About Kindred Grove

How to Find Death Information Before Vital Records Were Created

Death Information

Finding our ancestors’ death information is a vital part of doing family history research. Doing so serves many purposes, and can help us to:

Differentiate between people of the same name
Find additional family members and determine correct relationships
Learn about our ancestors’ life experiences
Learn about significant events and historical context
Gain a greater appreciation of our ancestors’ stories
Feel a stronger connection to our ancestors
Propel our research and skills forward

The Challenge with Finding Death Information

There were a limited number of death records created in the United States before the 1900s; however, there are other ways and resources to find death information. (Make sure to check wiki pages and other online webpages to check when death records began for specific counties and states. Some locations had death records much earlier. New England states often kept very early vital records as part of their town records.)

If you find yourself researching in a time and location where vital records were not kept, here are some suggestions of records and resources to explore:

Mortality Censuses

Census enumerators recorded deaths that occurred in the twelve months before the 1850-1880 federal censuses special mortality schedules. These records often gave the deceased person’s name, age, birthplace, death date, cause of death, occupation, and more. Some of these records are indexed but many aren’t. A little search can help you find them for the area you are researching. Try the links below to find these valuable records or try a google search for your area as new collections are added online regularly. They are usually found under the county and state.

Learn more about Mortality Censuses HERE.

Local Histories

Town and county histories, in addition to genealogical society journals, recorded lots of valuable information about individuals and families from the community–often including death information. They also recorded interesting historical details which can help to paint a picture of an ancestor’s life. Here are some resources to search, all of which are free:

United States History, FamilySearch wiki
FamilySearch Digital Library
Google Books
Internet Archive
USGen Web
Genealogical Society Journals (do a google search by region)

Look for Clues

If you look closely, as with the family displayed below, you will notice that sometimes multiple family members died in the same year. This can be a clue that an epidemic or accident of some sort may have happened.

Wikipedia has a great table of epidemics. HERE

Follow up with local newspapers to find stories about what may have happened during that time.

In the case above, the family endured a terrible tragedy.

Newspapers

Newspapers contained many details of people’s lives that you won’t find in other records. FamilySearch centers have subscriptions to the Newspaper Archive for free patron use. Many local libraries have subscriptions to Newspapers.org and others. The Library of Congress and MyHeritage also contain many historical newspapers.

MyHeritage Newspapers
Chronicling America—Historic American Newspapers (LOC)
Utah Digital Newspapers
Cyndi’s List (lots of additional newspaper links)

Cemetery Records

On FamilySearch, you can often find cemetery records that were created by churches, original sexton records, and historical and genealogical societies. These can often give more information than what can be found on Find a Grave because these records were often recorded at the time of death (church and sexton records) or transcribed from headstones that may no longer be standing or legible (historical and genealogical societies).

Check out this cemetery record for someone born in the 18th century. Not only does it offer the decedent’s name, location, age at death, death date, and cemetery, it also provides his birthplace and year of immigration!

To search for cemetery records, try the following steps:

From the MAIN MENU on the HOME PAGE on FamilySearch:

Click on Search
From the drop-down menu, select Catalog
In the search bar, type in the county with state and country
Confirm your desired location by selecting on the option in the drop-down menu
Always choose the location you want from the drop-down menu

For example, it will be formatted like this:

United States, Alabama, Morgan or

England, Warwickshire, Birmingham

After selecting the location in the search bar, click Search.
This will take you to the catalog file for your research location.
Look for Cemeteries in the list of records.
Click on Cemeteries. This will open and display the available cemetery records FamilySearch has for the location.
Click on the individual collections you want to explore.

How to Use Cemetery Records

Within the record collections, there are several different formats you may come across. Not all have been published yet on FamilySearch. Here are a few ways to determine how to access these files:

If you come across a collection that has a camera icon, that means that the images are available for anyone to view on FamilySearch.

These images are not indexed, so you may have to scroll through page by page. Some collections have an alphabetized, handwritten index for the records. Finding your ancestor’s name with the coordinating page number will save you a lot of time! The file indexes are typically in the beginning of each volume.

Click on the camera to view the images.

If you come across a collection that has a camera icon with a key over it, that means that the images are available to view on FamilySearch at any family history center [FamilySearch Center].

FamilySearch’s strives to provide as many records as possible to the public; however, they will always honor the contractual agreements with the original repository.

Many repositories do not want all their records free online because they sell record copies to individuals.

Note: These record images are not indexed, so you may have to scroll through page by page. Some collections have an alphabetized handwritten index–typically recorded in the beginning of a volume.

If you come across a collection that has a camera and magnifying glass icons, that means that the images are available for anyone to view on FamilySearch and ARE indexed.

Click on the magnifying glass to do a name search within the collection. You can also click on the camera and look through the images.

If you come across a collection that has a film reel icon, that means that the images are on microfilm and not available yet on FamilySearch.

Microfilms are available to view at the Family History Library [FamilySearch Library] in Salt Lake City, Utah. Many are also available at the BYU FamilySearch center. Some films are also available at local FamilySearch centers. You can call and ask if they have the film at their location, and if they have microfilm machines. Make sure you have the name of the collection and film number ready when you call.

Other Tips for Researching Individuals and Families

Research all family members as their lives were typically intertwined and family members’ records may provide information and clues about your ancestor.
Look for clues in existing records. What information can you extract that may lead you to another record or other information?

Bringing Ancestors Back to Life

MyHeritage has continued to add amazing filters and features to their photo section. The DeepStory feature applies Artificial Intelligence to an ancestor’s photo and narrates events that are populated from your MyHeritage family tree. It is so cool! Give it a shot.

In conclusion, finding our ancestors’ death information can help reconstruct families, learn of their stories, and grow closer and more connected to them. It is worth the effort to make these discoveries!

Is Your Ancestor Hiding in a Census for the Deceased?

by Melissa Knapp | Ancestry, Beginner, Family History Tutorials, Family Search, Favorite Genealogy Resources, Understanding Records

Did you know that there are census records that list individuals who died in the United States during certain years? I am excited to help you learn about this fantastic source of death records while also explaining its limitations. So, what is it and how do you find it? I am referring to:

UNITED STATES MORTALITY SCHEDULES

Have you ever discovered an ancestor who died just before a census and wished so badly that they could have hung on a little longer so you could have accessed more about them? That predicament is incredibly frustrating if you don’t know who their parents were, and the person died prior to the 1880 census, which asked for their parents’ place of birth.

Or was there a family member in one census that doesn’t appear on the next? If so, mortality schedules may help!

The U.S. Federal Government took mortality schedules in conjunction with the following censuses:

1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880.

The 1890 Veteran Mortality Schedule is also available for many states.

If you are lucky enough to be researching an ancestor from Colorado, Florida, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, or South Dakota, then you also have access to a bonus mortality schedule from 1885.

(These states participated in an interdecennial census to provide the federal government with specific information for administrative decisions on industry and agriculture, etc.)

