March 2, 2015 By Yvonne Sorenson
Congratulations you’ve found your first historical document for your ancestor from Mexico!
Now the question is where do I go from here? For many beginning researchers, the next steps can make all the difference in future success or frustration. So where do you go from here?. . .
Congratulations you’ve found your first historical document for your ancestor from Mexico!
Now the question is where do I go from here? For many beginning researchers, the next steps can make all the difference in future success or frustration. So where do you go from here?. . .
First, make sure you are keeping track of your searches by using a research log. This can be in the form of a notebook or diary with notes about where you’ve looked and who you were looking for. You could also use any number of pre-printed forms available online or create your own.
Next, analyze the information you’ve found. What clues were found in the record that will lead you to your next search – ages, places of origin, names of parents, spouse, children, or siblings? All these should be used to help guide your record selection.
Before you begin searching for an ancestor always make sure you have enough information to be able to identify your ancestor in a record.
If you find a man or woman with the same name as your ancestor, how will you know if it’s the same person?
Can you link them with a familial connection because you know the names of parents, a spouse, children, or siblings?
Are they in the place you expected them to be?
If the age is what you thought it should be but that is all you know, are there any other people in the same area with the same name?
How can you positively identify your ancestor? Evidence and the absence of evidence can both be used to prove or disprove a connection.
Sometimes you may have to take a step back on your family tree and document the previous generation well in order to continue your journey from the known to the unknown.
If you would like to learn more about Hispanic Research methodology, we invite you to participate in an online webinar to be broadcast from the Family History Library on Saturday, March 14th at 1 p.m. MST. The class will be broadcast using WebEx. To join the class and click on this link or visit the FamilySearch Wiki page Online Webinars from the Latin America Research Team. If you have difficulties using WebEx, please download a PDF with basic instructions
If you find a man or woman with the same name as your ancestor, how will you know if it’s the same person?
Can you link them with a familial connection because you know the names of parents, a spouse, children, or siblings?
Are they in the place you expected them to be?
If the age is what you thought it should be but that is all you know, are there any other people in the same area with the same name?
How can you positively identify your ancestor? Evidence and the absence of evidence can both be used to prove or disprove a connection.
Sometimes you may have to take a step back on your family tree and document the previous generation well in order to continue your journey from the known to the unknown.
If you would like to learn more about Hispanic Research methodology, we invite you to participate in an online webinar to be broadcast from the Family History Library on Saturday, March 14th at 1 p.m. MST. The class will be broadcast using WebEx. To join the class and click on this link or visit the FamilySearch Wiki page Online Webinars from the Latin America Research Team. If you have difficulties using WebEx, please download a PDF with basic instructions