Genealogy Research 101

1. Genealogy Research 101

2. 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.

3. 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 Jennifer Jennyfer Jonathan Johnathan Jhonathan

4. 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

5. 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!