I was recently informed of an exciting and interesting historical publication called The Belvedere Book. It has been published by the Belvedere College with assistance in its creation being given by Eneclann, the renowned Irish Genealogy experts. The book was commissioned in mid 2005 by the college, as the Belvedere College Board was scheduled to assume responsibility foe running the school from the organization that has been in charge since 1832 – the Jesuits, and wanted to commemorate the contribution the Jesuits have had to education. Eneclann was requested to assist in managing the project that would create the manuscript book that now contains the records of every Jesuit associated with the school since the 1840’s. It is quite a comprehensive publication, and it has been constructed so as to be suitable for long term archival preservation.

Belvedere College is also known as St. Francis Xavier’s College, and has a total around 1,000 students on full time enrolment. There are also some famous alumni of Belvedere, James Joyce the famous writer being the most notable, along with Jimmy O’Dea, star of the popular film Darby O’Gill and the Little People, John O’Conor – former head of the Royal Irish Academy of Music and Beethoven master, and Sam Stephenson, famous architect of the Central Bank of Ireland on Dame St, in Dublin to name a few.

Formerly the information on the Jesuits was recorded in Latin within the Annual Catalogues of Jesus in Ireland, which have been published since 1821 right up until present day. Information in the earlier catalogues is minimal, but since 1851 they have been quite comprehensive, giving full details of the Jesuit Priests employed there. The team from Eneclann has done a superb job in translating the Latin into English, the result being a wonderful leather bound manuscript book drawing on Celtic calligraphy and traditional Irish book binding.

The information contained in the new manuscript book is easy to access and follow, a page designated for every year containing the full names of the priests, scholastics, and brothers along with their professional positions and duties within the school. If your ancestor was a Jesuit priest in Ireland from the mid nineteenth century, you are pretty much guaranteed to find them here. By looking through the entries for the various years, you are able to easily identify the priests involved with the school during that time, the subjects they taught (you can even browse by subject), even the school doorkeepers are named.

Two expert calligraphers extracted and copied the information from the Latin catalogues over a two year period, using traditional inks made from natural pigments that were ground from minerals. The paper used was hand-manufactured into individual folios of four sheets of paper, then sewn together by hand. As modern paper is made from wood pulp, it decays at a faster rate, so the traditional hand manufactured version will be easier to conserve. The book was then bound in fine leather (made from goat, pig, and calf skin), and a linen presentation box made to hold it. It has truly received the attention that a historical treasure deserves.

Due to its delicate nature and historical value, the Belvedere Book can only be viewed in person and by appointment, but it is well worth doing if you combine a trip to Ireland with some genealogical research. If you’re interested in researching a Jesuit ancestor who may be entered in the book, you can contact the Jesuits in Ireland.

Christmas is just around the corner, and if there is a genealogist in your life you might be wondering what to get them this year. With the popularity of genealogy these days, Christmas shopping for genealogists is probably easier and more exciting than shopping for just about anything. There is an array of genealogy gifts you can get for the resident family historian, or if you are that researcher, drop a hint to friends and family about! Because the pursuit of genealogy is so internet based these days, let’s first take a look at some electronic oriented gifts you can get for genealogist family or friends.

CD-ROMs and Software

Family Tree Maker 2012 and Legacy Deluxe 7.5 are by far the most popular and comprehensive Genealogy software options on the market today. Both are affordably priced (under $40), and both are rated highly by those who own them. They are equally effective and contain all the features a genealogist needs to organize a family history. Family Tree Maker 2012 stands out from the crowd in one essential way – it is easy to use and understand. The genius of the product is that it is designed to be easily understood by beginners and absolutely effective for more seasoned genealogists. Legacy has its own outstanding features; 3D satellite views, relationship calculator, set-up wizard, and over a thousand interview reports. Both are capable of interacting with online sources such as FamilySearch.org and Ancestry.com, and both will be appreciated by any genealogist who doesn’t yet have such software, or who is looking to upgrade.

