The Civil War produced huge amounts of documentation with over 3.5 million men (and a few hundred women) fighting for both the Union and Confederacy. But... because military records do not fit familiar patterns of most genealogical research you will conduct, vital records, passenger lists, and so on... these records can be overwhelming to a first-time researcher. But, by understanding a few key facts and having some great resources in your toolbox, you can start with a wealth of information about your Civil War ancestor before you even start digging!
Read MoreOur ancestors' lives were influenced by society, events, and external forces. Everything from the lands where a family lived to the social causes they endured could affect how our ancestors made decisions about where to settle down, where to start a family, and where to work. These values and motivators go far beyond traditional genealogy records, and can help you break down your brick walls!
Read MoreAs you're tracing your family history, you'll at least occasionally find that you need the help of a professional genealogist to make the progress you want. This can be due to time constraints in your own life, a need for verification of your work, dealing with a foreign language, or searching for an ancestor who left little written history behind. Whatever the reason my be, when it's time to hire a professional genealogist, it's important that you find one who is trustworthy and whose work will last for generations to come.
Read MoreSometimes the KEY to solving a genealogy mystery is going BACK to the BASICS!
When you run up against a genealogy BRICK WALL - try these nine (9) old-school ways to break that wall DOWN. You'll find that not only can old dogs learn new tricks... but dogs both young and old will benefit from practicing these time-tested strategies!
Read MoreAs a Genealogist... you've probably already discovered that the term "Brick Wall" is discussed almost regularly! We love to chat about the brick walls that are blocking our search into families' pasts. Usually, these brick walls are only detours that we can find our way around by stepping back and taking a fresh look at our research.... seeking out different record types... or doing some cluster research to find a clue buried in the overload of information.
Read MoreWe all love and live for the thrill of the HUNT... the challenge of a mysterious kinship or hidden story. We hone our research skills, learn about records and think over the evidence we uncover. But, there's another part of the detective work that we often overlook... writing reports about our research.
Read MoreWhen you start looking into family research, nine times out of ten the trail will lead you to start questioning how immigrant ancestors got to America.
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