look for in genealogy searches?

Question:I know how to look things up on Ancestry.com and other places, but I have decided looking those things up and jotting down the info on the tree charts means NOTHING really if you have no sources. I've decided to start from now (my kids) and go backwards and collecting documents that actually tie everyone together. So I'm wondering what do most of you do? I know to get (or try to anyway) the birth, death and any land records, but what else do you keep to use as sources to prove that John Smith is the son of Nick Smith? Anyone have any good lists out there?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I know how to look things up on Ancestry.com and other places, but I have decided looking those things up and jotting down the info on the tree charts means NOTHING really if you have no sources. I've decided to start from now (my kids) and go backwards and collecting documents that actually tie everyone together. So I'm wondering what do most of you do? I know to get (or try to anyway) the birth, death and any land records, but what else do you keep to use as sources to prove that John Smith is the son of Nick Smith? Anyone have any good lists out there?

Wow, what a tremendous question!

You've already figured out the single most important thing in genealogical research - KEEPING YOUR SOURCES! That's a big step. Most people, myself included, don't figure this out for a couple years...until they look back at something and are faced with "where in the heck did I come up with that?" I was only the fool 2 years out of the 22 years but those 2 years still jump up and bite me every now and then.

I'm not a big document collector, as far as getting original documents. But I certainly do like to see them when possible. But I always keep a clear reference to the document.

I do a lot of on-line research. When I do find something online I always print it out. Be it a census image, a draft registration card, etc. Usually my sources have an image which is the best, but even a transcription is better than nothing. But keep the source - NOT THE LINK ONLY! Links come and go and change all the time. But if you get something from a census, keep all the information, even down to the enumeration district and page number. That way, you will be able to find it again if you need to even if your original source went out of business.

What do I like to collect? Well, not only the census page that contains the person I'm looking for, but a printout of maybe one or two adjacent pages. You find out quite often that families often collect in the same area. So when you find that reference later to "Jenkinson", look at the neighboring pages of the census and see if any Jenkinson's are listed. Might be a great clue! Also like to keep copies of obituaries when I get them.

The only document related to recent ancestors that I tend to go after explicitly when I've kind of hit a wall, is the SS-5 (Application for Social Security Number). Can get a lot of useful information from that...and when hitting the proverbial brick wall, is definitely worth the money.

Other things I like to collect are area history writeups. If I find an ancestor in say Fluvanna County, Virginia, I try to find a historical writeup on the County - usually the county web site has such a writing or maybe a historical society in the area. This is the cool part of genealogy for me. Knowing the name, date of birth, date of death of my 6th great grandfather is somewhat cool, I get my greatest joy in learning about where he lived, how he lived, what he faced. Cool facts and stories.

What you look for varies for each individual, and what is actually there varies even more. If you do find something, first and foremost, KEEP THE REFERENCE. Beyond that, if you can make a copy, do so. Or if you can get the original, of COURSE do so.

Finally, don't stop referencing even information you consider solid. If you KNOW your grandfather was born November 3, 1925, maybe from his birth certificate, if you come across other records that also indicate his birth date, add that to your reference list as well. Sometimes they will match, sometimes they won't.

Cool question. Really looking forward to reading other replies to this as well.

The previous answer was awsome. As for me, I collect information in the way you would for a research paper. Of course, I have physical copies of certificates and such for a couple of generations back. But beyond that I keep my references like I would for a research paper in college.

I start with the usual birth, marriage, death, burial, christening/baptism, and divorce records if I can find them. I also get them in the census if I can. I collect any land or legal records that I can find.

Then I move on to local histories or newspapers. Sometimes obituaries are a great source of information. I like to fill out my relatives so that they are more than a bunch of numbers whenever possible. I do scour the family tree sites because sometimes people are in the right place at the right time to find a tidbit. Bibles are a great source of information sometimes. Old letters if they can be found. You'd be surprised at the photographs and letters you can find if you dig enough or go to enough family reunions, but it takes years sometimes.

I have also interviewed and collected the stories of my parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents' lives. I've collected ship rosters and miscellaneous stuff in relation to employment.

Sometimes I collect general information like "life in the...." in relation to my relatives. This can be descriptions of what life was like in the 1500's compared to today, or "life in eastern Kentucky in the early 1800's".

I also keep things like perfect attendance certificates and that kind of thing for my kids to keep and hopefully pass on.

I have to admit that I am at an advantage. My mother started working on our family history when she was in high school. So, when I started to work on it too (in high school), I branched off and tried to fill in the people as well as continue the search). Now that I have a degree in anthropology and almost another in history, that is my forte.