You can also find record collections on CD ROM. The National Archives Library Information Center has almost 100 CD ROMs containing records from census to immigration and military records, as well as Griffith’s Valuation Index and much, much more. Another organization offering an excellent choice of CD ROMs for genealogists is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS). At the LDS Online Store, you will find excellent genealogy tutorials and tools on CD Rom as well as supplies and journals. As the LDS offer so much free information and access to genealogy records to genealogists, shopping with them is a way of giving back.

Books

Research is equally as important to organizing a family tree, and there are many books that also make great genealogy gifts. There are countless publications that family historian’s can benefit from, but three of my favorites are; How to Do Everything Genealogy by George G. Morgan, Genealogy Online for Dummies by Matthew L. Helm and April Leigh Helm, and The Source: A Guidebook of American Genealogy by Loretto Dennis Szucs and Sandra Hargreaves Luebking.

A genealogist not need have any other guidebooks if having these three in their collection. How to Do Everything Genealogy covers all the basics of genealogical research with instruction included for specific geographical locations, Genealogy Online for Dummies provides a comprehensive guide for online research, and The Source: A Guidebook of American Genealogy, as its name implies is an in depth guide to searching ancestors in the United States. All are well written, easy to understand and make great genealogy gifts.

Genealogical Supplies and Miscellaneous

Amazon.com also offers a vast array of genealogical supplies and heraldic related material that also make great genealogy gifts. Family history scrapbooks, journals, coats of arms, binders and refill pages, voice recorders for interviewing family members, and much more are available on their website, making it a one stop shop for buying genealogy gifts. Remember, Christmas is right around the corner, so you might want to start sniffing out what the genealogist in your life would like to receive from Santa!

You’re hot on the trail of an ancestor, you find the records you need and excitedly contact the repository. Your excitement grows as you wait for the phone to be answered or response to your letter or email. Finally you get the dreaded answer – sorry there is no public access to those records. Many researchers have become discouraged and given up their search at this point, but there is really no need to.

Yes, some records are not available for the public to access, or access is limited, especially since September 2001. Many government agencies around the world have enforced legislation to prevent access to types of records that may be used to falsify an identity or be used in other illegal activities. Because of this some documents that were previously available to researchers are now not, or you may need to verify your own identity before you are allowed access. This especially includes civil records such as birth certificates, as they can be used to obtain identity cards, passports, driver’s licences and other official documentation.

Some documents have been officially sealed, and may never be available to researchers, regardless of the circumstances. Adoption records fall into this category, and it is even difficult for the adoptee or the adoptive parents to receive them. Other types of records that may not be available are certain types of court records, coroner’s reports, inquests, civil lawsuit settlements, and divorce records. Religious institutions may also choose to maintain the privacy of their members, as will some businesses.

These situations are definitely genealogical obstacles that can be difficult to overcome, but there are certain methods you can employ to maximize your chance of moving beyond them. Following are methods that myself and others have used to gain access to restricted records.

Provide Proof of Your Relationship

Whenever you are seeking to access someone else’s records you will inevitably be asked why you want the information, even though the person may be long deceased. The best response is to be honest; stating that you are a genealogist researching their family history, and that you have proof of your relationship. You will also have to provide personal identification, but when the surname is different from your own usually additional proof is required. If you have already done a good bit of work on your family history, take a copy of your pedigree chart with you along with the copies of birth, death and marriage certificates you will need to present. The fact that you are willing to prove your relationship is enough to break down barriers, and repository staff are genuinely happy to help genealogists.

Offer to Pay for Expenses

Show that you are serious about your request by offering to pay all expenses involved such as; copying of records, postage, and administrative costs. Making this clear from the beginning removes the burden of expense from the organization producing the records, and consequently they are more eager to do it. If it is a religious or charitable organization to which you’re making the request, offer to make a donation.

