Where Do You Start? - Genealogy Wise2024-03-28T21:44:44Zhttp://www.genealogywise.com/forum/topics/where-do-you-start?groupUrl=sourcingyourgenealogy&feed=yes&xn_auth=noThe first thing I do after I…tag:www.genealogywise.com,2009-08-22:3463583:Comment:1472342009-08-22T21:44:37.637ZSharon Rayhttp://www.genealogywise.com/profile/SharonRay
The first thing I do after I find a new piece of information or a clue, is to go back to my file on that person or family and compare it to what I already have there. Many times I find that doing so helps me put other odds and ends together that I already have.<br />
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I recently did this with some research I was doing for a friend of mine who helps me from time to time. I found a reference to someone else in an area that I knew her family was from. This person was not listed anywhere else that I had…
The first thing I do after I find a new piece of information or a clue, is to go back to my file on that person or family and compare it to what I already have there. Many times I find that doing so helps me put other odds and ends together that I already have.<br />
<br />
I recently did this with some research I was doing for a friend of mine who helps me from time to time. I found a reference to someone else in an area that I knew her family was from. This person was not listed anywhere else that I had ever come across but was of an age to be a brother to the person I was researching. I decided to follow up as the surname was not that common there. The reference gave his parents names. That piece of information led to a major break through on a brickwall for her family. I was able to add three more generations to that line of her family. I had all the pieces there in my files I was just missing the connecting piece.<br />
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I base my plan of attacks after that review and go to original documents whenever I can. It all depends on what other information that I need. It depends on which line I'm…tag:www.genealogywise.com,2009-08-22:3463583:Comment:1468182009-08-22T16:55:24.282ZKaren Rhodeshttp://www.genealogywise.com/profile/KarenRhodes
It depends on which line I'm researching.<br />
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Sources I have used and often use include:<br />
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newenglandancestors.org - the New England Historic Genealogical Society website<br />
IRAD - Illinois Regional Archives Database<br />
ancestry.com -- just joined that<br />
familysearch.org -- LDS Family History website, and its new iterations, which are great<br />
various state archives, which are putting more and more documents online (Georgia, Michigan, Florida, and others)<br />
National Archive of England<br />
Suffolk (England) Public…
It depends on which line I'm researching.<br />
<br />
Sources I have used and often use include:<br />
<br />
newenglandancestors.org - the New England Historic Genealogical Society website<br />
IRAD - Illinois Regional Archives Database<br />
ancestry.com -- just joined that<br />
familysearch.org -- LDS Family History website, and its new iterations, which are great<br />
various state archives, which are putting more and more documents online (Georgia, Michigan, Florida, and others)<br />
National Archive of England<br />
Suffolk (England) Public Records Office<br />
<br />
Those are online. For my husband's line, especially, since they are the southerners in the family, I have used the resources of the Southern Genealogist's Exchange Society in Jacksonville (website: <a href="http://www.sgesjax.com">http://www.sgesjax.com</a>). I also use the Clay County Library and the Jacksonville Public Library. I agree there are so many new…tag:www.genealogywise.com,2009-08-22:3463583:Comment:1467632009-08-22T15:31:59.457ZMolly McKinleyhttp://www.genealogywise.com/profile/MollyMcKinley
I agree there are so many new ways to search we can "cast our nets" in many<br />
directtions and hopefully catch a tidbit of a trail.
I agree there are so many new ways to search we can "cast our nets" in many<br />
directtions and hopefully catch a tidbit of a trail. Wow! That's great, Kathleen!…tag:www.genealogywise.com,2009-08-18:3463583:Comment:1416792009-08-18T14:45:42.098ZKaren Rhodeshttp://www.genealogywise.com/profile/KarenRhodes
Wow! That's great, Kathleen!<br />
<br />
Happy to be of service!
Wow! That's great, Kathleen!<br />
<br />
Happy to be of service! Thank you, Karen!!!
I spent…tag:www.genealogywise.com,2009-08-17:3463583:Comment:1405762009-08-17T21:42:21.541ZKathleen Fox Allenhttp://www.genealogywise.com/profile/KathleenFoxAllen
Thank you, Karen!!!<br />
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I spent a couple of frustrating hours just last night trying to find some information on the ship that my g-grandfather and his parents came from England on in 1865. For once, Google completely failed me. I tried Bing, and that was even worse. When I saw your posting, I tried Yahoo!, and at first I thought that it was a bust, too, because there was only one hit - but it was the one I needed!<br />
<br />
It took me to pictures of the wreck of the E.W. Setson from 1898 and included the…
Thank you, Karen!!!<br />
<br />
I spent a couple of frustrating hours just last night trying to find some information on the ship that my g-grandfather and his parents came from England on in 1865. For once, Google completely failed me. I tried Bing, and that was even worse. When I saw your posting, I tried Yahoo!, and at first I thought that it was a bust, too, because there was only one hit - but it was the one I needed!<br />
<br />
It took me to pictures of the wreck of the E.W. Setson from 1898 and included the fact that it was launched from Newcastle, Maine in 1862! Now that I have more to go on, I've found the ship on the index to the records at Mystic Seaport.... I'm <b>very</b> excited right now! I agree, Molly. Google Books…tag:www.genealogywise.com,2009-08-17:3463583:Comment:1405132009-08-17T21:12:25.025ZKathleen Fox Allenhttp://www.genealogywise.com/profile/KathleenFoxAllen
I agree, Molly. Google Books has been very useful in helping me find new leads. The fact that you can save books to your "library" online is great.<br />
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The best part, as far as I'm concerned, is the search functionality. If you're like us, and you're doing that 2 a.m. research, having each instance of what you're looking for highlighted is a life saver!
