Discover what’s inside! Introduction to Family Research “A beginning survey of genealogy” Saturday, October 2 nd, 2004 By: Al Barron

Discover what’s inside!

Introduction to Family Research

“A beginning survey of genealogy”

Saturday,

October 2nd, 2004

By:

Al Barron



Agenda

•Introductory remarks

•Elements of Research

•Sources

•Summation

•Upcoming Events/Topics



Book of John, 1:21:2 Abraham genuit Isaac Isaac autem genuit Iacob Iacob autem

genuit Iudam et fratres eius

1:2 Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren



Why genealogy?•To put a ‘personal’ face on history

•To understand the unique issues we inherit

from the past

•To know the past in relation to family history


Introduction to Family Research Where do I Start?

•Start with yourself and work backwards

•“MEMORIES” : more than just a song~a starting point

•Record sources

•Relatives

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Where do I Start?

Start with yourself and work backwards

Every person, short of an adoptee, can go back at least three generations. In the case of an individual born in 1950, assuming that a generation is 20 year, the grandparents are alive circa 1910. This would put them in the 1910 Census with their parents, the great grandparents.



Where do I Start?“MEMORIES” : more than just a song~a starting point

While using records to fill in dates is an important thing, it is often best to utilize the memories of the oldest viable minds to records anecdotes of those who’ve gone before. Besides, interesting stories and mysteries are sometime more fun than bland vital records and census materials. Usually, one of the best tings to do is to take and use a notebook to chronicle your research in narrative form. While it can preserve treasured memories, it can give perspective to your work at a later date.



Where do I Start?

Record sources

Sources for records can range from the usual and mundane to the interesting and obscure. Typically, most researchers use census records or other mainstream source to locate an ancestor. The most obscure source used recently has been a Record of Educable Children for the State of Mississippi for the year 1907.



Where do I Start?Relatives

Many relatives are often the best starting point for information. While memories are frail, they may be able to recall events from the life of a family that prove interesting to note. A researcher in New Orleans recently uncovered a contract for the sale of property from Bernard Marigny that was notarized by a man named Almonester……



Preservation and Organization of Research

Recording Information

•Census Extracts

•Family Documentation

•Source Documentation/Citation

•Correspondence




Recording Information Census Extracts

The Census provides a marking point to trace a family through a given point in time. It is a primary record that shows beyond doubt that a family IS is a particular place at a given time. W’e will discuss the Census in more detail.




Family Documentation

Ancestor Chart -

Family Group Sheet -

Record Extract -

Cross Referencing -

A thumbnail sketch on many generations in a family

Isolates a particular family from an ancestral chart

Extracts a type of record, other than Census for a given family or person

This is the heart of “paper” research. There Are many ways to reference the chart, sheets and extracts




Source Documentation/Citation

•Use the research extract sheets to summarize information which cannot be photocopied;

•For which there is no document in your possession;

•For things such as deeds which may be time-consuming or difficult to reread quickly when you need information from the copy you have.




Correspondence

In “paper” research, a correspondence record can help to keep track of all of thenon-internet based individuals you have kept in contact with. While it might seemArcane for the “armchair” researcher, keeping track may well pay dividends whenyou need either help someone else with a contact or need to revisit the topic at another time.




Methodologies

Use the easiest source first, in many cases Ancestry.com or familysearch.org

Learn how to manipulate sources by their complexity, from indices to name genealogies.

When you master a source, decide which way works best for you – and document each source that you use (The “Red Book” Problem)



Where do I look?Local Sources State Sources

St. Tammany Parish Library Louisiana State Archives

310 West 21st Avenue 3851 Essen lane

Covington, LA 70433 Baton Rouge, LA 70809

985-893-3280 225-922-1000

St. Tammany Parish Clerk of Court Federal Sources

701 North Columbia Street NARA Branches

Covington, LA 70433 Bureau of Indian Affairs

985-809-7500 Various Military Departments



What does each source tell me?•Census

•Military Records

•Land grants

•Tax Records

•Passenger Ship and Naturalization Records•Bible/Sacramental Records



What does each source tell me?1790 Census

The 1790 Census only lists the head of household and the ages of the other family members.

The 179’s quality will vary with the handwriting of the enumerator

The 1790 is indexed either by a print index or by computer file such as Ancestry




the 1800 census is much like the 1790. Only Heads of household are by name, while other members are listed as “tick” m arks

As with the 1790, you are often at the mercy of the enumerator. Another consideration is the quality of the image.





With the 1810 Census, you have the same information as with the earlier years.





With the 1820 Census, the same information is given as the earlier years.





With the 1830 Census, you have the same information as with the earlier years.





With the 1840 Census, you have the same information as with the earlier years. This was the last census to exclude family members by name.





The 1850 will list other members of the household. It will also show vocational information and asset value.



What does each source tell me?


1860 Census

The 1860 will list other members of the household. It will also show vocational information and asset value, place of nativity and marital status.





The 1870 will list other members of the household. It will also show vocational information and asset value, place of nativity and marital status. 1870 also added question of literacy and race.



Introduction to Family ResearchWhat does each source tell me?