Present Proof or Letters of Authorization

You will often be looking to access the records of distant or collateral relatives, and in such cases may need permission from the family of that person. Because you are not a direct relative, access to the records may be blocked, but this can be overcome by a letter from the family authorising or giving you permission to access them. Make sure that the letter is notarized by a registered notary public or equivalent. Keep your proof of relationship with you at all times however, as it goes along way to backing up the letter to sceptics.

Use the Freedom of Information Act

The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requires the United States Government to release records to anyone who applies for them in writing. There are some restrictions that involve National Security, and certain privacy laws may apply to particular individuals. It is important to understand the Act however, as you can invoke it in some circumstances to overcome invalid refusals. You can review the FOIA online at the Department of State’s Electronic Reading Room, and make FOIA requests there as well.

Obtain a Court Order

As a last resort for documents that are closed or restricted to the public, it might help to apply for a court order to grant access. You must provide a convincing argument as to your reasons for wanting access, and prove your relationship as well. One of the most effective arguments is the need for medical information. The needs to identify blood type, genetic predisposition to specific diseases or other similar reasons have been successful arguments for obtaining court orders. You may require the assistance of a legal representative in presenting your case to the court, but the cost may be justified if it’s your last resort.

Unfortunately genealogy isn’t always fun and games, but running into a roadblock such as closed records doesn’t have to end your search. A little hard work may be involved, but if you’re dedicated, prepared, and passionate, the above suggestions might help you to access those records that will help you to close another chapter of your family history.

Australia has a rich history, and it tells the stories of both its indigenous peoples and the immigrants who settled on its shores. Australia was initially merely a penal colony for the British government, and most of its early, colonial settles were criminals or convicts who had been imprisoned in spite of their innocence. It is quite fashionable to have a convict in ones ancestral lineage these days, in fact the Australians consider having more convicts in your lineage makes you more Australian. The probability of you having an Australian ancestor who was either a convict or a member of the military force that guarded them is directly proportional to the time they arrived “Down Under”.

Being sent to a penal colony in Australia or elsewhere during colonial times was actually considered to be a humane form of punishment by the British government. Convicts were originally were sent to the American colonies, most being debtors who were housed in debtors colonies or criminal settlement, regardless of the term of sentence. The American Revolutionary War brought an end to penal colonies in America, and the British government was forced to look for alternative locations when their prisons began to become overcrowded. Initially convicts were placed on old, unseaworthy ships known as hulks along the English coast, and soon became overcrowded and riddled with disease themselves. The first convicts were subsequently shipped to Australia in 1787, and over the next seventy years many penal colonies were established.

Because of its past, researching Australian ancestors can be a fun-filled adventure, but there are of course certain strategies one can use to find their ancestor more efficiently. One thing I found helpful when researching early Australian records was to have a basic understanding of the judicial system of the United Kingdom at the time in question. Knowing where to find your ancestors criminal records is tantamount to a successful search, as they will inform you as to which penal colony he was sent to. Most of theses records are held at a state level in Australia in their respectful archives, and most penal colonies were located in Victoria, Queensland, New South Wales, Western Australia and Tasmania.

It is important to understand that the Australian National Archives date mostly from the forming of the Australian Federation in 1901. They have no records of convicts or colonial period immigrations, or even of any type of colonial period government administration. What they do have are twentieth century Immigration Records and a few older ones dating back to 1850. The most valuable records for those searching colonial period ancestors are those found in the individual state archives. The major source of genealogical value that the National Archives of Australia offers however is their Fact Sheets Page. Here you can find all of the addresses, contact info, and website addresses for all of the repositories that hold specific Australian records. The great thing is that you can search by record type, and it will display every facility in Australia that has those records, and how to access them.

Other important Australian records can be found as follows:

Civil Registration Records of births, deaths, and marriages were initially the responsibility of the colonies in Australia and later fell to the states and territories. They can now be acquired by contacting the registrar in the state in the state where the event occurred. Australian Census reports have been taken every year since 1901, but unfortunately for genealogists they have all been destroyed according to Australian law. Other records such as convict musters and returns and post office directories can be used as substitutes, and these also can be found in the individual state archives.

