Introduction to Family Research
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Transcript of Introduction to Family Research
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Introduction to Family Research
“A beginning survey of genealogy”
Saturday,
October 2nd, 2004
By:
Al Barron
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Introduction to Family Research
Agenda
•Introductory remarks
•Elements of Research
•Sources
•Summation
•Upcoming Events/Topics
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Introduction to Family Research
Book of John, 1:21:2 Abraham genuit Isaac Isaac autem genuit Iacob Iacob autem
genuit Iudam et fratres eius
1:2 Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren
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Introduction to Family Research
Why genealogy?•To put a ‘personal’ face on history
•To understand the unique issues we inherit
from the past
•To know the past in relation to family history
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Introduction to Family Research Where do I Start?
•Start with yourself and work backwards
•“MEMORIES” : more than just a song~a starting point
•Record sources
•Relatives
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Introduction to Family Research
Where do I Start?
Start with yourself and work backwards
Every person, short of an adoptee, can go back at least three generations. In the case of an individual born in 1950, assuming that a generation is 20 year, the grandparents are alive circa 1910. This would put them in the 1910 Census with their parents, the great grandparents.
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Introduction to Family Research
Where do I Start?“MEMORIES” : more than just a song~a starting point
While using records to fill in dates is an important thing, it is often best to utilize the memories of the oldest viable minds to records anecdotes of those who’ve gone before. Besides, interesting stories and mysteries are sometime more fun than bland vital records and census materials. Usually, one of the best tings to do is to take and use a notebook to chronicle your research in narrative form. While it can preserve treasured memories, it can give perspective to your work at a later date.
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Introduction to Family Research
Where do I Start?
Record sources
Sources for records can range from the usual and mundane to the interesting and obscure. Typically, most researchers use census records or other mainstream source to locate an ancestor. The most obscure source used recently has been a Record of Educable Children for the State of Mississippi for the year 1907.
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Introduction to Family Research
Where do I Start?Relatives
Many relatives are often the best starting point for information. While memories are frail, they may be able to recall events from the life of a family that prove interesting to note. A researcher in New Orleans recently uncovered a contract for the sale of property from Bernard Marigny that was notarized by a man named Almonester……
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Introduction to Family Research
Preservation and Organization of Research
Recording Information
•Census Extracts
•Family Documentation
•Source Documentation/Citation
•Correspondence
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Preservation and Organization of Research
Introduction to Family Research
Recording Information Census Extracts
The Census provides a marking point to trace a family through a given point in time. It is a primary record that shows beyond doubt that a family IS is a particular place at a given time. W’e will discuss the Census in more detail.
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Preservation and Organization of Research
Introduction to Family Research
Family Documentation
Ancestor Chart -
Family Group Sheet -
Record Extract -
Cross Referencing -
A thumbnail sketch on many generations in a family
Isolates a particular family from an ancestral chart
Extracts a type of record, other than Census for a given family or person
This is the heart of “paper” research. There Are many ways to reference the chart, sheets and extracts
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Preservation and Organization of Research
Introduction to Family Research
Source Documentation/Citation
•Use the research extract sheets to summarize information which cannot be photocopied;
•For which there is no document in your possession;
•For things such as deeds which may be time-consuming or difficult to reread quickly when you need information from the copy you have.
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Preservation and Organization of Research
Introduction to Family Research
Correspondence
In “paper” research, a correspondence record can help to keep track of all of thenon-internet based individuals you have kept in contact with. While it might seemArcane for the “armchair” researcher, keeping track may well pay dividends whenyou need either help someone else with a contact or need to revisit the topic at another time.
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Introduction to Family Research
Preservation and Organization of Research
Methodologies
Use the easiest source first, in many cases Ancestry.com or familysearch.org
Learn how to manipulate sources by their complexity, from indices to name genealogies.
