juni 17, 2014 by Legacy Tree Genealogists 4 Comments

Write a Captivating Family History with the 1900 Census

As you write your family history, don't neglect the wealth of information that can be found in the 1900 census!

What were you doing at the turn of the century? Watching the Times Square Ball drop as Dick Clark prattled on? Were you hiding in a closet, worried about how Y2K would wreak havoc on your life? Were you partying like it was 1999?

Author Ian Frazier masterfully wove together the happenings of the previous turn of the century with his own genealogical findings in the opening of his book, Family: “The Twentieth Century began on a Tuesday. On that day, all my great-grandparents but one were living in Ohio or Indiana.” What an enthralling way to tell your family history, as opposed to the tedious opening, “I was born…”

Tell your captivating family history by describing what your grandparents were doing at the turn of the twentieth century. Discover this by finding them on the 1900 US Census or the 1901 UK Census.

What will the 1900 US Census tell you about your ancestors?

Name and address
Color/race and gender
Month and year of birth
Marital status and number of years married
Number of children born and how many are living
Birthplace
Birthplaces of parents
Year of immigration if foreign born
Citizenship status if over 21
Occupation
Whether they can read, write & speak English
Whether home is owned or rented
Whether the home was a farm and/or was mortgaged

Weaving together this wealth of information will help you achieve a story to be remembered, as you craft an engaging narrative about your family’s history. For more tips on writing a captivating family history, check out our article, 11 Do's and Dont's of Writing Family Biographies.

Legacy Tree Genealogists has extensive experience in helping clients trace their ancestors from all over the world, and we can help you dig through census records to find details about your ancestors to beatifully preserve the details of their lives. Contact us today!

juni 10, 2014 by Legacy Tree Genealogists 20 Comments

Sons & Daughters of the American Revolution

Having the honor of joining the Sons and Daughters of The American Revolution is no simple task. Here is what you need to know before you apply to this historical lineage society.

We've been in business since 2004, and in that time, Legacy Tree has had countless numbers of people contact us about joining various lineage societies, with the most popular choice being the Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution (SAR/DAR).

While the documentation requirements for these societies differ slightly, the general steps for obtaining membership are the same. (For more information about the SAR and DAR, and additional details about each step listed below, see http://sar.org and http://dar.org.

1) Determine If You are Eligible to Join

This can seem like a daunting task! In order to join the SAR or DAR, you must be descended from a person who provided support to the American Colonies during the Revolutionary War. A common misconception is that the ancestor has to have actually been a soldier. This is not the case! Some examples of non-military service include farmers who provided food or supplies, men or women who donated money or goods to support the cause, nurses who provided care, and ministers who promoted patriotic acts. The difficulty is that not only do you need to prove your lineage back to that ancestor, which is usually 7-9 generations back, you also need to prove that they provided some kind of service. Also, the lineage has to be a direct blood-line, which means there can be no adoptions, no step-parents, no uncles, etc. However, you do NOT have to follow one surname all the way back. You can jump from paternal line to maternal line and back again as much as needed. What this means is that since most Patriot ancestors are 7-9 generations back, many people have anywhere from 64 to 128 ancestors who potentially provided some kind of service, which gives you a lot of options.

2) Find and Contact Your Local SAR or DAR Chapter

While both the SAR and the DAR are National lineage societies, neither allows you to join the National Society without first joining your local or State chapter. It is recommended that you contact your local chapter early-on in the process because they will assign someone to your case, provide guidance about what is needed for your application, and help you prepare your application for submission.

3) Collect and Organize Your Documentation

Once you’ve determined which line you will use for your application, you’ll need to collect all the required documentation to prove your lineage back to your Patriot ancestor. This is where the requirements for the SAR and DAR vary somewhat, and your local chapter representative will come in handy. They can tell you what kind of documentation they want to see for each generation on your application. While this step can also be a daunting task, it’s not always as bad as it sounds. Both the SAR and the DAR keep databases of lineages submitted by other members. If your Patriot has already had their service proven by someone else, you can purchase a copy of that application with its accompanying documentation and use it for your own application. It’s even better if the member who submitted the application shares common early generations with you, because then you’ll receive documentation for those generations as well, and you won’t need to collect as much documentation of your own.