The internet has definitely taken genealogy research to a new level – both in popularity and regarding ease of research. The wealth of online information is a blessing to genealogists, and constant gratitude should be given to the army of tireless and dedicated volunteers who transcribe and digitize historical documents. Never before has the pursuit of family history been so accessible to the general public, and many who may not have otherwise known how to go about tracing their ancestors are now bona fide genealogists. But there are many valuable offline resources that we should not overlook or forget about, especially reference books.

Reference books that focus on different record types or locations are some of the best resources at the disposal of genealogists. A good library of reference books can provide a sound foundation for your study of family history. You may decide to purchase one or two that may form crucial components of your own project, or your local library may have a copy. If you can’t find one that you’re interested in at your library, you can definitely recommend that they acquire it. Following are some of the reference books that I have found especially helpful to my own genealogical projects.

How to Do Everything: Genealogy, Second Edition

Written by George G. Morgan, this is one of my major go-to genealogy reference books. It contains excellent tutorials regarding individual record types, as well as records relevant to particular countries. If you want to know where to locate records and exactly what those records contain; this is the book for you. It covers not only traditional research, but electronic as well, and besides its in-depth analysis of record types it also covers the basics of genealogy, making it as equally useful to beginners as it is to serious genealogists. If I could have only one reference book, this would be it.

The Source: A Guidebook of American Genealogy (Third Edition)

If you’re researching ancestors in America, Loretto Szucs and Sandra Hargreaves Luebking have done an excellent job of putting this guide together. It is definitely the most comprehensive reference for every type of U.S. record and research methodologies. Detailed instructions (and when I say detailed I mean detailed) are provided regarding research of various record types, what can be found in them, and where and how to find and access them. More than thirty experts including professional genealogists, librarians, historians, and archivists assisted in its preparation. It is well written, easy to read, and thorough in explaining how to get the most out of any information you find.

Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources

Used in conjunction with The Source, the Red Book completes a formidable reference set for United States Genealogy. It stands on its own though, and is an excellent individual state reference source. Edited by Alice Eichholz, it provides historical background regarding each states formation, descriptions of the major record types of each state, when they were first created, and where they can be accessed. An outstanding feature of this publication is the county boundary maps and tables provided for each state, and contact information for the relative county repositories.

French-Canadian Sources: A Guide for Genealogists

Patricia Keeney Geyh and others have combined to put together this excellent source for those researching their Canadian ancestry. Experts in French-Canadian research have contributed to its publication, and the book covers the complete history of the French in Canada from 1605. It details the records that have been generated throughout the centuries by the French, British, and Canadian governments, and includes a comprehensive appendix of French words you may encounter while researching them.

Tracing Your Irish Ancestors: The Complete Guide, Third Edition

Got Irish Ancestors? I know I have, and this book has been especially helpful in helping me to locate them. I couldn’t have got started in the research of my Irish ancestry without this book. It provides a complete primer on how to begin your genealogical research in Ireland, and examines all of the major sources for tracing Irish ancestry, especially those that are quite unique to Ireland such as Griffith’s Valuation, and Tithe Applotment Books. Other records covered are; census reports, civil records, church records, wills, emigration papers, deeds, directories, registry sources and newspapers. Kudos to John Grenham for its production.

Ancestral Trails: The Complete Guide to British Genealogy and Family History, Second Edition

Mark D. Herber has compiled the most complete and extensive guide for tracing British ancestors. It comes highly recommended from the former Director of the Society of Genealogists, Anthony camp who has this to say about it: “No other publication gives such comprehensive and up-to-date guidance on tracing British ancestry and researching family history. Illustrated throughout with more than ninety examples of the major types of records, and with detailed lists of further reading, Ancestral Trails will be the essential companion and guide for all family historians.”

