Have you ever traipsed through a cemetery and wondered if you’re discovering all the clues for your ancestor? We are understandably most interested in the names and dates on the headstones, but what else should we be considering? In part 1 of this series, you learned about the various types of U.S. cemeteries and how to find the cemetery for your ancestor’s burial. In part 2 you discovered a variety of cemetery records such as...
Could a church record be the missing link in your genealogical research? Do you need a substitute for vital records or clues to your ancestor’s origins or migration? A church record might hold the answer. Part 1 of this series examined the value of church records, what kind of records were created, and what you can find in them. In part 2 of this series, we’ll learn how to determine what church your ancestor might...
Have you used church records in your genealogy yet? If not, you might be interested to know how helpful a church record can be in researching your family. Because birth and death certificates were not required by most states in the U.S. until after 1900, church records can be a substitute for vital records. They can also help establish an ancestor’s status in the community, reveal associates, and point to previous or subsequent residences. In...
If your ancestor emigrated to the United States after 1820, there is a good chance there may be a record detailing the ship, date of arrival, port of departure, fellow passengers, and more. The challenge comes in uniquely identifying our ancestors among those of the same name. Record availability in the 19th and 20th centuries is fairly good, so we can research the ancestors thoroughly, looking for important clues. In part 1 of this series,...
Knowing the history of U.S. immigration and the types of immigration records created when our ancestors arrived is key when considering finding their origins. Did they arrive as part of one of the original colonies or emigrate during the 19th or 20th century? Each era varies in record availability. In part 1 of this series, we looked at getting started with the research by examining the ancestor’s records in the United States for clues to...
Have you encountered the challenge of finding immigration records for your ancestors? In our United States research, we may discover our ancestor’s home country and wonder how to find the original ship passenger lists or other immigration records. Whether they hailed from the British Isles, Europe, Scandinavia, or any other country, we hope for that exact date and place of entry. Difficulties come with the multitude of locations they could have entered the U.S. –...
If you have an ancestor who became a United States citizen in the 20th century, you will have a rich source of information about their origins, emigration, residence, family, and more. The changes made to the naturalization process in 1906 by the U.S. Congress resulted in standardized forms that requested detailed information and specific requirements for citizenship. Before 1906, little identifying information was included in the naturalization forms. In part 1 of this series, we...
In part 3 of this series, Back to the Basics with Marriage Records: Church Marriage Records, I talked about church marriage records and how to find them. While church marriage records are common and easy to find in Europe, civil marriage records are much easier to find in United States records. Part of the reason for this is that church records are private, while civil marriage records are public and easier to access. In my...
Church marriage records are a common record set used in genealogy research for many European countries. Church marriage records can also be found in U.S. research. Depending on the time period and state, you may find Church of England parish marriage records, like in colonial Virginia, Catholic church marriages, Lutheran church marriages, and so forth. Determining the religion of your ancestors can help you determine which church they may have been married in. Civil marriage...
Marriage records are one of the three vital records we rely on for identifying our ancestors and their relationships. They can contain the residence of the bride and groom, names of parents or witnesses, clues to religion, birth information, the bride’s maiden name, and more. Because of the legal implications of marriage, most U.S. counties began recording marriages early in the county’s formation. If the couple was married in a church, there could also be...
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