WHO WERE THOSE GUYS
Who were those guys that served in the Roman Legions?Who were those guys that fought in the War of the Roses?Who were those guys that joined Bonnie Prince Charlie in Scotland and fought for the independence of
Scotland?Who were those guys that toiled all their lives on land that was owned by someone else?Who were those guys that suffered in the potato famine in Ireland?Who were those guys who were brave enough, desperate enough or so fervent in their religious beliefs that
they left their homeland to sail for months across the ocean to an unknown land?Who were those guys who left their homeland country, never to return?Who were those guy who fought wars against the Indians to claim the land for themselves?Who were those guys who fought the British to found a new nation, the United States?Who were those guys that fought in World Wars, on both sides?Who were those guys who moved to a country that spoke a different language, had different customs and were
discriminated against just because they came from another country?Who were those guys that brought the customs of the old country to this new country and made our country
the melting pot that it is?Who were those guys who grew up, married, had hopes and dreams, saw some of their children die of disease,
saw the rest into adulthood to see their children have children of their own?Who were those guys? They were the people who lived their lives and made their contribution to our
existence. They were our ancestors. They had the same basic desires we have, experienced the same experiences we have in raising their children. Experienced the same grief at the loss of loved ones.
Didn’t you ever wonder “WHO WERE THOSE GUYS”. That is what the hobby of genealogy tries to answer. Find out who they were, when they were born, when they married, what children they had. when did they die, what they did in their lives. What political offices, however minor, did they hold; where did they live, what land did they buy, what was their occupation. What was their life like.
BEGINNING
GENEALOGY
WHERE DO I START ?
Start with YOU
There are two basic forms if you are not
using a computer
Ancestor ChartFamily Group Sheet
AHNENTAEFEL NUMBERS
Father's number is twice that of child
Mother's number is one more than husband's
COMPUTER PROGRAMS FOR GENEALOGY
Family Tree MakerRoots MagicLegacy
For Mac: Reunion
Use of a computer program makes updating of data and printing of forms very easy.
SOME EARLY TIPS
Use one size sheet of paperOne surname per sheetCite all your sourcesKeep a research logKeep all information even if it does not agreeKeep records organized
Every Fact must have its own source
Complete source citation shows that you are a reliable and thorough researcher.
Others can evaluate your researchOthers can find what you used.
Most importantEnables a sound analysis of the evidence
FILING METHODS
BINDER METHOD
Some genealogists use the binder method. For every surname on their
pedigree charts, they have a separate binder. Family group sheets,
pedigree charts and photocopies of documents are all three-hole punched
and placed neatly in the binder. The binder goes with them on research
trips, so they have all the data readily accessible. Obviously, if the
surname extends back to colonial times and further and includes
research on collateral lines, the binders will be quite bulky and
cumbersome to lug around. If you are planning a lengthy research trip
to work on several families, you will have quite a few binders to carry
with you. While this may be a good starting system, it becomes impractical quickly.
FILING BY INDIVIDUALS
If you research 10 generations you will be gathering materials on 2,046
people. That does not take in consideration collaterals: aunts, uncles,
cousins, in-laws. If you have unlimited space for a unlimited amount of
filing cabinets and folders, this may be a good method.
You will look like a Doctors office and you may have more files that the
Doctor does.
You will also be duplicating a lot of documents for source material that
refers to more than one person.
If you are planning on a biography of one individual this may be the way
to go....Otherwise, Skip it.
FILING BY COUPLE OR FAMILY GROUPS
This system is better than individual filing method and is popular filing
system among genealogist since it coordinates with the couples listed on a
pedigree chart.. Start by making a family group sheet for every married
couple listed on your pedigree chart. Then create a file folder for each
couple and their offspring. When you learn that a child married, you
start a file folder for that person and spouse. If a son or daughter never
married, then that child’s data stays in the file folder of the parents.
This system, like others, has a potential of becoming unwieldy. If a
couple had several children who did not marry, you will have to hunt in
a voluminous file folder.
FILING BY SURNAME
Similar to the binder method, some genealogists use one folder per
surname. This method used the least amount of folders, but they will
become obese in no time at all. you will quickly have file 1, 2 and 3 for
every surname and you will be sifting through many papers to find the
one item you need.