I agree, Molly. Google Books has been very useful in helping me find new leads. The fact that you can save books to your "library" online is great.<br />
<br />
The best part, as far as I'm concerned, is the search functionality. If you're like us, and you're doing that 2 a.m. research, having each instance of what you're looking for highlighted is a life saver! Where I go next depends on th…tag:www.genealogywise.com,2009-08-17:3463583:Comment:1400592009-08-17T17:23:23.870ZKaren Rhodeshttp://www.genealogywise.com/profile/KarenRhodes
Where I go next depends on the nature of the information I find. If it's a date of death, I might, if I also know the place, go to the state website to find out of there is a death index or if (in cases like Michigan) death certificates are online. If I unearth a bit of military information, I might see if it is enough to order a service record or pension file from NARA. So it all depends on what sort of information it is.<br />
<br />
I might add, in the case of Google, that I got somewhat of a revelation…
Where I go next depends on the nature of the information I find. If it's a date of death, I might, if I also know the place, go to the state website to find out of there is a death index or if (in cases like Michigan) death certificates are online. If I unearth a bit of military information, I might see if it is enough to order a service record or pension file from NARA. So it all depends on what sort of information it is.<br />
<br />
I might add, in the case of Google, that I got somewhat of a revelation lately. I can't remember what the website is, but there is a site out there where you can do a blind comparison of search engines. It compares Google, Yahoo, and the new one from Microsoft, Bing. I entered the name of a great-great grandfather, Matthew Hale Packard. I saw that one of the search engines returned many more replies than the other two, and had found information directly pertinent to Matthew Hale Packard.<br />
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It wasn't Google. It was Yahoo. That was a surprise. So don't confine yourselves to Google. Try other engines, too, and you just may be surprised! I use ancestry.com more than…tag:www.genealogywise.com,2009-08-15:3463583:Comment:1372182009-08-15T08:20:43.160ZBeth Gatlinhttp://www.genealogywise.com/profile/BethGatlin
I use ancestry.com more than anything else, but do use other sources too, such as the Norwegian records that are online if I am looking for information on my Norwegian ancestors. I try Rootsweb too, and search Google. Even if I find unsourced family trees, at least they can be a starting point and hopefully I can verify the information.<br />
<br />
And I broke down a major brick wall around 3 AM on a work night, so apparently I am not alone! Unfortunately I have not been able to go any further back with…
I use ancestry.com more than anything else, but do use other sources too, such as the Norwegian records that are online if I am looking for information on my Norwegian ancestors. I try Rootsweb too, and search Google. Even if I find unsourced family trees, at least they can be a starting point and hopefully I can verify the information.<br />
<br />
And I broke down a major brick wall around 3 AM on a work night, so apparently I am not alone! Unfortunately I have not been able to go any further back with that family line yet; I found a passenger list showing my ancestors' arrival from Sweden but don't know where in Sweden they were from. hi Molly-
I use Google books…tag:www.genealogywise.com,2009-08-14:3463583:Comment:1359902009-08-14T16:15:33.121ZKate Steerehttp://www.genealogywise.com/profile/KateSteere
hi Molly-<br />
<br />
I use Google books as well(almost daily), and I have found that sometimes the Books section on Heritage Quest has useful family histories and directories.
hi Molly-<br />
<br />
I use Google books as well(almost daily), and I have found that sometimes the Books section on Heritage Quest has useful family histories and directories. One of the greatest sources I…tag:www.genealogywise.com,2009-08-14:3463583:Comment:1359822009-08-14T16:11:23.417ZMolly McKinleyhttp://www.genealogywise.com/profile/MollyMcKinley
One of the greatest sources I have found is in Google Books. You can find really<br />
old books that have full access and can even be downloaded for later reading (for those of us who do<br />
stay up till 2AM doing research...lol). I found many town history records and by searching there<br />
have found lots of hidden info on different members of the families (not direct line) I was looking for and that<br />
opened the door to more info on the ones I am looking for.<br />
<br />
After I find some nugget there, I go back to…
One of the greatest sources I have found is in Google Books. You can find really<br />
old books that have full access and can even be downloaded for later reading (for those of us who do<br />
stay up till 2AM doing research...lol). I found many town history records and by searching there<br />
have found lots of hidden info on different members of the families (not direct line) I was looking for and that<br />
opened the door to more info on the ones I am looking for.<br />
<br />
After I find some nugget there, I go back to Ancestry or Geneology.com or other on-line site and start<br />
a new search with the new info.<br />
Hope this helps someone.<br />
MM