Tax records have three distinct advantages compared with pre-1850 U.S. census records. Many tax records: Are produced annually; Predate the 1790 census; and Possess more than a list of names. Tax records are often sidelined in our genealogy research because censuses are more widely available and have been popularized because of their availability. Compared toContinue reading “Tax Records are Better than Early Census Records”
Category Archives: Research Tips
New Full-Text Search at FamilySearch Uses Artificial Intelligence
Last week at Rootstech, FamilySearch announced a new experimental feature to search several unindexed collections. This enhancement harnesses artificial intelligence (AI) and optical character recognition (OCR) to quickly search several valuable record collections. It has the potential to not only drastically cut search time, but it may also help break through brick walls. Full-text SearchContinue reading “New Full-Text Search at FamilySearch Uses Artificial Intelligence”
A Big Y-700 DNA Experiment
Have you received your Y-DNA test results but don’t feel like you learned as much as you thought you would? This is how I felt, too, until I immersed myself into the scientific details of FamilyTreeDNA’s Big Y-DNA test and designed an “experiment” to refine my test results. The experiment is replicable and can helpContinue reading “A Big Y-700 DNA Experiment”
Fewer DNA Matches in the Future
For genetic genealogists, the promise of new DNA matches is both exciting and a necessary component of our research strategy. However, a recent demographic study finds that the number of living kin for the average person will reduce by 38% in the future suggesting we may have fewer DNA matches. The demographic shifts are notContinue reading “Fewer DNA Matches in the Future”
Genealogical New Year’s Resolutions
We are all used to making New Year’s resolutions, but what about genealogical New Year’s resolutions? Can we set ourselves up for being more productive in 2024? To make good genealogical resolutions, we need to approach the process from an informed position keeping in mind the skills and personality traits that make for good researchersContinue reading “Genealogical New Year’s Resolutions”
Genealogy Ping Pong: Alternating Between Documentary Research and DNA
Ping Pong is the perfect metaphor to describe how to use both documentary records and DNA to break down genealogy brick walls. The strategy begins by analyzing evidence from documentary records and then using your findings here to guide the analysis of your DNA matches. Next, use the patterns observed within your DNA matches toContinue reading “Genealogy Ping Pong: Alternating Between Documentary Research and DNA”
Ancestry Travel Debrief: My Visit to Northern Ireland
Last month, I visited County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland to discover more about my Wilson ancestry. I’m still on a high having exceeded my ancestry travel goals. I met my Wilson cousins who still farm the same land from 400 years ago. I visited 17th century castles, 18th century estates, and ate like a king. IContinue reading “Ancestry Travel Debrief: My Visit to Northern Ireland”
Ancestry Travel: Preparing to Visit Northern Ireland
Have you ever wanted to visit the ancestral homeland for one of your ancestors? Not sure where or how to begin? Engaging in ancestry travel, or what the industry also calls heritage travel, can be daunting. For one, it can be expensive. It also takes years of genealogy and DNA research to identify the actualContinue reading “Ancestry Travel: Preparing to Visit Northern Ireland”
Scottish Migration within Colonial New Jersey: A Book Review
Even if you do not have Scottish ancestors who spent time in New Jersey, you’ll enjoy this book review. It will help you understand why and when your Scottish ancestors moved from town to town and with whom they did so. While researching my own Scottish ancestors, who lived in New Jersey and Pennsylvania inContinue reading “Scottish Migration within Colonial New Jersey: A Book Review”
How to Use City Directories to Resolve Genealogical Questions
If you’re like me, you probably know what city directories are but couldn’t imagine how to really use them in your genealogical research. Sure, city directories list a person’s name, occupation, and address, which we can trace annually through time. But what else can we do with that information? Can you use it solve challengingContinue reading “How to Use City Directories to Resolve Genealogical Questions”
Don’t Trust Derivative Records for Genealogical Research
Errors in transcripted records can cause us to miss relevant documents or send us on an eroneous search. This post exemplifies the importance in locating original records #ancestry #familyhistory #genealogy
Crowdsourced Genealogy
Crowdsourcing is an under utilized family history research tool. Social media tools can make it difficult to search and archive information. Other tools fail to reach large numbers of people online. A research problem is presented for crowdsourced assistance as inspiration for the capabilities of true crowdsourcing.
Genealogical Evidentiary Networks: A Tool for Presenting Indirect Evidence
Organizing and presenting indirect evidence can be a challenge. Using the Genealogical Evidentiary Network diagram can help you write overcome these challenges. #ancestry #genealogy #familyhistory
Poor Ancestors are not Invisible: Part 3, Debtor Records
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
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