Washington Census Tips: Difference between revisions
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''[[United States Census]] [[Image:Gotoarrow-kelly.png]] [[Washington Census]]'' [[Image:Gotoarrow-kelly.png]] '''Tips''' | ''[[United States Census]] [[Image:Gotoarrow-kelly.png]] [[Washington Census]]'' [[Image:Gotoarrow-kelly.png]] '''Tips''' | ||
=== Benefits of Censuses === | |||
Census records are extremely valuable in genealogical research. They: | |||
#Reveal specifics about the family, such as names, ages, birthplaces. See [[United States Census#Contents of Federal Censuses|Contents of Federal Censuses]] | |||
#Locate the family in the very places where other records about them were likely created. (See [[Using the Census to find other records about ancestors|Using the Census to find other records]] | |||
#'''Provide clues''' that help you learn even more about them. | |||
Helping you make the most of all these benefits is the purpose of this article. | |||
__TOC__ | |||
=== Census Tips === | === Census Tips === | ||
{{Tip|Find your ancestor in every census taken while he/she was alive. This includes territorial and state-funded censuses.}} | |||
:'''Why:''' | :'''Why:''' | ||
::*Relatives, such as grandchildren or married children, may live with them | |||
::*They may live with a child, such as a married daughter, in their later years | |||
::*Neighbors may be relatives or old friends from their home state. | |||
{{Tip|Check marriages for women in every county where your ancestor was found in a census, then search the SAME census for the husbands.}} | |||
:'''Why:''' | :'''Why:''' | ||
::*You may find sisters living in the area. | |||
::*Your ancestor's widowed mother may have remarried. In those censuses, were the women the right age(s) to be sisters? Aunts? The mother? | |||
:: | ::*One of the husbands and your ancestor may have witnessed one anothers' deeds or other documents, perhaps suggesting they have become relatives. | ||
{{Tip|Pay close attention to the ages and birthplaces.}} | |||
:'''Why:''' | |||
::*Gaps in ages of children may be a clue to: | |||
::**A second marriage of the couple: Check marriage records for this. | |||
::**A child died young. Check cemetery, church, funeral, and other records. | |||
::*Where the children were born (state, nation) may be a clue to: | |||
::**When the family migrated | |||
::*Ages of husband and wife may be clues: | |||
::**In a second marriage, the husband may be older than the wife. | |||
::*Compare ages of the wife and the children: | |||
::**The oldest child: was the wife too young to be the mother? (Child-bearing years for most women were between 16–40.) | |||
::**The youngest child: was the wife too old? | |||
{{Tip|Ask questions to analyze what you are seeing: It is possible? Is it probable?}} | |||
'''For example:''' | |||
=== Census Tips for What You Want to Learn === | |||
==== Names of Parents ==== | |||
==== Maiden Name of Mother ==== | |||
==== How do I know this is MY person? ==== | ==== How do I know this is MY person? ==== | ||
==== Migration from another state ==== | ==== Migration from another state ==== | ||
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[[Category:Washington | [[Category:Washington]] [[Category:United States Census]] | ||
Revision as of 16:29, 3 December 2013
United States Census 
Washington Census Tips
Benefits of Censuses[edit | edit source]
Census records are extremely valuable in genealogical research. They:
- Reveal specifics about the family, such as names, ages, birthplaces. See Contents of Federal Censuses
- Locate the family in the very places where other records about them were likely created. (See Using the Census to find other records
- Provide clues that help you learn even more about them.
Helping you make the most of all these benefits is the purpose of this article.
Census Tips[edit | edit source]
| Tip: Find your ancestor in every census taken while he/she was alive. This includes territorial and state-funded censuses. |
- Why:
- Relatives, such as grandchildren or married children, may live with them
- They may live with a child, such as a married daughter, in their later years
- Neighbors may be relatives or old friends from their home state.
| Tip: Check marriages for women in every county where your ancestor was found in a census, then search the SAME census for the husbands. |
- Why:
- You may find sisters living in the area.
- Your ancestor's widowed mother may have remarried. In those censuses, were the women the right age(s) to be sisters? Aunts? The mother?
- One of the husbands and your ancestor may have witnessed one anothers' deeds or other documents, perhaps suggesting they have become relatives.
| Tip: Pay close attention to the ages and birthplaces. |
- Why:
- Gaps in ages of children may be a clue to:
- A second marriage of the couple: Check marriage records for this.
- A child died young. Check cemetery, church, funeral, and other records.
- Where the children were born (state, nation) may be a clue to:
- When the family migrated
- Ages of husband and wife may be clues:
- In a second marriage, the husband may be older than the wife.
- Compare ages of the wife and the children:
- The oldest child: was the wife too young to be the mother? (Child-bearing years for most women were between 16–40.)
- The youngest child: was the wife too old?
- Gaps in ages of children may be a clue to:
| Tip: Ask questions to analyze what you are seeing: It is possible? Is it probable? |
For example:
Census Tips for What You Want to Learn[edit | edit source]
Names of Parents[edit | edit source]
Maiden Name of Mother[edit | edit source]
How do I know this is MY person?[edit | edit source]
Migration from another state[edit | edit source]
Marriage: When and Where[edit | edit source]
Immigration and Naturalization[edit | edit source]
Some federal censuses give the year of immigration.