How to Google 18 types of records for ancestry research.
As you search the internet for our family, you will be presented with the records your family left behind. Be prepared to conduct an exhaustive search and look for reliable sources. Make it a practice to track each key piece of information back to its source. Be prepared to search photocopied documents, digital images, and handwritten. Documents will be complete or partial transcripts, condensed abstracts, or partial abstracts.
Preparing to Google Ancestor Records
Table of Contents
- Google 18 Types of Ancestor Records
- Remember Events Create Records
- Search the US Census, Vital Records, and Other Records
- Search in County and State Records
- Use Ancestor Records Selection Table
- Expect the Unexpected When Searching Ancestor Records
- Where You Can Find Ancestor Records
- Google Other Ancestor Records
Google 18 Types of Ancestor Records
The following is an overview of the common 18 types of ancestor records that I have found constantly valuable in my historical and genealogy research and hundreds of other resources I have learned to research and use through the years. When I mastered researching these resources, I could quickly expand my research to other records to help me connect the pieces of my genealogy puzzle.
In my profile of each resource, I have included what you will find, how to use the resource, and research insights for each resource. I would encourage you to use this section as a starting point from which you can search out and find other genealogical tutorials, and guides that help to provide deeper insights. The common websites that researchers first think of are Ancestry, Archives, FamilySearch, FindMyPast and MyHeritage.
While the resources discussed will be most relevant to United States research, be aware that resources will vary in information and availability based on the time and place in which the resource was created. Resources can be found in various locations, such as online, in libraries and archives, and in societies, museums, and courthouses. Keep in mind that each repository acquires and manages artifacts specific to the community, county, region, and state they serve. While some items may be duplicated across collections, many are unique and can only be found in specific locations. It then becomes essential that you gain a comprehensive understanding of all the available resources to you collectively. Many state organizations provide reference guides, brochures, or leaflets (in print and online) that discuss specific aspects of their collections and how to use them or conduct research in a particular state, region, or locale. Look for guides such as the following:
- A Guide to Genealogical Research at the (State) Historical Society
- Population Census Records at the (State) Historical Society
- Index to Naturalizations in (State)
- List of Basic Sources on (State) History
Remember Events Create Records
The most important concept I learned about searching for records is to think of events, not records. Rather than searching only for birth or death certificates, ask yourself what other types of records the event would generate in the period the event took place.
For example, in the case of my birth, there was an announcement in the paper, a baby shower, a baby book, a birth certificate, a record of my Church blessing, hospital records, and, later, a one-year-old picture in the local paper.
In the case of my mother’s death, there were cemetery and sexton records, a funeral book, funeral home records, hospital records, memorial cards, an obituary, a video of the funeral services, and her will.
The following important concept I learned was to search the records of siblings. Think about the families. When I have not been able to find any information in my family’s vital (birth, marriage, divorce, death) records, I have usually been able to find the information clues needed in the vital records of the siblings of the ancestor am researching.
Use multiple sources to correlate information. Never take anything at face value. Finding your ancestor’s name does not guarantee finding the correct ancestor. Remember that nothing is genuinely fact until you can back it up using more than one resource. I have found the records I need in the same location or area in which my ancestor lived when searching multiple sources. Always ask yourself, what records were created in this location when my ancestor lived here?
Learn what resources contain the needed data to further your research (or to document data) and where they are available such as in societies (genealogy and historical) and libraries (public, college, private, and governmental). Census, birth, marriage, divorce, death, probate, land, school, military, fraternal, and obituaries are all records that can contain similar data—names, dates, places, family structure, and names of family members. Some might be easily found and available, and others might require travel costs or other fees. Start with the closest and most economically available records.
Searching multiple resources often reveals family relationships and personal information that, when viewed collectively, provide a complete picture of the family and its members. For example, when I go to cemeteries, I always take a camera and a tape/digital recorder. I have often found places where there are graves of children who may have only lived a few days or months and were never listed in census records, or perhaps other family members did not know of or forgot about. Sometimes the child will be buried by parents but not listed in family records, and visiting the cemeteries is the only way you would know of their existence.