Some states also performed mortality schedules with their state censuses in the years 1855, 1865, 1875.

The history behind these rare death records:

While collecting population data, census enumerators asked if anyone in the home had passed away during the previous year. More specifically, they recorded deaths that occurred in the twelve months before the census between June 1 (of the prior year) to May 31 (of census year). It is important to understand that not all deaths from 1849, 1859, 1869, and 1879 are available.

Deceased person’s information, including the cause of death, was collected into a separate entry than the population census. One of the reasons this resource is so invaluable is that most states did not record vital death records at that time. In fact, some states didn’t collect death records until 60 years or more after these mortality schedules. You can see how this resource is a rare treasure for a family historian. Here is a summary of all of the information you can gather from a mortality schedule:

Mortality Schedules

Name
Sex
Age
Race
Marital status
Place of birth
If widowed
Occupation
Month of death
Cause of death
Duration of illness (in days)
Parents’ birthplace (1870 & 1880)
How disease was contracted (1880)
How Long the Deceased had been a resident of the county of death (1880)
Physician (1880)

Where are these records held?

Many mortality schedules are online; however, they may not come up in record “hints” on your family tree and typically require a specific search because they may not be indexed. Don’t let this deter you! This tutorial will show you how easy it is to find them!

Many counties or state archives have indexed lists of these rolls. If your ancestor’s name is on one of those lists, you can then do an additional search to access the actual record. The number of deceased persons per county typically wasn’t extensive, so finding your ancestor in the image collection is not a difficult process. There may only be a few pages to look through, depending on the location.

How to access these invaluable records:

Ancestry.com

U.S., Federal Census Mortality Schedules, 1850-1885 [Click here]

Instructions: The link above will take you to the collection. Use the search fields to input ancestors’ names, ages, and locations. Sometimes, less information is more, so it may be more effective to search by only the surname and place. That way, if the record has first name initials or misspellings, it won’t restrict the search. Using various spellings of a name is always a good idea!

Limitations: The collection does not include every state or year. Use the toggle on the right-hand side of the page to see what states/years are available. If you don’t locate the recordset you need, try one of the next two options.

New Horizon Genealogy

Mortality schedule lists by state [Click here]

Instructions: Click on the link and select the state you want from the menu. Then select the county and year. Those links will then redirect you to county pages and websites where mortality indexes are listed online. This is a very helpful resource!

Limitations: There are some notes which say there are no available online records for specific locations. However, with millions of records added all the time, this may not be accurate. I have found several mortality schedules for those “missing” states on FamilySearch through image-only collections (not indexed) or digitized books (indexed). If you run into one of those messages, try using the next step to look for the records.

FamilySearch

Instructions: Use the following steps to find the records within the catalog: FamilySearch>>Catalog>>State Search>>Census Collections>>Mortality Schedules>>Images>>Records. I’ve included images of each step below to help you navigate to these records.

Limitations: The only limitation to this process is that it takes a little more time, although it is actually a simple and easy search.

Select CATALOG from the FamilySearch HOME page:

From the CATALOG page, type in the state you want.

A drop down menu will appear and make location suggestions. Select your preferred location from the drop down menu. This ensures that the system recognizes the correct place and returns all the records from that locality. Once you have the correct location in the search field, click SEARCH :

FSsearch_KindredGrove_MortalitySchedule_state

Find the CENSUS YEAR from the menu:

FSsearch_KindredGrove_MortalitySchedule_censuslist

Click on the census collection by year.

Find the MORTALITY CENSUS SCHEDULES from the drop down menu.

Click on that link (in blue):

FSsearch_KindredGrove_MortalitySchedule_censuslists2

The record link will redirect you to the next page which will show you what records are available.

The records will be listed through additional links. Try the different links on the page to see where they direct.

Here are some options you may come across:

A message that says, “To view this collection online: click here“, indicates that the collection has been indexed and is searchable. Yay! Click on the link to search for the record/image by person’s name and location.

Sometimes there are links to an online book on FamilySearch where the mortality schedule is listed.

Specifically, look for record collections at the bottom of the page. A camera icon next the record set indicates it can be viewed online. A camera with a key over it indicates it can only be viewed at a family history library. A film icon means it is available at the family history library in Salt Lake City, Utah. If this is the case, save the link to that page (create a document for those quick links to come back to) and check back soon. New records are added daily.

Here is a picture of what to look for in this step:

FSsearch_KindredGrove_MortalitySchedule_censuslists3

The Image Collection

When I clicked on the camera icon above, it opened the image collection. This one (for Louisiana) includes all of the mortality schedules into one record set and a typed index of names at the beginning. You can thumb through those indexes to look for the county, years, and the names of people. Even if your state doesn’t have an index, the records are often alphabetized by county. Scroll through:

FSsearch_KindredGrove_MortalitySchedule_censuslists5

Here is an example of the index list from the above collection. It includes the year, name, and page number for the record (which may be different from the image number. If so, look for a page number that is printed on the image.):

FSsearch_KindredGrove_MortalitySchedule_censuslists6

1850 Mortality Schedule, Ascension Parish, Louisiana. Downloaded of FamilySearch.org.

Here is an example of an actual record. It looks just like a census record, right? Because that is, basically, exactly what it is!

FSsearch_KindredGrove_MortalitySchedule_censuslists7

1850 Mortality Schedule, Ascension Parish, Louisiana. Image courtesy of FamilySearch.org.

If none of these resources have the mortality schedule you need, do a simple GOOGLE search for the specific location and year. ( Ex: “Maine mortality schedule 1870”). Every state is different and a quick internet search may offer other online resources.

Additional Ways to Use Mortality Schedules in your Family History Research:

To find children or babies who may have been born and died in-between census years. Parents’ names aren’t listed, but through surname, parents’ birthplaces, and other clues, you may be able to find that child in a cemetery and determine if they were a child of an ancestor.
To learn family medical history.
To gain detailed information about African-Americans. This is especially helpful for researching enslaved individuals as it offers vital details about their life/death, place of birth, and where their parents were born. You may find more information on a mortality schedule than any other record.
To learn more about all minority groups, where they were from, and what industry they worked.
To learn about migration patterns in a family by discovering where an ancestor or their parents were born. If a person is listed on the 1850 mortality schedule, it may have been the first record where their birthplace was recorded.
To learn more about women and children not recorded on previous records. Maybe there is someone that should be in your tree but has never been discovered. Peruse the 1850 mortality schedule and look for family surnames. Only head of households were listed on the 1840 census, so most women, children, and even young adults did not appear in those records. The 1850 mortality schedule offers pertinent information for those whose names may or may not have appeared on any other document.
To learn more of the difficulties that your ancestors endured in their life. These records can paint a broader picture and help you learn more about your ancestor’s story. Did they die from an accident, a plague, a fire, tornado, etc.? You may be able to use the information you discover and learn more through a historical search or newspapers at the time. What was life like for a county that was plagued by cholera? What were the details of the tornado that hit their town? How did the people move forward after such events? You can learn a lot about the significant events of your ancestors’ lives through the accounts of others and in newspapers. These details can also help you to understand what family members of the deceased might have experienced.

