When you find a census record, naturalization record, church record, land record, or any record for your ancestor, it’s good to look at records/entries before and after the one you really want. There are several reasons:
- census records–list neighbors–unless they are alphabetical
tax records–list neighbors–unless they are alphabetical- church records–compare the one you want to others to see if it’s “unique” or not and to get clues to reading handwriting if record is not in your native language
- naturalization records–who naturalized on the same day as your ancestor
- land records–people may bring in more than one deed at a time to record
- marriage applications–did another couple go with your ancestor to get a license
- any record–see how the clerk filled out similar records to assist in reading and interpreting the one you really want
Never look at a record in isolation. Those paper neighbors to your ancestor (as I like to call them) can hold clues.
Patty says:
Will remember that tip, You are so helpful.
mjnrootdig says:
Thanks!
Kat says:
Be careful when using census records to determine if folks are neighbors. The census taker sometimes changed his route and two households may not be adjacent to each other.
mjnrootdig says:
Very true, Kat. Thanks for commenting. I did a follow up on this one.
Pamela Cates says:
My husband laughed when I read him this because I have done this for years and have found multiple relatives and connections i didn’t expect at the time. Like another line in same county explaining how they met each other as children. Next door neighbors are freqently siblings, parents or uncles, even grandparents.
Keep a log of family names and write down any you find on those census, etc records, even if they don’t sound familiar. And have a map handy showing county boundries and years they changed name or line.
You’ll be surprised at when they link up later.