Sandberg Bobbi - Genealogy QuickSteps

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Chapter 1

Stepping into Genealogy

So just what is genealogy? The word itself stems fromthe Greek words for generation and knowledge, thereforethe study of previous generations or your ancestry. Today,professional genealogists help others document theirancestry and provide scholarly proof of relationships.Documents and records are verified and cited, in muchthe same way as academic researchers prove their work.However, many other people become involved in trackingtheir family history, a phrase that may sound moreunderstandable and interesting than a scientific analysis ofwho married whom and when. So what is the fascination offinding out that your great-great-great-grandfathers brotherwent on a Crusade for the king? And, why do so many peoplespend time viewing tombstones when it isnt Halloween?The answer for each person is as unique as the family theywant to research, and there are as many ways of discovering

Genealogy QuickSteps Stepping into Genealogy

this information. Personal computers and the Internet haveexpanded by at least a thousand times what the individualfamily historian can do, the ease with which she can do it,and the degree of collaboration possible. Through this bookyou will find out how to make the best use of these tools, aswell as ideas on where to begin, how to continue, and what todo when you reach the inevitable roadblocks.

Explore Genealogy

At the very beginning of your genealogical journey, you may have a specificgoal in mindsay, discovering who was the first person in your family whograduated from high school (or in more modern times, college), or from whomthe tendency for red hair comes. Each family is different and has its own set oflegends, tall tales (and tall-tale tellers), and good old-fashioned yarns that get usexcited about wanting to find the real story, which often is more interesting thanthe tall taleif for no other reason than the evidence points to it being true.

Consider What Can You Do with It

So, if you put a lot of your time into genealogy, and maybe some money, whatdo you get back?

SATISFY YOUR CURIOSITY

Perhaps the most common reason for starting your genealogy research is todiscover something. For example, Bobbi was told that one of her ancestors wasthe first non-native child born on the island on which she now resides. Thatgot her curiosity arousedjust who was that person and when did it happen?Is there a family story that youve heard that youd like to prove? For example,Bobbis family talks about an ancestor that fought on both sides during theCivil War. So far, thats not been verified, but what a fascinating tale!

Genealogy QuickSteps Stepping into Genealogy

FINDING U.S. MILITARY INFORMATION

Many genealogy sites offer access to military recordsfor a small membership fee. The best of these for findingU.S. military data may be Fold3.com, which emphasizesmilitary information. You can also find information onlineat Ancestry.com and Archives.com.

If you know the serial number of the person whoserved, you can write to the National Archives RecordsAdministration in Washington, D.C., to request theappropriate form and its cost. The National PersonnelRecords Center, Military Personnel Records Office inSt. Louis, Missouri, is another option. Again, you mustrequest a form, which may cost a small fee.

Serial numbers were used by all of the branches of theservice through 1969. The Army and Air Force replacedthe serial number with the service members SocialSecurity number starting then. In 1972, the Navy andMarine Corps followed suit, and the Coast Guard startedusing Social Security numbers as identifiers instead ofserial numbers in 1974.

You may also find serial number information on his or herdischarge papers, from your county offices, or even theMilitary Affairs Department in the state where the servicemember resided. Be persistent and you should be able tofind the necessary information.

Just where were your grandparents born? Do you have ancestors that arrived atEllis Island? If so, you can find information about the landing if you know thenames and approximate dates. Is there a U.S. military hero in your background?Check the military records on many of the Internet sites to find out. There arerecords dating back to the American Revolution, as well as the War of 1812; theCivil War; and in more modern times, the Spanish-American War, World War I,and World War II.

ANSWER QUESTIONS

Another reason for beginning your quest is to answer questions. Bobbi wasalways curious about her maternal grandfathers surname and found that itdates back to the Bible. Other questions can range from Who did GrandmotherSmith marry after Grandfather Smith died to Who was first named Absalom?Often towns were named after the people who settled there. There is a town inSkagit County, Washington, named LaConner after an L.A. Conner, one of thefirst settlers in the area.

RESOLVE DISPUTES

If there are lingering questions about just where the well was on grandfathersproperty, or how Aunt Nell wore her hair on her wedding day, you can oftendo some quick research through family pictures or letters to find the answers.If you want to find information farther back, you may need to go to county orparish records, census data, and so on. Well be discussing how to work with allof these sources throughout the book.

LEAVE INFORMATION TO YOUR HEIRS

One of the most-mentioned reasons for creating a family history is to let futuregenerations know what their ancestors did. By creating a written and visual recordof your unique and wonderful family, you can give your children, grandchildren,and great-grandchildren roots and a look at their heritage. Consider your auntsrecipe for those wonderful baked beansperhaps you could video her as shespreparing them for your great-granddaughter to reproduce in 60 years.

Genealogy QuickSteps Stepping into Genealogy

Bobbis grandfather kept journals nearly all of his life, as seen in Figure 1-1. Hewould note the weather and then make some comments about what happenedthat day.

Figure 1-1: In this journal entry from 1930, A.E. Cornelius noted the passing of his stepfather

Genealogy QuickSteps Stepping into Genealogy

Figure 1-2: The murder of Leander Wallace, coming within 18 months of the Whitman
Massacre, prompted the first murder trial in Pierce County.

WRITE A BOOK

Some of the most interesting books arebiographiesa little bit of inside informationabout the person or persons we might nototherwise know. Some incidents may affectmore than just your immediate family. Bobbisgreat-great-great-uncle was murdered in 1849,prompting the first murder trial in what is nowPierce County, Washington. (At the time, the areawas part of the Oregon Territory.) See Figure 1-2for a copy of the article about the murder. Manyhistorical books begin with a family history, andwith some time put into research, you can writeyour own.

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