Ancestral Findings (genealogy Gold)

Are you interested in researching your African-American family tree, but don’t know where to start? It’s a common concern among those who are beginners in this area of genealogy. People wonder how far back they will actually be able to get, due to lack of records in the era of slavery. However, there are a few important things to remember. One, not every African-American in the 1800’s was a slave; some of them were free people of color, and plenty of records exist about them. Two, records of slaves were often meticulously kept by southern slave owners; this was not always the case, but it did happen in many cases, especially with people who owned large numbers of slaves. Three, there is always DNA to help you trace your roots back farther than you ever imagined, and usually with a few real surprises along the way... http://www.GenealogyGold.com Click Here to Subscribe via iTunes.Click Here to Subscribe via RSS feed.  © 1995-2015 AncestralFindings.com  

Often, one of the first places people start looking when they begin their genealogy research is into their surnames. There seems to be a natural desire among beginning genealogists to discover more about their surnames, including their origins, and how many other people in the world share it. There is a common belief that those who share the same surname must surely also share a common ancestor somewhere. Of course, in reality, this is not always the case, especially with very common surnames. Plus, if you are only studying your surname, you are missing out on a lot of the rest of your family history. Your surname line is only one small part of it, and focusing solely on it cuts out your mother's side of the family entirely, as well as your father's mother's side. Still, there are genealogical benefits to studying surnames, enough that the practice can and should be a part of your genealogical adventure.  Just make sure it's one part and not the only part, so you can have a complete picture of your entire fam

There are clues to your family history in old photographs. Discovering previously unknown family photos from generations ago is like uncovering genealogical gold. If you spend enough time online interacting with distant cousins you discover on genealogy websites, you will undoubtedly eventually find someone who has amazing photos they are willing to share with you. You may also have some old genealogical photos yourself. Maybe you know who they are. Maybe you don’t (not labeling photos was a big problem in generations past, as people just assumed everyone who saw the photo would know who it was, and didn’t think of future generations needing this information). Either way, your old family photos can tell you far more about your ancestors than just what they looked like. They can tell a very interesting genealogical tale of that person’s life, times, and family. All you have to do to unlock these stories is to know how to identify and interpret the photos. Here’s what you need to know to be able to do it... htt

As a beginning genealogist, you may not give much thought to citing your sources in your research. However, it is a vitally important part of any serious type of genealogical pursuit. Citing sources serves a variety of purposes. Most importantly, it lets you know where you found your information. This is crucial as you get further into your research on a family. You may find new, conflicting information on a person you’ve already researched. By citing your sources as you go, you can see where you found the original information, look at it again, compare it to the new source or sources, and decide if one is more likely to be correct or more believable than the other... http://www.GenealogyGold.com Click Here to Subscribe via iTunes.Click Here to Subscribe via RSS feed.  © 1995-2015 AncestralFindings.com

What happened to the 1890 census? It may be gone, but that doesn't mean you have to miss out on 20 years of your ancestors' lives. Use these records instead... http://www.GenealogyGold.com Click Here to Subscribe via iTunes.Click Here to Subscribe via RSS feed.  © 1995-2015 AncestralFindings.com

Are you interested in knowing more about your family coat of arms? First, be sure your family actually has one. Here is the truth behind family coats of arms. http://www.GenealogyGold.com Click Here to Subscribe via iTunes.Click Here to Subscribe via RSS feed.  © 1995-2015 AncestralFindings.com

DNA is an important part of genealogy research these days. It can help confirm relationships, help you find new living relatives who may have information you don’t have (and are willing to share), and can help you discover new avenues of research for tough-to-trace family lines. If you haven’t yet explored DNA in your genealogy research, it’s time you did. Here is everything you need to know about DNA research in genealogy to get you started, including the different types and what it can help you find... http://www.GenealogyGold.com Click Here to Subscribe via iTunes.Click Here to Subscribe via RSS feed.  © 1995-2015 AncestralFindings.com

Are you familiar with tax records as a form of genealogical research? People have been being taxed since the first colonists landed on the shores of this country. Up until the early 20th century, those taxes were mainly on property, meaning only land owners got taxed. Of course, there were smaller taxes here and there that applied to everyone, but they were usually limited in duration, such as to raise funds to put on a war. Property taxes are the only consistent federal tax that has been in place since the country was founded. Because property taxes have been around for so long, they are a valuable source of genealogical information. In fact, in places where courthouses burned or no vital records were kept until the early 20th century, tax records are often some of the only sources of information on your ancestors. It may sound boring to go through tax records, and you may wonder what exactly you can find in them. The truth is, tax records are more interesting than you think, and they can tell you things abo

Are you using death records in your genealogy research? If not, you should. These are important records for beginning genealogists. Here's how to find them. Show Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/genealogy-basics-death-record-research-advice-beginners/ 

Do you want to know if you have a Revolutionary War ancestor, or discover more about the one you already know is part of your family tree? This is how you do it. Show Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/research-basics-short-introduction-researching-revolutionary-war-ancestors/    

Are you ready to learn how to obtain birth records for your ancestors? Here's how to find these important vital records that document your ancestors' lives. Show Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/genealogy-basics-birth-record-research-advice-beginners/ 

Looking for the headstones of your ancestors is a primary part of genealogy. What do you do if you can't find one? Here are some answers. Show Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/cant-find-the-grave-alternative-locations-for-burial-places-for-your-ancestors/ 

When people get involved in genealogy, a lot of them will eventually become interested in lineage societies. What are lineage societies? Show Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/lineage-societies-join/

Are you just getting started with your Jewish genealogy? Here's how to overcome the myths associated with it and get at the truth of your Jewish family tree. Show Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/genealogy-basics-jewish-research-advice-beginners/

Did your ancestor homestead land a century ago? You may be able to find genealogical gold in his or her homestead record. Here's how. Show Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/federal-homestead-records-and-what-you-might-find-in-them/ 

Cemetery research is an important part of genealogy research. The two go hand in hand. Here's how to get started with it, and what it can help you discover about your ancestors. Show Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/genealogy-basics-cemetery-research-advice-for-beginners/

Irish naming patterns were very precise for about two centuries. Here's how you can use the patterns to find your Irish ancestors. Show Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/irish-naming-patterns-discover-irish-origins-names-family/  

Why I Love Genealogy (And You Should, Too!) Here are all of the many, wonderful reasons why. Show Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/why-i-love-genealogy-and-you-should-too/  

Most Americans have immigrant ancestors at some point in their family history. The only exceptions are Native American families who never married or had children with people from other societies. This means that you more than likely have numerous immigrant ancestors. Trace almost any branch of your family, and you will eventually find one... Show Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/passenger-and-immigration-research-basics-how-to-find-your-ancestors-entry-into-america/

Were you told you have Black Dutch ancestry, but don't know what it means? It means a lot of different things. Here is what you need to know about these people. Show Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/black-dutch/  © AncestralFindings.com