It is presented in an orderly fashion, is easy to read, and provides detailed descriptions of all of the major, and many obscure record types. What I found impressive was the attention given to beginning family historians, as basics such as pedigree chart development and construction are even provided.

I have just been reading Val Greenwood’s The Researchers Guide to American Genealogy, in which I came across what I think is a very interesting point. She said; “Perhaps the one thing that would improve the quality of research being done, more than any other single factor, would be a concern for complete families rather than just direct lines.” What she meant of course was that more research should be done regarding collateral kin and associates, but this of course is easier said than done. This type of research involves working with many different records in quite large numbers, and one must be able to instantly recognize what is of value in each, and what is not. It’s difficult enough sometimes researching direct line descendants, but what she said I think is also quite true.

Studying ancestors in their full context has evolved from simply looking for siblings to searching for important companions as well. But it doesn’t just stop there; in-laws, associates, and friends are then placed within their own geographical, cultural and sociological elements. The benefit of this type of genealogical research is that it places your ancestor and his associates in their historical content as well as developing them as individuals. Sometimes known as “cluster genealogy”, it can be very demanding, but equally as rewarding.

There are certain principles however that can make a full genealogical study such as this a little easier. Understanding the relationships between different parties, and how those relationships play out and affect each person, can help genealogists to solve the hardest genealogical problems. The key is in remembering that the relationships between people are important, not just names.

Some Helpful Principles and Their Genealogical Inferences

One thing that sociologists have discovered is that the strongest family ties are between women, the most enduring bond being between mothers and daughters. The implication of this principle for genealogists is that; the best family sources for your genealogical study are probably those related to people with a different surname than the one you’re researching.

Regarding Western society, studies have shown that ties to the family of the wife are stronger than those of her husband, unless the husband’s ties are connected to his occupation. How this is important to genealogical research is that: besides understanding the blood ties between family members, a researcher must also comprehend the business and economic dynamics of family relationships.

It has been shown that immigration or other geographical mobility does not break the social relationships among family members. This information can be especially useful when researching records that may have been destroyed by a fir, floods, or neglect. In such cases; the records detailing the various relationships of family members may have been maintained by a person outside of the geographical location in which you are presently searching, someone removed from the area of destruction.

It is also important to understand the language of the era in which you are researching, as terminology for family relationships may have been different from those used today. If a family relationship is misinterpreted, it could sabotage an entire family tree. For example the terms daughter-in-law and son-in-law at one time meant a child of a spouse from a previous marriage.

Always remember that genealogy is as much about relationships as it is name gathering. People are joined not just by blood, but by law and emotions as well. If you limit your research to only blood relatives of your ancestor, you may miss out on critical clues and important documents.

Sometimes the legal records created by family members who had no heirs, beneficiaries, or descendants can be more useful than those who did. Never overlook a family member, and obtain all the information and data that you can regarding every ancestor.

In colonial times it was assumed that after marriage, spousal relatives became the same as your own. For example, the wife’s nieces and nephews would become the husband’s, and he their uncle. This is a common assumption, but presumptuous in genealogy.

These principles of course can be applied to any genealogical search, but are especially relevant when researching collateral kin. A good practice is to search all the records of any families you think you may be connected to. It is easy to complain that pursuing every collateral line you encounter will produce an impossible amount of surnames to manage, but with modern technology – computers and software – it is made much easier. A last tip is to learn more about the community of the people you are researching. Every culture and community produces records outside of those required by governments. Find those records, and you will undoubtedly find more ancestors and their associates.

I recently had the pleasure of visiting with some of my relatives in Bolton, England. The weather was a bit gloomy as the English weather can sometimes be, but Bolton is a city rich in history, and with a formidable industrial past, that couldn’t help but warm my heart. It’s a blue-collar city, and the inhabitants reflect that hearty down to earth character that makes it a pleasure to tuck unto a rich beef stew or share a few glasses, well pints (excuse my French), of ale with them. And that I did – more ale than stew I have to say. Now after admitting my fondness for the English brew, I feel I may have some trouble convincing you of the worthiness of my next observation. I won’t beat around the bush, I’ll come right out and say it – I saw elephants everywhere I went!

