Orphan Trains
Last week, we discussed what happened to children who were left parentless in the 19th Century. Children that were left parentless or living in poverty or did not have someone to care for them who lived in large cities … Continued
Children without parents in 19th Century
Last week, I shared an answer to a guardianship question I received. This week, I’m answering the second part of that question. What happened in 19th Century when both parents died? I can turn to my own family history for … Continued
When did guardianship records begin
I recent had someone ask me when guardianship records began. I had to be honest and say I did not know. I had seen them from the mid-20th Century, but not before. But first, what are guardianship records? This would … Continued
Searching where ancestor went to college
Family lore says that one set of my great-great-grandparents went to college, however we do not know where. We know that my great-grandfather went to law school but did not finish. However, his law books were passed down in the … Continued
Understanding the Quakers
Many came to the United States for religious freedom over the decades. One of the religions I’ve discovered among my own ancestors is that of the Quakers. When researching the lives of our ancestors, it helps to understand their religious … Continued
DNA Research
When looking for our DNA answers to our ancestry there are several options we can explore. Ancestry checks the markers to determine the percentage of your ancestry to various areas. They also allow you to connect with others that share … Continued
Don’t Always Believe What You See
When we look at census records or other primary sources, it can be very easy to become confused. There are occasions when things are not always what they seem. For instance, we look at a census records that provides a … Continued
My illegitimate ancestors
I have several ancestors who were born out of wedlock. Through research and documents we have a hypothesis for one ancestor and DNA has proven the familial connection for the other. Neither one has provided a complete smoking gun to … Continued
Don’t Box Yourself In
Last week, I shared how I found my great-great grandfather’s obituary after years of searching. This week, I want to share another wonderful find. I was searching on Newspaper.com for my great-aunts and great-uncles on a particular family, searching for … Continued
Don’t Stop Looking
For years, I searched for my great-great grandfather’s obituary. He died in 1916 and no matter how much I looked, I could not find his obituary. I combed through the records when they were on microfilm, but became cross eyed … Continued