Fun day meeting folks I only knew online, reuniting with folks I hadn't seen in a while and meeting others for the first time.
I talked with two folks whose applications were rejected by the Daughters of the American Revolution. The DAR is checking previously accepted member files and will not let new applications just piggy back - onto what is no longer acceptable documentation.
One man's service record was erroneously linked with his same-named cousin. Another was rejected because a supplied compiled-genealogy linked an intermediate generation but gave no sources.
The generic questions are "Is this the same man?" and "Who are the parents and children of this couple?"
Those are big questions that have to be broken down into smaller parts.
We try to frame the questions by time and place - the straight edges of the jigsaw puzzle.
Time and place are still big questions without reliable documentation.The bite sized pieces begin by building out from solid documentation, questioning the threads that connect the familial ties as well as the FAN club (friends, associates and neighbors).
Birth marriage, death, religious, cemetery, probate, census, military, deeds, tax lists, directories, and newspapers are among the commonly sought genealogical sources. Other sources may be found.
Extracting every clue from every source will help identify threads to follow.
"What and where are the sources?" is another big question that must also be broken down into the context of time and place, as well as original purpose, accessibility, coverage and reliability.
The art of genealogical research is to be able to visualize the questions and the sources as a fresco pattern of smaller interlocking pieces.
Once you visualize the problems, you can map out your research plan and make progress.
It was nice to see you Thursday, and I hope you saw the photo I took of you. Welcome to the world of blogging.
ReplyDelete