r/Genealogy

My genealogy bug kicked in again, but I didn't go to Ancestry. Just familysearch, cuz free.

And I focus on early 1800s ancestry, so the records I look for are vastly un-indexed. In fact, many of the indexed records on my family are so because I indexed them after finding them digging through hundreds of pages of documents over the years.

Well, I go to their catalog (the place with all the unindexed records) and see that their is an AI built into it now. And it searches for broad or specific topics and names in broad or specific areas.

I kid you not, that this thing found.... HUNDREDS... of documents on my ancestors, that would have taken an army of genealogists untold hours of labor to discover. I found wills, deeds, little notes probably buried in boxes, family histories, newspaper articles with the tiniest of print.

I found out my 3rd great grandfather went to jail for stabbing someone in the eye! I guess the guy made a comment about his wife. This from a newspaper that AI caught.

My 4th great grandfather was an early methodist minister. I only found like, two marriages that he performed. The AI found dozens across multiple counties.

It is just exciting. For people that are only above average at genealogy like me, this AI thing could be a massive game changer. Something that pieces all the vague parts together.

Wondering if anyone else has anything crazier than my paternal line. I have double, triple checked the records because it seemed so unlikely. My 3rd great grandfather had a half sister 40 years older than him.

Grandfather - 1940s

Great grandfather - 1892

Great great grandfather - 1845

3x great grandfather - 1808

4x great grandfather - 1743 (had his last child in 1821)

5x great grandfather - 1710 5x great grandmother 1702

6x great grandfather - 1649

7x great grandfather - 1606

8x great grandfather - 1574

My maternal grandmother's grandparents and other family immigrated to the U.S beginning in the late 19th century. As for evidence, I'm not entirely certain what we have as there are boxes and bags that have gone untouched for decades in her home. I do know that we have letters, post cards addressed to our ancestors (many are in Czech, though I believe most were sent between addresses in America), my great-great grandmother's American marriage certificate (as well as many photographs), and some sort of servant's work journal in German and Czech from one relative who must've been working in Austria-Hungary as I believe it is from there. I doubt that we would have any birth certificates or anything from those who immigrated, but we may have death certificates from here in the U.S. We have lots of things in the family though, so more could come up if we searched.

Additionally — and I am unsure if this would add to anything or if we have any proof behind my grandmother's word (it may be present in contemporary correspondence) — my grandmother's great-grand parents returned to Europe before the second world war and, as she tells me, had all their belongings, property, and money confiscated and spent the remainder of their days in a German concentration camp. I am certain I could get their names and some sort of documents related to them.

Would either my grandmother or myself have any luck pursuing a claim to citizenship by descent based on the information I provided? Thank you in advance for your time.

I am of fairly standard West Midlands type regional heritage on my dad's side, as well as primarily North East and Cumbria type regional heritage. This is a bit of a rant post, but I am also looking for advice, as it gets very complicated doing the Leeds Method when the majority of my "paper trail" ancestors are not even my blood ancestors. It can demotivate me a bit on Ancestry when there are so many unknowns.

When I took DNA tests on 23andMe, AncestryDNA, and MyHeritage, everything lined up with my dad's side beautifully and fitted into each generation, with multiple DNA matches. It was easy to link everything up and confirm my tree.

I started to notice many problems on my mum's side from the get go when I got my mum and my grandmother's sister, on my mum's side, to take DNA tests. They showed up on the DNA relationship charts as matching perfectly as a half aunt to my mum and as a half grand aunt to me. This was very easy to confirm. My mum also had entirely different close matches listed that did not fit at all into the tree we had worked on for years and checked often. It became quite clear that my grandmother, born in 1954, had a completely different dad. I still struggle to open up about this and share it, but I have found a candidate using the Leeds Method, and it became quite obvious who the two candidates for her father were.

Then, on my grandad's tree, it was already complicated, as for three generations his mum, her mum, and her mum had all been born with the same maiden name. For four generations going back to the 1860s, they had all been born with their father unknown. This was already known on the tree, but it did quite shock me while doing the research to see how many generations this continued for, despite the social stigma that existed at the time, as well as the potential harm that may have come to them. So, in addition to having to figure out the father for each generation, with births in 1924, 1905, and 1886, this has proven to be quite difficult. About 90% of my close matches are people my mum and I have never heard of, and they are from all over the UK, with some also in Australia.

I then bought a few tests for the children of my grandad's dad's siblings and again noticed the abnormally low amounts of DNA that my mum and I shared with them. Multiple profiles on Ancestry from the father's side, who I know have tested, showed absolutely no cM shared with either of us, and none of the ancestors going back to the 1810s had a single DNA match that I could trace. On that line, for context, my mum has a match who should be her full first cousin once removed, but she only shares 51 cM with them, and the only shared matches they have are through the maternal side. So, it seems very obvious that, on this line again, my great grandad, born in 1925, had an entirely different biological father.