Now before you dismiss me as a flake or assume that perhaps my fondness for ale went a little too far, know this one thing – they weren’t real elephants!  No, I’m not saying that I realize they were imaginary, there are indeed elephants all over Bolton, I did really see them – on buildings, company logos, park benches, and on the Bolton Coat of Arms! Yes it appears the elephant is a popular heraldic mascot for the city whose residents and football team are nicknamed “Trotters” due to their historical affinity for boiled sheep’s feet. The elephant actually represents Bolton’s ancient connection with the county of Coventry, whose Coat of Arms also sports an elephant. But what does the elephant represent you may ask, as I did to, so I went about finding out.

According to the site HeraldryandCrests.com, an elephant represents great stature and strength in conjunction with wisdom, courage and longevity, with a little happiness, royalty, good luck, and ambition thrown in. Those qualities are indeed reflected in the people of Bolton, and I began to appreciate its choice of symbol. The website the Irish Jeweler added “wit” to the mix (again quite fitting), while the Scottish Wedding Dreams website in their section on Heraldic Animals threw in a bit of patience and dignity. Yes, that about sums up the personality of the people of Bolton, and yes, I’m hamming it up to my cousins – I would like to venture there again don’t you know!

If you have managed to stay with me thus far in spite of my apparent delusions in the beginning of this blog, you might want to know that Bolton is as rich in genealogical resources as it is in character. The Bolton History Centre offers a vast array of resources for family historians, including workshops and seminars, and of course I couldn’t help but drop in. The local archivist Caroline Furey and the local studies librarian Julie Lamara were very welcoming, as is the entire staff of the centre. They are definitely dedicated to assisting visitors in getting the most out of their visit, and are happy to carry put research on your behalf. The only disappointment I had was that I wasn’t offered a spot of tea. Thought I was going to say glass of ale didn’t you!

Most of the holdings of the history centre are locally focused, but they also maintain a collection of national records such as census returns, copies of the GRO Index and the National Probate Index. In addition there are original archives on everything form estate records to trade union records, while the centre’s staff has created an impressive surname index combined with biographical clippings and obituaries. The archive also holds burgess rolls, apprenticeship indentures, police records, title deeds, and church registers – both Roman Catholic and Church of England. If you’re interested in learning more about Bolton and the historical records you might find there, you can visit their website, which is managed by the Bolton Museum and Archive Service.

If you have Bolton ancestors as I have, you should surely pay it a visit, after all it was recently voted Britain’s friendliest town, and no not by me and my elephants, in a survey taken by the British Association for the Advancement of Science, so there!

All of us inevitably encounter what might seem like an insurmountable obstacle during our genealogical search. Dead ends and brick walls have discouraged many a researcher, especially beginners who encounter them in the early stages of their research. Some of these problems may indeed be insurmountable – trails do end, and ancestors go unfound. A good genealogist though, will want to make absolutely sure there is no more information to be found before moving on to the next ancestor or phase of their project.

In my own personal search for my ancestors, I have encountered three major problems that can be overcome with a systematic approach:

• Beginning research on a new family line that has never before been investigated. This can include a family that has had nothing published about it, a family that does have information published but it is of a poor quality, or a family for which current dead ends exist.
• Correcting a tradition, belief, family myth or inaccurate material published in a family history. Some histories contain genealogical errors that have been in print for years, and often new research with a fresh approach is needed to correct them.
• Solving a specific identity problem that has remained unsolvable by previous research.

