73,385
edits
Census Techniques and Strategies for Finding Elusive Ancestors: Difference between revisions
Census Techniques and Strategies for Finding Elusive Ancestors (view source)
Revision as of 21:24, 12 November 2010
, 12 November 2010bold
(bold italic) |
(bold) |
||
| Line 22: | Line 22: | ||
=== Index searching techniques === | === Index searching techniques === | ||
A. Most census indexes will help you find your ancestors, but don't trust an index that doesn't work. | A. ''Most census indexes will help you find your ancestors, but don't trust an index that doesn't work''. | ||
B. For your 1st computer search “less” is good - start with name and state of residence only. | B. ''For your 1st computer search “less” is good'' - start with name and state of residence only. | ||
:'''''If your 1st search fails—''''' | |||
:*Never assume your ancestor was skipped in the census. | |||
:*Never assume your ancestor's name appears exactly as you expect. | :*Never assume your ancestor's name appears exactly as you expect. | ||
:*Always assume you can find an elusive ancestor on the census with more research. | :*Always assume you can find an elusive ancestor on the census with more research. | ||
C. If too many | C. '''''If too many hits—'''''one-by-one begin adding fields doing the search over with the added info. | ||
D. If not enough hits— | D. '''''If not enough hits—''''' | ||
:#Try alternate competing indexes for the same census | :#Try alternate competing indexes for the same census | ||
| Line 37: | Line 40: | ||
:#Use Soundex searches (a phonetic index). | :#Use Soundex searches (a phonetic index). | ||
:#Try wildcard searches (*, $, and ?). | :#Try wildcard searches (*, $, and ?). | ||
:#Keep the same surname, but search for the given name as an initial only. | :#Keep the same surname, but search for the given name as an '''initial only'''. | ||
:#Keep the same surname, but search for abbreviations of a given name (Wm/William, Jno/John). | :#Keep the same surname, but search for '''abbreviations''' of a given name (Wm/William, Jno/John). | ||
:#Keep the same surname, but search nicknames of the given name (Polly for Mary, Bill for Wm). See Wiki at [[Traditional Nicknames in Old Documents - A Wiki List]]. | :#Keep the same surname, but search '''nicknames''' of the given name (Polly for Mary, Bill for Wm). See Wiki at [[Traditional Nicknames in Old Documents - A Wiki List]]. | ||
:#Keep the surname, drop the first name, search on the middle name or middle initial. | :#Keep the surname, drop the first name, search on the '''middle name''' or middle initial. | ||
:#Keep the same surname, search without any given names at all (narrow to state and/or county), and go through the hits one by one. | :#Keep the same surname, search '''without any given names''' at all (narrow to state and/or county), and go through the hits one by one. | ||
:#Narrow down the locality to a state and/or county, then search on first name only (or age only) and go through the hits one by one. Watch for sibling’s first names in case the surname changed. | :#Narrow down the locality to a state and/or county, then search on '''first name only''' (or age only) and go through the hits one by one. Watch for sibling’s first names in case the surname changed. | ||
:#Search the surname with different vowels (GIL = GAL, GEL, GOL, GUL, GYL). | :#Search the surname with '''different vowels''' (GIL = GAL, GEL, GOL, GUL, GYL). | ||
:#Search for the surname with double letters added or deleted (BAKKER, FULER). | :#Search for the surname with '''double letters''' added or deleted (BAKKER, FULER). | ||
:#Search the surname with the first 3 letters transposed (WIGHT = IWGHT, WGIHT, WIHGT). | :#Search the surname with the first 3 '''letters transposed''' (WIGHT = IWGHT, WGIHT, WIHGT). | ||
:#Substitute frequently misread letters in searches - ''Printed Sources'' page 336. | :#Substitute '''frequently misread letters''' in searches - ''Printed Sources'' page 336. | ||
:#Phonetic substitutes in searches - ''Printed Sources'' page 331. | :#'''Phonetic substitutes''' in searches - ''Printed Sources'' page 331. | ||
:#Search for relatives (children, parents, siblings, uncles, aunts, cousins). | :#Search for '''relatives''' (children, parents, siblings, uncles, aunts, cousins). | ||
:#Search for next door neighbors from the previous or following census year. | :#Search for next door '''neighbors''' from the previous or following census year. | ||
:#If your ancestor had an unusual occupation, search without any names for that occupation. | :#If your ancestor had an unusual occupation, search without any names for that occupation. | ||
:#Search the original census in the area where the person lived (without indexes). | :#Search the '''original census''' in the area where the person lived (without indexes). | ||
:#Search census substitutes like tax records, directories, and plat maps. | :#Search census substitutes like tax records, directories, and plat maps. | ||