Start with this method, but if the file become large adopt part of the
individual filing system. There will probably be one or more persons
with a lot of documents. Split out the information for this person in
another file folder. Thus you would have one Surname folder, and then
one for Tom Surname, and perhaps another for Dick Surname or Sarah
Surname with their documents included.
Now about Searching for records
Always work from what you know
Backwards in time
Where to Search?
Rochester Public Library, Local History Dept.Access to Ancestry.com, Heritage Quest And others
Rochester Genealogical Society Web Site Access to Monroe County Links Page
Cyndi's List.com: listing of thousands ofOther web sites
RUNDELL LIBRARY BUILDING
The Rochester Genealogical Society has Genealogical Helpers available at the Local
History Department of the library on
Monday evenings and From 10 to 4 on Saturdays
U.S. CENSUS RECORDS
Census taken every 10 years since 1790
Before 1850 gives only the head of household and number of individuals in age groups
Census Record information
1850 first to list every person, place of birth1880 married, single, divorced, relationship, place of birth of parents, 1890 not available, destroyed1900 date of birth, number of children, year of immigration, naturalization1910 immigration, naturalization, years of present marriage1920 immigration, naturalzation, own or rent1930 latest available, home value,citizenship
CENSUS CITATION EXAMPLE
1900 U.S. Census, Genesee Co.,New York, Batavia, ward 2, pg 96,
line 94, Mary I. Buell; NARA microfilm publication T623, roll 1038,
<HeritageQuest.com>
Should also have included enumeration district and
supervisors district.
New York State Census Records
From 1825 to 1925 every 10 years in years ending in 5
Except for census 1892 (1885 and 1895 skipped)
Rochester Library has only Monroe CountyHas index for 1855 outside of Rochester
Most State census are not indexed.
1892 State Census
Important because 1890 Federal Census destroyed
On line at:Familysearch.org
Family History Center1400 Westfall Road, RochesterKreag Road, Bushnell's Basin
Films can be ordered from Salt Lake CityCost $ 5.50
The local center has many Monroe County films on permanent file at the center
Search the Family History Library website<familysearch.org>
CATALOG USED TO FIND AVAILABLE FILMS
SEARCH A PLACE
LIST OF CATAGORIES
The Family History Centers
Also have free access to
World Vital RecordsFootnote.comFindMyPast.uk
Rochester Municipal Archives
Need appointment
Rochester Marriage Records 1876-1932And later
Index is on line
SURROGATE COURT RECORDS
Records of estatesMore than just wills
5th FloorCivic Center
Birth & Death RecordsMonroe CountyOnly since 1881
75 years for birth records50 years for marriage and death records
Obtain from Monroe County Health BureauCost $ 22.00
Will get only a transcriptionSend to Albany for copy
MONROE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE
Naturalization recordsMortgages
Land recordsDivorce, separation
(index only unless over 100 years old)50 cts a copy
MONROE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE
West Main Street between Exchange & PlymouthOn the right as you enter building.
Enter the door and turn left and go to rear of building
OGDEN FARMERS LIBRARY
South of SpencerportSouth of Route 531
Ogden Center Rd, east off of Union StreetAncestry.com
Genealogical CD'sBrockport Republic Newspaper 1856-1917
Ogden burials
Mt. Hope Cemetery
Office can provide cemetery maps and plot maps
Records are on-line on U of R website
Access through RGS website- Monroe County links - Monroe
County Links Page - Cemeteries -Mt. Hope Records
Holy Sepulchre CemteryLake Avenue
Office is on west side of Lake AvenueEasy to use Kiosk for locating grave sites
Office can provide plot maps
Holy Sepulchre Cemetery
Records are now on lineOn their website
Need to go there to get a map
DAR LIBRARY138 Troup Street
Open on Fridays, call for appointment 232-4509
DAR website
Older applications are not proof of relationship. They do not meet the standards of proof now required. Use them only as clues.
ROCHESTER GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY
WEBSITE: nyrgs.org
Information on our meetingsAccess to Monroe County Links PageChurch Records from the CRPC
Rochester Genealogical SocietyMeets 3rd Thursday of month
Except July, August & December7 PM, Asbury First Methodist Church
East Avenue, Rochester
Computer Interest GroupMeets 2nd Thursday of month
Except July & AugustFamily History Center1400 West Fall Road,
Rochester
RememberKeep organized
Cite your sourcesKeep a research log
PERSEVERE
Top Related