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?

Jenniffer 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

JenniferJENNYFER

JonathanJohnathan

Jhonathan

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!