Worth the Effort?

It may seem like the odds of finding a family member in one of these records are small, but you may be surprised. Do a quick scan of your family tree and look for individuals who may have died in the year before a census.

I found many candidates as I did so. I was so amazed and excited by the information I discovered. I knew right away I wanted to do this tutorial.

Have you ever found any gems through mortality schedules? I would to hear if this process helps you to find something new.

Finding_our_dead_in_Mortality_Schedules_KindredGrove

How to Add an Unattached Person to the FamilySearch Family Tree

by Melissa Knapp | Family History Tutorials, Family Search

Have you ever wondered how to add a new person to the family tree in FamilySearch if you don’t know where they should be attached? Is it okay to add a dangling person to the family tree? The answer to the latter is a resounding YES! Not only is it okay, sometimes it is necessary–at least temporarily! Here are the reasons why:

If you are researching an elusive ancestor, doing cluster research (exploring family members, neighbors, friends, business partners etc. of your ancestor) is a helpful way to find more information about them because relationships are one of the most important aspects of a person’s life. Of course, cluster research isn’t only beneficial for the difficult to find. It is an excellent practice in all of your family history research because of the discoveries it can facilitate.

Opportunities arise to investigate an unknown person when you come across a random name in a book, on the back of a photo, on a census record (perhaps a border living with the family), in a will, or other documents. Or you may want to look for connections between people with the same surname as your ancestors within a close geographical region. In the world of genealogy, you know that most things are not actually random. Clues can be found anywhere, and it is often that one little piece of information can open up a plethora of discoveries.

So, How Do You Research an Unknown Person?

FamilySearch is a great place to investigate possible relationships because it is a collaborative tree, and some of the work may already be complete.

However, what do you do if you look up a person in the family tree and can’t find them?

You create them! And I will show you how.

Another benefit to using FamilySearch for this purpose is that even if you don’t find a significant connection, your work isn’t “wasted.” Eventually, a family member of the person will benefit from your contributions. However, if you research the person through a private family tree and determine no relation or connection, then no one benefits from your hard work.

It’s a fairly simple process- if you know where to go in FamilySearch to add an unattached or unconnected person. This tutorial will show you exactly how to add them to the family tree so you can begin researching.

STEP ONE

Go to the FAMILY TREE in FamilySearch.

STEP TWO

From the family tree, click on RECENTS in the menu bar. Scroll to the very bottom of the drop down menu and select ADD UNCONNECTED PERSON.

How to add someone to family tree Kindred Grove

STEP THREE

A new screen will pop up where you will add the new person.

STEP FOUR

STEP FIVE

After you input the information, one of two options will occur. Either FamilySearch will alert you that there wasn’t a match in the system and let CREATE PERSON or it will suggest a possible match in the system that you can investigate.

or

Now you can research the person through their person page in FamilySearch.

The goal, of course, is to find not only information for the person, but to also connect them to their family members so they aren’t dangling in the tree indefinitely.

If after you find correct documentation, you discover that the person is a duplicate, you can merge the two profiles within the tree. You have to start with what you know and sometimes that’s not a lot. But now you know how to get started by adding unattached individuals so you can take your family history research to the next step.

How to Correct Indexing Errors In FamilySearch

by Melissa Knapp | Family History Tutorials, Family Search

A Quick Research Trick for Finding More Family History Records

by Melissa Knapp | Beginner, Family History Tutorials, Family Search

If you have two minutes for this quick video tutorial, I’m willing to bet that it can save you hours of research time once implemented. It is one of my go-to research tricks that helps me have so much more success finding family history records for my ancestors. It is super easy yet can yield great returns! Let me know in the comments please if this step has helped you!

Also, if you haven’t subscribed yet to my YouTube channel, please do so! I have lots of exciting new content to share very soon and I’d love your input! Thank you!

(Click the link in red to go to my channel. See you soon!) 🙂

How to Get Photos of your Ancestors That Aren’t Online

by Melissa Knapp | Ancestry, Beginner, Family History Tutorials, Finding Photos of Ancestors

Searching for Old Family Photos

Not too long ago, I did not have a SINGLE PHOTO of an ancestor. When I began doing family history research, I was thrilled to find a handful on Ancestry.com. However, I learned that if I wanted to access more of my ancestors’ photos, then I needed to make some actual connections with distant family members. I didn’t want to wait years for the possibility that someone might upload them to family history sites when I knew there were photos out there on shelves and in attics of distant cousins.

It might seem intimidating, but before you discount this idea, I recommend that you at least read through these ideas and consider them. What has taken a small investment of my time has returned with priceless family treasures! It is so worth it and I am here to walk you through it, step-by-step!

Through experience, I have learned what does and doesn’t work when it comes to reaching out to long-lost cousins and have compiled all these tools into a list for you. I have used this process many times and am so excited to share it so others can have success at finding old family photos and can experience the joy and excitement I have.

Here is the method I use when requesting my ancestor’s photos from distant relatives:

STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO FINDING ANCESTOR’S PHOTOS

Choose one family line- or ONE ANCESTOR, whom you’d like to learn about more.
Create a family tree for that line and work on finding their descendants, rather than their ancestors. This is called descendancy research, rather that ancestral research.
Start with the ancestor you want to find photos of and after adding their information- such as dates and locations, add all of their spouses and children. Then fill in the next generation(s).
The goal here is to make your way down until you Find Living Relatives! Ask your close living relatives (parents, grandparents, aunts & uncles, etc.) about any extended family members they know. Write down any names and other information they may have-such as location, occupations,etc.
Use hints on your family tree to fill in additional family information.
Look for obituaries for the family. Obituaries often give names and locations of the living family members.
Use Google, Facebook, and people finder sites to locate even just one or two living relatives. You can start there and see where it leads. Keep notes of what you have found and what is missing.
As you research all the children of your ancestor, don’t forget to include their spouses and children. Then find the last known locations where they lived. Add all of this information to your family tree or to a document. Online trees will keep information private for all living people, so just make sure they are marked as LIVING in your family tree. I also love using GOOGLE DOCS for notes and memories, etc. It’s free, it automatically saves all of your work, and you can use the app on your smartphone when you are away from the computer. All you need is a gmail account to also access Google Docs for free. LINK HERE

Once you locate living relatives, you will need to choose who to reach out to first and then write letters, Facebook messages, and/ or make phone calls explaining who you are. It is essential to give your relationship- how you are related to your ancestor and them. Explain that you have been researching your ancestor and want to connect to the other family members. Be specific with the necessary details. I usually start by contacting one person and go on to the next one if needed. There’s usually no need to write everyone unless you have an urgent request. I usually gain some information as to how to proceed from the first or second contact, so that is why I don’t typically send out more than one letter at a time. However, it is up to you.

