Michigan Descendancy Research: Difference between revisions

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*{{RecordSearch|3246416|Michigan, Civil War Centennial Observance Commission, Committee on Civil War Grave Registration, Burial Records}} at FamilySearch
*{{RecordSearch|3246416|Michigan, Civil War Centennial Observance Commission, Committee on Civil War Grave Registration, Burial Records}} at FamilySearch
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For more information, see [[Michigan Obituaries]] and [[Michigan Cemetery Records]].
For more information, see [[Michigan Obituaries]] and [[Michigan Cemeteries]].


==Step 4: Explore Historical Images for additional online records about descendants.==
==Step 4: Explore Historical Images for additional online records about descendants.==

Revision as of 11:45, 25 April 2023

Michigan Descendancy Research

As families believe they have researched their pedigrees back in time as far as possible, they sometimes choose to gather information on all the descendants of a particular ancestor or even all of their ancestors. This article explains possible steps to take on such a project in Michigan online records.

Here, the emphasis is on online records with good to fair coverage and indexes, making searches as efficient as possible.



1. Online census records.
2. Birth, marriage, and death records online.
3. Obituary and cemetery records online.
4. FamilySearch Historical Images online.
5. Michigan Online Genealogy Records.

Step 1. Find descendants in every possible census record, 1850-1950, online.[edit | edit source]

Census records, widely indexed, are a fast way to identify members of families, their approximate year of birth, and the state where they were born. That information hints where to look for birth, marriage, and death records for more detailed information. One disadvantage is they are 10 years apart. Children born and dying within that 10-year span can be overlooked.


For more information on census records, see Michigan Census and United States Census.

Step 2: Find birth, marriage, and death records online.[edit | edit source]

Government records, known as civil registration, were kept in Michigan beginning in 1867. They provide full dates and places. They are indexed, and can be searched by parent names. They are especially useful because they name other family members, For example, marriage records name the parents of the bride and groom. Death records are especially helpful because they name parents, who lived years earlier, even before other records were kept. Coverage in the earlier years can be incomplete however.


Births


Marriages


Deaths


For more information on birth, marriage, and death records in Michigan, see How to Find Michigan Birth Records, How to Find Michigan Marriage Records, and How to Find Michigan Death Records.

Step 3:Try to find additional details about descendants in obituaries and cemetery records online.[edit | edit source]

These records can be especially useful for details about births and deaths that took place before 1867. Frequently, family members are buried near each other. FindAGrave, often lists details, not even listed on the tombstone, but added to the website by family members or researchers.


Obituaries


Cemetery Records


For more information, see Michigan Obituaries and Michigan Cemeteries.

Step 4: Explore Historical Images for additional online records about descendants.[edit | edit source]

Records collected and digitized by FamilySearch can all be found through their Historical Images feature.

Step 5: Search any other online records listed in Michigan Online Genealogy Records.[edit | edit source]

The steps given here are intended to list record sources which can most efficiently identify descendants. Many other online records which might or might not mention descendants are listed in the Michigan Online Genealogy Records page, including immigration records, land records, military records, newspapers, and probate records, and others. These can be records that cover a smaller group within the population, such as men who served in the military, etc.