Blog – Page 73 – Family Locket

DNA Research Reports – the Ultimate Finish

You’ve analyzed your DNA, compared it with family history information and records, and worked diligently to gather information about your family—What’s next? The final step in the Research Like a Pro with DNA process is to write your conclusions and correlate the information in a report. This report may be written to yourself, family members, or clients. It’s a summary of the information about your DNA matches, common ancestors, and verification of biological connections to […]

By Robin Wirthlin October 26, 2019 DNA

RLP 67: Tax Records Part 3 – How to Find Tax Records

Today’s episode of Research Like a Pro is about how to find tax records. We discuss our go-to places to search, starting with the FamilySearch Wiki. Diana shares how she found the Maryland tax records transcribed and indexed at the Maryland Archives website through a link in the Wiki. We also discuss using the FamilySearch catalog to tap into all the digitized microfilm available online at FamilySearch that is typically unindexed, browse only microfilm. This […]

By Nicole Elder Dyer October 21, 2019 Podcast

Family History & Getting things Done Part 4: Reflecting

Are you keeping your genealogy systems updated and functional? You might have spent a considerable amount of time organizing your records and prioritizing projects, but then you took a research trip, attended a conference, or watched a webinar, and now have a stack of papers and a flash drive full of digital records. If you’re feeling weighed down again, the step you might be missing is reflection. Regularly capturing the new items that have risen […]

By Diana Elder October 19, 2019 Organizing, Research Tips

Using a Research Log in a DNA Research Project

Have you discovered the value of using a research log? If not, you might want to experiment with using one for your next research project. Fine tuning a research log that worked for me was a major benefit of the accreditation process. When I started adding DNA as evidence in my research, I needed to tweak the log to reflect my correspondence with my DNA matches. I’ve shared each step of my DNA research project […]

By Diana Elder October 16, 2019 DNA, Research Tips

RLP 66: Tax Records Part 2 – Types of Tax Records

Today’s episode of Research Like a Pro is about U.S. tax records and the various types you might encounter. Each state decided how to tax their citizens a little differently. Colonial Virginia had tithables and quitrents. Later, these were replaced with poll taxes. Most tax records fall into three categories, which we discuss – poll, real property, and personal property. Nicole shares how poll taxes in North Carolina help determine the ages of John Johnson’s […]

By Nicole Elder Dyer October 14, 2019 Podcast

DNA Research Logs: How to Keep Track of Genetic Genealogy Searches

Updated 24 February 2022 When working on a case involving DNA test results, it may feel like you look at hundreds of DNA match pages, reports, family trees, and shared match lists each time you sit down to research. Do you want a better way to keep track of all the sources you consult in a DNA research project? It’s time to take your research log to the next level. In the Research Like a […]

By Nicole Elder Dyer October 11, 2019 DNA, Research Tips

Quick and Easy Family History Gift Ideas

I used to work in the quilting industry. It was always fun to be a part of the heightened flurry of activity that began about this time of year as our customers hurried to complete quilts and other handmade gifts for loved ones in time for the holidays. As a genealogist, I have that same desire to share what I am passionate about with those around me in meaningful ways. The upcoming holiday season provides […]

By Alice Childs October 9, 2019 Crafts and Projects, Creating and Sharing Family History, Sharing Stories

RLP 65 – Tax Records Part 1 – How to Use Tax Records

Today’s episode of Research Like a Pro is about using tax records to solve genealogy research questions. This is the first of a three part series about tax records. Our examples are from U.S. research, but most countries tax their citizens, and the same general principles apply to researching there as well. In this part of the series, we tell you about three steps for extracting information from tax records, putting the data in a […]

By Nicole Elder Dyer October 7, 2019 Podcast

Shaking the Family Tree: Blue Bloods, Black Sheep, and Other Obsessions of an Accidental Genealogist – An Interview with author Buzzy Jackson

Do you ever feel like you’re the only genealogist in your circle of family and friends? If so, a dose of Buzzy Jackson and her book, Shaking the Family Tree: Blue Bloods, Black Sheep, and Other Obsessions of an Accidental Genealogist might be what you need. Reading about her adventures in the genealogy world will have you chuckling and commiserating at the same time. This post contains affiliate links. If you click the link and make a […]

By Diana Elder October 2, 2019 Book Club

How Contacting DNA Matches Helped Me With My Traditional Genealogy Research

I am new to genetic genealogy. I began to realize several months ago that I needed to add DNA research to my list of skills, so I purchased Ancestry DNA kits for myself and my husband at RootsTech in February. I received my results and didn’t really know what I should do next, so I started reading the articles about DNA right here at Family Locket and listening to all of the Research Like a […]

By Alice Childs October 1, 2019 DNA