Citing What It Does Not Say

This is part of one of the online trees for a relative of mine. I've eliminated the name and the precise date of birth because I'm more interested in how Ancestry.com handles citing sources than who this specific individual is whose birth is being cited. I've also seen problems like this countless times so I don't want to appear to be picking on this entry only.

I've see all six "sources" used in this instance. The Ancestry.com tree indicates that all six are sources for the fact that this person was born on a certain date in a certain place. The problem is that all six sources do not say that. Tying these sources to a precise date and place of birth is indicating that they are more accurate than they really are.

• The 1900 census provides a month and year of birth along with the state. 
• The 1920 and 1930 census provides an age and a place of birth. The age does not necessarily suggest a specific date--which this citation seems to indicate that it does. 
• The death index does provide the date and place of birth.
• The U. S. National Home for the Disabled Volunteer Soldiers provides an approximate year of birth and a state of birth. 
• The World War I draft card provides a county and state of birth along with a date of birth.

Why not just link them all to the precise date and place? After all, that's a heck of a lot easier. It may be, but it's a heck of a lot less accurate.

There's only 1 of the six records that provide the specific location and date--so really only one should be listed as a source with that precise information. 

Indicating a record says something it does not is confusing and in this case it looks like there are more sources with that level of detail than there are.

The date and place for an event when tied to a source for that should only be as precise as that source indicates.

Sure it takes a little more work, but it makes our work more accurate and makes analysis easier. 

• Month and year in Illinois should be tied to 1900 census.
• Approximate year and location of Illinois should be tied to the 1930 census and Soldier's Home information.
• Specific date and specific place should be tied to the death index.
• The approximate year and county and  state should be tied to the draft card.

We've got an initial followup here. 

Spring 2012 Genealogy Seminars

I'll be on the road in April/May/June of 2012 giving several workshops or seminars (please mark your calendars):

• 25 April 2012--Santa Barbara, California--all day seminar.
• 19 May 2012-BigWill--Richmond, Illinois.(details coming)--all day seminar.
• 23-30 May 2012-Family History Library Research Trip-Salt Lake--Join Us!
• 2 June 2012-Northland Genealogical Society-North Kansas City, Missouri. (details coming)-all day seminar.
• 8-10 June 2012-Southern California Genealogy Jamboree, Burbank, California.
• 14-16 June 2012--Palatines to American Conference--Indianapolis, Indiana. 

If you've got questions about any of these, email me at mjnrootdig@gmail.com and I'll forward your request to the appropriate person.

If you'd like to bring me to your group, email me and we can discuss details. 

Using Fold3 Webinar

We've added one new webinar to our March 2012 series--and we're really excited about it.

Searching on Fold3.com. This website (fee-based) offers a variety of military records from the United States. Fold3 has a large amount of material from the Revolutionary War and also includes digital images of National Archives microfilmed material from later United States conflicts as well. You can check out the information on Fold3 by browsing their website.

Our Fold3 webinar is on 6 March 2012 at 1:30 PM central time. Visit our webinar registration page for more details and registration links.

Villages Seminar

Yesterday I had a great experience presenting the annual seminar for The Villages Genealogical Society in Florida. It was a great group, a packed house, and a really nice group of people.

We're giving 10% of our sales of webinars by the end of the day to the society--those in attendance should have received the coupon code at the seminar. Email me if you need it. It also gives attendees a 10% discount on their purchase at http://www.casefileclues.com/webinars.htm

My Blogs

For our new fans and as a reminder to ones who have been around a little bit longer, I have the following blogs--all are free. Posting frequency varies

:

• Daily Genealogy Transcriber--can you read the handwriting?
• Casefile Clues--updates on research for my newsletter
• Genealogy Tip of the Day--one daily how-to tip or suggestion
• Search Tip of the Day-tips for internet sites and search ideas
• Rootdig-opinion, attitude, and anything else that crosses my path

Does Ancestry.com Know Monmouth, Illinois, Exists?

Sometimes it really is not clear where Ancestry.com created or obtained its database of locations. While I'm not surprised that small villages are omitted from the list of locations on the drop-down menu, places the size of Monmouth, Illinois, being left out is somewhat of a surprise.

