Legacy Tree researcher Melissa Finlay takes you back to the old west to find your "Most Wanted" ancestors to determine if they were outlaws, bandits, or rustlers. Did your ancestors ride with notorious outlaws or did they obey the law of the land in the old west?Jesse James, Wild Bill Hickok, Calamity Jane, Doc Holliday, Billy the Kid. You may have heard about some of these famous outlaws of the Wild Western United States. But have you ever wondered if your ancestor was a criminal in the … [Read more...]
Tips for Researching Ancestors Who Migrated Alone
One of our researchers, Katy Barnes, provides valuable tips on how to research an ancestor who migrated alone. Katy traces the migration of David Trout, an unmarried laborer, who migrated to Dallas County Texas in the mid-1800s. Dallas County, TexasThe population of Dallas County, Texas, in 1880 was just over 33,000 (notable, since the 2020 figure is now above 2.5 million). A query of the 1880 census shows (in rough numbers) over 3,000 Dallas County residents that year were reportedly born … [Read more...]
Honoring and Proving Formerly Enslaved Ancestors Through Lineage Society Membership
Being the descendent of enslaved ancestors, there awaits a unique opportunity to join a specifically interesting lineage society. Here is an insight into what you would need to prove your family history, and where you would be able to provide these valuable records. African Americans with an invested interest in their heritage and deep roots within the United States of America are all too familiar with the legacy and impact of America’s slave era. Reflecting upon that time can be a source of … [Read more...]
Legacy Tree Onsite: New England Historic Genealogical Society
Legacy Tree Genealogists works with researchers from across the globe to access records for our clients. We asked one of our researchers to share the ins and outs of visiting the New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS) in Boston.Planning Your Trip to the New England Historic Genealogical SocietyLocated on Boston’s famous Newbury Street, the New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS) is close to anything and everything. Newbury Street is a shopper’s paradise, and all kinds … [Read more...]
Tips for Using City Directories for Genealogy Research
The R.L. Polk company, though not the earliest company to do so, published their first city directory in the 1870s, as a way to centralize community information. They employed sales associates and census enumerators to go door to door to collect information, sell advertising and make sales for their new directories. These handy guides were the quitessential Google search of their day--the go-to resource for finding information. These same directories can be an important resource for genealogy … [Read more...]
Why Is It Not on The Map? How Learning History Aids Your Genealogy
"Why is it not on the map?" We discuss how learning history can help you in your family history research--especially when it involves areas with shifting boundaries and name changes!One of the biggest frustrations for a family historian is finding a new place name written in a family record … but then not being able to find that place on a modern-day map, as was the issue we recently discussed in our blog article, Finding Vital Records for Galicia, Austria-Hungary.Sometimes this quandary … [Read more...]
“Was My Ancestor an Orphan?” Understanding Guardianship in Genealogy
Who is considered an orphan? Someone with no living parents? Not until the late 1800s. In this article we'll explain what guardianship really means.Genealogists may encounter references to orphans in guardianship or probate records. However, researchers shouldn’t assume both parents were deceased. Those who had lost only one parent, especially a father, were termed “social orphans.” In colonial times, children were considered assets in which their fathers had property rights. Widows could even … [Read more...]
Research Spotlight: Colonial New Jersey Family History Resources
One of our genealogists shares insight into two Colonial New Jersey family history resources you may not be aware of!Because the New Jersey colonial census records and the U.S. Federal census schedules of 1790 through 1820 for New Jersey were destroyed, early genealogy research there can be especially challenging. Building off of an earlier blog post - Two Excellent New Jersey Resources - here two more resources that should not be overlooked if you are researching colonial New Jersey family … [Read more...]
Legacy Tree Onsite: A Visit to the Mid-Continent Public Library – Midwest Genealogy Center
Legacy Tree works with researchers all over the world to access records for our clients. We asked one of our researchers to share her experiences with family history research at the Midwest Genealogy Center located in Independence Missouri.Genealogists are in for an amazing surprise when visiting the 52,000 square foot Midwest Genealogy Center (MGC), part of the Mid-Continent Public Library system in Independence, Missouri. This unique library located just outside of Kansas City is focused … [Read more...]
Midwives, Menus and Meteors: Using Government Reports for Genealogy
Using government reports for genealogy can add valuable social and historical context to our research.Have you ever wondered what the weather was like the day an ancestor was born? Or what the conditions were in the orphanage where Grandma lived? Was there an epidemic that could explain your great-grandfather’s early death?As family historians, we frequently have questions about the “why” and “how” of our ancestors’ lives. Answers to these questions and more can be found in one often … [Read more...]