Here is something to keep in mind when trying to decide who to reach out to first in a family for memorabilia. Start with the youngest daughter and her children. She was probably the last child living in the home with her parents and is often a caregiver for parents in their latter years- therefore, she typically inherits the family photos and such.

How Should You Introduce Yourself?

Here is one example of what you could say, “Hi there. My name is Melissa. My mother’s name is Sallie Rogers, and she was the daughter of Ben Rogers from South Carolina. I am looking for a distant cousin named Tom Harrison. Do I have the right person?”

If they say you have the right person, you could proceed by saying, “Yes? Oh great! I believe your grandmother may have been my grandfather’s sister. I’ve been researching our family and looking for some of my relatives and came across your name. Was your grandmother Frances Rogers from South Carolina?”

Lead into the rest of the conversation from there.

When reaching out via phone call, do not immediately ask for photos or anything other than making sure you have the right person. Wait for a response before you proceed.
If you’re sending a letter or email, attach a photo of yourself or your family. Tell them a little bit about yourself. Be transparent about who you are. It will help to build that trust quickly. Some people are very wary of being scammed and for a good reason!! Some people can form a connection quickly over the phone by hearing your voice and intent, but that can be harder in a letter. So you’ll want to include something that helps them to trust you.
Ask them about their branch of the family (but don’t ask anything too personal) and try and make a connection! Build on something! Be sincere. Please don’t be fake. These are your relatives! You could ask them if they keep in touch with other cousins, ever visited Grandma’s home etc.
If this person is a “sharer”, please listen to what they have to say. Especially if it is an older person, you may be the first phone call they’ve had all week. Remember that the older they are, the more information they may have to into the family history. They deserve to be cherished as if they were a sea of family knowledge- because they probably are. Take notes!
Share a little bit about your journey, but keep it brief. Your distant relatives don’t need to know how many hours you have spent researching this ancestor and every frustration you’ve encountered. Just explain why you are researching this ancestor and what they mean to you.

How to Ask For Ancestors’ Photos

After properly introducing yourself, ask very politely if they had any photos (or stories or other memorabilia) they would be willing to share. Briefly reiterate why it is so meaningful to you. Try and spark an emotional response. This is what causes people to take action! It doesn’t require you to share your whole life story or give a sob story, but you will want to share a reason of WHY you want them. Open up a little bit. Formulate a genuine reason that you’re comfortable sharing. Be sincere and truthful.

Examples of How to Ask for Photos

“I would like to learn more about Grandma Rogers and her life. I’ve never seen a photo of her, and it would mean the world to me to see what she looked like.”

I typically think it is best to be positive with a stranger, but if you have a brief personal story that is a little tender and you feel inclined to share, go with your gut.

For example, “My mom’s family moved when she was very young, and she missed her grandmother very much. She never had a photo of her grandmother- only memories in her heart. I would love to find a photo of her grandmother as a surprise. It would be the greatest gift to give my mother!”

How would you respond if someone asked you like that verses just saying, “Can you send me copies of any photos you have of the family?”

If they say they do not have any photos of your ancestors, ask if they have any memories, traditions, or stories that were passed down. And also, ask if they know anyone else you could ask. If you talk to one person who had 5 siblings, ask them who is still living and might have any information. You could also ask if they would be willing to give you the best contact information for that person. They could save you a lot of time!

Feel out the situation. Don’t be a nuisance if someone doesn’t sound interested in talking to you. But if they are receptive and friendly, be ready to ask a few more questions to help with your next step (within reason- no interrogations) so you don’t have to keep calling them back. No one likes a stalker.

TIP:

Also, remember that sometimes a widow may have photos for her husband’s family. Just because your male cousin may be deceased, does not mean that he shouldn’t be considered. Include the spouses of family members as much as you consider the blood relatives themselves!

If your relative says that they have some photos they could share, show your excitement, and then offer a way to make it easier for them to get them to you. Offer to pay for the scans and/ or copies and offer to pay for someone to do the scanning for them (like a copy center, etc.). Many people are overwhelmed by the process of scanning photos- especially if there are many or if the person is not technologically savvy. Showing that you are willing to help makes people more inclined to help you because it makes their part easier and they can see how much it means to you!!!

Depending on how many photos they have will probably determine whether the scans should be emailed, printed, or put on a flash drive and mailed, etc. You can discuss these options once they tell you what they have in their possession.

Another piece of advice I would offer is to go along with whatever process they are most comfortable with! For instance, after you make some suggestions, if they suggest something different, JUST GO WITH IT! For example, if it is easier for them to makes copies at Walmart and mail them, gladly accept! Even if that isn’t one of your suggested ideas and if it costs you more money than having them scanned and emailed, remember that uploading and emailing photos may be a daunting task for many people and they may feel overwhelmed at your request.

I like to tell my relatives, “I am fine with whatever is easiest for you! Just let me know how you would like me to help and pay you for them.”

If you push them to send them in a way that is unfamiliar and intimidating, then you may never see those photos. A well-meaning person may write you off if you ask something that seems too difficult to them. Even if you think you are suggesting a plan that is really easy, if it is foreign to them, they may think it sounds hard. Remember that the goal is to acquire family photos. If you let them help choose a method that they can accomplish easily and fits well into their comfort zone, you are much more likely to receive the photos!

**As a side note, although I have offered to pay for photos/scans every time, I have never actually had someone let me pay them. I offered this with an absolute intention to pay but the relatives I contacted ended up scanning and emailing or taking a picture with their phone and texting. (Which by the way, that isn’t a *perfect solution, but beggars can’t be choosers right?) If you really want those photos, be willing to either pay or settle a little bit. I am grateful for all the photos I have received- regardless of the method. It’s important to recognize that they will be such a joy to you even if they aren’t perfect scans! Be willing to let go of expectations of perfection.

Always offer to SHARE anything you may have with your newfound cousins! Documents, information, your own family stories and traditions, and family trees, etc. are great things to offer! If they aren’t interested, don’t push it, but at least offer to reciprocate in some way!
Give them your contact information (preferably more than one method) to get back in touch with you. Or ask them if you can call them back again sometime. (Not too soon).
Express Sincere Gratitude for their willingness to talk to you and consider your request!
Send a thank you card, stay in touch, become friends on Facebook if you feel they are interested in having further contact. Don’t force it but do INVITE.
After you have completed the process, REPEAT it for another ancestor.

Successful Interactions

This process wasn’t very comfortable for me in the beginning, to ask strangers (even related strangers) for a favor. Still, I have found the overall response has not only been positive but also very rewarding! Not only have many cousins shared some pictures with me, but they also have kept in touch and been interested and excited to learn about other members of the family. I have been humbled and surprised at the generosity of others who are willing to help.

