3,178
edits
How to Find Descendants in the United States (view source)
Revision as of 11:24, 20 December 2007
, 20 December 2007no edit summary
mNo edit summary |
mNo edit summary |
||
| Line 4: | Line 4: | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
Descendancy research can lead you to important clues, contacts, or records you might not find if you researched only direct ancestors. These clues and contacts can often help you get past dead ends in your ancestral research. | Descendancy research can lead you to important clues, contacts, or records you might not find if you researched only direct ancestors. These clues and contacts can often help you get past dead ends in your ancestral research. | ||
<br> | |||
<div class="Section1"> | <div class="Section1"> | ||
=== '''Before You Begin''' === | === '''Before You Begin''' === | ||
Fill in a pedigree chart, or locate a pedigree chart for your family. This chart will provide some dates and places to help you get started. | Fill in a pedigree chart, or locate a pedigree chart for your family. This chart will provide some dates and places to help you get started.' | ||
<br></div> | |||
<br> | |||
</div> | |||
== '''Doing Descendancy Research''' == | == '''Doing Descendancy Research''' == | ||
<div class="Section1"> | <div class="Section1"> | ||
| Line 105: | Line 99: | ||
| Enter the family name and fill in other boxes you might have information for; then click '''Search'''. There may be multiple results. Look for records that include spouse and children. Remember that records in the Pedigree Resource File may not always be accurate or complete. Use them as a starting point. | | Enter the family name and fill in other boxes you might have information for; then click '''Search'''. There may be multiple results. Look for records that include spouse and children. Remember that records in the Pedigree Resource File may not always be accurate or complete. Use them as a starting point. | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Internet Search Engines | | Internet Search Engines ' | ||
| A search engine may help you find documents anywhere on the Internet that mention the search name you entered. This search often leads to descendant data. | | A search engine may help you find documents anywhere on the Internet that mention the search name you entered. This search often leads to descendant data. | ||
| | | | ||
Go to: '''[http://www.google.com www.google.com]''' or [http://www.yahoo.com ''''''' | Go to: '''[http://www.google.com www.google.com]''' or [http://www.yahoo.com '''''']'''''''''''''[http://www.yahoo.com www.yahoo.com] | ||
| Type in the information in the search box; then click '''Search'''. Click on the links that seem to contain relevant information. Narrow the search by placing quotation marks around the first and last name—“John K. Doe.” Try putting the surname first—“Doe, John K.” If you do not get any relevant results, try searching without the middle initial or middle name. If you get too many results, try adding a place name or a date. | | Type in the information in the search box; then click '''Search'''. Click on the links that seem to contain relevant information. Narrow the search by placing quotation marks around the first and last name—“John K. Doe.” Try putting the surname first—“Doe, John K.” If you do not get any relevant results, try searching without the middle initial or middle name. If you get too many results, try adding a place name or a date. | ||
| Line 185: | Line 179: | ||
'''Church records.'''Many churches kept excellent baptismal records, which usually included the names of the child’s parents. Sometimes all the children of a particular couple were identified in one set of church records. If you know what church your ancestor belonged to, obtain the microfilmed church records by using the same method described for finding town and county records. | '''Church records.'''Many churches kept excellent baptismal records, which usually included the names of the child’s parents. Sometimes all the children of a particular couple were identified in one set of church records. If you know what church your ancestor belonged to, obtain the microfilmed church records by using the same method described for finding town and county records. | ||
'''''Expert Tip'''''''<nowiki>: When you look at church and other records, remember that families sometimes gave two or more children the same first name. Occasionally they gave all their male or female children the same first name, and then provided each with a unique middle name. A more common occurrence was that when a child died, the parents gave the second child the same name as the deceased child.</nowiki> | '''''Expert Tip'''''''<nowiki>: When you look at church and other records, remember that families sometimes gave two or more children the same first name. Occasionally they gave all their male or female children the same first name, and then provided each with a unique middle name. A more common occurrence was that when a child died, the parents gave the second child the same name as the deceased child.</nowiki>' | ||