4) Fill Out and Submit Your Application

Each lineage society has a specific application form that will need to be filled out, and each has spaces to include source citations for your documentation. It is fairly common to turn in your application and have it come back stating that you need additional documentation for certain generations. Don’t get discouraged! This can be a good thing, because it gives you an idea of how close you are to being accepted, and what kind of documentation they are still looking for. Applications are always submitted to the local chapter first, and they will take care of forwarding them to the State and National level. There are different fees associated with applying to each level (local, State, National), and these fees vary depending on the state you live in, so your chapter representative will help you determine how much you need to pay, and to whom. After that, the only thing left to do is wait! Applications can take anywhere from a few weeks to a couple of months to be reviewed and accepted, but your chapter representative will contact you as soon as they hear back.

5) Celebrate!

Once you are accepted to either the SAR or the DAR, you can give yourself a huge pat on the back! Not only have you proven you are descended from a Patriot who helped make the United States the amazing place it is today, but you’ll have learned a lot of history and details about your family in the process, and that information is priceless.

How can Legacy Tree help you?

We can research your family tree to help you determine if you are eligible for membership, and then we can also help you obtain the documentation you’ll need to complete your application. While your chapter representative will provide you with guidance about what you need and help you fill out your application, they are generally not in a position to help you with the actual research. Since we have access to the largest collection of genealogical records in the world (at the Family History Library), and we also have professional genealogists on our team who have worked on lineage society applications for others, we can help you fill in holes in your family tree and find the documents you need.

If you need help evaluating evidence in your family history research, the team at Legacy Tree Genealogists is here to help! We’re experts at scouring every possible record source for clues to ensure our client’s genealogy is accurate and verifiable. Get started today by requesting your free quote.

juni 9, 2014 by Legacy Tree Genealogists 1 Comment

A Change in DNA Test Offerings By Ancestry

There are recent changes in the DNA test from Ancestry, noting that their storage may affect your notification of genealogy matches. Here's what we recommend, and perhaps who to use in the future.

Ancestry.com announced last week that they are no longer offering yDNA and mtDNA tests and will no longer store the data obtained from these tests after September 5, 2014.

We haven't recommended Ancestry for these particular tests for a long time, but if you have had these tests done through Ancestry in the past your data can be retrieved and transferred to Family Tree DNA for only $19. This is recommended so you can continue to be notified of matches that could help with your genealogy research.

Autosomal DNA testing (atDNA) IS still available through Ancestry. We recommend testing either through them, MyHeritage, Family Tree DNA, or 23andme.com, as they all run on the same basic laboratory platform and are about the same price.

One of our DNA test experts has provided an excellent explanation of these tests, what they can do for you, and how to get them. We've re-posted her article HERE in case it's helpful!

If you're interested in DNA testing, or would simply like to see what DNA analysis can do for your family tree, contact Legacy Tree Genealogists for a free consultation.

juni 9, 2014 by Legacy Tree Genealogists 9 Comments

DNA Testing for Genealogical Research

DNA testing for genealogical research is a relatively new concept. Here we break down the basics of each type of DNA test, why it's important, and who should do it.

It seems that every day there are multiple news articles regarding DNA and how it is used to solve a crime, make a new medical discovery, help an adoptee find their biological parents, or any number of other subjects. Just as DNA is used as a tool in these situations, it can now be used by genealogists to help uncover the truth of family rumors, find new relatives, provide clues to new avenues of research and break through brick walls. Although genetic testing should not be used as a replacement for accurate genealogical research, it can often provide answers and evidence for theories in cases where conventional records do not exist.

Types of DNA Tests

There are many types of DNA tests – some are useful to solve crimes, others are useful in diagnosing medical conditions, and still others are useful for genealogists. In many cases, the results from the tests are not cross compatible. It is important to note that there is not a single “DNA test” that an individual can have done or that will answer all of the questions a person may have about their DNA.* We will describe the three types of DNA tests that are useful for genealogical research purposes, and give limited examples of situations where testing might be useful. We note that these tests generally provide information regarding “ancient” origins or the ethnicity of ancestors who lived several hundred to thousands of years ago. We will focus on the application of these test results for making genealogical, rather than anthropological, connections.

