2,386
edits
Line 100: | Line 100: | ||
Fill in the requested information in the initial search page to return a list of possible matches. Compare the individuals on the list with what is already known to find the correct family or person. This step may require examining multiple individuals before a match is located. | Fill in the requested information in the initial search page to return a list of possible matches. Compare the individuals on the list with what is already known to find the correct family or person. This step may require examining multiple individuals before a match is located. | ||
== | == What Do I Do Next? == | ||
=== I Found the Person I Was Looking for, What Now? === | |||
*Make sure to fully transcribe and cite the record entry for future reference; see below for assistance in citing this collection. Save or print a copy of the image if possible. | |||
*Use the information which has been discovered to find more. For instance, use the age listed in the record to estimate a year of birth, if that is yet undetermined. | |||
*Use the information which has been discovered to find the individual in other records. Particularly useful for research in nineteenth-century England are the [[England Census]], [[England, Yorkshire Parish Registers (FamilySearch Historical Records)|parish registers]], and [[England Civil Registration|civil registration]] records. | |||
*Continue to search the collection to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives. | |||
*When looking for a person | === I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking for, What Now? === | ||
*Check for | *When looking for a person with a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which individual is correct. Use other information, such as place of birth, age, occupation, or names of parents, to determine which candidate is the correct person. If listed, a personal title may be a clue to property ownership or occupation, either of which might be noted in other records. | ||
*Check for variants of given names and surnames. For much of the period of this collection, spelling was not standardized; pay special attention to how the name should have been pronounced and try variations on the pronunciation. Simple clerical errors were also always possible. Furthermore, individuals were often listed under a middle name, [http://genealogy.about.com/od/first_names/fl/nickname-given-name-equivalents.htm nickname], or [[Abbreviations Found in Genealogy Records|abbreviation]] of their given name. For women, remember that it was not uncommon to revert to a maiden name after the death of a husband. | |||
* | *Vary the search terms. For example, search by either the given name or surname to return broader list of possible candidates which can then be examined for matches. Alternatively, try expanding the date range. | ||
*Search the records of nearby | *Search the records of nearby parishes. While it was uncommon for an individual in this period to move more than about 20 miles from their place of birth, smaller relocations were not uncommon. | ||
For additional help searching online collections see [[FamilySearch Search Tips and Tricks]]. | |||
== How You Can Contribute == | == How You Can Contribute == |
edits