Would you like some help with your research? How about getting a notification when someone in your family tree has a possible new genealogical record? If you don’t have your family information on FamilySearch, you might be missing out on free research assistance.
I received an email over the weekend that a relative had a new record hint on the FamilySearch FamilyTree. Intrigued, I clicked on the link and discovered a hint for Wilford Royston in a recently indexed database, “Oklahoma, School Records, 1895-1936.”
I hadn’t explored this newly indexed set of records, so I viewed the record image and discovered that Wilford’s father had listed all of his school age children and their birthdays on a single enrollment card. Why was this significant? This family lived in Oklahoma in the early 1900s before birth certificates were issued regularly. I didn’t have any records stating the children’s birth dates near the time of their birth and had assembled the family information based on census records and death/cemetery records.
Working through the school enrollment records (there were several) I noticed a huge error I had made in my family tree. With only the census records to go by, I had previously entered the “son” Floy W. Royston into my database and on the FamilySearch Family Tree. The 1920 enumeration was the first census listing this child.

“United States Census, 1920,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MJM3-87C : accessed 8 July 2018), Floy W Royston in household of Robert E Royston, North Cement, Caddo, Oklahoma, United States; citing ED 46, sheet 5A, line 31, family 75, NARA microfilm publication T625 roll 1453; FHL microfilm 1,821,453.
A problem however had emerged when I viewed the 1930 census for the family. Floy W. was nowhere to be seen and instead a Wilfred showed up with the family as a daughter. With two conflicting census records and no birth record, I chose to designate this individual as male because the name seemed to be male. I reasoned that the 1930 census listing Wilfred as a daughter was a mistake on the part of the census taker.

“United States Census, 1930,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XCD4-5ZC : accessed 10 July 2018), Wilfred Royston in household of Robert E Royston, Bethel, Madera, California, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 3, sheet 13B, line 52, family 329, NARA microfilm publication T626), roll 176; FHL microfilm 2,339,911.
Viewing the school records, I discovered that this child was consistently listed as a female and with the name Wilferd or Wilford. She shows up on each enrollment card with her older brothers and sisters. Each individual is listed with their gender as well as complete birth dates. The cards generally have father R.E. Royston giving the information with only one showing Mrs. R. E. Royston as the informant. Notice the statement at the bottom of the card that the parent or guardian had sworn under oath that the information was correct. This gives more weight to this direct evidence of the childrens’ birth information and gender.

“Oklahoma, School Records, 1895-1936,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/Q2NM-G9ML : 17 March 2018), Wilferd Royston, 1922; citing School enrollment, Anadarko, Caddo, Oklahoma, United States, various County Clerk offices, Oklahoma school district offices, Oklahoma; FHL microfilm 2,022,395.
Doing some checking on Find A Grave, I found “Wilfred F. Royston” and she was definitely female. It is no wonder that I could find out nothing more about the male “Floy F. Royston” since he didn’t exist. Having FamilySearch’s hinting capability helped me correct Wilfred’s record. I also verified birth dates of her siblings. These school enrollment records are an excellent substitute for a birth certificate and one I didn’t know was available until I received the hint from FamilySearch.
If you do decide to add your tree to the collaborative FamilySearch Family Tree, make sure you keep a copy in your own genealogical database. The reason? The collaborative nature of the tree allows anyone to edit information. Don’t let this bother you, instead look at the tree as a research tool. As new record collections are indexed and added to FamilySearch, the computer program will look for matches and your relatives might be found. If you’re new to the FamilySearch Family Tree, I’ve listed some articles Nicole and I have written at the end of this post to get you started.
Back to the Oklahoma school record collection. Just for fun, I searched for my dad and sure enough, there he was listed with his older brother and younger sister . . . and I thought I had found all of the records for my dad. Seeing his school enrollment record was especially fun because I had grown up with stories about his adventures in Oklahoma. His dad was spot on with the birth dates! It was especially sweet seeing my beloved grandfather’s handwriting as he carefully entered the information for this children.

“Oklahoma, School Records, 1895-1936,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/Q2L6-54YZ : 10 April 2018), Bobbie Shults, 1937; citing School enrollment, Proctor, Adair, Oklahoma, United States, various County Clerk offices, Oklahoma school district offices, Oklahoma; FHL microfilm 2,440,368.
Without FamilySearch hints I may not have discovered these records for a long time. I can always do with a little extra help in my research efforts!
Best of luck in all of your family history endeavors!
Articles about the FamilySearch Family Tree by Diana and Nicole
How to Transfer a Family Tree to FamilySearch
How to Improve the FamilySearch Family Tree by Applying the Genealogical Proof Standard
Creating a New Source on FamilySearch Family Tree
What Do I Do Next? 5 Tips for Using FamilySearch Partners
Adding Historical Place Names in FamilySearch
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