A case study that demonstrates how to use DNA evidence in conjunction with document evidence to confirm genealogy research.My husband’s second great-grandfather, Frank M. Stanley, was a prominent Seattle real estate man who played a significant role in rebuilding the city after the Great Fire of 1889. He built, owned and operated several large apartment buildings including the Lenawee Apartments, the Barbara Frietchie Apartments, the Summit Vista Apartments, and the Stanley Apartments, … [Read more...]
Genealogy Sleuthing Part II: Using Women’s Fashion to Date Old Photos
In Part II of our two-part series on how to date old family photos, we discuss using clues from women's fashion to date old photos in your genealogy research.Sometimes, there are no clues within the photograph or imprinted on it. In those situations, we need to rely on an understanding of the fashions of the 1850s through 1900s, both hair and clothing, to accurately determine when that particular photograph was taken. At least one of the three key aspects of women’s fashion—hair, the bodice of … [Read more...]
Genealogy Sleuthing: How to Date Old Family Photos – Part I
Many family historians have a collection of unidentified old family photos they're not sure what to do with--but can't bear to throw out. In this article, we'll share tips for helping you accurately date old family photos.Photographs are one of the treasures of genealogy. There is something about being able to look an ancestor in the eye—we make a connection to the people we can identify by both name and face. We search for traces of ourselves in their faces. We wonder what they were thinking … [Read more...]
Evidence Analysis Explained Part III: Evaluating Genealogical Evidence
This third and final installment in the evidence analysis series considers the concept of genealogical “Evidence” and then overviews the Genealogical Proof Standard which allows for defensible conclusions in genealogy. The purpose of genealogy is to reach defensible conclusions about our ancestors. This is done through proper analysis of the evidence. When we consider the sources, the information, and the evidence we can reach conclusions which are reliable.Evidence Analysis in … [Read more...]
Evidence Analysis Explained Part II: Evaluating Genealogy Information
This post is the second in a three-part series focusing on the concepts of evidence analysis as used in genealogy. The first post provided an overview of the evidence analysis process and discussed the concept of sources. This post picks up with evaluating genealogy information, which is the second category in the process.Understanding the Types of Genealogy InformationAfter the source (the document itself) has been examined, the next category to consider is “Information.” Information is … [Read more...]
Evidence Analysis Explained: Digging Into Genealogical Sources
This article is the first in a three-part series that explores evidence analysis concepts through easy-to-understand definitions, probing questions to be utilized while researching, and real-world examples to illustrate the concepts that will help you analyze genealogical evidence like a pro! What does a genealogist do, anyways?When I talk with those unfamiliar with genealogical research, they are often surprised by all that goes into what we do as professional genealogists. Rather than … [Read more...]
“Did My Ancestor Serve in the American Revolutionary War?” Research Steps to Prove a Family Legend
We frequently have clients contact us wanting to know, "How do I prove a family legend is true (or untrue)?". In this article, we highlight research that was completed to find out whether the family legend of an ancestor serving in the American Revolutionary War is fact or fiction. Many of us want to learn about our ancestors’ lives, and this is a key motivator for completing family history. Yet some people also want to know what role their ancestors played in history, and if certain … [Read more...]
How to Connect with Your Pilgrim Ancestors and Join the Mayflower Society
Would you like to join the Mayflower Society? We walk you through the steps of proving your Pilgrim ancestry!If you know or suspect that you are descended from one of the original Pilgrims who arrived in Massachusetts on 9 November 1620 there is still time to join the General Society of Mayflower Descendants (more commonly known as the Mayflower Society) before the November 2020 celebration of the 400th anniversary of the landing of the Mayflower.Proving your connection to a Mayflower … [Read more...]
Digging Through Name Changes: The Challenge of Dealing with Aliases in Genealogy Research
*shared with client permissionWhat's in a name? Plenty, when you're dealing with name changes in genealogy research! We share how to overcome the obstacle of aliases in your family history research!A fascinating recent project for Legacy Tree Genealogists involved a search for the parents of William Thomas Rowe, born about 1855, probably in Baltimore, Maryland, who married Susan Cecelia O’Hagen and died in 1894 in Washington, DC. The client provided the information that William was a … [Read more...]
13 Secrets to Getting Replies from DNA Cousin Matches
Tips from one of our professional genealogists for getting responses from your DNA cousin matches.It happens to all of us.You see you have new DNA cousin matches, and you get excited. Maybe they have a brick-wall surname you recognize, or maybe they’re a really close match, or maybe they’re in an area where you think your ancestors may have lived. You do a genealogy happy dance, and you send them a message.And then you wait. And wait. And wait. And nothing happens.It’s frustrating, … [Read more...]
