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FEBRUARY 2012
ANCESTRY FAMILY HISTORY TIPS
Check More Recent Records
My great-grandparents died in the late 1920s-early 1930s in
Keithville, Caddo Parish, Louisiana. I went to the Shreveport
Louisiana Courthouse in hopes of finding a probated will.
Unfortunately the probate records were not computerized back
that far. However, the clerk was kind enough to do a search for
John Patrick Walton and much to my delight she hit gold. My
great-grandparents estate was probated in August 1964—thirtysix
years after my great-grandfather died and thirty-two years
after my great-grandmother. The probate record has been a gold
mine of information. It mentions children that died in infancy
that none of my living family knew about. Now with everything
computerized, do yourself a favor and search the older ancestors
in the newer records just in case there is a hidden gem out there.
Elaine Walton Lewis, Conroe, Texas
Funeral Homes
Funeral Homes are a great source of information. I knew my
great-grandfather, Milton Folger Bray, died between 1920 and
1930 either in Virginia or North Carolina. Virginia is a difficult
state to get vital records from. So I looked up funeral homes in
the area where he last lived in and started calling. The first one I
called told me which funeral home would have been in business
in that time period. I called them, left information, and asked
them for their assistance at their convenience. Ten minutes later
they called me back. They had done his funeral services and
gave me detailed information on his family and his death that
wasn't on his death certificate or in his obituary. Although some
people find funeral homes a little morbid, they are my
genealogical friends. Michelle Landers
Siblings' Death Records
Be sure to cross-check the death certificates of your ancestor’s
siblings. My great-grandfather's mother was a mystery. Her first
name had been listed as Eleanor, Elender, and Elvira in different
census records. There was also a question about her last name.
Unfortunately, the death certificate of my great-grandfather was
hard to read. I couldn't make out his mother's name with
certainty. So I looked for his siblings' death certificates and
compared them all to figure it out. Now I search and save death
certificates of all siblings. It's also helpful in making sure I
have the right brothers and sisters listed.
Cindy Lee
Copy the Entire Page
When writing or visiting a county clerk's office for a
record, I ask for a copy of the entire page, not just a
certified copy. I found that strikeouts in the original record
can tell a lot more than whether the recorder was accurate.
"Originals" may not be the first record, as in a case in
Western Virginia where the recorder apparently had put
information pertaining to my ancestor's death into one
book, and then transcribed it into a record (complete with
strikeouts and corrections) that went to Richmond at the
end of the year. Marilyn Steber, San Diego
Commonwealth War Graves
As someone with family roots in England, I have frequently
(and sadly) come across relatives who bravely gave their
lives in the First World War. For other family history
researchers who have identified military personnel from
Commonwealth countries who died in both World Wars, I
highly recommend the website of the Commonwealth War
Graves Commission at www.cwgc.org.
The commission is responsible for maintaining the military
cemeteries for most Commonwealth countries (the U.K.,
Canada, Australia, New Zealand, etc.) in Europe and
around the world. Their records list every fallen service
person individually and are fully searchable, allowing
researchers to identify in which cemetery a family member
was laid to rest or where those whose remains were never
found are commemorated. The site has extensive
information about each cemetery and directions for visiting
if one were able to do that, as well as other educational
resources. Every November we remember those who
sacrificed their lives to maintain our liberties. This site
affords a further opportunity to illuminate their histories.
Barry Buckler, Markham, Ontario
2009-2010 OFFICERS
President—E. Richard Thomas
Vice-President—Dayonne Work
Secretary—Cynthia Gage
Treasurer—Holly Hervey
Librarian—Kathy Strauss
Webmaster—Chris Strauss
Parliamentarian—Vickie Davis
NEXT MEETING OF THE
DENTON COUNTY
GENEALOGICAL
SOCIETY WILL BE ON
MARCH 8, 2012
Emily Fowler Central
Library
502 Oakland St.
Denton