I wanted to search for my uncle, John R. Neill, in the 1930 census--knowing he lived in Monmouth. The screen shot below is a list of locations that "appear" when I type in "monmou." No Monmouth in Warren County--although there is a reference in Wabash County.

The location is extracted correctly for at least the 1930 census. This image is a screen shot for John's listing in the 1930 census index at Ancestry.com:

Sometimes I wish Ancestry.com worried a little less about cell phone apps, IPAD apps, and "appity-app-app" and a little more about accuracy. Being able to search on locations from the drop down menu is supposed to make research easier.

I CAN restrict my search to Monmouth--but I have to do it as a keyword search. I don't mind this--what is irritating is that for some locations this is needed and some it is not. It is frustrating to have to remember when I need to keyword and when I don't. I'm GLAD I can perform the keyword search, but how many know this?

I understand transcription problems. Problems with locations in the drop-down menu are not transcription problems. And experience tells me that most searchers don't know about these workarounds.

March 2012 Genealogy Webinars

Our March 2012 Genealogy Webinar schedule has been posted. Topics are:

• Probate Process
• Proving Benjamin
• Genealogy Proof Standard  (rescheduled)
• Researching Female Ancestors

Details are on our webinar page at http://www.casefileclues.com/webinars_neill.htm

Don't Correct It

The following phrases come from an order the Hancock County, Illinois, Judge J. Arthur Baird in 1938. The unsuspecting researcher may be tempted to correct it or to conclude that one of the names is wrong...that's not it at all.

-------------------------------------------

In the Matter of the Heirship of Minka Fecht, Deceased

Now this matter coming on to be heard on evidence adduced in open court as to the heirship of Minka Fecht, deceased, late of Carthage, in the County of Hancock and State of Illinois, and the Court being sufficiently advised in the premises, doth find and declare that the said Minka Fecht departed this life intestate on the 17^th day of December, A. D. 1937, leaving him surviving,

No widow and George J. Fecht, his brother, Lubbie Fecht, his brother, John W. Fecht, his nephew  and Marie Fecht, his niece, children of his deceased brother, Roll Fecht; John Huls, his half-brother; Tena Knowles his half-sister; John Fecht, Jake Fecht, Martin Fecht, Charles Fecht, George Fecht and Henry Fecht, nephews, and Mattie Burg and Mary Timberlake, his nieces, all of whom are the children of his deceased sister, Annie Fecht.

As his sole heirs at law.

-------------------------------------------

It is a really good example of why one should never change any names in a document or make any corrections. It may seem a little bit strange that Minka Fecht's sister is named Annie Fecht.

There is one minor "error" in the order, but it's not one of the names and it's not really an error. The order was more specific in a few cases than statute required, and, failing to be that specific later, potential confusion may be the result.

We'll look at this document in an upcoming issue of Casefile Clues. 

And this is one where I already know the answer--and I'll say that except for Minka actually being Mimka and Roll occasionally being Rolf, the names are right. Mimka Fecht is a first cousin of my great-grandfather and this family, while confusing on the surface, is fairly well-documented. 

Stay tuned. 

Is L J De Mar Alive in 1925?

This marriage license comes was dated 14 Dec 1925 and is from the county records of Fallon County, Montana--it was located on FamilySearch in their Montana, County Marriages, 1865-1950 for Levi L. Demar. It indicated that the father "is" with "was" crossed out.

Question is: is this "evidence" that L. J. Demar was still alive on 14 Dec 1925?

Updated List of Genealogy Webinars....

Miss my recent webinars? The recorded version and the PDF version of the handout can be purchased for viewing at your convenience. Presentations are generally an hour long. Each one is normally priced at $8.50--that's the best rate for recorded webinars around--we don't have overhead costs to cover and there is no mailing or postage. Download is immediate!  You can also subscribe to my weekly newsletter Casefile Clues. It is sent as a PDF file and comes to your email. 

• Making and Proving Your Case. Geared towards advanced beginners and intermediate researchers, this presentation discusses things to think about before writing up "your case." Talks about statements, primary, secondary, ways to prove yourself, considering all the options, disproving, citation, etc. Provides the viewer with ideas on how to "make their case" and see gaps or omissions in their research.  The digital media for this presentation can be downloaded for $8.50.

