| When you are ready to add a name, date, place, | | | | perhaps one of the older children gave the |
| residence, occupation, or other details to an | | | | information to the census taker because the |
| individual in your family tree, always check first. | | | | parents were working on the farm, and the |
| Check twice, type once! Here are some ideas on | | | | children were not certain of the correct details? |
| where to search to confirm basic details of your | | | | Evaluate the sources you are have found, and try |
| ancestors, as well as how to add personal | | | | to think about the possible truth of the details. |
| information about your ancestors' lives. | | | | You may, of course, have the wrong ancestor! |
| The most satisfying family trees are accurate, | | | | Same name, different birth year, same town... |
| include sources of information including original | | | | could be a first cousin! |
| documents, and are personalized. How to find | | | | Here is a very common problem in genealogy |
| these details? Remember that the very best | | | | searches: no record of a woman's maiden name. |
| sources are 'primary' sources, that is, documents | | | | What can you do? You may find a maiden name |
| or records which were developed or filled out at | | | | on a marriage record, her death record, her |
| the time of a specific event. For example, a birth | | | | naturalization record or passport application. You |
| registration record, a burial certificate, a ship | | | | may find her living with an elderly mother or with |
| passenger list: these are filled out at the time of | | | | a brother, particularly if your ancestor was |
| the event and might be considered to be | | | | widowed. Perhaps a nephew or niece is living with |
| accurate. On each of these and other documents | | | | this family on a census - this might possibly be |
| are other details which are wonderful clues for | | | | her relative; but this could also be her husband's |
| further searches. Those additional details could be | | | | relative too, so check on both sides. Also check |
| very helpful if you are unable to find a quality | | | | for family records of the siblings of your female |
| source for some data. | | | | ancestor. Their records may be available, and |
| You may look at a birth record for the correct | | | | include the common maiden name! This is an |
| birth date. But then, you are likely to find additional | | | | excellent example of why it is very useful to |
| important clues and details such as mother's | | | | have records and details not only of your direct |
| maiden name, birth place or place of residence at | | | | ancestors but also of your cousin families (known |
| birth, occupation of father, the grandparents | | | | as collateral lines). |
| names and occupation, and more. | | | | How do you personalize your ancestors' lives? If |
| Are you trying to confirm a birth date? Potentially, | | | | you are lucky enough to find old photographs in a |
| you may find a birth date and place on the | | | | cousin's trunk of "old stuff" - great! Make copies, |
| following documents: | | | | with details and/or stories, and add them to your |
| - marriage registration record | | | | tree. Or, there may be photographs of a house |
| - naturalization paper | | | | or farm where the family lived for a period of |
| - passport application | | | | time. |
| - education records | | | | Perhaps you can add an historical map of the area |
| - ship records, travel records | | | | where the ancestor family lived for several |
| - specific censuses (certain years may require | | | | generations. Also, look for a history of the village |
| birth month and year) | | | | or town for any mention of your ancestors. Many |
| - military service documents | | | | of these items are online. Check to see what else |
| - death registration | | | | was happening in the area at the time they lived |
| - burial documents, gravestones | | | | there, and include those details as well. |
| - widow's pension application | | | | If your ancestors immigrated to this country, find |
| While these would be considered 'secondary' | | | | them listed on a ship passenger list, with ship |
| sources since they are filled out at a later time | | | | name. Copy the list showing their names (usually, |
| than the birth, if they all match, they certainly | | | | birth year, birth place, etc.), and include a photo of |
| would help to confirm the birth date, wouldn't | | | | the ship if available. Check online for these items, |
| they? If the dates are slightly different, think | | | | as they are generally available for free. |
| about why they might be different. Did a doctor | | | | Finally, historical newspaper articles and/or |
| fill out the death registration and get the birth | | | | obituaries, diaries, journals or memoirs, letters, and |
| date wrong because he did not have it correct in | | | | more: all can help make your ancestors come |
| the first place? Was a military draft card filled out | | | | alive to you and your family. Start talking with |
| showing the man was old enough to enlist, when | | | | your relatives about these kinds of items, and |
| he was actually 2 years younger? Did the census | | | | you may be very excited about the wonderful |
| record round up the ages? or smudge the birth | | | | finds that have been stored away, forgotten. |
| year number so that a 3 looks like an 8? or | | | | Enjoy your searches. |