This ‘n That Genealogy Research Tips
By Marti Lewis
Documents used in researching
Pedigree Chart - Your pedigree chart is the most important tool in your research.
Census Records - Information on the census records has various information and can probably add
three generation to your family tree – the head of household, children and sometimes older parents.
Draft Registration Card - The draft registration card is filled out by your ancestor . . . list vital
Information and a brief description of applicant.
Marriage Certificate - lists different information . . . Some more some less.
Death Certificate - lists Military information, mother’s maiden names and other vital information.
Organizing Your Genealogy Documents
On-line Family Trees - are a work in process. Whether you decide to use an On-Line Family Tree site
or another Genealogy software program, it's going to be beneficial in the long run to have a way to
organize share and preserve your family tree providing a permanent home for your family history.
Genealogist Research Tools
Tips to narrow your on-line Google search - Use quotation marks . . . see samples below.
Margaret Lewis - 91,200,000 results
“Margaret Lewis” - 79,200,000 results
”Margaret Lewis” + San Diego, CA - 37,700 results
“Margaret Marti Lewis” + Genealogy - 47results
Using Maps in you research
Using maps in your research -Maps are an essential part of your genealogical research they show you
where and when boundaries changed.
Maps provide you a bird's eye view of the city your ancestor lived in, and can show the migration route
your ancestor took.
Military Records
The vital dates on your pedigree chart may hold the clue to which war your ancestor served in.
Identifying your ancestor, who served during wartime whether it is a direct ancestor or collateral
relative, may provide another source of valuable information to add to your family tree. Most men who
served in the military were between 18 and 30 years of age and sometimes younger.
Use the chart below to see which war your ancestor could have served in
.
Birth year between
Look for record of the
War Timelines
1726-1767
1762-1799
1796-1831
1811-1848
1848-1881
1849-1885
1872-1900
1877-1925
1900-1936
1914-1955
American Revolution
The War of 1812
Mexican – American War
The Civil War
The Spanish-American War
Philippine Insurrection
World War I
World War II
The Korean War
Vietnam War
1775-1783
1812-1815
1817-1898
1861-1865
1898-1902
1899-1902
1917-1918
1941-1945
1950-1953
1964-1972
Lands Records
The Eastern States consist of –
Alabama
Arkansas
Florida
Illinois
Mississippi
Lowa
Louisiana
Michigan
Minnesota
Missouri
Ohio
Wisconsin
Indiana
Contact - Bureau of Land Management
7450 Boston Boulevard
Springfield, VA 22153-3121
The Western States consist of -
Alaska
Arizona
California
Colorado
Idaho
Kansas
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Mexico
North Dakota
Oklahoma
Oregon
South Dakota
Utah
Washington
Wyoming
Contact - National Archives and Records Administration
700 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20408-0001
The Social Security Death Index - lists people who died between 1962 and the present (there are some
earlier entries before 1962). It includes only the names of deceased individuals
whose deaths were reported to the Social Security Administration.
Social Security Benefits - 1942 is the first year Social Security started paying
benefits - check ancestors, 65 years old and older in 1942.
Obituaries A good obituary will typically list two to three generations, and provide the genealogist a biographical
sketch with factual information and some insight into the personality of their ancestor.
Obituaries can add details to your research that would otherwise be unknown.
Bibles The Bible presentation page, is located in the front of the Bible, it may contain names and family
relationships. Bibles often have items tucked between the pages. Look for newspaper clippings of
wedding, anniversaries announcements, obituaries, pressed flowers, photos and letters.
Bible records can be used as a substitute for vital records, if the publication or printing date of the Bible
was prior to the date of the event. Those entries are an indirect source and may include clues to locate
the vital records. Sometimes they are the only record available.
Most Bibles contain more than one surname, especially in the marriage records section. Bible records
will often be the key to that elusive maiden name or a clue to locate the birth date and place of an
ancestor. Some Bibles may also include baptismal information and/or names of godparents.
DNA - The Autosomal DNA contains most of the DNA that makes us who we are. Because of the way
it is transferred down the generations.
Below is a diagram showing how much of our autosomal DNA we inherit from our Ancestors.
Contact Information - Marti Lewis, (619) 262-5810, e-mail address - ibemarti@aol.com