Family Research Check List
One finds many things when searching online ..
I found this family history checklist today. Very handy for anyone just starting out ...
Even though it's a list for interpreting an obituary, I found much of the advice useful ... eg checking census records, checking military records ... etc
1. Look at a map to determine exactly what city, county and state the deceased lived in.
2. Check for the Surname in online databases or public records from that time period.
3. Check Census reports from around that time period, if the exact year is not available, look for census reports from before and after, you’ll surely find something in one or the other.
4. Check for his surviving family's names in the census reports.
5. Check for other local newspaper publications that may have more details in the obituary.
6. Check for newspaper articles about the deceased prior to his death.
7. Check marriage recordsfor the deceased and the deceased's spouse. They may have had previous marriages or the surviving spouse may have remarried.
8. Check cemetery records for the deceased and surviving family listed in the obituary and in your findings.
9. Check the Church Records for births, christenings, marriage, and burial information of the deceased and surviving family.
10. Check military records for service and pension records from the National Archives; the deceased could have enlisted for service.
11. Check County Probate records for the deceased and listed family.
12. Check for published family histories in County Historical Records.
13. Contact the local Historical or Genealogical Society for any information and check their publications for additional details. It is always best to start your research and have some details before going to the historical society, they will help narrow your search but they need as much information as you can give them to find accurate information for you.
14. Find online chats that are discussing this family. Perhaps there are others looking for the same family and they have different information you do.
I found this family history checklist today. Very handy for anyone just starting out ...
Even though it's a list for interpreting an obituary, I found much of the advice useful ... eg checking census records, checking military records ... etc
1. Look at a map to determine exactly what city, county and state the deceased lived in.
2. Check for the Surname in online databases or public records from that time period.
3. Check Census reports from around that time period, if the exact year is not available, look for census reports from before and after, you’ll surely find something in one or the other.
4. Check for his surviving family's names in the census reports.
5. Check for other local newspaper publications that may have more details in the obituary.
6. Check for newspaper articles about the deceased prior to his death.
7. Check marriage recordsfor the deceased and the deceased's spouse. They may have had previous marriages or the surviving spouse may have remarried.
8. Check cemetery records for the deceased and surviving family listed in the obituary and in your findings.
9. Check the Church Records for births, christenings, marriage, and burial information of the deceased and surviving family.
10. Check military records for service and pension records from the National Archives; the deceased could have enlisted for service.
11. Check County Probate records for the deceased and listed family.
12. Check for published family histories in County Historical Records.
13. Contact the local Historical or Genealogical Society for any information and check their publications for additional details. It is always best to start your research and have some details before going to the historical society, they will help narrow your search but they need as much information as you can give them to find accurate information for you.
14. Find online chats that are discussing this family. Perhaps there are others looking for the same family and they have different information you do.
Comments
Post a Comment