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*''Necessity''. If no other record is available, it may be necessary to accept unverified evidence, as long as it does not conflict with any proven record. | *''Necessity''. If no other record is available, it may be necessary to accept unverified evidence, as long as it does not conflict with any proven record. | ||
*''Origin''. Determine where the information originated. Was the information recorded before you began your search, before any controversy, or before it could be influenced by other information you have found? <!--{12093439586872} --> | *''Origin''. Determine where the information originated. Was the information recorded before you began your search, before any controversy, or before it could be influenced by other information you have found? <!--{12093439586872} --> | ||
== '''Directness of the Evidence''' == | |||
The information in a record is contained in a statement that provides either direct or indirect evidence regarding your research objective. | |||
'''''Direct statements''''' give a straightforward fact. For example, a baptismal record may state the birth date of the child being baptized. Whenever possible, try to find records which directly state specific facts as proof of a genealogical event or relationship. | |||
{| cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="1" align="center" style="width: 221px; height: 34px;" | |||
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| bgcolor="#ffff99" align="center" | '''Prefer direct evidence.''' <br> | |||
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'''''Indirect statements''''' support a fact by reasonable inference. For example, if a census record lists a person's age as 45 in 1851, it infers a birth in or near 1806. Often you may need to gather more substantial information. For example, a marriage record is evidence a couple was born, but unless it gives the age of the bride or groom, you can only guess at their birth dates. The couple may have been born 16 or 60 years earlier. Indirect (often called circumstantial) evidence usually requires additional evidence to prove a fact. | |||
== '''Consistency and Clarity of the Facts''' == | == '''Consistency and Clarity of the Facts''' == | ||
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If the records present an unlikely situation, you may have stumbled across records of two unrelated people with similar names. Evaluate the chronology of the situation: could this event have happened as the record says it did? If a man's will was proven on 28 November 1754 and his death record gives a death date of 15 December of the same year, on of the records is wrong, or dies not pertain to the same person. | If the records present an unlikely situation, you may have stumbled across records of two unrelated people with similar names. Evaluate the chronology of the situation: could this event have happened as the record says it did? If a man's will was proven on 28 November 1754 and his death record gives a death date of 15 December of the same year, on of the records is wrong, or dies not pertain to the same person. | ||
== '''Establishing Proof''' == | == '''Establishing Proof''' == | ||
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Near the end of research on especially controversial connections, or significant families, compose a "proof statement" that explains how you reached your conclusions. Using the Genealogical Proof Standard will significantly increase the likelihood that your genealogical conclusions reflect what really happened. | Near the end of research on especially controversial connections, or significant families, compose a "proof statement" that explains how you reached your conclusions. Using the Genealogical Proof Standard will significantly increase the likelihood that your genealogical conclusions reflect what really happened. | ||
Any proof statement is subject to re-evaluation when new evidence arises. | Any proof statement is subject to re-evaluation when new evidence arises. <!-- Tidy found serious XHTML errors --> | ||
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