* There is one “DNA Test” that will answer every question. This would be a complete sequence of a person’s entire genome. The cost of this test is approximately $7000, and it cannot be ordered through any of the DTC testing companies at this time.

yDNA Test (Paternal Lineage)

yDNA tests have been in use for genealogical purposes for over 10 years. They are the most common type of DNA tests used in genealogical research, and the type of test that most individuals are familiar with. yDNA tests get their name from the Y-chromosome. The Y-chromosome is unique to men, and is what confers “maleness” on a person. It is passed virtually intact from father to son in a patrilineal fashion. In many cultures, surnames are also passed from father to son in this same way. Because only men have a y-chromosome, only men can take a yDNA test.

A yDNA test can be particularly useful for answering questions about a surname and its origins, or the relationship between two individuals who have a shared surname, but no proven genealogical connection. Based on the strength of the match between two individuals who have taken a y-DNA test, fairly accurate estimations regarding how long ago a common recent ancestor lived can be made, giving clues to time periods and geographical areas to research in order to break through brick walls, or identify new avenues of research. Due to the nature of the DNA markers used in this type of testing, the estimations regarding how long ago a common ancestor lived are generally within a genealogical time frame of 8-10 generations, and sometimes less.

Currently, there is only one DNA testing company that we can recommend for a yDNA test – FamilyTreeDNA in Houston, Texas. In most cases a 12-marker test does not provide enough information to answer genealogical questions, and we generally recommend testing at least 37 markers. Tests for 67 and 111 markers are also available if further refinement regarding matches is necessary.

mtDNA Test (Maternal Lineage)

The mtDNA test is similar in many ways to a yDNA test. “mt” is short for mitochondrial, which identifies where in the cell this type of DNA is located, which is in the mitochondria. All other DNA is located in the nucleus of the cell. mtDNA is passed from a mother to all of her children, therefore this test can be taken by women and men. mtDNA is never passed on to children from their father. mtDNA testing provides specific information about an individual’s direct maternal line.

mtDNA testing is not as useful as yDNA testing for genealogical purposes for a couple of reasons. The first reason is that it is not associated with a surname. The surname on a direct matrilineal line changes at each generation based on marriage and the custom of women assuming their husband’s surname. The second reason is that even if there is a perfect match between two individuals, often the time to their most recent common ancestor is as many as 15-20 generations. Except for royalty, records that would be able to identify the genealogical trail to this shared common ancestor do not often exist.

mtDNA testing can be useful in situations to confirm hypotheses regarding the origins of a direct maternal ancestor. The most common example of this is to identify a suspected Native American connection for a person’s direct maternal ancestor. Recently, there were articles in the news media announcing Prince William of Great Britain had Indian ancestry. mtDNA testing was employed in order to make this statement
and draw these conclusions. mtDNA testing has also been useful in cases where a man had multiple wives and it is unclear which wife was the mother of a certain child (as long as the women were not sisters or maternal cousins).

Again we recommend FamilyTreeDNA for mtDNA testing.

atDNA Test (For Both Paternal and Maternal Lineage)

atDNA or autosomal DNA tests are designed to look at over 700,000 DNA markers that can be found on a person’s “autosomes,” which are the 22 pairs of non-sex chromosomes found inside the nucleus of a cell. Because autosomal DNA is inherited from all of a person’s ancestors (up to at least 5 generations, sometimes more), it can be used to confirm recent relationships and provide clues to new research avenues for ancestors even further back in time. Parents pass on a random 50% of their autosomal DNA to each of their children. This happens at each generation, so on average, a person will have 12.5% of their great-grandparents’ DNA. This percentage is cut in half at each generation. The technology used in atDNA testing is fairly new, and is very powerful. An atDNA test can be taken by anyone, male or female. The results of an atDNA test provide information about a person’s ethnicity or “admixture” and a list of genetic cousins with whom a person shares a common ancestral couple.

The atDNA tests offered by the companies listed below are run on the same basic laboratory platform. The raw data/results from each company should not be significantly different, unless there is a laboratory error. The differences between the tests/companies are a result of the algorithms developed by each company to process the data and predict ethnicities and matches to genetic cousins. The algorithms to predict ethnicities are still being developed, as the science is fairly new. Therefore, there are often discrepancies between the ethnicity results between each company. It is worth noting that these companies are all continuing to adjust and revise their ethnicity algorithms, so a person’s ethnicity results may appear to change over time. This does not mean that the “raw data” has changed, only that the science has improved and is providing better analysis. Each company has a different database of subscribers, which will lead to matches with different “genetic” cousins. There are advantages and

disadvantages that should be considered when determining which company to test with.

