Our ancestors left us clues in the documents they created to help us with our genealogical research. You just need to follow the “genealogical breadcrumbs” to discover that next elusive generation. However, sometimes the path they left is not so clear, and we can be deceived into jumping down rabbit holes of distracting, irrelevant, but … Read more
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 to … Read more
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 Search … Read more
We’re all looking for the perfect holiday gift for our loved ones, but what if the gift could be enjoyed by you as much as by them and perhaps others as well? A Y-DNA paternal line ancestry test is the perfect gift for someone who has everything – and by everything, I mean they already … Read more
Have you ever wanted to create a map for your genealogy research but been overwhelmed by the process? Did you find a software program to help you but found it expensive or difficult to use? I’ve discovered an affordable and easy way to create your own customized maps using Microsoft’s PowerPoint. Yes, PowerPoint. In my … Read more
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. I … Read more
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 in … Read more
For some reading this post, its title may seem rhetorical – a forgone conclusion. Of course, genealogists create location guides. But why don’t more of us do it? I consider myself a “good” genealogist. I’ve broken down many brick walls, but I’m also impatient and easily excitable. I’m perhaps too quick in following newly discovered … Read more
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 challenging … Read more
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