Genealogy Tip of the Week
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Tip 4: Search - One of the great challenges when searching for ancestral records on the internet is to employ a successful search methodology. In particular, using techniques that allow you to narrow down the vast number of records searched by our free Genealogy Search Engine, by Google and by other search engines. Have you ever considered using titles as part of your search term?
Many historic records contain titles such as Esq, Dr. etc. If you know one of your ancestors used such titles then it may be worthwhile incorporating titles into your search terms, such as:
<john smith, esq>
This technique is particularly effective when looking for online military records. Many military records not only list the name of the individual but also mention their rank. Thus, even if your ancestor had a fairly common name, it is possible to narrow down your search significantly by incorporating your ancestor's rank into your search terms:
<john smith, captain>
[Genealogy Search Engine] [Family Tree Search Engine]
[A Guide to Performing Online Genealogy Searches]
Tip 5: Pension Records - Check to see if your ancestor ever received a military, government or private company pension. This can be an important source of information that genealogists often overlook.
Pension application forms generally required many personal details such as proof of age, current address and sometimes next of kin. They can be a great source of genealogical information about your ancestors.
Pensions also provide useful career information, which can be valuable if you want to understand the historical context of your ancestor's life.