• Genealogy Blogging For Beginners This is geared towards those who have no blogging experience. Discusses things to be concerned about, generating content, creating posts, inserting images, tables, copyright, and more. The presentation and handout can be downloaded for $8.50. 

• DeedMapper with Virginia Land Patents. The session on DeedMapper discusses how patents for John Rucker and several of his neighbors were located using the Library of Virginia website. The presentation discusses the downloading of the patents, reading them, inputting the descriptions into DeedMapper and attempting to fit them together using the plats created by DeedMapper. The digital media for this presentation can be purchased for $8.50.

• "Yet More Brick Walls from A to Z" continues our popular series on this topic--with yet another list of brick wall breakers--with discussion--from A to Z. The digital media for this presentation (handout and presentation) can be downloaded for $6.
• Tips and Tricks for FamilySearch  -(NEW!)-This webinar discusses ins and outs of using the "new" family search, searching by family structure, global searches, interpreting searches and troubleshooting. Also discussed are strategies when approaching an unindexed set of images, a new type of record series, or incomplete records. Aimed at advanced beginners and intermediate level researchers. The digital version of the presentation and handout can be ordered for $8.50.
• Newspaper Research  -(NEW!)-Aimed at advanced beginners and intermediate level researchers, this webinar discusses research techniques for searching newspapers in digital, microfilm, and original formats. Pitfalls of using digital newspapers are discussed, along with manual search techniques and what types of materials to look for besides obituaries and death notices.  This presentation is not merely a list of online sites or an attempt to get subscribers to any specific database. The digital version of the presentation and handout can be ordered for $8.50.
• An overview of using Archive.org.    This focuses on searching the site, using books and how to navigate for National Archives microfilm and other materials. This recording can be downloaded immediately for $8.50.
• Research in Illinois- -(NEW!)- -Geared towards advanced beginners and intermediate researchers, it focuses on local records, what makes Illinois different, and larger statewide facilities. The media file and handout can be ordered for $8.50 here.
• Sarah and Susannah-Two 18th Century Virginia Women and Their Property -This presentation discusses the will of a 18th century Virginia woman and how another family "moved" a widow's life estate from one county to another. Priced at $8.50 for immediate download. Includes recording and PDF of handout. 
• Creating Families from Pre-1850 Census Records --This presentation discusses how to analyze pre-1850 census records in order to determine the family structure that is suggested by those records. Enumerations for one household between 1810 and 1840 are analyzed in order to determine the number of children, ranges on their years of birth, and ranges on years of birth for the oldest male and oldest female in the household. Priced at $8.50 for immediate download. Includes recording and PDF of handout. 
• United States Naturalization Records pre-1920 - This presentation is an overview of naturalization records in the United States prior to 1920, focusing on locating and understanding the records. Women's citizenship and derivative citizenship are also included. The recorded webinar and handout can be ordered for immediate download for $8.50.
• More Brick Walls from A to Z This presentation is a continuation on the popular "Brick Walls from A to Z" that was released earlier. The alphabet has been reused for additional ideas and quick suggestions for getting past those brick walls--aimed at all levels--with the intent of jumpstarting people's research. Introductory recording price of $6 won't last long. Includes recording and PDF of handout. 
• Using US Passenger lists on Ancestry.com-This presentation provides an overview to the US passenger lists on Ancestry.com, with an emaphasis on search techniques and organization. We look at searching for a few not so easy to find people.  Order the recording and handout here for immediate download for $8.50
• Using US Census on Ancestry.com --This presentation discusses search tips and ideas for using the US Census at Ancestry.com. There is also discussion on organizing your search before you start typing names and information in search boxes. You can purchase the recorded version of the webinar as a Windows media file and the PDF handout for $8.50. Add to cart here. 
• Brick Walls from A to Z--This lecture is based upon my article "Brick Walls From A to Z" and is geared towards the somewhat experienced beginner to intermediate researcher. Just a list of ideas to get beyond your brick walls discussed alphabetically. Handout included. Add to cart here. 
• Using the Old Search at Ancestry.com. Your order can be processed here for only $2.25.We discuss toggling back and forth between new and old search and some of the features of the old search and reasons why I continue to use it. The webinar doesn't show my face--instead you hear my voice and see the screen as I perform searches. We kept the price low on this one to make it affordable for those who've been confused about "old search." Add to cart.
• Local Land Records in Public Domain States--This lecture discusses obtaining, using, and interpreting local land records in areas of the United States from Ohio westward where land was originally in the public domain. This lecture is geared towards those who have some experience with land records--advanced beginning and intermediate researchers.  $8.50 includes handout and hour-long lecture. Add to cart here. 
• DeedMapper (NEW!) Geared for the person who is not familiar with DeedMapper--which maps properties described in metes and bounds, allows users to map multiple parcels on the same map, manipulate plats, insert background images. This works through one example and discusses other features of the program. Add to cart here.
• Barbara's Beaus and Gesche's Girls--Case study of two German immigrants to the American Midwest in the mid-19th century. For $8.50 you will be able to download the media file and the PDF version of the handout. Add to cart here. 
• Court Records-Pig Blood in the Snow. This lecture discusses American court records at the county level where cases were typically originally heard. Discusses cases of main genealogical relevance along with searching techniques. For $8.50 you will be able to download the media file and the PDF version of the handout. Add to cart here. 
• Seeing the Patterns-Organizing Your Information. This lecture discusses the problem-solving process and a variety of ways to organize your information with the intent of getting the research to notice overlooked clues, patterns, trends, and information. $8.50 includes handout and hour-long lecture. Add to cart here.
• Determining Your Own Migration Trail/Chain (NEW!). You can purchase the recorded version of the webinar as a Windows media file and the handout as as PDF via this link for $7. This lecture discusses ways to find the names of your ancestor's associates and ways to determine how your ancestor fit into a larger chain of migration. Geared towards advanced beginners and intermediate researchers.$8.50 includes handout and hour-long lecture 
• Using the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Website (NEW!). You can purchase the recorded version of the webinar as a Windows media file and the handout as as PDF for $8.50. This lecture discusses effective search techniques for the site, how to formulate your searches, how to trouble-shoot searches, a search template, and what records patents in the BLM site can lead to. Add to cart.
• The Missing 1840 Census Enumeration  (NEW!). This webinar discusses a couple "missing" from the 1840 Census in Ohio and how they were eventually found and the indirect evidence used. A good overview of using land records to solve a "non-land record" problem with some points along the way about organization and visualization. Suggestions for additional research are also discussed. Add to cart.
• Using US Passenger lists on Ancestry.com  (NEW!)---add to cart

