73,385
edits
breadcrumb; principles
(fix link) |
(breadcrumb; principles) |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
''[[Principles of Family History Research|Principles of Family History Research | ''[[Principles of Family History Research|Principles of Family History Research]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[Obtain and Search the Records|Step 4. Obtain and Search the Records]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[Search_the_Records|Search the Records]]'' | ||
Following the careful, thorough search procedures below will help you learn more about your ancestors: | Following the careful, thorough search procedures below will help you learn more about your ancestors: | ||
| Line 7: | Line 7: | ||
Indexes can be very valuable, but some may be incomplete and some records may have been misinterpreted. Some indexes include only the name of the main person the record is about and may not list parents, witnesses, and other incidental persons in the record. Some names may have been omitted. Most compiled and many original records have indexes. Some indexes are published separately, especially original records. | Indexes can be very valuable, but some may be incomplete and some records may have been misinterpreted. Some indexes include only the name of the main person the record is about and may not list parents, witnesses, and other incidental persons in the record. Some names may have been omitted. Most compiled and many original records have indexes. Some indexes are published separately, especially original records. | ||
{| style="width: | {| style="width: 316px; height: 48px" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="12" align="center" border="1" | ||
|- | |- | ||
| valign="middle" align="center" bgcolor="#ffff99" | '''Do not trust indexes that don't work.'''< | | valign="middle" align="center" bgcolor="#ffff99" | <center>'''Do not trust indexes that don't work.'''</center> | ||
|} | |} | ||
| Line 22: | Line 22: | ||
Search for one generation at a time and do not attempt to connect anyone who lived more than a generation before your proven ancestor. | Search for one generation at a time and do not attempt to connect anyone who lived more than a generation before your proven ancestor. | ||
{| style="width: | {| style="width: 258px; height: 58px" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="12" align="center" border="1" | ||
|- | |- | ||
| valign="middle" align="center" bgcolor="#ffff99" | '''Search for complete families, not just individuals.'''< | | valign="middle" align="center" bgcolor="#ffff99" | <center>'''Search for complete families,<br>not just individuals.'''</center> | ||
|} | |} | ||
| Line 33: | Line 33: | ||
== Establish Search Ranges == | == Establish Search Ranges == | ||
{| style="width: | {| style="width: 374px; height: 35px" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="12" align="center" border="1" | ||
|- | |- | ||
| align="center" bgcolor="#ffff99" | '''Establish reasonable ranges for your searches.'''< | | align="center" bgcolor="#ffff99" | <center>'''Establish reasonable ranges for your searches.'''</center> | ||
|} | |} | ||
| Line 42: | Line 42: | ||
*'''''[[Guessing a Place|Geographic areas]].''''' Your information about an ancestor’s residence may not be correct or specific. Some residents near boundaries may be listed in several jurisdictions. Search all appropriate jurisdictions. For example, if you find children's baptisms in a church register, but not the parents' marriage, look in the records of neighboring churches. | *'''''[[Guessing a Place|Geographic areas]].''''' Your information about an ancestor’s residence may not be correct or specific. Some residents near boundaries may be listed in several jurisdictions. Search all appropriate jurisdictions. For example, if you find children's baptisms in a church register, but not the parents' marriage, look in the records of neighboring churches. | ||
{| style="width: | {| style="width: 388px; height: 56px" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="12" align="center" border="1" | ||
|- | |- | ||
| align="center" bgcolor="#ffff99" | '''When searching original records, search every jurisdiction where the family may have lived.'''< | | align="center" bgcolor="#ffff99" | <center>'''When searching original records, search every<br>jurisdiction where the family may have lived.'''</center> | ||
|} | |} | ||
*'''''Area search.''''' You may need to look through the records of neighboring areas. Families often moved to nearby towns, or were recorded in records of neighboring jurisdictions, even those not charged with keeping records from their town. Local histories may help you determine local migration patterns. | *'''''Area search.''''' You may need to look through the records of neighboring areas. Families often moved to nearby towns, or were recorded in records of neighboring jurisdictions, even those not charged with keeping records from their town. Local histories may help you determine local migration patterns.<br> | ||
*'''''[[Guessing a Date|Time period to search]].''''' Determine the range of time in which the events could have occurred. For example you may want to search military records for the time period when the person was between 15 and 45 years of age. Dates obtained from some sources may not be accurate. Look several years before and after the date you think an event occurred. | *'''''[[Guessing a Date|Time period to search]].''''' Determine the range of time in which the events could have occurred. For example you may want to search military records for the time period when the person was between 15 and 45 years of age. Dates obtained from some sources may not be accurate. Look several years before and after the date you think an event occurred. | ||
| Line 54: | Line 55: | ||
*'''''[[Guessing a Name Variation|Spelling Variations]].''''' The spelling of names and places may vary greatly from record to record and even within the same record. Spelling was not standardized in early records. Many names were not spelled as they are today. Look for the many ways a name could have been spelled. Most record keepers spelled names the way they sounded. | *'''''[[Guessing a Name Variation|Spelling Variations]].''''' The spelling of names and places may vary greatly from record to record and even within the same record. Spelling was not standardized in early records. Many names were not spelled as they are today. Look for the many ways a name could have been spelled. Most record keepers spelled names the way they sounded. | ||
You may want to make a list of all the spelling variations to look for. For example, for the name "Tyrell" you could check for T<u>e</u>rrell, T<u>u</u>rrell, T<u>e</u>rr<u>i</u>ll, Tyrel, Tyr<u>o</u>l, and Tyr<u>a</u>l. Consider translations of the name or place or how persons speaking another language may have spelled the name. The German Johann Schmidt may be found under ''Smith'' if an Englishman made the record. | You may want to make a list of all the spelling variations to look for. For example, for the name "Tyrell" you could check for T<u>e</u>rrell, T<u>u</u>rrell, T<u>e</u>rr<u>i</u>ll, Tyrel, Tyr<u>o</u>l, and Tyr<u>a</u>l. Consider translations of the name or place or how persons speaking another language may have spelled the name. The German Johann Schmidt may be found under ''Smith'' if an Englishman made the record. | ||
== Be Thorough == | == Be Thorough == | ||