Brick Wall Ancestors Need a Search Party

You want to know more about your family. The problem is that you don't know how to move forward from where you are. It can be overwhelming and confusing until you realize there is a pattern to follow that makes climbing your family tree easier. Learning this 5 step methodology can transform the way you do family history from a haphazard endeavor with limited results, to a sequential effort that will always outline your next steps. Join us for this fun, interactive party-like experience that will ensure you are no longer stuck in your family history progress.

[michelleslifeonrepeat]

My frustration is when the family names get repeated and middle names used as primary name. Example John Thomas Smith married Mary Ellen Cook. Then on the census they use the names Thomas John, or Ellen as a first name. Then it goes onward upwards. And since they have large families, there are 5 John Thomas upward who also married a Marry Or an Ellen. It’s so hard.

[JoyousGenealogist]

This was great info. I was also wondering if by searching for the marriage record of the other brother or another sibling of this person you may find the parents on their marriage record. Would that be a good clue to follow also?

[harrymyhero]

I've never heard of Family Search Wiki until now

[feliciagaffney]

I found a Census record for someone... I think it was a Samuel. But, truly... I honestly cannot tell if it is Samuel or... there was another name. Like James, maybe. Which the first half of the name, it makes sense J's can look like S's 200 years ago with not too neat handwriting... I will have to find it at some point and come back and add onto my comment. I don't remember now if the indexer had transcribed it in the way I think it should be. I don't remember if I have compared the letters to other letters on the page to see if I can tell which name the enumerator intended it to be... but it is crazy how some names you would think are completely different can look exactly the same in 19th century cursive.

[conniebosley]

The story handed down for my son's Great-Great-Great-Grandfather is he murdered someone in Pennsylvania where he was born. He changed his name and fled to Arkansas where he married owned a farm and had children. We can only find him on the 1900 Clark County Arkansas census record. How can we find his parents and siblings?

[michelleslifeonrepeat]

I could not even imagine asking a stranger to take a DNA test to help me in my search. I can’t even get my family to do it. They don’t want their information out there for privacy matters.

[annesugden]

This is a great for thinking outside of the box.

[williamallan]

are the Biblical trees that come down to this day correct, and who were they done by