When you master a source, decide which way works best for you – and document each source that you use (The “Red Book” Problem)
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Where do I look?Local Sources State Sources
St. Tammany Parish Library Louisiana State Archives
310 West 21st Avenue 3851 Essen lane
Covington, LA 70433 Baton Rouge, LA 70809
985-893-3280 225-922-1000
St. Tammany Parish Clerk of Court Federal Sources
701 North Columbia Street NARA Branches
Covington, LA 70433 Bureau of Indian Affairs
985-809-7500 Various Military Departments
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What does each source tell me?•Census
•Military Records
•Land grants
•Tax Records
•Passenger Ship and Naturalization Records•Bible/Sacramental Records
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What does each source tell me?1790 Census
The 1790 Census only lists the head of household and the ages of the other family members.
The 179’s quality will vary with the handwriting of the enumerator
The 1790 is indexed either by a print index or by computer file such as Ancestry
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What does each source tell me?1800 Census
the 1800 census is much like the 1790. Only Heads of household are by name, while other members are listed as “tick” m arks
As with the 1790, you are often at the mercy of the enumerator. Another consideration is the quality of the image.
The 1800 is indexed either by a print index or by computer file such as Ancestry
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What does each source tell me?1810 Census
With the 1810 Census, you have the same information as with the earlier years.
The 1810 is indexed either by a print index or by computer file such as Ancestry
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Introduction to Family Research
What does each source tell me?1820 Census
With the 1820 Census, the same information is given as the earlier years.
The 1820 is indexed either by a print index or by computer file such as Ancestry
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Introduction to Family Research
What does each source tell me?1830 Census
With the 1830 Census, you have the same information as with the earlier years.
The 1830 is indexed either by a print index or by computer file such as Ancestry
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What does each source tell me?1840 Census
With the 1840 Census, you have the same information as with the earlier years. This was the last census to exclude family members by name.
The 1840 is indexed either by a print index or by computer file such as Ancestry
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Introduction to Family Research
What does each source tell me?1850 Census
The 1850 will list other members of the household. It will also show vocational information and asset value.
The 1850 is indexed either by a print index or by computer file such as Ancestry
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Introduction to Family Research
1860 Census
The 1860 will list other members of the household. It will also show vocational information and asset value, place of nativity and marital status.
The 1860 is indexed either by a print index or by computer file such as Ancestry
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What does each source tell me?1870 Census
The 1870 will list other members of the household. It will also show vocational information and asset value, place of nativity and marital status. 1870 also added question of literacy and race.
The 1870 is indexed either by a print index or by computer file such as Ancestry
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Introduction to Family ResearchWhat does each source tell me?
1880 Census
The 1880 will list other members of the household. It will also show vocational information and asset value, place of nativity and marital status. 1880 also added question of literacy and race. The 1880 also added more information on nativity and relationships.
The 1880 is indexed Soundex or by computer file such as Ancestry.
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What does each source tell me?
Soundex is a phonetic contraction of the enumerated persons last name. Essentially, the last name is equated to a series of numbers preceded by a letter to alphabetically and numerically order a number of individuals.
Example:
Barron, coded for Soundex would be B650
Keep the first letter of the last name (B), get rid of the vowels (a,o) and any the 2nd letter of any double consonants (r) and then use a chart to substitute for the remaining letters. Fill in any space less than 3 to the right of the letter.
Soundex cards will give you a thumbnail sketch of the census. They will also get you indo the main census. Unlike earlier enumerations, everyone should be indexed, ,but Soundex is not used for all states.
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Introduction to Family ResearchWhat does each source tell me?
1890 Census
Almost al of the 1890 Census was destroyed by fire in the 1920’s. What does exist of it is only enough to enumerate the Union Veterans and widows of the Civil War.
Ancestry has a substitute for the 1890 and most city directories can substitute for the census by giving the occupation, trade and address of an individual.
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Introduction to Family Research
What does each source tell me?1900 Census
The 1900 includes al of the 1880 plus a few extra columns the nativity of the enumerated persons parent and date of immigration.
It is indexed by Soundex and is also done by databases and volunteers.
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Introduction to Family ResearchWhat does each source tell me?
1910 Census
The 1910 includes much more information that does any previous census. It includes information on the nature of employment and the ownership of property.
Again, it is indexed by the Soundex.
In Louisiana, Caddo and Orleans Parishes use MIRACODE.
