I Am Stuck!  What To Try Next???

Submitted by: HostGFSGrace@aol.com

 

Well, I can't say I am that much of an expert to tell folks what to do when they get stuck, because I have a wily Prussian that seems to have skirted records, and sometimes I even suspect someone that just might match Grandpa's description burned those 1890 records in New York. (I am praying that the lightning doesn't strike as I say this! )<G>

Most folks who know me from my volunteering, know that I love census hunting. I have gotten conflicting answers on how old this ancestor was, and where they lived at a certain time so I went looking and found my Grandparents on the census and went from there. I now have the census from 1900 to 1920 and when I get the chance, I will go and get the 1930 Census. My Grandparents came over "the pond" between 1882 and 1887. I soon found out that the 1890 Census was destroyed by fire, except for certain pension records, so that left out that avenue. Then I discovered that the town that one set of my Grandparents lived in had City Directories and I found my paternal Grandfather there, but alas, not my Grandmother. It seems that most of the time, it was only the 'Head of Household' or single men (Where were you Susan B. Anthony?), and I could not find my paternal Great-aunt who came with my Grandfather from Ireland (mumble, mumble). I have found that sooooooo frustrating that women were left out of some public records! Now where would all of these men be if wasn't for us women? I have a Great Aunt and a Great Uncle who have eluded me, but I intend to get to the bottom of that when I take another trip back to my home state, or if I am lucky, I will catch them on the 1930 Census.

Some sources that I would recommend:  attend the SIGs (Special Interest Groups); post on the Golden Gates Forum Message Boards; sign on to the numerous Rootsweb maillists,(See Rootsweb.com),; and go into the rooms-- if just to listen and get some ideas how other genies have found some of their records. Post your surnames and maybe someone in the room is looking for that name too. I have seen genies tell folks that they were just looking at some records, and had seen a name that others needed.

There are a wealth of dedicated genies that are more then willing to help others. We have the great fortune of having knowledgeable Hosts and they share how they have found numerous records, and many are members of Genealogy Societies or Historical Societies which are a great source for information. Recently a genie found that she was entitled to be a member of the DAR because another genie steered her to how to find the proof of entitlement.

Another place that I found some information was at the cemetery. I was visiting my home state (NJ), and I asked the gentleman who was there that day if I could see my Grandparents' burial cards, and he told me that he did not have the keys to the files with him but if I gave him my address, he would send a copy of them to me. I offered to pay him something for the trouble and he told me that anyone that was so interested in their heritage like I was, it would be his pleasure. Being polite is always an advantage! When I arrived home there was a letter for me with the copies of the burial cards. I obtained the TRUE birthday of my Grandfather (someone fibbed, and methinks I know who), and the card had the address of the home he owned (another lead....the Deed)! and the cause of his death. Now, I must add, that sometimes the cause of death could be documented with a wrong cause. I knew that my Grandfather died from a massive heart attack and that was what was documented. It did not say that he had survived for 17 years after a massive stroke and it was very unusual in those days (he died in 1937), to live after such a life threatening occurrence. My Grandmother's cause of death was wrong. I had to take this with a grain of salt from the source of the information (an Aunt). I made a note next to the copy of the burial cards and in doing this, I recorded medical history that can and has been an important factor in my family.

I am amazed at all of the information that genies have available in the Goldengate Forum right in the Library. All it takes to peruse this valuable source is to go to Keyword: Roots (Gf works too), then go to the Library or Resources or just cruise and see what the Forum offers you. Check out the Schedule of Chats for the day or the whole week, and you are bound to find something there to help you. If you get stuck, come into one of the many rooms and we will be glad to help. It is always good to share ideas, and I always pick up new ideas when I go into the genealogy rooms in the Goldengate Forum and I keep up-to-date on what records have become available.

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