Tips for Searching an Online Index
Tips for Searching An Online Index[edit | edit source]
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What to do if you can’t find your person in an index: |
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Top 5 Tips for Searching Indexes | |
| Exact Spelling | Some online indexes require exact spelling to get a result. Try different ways of spelling the person's first or last name. |
| Use Less Info | If you did not get results, type in less information about the person. Try searching only for the first and last name of the person. |
| Add Info | If you have too many hits, try adding information including approximate birth date and the county |
| Try Another Index | Different indexes use different search parameters and your ancestor may be located in one but not the other. |
| Incomplete index | Some online indexes do not include all counties for all years. Your person's birth record may exist but not in the index you are searching.Check all possible indexes available. |
Tips for Searching Beyond the Index
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What if I still can't find my person? |
The birth of your ancestor may not have been recorded official by county or state agencies. Use other records to find birth information.