Washington Census Tips: Difference between revisions
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=== 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:''' | |||
::*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 the county where your ancestor was found in a census. Then find those women and their husbands the SAME census.}} | |||
:'''Why:''' | |||
::*You may find sisters living in the area. | |||
::*Your ancestor's widowed mother may have remarried. | |||
::**Notice the ages: were the women old enough to be sisters? Aunts? The mother? | |||
::*Notice your ancestor's deeds and other records: Were any of those husbands witnesses? | |||
{{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:''' | |||
Follow the children through censuses, as well. | |||
=== Census Index Tips === | === Census Index Tips === | ||
{{Tip|Check another index if you did not find your family.}} | |||
:'''Why:''' | :'''Why:''' | ||
:*Indexers vary in skill and accuracy | |||
:*The quality of the image or copy they used affects the quality of the index | |||
:*Some indexers are local and more familiar with the names or families of the area than others | |||
{{Tip|Check county census indexes when online indexes fail. }} | |||
:'''Why:''' | :'''Why:''' | ||
::*Created by local societies or groups who knew the families of the area, these indexes are often more accurate | |||
::*Footnotes or information about the family may be added | |||
:'''Where to find them''' | |||
::*Many are published in books or [[Washington Periodicals|periodicals]] | |||
::*Search [[Washington Archives and Libraries#Libraries|online catalogs]] and check with local libraries | |||
=== How Censuses Can Help You Find === | === How Censuses Can Help You Find === | ||
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A child's middle name is sometimes the maiden name of the mother | A child's middle name is sometimes the maiden name of the mother | ||
Obituaries sometimes list maiden name of wife/mother | Obituaries sometimes list maiden name of wife/mother | ||
==== How do I know this is MY person? ==== | ==== How do I know this is MY person? ==== | ||
| Line 79: | Line 75: | ||
[[Category:Washington | [[Category:Washington]] [[Category:United States Census]] | ||
Revision as of 23:55, 25 December 2013
United States Census 
Washington Census Tips
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 the county where your ancestor was found in a census. Then find those women and their husbands the SAME census. |
- Why:
- You may find sisters living in the area.
- Your ancestor's widowed mother may have remarried.
- Notice the ages: were the women old enough to be sisters? Aunts? The mother?
- Notice your ancestor's deeds and other records: Were any of those husbands witnesses?
| 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:
Follow the children through censuses, as well.
Census Index Tips[edit | edit source]
| Tip: Check another index if you did not find your family. |
- Why:
- Indexers vary in skill and accuracy
- The quality of the image or copy they used affects the quality of the index
- Some indexers are local and more familiar with the names or families of the area than others
| Tip: Check county census indexes when online indexes fail. |
- Why:
- Created by local societies or groups who knew the families of the area, these indexes are often more accurate
- Footnotes or information about the family may be added
- Where to find them
- Many are published in books or periodicals
- Search online catalogs and check with local libraries
How Censuses Can Help You Find[edit | edit source]
Names of Parents[edit | edit source]
Maiden Name of Mother[edit | edit source]
A child's middle name is sometimes the maiden name of the mother
Obituaries sometimes list maiden name of wife/mother
How do I know this is MY person?[edit | edit source]
Family members - the more you know the more you will recognize Occupation
Other people your ancestor knew How is this going to be explained?
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.