Genealogy researchers run into dead-ends from time to time, especially when there is a limit to what information DNA testing can provide. When you have exhausted the obvious possibilities, it can be helpful to have patience and create a convincing web of evidence. Legacy Tree Genealogists’ Carolyn Tolman provides specific examples of how she used limited DNA and documentary evidence together to break down a brick wall in her family. Even professional genealogists have “brick walls” in their … [Read more...]
Genealogy Records and Resources
Our team of professional researchers have combed the world over compiling genealogy records and resources to help you find your ancestors. Many researchers limit themselves to basic sources: the census, vitals (birth and death records), and those documents indexed online. For a brick wall, creativity and fully exhaustive searches are required, and these are strategies usually beyond the means of the average hobbyist. As professional genealogists with academic degrees and credentials, our collective experience has led to our finding answers through DNA testing, estate files, the social columns of newspapers (not just obituaries), county histories, tax records, deeds, funeral home data, social history, court cases, religious rites, civil and criminal court records, divorce proceedings, guardianship papers, military service records, and the like.
House History: Telling the Story of Your Home
Learning about old houses is one of the best ways to connect with our past and bring people together when they learn of their shared heritage. With more than 30 years of experience researching family and house histories, Legacy Tree Genealogists' Meghan Jordan provides tips and resources to research the unique history of your house. I’ve had a fascination with houses since I was a kid. There was nothing better than driving around with my mother going to open houses on a Sunday afternoon. … [Read more...]
How to Write a Professional Genealogy Research Report
Whether you are writing a genealogy report for your family or you aspire to become a professional genealogist, thorough and accurate documentation is an essential skill. Legacy Tree Genealogists’ Robert Call provides six core components that professional genealogists use that can help make your research more organized and enjoyable for others to read. Writing is an important part of the genealogy pursuit. In genealogy, the simplest form of writing we might do is data entry—entering the names, … [Read more...]
French-Canadian Research Roadblocks
Researching French-Canadian ancestry can be incredibly rewarding, thanks to excellent records, preservation, and digitization. Our post, Top 3 Online Resources for Researching Your French-Canadian Ancestry, describes useful online resources that may help you trace your ancestors as far back as the 17th century. As promising as French-Canadian research can be, there are unique challenges with this particular population that may hinder progress. Everything from naming conventions to … [Read more...]
Ask a Genealogist: Interesting Facts About French-Canadian Research
We recently sat down with researcher Brandt Gibson to discuss French-Canadian research and how it might differ from other areas of genealogy research. Not only did we get some great information, but we learned a lot about what drives a researcher like Brandt. Q: Would you introduce yourself and tell us about what initially interested you in genealogy and French-Canadian research? A: My name is Brandt Gibson and I’ve been a researcher for 18 years. I've been working for Legacy Tree … [Read more...]
Tips and Resources for Researching Immigrant Ancestors from Austria
Legacy Tree Genealogists' Shelbie Drake specializes in German and Austrian research. In this article, she provides valuable tips and resources to help you find records in the area that was once known as the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The Austro-Hungarian Empire At face value, the name of the Central European country Austria seems straightforward. However, the history of the Austro-Hungarian Empire - the dual monarchy of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary - is a prime example of why … [Read more...]
When a Valid Will is Not Enough: Locating Heirs at Law
Legacy Tree Genealogists has served families with professional, traditional research and reporting for more than 18 years. But we also provide forensic probate research for legal professionals and estate administrators. And over the years, our probate department has developed an excellent reputation for successfully identifying and locating heirs for estates around the world. We typically locate heirs in accordance with a will, but in some states, a will alone is not enough to satisfy legal … [Read more...]
Finding Genealogical Information and Clues in the Freedman’s Bank Records
Legacy Tree Genealogists' Elyse Hill specializes in African American and Southern States research. In this blog, she provides information about a private savings bank established in 1865 in emancipated communities. In addition to inventory lists included in wills and probate records of enslavers, these bank records can be a valuable source to find an ancestor’s name and other information. The Freedman’s Bank, also known as Freedman’s Savings and Trust Company, was established in 1865. The … [Read more...]
Using Town Records in Colonial New England Research
If your ancestors came to America prior to the Revolution, unique research methods are often necessary to locate information to trace Colonial American ancestry. Legacy Tree Genealogists’ researcher Kristin Britanik shares information about using town records to overcome some of the challenges when tracing ancestors from Colonial New England. One common assumption about genealogy research is that the further we go back in time, the more difficult it can be to find records documenting our … [Read more...]
Legacy Tree Onsite: Belarus Archives and Records Collections
Legacy Tree Genealogists’ Dennis Baranov has conducted research in Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine for more than 15 years. His wife Mariya is his research helper and translator. In this article, they provide detailed information about Belarus archives and records to research family histories, especially in an area where many documents have been destroyed. Belarus is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, surrounded by Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia. Minsk is the capital and … [Read more...]