links

A Plethora of helpful links

Plethora is such a fun word.

Greetings from the too-long-unheard-from, humblegenealogist~

Yes, I am still here and busy searching and doing research. BTW (By The Way) :

Do you know the difference between

Searching and Research?

This is an interesting comparison that I hadn’t thought about until a fellow historian posed the comment about doing research and not just doing a search.

Thank you to https://www.merriam-webster.com/ for the definitions –

to Search is to :

transitive verb

1 : to look into or over carefully or thoroughly in an effort to find or discover something: such as

a : to examine in seeking something – searched the north field

b : to look through or explore by inspecting possible places of concealment or investigating suspicious circumstances

c : to read thoroughly : check; especially : to examine a public record or register for information about – search land titles

d : to examine for articles concealed on the person

e : to look at as if to discover or penetrate intention or nature

to do Research is to :

transitive verb

1 : to search or investigate exhaustively – research a problem

and

1 : careful or diligent search

2 : studious inquiry or examination; especially : investigation or experimentation aimed at the discovery and interpretation of facts, revision of accepted theories or laws in the light of new facts, or practical application of such new or revised theories or laws

3 : the collecting of information about a particular subject

I like what Wikipedia states:

Research

Research comprises “creative and systematic work undertaken to increase the stock of knowledge, including knowledge of humans, culture and society, and the use of this stock of knowledge to devise new applications.” It is used to establish or confirm facts, reaffirm the results of previous work, solve new or existing problems, support theorems, or develop new theories. More at Wikipedia

So whether you are Searching or Researching, you are making progress and don’t worry about those Brick Walls that are really a nuisance. They can either send you in a new direction or make you stop and go back and look elsewhere. This usually means leaving that particular relative or story alone for a while, even years until one day you see you don’t need it, you discover something else, or, as sometimes happens, it just stops at the Brick Wall.

https://humblegenealogy.wordpress.com/

Fun side note – I did a search for Brick Wall on duck duck go and got these results:

https://www.merriam-webster.com/ 2 : an immovable block or obstruction – the plan ran into a brick wall

wiki How – Brick walls date back at least five thousand years ago, in what is now India and the surrounding regions. Building onto this ancient tradition can seem deceptively simple. But while the basics of brick and mortar are easy to understand, achieving a professional quality wall takes planning and practice.

there is a https://www.genealogybrickwall.com , website that I thought was interesting

and

50 best Genealogy Brick Wall Solutions http://genealogyintime.com/GenealogyResources/Articles/50_best_genealogy_brick_wall_solutions_part1_page_01.html

Legacy tree states:

Breaking Genealogy “Brick Walls”

“In genealogy, the term “brick wall” is often used to refer to tough research problems, apparent dead-ends that after many hours of searching still yield no answers… But even those who have spent long hours often find themselves behind that familiar barrier because the research itself is a challenge. For example, pre-1850 research in the American Deep South (states such as Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia, and Texas) as well as Pennsylvania and New York can be difficult because of the lack of records caused by difficulty of access, destruction by war and natural disasters, or even the fact that they were never created in the first place. Early agrarian societies were isolated, often illiterate, and independent – disinclined to make long journeys to civil authorities to register events with the government.”

Family Tree Magazine states:

https://www.familytreemagazine.com/premium/true-genealogy-brick-walls/

“Are You Really at A Genealogy Brick Wall? “

” How can you tell when you’ve really hit the end of the road and it’s time to stop beating your head against a brick wall? Just how far back do historical family records go, anyway?

The answers depend on the nature of your brick wall and why you can’t seem to make progress in this branch of your family tree. Let’s look at 10 possible ultimate brick walls, in roughly increasing order of finality, and find some potential paths around them.”

Cyndi’s List has articles here:

(Great resources at Cyndi’s list. My cousin actually told me about this website a few years ago)

https://www.cyndislist.com/brickwall/articles/

” Hit a Brick Wall?

When all else fails . . . here are ideas for a few things to keep you busy while you look for the next research avenue to follow.”

com: Genealogy – Brick Wall Strategies for Dead-End Family Trees

Article by Kimberly Powell.

Ancestry Magazine

From Google Books, full copies of each issue from Jan-Feb 1994 – Vol. 12, No. 1 through Mar-Apr 2010 – Vol. 28, No. 2.

Lou’s Top 300 Genealogy Sources

Article by Brian Gallagher.

Barking Up the Wrong Tree

A humorous look at mistakes that are copied from tree to tree. Find everything from Adam & Eve to zombies. Lots of examples of what NOT to do!

Beyond the Index–Michael John Neill’s Articles in the Ancestry Daily News
- Brick Walls from A to Z

Ideas for breaking down brick walls, with a suggestion from A to Z.

From Their Mouth to Your Computer Screen

Your ancestor’s last name, first name, and other information, passed through many mouths, heads, hands, and fingers before appearing on your computer screen. This article discusses how all those passings could be causing you problems.

By Michael John Neill

Article by Diane Haddad and the Family Tree Magazine staff.