Search the US Census, Vital Records, and Other Records
US Census records are available for 1790–1940 and can include names, dates, locations, and occupations. You can also discover and verify vital information through the Social Security Death Index and birth, marriage, and divorce records. Additional life information can be found in immigration, naturalization, and military records.
I like to start with the most recent event of the individual I am researching, which is usually their death. Death certificates are usually the first source in which an official written account will reveal an exact place and date of death. The record also includes additional genealogical details, such as the date and place of birth, name of the father, maiden name of mother, name of spouse, social security number, name of a cemetery, funeral director, and the name of the informant (often a relative of the deceased).
The clues found in the death record usually provide ideas for my next steps. These clues often include the following:
- The exact place and date of death known for a person
- Funeral record
- Cemetery record
- Newspaper obituary
- Social security death record
- Place where birth records, marriage records, church records, military records, occupation records, or court records can be found
The first United States census was taken in 1790. Since then, census records have become a significant source for locating where an ancestor lived, which opens the door to many more discoveries. After 1840, census records also list age, place of birth, occupation, personal wealth, education, spouse, children, hired hands, and even immigration information. The government doesn’t release census data for 72 years after the census is taken to protect individual privacy. The 1940 census is the latest census to be made available.
Search in County and State Records
You know their county of residence if you’ve located an ancestor on a census. Now you’re ready to search for the records at the state and county level to find written evidence of that person’s life. Documents may include newspapers, county histories, special genealogy collections, tax lists, voter registrations, court records, probates, wills, estate papers, etc.
Use Ancestor Records Selection Table
Use the Ancestor Records Selection Table below to help you decide which records will help you fill in missing pieces in your pedigree chart and family group sheet. This table is most helpful for searching post-1800 records.
Expect the Unexpected When Searching Ancestor Records
One of the first lessons I learned in genealogy was to expect surprises—to “expect the unexpected.” Life is all about the unexpected—the good, the bad, and the crazy. I have found many instances of “unexpectedness” in my research.
The basics of expecting the unexpected are simple: sometimes the information will be used to help you in your research, to tell a story, or it may be best kept a secret. Be respectful of the living and their wishes, especially if the information is sensitive. I can only think of one unexpected that I chose to leave a secret in my case. It had no value to the living or dead, genealogy, or a good story. Enjoy your research and the unexpected.
Learn About the Period and Locality of Your Ancestors
Knowing your ancestors’ period and locality (including boundary changes) helps you find records. Become familiar with the towns, counties, states, and countries your ancestors lived in. Look for timelines of this period for the town, county, state, and country.
Read the history of countries, states, counties, cities, towns, and villages. Gain a feel for the areas where your ancestors lived. Search the Internet, libraries, and bookstores for histories about your ancestors’ locations and periods.
Maps help track facts about ancestors, and old and new maps can help track down facts about ancestors. In the United States, the county governments usually keep birth, death, property, and other records. If you can name the place where an ancestor lived, new or old maps of that place may also show the county seat where valuable data about your kin can be obtained.
Old maps can be handy in this regard because pinpointing the name of the place where an ancestor lived can be like trying to hit a moving target. Many towns, counties, cities, and even countries have experienced numerous name changes.
Expand your knowledge of the place(s) where your ancestor lived. Learn about the “community”—the everyday life during your ancestor’s time. Answer questions such as the following:
- What is the ethnic makeup of the community?
- What is the influence of the ethnic group on the community?
- What are the history of the ethnic group in town, county, and state?
- What are the surnames associated with the community?
- Where did your ancestors come from?
- What is the primary location in the town?
Much of this information about your ancestor may have already been compiled or published, including in online databases, books, and periodicals. The Library of Congress (LOC) catalog is an excellent place to search for published books.