1880 Census

The 1880 will list other members of the household. It will also show vocational information and asset value, place of nativity and marital status. 1880 also added question of literacy and race. The 1880 also added more information on nativity and relationships.

The 1880 is indexed Soundex or by computer file such as Ancestry.




Soundex is a phonetic contraction of the enumerated persons last name. Essentially, the last name is equated to a series of numbers preceded by a letter to alphabetically and numerically order a number of individuals.

Example:

Barron, coded for Soundex would be B650

Keep the first letter of the last name (B), get rid of the vowels (a,o) and any the 2nd letter of any double consonants (r) and then use a chart to substitute for the remaining letters. Fill in any space less than 3 to the right of the letter.

Soundex cards will give you a thumbnail sketch of the census. They will also get you indo the main census. Unlike earlier enumerations, everyone should be indexed, ,but Soundex is not used for all states.



1890 Census

Almost al of the 1890 Census was destroyed by fire in the 1920’s. What does exist of it is only enough to enumerate the Union Veterans and widows of the Civil War.

Ancestry has a substitute for the 1890 and most city directories can substitute for the census by giving the occupation, trade and address of an individual.




The 1900 includes al of the 1880 plus a few extra columns the nativity of the enumerated persons parent and date of immigration.

It is indexed by Soundex and is also done by databases and volunteers.



1910 Census

The 1910 includes much more information that does any previous census. It includes information on the nature of employment and the ownership of property.

Again, it is indexed by the Soundex.

In Louisiana, Caddo and Orleans Parishes use MIRACODE.




The 1920 Census gives roughly the same information as the 191, but has fewer columns. Again, Soundex would be used to get the County, Enumeration District and page number for the individual.



1930 Census

The 1930 Census, like the 1920 and 1910, has essentially the same information and is indexed by Soundex.



What does each source tell me?Mortality Schedules

For the Census enumerations after 1850, there are a few special

schedules that cover individuals who have died since the previous

taking.




Military Records

In American History, there has always been a need to document the services performend by our troops. From the Colonial period to the present days veterans were paid for their tenure personnel records contain information on muster dates, awards and the type of service rendered. Some examples of the records would include Booth’s Louisiana Soldier’s in confederate commands and World War One Civilian Draft Registration Cards. More recent examples would be the 201 files of veterans serving since World War Two. These records are held by the National Archives, the National Personnel Records Center and state governments for the National Guard.



What does each source tell me?Land grants

Land Grants were made to individuals based on claims made before Congress or a similar claim made for military service. Also, lands were granted to settlers in the latter half of the 1800’s. For information on land grant, see the American State Papers, or Grassroots of America



Tax Records

Tax rolls exist for every level of government, from city to the federal government. Typical tax records at the local level might be the Chimney Tax of 1798 from New Orleans to property taxes levied on farms and houses. Federal Income Taxes, while a burden, may prove to be a great resource for genealogists at some point…



Passenger Ship and naturalization Records

There are a number of sources to help find immigrants coming into the country. Some include Glazier and Filby’s Germans to America and the actual manifests and indices available from the National Archives.

Typically, in the manifests, information on an immigrant will include their point of embarkation, gender and age.



Bible/Sacramental Records

The sacramental records and bible records of individual families are the vital records of their time. Prior to the early 1900’s, the federal government did not require the collection ofvital statistics. This job was done by churches or by individuals with their own bibles.

An excellent example of sacramental records are Fr. Donald Hebert’s South Louisiana Records and the Sacramental Records of the Archdiocese of New Orleans.

Typically, each major event in the life of a parishoner, from Confirmation to Mass of ChristianBurial are covered.



What does each source tell me?•Other Types of Public Records

•Voter Registration Rolls•Will/Probate Documents•Lawsuits and Court Minutes•Sales Contracts or other Notarized and Recorded Documents



Considerations•Always consider the “AUTHORITY” of a source

•Remember that a lot of what is on the internet does not have the “clout” of a government or church source

•Other Considerations:

•Some sources (even federal) have wrong information – people may be mistaken or may not have given correct information

•Always try to use sources that you can verify by at least one other source – such as a Census backed up by a city directory.



What happens if I don’t find anything?

This is the painful part – look again and keep looking!!!

If you can’t find it one way, try another

Example: if you can’t find someone in the census, try a city directory. If you can’t find an obituary, try a cemetery list, etc.

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Who do I talk to about research?

There are always groups that will help –

You can always email, call or write a letter to a fellow genealogist, librarian or member of a

genealogy society to help you



Local Sources to ConsiderLibrary in the County/Parish

Clerk of Court

College Library

Church or Church Library

Local Genealogy Society

Various Print Sources in a Library (County Court House Handbook, Vital Records Handbook, etc.)

Most organizations respond quickly to email, a mail-in request might take time. Also, remember to include a SASE when requesting information.



In Summation…•Start with yourself and work backwards

•Fill-in where necessary with outside sources

•Use the internet and print sources to find what you need

•Always seek outside validation or help when needed

•Always ask….



Upcoming Events/Topics

Saturday, October 9th, Electronic GenealogySaturday, October 16th, Ethnic GenealogySaturday, October 23rd, Military Heritage Research