Most family historians spend a lot of time thinking about what they still have left to find. There is always another record to track down, another county to search, another family story to check, and...
Category - Research Tips
The Sideways Search Method That Breaks Brick Walls
If your genealogy research feels stuck, the problem may not be missing records. It may be that you are asking the right questions in the wrong direction. Some of the most revealing information about...
Same Name Ancestors, Part 3: The Proof Case Method
Same name ancestors can fool even careful researchers because the records are close enough to look convincing. The county fits. The time period fits. The ages are close. The hints line up. It can...
Same-Name Ancestors, Part 2: Use Witnesses and Bondsmen
Same-name problems rarely get solved because you find one perfect record that settles everything. More often, the break comes when you stop staring at your ancestor’s name and start paying attention...
Same-Name Ancestors, Part 1: The Time Method
Same-name problems are one of the biggest sources of bad trees. You find a record for a name that fits the right county and the right time period, you attach it, and then hints do the rest. A spouse...
I’m Done Being Mad at Genealogy
I’m Done Being Mad I didn’t wake up calm.I woke up tired. Tired of being irritated at ink.Tired of being annoyed at paper.Tired of holding grudges against people who have been dead longer than...
The Power of “I Don’t Know”
Every family tree is built as much from absence as it is from presence. Names, dates, places, and relationships draw most of our attention, but they are not the whole structure. What often shapes a...
When to Call It Quits
There comes a point in genealogy when you sit back, stare at the screen, and realize you are not moving forward anymore. You are still working, still searching, still opening records, but nothing new...
Rekindling a Forty-Year Quest for Family Origins
“Many thanks, Will. You have rekindled my 40-year quest to find my family origins. Your weekly letters are greatly appreciated.” – Bryan When Bryan wrote those words to me, they carried more than...
Hidden Genealogy Clues in Your Home: Unlocking the Stories of Your Ancestors
You might be surprised at the clues to your family history hidden in plain sight within your home. Let me guide you through a treasure hunt for your belongings, revealing hidden genealogy clues that...
Genealogy Myths Debunked
Common genealogy myths can be misleading and frustrating for those tracing their family history. Let’s explore some of the most prevalent myths and provide evidence-based explanations to help...
How to Update Your Genealogy Research for the New Year
With the dawn of a new year, you should now take the opportunity to update your genealogy. It is easy to let the things that are currently going on in your family take a back seat to historical...
Tracing the Stories of Our Ancestors as the Calendar Turns
As the calendar turns, genealogists find themselves at a juncture—caught between the passage of time and the unchanging stories of the past. For the advanced family historian, this isn’t merely a...
3 Overlooked Clues in Genealogical Documents
Are you looking at a genealogy brick wall? Here are three hidden clues you can often find in genealogical documents that will let you break through it.
Tips for Researching British Ancestors
Do you have British ancestry? Are you not sure, but suspect you might? Here's how to find them, and how to research them in England once you find them here.