You can also subscribe to my weekly newsletter Casefile Clues. It is sent as a PDF file and comes to your email. 


NOTE-A PayPal account is NOT necessary. Just click the PayPal button and on the next page hit the button for "don't have a PayPal account" and use a credit card.

How Can You Help Get 25,000 Signatures?

Genealogists are trying to retain open access to the Social Security Master Death File--commonly referred to as the Social Security Death Index.

The petition to suggest the IRS use other means at their immediate disposal other than the public closing of the SSDI can be found and signed here.  We need 25,000 signatures by 8 March--we're short on that goal.

Long winded discussion won't motivate the typical person. Let's just suffice it to say that the number of children's identities who have been stolen is minimal compared to the number of identities stolen from other records, databases, and sources that are already out there--think about who has your social security number besides you. Many agencies  and businesses use the SSDI to deny fraudulent applications for credit, bank accounts, property rentals, etc.

We've posted the SSA Commissioner's take on genealogists here http://rootdig.blogspot.com/2012/02/commissioner-astrues-ssdi-comments.html

Spread the word about the petition and why closing the SSDI won't have the impact hoped for. Be brief and to the point. Closing the SSDI is an easy bi-partisan measure allowing both parties in Congress to SAY they did something about identify theft. Press releases can be written about how Congress is working together to solve problems, etc. etc. Yeah. Whatever.

Congress sees this as a quick-fix that makes for good sound bites, will get their names in media in a positive fashion, and appears to address identity theft issues.

