your interest in a particular individual or family. Regardless of how you decide, the first step is to choose an individual or family to use as the starting point.  

Here are a few suggestions to keep in mind as you get started:  

*'''''Begin with what you know.''''' If you already know the names of your great-grandparents and approximately when and where they were married, it will be much easier to search for their descendants.  

*'''''Begin with individuals or families alive around 1850.''''' People who lived in the period from the mid-1800s to the present are usually easier to find. In many countries, birth, and death records began to be created by the mid-1800s. Also, some countries began to keep census records showing the names and ages of each family member.  

*'''''Record what you find on family group records.''''' A family group record will enable you to record information for all the children in a family, parents and grandparents. As you search for the descendants of your ancestors, family group records will help you organize your work.

=== '''''Step 3: Collect Previous Research''''' ===

Someone else may have already started gathering information about the family you have selected. Your extended family members may have this information, or you may be able to find it in published family histories or on the Internet.  

*[http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=surnamesearch&columns=*,0,0 Family History Library Catalog Surname Search]  

*[http://www.lib.byu.edu/fhc/ BYU Family History Archives Online]  

*[http://worldcat.org/ WorldCat (WorldCatalog) Search]  

*[http://catalog.loc.gov/ Library of Congress Online Catalog]  

*[http://persi.heritagequestonline.com/hqoweb/library/do/books/search/people HeritageQuestOnline Books]  

*[http://www.ancestryinstitution.com/search/rectype/familylocalhistories/default.aspx?rt=33 Ancestry Stories, Memories, &amp; Histories]<br>

'''Finding family records.''' Contact family members for 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 may give genealogical information about one or more generations of a family. They are a great place to start, but verify information you find in published family histories for accuracy.  

You may 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.'''''<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 [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).'''''<br>'''''<nowiki></nowiki>  

'''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 Web sites, cemetery records, personal histories, family Bibles, and so forth.<br>  

*To search for an exact phrase or name, put quotation marks around your search terms. For example, search on "John K. Doe" (typing the quotation marks into the search box). Also try putting the surname first and the given name second—“Doe, John K.”  

*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.  

*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'''''.&nbsp;<br>

'''Quick Reference Chart 1 – Where to Look for Previous Research'''  

'''Internet Resource'''  

'''Contents'''  

'''Access'''  

'''Instructions'''  

Published Family Histories  

The Family History Library Catalog has an index of published family histories.  

Click '''[http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=surnamesearch&columns=*,0,0 here]''' to use the '''Surname Search''' of the Family History Library Catalog  

Enter the family name in the search box; then check the search results. If the book has been microfilmed, you can order a copy of it through your local family history center. For common surnames, choose '''Keyword Search''' in the Family History Library Catalog and add an additional surname or the name of the location where the family lived to narrow the search.  

Compiled Family Genealogies  

Use the Pedigree Resource File (PRF) to see if someone has already identified some or all of the children in the family you are researching.  

Click '''[http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/frameset_search.asp?PAGE=prf/search_PRF.asp&clear_form=true here]''' to search&nbsp; the '''''Pedigree Resource File'''''  

Enter the family name and fill in other boxes you might have information for; then click '''Search'''. There may be multiple results. Look for records that include spouse and children. Remember that records in the Pedigree Resource File may not always be accurate or complete. Use them as a starting point.  

Internet Search Engines&nbsp;  

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.  

Click [http://www.google.com/ '''here&nbsp;'''] to use the '''Google''' search engine, or click '''[http://www.yahoo.com here]''' to use '''Yahoo'''<br>  

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.  

<br>  

'''Broadening your search.''' A quick review of published family histories, compiled genealogies, and resources on the Internet will tell you how much research may still be needed. For information on how to do basic research, go to [[How to Begin a Search for Your Ancestor|How to Begin a Search for Your Ancestor]].<br>  

=== '''''Step 4: Consult Additional Sources''''' ===

Five record types are particularly rich in descendant information:<br>  

*[[United States Census|census]]<br>  

*[[United States Probate Records|wills&nbsp;(probate records)]]<br>  

*county and local [[United States History|histories]]<br>  

*[[United States Church Records|church records]]<br>  

*[[United States Obituaries|obituaries]]

'''Census.''' 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.&nbsp; 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>  

