Using state land grants or patents to obtain vital genealogy documents is one way to help tear down your family history brick walls.We've recently been helping a client discover more about an ancestor who lived in North Carolina in the mid- to late-1700s. Southern U.S. research that's this early requires a careful look at existing documents, especially since often there aren't nearly as many documents available as there are for the mid- to late-1800s. We were happy to find that this … [Read more...]
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 … [Read more...]
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 … [Read more...]
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 … [Read more...]
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 … [Read more...]
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 … [Read more...]
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 … [Read more...]
Estate Research – It Isn’t New
Estate research - also known as probate research or forensic genealogy - isn't new. Here's what you can expect when you hire our team of forensic genealogists.Colonel "Jim" Smith, a millionaire farmer from Georgia, died without a will in 1916. People were eager to prove they were his next of kin and hired lawyers to try to do it! Estate research has been around for a long, long time.Legacy Tree Genealogists: The Trusted Probate Research FirmIf you're interested in hiring Legacy … [Read more...]
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 … [Read more...]
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 … [Read more...]