Courthouse debtor records can provide valuable insights into understanding the plight of our ancestors and may also discover important vital statistics. Several case studies highlight the rich information found in these sources. #ancestry #genealogy #familyhistory
Author Archives: Rick T. Wilson, Ph.D.
Poor Ancestors are not Invisible: Part 2, Poorhouse Records
Poorhouse records can provide valuable insights into understanding the plight of our ancestors and also discover important vital statistics. Several case studies highlight the rich information found in these sources. #ancestry #genealogy #familyhistory
Poor Ancestors are not Invisible: Part 1, Pension Applications
Pension applications can provide valuable insights into our poor ancestors’ lives including vital statistics. Several case studies highlight the rich information found in these sources. #ancestry #genealogy #familyhistory
Genealogical Indexes: Friend or Foe?
Indexes of genealogical records can be a researcher’s best friend helping us quickly locate relevant records. Yet, indexes can also cause us to misinterpret information. #ancestry #genealogy #familyhistory
Land Deed Witnesses: Clues to Family Relationships
Land deeds provide more information than the locations of where our ancestors lived. Witnesses can help break through stubborn genealogical brick walls. #ancestry #genealogy #familyhistory
Breaking Through 18th and 19th Century Brick Walls: ‘Don’t Let Go of Your EGGOS’
How to break through genealogical brick walls using an EGGOS search strategy with shared or in-common with DNA matches. #ancestry #genealogy #familyhistory @ancestry
Using Handwriting to Prove a Relationship: When the Writing is not on the Wall
Handwriting analysis can be used to break through genealogy brick walls. See how… #ancestry #genealogy #familyhistory @Ancestry
Targeted Y-DNA Testing: Uniting a Band of Brothers, Part 2
In the previous blog post, I introduced the research objective, which was to use Y-DNA testing to determine whether five Wilson men, who were all living in a small rural Meigs County, Ohio town, were brothers. The hope was that if I could do so, I would be able to cast a wider genealogical netContinue reading “Targeted Y-DNA Testing: Uniting a Band of Brothers, Part 2”
Targeted Y-DNA Testing: Uniting a Band of Brothers, Part 1
Sometimes the solution to breaking through your own genealogical brick walls resides within the DNA of other people. You could wait around for that “other” person to test, or you could proactively search that person out. Constructing a research plan to find the living descendants of the family to whom you think you are connectedContinue reading “Targeted Y-DNA Testing: Uniting a Band of Brothers, Part 1”
Identifying John Wilson’s Irish Origins, Part 3: Documentary Evidence & Conclusions
Using both Y-DNA and autosomal DNA (at-DNA) in the previous two blog posts, the ancestral origin of John Wilson (1716-1799) appears to be in an area east of Enniskillen, which is the largest town in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. The purpose of the final blog post is to use documentary evidence to corroborate previous findingsContinue reading “Identifying John Wilson’s Irish Origins, Part 3: Documentary Evidence & Conclusions”
Identifying John Wilson’s Irish Origins, Part 2: Autosomal DNA Analysis
Having identified the probable ancestral origin of John Wilson (1716-1799) using Y-DNA in Part 1 of the blog post series, Part 2 uses autosomal DNA (at-DNA). The purpose here is to provide corroborating evidence that John’s ancestral origin is County Fermanagh in Northern Ireland as well as to offer greater geographic specificity within the county. Compared to Y-DNA,Continue reading “Identifying John Wilson’s Irish Origins, Part 2: Autosomal DNA Analysis”
Identifying John Wilson’s Irish Origins, Part 1: Y-DNA Analysis
Have you been fortunate enough to trace one of your American ancestors back to the 1700s but found no records indicating where in Europe they originated? Oh, and what if you are “lucky” enough for this ancestor to have a common or occupationally derived surname, such as Smith or Miller, providing no clues as toContinue reading “Identifying John Wilson’s Irish Origins, Part 1: Y-DNA Analysis”
The Power of Original Records
Have you come across a derivative record transcribed from an original document? Ever wonder if it is worth the time, effort, and expense to obtain a copy of the original? The answer to the last question is a definite YES. Let me explain through a brief example. When reviewing my autosomal DNA matches on Ancestry.com,Continue reading “The Power of Original Records”