Genealogy Friday: What is the Circumstantial Evidence?

Last week, I shared about my trouble with a brick wall.

This week, I want to share more of the story.

I kept finding a 1870 Census record for an Ario Davis, but he lived with no parents.

My information was Arias, not Ario.  However, the two names were close enough that it could possibly be him.

Then in the city directory it said widow of Ario V.  Davis.   That’s the same name.  Could it be?

I began to research the family.  I discovered that his grandmother and married sister were on each side of him in the census records.  So why wasn’t he living with his family?

They were located about 2 ½ hours from where I knew he’d lived, if you use today’s interstate.

I began to think this might be him but I couldn’t be positive.

Still I had enough for circumstantial evidence, so I began to outline the circumstantial evidence.  Keeping a list of this circumstantial evidence helps me to look back later at the connections, as well as to turn to the                                                                                   source for further examination.