Let Congress know that we genealogists don't want to be their sound bite in an attempt to make them look like they are working together and doing something.

Sign the petition. 
Contact your representatives.

Commissioner Astrue's SSDI Comments

Listen to what your Social Security Commissioner said at recent testimony regarding the Social Security Death Master File

The response of genealogists has been termed an "over-reaction." Astrue compares the SSDI to census data and suggests that the death file could be released in 10 or 75 years. Don't take my word for it. Hear him say it himself. Click on the image above and listen. We are not trying tell you what you should think, but do want you aware of what was said. Access to information, isn't that what it's all about? If the video is "unavailable" please email me directly at mjnrootdig@gmail.com.

The link above contains a snippet of Commissioner Michael J. Astrue's testimony regarding the Social Security Master Death File at the "Hearing on Social Security Death Records."

My take on security concerns is here.

Consider signing the petition to require the IRS to take alternative fraud prevention measures now. It is time to show Commissioner Astrue what "over-reaction" is. Removing the SSDI from public access isn't going to stop identity theft.

There is more information about the petition here.

The entire testimony video can be viewed here.

Our politicians need to know:

• genealogists vote.
• we are not just a few "over-reactors"
• we are not just "little ol' ladies in tennis shoes" who can be pushed aside. Those words are mine, not the Commissioners. But often genealogists are viewed in this fashion. 

Spread the word.

Make your voice heard.

Time is crucial. 

------------------------------------------

This post is:
http://rootdig.blogspot.com/2012/02/commissioner-astrues-ssdi-comments.html
please share the URL with anyone who may have an interest in this topic.

My Take On the SSDI

Preventing fraud is a necessary evil in our modern society. The question is does more information prevent fraud or does it cause it?  Does ready access to the names of deceased Americans make it easier for criminals to commit fraud in their names or does it allow companies to "flag" those numbers and identities as ones who shouldn't be out buying a car? There are some who think that restricting access to this information will make it more difficult to deceive people using this information. I'm not so certain.

Limiting access to information is not going to stop fraud. In fact it's only going to make it more difficult for legitimate businesses to catch people who are using deceased social security numbers for fraudulent purposes. Now an employer, loan officer, etc. can easily determine if a social security number belongs to a deceased person. Heck even little ol' me can do it. If we restrict access to this information does that mean people won't try and commit fraud? I don't think so--it will just make it more difficult for the businessman to catch him before it is too late. Who pays for the fraud that gets caught too late? The business who gets "taken." And that cost, which ends up being a cost of doing business, gets passed on to honest consumers.

The IRS has ways they can prevent the use of the social security numbers of recently deceased individuals in the submission of tax returns. It is easier to say that the SSDI  (the Social Security Death Index--the "Master Death File" is the problem when it's not--it's the failure of agencies to flag the numbers of recently deceased people as deceased. Open access to the SSDI allows banks, credit unions, credit card companies, and others who grant credit, etc. to easily see if the number on an application has recently been reported as belonging to a deceased individual. It makes it EASIER for these businesses, particularly smaller ones with limited budgets to DO BUSINESS. Let's not require small businesses, already strapped for cash, to pay for access to information that now is readily available.

Why should the average person care about open access to information? Because the free-flow of information is crucial to the functioning of the American economy.

You can sign the petition here. You're not exposing yourself to fraud by doing so. All you need to give out is your name, email and zip code.

Here is what the FTC has to say about identity theft http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft//consumers/about-identity-theft.html

This post is:
http://rootdig.blogspot.com/2012/02/my-take-on-ssdi.html

Webinars-Making Your Case and Genealogy Blogging

Our latest two releases:

• Making and Proving Your Case. Geared towards advanced beginners and intermediate researchers, this presentation discusses things to think about before writing up "your case." Talks about statements, primary, secondary, ways to prove yourself, considering all the options, disproving, citation, etc. Provides the viewer with ideas on how to "make their case" and see gaps or omissions in their research.  The digital media for this presentation can be downloaded for $8.50.

