Using Pre-1850 Census to Find Family Relationships Jean Nudd, Archivist NARA Northeast Region 10 Conte Drive Pittsfield, MA

Genealogical Research First step, always, is to talk to older family members and gather information Family stories not always accurate What do we do when we can’t find vital records and family information doesn’t pan out? Collateral research can help break down the brick walls we all run into

Methodology 1. Collateral Lines – find your ancestor’s siblings Check 1850 and later census for the place where your ancestor lived, note other families with the same surname Check ages of heads of household for possible parents along with places of birth Check post-1850 census to see if elderly parents are in the sibling’s household Look at published genealogies, town histories, newspapers, church records, etc., to find records to confirm sibling relationships

Methodology, cont. 2. Find Your Ancestor’s Parents *Using published pre-1850 census indexes, Ancestry.com or Heritage Quest.com, compile listings of that surname in the state where your ancestor was born. Check census depending on year of birth of your ancestor. Check each family and match the ages with the siblings you’ve found Check previous and future years to locate the family and check children’s ages

Methodology, cont. 3.Use other sources to confirm findings Use to find microfilmed recordswww.familysearch.org Check on-line sources such as USGenWeb, local historical societies, or a local library where your ancestors lived