Category Archives for genealogy
Mistaken Linage: A Case Study
It is widely reported that my 3rd great-grandfather, Peter Vickers, was baptized 13 June 1788 at Bunbury, Cheshire, England. He was the son of Peter Vickers and Hanna Lowe. In 1812, Peter married Mary Jones and they had daughters Elizabeth, Mary and Harriot. Peter immigrated to the United States sometime before 1840 when he was […]
Continue readingThe Amazing Dr. Morse and the Social Security Death Index
The Social Security Death Index is one of the easiest to access sources of basic vital statistics for the millions of people whose deaths have been reported to the U.S. Social Security Administration. Birth years for the people listed range from about 1875 to last year. The SSDI itself is just an index but the […]
Continue readingMy Genealogy is Wrong!
My genealogy is wrong and, if you have more than a couple generations listed in yours, I bet your genealogy is wrong too. My family tree has errors in it, I just don’t know which specific facts are wrong. I know I have errors because every genealogy with more than a few people and […]
Continue readingFree Genealogy Courses Online
Would you like to take a genealogy course at a major university but can’t afford the time or money to actually go there? Here is a quick tip for you. Brigham Young University offers family history classes for free. Go to http://is.byu.edu/site/courses/free.cfm for a complete list of the free courses offered at BYU. The genealogy […]
Continue readingDecoding Ahnentafels Using Binary Numbers
In the last post, about reading ahnentafels, I showed how to determine relationships by repeatedly dividing by two. Since 2 is the basis of the binary numbering system, we can use binary numbers to simplify the relationship calculation. It offers more flexibility than just repeated dividing. Here is the same partial ahnentafel that was used […]
Continue readingReading Ahnentafels
An ahnentafel (German for “ancestor table”) is a compact way to display a persons direct line ancestor within a plain text format. Since there is no need for charts for software code, it is a helpful way to share ancestry information in emails or in a forum. With the ability to add attachments to emails, […]
Continue readingDetermine the Relationship Between Two Family Members
Your familiar with the titles father, mother, brother, sister, grand father and grand mother but, do you know what “third cousin twice removed” means? When doing family history, it can be helpful to know the proper terms to describe relationships. Here are some definitions that can help you sort out all the people in your […]
Continue readingRecording Approximate Dates in Genealogy Databases
All genealogies contain some dates that are less than exact. When you enter those dates, you should always use a qualifier to make it clear to readers that the date isn’t precise. Which qualifier should you use? Typically, family history researchers use about (or circa), say, before and after depending on how the estimated date […]
Continue readingIncluding Family Stories in Your Genealogy
What should we do with those family stories that have been passed down through generations but, we realize, are more fiction than fact? Should they be discarded in the interest of only recording accurate and factual information? I don’t think so. I really believe those stories should be preserved and passed on to future generations. […]
Continue readingTwo Keys to Great Genealogy
The easiest way to keep your family tree research on track is to follow these two key fundamentals of genealogy research. Key1: Always work from the known to the unknownKey 2: Always document your sourcesKeep these two principles in mind and your genealogy will be more accurate and better organized.Pick a single subject as the focus […]
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