• Genealogy Blogging For Beginners This is geared towards those who have no blogging experience. Discusses things to be concerned about, generating content, creating posts, inserting images, tables, copyright, and more. The presentation and handout can be downloaded for $8.50. 

My 1940 List

This is my list of people I'm going to search for in the 1940 census when it is released on 2 April 2012--updated with results of searches as of 4 April 2012.

I'm going to search for my own family first--largely because they will be easiest to find and I'm liable to find numerous other family members while searching for them (I'm probably going to read the entire townships for the first few). There's a reasonable chance I search Keene Township in Adams County, Illinois, for my Grandma Neill's brothers, but otherwise I'm going to stick to the locations I have and wait to find others until the index comes out.

My wife's 1940 people I'm likely to just wait until the index comes out to locate, with the possible exception of the ones in Linn County, Missouri. I'm curious to see Peter Verikios and Mary Williams, but if they aren't at the Bishop Street address, I'm probably going to wait until the index comes out to find them as well. If time allows, I may try getting city directories to help with locating a few others, but none are going to be so interesting that I'm going to spend days to find them before the index comes out. I am mildly curious about Ola and Anna Lake and hopefully they'll be easiest to find.

Comments--are for me and not really for readers. I know where I mean ;-)

Name	Relationship	Probable Location	Comments--and link to image if found.
Cecil and Ida Neill	Grandparents--found	Prairie Township, Hancock County, Illinois	Should be at the "homeplace." ED 34-29--Prairie Township. Got ED from NARA website. Found them!
Mimka, Tjode, and Dorothy Habben	Great-grandparents and grandmother--found	Prairie Township, Hancock County, Illinois	At the "homeplace" west of Carthage.ED 34-29--Prairie Township. Got ED from NARA website. Found them!
Fred, Tena, and John Ufkes	Great-grandparents and grandfather--found	Bear Creek Township, Hancock County, Illinois	At the "homeplace" east of Basco. ED 34-5. This family lived near the township line with Harmony Twp., but were in Bear Creek.Got ED from NARA website. Found them!
Charlie and Fannie Neill	Great-grandparents--found	Village of West Point or perhaps St. Albans Township, Hancock County, Illinois	West Point ED is 34-33. St. Albans Twp. ED is 34-34. Got ED from NARA website. Found them!
Anna Habben	Great-great-grandmother--found	Elvaston, Hancock County, Ilinois	ED 34-19 or 34-27. Probably 34-27 which is the part of Elvaston in Prairie Twp. Got ED from NARA website. Found her.
Ola and Anna Lake and daughter Nancy	Wife’s grandparents and mother--found	Marcelline, Linn County, Missouri	ED 58-20 through 58-23 from NARA site. Found them.
Wilbur and Grace Johnson	Wife’s grandparents--found	Rock Island, Rock Island County, Illinois	1939 and 1940 Rock Island directories put them at 1715 13th Avenue. Found them.
Joseph W. and Eva Mae Johnson	Wife’s great-grandparents--found.	Rock Island County, Illinois	1122 1/2 6th Avenue, Rock Island, Illinois--per 1940 Rock Island directory (Polks). Found them.
Samuel O. Johnson	Wife’s great-great-grandfather	Galesburg, Knox County, Illinois	May have been in town or on farm outside of Galesburg.
Henry and Caroline Mortier	Wife’s great-grandparents--found	Rock Island, Rock Island, Illinois.	In 1939 and 1942 Rock Island City directories indicate they had a home at 1207 19th Avenue in Rock Island. Found them.
Peter Verikios	Wife’s step-great-grandfather	Chicago, Cook, Illinois	Good luck. Probably at 6934 S. Bishop Street—start there. Steve Morse's site indicates it is ED 103-1190.
Mary Williams	Wife’s great-grandmother	Chicago, Cook, Illinois	Good luck. Probably at 6934 S. Bishop Street—start there. Steve Morse's site indicates it is ED 103-1190.
Granville Lake	Wife’s great-grandfather--found	Linn County, Missouri	Probably Marceline. ED 58-20 through 58-23 from NARA site. Was in Bevier, Macon County, Missouri. Found him!
Jennie Trask	Wife’s great-great-grandmother	Galesburg, Knox County, Illinois or Peoria, Peoria County, Illinois.

