Unusual Record Sources http://ancestry.com/library/view/ancmag/4217.asp

1. Unusual Record Sourceshttp://ancestry.com/library/view/ancmag/4217.asp • Need to fully examine the ancestral paper trail • Tracking down any information that could solve the dead ends • Help build a thorough life history

2. Researching one ancestor at a time • Focus on one person at a time (key person) • Write their name on a sheet of paper at the top • List all vital information • Birth • Death • Marriage • List in chronological order any of the additional information you have from: • Census data • Military service, • Land records • Passenger lists

3. Ask questions, such as • Where did he or she attend school? • Where did this person Live? What were his or her addresses? • Where did this person worship? What religious affiliation did he or she belong to? • Where did he or she work? What was his or her profession or trade? Did this person belong to a work-related organization? • Where did this person socialize? Did he or she belong to any civic or fraternal organization?

4. Educational Records • These records can add depth to your research • The higher the education the more likelihood you will find something • Can help you find addresses where you ancestors lived • Could help solved mysteries or dead ends • Remember to ask how much the fee is and send Self addressed stamped envelope. • Schools and colleges can be located on the internet

5. Places of Residence • School records • Telephone books (libraries) • City directories (libraries) • Some city directories have been found to be back to the 19th century • You could find out their occupation in these directories

6. Town Reports & Tax Records • These were published annually • There is alphabetical listing of property owners • You can find their addresses • You can find the value of their property • You might find out their occupation

7. Place of Worship • Marriage records • Birth records • Death records • Usually the ministers took their records with them when they moved • Some ministers make notes on the pages • These can serve as a back up incase of flood or fires

8. Places of Employment • This is probably the hardest to get much out of, because of privacy laws • Some business might not be still in business • Records could have already been destroyed • The companies may only confirm dates of employment, but this could place your ancestor in a certain place at a certain time • Jobs had a major impact on a persons life and family life

9. Social Organizations • Virtually every American community with an ethnic or immigrant population had organizations. They also provided services such as banking and insurance companies • Learn all you can about the social community your ancestors lived in, you can learn a lot about you’re your ancestors if you find out about the area in which they lived

10. Finding out about our ancestors • Puts us in touch with our ancestors and how they lived You must examine every clue carefully and always be on the lookout for leads that can further your search.

11. Web sites www.cyndislist.com/schools.htm www.qwestdex.com www.infospace.com www.cyndislist.com/citydir.htm www.cyndislist.com/taxes.htm www.cyndislist.com/religion.htm www.cyndislist.com/soc-frat.htm