FamilyTreeDNA

Family Finder is the atDNA test offered by FamilyTreeDNA. Many “genetic genealogists” prefer to test with FTDNA as their subscribers are generally the most responsive when it comes to sharing information (GEDCOM files, genealogical research data, etc.) to identify common ancestry and work through brick-wall research questions. FTDNA also provides several advanced analysis tools that are necessary to truly confirm a suspected match with genetic cousins.

Family Tree DNA allows transfers of the raw data results into their database from 23andMe and AncestryDNA, which results in a person’s information being in two databases for less than the cost of a single Family Finder test. Results transfers are not available through the other two companies. The last advantage to the Family Finder test is that it is done with a cheek swab, which is often easier to use than the “spit kit” used by the other two companies. Spit kits are often very difficult for older individuals to use.

23andMe

In addition to testing markers of genealogical significance, 23andMe also tests for 250,000 additional markers that provide information regarding a person’s susceptibility to various genetic diseases and other traits. It is important to note that because of the medical information provided by 23andMe, individuals who live in New York or Maryland cannot take a 23andMe test. Because the other two companies do not offer medical information, individuals in these states can take an autosomal DNA test through one of them.

Many of 23andMe’s subscribers have tested for medical reasons, rather than genealogical reasons. Therefore, the response rate to inquiries regarding shared genealogical connections is often quite low, which can be frustrating when working on shared ancestral connections or “brick-wall” questions. Most “genetic genealogists” find 23andMe’s ethnicity predictions to be the most accurate of the three companies. 23andMe also provides multiple, excellent tools that allow one to work with the data and make new medical and genealogical discoveries. The most common recommendation by genetic genealogists is to test with 23andMe and then transfer the results to FTDNA in order to take full advantage of the benefits of both companies and the tools each provides.

AncestryDNA

The primary advantage to testing through AncestryDNA is that match results are often linked to family trees. AncestryDNA “does the work” of identifying a common ancestor between two individuals if that person can be located in both trees by Ancestry.com’s computer algorithms. If a common ancestor cannot be located, then AncestryDNA provides a list of surnames and locations that are “in common” between the two trees. For the other two companies, this process is not automatic, and must be done by manually reviewing family trees and GEDCOM files for those on the match list.

AncestryDNA is not as widely available outside of the United States; therefore, most of the individuals in their database are “Americans.” If the test-taker’s ancestors have been in the United States since the mid 19th century or so, then often there are significant high quality matches in Ancestry’s database. If the test-taker or his ancestors are fairly recent immigrants to the United States, then often there are few matches of much significance for them.

AncestryDNA lacks several tools that are necessary for confirming and tracking match results, and this is the primary disadvantage to testing with them. Ancestry does not provide a way to download a list of matches, making it difficult to track and remember which matches one has communicated with. AncestryDNA also does not provide a way to view the shared DNA segments between two individuals. The DNA segment information is necessary to confirm potential matches identified through analysis of family trees. Both 23andMe and FTDNA provide these tools.

MyHeritage DNA

Beginning in 2016, MyHeritage also began offering autosomal DNA tests for genealogy. Similar to the other companies, this test offers information regarding a test subject's ethnic admixture, genetic cousins, associated family tree and shared matches. In order to obtain full access to an individual's test results and associated family tree, it is necessary to purchase at least a premium subscription to MyHeritage's services. While MyHeritage's autosomal DNA database is still quite small, it is rapidly growing, in part because they do accept autosomal DNA transfers from other testing services. In fact, we have already solved several cases in part through close matches at MyHeritage. Because of MyHeritage's international customer base and its strong efforts to improve ethnicity estimates for many more geographic regions, it is expected that it may become the testing company of choice for those with recent immigrant or predominately foreign ancestry.

GEDMatch.com

GEDMatch is not a DNA testing company, but is mentioned here as it is a valuable resource for those who have taken an atDNA test. GEDMatch is a free website funded by donations and run by volunteers that allows for the upload of atDNA test results from any of the testing companies. This ability can be very valuable when reviewing matches between companies. It is also particularly valuable for those who have tested with AncestryDNA to confirm matches using DNA segment data, which is not provided by AncestryDNA. There are also triangulation features allowing comparison of genealogical (GEDCOM files) and genetic data available at GEDMatch. However, these features have had to be taken offline due to a large number of uploads from AncestryDNA customers (2013). Lastly, GEDMatch provides several tools for ethnicity and admixture analysis.