*For links to the '''Canadian''' census indexes online click [http://www.warnes.net/Teslacorp/GenealogyLinks/index_html?Tab=2-Canada%20Records here] and scroll down to the Census Records section to select a province and census year.<br>  

*For links to the '''United States''' census indexes online click [http://www.warnes.net/Teslacorp/GenealogyLinks/index_html?Tab=4-US%20Census here] and select a state and census year.<br>

'''Wills and probate records.''' Some jurisdictions have wills or probate records useful to genealogists as early as the 1600s. Wills commonly list children by name. Even if your ancestor did not leave a will, a probate record containing a list of possible 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 find a will. To see probate records available at the Family History Library and Family History Centers, click [http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=localitysearch&columns=*,0,0 here] and follow these steps:<br>  

#In the '''Place''' field, type the name of the county where your ancestor resided.  

#In the '''Part of''' field, type the name of the state in which the county is located.  

#Look for "Probate Records" listed among the record types. Microfilms of the listed records are available in the Family History Library and can be ordered from a local Family History Center.<br>

'''County and local histories.''' County histories often identify families and some of their descendants. To see what county histories are available in the Family History Library and Family History Centers, click [http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=localitysearch&columns=*,0,0 here] and follow these steps:  

#In the '''Place''' field, type the name of the county where your ancestor resided.  

#In the '''Part of''' field, type the name of the state in which the county is located.<br>  

#Look for "History" among the record types. Microfilms of the listed records are available in the Family History Library and can be ordered from a local Family History Center.<br>

'''Church records.&nbsp;'''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 Family History Library and Family History Centers, click here and follow these steps:  

#In the '''Place''' field, type the name of the town (or county) where your ancestor resided.  

#In the '''Part of''' field, type the name of the state in which the town or county is located.  

#Look for "Church Records" among the record types.  

#Look for the denomination of your ancestor's family. Sometimes there is more than one church for that denomination, and sometimes none will be listed.

If the Family History Library does not have the records, you may want to call a church directly. Many directories are available on the Internet to help you find the telephone number of a church. <br>  

'''Obituaries.''' By the 1870s local newspapers often published obituaries listing the surviving relatives of the deceased and sometimes their residence. To find an obiturary you must guess the death date and newspaper where the obituary would have been published.<br>  

Modern newspapers archives in each state have microfilm copies of most old newspapers. Click [http://www.neh.gov/projects/usnp.html here] for the ''U.S. Newspapers Program'' and scroll to the state to learn the contact information for the newspaper archives for your ancestor's state. Ask the archivist how you can find obituaries in the best local newspapers, or arrange an inter-library loan for newspaper microfilms.  

Some obituary archives are already available on the Internet. For example:<br>  

*[http://www.ancestry.com/search/obit/?o_xid=0028727949&o_lid=0028727949&o_xt=28727949 Ancestry.com Obiturary Collection]  

*[http://www3.sympatico.ca/bkinnon/obit_links1.htm#usa Free Obituaries Online]  

*[http://obits.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/obit.cgi?o_xid=0028727949&o_lid=0028727949&o_xt=22478094 RootsWeb Obiturary Daily Times]  

*or use a search engine like [http://www.google.com/ Google] or [http://www.yahoo.com/ Yahoo] to search for an individual and his or her obituary.

=== '''''Step 5: Compile and Share What You Have Learned''''' ===

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.&nbsp;'''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. A good no cost program is Personal Ancestral File (PAF). You can download this program starting from the [http://www.familysearch.org/ FamilySearch home page]. <br>  

'''Share Your Research.''' There are many ways to share. You could put up a genealogical web page, publish a genealogical magazine article, or publish a book, or contribute to a genealogical databases like the [[Submitting to the Pedigree Resource File|Pedigree Resource File]].  

'''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.

== '''Related Content'''<br> ==

George D. Durrant, "[http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=165c6f708ee71110VgnVCM100000176f620a____&hideNav=1 Branching Out on Your Family Tree]," ''Ensign'', April 2007, 44-47.<br>  

Category:United_States  

== Sources ==

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 2. [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/31377165&referer=brief_results ''A Member's Guide to Temple and Family History Work: Ordinances and Covenants''] (Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1993), 14.