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Introduction to Family Research
What does each source tell me?1920 Census
The 1920 Census gives roughly the same information as the 191, but has fewer columns. Again, Soundex would be used to get the County, Enumeration District and page number for the individual.
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Introduction to Family ResearchWhat does each source tell me?
1930 Census
The 1930 Census, like the 1920 and 1910, has essentially the same information and is indexed by Soundex.
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What does each source tell me?Mortality Schedules
For the Census enumerations after 1850, there are a few special
schedules that cover individuals who have died since the previous
taking.
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Introduction to Family Research
Military Records
In American History, there has always been a need to document the services performend by our troops. From the Colonial period to the present days veterans were paid for their tenure personnel records contain information on muster dates, awards and the type of service rendered. Some examples of the records would include Booth’s Louisiana Soldier’s in confederate commands and World War One Civilian Draft Registration Cards. More recent examples would be the 201 files of veterans serving since World War Two. These records are held by the National Archives, the National Personnel Records Center and state governments for the National Guard.
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What does each source tell me?Land grants
Land Grants were made to individuals based on claims made before Congress or a similar claim made for military service. Also, lands were granted to settlers in the latter half of the 1800’s. For information on land grant, see the American State Papers, or Grassroots of America
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Introduction to Family ResearchWhat does each source tell me?
Tax Records
Tax rolls exist for every level of government, from city to the federal government. Typical tax records at the local level might be the Chimney Tax of 1798 from New Orleans to property taxes levied on farms and houses. Federal Income Taxes, while a burden, may prove to be a great resource for genealogists at some point…
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Introduction to Family ResearchWhat does each source tell me?
Passenger Ship and naturalization Records
There are a number of sources to help find immigrants coming into the country. Some include Glazier and Filby’s Germans to America and the actual manifests and indices available from the National Archives.
Typically, in the manifests, information on an immigrant will include their point of embarkation, gender and age.
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Introduction to Family ResearchWhat does each source tell me?
Bible/Sacramental Records
The sacramental records and bible records of individual families are the vital records of their time. Prior to the early 1900’s, the federal government did not require the collection ofvital statistics. This job was done by churches or by individuals with their own bibles.
An excellent example of sacramental records are Fr. Donald Hebert’s South Louisiana Records and the Sacramental Records of the Archdiocese of New Orleans.
Typically, each major event in the life of a parishoner, from Confirmation to Mass of ChristianBurial are covered.
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What does each source tell me?•Other Types of Public Records
•Voter Registration Rolls•Will/Probate Documents•Lawsuits and Court Minutes•Sales Contracts or other Notarized and Recorded Documents
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Considerations•Always consider the “AUTHORITY” of a source
•Remember that a lot of what is on the internet does not have the “clout” of a government or church source
•Other Considerations:
•Some sources (even federal) have wrong information – people may be mistaken or may not have given correct information
•Always try to use sources that you can verify by at least one other source – such as a Census backed up by a city directory.
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Introduction to Family Research
What happens if I don’t find anything?
This is the painful part – look again and keep looking!!!
If you can’t find it one way, try another
Example: if you can’t find someone in the census, try a city directory. If you can’t find an obituary, try a cemetery list, etc.
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Introduction to Family Research
Who do I talk to about research?
There are always groups that will help –
You can always email, call or write a letter to a fellow genealogist, librarian or member of a
genealogy society to help you
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Introduction to Family Research
Local Sources to ConsiderLibrary in the County/Parish
Clerk of Court
College Library
Church or Church Library
Local Genealogy Society
Various Print Sources in a Library (County Court House Handbook, Vital Records Handbook, etc.)
Most organizations respond quickly to email, a mail-in request might take time. Also, remember to include a SASE when requesting information.
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Introduction to Family Research
In Summation…•Start with yourself and work backwards
•Fill-in where necessary with outside sources
•Use the internet and print sources to find what you need
•Always seek outside validation or help when needed
•Always ask….
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Introduction to Family Research
Upcoming Events/Topics
Saturday, October 9th, Electronic GenealogySaturday, October 16th, Ethnic GenealogySaturday, October 23rd, Military Heritage Research