Conclusion

Just as there is no “one size fits all” genealogical record to answer research questions about an ancestor, there is no “one size fits all” DNA test to answer these genealogical questions, either. We recommend that there be a specific genealogical objective or research question in mind prior to completing a DNA test, just as there should be a specific objective in mind when undertaking traditional research. Once this question or objective is determined, then advice regarding which test to take, who should take the test, and with which company can be given. In some cases, good, old-fashioned genealogical research may provide the best answers to the questions being asked. In other cases, DNA may provide the only evidence or proof of suspected relationships and answers to questions. In most cases, both genealogical research and analysis of DNA testing results are combined to provide solid proof arguments regarding genealogical research questions.

DNA testing has been generally viewed as cost prohibitive for most genealogical research questions. However, with the recent drop in price for many of the tests, DNA testing is now something that can be used to confirm hypotheses and make new discoveries only dreamt of a few short years ago.

*Legacy Tree Genealogists does not offer DNA testing, only recommendations on which test to take and analysis after testing has been completed.

**Legacy Tree is not affiliated with any of the testing companies. Our testing recommendations and reports are based on giving our clients the best answers possible to their specific question without regard to the type of test and/or company offering the test. Recommendations are independent and based on evaluation of all products and companies in the marketplace.

Resources

As genetic testing is a fairly new and rapidly evolving tool in the genealogists “toolbox,” we recommend the following websites, blogs and articles for further information and answers to questions regarding DNA testing for genealogical purposes:

FamilyTreeDNA
23andMe
AncestryDNA
DNA Testing for Genealogy – Part 1 by CeCe Moore
DNA Testing for Genealogy – Part 2 by CeCe Moore
DNA Testing for Genealogy – Part 3 by CeCe Moore
DNA Testing for Genealogy – Part 4 by CeCe Moore
ISOGG (International Society of Genetic Genealogists) wiki

Our resident DNA experts would be happy to help you analyze and make sense of the results you get from any of the major DNA testing companies. Give us a call or drop us an email and let us know how we can help you!

maj 21, 2014 by Legacy Tree Genealogists Leave a Comment

Lithuanian Family History Discoveries

Using onsite researchers, Legacy Tree Genealogists were able to help a client discover Lithuanian family history records. Perhaps hiring a genealogist will help you break through your genealogy brick walls.

As a Project Manager with Legacy Tree Genealogists, I often find myself just as anxious as the client is to get a report back from a researcher and find out what was discovered. I really care about each and every project, and love that we have such amazing researchers who do such great work.

Lithuanian Family History

One of my favorite projects is one that has been ongoing for nearly seven years! The client originally ordered in July of 2007, asking us to translate the writing on the back of some photos from Lithuanian into English, and then to try to extend his paternal ancestral line in Lithuania.

It was determined that the records needed were not available at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, so research had to be undertaken in the State Archives in Vilnius.

Research was completed via correspondence with the archive for the next FIVE years! The State Archive in Vilnius would only allow a certain number of requests at one time, and they would only search a certain number of years as well. I would compose an email, translate it into Lithuanian using Google Translate, and then it took several months to receive results each time. When the results were received, they would be in some combination of Polish, Russian, Latin, and/or Lithuanian, and had to be translated into English. In the course of five years we only completed two 20-hour projects for the client, but slowly, progress was actually being made, and it was exciting to be able to provide the client with new information about his ancestors in Lithuania.

Using Onsite Researchers

In 2012 I sent an email to our onsite Polish researcher with a query about another project and much to my surprise, I received an auto-reply from him that said something along the lines of “I’m currently at the State Archives in Vilnius, Lithuania, and will get back to you soon.” I was THRILLED! I immediately contacted him again about doing research for my client there, and then contacted the client with the great news that I had found a trustworthy researcher who could travel to Vilnius and conduct research much more quickly and efficiently.