I could make a much longer list--with aunts/uncles and cousins of various sorts. Given the large number of extended kin I have in some of these locations, I'll probably just read these townships manually as I have time:

• Prairie, St. Albans, Walker, Bear Creek, and Harmony Townships, Hancock County, Illinois
• Keene Township, Adams County, Illinois--maybe Northeast and Honey Creek as well. 

Since the images will be totally online, maybe I can get my Mom to read through a few for me--she'll know the names from her side of the family for me--so that will shoot Bear Creek, Prairie, and Harmony.

Ancestry.com's Glossary

[update: 9 Feb 2012. Ancestry.com tells me they are revising the glossary and the old pages should be gone within the month. Thanks!]
This screen shot is from Ancestry.com's learning center. This is their glossary definition for "secondary evidence" and "secondary source."

Apparently they've not been reading Evidence Explained, by Elizabeth Shown Mills. She (as well as others in the field, including yours truly) classifies information as:

• primary--firsthand
• secondary-secondhand

Sources are:

• original or
• derivative

Evidence is:

• direct or
• indirect

I won't blather on about the definitions here or how to use them in actual research. Mills' book explains them in some detail and we use them "in the field" in Casefile Clues all the time. We even look at some voters' registrations from the 1890s in the next issue and discuss the information as being primary or secondary in nature.

Too bad Ancestry.com's not on top of things. The first edition of Mills' book came out in 2007!

Blogging and Making Your Case Webinars-10 February

Writing and Making Your Case


Aimed at advanced beginners and intermediate researchers, this webinar will discuss how to “make your case,” and write up your argument.


10 February 2012-Friday--10:30 AM Central


Add to cart and register--$5
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Your Own Genealogy Blog

 Briefly why you should write a blog with a discussion of blogging techniques, blogging philosophies, what to include, what to not include, staying motivated, and generating topics.


10 February 2012-Friday--1:30 PM Central


Add to cart and register-$5

Do Those Dates Always Matter? The Colorado Marriage Index at FamilySearch

FamilySearch recently posted a Colorado Statewide Marriage Index with the year range of 1900 to 1930. Thinking the years were correct, I didn't bother to search it for my illustrious Trautvetter relative Philip. A comment posted on the Fan Page for Genealogy Tip of the Day on Facebook indicated there were entries in the index before 1900. Sure enough a search located the 1897 reference to Philip's marriage.

I'm not certain exactly what the "D" above Phillip's name stands for, but I do know this couple was divorced.  I'm assuming that "2-19-97" is the date of the marriage, but the abbreviation in front of that I'll have to work on as well. The bride is Violet Baker and the officiant apparently was Wm. H. Hunt, a J. P. I'm assuming that the writing in the bottom right hand corner is a notation from the clerk, but I'm not certain.

At any rate, don't always conclude that the years listed in a database is entirely correct. [note: A Facebook fan indicates that there are entries from the 1880s. I only focused on the Troutfetter family and came across this one.]

This image comes from the Colorado Statewide Marriage Index, 1900-1939 digitally published on FamilySearch (http://www.familysearch.org). That's as much of a citation as I'm going to include here.

Genealogy Fundamental Webinars

Genealogy Fundamental webinars--each is approximately 20 minutes in length. These short session are geared for beginner or somewhat experienced beginners who would like to learn more about the following topics. Each presentation includes the 20 minute or so presentation and the handouts.

• 1850 Census -$2.00 to order immediate download
• 1880 Census-$2.00 to order immediate download 
• 1930 Census-$2,00 to order immediate download
• Union Civil War Pension file-$2.00 to order immediate download
• Early 20th Century Death Certificate--$2.00 to order immediate download
• Federal Cash Land Sale File-- -$2.00 to order immediate download
• Fundamentals of a 19th Century Will - -$2.00 to order immediate download
• Fundamentals of a Deed in Federal Land State- -$2.00 to order immediate download

Order  the entire set for only $15.

Southern California Genealogical Society Webinar

I had great fun giving a webinar for the Southern California Genealogical Society today. I was in Illinois, the coordinator was in Salt Lake City, and attendees were across the globe. Really fun.