The First Step

The first step to be taken is to present a clear and reasoned summary of the problem. When defining the problem, determine what you already know. This involves performing a rudimentary analysis of every single documented fact you have regarding the individual or family. This doesn’t mean simply listing their vital statistics; it means that you identify exactly where they lived, precisely when they moved there, what they believed in, what events were taking place around them. Sometimes we are too vague when documenting certain facts about our families. True, effective genealogical research involves going deep into the lives of our families. It means going beyond collecting facts about them, finding out who their friends were, who they worked for, who their minister was and such. The more you know about your ancestors life, the easier the task of finding information on them is, and consequently the easier it is to overcome obstacles.

When you assemble and record these types of well researched facts about your ancestor, you’re effectively creating a biological sketch of them. Events are placed in chronological order, especially specific documented events, and consequently their life path is easier to follow. Many researchers have discovered after following this process that the answer to their problem has been with them all along. In addition to recording what you do know, write down exactly what you don’t. This is a great help in directing further research, but so often it is neglected. Simply creating a section entitled “Things I don’t know but would really like to” will make it clear where to go in the next phase of your research.

The Second Step

The next step to problem solving is to tap into what other genealogists know. Remember to always confirm what you are told by others before recording it though. I have, and you may have as well (though I hope not), had the experience of people not being able to tell me where they got the information they were sharing. The information may well be accurate, but it is unusable as its source can’t be initially confirmed This makes our task a little harder, as we then have to go about verifying that data to make sure its not just a family legend. On the other hand, you may find well documented studies, which in turn are a breath of fresh air. You might find such genealogies or family related articles by placing queries in online forums or in genealogy magazines, online databases, published genealogies, or by examining the Periodical Source Index (PERSI).

PERSI is the world’s largest and most avidly utilized index of specific genealogy subjects and local history periodicals that have been written in both English and French. It offers genealogical researchers access to materials that would not normally be available to them. There is an Online Guide and Free Search of it available at FamilySearch.org. Many genealogists overlook this valuable resource, and also this step. Others never move beyond this step, always looking for someone else to provide their answers. When you hit a brick wall you must then really become a researcher; digging deep into records rather than remain a “searcher” – someone simply looking for someone else to provide the answers.

The Third Step

You next must decide what records to use. Some records will provide more relevant information to your research than others, so you will want to make an evaluation before you move forward. Decide on priority, availability, and ease of access, as well as determining how ell preserved each record collection is. The first places we always look are primary record sources, but these easily accessible records don’t always yield the information we require. Many people give up once they realize the information they need is not there, but when the going gets tough, the tough need to look for other sources. Sometimes the records containing the most valuable information are the hardest to find, but of course they will also be the most genealogically rewarding. Not just in the sense of yielding data, but in the research experience and expertise you’ll gain by searching for them. Some examples of such records would be:

• Tax Records
• Federal Land Records
• Diaries
• Circuit Court Records
• Newspaper Accounts
• City Directories
• Local Histories
• County Court records

The Fourth Step

The final and fourth step – the analysis – is the most crucial step in the research process. Any data or records you accumulate must be analyzed both separately and as a group. Often when records are revisited after a period of time and analyzed efficiently, new answers, clues, and perspectives appear. Ask the following questions as you gather your records:

1. Does the record add anything to what I already know? Is it supportive or contradictory of my current knowledge?
2. Who was involved in the creation of this record other than my relative? Is anyone else mentioned in it, and if so, who are they? Are they officials or associates of my ancestor? Do they appear in any other records?
3. Have other records been created to compliment or complete a particular record’s purpose?

Often we find a record that generated other documents, but fail to follow the trail it reveals. Always look for a potential trail when you discover any records, as it is likely to reveal a pattern of behaviour, clues to other records or places to search, or a recurrence of names that may be relevant to your search. Following these steps may not guarantee that you overcome a roadblock or dead end, but it will give you the greatest chance of doing so. Make sure you read our articles on how to find the Ancestry Records you can use to discover your ancestors and which can help to develop the skills you will need to succeed in your genealogical search.