Research Tips – Page 46

Part 4: Pennsylvania Germans: The Land Acquisition Process in Colonial Pennsylvania

Feb 25, 2022

…whoever brings plenty of money-he will have it good. For whoever brings in money can buy a piece of land.1 As we have discussed in the first three posts in this series, one of the reasons our Pennsylvania Germans left their homeland and came to America was the promise of land. Letters and tracts that told of Pennsylvania’s virtues were widely distributed in Germany. Friends and family members shared these with one another. Escaping the...

If I know how a DNA match is related, do I still need to contact them?

Feb 25, 2022

Today we have the following question from a Research Like a Pro with DNA study group member: If you already know the relationship to a match, is there any other reason to contact that match? Yes, there are many reasons to contact your DNA matches, from verifying their tree, to asking them to share their matches with you. As you establish communication with them, it opens the door for further collaboration. When you need to...

Should I sort my 23andMe matches by percent or strength of relationship?

Feb 24, 2022

Today I am answering a new question for our Research Like a Pro with DNA Q&A series: “Should I sort my 23andMe matches by percent or strength of relationship?” The RLP with DNA study group member asked this question during assignment 1, which includes sorting DNA matches into color clusters using the Leeds Method. The full question is: How does 23&Me determine “Strength of Relationship?” Is this a more valuable sorting mechanism to use for...

What is the significance of the first cluster in an AutoCluster or Collins Leeds Method chart?

Feb 23, 2022

We are starting a new series called Research Like a Pro with DNA Q&A. Study group and eCourse members ask questions, and we answer them with a short video. Today, the question is: “what is the significance of the first cluster in an AutoCluster or Collins Leeds Method chart?” I answer the question by showing an example of a MyHeritage AutoCluster chart where the clusters are ordered by size (number of matches in the...

RLP 189: Revisiting Research Logs Again

Feb 21, 2022

Today’s episode of Research Like a Pro is about how to use a genealogy research log. As you follow this step in the RLP process, you’ll add links and citations to your log to help you stay organized and keep track of what you did. This is a replay of episode 118 with new commentary about Airtable. Transcript Nicole (1s): This is episode 189, Revisiting Research Logs Again. Welcome to Research Like a Pro a...

Navigating the Unique Texas Land Grant System: Republic and Statehood Era 1836-1898

Feb 19, 2022

If you have an ancestor who came into what is now Texas in the 1700s or 1800s, understanding the history, jurisdictions, and records will be key to your research. This is the last of a three-part series where we’ve explored the Spanish, Mexican, Republic, and Statehood eras of Texas. We want to learn about our ancestor’s actions. Land can reveal military service, the time when the family moved to Texas, how long they had lived...

Part 3: Pennsylvania Germans: Guiding Principles for Research

Feb 18, 2022

When German-speaking immigrants arrived in America, they tended to settle in communities of German-speaking people. Although the residents of a particular community may have come from different areas of German-speaking Europe, they had similar customs and similar ways of life that they retained for many years. At the same time, Pennsylvania Germans were eager to avail themselves of the opportunities of this new land. Remember that even though our Pennsylvania Germans retained much of their...

RLP 188: Revisiting Source Citations Again

Feb 14, 2022

Today’s episode of Research Like a Pro is about how to make clear source citations. This is a replay of episode 117 with new commentary at the beginning. Diana shares her Nancy Briscoe project and how she created citations using the five elements of a citation. We also talk about the value of citation templates that help you be more efficient. Transcript Nicole (1s): This is Research Like a Pro episode 188 Revisiting Source Citations...

Navigating the Unique Texas Land Grant System: Mexican Era 1821-1836

Feb 13, 2022

If you have an ancestor who came into what is now Texas in the 1700s or 1800s, understanding the history, jurisdictions, and records will be key to your research. This is the second of a three-part series where we’ll explore the Spanish, Mexican, Republic, and Statehood eras of Texas, specifically focusing on the land grants. In part one we looked at a historical overview of the settling of Texas and the Spanish land grants. In...

Part 2: Pennsylvania Germans: Journey to a New Land

Feb 11, 2022

In the first post in this series, Heidi Mathis provided a great overview of the push and pull factors that motivated our Pennsylvania German ancestors to come to America. In this post, I will answer the questions “How did they get here?” and “What happened once they arrived?” I will also discuss records that might (or might not) have been created along the way. Preparing to Leave the Homeland In order to leave Germany,...