Talking about creating charts and organizing information is always great fun even though it might not sound like it. Comments from attendees were really good--it's not easy lecturing to a large group when you've got a wall in front of you.

Attendees who emailed me will get a response later tonight when I've had a chance to put things together.

There's a list of my recorded webinars on the website for those who are interested. I always learn something every time I present and I hope attendees do as well. Sometimes it is difficult to include something so that "everyone" learns something, especially when attendees are at a variety of skill levels.

I'm looking forward to heading to Jamboree in June and seeing everyone again.

And if anyone has suggestions for upcoming webinars, please let me know. The nice thing about doing webinars is that it's easier to get people interested in a variety of topics when they can attend from anywhere--that's not something a person can always do at a conference.

Webinars Released on DeedMapper and Yet More Brick Walls

The session on DeedMapper discusses how patents for John Rucker and several of his neighbors were located using the Library of Virginia website. The presentation discusses the downloading of the patents, reading them, inputting the descriptions into DeedMapper and attempting to fit them together using the plats created by DeedMapper. The digital media for this presentation can be purchased for $8.50.

The session on "Yet More Brick Walls from A to Z" continues our popular series on this topic--with yet another list of brick wall breakers--with discussion--from A to Z. The digital media for this presentation (handout and presentation) can be downloaded for $6.

Getting From FamilySearch's 1840 Census Index to the Image

FamilySearch recently released their 1840 census index. As of this writing, the index is free, but the viewing of images requires an Ancestry.com account.

Never fear, the unindexed images are on www.archive.org and they are not too difficult to find. The person I was looking for was in Jackson Township, Coshocton County, Ohio, in 1840 on page 289 of microfilm roll 387.

At http://www.archive.org, I needed to locate this roll of film. Pretty easy. I searched for "1840 0387" in at www.archive.org (for some reason the roll numbers have an extra leading 0. My search terms and the results are shown in the image below.

The microfilm can be viewed on the computer directly or downloaded as a PDF file if you want the entire roll.

The problem (for some) will be navigating to page 289. The 1840 census is stamped in the upper right corner. It took a little doing, but eventually I got to page 289, and sure enough, there was James.

Not too difficult.
Turns out his brother-in-law was next door, but the census taker didn't ask those kinds of questions.

Questions about searching can be posted as comments and I'll try to answer them as best I can.

You can order my webinar on using Archive.org here.

SSDI Used for Deceased Children

A legitimate concern over the public nature of the SSDI is that some individuals have used number of deceased children to get tax deductions. This seems to be a relatively simple problem to solve:

• If the number of the child has been used for exemptions before, the SSN of the person claiming the child should be a number filed on a return with the child's SSN in the past. If the child's number and parent's number have not been on the same return in a previous year, the return should be immediately flagged. 
• The first time the child's number is used, there should be some protocol.

I'm not exactly certain of the execution of this idea, but it seems relatively easy to me that SSN numbers that have been used before should be on returns with at least one of the same parent numbers as in past returns. 

Approving Comments to These Posts

I set this blog to where I approve all comments before they are posted. This is done to prevent spam. Rarely do I fail to approve non-spam posts.

I recently chose not to post a comment by a reader to my SSDI Threats post--http://rootdig.blogspot.com/2012/01/threats-to-ssdi.html.

The statements made by the poster were saddening. However, the comments submitted made it impossible to validate any of the statements and the poster apparently created their blogger account the same day they made the post.

His Signature Looks Like He Filled Out the Form Himself

This 1870 declaration of intent from Thomas Frame comes from Cook County, Illinois, where Frame settled in the 1860s.

A quick read of the document may lead the reader to conclude that Frame wrote his own name in the document--the signature on the right hand side looks very similar to Frame's name at the top of the document.

There is a simple explanation--the signature is not Frame's. Those who take time to read the complete document will realize a certified copy of Frame's actual declaration. The top half is the "handwritten copy" and the bottom half is the clerk's statement testifying to the fact that the copy is a true copy of the original.

It was 1870 and before there were photocopy machines. Always make certain that what you think is your ancestor's signature is actually his signature.