Gathering Genealogy Evidence
- Leslie Ryan
- Mar 26
- 2 min read
We're researching the gaps in our trees, gathering the genealogy evidence that will fill those gaps and prove what we do know is correct.
We have set a specific goal, perhaps writing "Find Grandma's Marriage Date" across the top of our note page or research log. Where do we get started?
First, what do we know? Do we know when she was born? Even just a decade? Do we know who her siblings were? How about where her parents were from? We will add all of that information to our search boxes and see what comes up for her in available genealogy evidence.
There are three kinds of evidence we will examine:
Direct evidence - something Grandma was the original source of or that she was there at the time completing the document. Like a marriage license.
Indirect evidence - we need more than one document or record to confirm the information, like a Census. The census taker took the information from whoever answered the door, not necessarily Grandma. The question might be answered incorrectly. We could look for another Census, or directory, or a newspaper article to confirm.
Negative evidence - Grandma and Grandpa not found on any Census together, for example. In other words, NO evidence at all to match our expectations.
There are all kinds of reasons there might not be the expected record you were looking for, including fires and other disasters may have destroyed them, transcription errors, or just our own misinformation about where or when they got married. I had an aunt get secretly married in another state, and she and her husband never lived together. No evidence at all she was married until he died and she was in the Will, as his "wife." And I have several relatives that married in other states with no waiting period!
Write down on your research log or notes sheet where you looked, the search terms you used, and what you did or did not find that was negative o you don't waste time doing it again!
What now? Widen your search. Look in neighboring states. Expand the number of years to look. Add a wildcard like "*" for part of the surname "Peter*" instead of "Peterson." If you haven't already searched for am obituary for either Grandma or Grandpa, do that. Re-check your parents' birth certificates, particularly the eldest child. Be sure to look in more than one source! If you have no luck in Ancestry or MyHeritage, be sure to look at FamilySearch, which I'm sure you know by now is FREE.
These same processes can be used for gathering genealogy evidence of all kinds. If you are stumped, send me an email with what you DO know and what you WANT to know. I'll be glad to do some digging for you at no charge!
Warm Spring regards,
Leslie Ryan
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