This certainly isn’t always the case, and there are many reasons some people do not join in your quest such as illness, difficult life circumstances, busy workloads, etc. so try not to judge if someone is a little gruff. You probably won’t understand what is causing their resistance. In that case, just apologize, thank them for their time and wish them well. You never know what they might think or decide to do after you have hung up the phone. They may choose to call you back the next day if you were polite and respectful. So don’t burn any bridges.

I find that more often than not; extended cousins are happy to help or direct you to someone else. Hopefully, like me, you will be able to look back in a short time and realize how much you have gained in family memories and memorabilia if you will take the time to go after them!

Have you had any luck obtaining your ancestor’s photos using this method or anything similar?

I will send a prize to the first person who tries this method and leaves a detailed review or comment! Please share your wisdom or experience in the comments below! 🙂

Family Search is a free site that has many photos that have been added by contributors. Click the link below for a tutorial on accessing what is available there.

What Happens To Family History In Three Generations?

by Melissa Knapp | Inspiration

The shocking truth

Did you know this- that it only takes three generations to lose a piece of oral family history? And what does that mean exactly? It means that the stories of the sacrifices, triumphs, and heartbreaks that happen(ed) in our families will be lost forever within three generations. Each story is a piece. To break it down even further, it means your grandchildren will know very little about your parents and little to nothing about your grandparents. Unless actions to avoid this problem are taken, the result is significant family history loss.

Can this be proven??

Hard to believe? I recommend asking yourself these questions:
Do you know details about your parents’ lives? Most likely, yes, right?
How about your grandparents? Yes? (Hopefully!)
Do you know some details about your great-grandparents? Probably some things, at least?
Now, what about your great-great-grandparents? How much do you know about them? I don’t mean where they lived or what they did for a living- things you can learn from a census record. I am talking about their stories, hardships, talents, passions, and feelings. How well do you know those things?
How much does your knowledge drop off between those two generations? Is it significant???
I feel the pains of irreparable family history loss. Do you? Or…are you the exception?

You see, SOME FAMILIES DON’T HAVE THE SAME LOSS OF FAMILY HISTORY that others do! Maybe yours is one of those- the LUCKY ONES!!! And what is it that makes the difference?
The answer is pretty simple, and it ALWAYS comes down to the same thing- WRITTEN HISTORY. 📜
Someone wrote down those stories, memories, and details of your ancestors’ lives. Right? And because of the written memories, the oral history can continue to live on for many generations.

Preventative Action You Can Take Against Family History Loss

The lesson here is- We HAVE TO WRITE DOWN OUR FAMILY STORIES! 📝
You have three generations of stories in you. Our elders have three generations of stories inside of them- many of which you do not have. Can you help capture it? What if there aren’t older generations to ask? That’s okay.
Start with what you know. Your memories alone can preserve three generations of family history.
You don’t have to know everything for the memories to matter. Gather what you can, whether it is one tiny detail or many. They all make a difference.

Now, how many generations can you gather? Have you found any successful ways to preserve your family history? Please share in the comments!

How To Easily Transfer Records Using Record Seek

by Melissa Knapp | Ancestry, Beginner, Family History Tutorials, Family Search

We all know how important it is to document our genealogy research. Not only does it help to verify the correctness and location of the information, but it is extremely helpful when you need to find it again. I have come across some exciting information in Family Search and Ancestry for an ancestor, only to discover that the person who added the data gave no indication of where they found it. I think that happens a lot because many people just don’t know how to create a source for their discoveries. But, one of the greatest blessings of having online trees is the opportunity to collaborate and learn from each other! And I always want to give thanks and credit where it is due!

So if you have ever found a record, document, book, or any other source for an ancestor and wanted to save it to your tree but didn’t know how, then this tutorial is for YOU! I hope you will love learning how quick, easy, and convenient it is to create these sources in Family Search or Ancestry using Record Seek. Feel free to leave any other questions below.

You can find the Record Seek extension HERE.

The Healing Power Our Ancestors Can Offer During Difficult TrIals

by Melissa Knapp | Inspiration

A Quick Message About finding connections to your ancestors

At the end of this post, I offer my best advice to help YOU connect to your ancestors. Make sure you check it out. I hope it brings you the joy it has for me! 🙂

My Story

They say you can never understand a mother’s love until you have a child of your own. I thought I understood this statement when I became a mother for the first time. My feelings of instant love and protection for my child were more overwhelming than I could have imagined. It gave me a newfound appreciation for my mother. I never thought that one day I would have an experience that would provide those words with new meaning and show me how connecting to my ancestors would help me fully understand and access the endless bounds of a mother’s love.

THE STORM

A few years ago, I was a busy wife and mom, raising five children. Our days were pretty typical and never easy, but our family was happy. Everything changed when my oldest son, at 15 years old, fell suddenly ill. What began as a terrible rash on his arms and legs soon led to many other health problems, including that he developed allergies to almost every food type. The symptoms of this mysterious illness increased until it stripped away all of my son’s normal activities. It seemed so unfair for a teenage boy who had such a zest for life.

For months we sought answers. My days became a ritual of taking my son to doctors appointments for IV’s and tests, trying to find food he could eat, and reading and researching anything and everything I could get my hands in the hopes that I could find a solution as to what could heal him.

Every night before he went to bed, I applied ointment and gauze all over his raw skin until he looked like a burn victim. He would sometimes wince in pain as I wrapped him, but he rarely complained. I also tried to treat this illness’s emotional wounds by speaking to him with all of the positivity I could muster. I wanted him to fall asleep to the tune of hope and encouragement so his body would heal.

My son’s illness took a toll on our whole family, and I was no exception. There were so many needs to be met. I worked through the day and night, trying to take care of everyone. Not only was my oldest son sick, but I had a nursing baby to take care of and another son with autism- not to mention two other children who had typical children’s needs as well. I tried to be carry it all, but in reality, I was drained and overwhelmed.

The dream, A message, and a Beginning

About a year into this trial, my great-grandpa, whom I never knew in this life, came to me in a dream. He told me that he loved us and knew what it was like to be sick (he suffered the effects of mustard gas from WWI) and he said he was watching over my son. Something he said also nudged me to dig deeper for answers. I felt humbled, comforted, and blessed by that experience.

After that, in the middle of those sleepless nights of waiting, worry, and prayer, I became increasingly curious about my family history. I started researching to take my mind off the stress. It was thrilling to make discoveries about those who came before me. Of course, it began with a hunger to know more about my great-grandpa, my guardian angel, but that led me to want even more! The more I learned about him, the more I also wanted to know my other ancestors too. He sparked a flame in me. Little did I know the role this experience would play in my life when my son finally received a diagnosis.

ANSWERS And More Heartbreak

I’ll never forget the moment when the doctor sat down, looked at me in the eyes and gave me the answer that only raised more questions when she said, “Late-stage Lyme disease.” Then she proceeded by saying, “Lyme disease affects every patient differently, but, unfortunately, it is attacking your son’s digestive system. It is a complicated disease. If he can’t eat, I don’t know how he can fight it.”

