GENEALOGY RESEARCH 101

Where do I start?  The best place to start is with a name.  The more you know about the person, the better.  Example: I know the name of one of my great grandmothers was Vertie (Price) Arnett and that she was from Georgia. I also remember hearing stories from my dad about someone he called “Uncle Ricy”.  If this is all you know, it’s still a great place to start! I’ll show you how in a few minutes.

What’s In a Name?  Some names have multiple spellings  Keep in mind that many old records have been transcribed for use on the internet, so there is room for human error in reading (especially if it’s difficult handwriting)  Be open to search results that have slight misspellings, they may be the person you’re looking for  No matter how unusual a name is, there may be someone else with that name who is not related to you  Try to make as many pieces of the puzzle fit as possible, before you determine that something is right

Common Types of Records  Census Records  Tell us where people were from, their age at the time of the census, and the names of some of their relatives  Helpful because: You can search names of other relatives if you get stuck  Military Records  Tell us where people served, when they applied for pensions, how they were discharged, etc.  Helpful because: They fill in parts of the story that we may not have known otherwise  Immigration Records  Tell us when people arrived, where they came from, who they came with, etc.  Helpful because: This can lead us to other countries to search further back  Marriage Records  Tell us when and where a person was married  Helpful because: If you’re unsure of a relative’s maiden name, it will likely be listed on a marriage record  Death Records  Tell us when a person died and, usually, how they died  Helpful because: They fill in parts of the story that we may not have known otherwise  Land Records  Tell us where people lived, how much land they owned, when they sold it, etc.  Helpful because: This can lead us to another area of the country to search

What do I do next?  Document. Document! Document!!  It is so important to leave yourself a trail when you are searching for things on the internet  Be sure to write everything down so you can easily recall information when you go to put it together  Understand the pieces of the puzzle  It is important to look at all the evidence to figure out what happened in the lives of the people you are researching.  Put it together!  Mrs. Carlisle will give you information about your next steps after researching and pulling together your research. Make sure you’re paying attention!