I have found periodical articles that have been instrumental in helping me resolve research issues and open my eyes to new possibilities. I have used journals such as the New England Historic Genealogical Register, the National Genealogical Society Quarterly (NGSQ), and regional genealogical and historical journals to find articles that outline and discuss research methodology, provide case studies, a list of published genealogies, detail repository resources, focus on local research issues, and much more.
Using genealogy and historical periodicals is a must as a researcher. I suggest using the Periodical Source Index (PERSI) to search for periodicals, such as journals, magazines, and quarterlies of genealogical and historical societies. PERSI is a subject index to genealogical and local history periodicals. It covers over 11,000 genealogy and local history periodicals written in English and French and published in the United States, Canada, Britain, and Ireland.
PERSI is available from many public libraries. You can also find PERSI online from the following sources: 1) Heritage Quest Online, available in many public libraries (and available remotely using a library card from the participating library) and from the family history centers of The Church of Jesus Christ Latter-day Saints. Heritage Quest provides four options for beginning a search: People, Places, How-tos, and Periodicals. 2) Ancestry.com, through personal subscription, or is free at subscribing libraries and all LDS Family History Centers. From the Ancestry.com main page, click the “Search” tab and then, under “Dictionaries, Encyclopedias & Reference,” select “Periodical Source Index.”
Where You Can Find Ancestor Records
History associated with our ancestors is easily found. Pick a topic and begin your search. Some of the most common sources for historical information include the following:
- Archived newspapers
- Chambers of commerce
- Historical societies and associations
- Company histories
- History networks
- Libraries (university, state, regional, and local)
- Internet
- Living history museums (for example, Plymouth Plantation shows Plymouth as it was in the 17th century: a centuries-old Wampanoag home site, a welcoming bench covered in furs, bluefish roasting slowly over a bed of hot coals, and a man dressed in traditional deerskin clothing.)
- Historic sites (state and national parks, monuments)
- Museums
- Personal journals
Study drawings, paintings, and photographs of the period
Images of our ancestors and their times give us clues to the lives of our families. A simple exercise would be to photograph your family from the early 1900s, study the image, and record your thoughts and observations.
Consider clues the photograph has to offer
What period was the photo taken in? Look at the physical aspect of the photo (house, people, clothes, animals, surroundings); what does it tell you? (Family economic status, priorities, relationships, expressions, emotions, etc.) Look for identifiers such as house numbers, license numbers, and types of uniforms. They can give clues about where to look, such as the license bureau or occupation or employment records. What is the name and location of the photographer or studio? (This information is usually printed on the front or back of the photo.) The location of the photographer or studio does not necessarily mean your ancestor lived in that town. Photographers had traveling studios and would often travel around taking photographs pasted on cards with their studio information. Your ancestor may have made a trip to a larger community to shop or attend a function and had photographs taken while there. Indeed, the studio name and location are suitable for beginning your research in those areas.
Additional Google Articles on BeginMyStory.com
The following are other articles you may enjoy to help you Google your ancestry.
- QuickStart Beginners Guide to Ancestry Research
- How to Get Great Google Search Results in Ancestry Research
- 21 Advanced and Essential Google Operators for Ancestry Research
- Energize Google Ancestry Research with AND, OR, NOT Boolean Operators
- How to Use the Google Wildcard Operators in Ancestry Research
- 4 Easy Steps to Google American Ancestry
- 26 Essential Google Search Skills for Ancestry Research
- 25 Google Reference Tips and Tricks for Ancestry Research
- 9 Advanced Google Search Strategies to Trace Ancestors
- 7 Advanced Google Search Features for Genealogy Websites
- Google Queries for Blogs, Social Networks and More
- Google Quick Helps for Ancestry Research
- 17 Ways to Google Name Variations in Ancestry Research
- 15 New Google Specialty Searches for Tracing Ancestors
- How to Google Record Collections of Libraries, Societies and More