She paused to catch her breath, which felt like she robbed straight from my chest. Her next words were reluctant but deliberate. “Do you understand what I am saying?” she asked. I just stared at her, trying to process. I was unable to blink or speak. I tried to nod, but I didn’t know if it was detectable. Tears welled up in my eyes as I fought to will them away. I had naively assumed that getting a diagnosis would put us on a path to recovery, not more pain. At that moment, I was so afraid and crushed.

The days that followed were a blur as we moved towards the next step. I tried to hold everything together while my family’s happiness hung in the balance. Those days were long and hard, and by nighttime, I needed something powerful and personal to lift me. What had begun as a mere curiosity about my family history, now became a lifeline for me. I looked forward to sitting down each night and connecting to my ancestors as I learned about them. A tangible strength built inside of me. My son wasn’t the only one who needed healing. I did too- although it was in a different way. I felt this healing begin to take place in my life each time I worked on my family history.

A year into treatments

There were so many doctors appointments but we wanted to do everything we could to help our son.

Out of respect...

for my son’s privacy, I’ve promised him I wouldn’t post any pictures of when his health and skin was at its worst.

Connecting to My Ancestors

I quickly developed a deep connection to the grandmothers in my line as I learned about their lives. They taught me how to carry on in the face of adversity. Their trials, traditions, and triumphs taught me the nature of these amazing women. They helped me to see that there is strength in motherhood.

My great-grandmother, Ellen, touched my heart. She was a beautiful young woman who went through unimaginable heartache with four of her babies’ deaths. A century after her loss, I mourned with her. Never had her story been so meaningful to me. But, the most profound realization I had was that sorrow did not define her life. Grandma Ellen found enough joy and purpose to fill more than a hundred years on this earth.

Another great-great-grandmother, Molly Butler, became a widow with five young children when she was only twenty-five years old. Even though she had the deck stacked against her, she picked up the pieces and went to work. She started a business and also had a car, to the dismay of everyone in town. It was uncommon for a woman to drive at the turn of the century. People would shake their heads as she drove by and say, “There goes that ole Butler woman.” My Grandma Molly B. makes me laugh. I like to think she was a shock-and-awe kind of gal. I love her spunk and that she didn’t give in to tragedy or other people’s opinions.

My Great Grandmother Ellen

<<<<<<<<<<<

My Great- Great Grandmother, Molly B >>>>>>>>>>>>>

One by one, I connected to a web of women who, although different, showed extraordinary resilience in the face of adversity. I wondered if I bestowed any of that strength. I studied their faces in old photos and sometimes could see myself. They were part of me. I realized that their genes I carried didn’t only appear in my features but in my heart and spirit too. Learning about my many mothers helped me understand that I was part of something greater than I had ever known, and I gained more confidence in my abilities and looked at motherhood in a whole new way.

The stories and experiences of my grandmothers and grandfathers enriched my life. They were my shining examples. But the real miracle happened on challenging days when I couldn’t summon any strength. In those moments, when I had nothing left to give, I felt their presence. It felt like my grandfathers were offering protection, and my grandmothers were bestowing their guidance and fortitude upon me.

Just as I had encouraged my son many nights when the difficulties seemed too hard to bear, I knew my mothers were doing the same for me. Their spirits whispered to me that everything would be okay. My burdens lifted when I couldn’t carry them alone. It was not an imaginary force because I had no energy for such things. I had angels with me, and I knew who they were.

This collage is of me with photos of my mother, grandmothers, 4 great-grandmothers, 4 of my 2x great- grandmothers, and one 3x great-grandmothers.

Visiting some of my grandmothers and the places they lived, walked, and were laid to rest in Mississippi.

Today

A few things have changed since this journey began. My son has made an incredible recovery and is doing very well today. He has even been able to serve a church mission that has brought us so much joy as he has served. My sweet boy is another one of my greatest exemplars of resilience. Not a single day goes by that I am not grateful for these miracles.

Understanding a Mother’s Love

With time, other trials have come and gone, as they tend to do. Although I don’t always welcome new challenges, I take comfort knowing that I can always call on my angels for support. And I do! Anytime I am struggling now, I ask my Heavenly Father to please “Send the Angels!” I know he does. The boundless love of family, past and present, is a reminder that life is so good.

I thought I understood a mother’s love when I held my child for the first time. But now I know that something so powerful could never have been born in an instant. That bond was not only between my child and me but was a continuation of the love passed down for generations.

I’ve never felt so much like myself since learning about my mothers, who came before me. I continue to sense their spirits guiding and protecting my life and those of my family. As I move forward, I continue to humbly carry my ancestors’ stories in my heart and hope that I am maintaining a legacy they are proud of.

What I really want you to know more than anything

This journey has changed the course of my life for the better and added a depth to my perspective that I couldn’t have gained any other way. The blessings I have experienced are real and tangible. Although my story may sound like a rare experience, I want to make one thing clear. I’m not entitled to these blessings and experiences more than anyone else. We are all entitled to them because of the eternal nature of God and our families. My hope is that by reading my story that you will know that these opportunities and connections are available to you too. Of course, it will be personal to your circumstances, but that’s one of the things I love most about family history. Each journey is special and unique.

If you are in need of help like I was, for any reason, work on your family history. Pray for guidance and a witness. As you do so, I believe you will have uniquely catered experiences to you and your needs, and I promise you will find strength, healing, and blessings along the way. Have faith that it is available to you, and it will come! Be patient and trust that it will happen for you, too!

My Family <3

Sharing what I’ve learned

Now it's Your Turn!

Would you like to feel more connected to your ancestors? Click on the photo -> for tips on how to begin creating these experiences for yourself.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story. Article was originally posted on–>>>

LOVE WHAT MATTERS.

Free Family Trees And Activities for Kids

by Melissa Knapp | Freebies

FAMILY HISTORY ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS

While kids are out of school due to the Coronavirus and looking for things to do, I thought I would share a few free family history printables. Learning about our families through our own examinations is how we learn best. My hope through these activities, is that kids will discover that their ancestors were REAL PEOPLE with REAL LIVES.

The prompts are simple yet the exploration can go as deep as they like.

To get started, parents may need to help their kids get set up online on their family tree and find an ancestor to explore. Some kids may know their away around their family tree and not need assistance. You can also use family books, photo albums, and family stories you have in your home.

If you don’t have an online family tree set up, here is a tutorial on creating one for free in Family Search. LINK HERE

HOW TO USE THE ANCESTOR ACTIVITY CARDS

These pages prompt kids to figure out and list their similarities and differences they have with an ancestor or discover what their ancestor’s accomplishments and struggles were in life. Answers to these questions could be found through photos, stories, or even their vital information like their birthplace or birth month.

If using an online family tree, I would suggest first, finding an ancestor that isn’t too far back -to ensure there is enough information for them to learn new things and not get frustrated.

However, this activity can also be done with a living grandparent- which could be really fun and make for a sweet video or phone call. Here are examples of the pages, but I have added all of the FULL RESOLUTION printables to a PDF download. Just enter your email address to receive the freebie.

