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Wilson-Cobb Library Tips and Stuff

Note: The newsletter is mailed quarterly to members of the Wilson-Cobb Library and contains a wealth of interesting information and hints.

Internet Public Library - Organized by the University of Michigan, this web site provides links to reference information around the world. It has a special section for links to Genealogy references. http://www.ipl.org/div/subject/

Researching hint: Many ancestors gave the name of the nearest large city as where they lived, like London, when they lived in the countryside. You may need to research spelling of foreign villages. Sometimes the village may no longer exist, or it may have been renamed. Incorrect spellings are one of the most common handicaps researchers face.

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

10. Failing to record information on standard genealogical forms

9. Ignoring the siblings of the ancestors you are researching

8. Overlooking the maiden names of female ancestors

7. Assuming you are related to a famous person who shares the same surname

6. Skipping a generation

5. Assuming a family name is only spelled one way

4. Jumping to conclusions based on insufficient evidence

3. Researching the wrong family

2. Relying on online data found in a family tree

1. Failing to document your sources

Free Dowloadable Genealogy Charts and Forms

Family tree Magazine: http://www.familytreemagazine.com/freeforms

Six Genealogy Myths to Avoid

  1. You can buy your items displaying your family crest or coats of arms. Coats of arms must be granted, and to clain the right to coats of arms, you must prove descent through a male line.
  2. The 1890 census burned to a crisp. Actually, some unknow person authorized its disposal, but some parts survived!
  3. You can find your whole family history online. You can find lots of actual records online, but errors abound, too. Information found online must be verified!
  4. Your ancestor was a Cherokee princess or George Washington. Family legends may be true, but tend to be embellished, so verify before you pass it it on.
  5. The courthouse burned, and all the records are gone. Sometimes records survived and were moved to another location, or you can find the same information elsewhere.
  6. Your ancestor's name was changed at Ellis Island. Passenger lists were created at the port of departure and Ellis Island officials checked the list. Many immigrants changed their own names after arrival in an effort to sound more American.