The Legacy Tree Genealogists Blog

Hand-picked, tested and trained, our professional genealogist team knows how to find your story. We search the world for answers. Find the un-findable. And we’re experts at everything from tracking down rare international records to analyzing DNA test results. Based near the world’s largest family history library in downtown Salt Lake City, we also work with researchers and archives around the globe. Contact us today if you would like help discovering your ancestors!

Using Local Libraries and Historical Societies for Genealogy Research

August 27, 2014 by Legacy Tree Genealogists 2 Comments

One of our genealogists shares examples of how local libraries and historical societies can be a great asset for genealogy research. The Hoyt Public Library in Saginaw, MichiganIn family history research, when it is discovered that a family lived in a particular town for an extensive length of time, contacting the local library and historical society can be a great investment of a genealogist's time and potentially yield great dividends. For instance, when we found that a family lived in Saginaw County, Michigan for over three generations, we looked at the Saginaw County library website to see what resources they offered. Come to find out, they offer an excellent obituary index compiled from the old local newspapers. We searched the index by the ancestor's surname and came up with nine pertinent obituaries. These obituaries provided priceless information about family members.Using the Museum in PennsylvaniaFor another research project, we found that a …

Building A Family Tree: How Long Will It Take?

August 22, 2014 by Legacy Tree Genealogists 3 Comments

Are you wondering how much time it will take to build your family tree? Here's a breakdown of what to expect, and why it may help to hire a professional.As professional genealogists, a question we receive frequently is, "How long will it take to build my family tree back as far as possible?"If by, “as far as possible,” we mean as far back as the records go – which is usually considered around 1500 unless you connect into royalty – the answer is: a very long time!Putting In The TimeFirst, consider the exponential rate at which family trees grow the further back they go. Generation 1 is only one person: yourself. Generation 2 is only two people: your parents. However, Generation 3 is four people, Generation 4 is eight people, Generation 5 is sixteen people, and Generation 6 is thirty-two people! This only usually goes back to the mid-1800s for most people alive today.It is around generation 16 that you reach about the year 1500 in a typical pedigree. A family tree that …

Robin Williams – Genealogy and the Whole Person

August 13, 2014 by Legacy Tree Genealogists Leave a Comment

A younger RobinGenealogy affects each and every single person who has ever and will ever, live on Earth - including the beloved Robin Williams. Although a celebrity, Robin William's family history is rich just like each of ours. We love that genealogy celebrates people as whole individuals - not just people in their vocations or locations but as people who had parents and ancestors, people who were born, grew up, married, and experienced life.Robin Williams made a significant contribution to our culture and to the world, and beyond that he was a person like every person - one with ancestors who came before him, one with hopes, with struggles, and with successes.The History of The Williams' FamilyAnselm J. McLaurinRobin Williams was born in Chicago on July 21, 1951. His middle name of McLaurin comes from the maiden name of his mother's grandmother - Stella May McLaurin. She was the daughter of senator and Mississippi governor Anselm J. McLaurin. …

Decoding Property Records: Genealogy and the Base and Meridian

August 11, 2014 by Legacy Tree Genealogists Leave a Comment

Property records are full of genealogy information! Here's how understanding the baseline and meridian in land records can help in your genealogy research.Back in 1855 when the state of Utah was getting organized, the Salt Lake Meridian was established and it was from this very point that the entire state of Utah was surveyed. The stone post in this photo is essentially the center of Utah, and the baseline (or latitude) and meridian (longitude) is still surveyed from here. This was an accurate way to survey land, as opposed to the system used by the original thirteen colonies, that of metes and bounds. With metes and bounds, the description of your property would read, “…goes until this big rock, then west to the large maple tree, then north to the bend in the creek.” This system of property description met challenges when someone removed the rock or the tree died, or the creek changed its course.Today’s modern way of surveying began in Ohio just after the Revolutionary War, …