Descendency Research

On May 6th, I took a series of three lessons on descendency research by Tim Bingham, AG, from the online research courses available from Familysearch.org. I've never taken a course on genealogy, and wanted to expand my horizons. I highly recommend this course. Below are the notes I took while following along:

Descendency Research
Step 1: Choose a family to start

• Begin with families alive around 1850 (easier because more records are available)
• Use family group sheets to record your findings

Step 2: Collect previous research

• Published family histories - familysearch.org - family history library catalog - surname search
• Compiled family genealogies - familysearch.org - search - pedigree resource file

Step 3: Consult additional sources

• Census records
• Wills and probate records
• kept at county level
• Family History Library Catalog Search - list county and state individual lived - select "probate"

• County histories
• Family History Library Catalog Search - list county and state individual lived - select "history"

• Church records
• Family History Library Catalog Search - search - list county and state - select "church"

• Obituaries 

Step 4: Compile what you have learned

• family group sheets
• genealogy program

Contacting Living Relation

1. Identify yourself
2. Tell them why you are contacting them
3. Tell them your relationship
4. Share information

Resources

• www.stevemorse.org
• Vital records - ages, related persons, locations
• Vital records - birthdays and addresses
• www.whitepages.com
• Reverse look up for learning who lives at a certain address