‘I have never tried to find my ancestors, How can the new FamilySearch help me?’

The New FamilySearch (nFS)

The Research Process  1. Identify what you know.Identify what you know  2. Decide what you want to learn.Decide what you want to learn  3. Select a record to search.Select a record to search  4. Find and search the record.Find and search the record  5. Use the information.Use the information

This time start with a letter  Let’s start with something you have in your possession.  The document has information  The record causes you to ask questions  Analyze the letter

You Possess a Letter

1. Identify what you know.Identify what you know  Letter written in Payson, Utah  Dated January 1959  Letter to Mrs. Young  Widow of Ezra Bain Lewellen since 1933  Ezra son of James Harrison and Sarah Louisa Keeth  Ezra’s mother sister of Mrs. Young’s deceased husband  Signed Mrs. Lillian Lewellen Hancock

2. Decide what you want to learn.Decide what you want to learn  Who was Mrs. Young?  Who was Mrs. Young’s husband?  When did he die?  Who was his mother?  Who was Lillian Lewellen Hancock?  Does the information found in the letter match what you see on nFS?

“Pedigree Analysis”  What do I already know?  What does this suggest?

3. Select records to search.Select records to search  Search Lillian Lewellen Hancock on nFS

Refine search if necessary

Analyze the available records What matches?

Were your expectations met?

3. Select records to search.Select records to search  Select Lillian Eva Lewellen’s record to see more on her mother  A  B  Click on her mother to view her record

3. Select records to search.Select records to search  View her spouses

4. Obtain and search the records.Obtain and search the records  Check the box of record from possible duplicates to compare  Compare the 2 columns of the 2 records  Click on any underlined name  Compare all relationships of each underlined name  Check the contributors – do you know any?  What sources are attached to the records?

5. Use the information.Use the information  Decide if the same, combine  Is this the correct person?  Anything you add to nFS is instantly viewable by anyone registered.

Identify What You Know  Letter written in Payson, Utah  Dated January 1959  Letter to Mrs. Young  Widow of Ezra Bain Lewellen since 1933  Ezra son of James Harrison and Sarah Louisa Keeth  Ezra’s mother sister of Mrs. Young’s deceased husband  Signed Mrs. Lillian Lewellen Hancock

What Do You Want To Learn?  Who was Mrs. Young?  Who was Mrs. Young’s husband?  When did he die?  Who was his mother?  Who was Lillian Lewellen Hancock?  Is the information about these people on nFS correct?

Select Record(s) to Search

Obtain and Search the Record  Show Lillian  Pedigree to parent of Sarah to show descendants  Analyze nFS data with information from letter

Family Tree Descendants