Since then, our agent has made six trips to Vilnius for this client (and is scheduled for a seventh), and has learned that they actually belonged to the noble class, and proved their nobility in the Russian Empire. The line appears to be documented back to at least 1633 in the nobility documents found so far. We’ve been able to find siblings to complete full family groups, and even provided the client with a video demonstrating how his ancestral names should be pronounced. The results have been amazing, and the client is extremely pleased!

Just in the 8 years I’ve been working with Legacy Tree, huge advances have been made in the availability of records, onsite research possibilities, and even DNA. I look forward to the great things we’ll continue to do in the future!

For an update on this client's research project, check out this article: Perseverance Pays Off: A Lithuanian Case Study.

Legacy Tree Genealogists has extensive experience in helping clients trace their ancestors from all over the world, and we can help you dig through archives and onsite records to find details about your ancestors. Contact us today for a free quote.

maj 14, 2014 by Legacy Tree Genealogists Leave a Comment

Primary Source Documents: Standing Where Your Ancestors Stood

Primary source documents are a gold mine for genealogists. Here's how one of these simple documents created a defining personal experience for one of our researchers!

Primary source documents are the lifeblood of genealogy. Filled with cold, hard facts, these documents provide evidence that researchers use to collect, analyze, and then make conclusions. Personal identity, parental linkage, or biographical details are some of the possible conclusions drawn by genealogists from these essential documents.

In the case of this particular World War I Registration Card, this primary source document led to an amazing, personal discovery.

Discovering the Past

Robert Luther Harman was an elusive great grandfather and I was overjoyed to find that this document supplied many previously unknown facts about him. I quickly glanced past his current address, instead focusing on his exact birthdate.

Some time later, my son and I happened to be in the town that my great grandfather had recorded as his residence on his World War I Registration Card. I looked up the address on MapQuest then followed the directions into the most charming historic downtown. Lining the broad, tree-lined boulevards were exquisite turn-of-the-century mansions. I marveled at each one as I drove past. But the map led me to a little side street that was narrow and tucked away.

As I turned onto the street, I caught my breath, then grabbed my son’s wrist and yelled, “Look at that!” On each side of the street were these peculiar, unique lampposts. The bases were made of stacked, rounded stones, then a tall, tin post, then a rounded globe. Even though I had never been on that street before, I was as familiar with these lampposts as if I had made them myself. I possessed three photographs of my grandfather as a child, and in two of them, he and his brother were propped up and posing with their parents on a stacked, stone-base lamppost. These were the same lampposts!

My son and I got out of the car and walked to the house with the address listed on the World War I Registration Card, and there was the lamppost, found in the wintery photograph from my grandfather’s childhood. This was a poignant photograph of that little family, for Robert Luther Harman would soon abandon his sons and never see them again. But the link found in that one address on that one primary source document made magic for me as I stood in the same place as my family had stood over a century ago.

marts 14, 2014 by Legacy Tree Genealogists Leave a Comment

Researching Irish Ancestry

Researching Irish ancestry can be a challenge. If you find yourself with a genealogical “brick wall”, checking these available records may help!

Finding an Irish immigrant’s area of origin can be challenging, but there are several Irish, U.S., and Canadian records that may give you this information. This article will discuss civil registration, immigration, church, vital, and cemetery records and how these records can assist you in finding your ancestor’s place of origin.

Researching Irish Ancestry in Civil Registration Records

If your ancestor was born or married in Ireland after the mid-1800s, you may be able to locate him or her in Irish Civil Registration indexes. Civil Registration (governmental registration of births, marriages, and deaths) began in Ireland in 1845 for non-Catholic marriages and in 1864 for all births, marriages, and deaths.

Finding an ancestor in a civil registration index will give you his or her area of origin. Original records can then be requested from the General Register Office in Dublin by mail or fax: General Register Office, Joyce House, 8/11 Lombard Street, Dublin 2, Ireland; fax: +353-1-6354527.

Events recorded after 1922 in Northern Ireland must be requested from the General Register Office in Belfast. Their website is www.groni.gov.uk/index.htm.

Pre-1870 marriages and pre-1880 births are likely in the International Genealogical Index and can be searched at www.familysearch.org.

Immigration Records

Beginning with the 1900 census, you can find an ancestor’s year of immigration and naturalization in U.S. census records. To find a date and port of arrival of your ancestor, we recommend checking the following indexes:

1) Filby, P. William and Mary K. Meyer, eds. Passenger and Immigration Lists Index. 3 vols plus supps. Detroit: Gale Research Co., 1981-. Each volume and supplement contains different persons, so all must be searched. Parts of this index are also available on ancestry.com.