The pack includes all of the grandparent/ grandchild variations (i.e. grandfather/ granddaughter, grandfather/ grandson, grandmother/ granddaughter, grandmother/ grandson).

These pages could make a fun book that kids can share with their families. I hope something as simple as this could help kids to begin forming relationships with their ancestors and recognize some of the sacrifices they went through in life. The key is to make connections!

I would love to hear any feedback if you use these pages and if your kids liked them or not. I would even love to see a picture of them and their completed copy! If you have some suggestions, please tell me how I can improve these activities so more kids can enjoy them! Feel free to comment below!

FOR KIDS OF EVERY AGE

For some addition activities, I am excited to share these family trees fround on National Archives website- LINK HERE. These are great for younger children who may not be able to do some investigative research.

If you haven’t ever checked out the National Archives website, I recommend that you do! They have many wonderful collections of genealogical records and materials. I was glad to see that they have some family history activities on there for kids too. Here are a few of the printables but be sure and check out their other family trees and activities.

These are all great exercises for keeping kids busy with something meaningful for a family night or a family reunion.

If you know of any other great family history activities for kids, feel free to share in the comments!

How to Set Up a Free Family Tree In FamilySearch

by Melissa Knapp | Beginner, Family History Tutorials, Family Search, Favorite Genealogy Resources, Start Here

Getting Started

Do you want to learn about your family history but don’t know where to start? If so, this post is for you. There are probably a million and one ways to begin your family history and they are all great. There’s no one right or wrong way. Doing family history is a wonderful and rewarding journey and any method you choose to start will reap benefits.

However, so many options can make it overwhelming for many people to know which is best.

That is why this tutorial is going to guide you through setting up a tree in FamilySearch.org.

Here are a few reasons that FamilySearch is the perfect format for beginners (but not only beginners!).

It’s FREE
It is a collaborate tree; therefore, multiple people share the research, photos, and stories etc. for common ancestors.
It’s user-friendly and has a lot of great features on the site for all ages to enjoy.

Make sure you have created your free account In FamilySearch and are on the home page. Select start (Circled in the photo below).

This will take you to a new screen. There is a short video tutorial on the middle left that can help, but I will also show you step by step so click on the blue START NOW button.

ADDING YOUR PARENTS

The next screen will ask you about your father. Include as much information as you can but don’t stress too much if you don’t know all of his vital information. You will be able to add in or correct information later if you need. The more you know, the better, but don’t feel like you have to call all of your older aunts, uncles, cousins and the courthouse to get every record. You will probably be surprised what will be at your fingertips in Family Search once you get connected.

If don’t know your father, just click SKIP, and it will take you to next screen where you can start working on your MOTHER’S LINE.

One of the most important selections are the LIVING or DECEASED buttons.

Make sure you select the correct option. Family Search is ONE GIANT COLLABORATIVE TREE.

If your parent has passed away, their information may already be in Family Search. You will want to see if there is a match available. I’ll show you that process in one of the next steps, but keep that in mind.

Information on living people are kept private in Family Search.

Filling in the parent information:

Once you have entered in your information, it will list it back to you. If this looks correct, click NEXT.

This will take you to the screen for adding information on your mother.

ADDING YOUR GRANDPARENTS

After your parents have been added to the tree, it will ask you about your grandparents.

Follow the same steps as listed above for your parents.

PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO WHICH SIDE OF THE FAMILY YOU ARE FILLING IN!

Add as much information as you can, but don’t worry if you have to make some guesstimates. Even guessing a little on the date or location can help narrow down search results. If you aren’t sure of the town, but you are pretty confident on the state, then JUST ADD THE STATE. Sometimes less information is more when you are making a guess.

Standardized Information

There is another thing that is important but a lot of people skip over.

When you begin to type in vital information such a date or location, there will be a drop down menu to offer you some suggestions. If a suggested date or location pulls up that correlates with the correct information, SELECT IT- EVEN IF YOU’VE ALREADY TYPED IT IN!

This is why this is so important.

FamilySearch, like any website, has a preferred method for data entry. In FamilySearch it is called STANDARDIZED FORMAT. Not only does standardizing information keep the pages looking nice and tidy, but when the vital information is standardized, the system is able to scan its database for correlating records and information more effectively. Basically, this means the system can do a much better job of finding record hints for your ancestors. You want those! 🙂

So, ALWAYS CHOOSE FROM THE DROP DOWN MENU if you can.

If the system doesn’t give you a correct suggestion, put the information in as you know it and move on.

AN EXAMPLE OF SELECTING A STANDARDIZED LOCATION:

Here is an example of adding my grandmother-

After typing in her information, a window popped up with the following information:

Because my grandmother is deceased, Family Search scanned the site to see if she was already in the tree and they offered some matches.

Make sure to look through the suggested matches and CLICK SELECT if you see the right person in the list.

This is going to jump start your tree and save you a lot of work. By only having each person in the tree once, it keeps things organized and helps to make connections, research and use records more efficiently.

If you do not see the correct person in the match list provided, select NO MATCH and move on.

There is a way to merge two people also if you later find that you have made a mistake. Don’t be afraid to use the system because its new to you. You will learn as you go and you aren’t going to break anything.

Any mistakes can be corrected (and don’t we learn by trial and error?) but it will save you time and headache if you can choose the correct entries from the start.

GREAT-GRANDPARENTS

The next steps are the same for adding your GREAT-GRANDPARENTS.

Since I found matches in the system for my grandparents, there was a good probability that they were already connected to their parents in the tree. So, I chose not to manually input my great- grandparents at that point, but selected SKIP to go on to the tree instead.

If you do the same and find that your grandparents are not connected to their parents, don’t fret. They can still be easily added.

Being able to put in a generation or two and have the rest of your tree generate for you is one of the benefits of a collaborative tree. And of course, this won’t be the case for everyone. FamilySearch tree is worldwide, but if your family is from countries where family records and documentation are sparse, there may not be much in the system on your ancestors. This is why it is important that we all collaborate and add what we know or have.

At this point, your family tree will generate and be ready to view.

If you’d like to learn how to navigate through the different views and options in the tree, Click on the fan chart photo below to take you to another tutorial.

DIVING IN

Once you are on the family tree view, it is helpful to know that each person’s name is also a LINK. When you click on a name, it will take you to their PERSON PAGE where you can see the vital information, sources, and memories are attached to them. If there isn’t much information yet, don’t despair. There is the potential for all of those resources to be added over time. w

EXPLORING THE PERSON PAGE

From the person page, click on and explore through the menu options/ tool bar- specifically the memories tab. This is where photos and stories are located for each person. Hopefully you will find some of these already added for some of your ancestors.

The sources tab is where documents and records are kept.

These are both great options for beginners to learn about their ancestors from the information and memories that have been added by others. You are on your way to discovering your family history!

