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Research Tips and Tricks. Inferential Genealogy. Today we will be discussing the use of inferential reasoning to solve difficult genealogical problems. infer v.t. To derive by reasoning; conclude or judge from premises or evidence To indicate or involve as a conclusion; lead to
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Research Tips and Tricks Inferential Genealogy
Today we will be discussing the use of inferential reasoning to solve difficult genealogical problems
infer v.t.To derive by reasoning; conclude or judge from premises or evidence To indicate or involve as a conclusion; lead to To hint, imply, suggest To guess, speculate, surmise v.i., To draw a conclusion, as by reasoning inference 1. n. The act or process of inferring That which is inferred logic. a. The process of deriving the strict logical consequences of assumed premises b. the process of arriving at some conclusion which, though it is not logically derivable from the assumed premises, possesses some degree of probability relative to the premises c. A proposition reached by the process of infrerence inferential adj. Of, pertaining to, by, or dependent upon inference
We will discuss the piecing together of knowledge from different records to discern knowledge that no other record contains by itself (rather like putting together a puzzle to see a picture that no individual piece of the puzzle can give us).
This presentation is based upon a course in inferential genealogy given by Tom Jones that can be accessed in FamilySearch.org Go to FamilySearch.org, click on Learn (at the top of the page), then under the Research Courses heading click on View the Courses. Then type inferential genealogy in the search box, then click on Search. You should get the following screen:
Now click on either the icon or the title to get to the course.
Even when we have data from records that we may think of as pretty unimpeachable, e.g., census, birth, death, marriage, etc., it is possible that one of your ancestors may have provided false information, either accidentally or intentionally. Or, the person recording the data may have misheard or miswritten the information (sometimes days, or weeks, after the data were initially provided). We take great risk when we accept data at face value.
However, if we can find records to compare – and they indicate the same information, we can be more confident of our conclusions. Even if you don’t find a record that specifically identifies your ancestor, you can still identify that person if you can get enough pieces of the puzzle.
Collect Data From As Many Sources As Possible VI V IV II III I
Look for Data Overlap VI V IV II III I
Tom Jones’ Five Steps of Inferential Genealogy I Start with a focused goal Without a goal, your research will be scattered and disorganized, making it hard to pull out evidence
II Search broadly We don’t want to miss any records or research that will give us useful information III Understand the record If we don’t understand them, we won’t get the information for which we are looking.
IV Correlate the evidence See what the similarities and differences are V Write down your results We have an obligation to our family, and to other researchers, to provide information about which they may not know
From Ancestry.com McCune-Warwick Family Tree
From Ancestry.com James L. Lowary Family Tree
Proof of marriage One of the most progressive farmers of Marion township, Boone county, who has proven his ability to succeed unaided under existing conditions, is Rufus Conrad, who was born in Clay township, Hamilton County, August 26, 1860. He is a son of Martin and Phereba (Bishop) Conrad, the father born in Forsyth county, North Carolina, in 1819, and the mother was born in Edinburg, Indiana, in 1832. It was in 1834 that the father of our subject came to Clay township, Hamilton county, with his parents, Daniel and Johanna (Lineback) Conrad. However, they had spent the preceding winter in Boone county. The grandfather was a native of Pennsylvania and the grandmother was born in North Carolina. The maternal grandparents of our subject were Joseph and Mary (Denidger) Bishop, and were both natives of Tennessee, from which state they came to Indiana in an early day. Both grandfathers entered land from the government and here established their future homes. Martin Conrad, mentioned above, established his home after his marriage on a farm on the line of Hamilton and Boone county, and a year later he purchased a farm of his father in Hamilton county. He first married Julianne Carter, and spent ten years in merchandizing in Indianapolis, but after his second marriage followed farming, but moved to Zionsville three different times, spending a year there each time. He was in the grocery business there about three years. His death occurred in 1897. His widow surviving until 1900. He had two children by his first wife and eight by his second.
David Bishop’s Will In the name of the blessed God, Amen I will and bequeath to my wife, Elizabeth Bishop ten dollars, and her bed and furniture and ___ I will and bequeath to my youngest son Oliver Bishop the plantation that I now live on which is one hundred and forty acres, also the two Gray Mares and two Cows and Calves ___ heifers, his choice also nine head of hogs his choice – also a saddle and bridle – also his choice of two Rifle Guns also all of the household furniture – also all of my clothing – also two choice Plows and two pair of gear – one ___ hoe and hattock – also two hundred bushels of corn – also all of the wheat and rye also thirty dollars in money – I will and bequeath that my wife Elizabeth should come and live with my youngest son Oliver Bishop to take care of his Mother - out of his portion during her life or Widowhood if she sees Proper to live with him – I also will and bequeath all of the balance of my Property and land should be sold – and equally divided amongst the balance of my children – Nancy – My Son Steven Bishop – also my son Joseph Bishop – also my Son Loony Bishop also My Son David Bishop – also my Daughter Amelia Burks – I also will and bequeath that my son Steven Bishop - and William West be my Administrators – This I testify to be my last will and Testament – In witness of which I have set my hadn and seal – this 18th of August 1830. I. Bishop Isaiah Starkey) David Bishop seal State of Tennessee) October Sessions of Pleas and quarter sessions – in and for Warren County – on the fourth day of said month AD 1830. This the last will and Testament of David Bishop deceased was Produced in open Court and offered for Probate – Whereupon I. Bishop and Isaiah Starkey came in to court and Made oath that they saw the said David Bishop sign, seal and Publish the same as his last Will and Testament Whereupon the Court appointed Thomas Parls and William West Administrators of all and singular the goods and chattels ____ and Credits of said David Bishop Deceased With the will annex’d Who entered into bond with security – and took the oath Presented by law where upon the court ordered that letters of Administration Issue to the said Thomas Parls and William West with the will annex’d Given under my hand at office 4th day of October AD 1830 (Jos. Colville CLK (by L. Colville DC Warren Co. The will Book I page 60-61 Date Will 18 Aug 1830 probate 4 Oct 1830
From Ancestry.com Evans Family Tree