2) Glazier, Ira A., ed. The Famine Emigrants: Lists of Irish Immigrants Arriving at the Port of New York, 1846-51. 7 vols. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1983-86.

Passenger lists (which list names and information of those coming to the U.S.) can give you names of others (possible relatives) who came across at the same time. They include details of last residence from 1883, and many are indexed. Naturalization records will give a person’s birthplace.

Church Records

Many Irish persons were Catholic. If your ancestor was married after immigrating to the U.S., a Catholic marriage record may give his or her Irish place of origin. Baptismal records will list a child’s sponsors, which were often relatives, and will also usually give the mother’s maiden names. These things are important clues to identifying your ancestor in records in Ireland.

Vital Records

A death certificate will give the decedent’s parentage and birthplace, which often includes more than just “Ireland.” If death certificates began too late in a state your ancestor died in, try checking for death certificates on a county level, which often began much earlier.

Cemetery Records

Cemetery records sometimes include an Irish immigrant’s county of origin.

Other records that may be helpful are Irish marriage indexes, probate indexes, indexes to Griffith’s Valuation, and Tithe Applotment records. These can help you locate your surname in certain areas of Ireland.

Although Irish research can be challenging, searching the records discussed in this article should help you locate your ancestor’s area of origin. We wish you luck as you seek to discover more about your Irish roots!

At Legacy Tree Genealogists, we love to help tell your family’s story. If you need help uncovering the stories of your ancestors or preserving your family history, our team of experts can help! Contact us for a free quote today.

februar 28, 2014 by Legacy Tree Genealogists 2 Comments

Untangling a Varied Pedigree

On a recent client project, we untangled a varied pedigree consisting of Chinese, Japanese, and Southern American heritage. Here's how we dissected a complicated family history!

As a Project Manager with Legacy Tree Genealogists, one of the best parts of my job is seeing the amazing things we are able to do for our clients. Clients come to us with questions, genealogy tangles, and often with a pile of old documents they don’t even know what to do with. We take these muddled ingredients and turn them into something beautiful and meaningful for the client and their family.

Focusing on Immigration

One of the most memorable projects that recently came across my desk involved a client who came to us with Chinese and Japanese immigrant ancestry as well as Southern American heritage, all in one pedigree. She had already gathered quite a collection of family documents in Chinese and Japanese, although she couldn’t read them, and just wanted to learn as much as she could about her entire varied heritage. Looking over everything, we decided that a project mostly focused on U.S. records would help her learn more about her immigrant ancestors and prepare the lines for research in their individual foreign lands in the future as well as explore her Southern American heritage.

As the research progressed, we were able trace the client’s Chinese and Japanese ancestors in California and Hawaii through census, immigration, and vital records – which is quite the challenge given the tendency for names to be completely hashed by record keepers unfamiliar with Asian naming traditions! Translations of the documents and letters provided by the client revealed not only the names of the villages of origin for many of the family members, but difficult stories of poverty and misery in the old countries. In the end, the client’s entire Asian pedigree was filled out and extended to the fifth generation on every line and details of the ancestors’ lives, both from their home countries and in their new homes and lives in the United States, were gathered along the way.

Discovering a Rich Heritage

But that was only the beginning! In digging into the client’s All-American Southern heritage in her maternal line, the leads just kept falling into place, one after another. We ended up discovering deep Colonial roots back to the tenth generation on some of the lines! Many of the client’s ancestors are even recognized participants in the Revolutionary War. It turns out this granddaughter of struggling Asian immigrants is eligible to apply for membership to the Daughters of the American Revolution, a unique meeting and meshing of the American Dream in one beautiful and varied pedigree.

For the record, this project was quite the beast and definitely not completed by a simple 25-hour project. It serves as a reminder, though, that keeping the research momentum going, following up on leads, and thinking outside the generic genealogy box can bring together a thing of true depth and beauty that the client and her family may cherish for generations.

We’d love to help you with your family history, whether we’re breaking down brick wall mysteries, finding your biological parents, or just starting from scratch finding the stories about your ancestors.Contact us today for a free quote.