To see what church records are available in the family history library, visit [http://www.familysearch.org '''www.familysearch.org'''] and follow these steps:'''''' | To see what church records are available in the family history library, visit [http://www.familysearch.org '''www.familysearch.org'''']'''''and follow these steps:'''''' | ||
1. Click the '''Library''' tab at the top of the screen. | 1. Click the '''Library''' tab at the top of the screen. | ||
| Line 234: | Line 228: | ||
| Thousands were published by counties for the U.S. Centennial in 1876. Most include biographies of residents and contain information about children, grandchildren, siblings, and ancestors. Since fees were often charged for inclusion in the county history, not all residents were included. | | Thousands were published by counties for the U.S. Centennial in 1876. Most include biographies of residents and contain information about children, grandchildren, siblings, and ancestors. Since fees were often charged for inclusion in the county history, not all residents were included. | ||
| Find the county of residence; then search by surname among the county or town history records. | | Find the county of residence; then search by surname among the county or town history records. | ||
| From: '''[http://www.familysearch.org www.familysearch.org]''' '''Library''' > '''Family History Library Catalog''' > '''Place Search'''. • Type the name of the county in the Place field. • Type the name of the state in the Part of field. • Click on the '''History'''''''link. • Repeat the process, using the name of the town of residence. | | From: '''[http://www.familysearch.org www.familysearch.org]''' '''Library''' > '''Family History Library Catalog''' > '''Place Search'''. • Type the name of the county in the Place field. • Type the name of the state in the Part of field. • Click on the '''History'''''''link. • Repeat the process, using the name of the town of residence.'' | ||
| Go to: [Address]''''''for a lesson on using county historical records. | | Go to: [Address]''''''for a lesson on using county historical records.''''' | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Church Records | | Church Records | ||
| Line 241: | Line 235: | ||
| Contact the churches in the ancestor’s town of residence. A pastor or priest may be able to help you search the records. There may be a small fee. | | Contact the churches in the ancestor’s town of residence. A pastor or priest may be able to help you search the records. There may be a small fee. | ||
| From: '''[http://www.familysearch.org www.familysearch.org]''' '''Library''' > '''Family History Library Catalog''' > '''Place Search'''. • Type the town or county in the Place field. • Type the state in the Part of field. • Click on the '''Church Records''' link. | | From: '''[http://www.familysearch.org www.familysearch.org]''' '''Library''' > '''Family History Library Catalog''' > '''Place Search'''. • Type the town or county in the Place field. • Type the state in the Part of field. • Click on the '''Church Records''' link. | ||
| Go to: [Address]''''''for a lesson on finding family members in church records. | | Go to: [Address]''''''for a lesson on finding family members in church records.''''' | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Obituaries | | Obituaries | ||
| Local newspapers often publish obituaries, including information about siblings and children. Some began reporting deaths in the 1800s; others started even earlier. Many local libraries and newspaper publishers maintain archives of past newspaper editions on microfilm or on the Internet. | | Local newspapers often publish obituaries, including information about siblings and children. Some began reporting deaths in the 1800s; others started even earlier. Many local libraries and newspaper publishers maintain archives of past newspaper editions on microfilm or on the Internet. | ||
| Find the library or newspaper office. Search the files, or pay the fee to have the librarian or archivist find editions close to the death date. | | Find the library or newspaper office. Search the files, or pay the fee to have the librarian or archivist find editions close to the death date. | ||
| '''Go to:''' '''http://www.switchboard.com'''to''''''find the telephone number of a newspaper or library in your ancestor’s town. Ask the archivist or librarian what you need to do to obtain information or to arrange an interlibrary loan. | | '''Go to:''''''''''http://www.switchboard.com'''to''''''find the telephone number of a newspaper or library in your ancestor’s town. Ask the archivist or librarian what you need to do to obtain information or to arrange an interlibrary loan. | ||
| Go to: [Address]''''''for a lesson on using obituaries. | | Go to: [Address]''''''for a lesson on using obituaries.''''' | ||
|} | |} | ||