There you go! You now have a family tree!

I hope this post has helped you to start your family history journey and answered some questions. Make sure to check through the other tutorials on the home page to help you learn more of the basics.

The Best Resources For Researching Irish Family History

by Melissa Knapp | Family History Tutorials

Being from the southern United States, I have a lot Irish heritage. A great deal of Irish people immigrated to North and South Carolina and settled permanently in the southern states. Of course this wasn’t the only area for the Irish to settle since approximately 10% of the American population (or 33 million people) claim to have Irish ancestry. And if you’ve ever researched Irish family history, you know what a chore it can be!

Tracing your Irish roots can be problematic due to the fact that many genealogical records were destroyed in a fire explosion at the Dublin Public Record Office during the Irish Civil War in 1922. Not one census from the 1800’s survived! The brick walls caused by the lack of records can prevent connections being made in your search but there still are resources available — if you know where to find them.

In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, I’d like to share my favorite research tactics for those who would like to learn more about their Irish family history. I share my favorite resource at the end of the post so make sure you check it out!

WHERE TO BEGIN

Let’s start with some basics. One of the first steps is to start with what you know to find out what you don’t know. Understanding the geographic history of an area can give you a great jumping off point. For this, I am not speaking of Ireland, but AMERICA! Where did your Irish family live after immigrating?

For example, if you know that your family lived in Chicago, Illinois, do some research on when and why Irish settlers migrated there. What can you find out about the group of those settlers as a WHOLE? That’s not to say that this will give you the whole story or even the right one, but it often will help you know where to look next in your research. The goal is using American geography to discover your family’s geographical origin in Ireland.

Another important research tip is to research with the location + time period, combined!

If your Irish family lived in Pennsylvania, Maryland, or the south in the 1600 and 1700’s, most likely they were the Scots- Irish (or Scotch-Irish or Ulster-Irish) who immigrated from Northern Ireland. You can read more about the Great Wagon Road HERE– which was the beginning to early settlement of the American south. Many Scots-Irish journeyed their way to new lands to build homes in locations which gave them some space from British leaders and law. This movement also paved the way for the American Revolution as the Scots-Irish were anxious to break free from the English crown.

The Scots-Irish history is amazing and their influence in America is profound! Here is a great article sharing more about their journey and role in American History. HERE

Location RESOURCES

Hopefully these resources will also narrow the search in finding your family’s place in the motherland:

1930 United States Census- If the immigrant’s birth country is listed as “Irish Free State”, that means they are from what is known today as “Ireland” or the “Republic of Ireland” and not “Northern Ireland”. The Republic of Ireland is much larger than Northern Ireland, so your search options will still be broad but the more area you can eliminate, the better.

Johngrenham.com- This fantastic site allows you to type in the Irish surname and see on the map the areas that name existed. In the following photo, you’ll see I typed in one of my Irish family surnames. Link HERE

Below are the results on the map. I was astounded to see that this family surname was only registered in one area of Northern Ireland! However, it is helpful to look at the research suggestions on the sidebars as well. Many surnames will be found throughout different regions of Ireland and could have multiple spellings, but this tool could narrow down your regions significantly, save hours of research, and ultimately put you on a course to finding your Irish ancestors!

The surname Buchanan is much more common so there is increased activity on the map. This can still be extremely helpful. If the spouse’s surname is plugged in (left sidebar option that is circled), the results will narrow even further to locations where the two names were found in close proximity. That’s amazing!

Here are the results for area which present both surnames. Don’t forget to look at the lists of counties below the map to search further.

Once the locations are narrowed down to where your ancestors may have lived, you can proceed to look for records. There are several sites where this is possible but I like to maximize my time by searching where there are the most resources available.

Griffith’s Valuation- This is one of the most complete sets of Irish records. It details occupied property in Ireland between 1848 and 1864. It is the only resource of where people lived in Ireland and whether that property was owned or leased. Griffith’s Valuation is especially valuable because it covers the years before, during, and after the Great Famine. Each entry in the record has a reference to a map, which can give you great insight into your family’s life. One important thing to remember, however, is that the records were under the name of the head of household. So, you won’t find all the family members on there. Also, if your family member was a tenant, living with someone else, they won’t be mentioned on the record either. These records are available through Ancestry, Find My Past, Roots Ireland, and Ask About Ireland. Here is the link for records on Ancestry. HERE

findmypast.com

Find My Past has twice as many Irish historical records than any other website and I will highlight a few of my favorites.

Emigration and Immigration Records– These are easy to confuse but emigration records are for people who were leaving a country or their homeland. Immigration records are for those entering a new country. Find My Past has both- including Irish passenger lists who left Ireland beginning in the year 1890. HERE

Irish Famine Immigrants – This is smaller collection of records for those going to America because of the potato famine between the years 1846-1851. Link HERE

Church Records– The Church of Ireland, which is Anglican, lost many records in the fire mentioned above and the Roman Catholic Church throughout the country did not keep consistent records before the 19th century. Many people skip over this search for those reasons even though there are many births, baptism, marriage and death records for certain parishes. It is certainly worth looking through to see if your included in the batch! You might just have the luck of the Irish! Link HERE

ARE YOU READY FOR MY BEST-KEPT SECRET?!! Here it is:

Crossle Genealogical Abstract– This genealogy projects is one of my favorites to make discoveries! In the 1800’s, genealogists Dr. Francis Crossle and his son, Philip Crossle, collected a plethora of Irish records before the 1922 fire. Talk about inspiration! In addition to many official records in their collection, there are also handwritten family trees, probates and letters, copies of prerogative court wills from 1620 to 1804, which were destroyed in the fire at the Public Record Office in Dublin in 1922. You’ll also find Army returns from 1767 through to 1816. The Crossle Genealogical Abstract is an especially fantastic resource for those tracing their ancestors in Northern Ireland. This is like gold at the end of the rainbow for an Irish family researcher! Thank you, thank you Dr. Crossle! Link HERE

MORE THAN ONCE I have found pedigree charts dating back to the 1400 & 1500’s!!! For real! I’m talking about amazing, beautiful, handwritten pedigrees! All thanks to the Crossles and their determined pursuit of family records and collections across Ireland! I took the picture above to document when I found a pedigree chart for my Cammack family line dating back to mid 1500’s. Wahoo! Golden!

Follow the link to Find My Past to dig in!

Find My Past does require a membership to search their records, but they have a free 2 week trial if you want to try out their site.

The site is also availabe to use for free at any LDS family history center. They have staffed consultants available to help. You can find a center near you by doing a google search. It’s best to check the hours on their website since they can vary per location.

If you are searching for your Irish ancestors and heritage, I hope that these resources will help you to break through those brick walls! I would love to hear if you have any luck with these suggestions or if you’ve found success in your Irish research elsewhere! Please comment below!

Here’s a little fun fact about Ireland’s influence over names and history as a whole!

And here is a little Irish Family Prayer to think of as you remember your loved ones past and present.