I had the exact same circumstances again with the children of my grandmother's mum's siblings, just like I did above with my grandad's side. The paternal side had many children and came from quite a populated area in London, yet there were absolutely no DNA matches from that side. The matches only connected through the maternal side and not through people on Ancestry whom I know have factually tested and are closely related through the father's side. On my half grand aunt's side, we also have multiple close matches who do not fit anywhere on the paternal side, while all of the maternal matches line up perfectly.

So, in my tree, I am practically dealing with the following now.

My grandmother was the result of an NPE, and her biological father is one of two brothers born either in 1924 or 1930.

My great grandma, born in 1924, always knew she was the result of an NPE, and this is reflected in the records.

My second great grandma, born in 1905, always knew she was the result of an NPE, and this is reflected in the records.

My third great grandma, born in 1886, always knew she was the result of an NPE, and this is reflected in the records.

My great grandad, born in 1925, seems almost definitely to have been the result of an NPE.

My great grandma, born in 1926, appears to have the same circumstances. Close matches from the expected paternal side simply are not there, while other mysterious close matches seem to be filling that gap. These mysterious matches only share matches with us through the known maternal ancestors.

This makes actually solidifying and confidently confirming ancestors on my tree incredibly difficult. I remember joking to my mum that it is almost like dealing with the genealogy of someone who was adopted because of the sheer number of mysterious DNA matches that do not line up with the documented tree at all. Does anyone have any advice, or even any ideas about what may have been going on in these circumstances? Has anyone else dealt with generational NPEs like this and experienced how incredibly difficult they can make building a family tree at times?

Sorry if this is the wrong flair.

Hello! I strongly dislike when people put random birth or death dates for individuals that have no sources or rationale to back it up. I've seen this mess up trees and make absolutely 0 sense. So because of this, I only put source backed dates or estimates that I'm 90% sure about. Today I was working with a branch of my family tree. My 2x great grandfather had 5 brothers. I know the order of their births, and I know 2x great grandpa was the youngest and was born in 1888. How bad is it if I put each brother as separated by 2 years (ie: 1880, 1882, 1884, 1886, 1888)? Based on when their kids were born, the estimates would make sense. This specific branch comes from an area that doesn't have records from that time, so it's all word of mouth. I have the urge to do it, but don't want to potentially spread any misinformation (this is a searchable tree on Ancestry). What should I do?

Hello! I am trying to determine if there might be a realistic pathway to get an old record for one of my relatives. She was born in 1864 in Saginaw County, Michigan and passed away in 1939, also in Michigan. It is my understanding that in 1933 Michigan created a state run “old age” pension program this was done before Social Security ever took affect. Has anyone ever had any experience trying to obtain a copy of an application for Michigans state run pension from this time??? I am trying to find a means to locate, but I cannot get a solid answer on how to go about approaching. I was hopeful the record might contain full legal name and date of birth attestation.

I don’t know if missing is the right word, but I recently found a reference to an ancestor that surprised my uncle when I brought it up.

My great great grandparents settled in Oklahoma Territory in the 1880s. They had three kids, two girls and a boy (my great grandfather). My GG Grandmother died in 1899. I recently found an obituary for her which states she was a “loving mother of four” and then later states the youngest child was sent to live with a “Mrs. Miller.”

I have no clue how to go about finding anything on this mystery child. As far as I know my family has always accepted there were three kids. My GG Grand Aunt, who would be this child’s older sister, was three when their mother died and so would likely have remembered him/her, not to mention her two older siblings definitely being old enough to remember, but she makes no reference to a younger child in the genealogical research she did.

I’ve tried finding other newspaper articles for things like birth announcements. I even looked through the 1900 census for the country trying to find a Miller family with a child about that age. I’m just not sure where else to look

One of my third great-grandfathers is a frustrating brick wall. He married my third great-grandmother sometime in the 1850s. She was living with her parents in the 1850 census and in 1860 she has two kids and a new last name but she's living with her older brother's family.

I can't find a marriage certificate, a death record or anything else. I'm guessing that his name is John McCarty (his son was named John) but I have had no luck. It appears his wife remarried in 1860 so it's likely that he died or they divorced.

Wife Nancy Noland 1832-1910 born in Kentucky

Son John McCarty 1855

Daughter Nancy Jane McCarty 1857 born Kentucky died Franklin County, Kentucky.

In the 1880 census both kids say their father was born in Kentucky. Obviously, this could be wrong.

Is there a reason besides death or divorce that would lead a man to no be with his family in the 1850s? I'm trying to think of other avenues to look for him.

If anyone has any suggestions or ideas that could spark something I would be so grateful.

I’m having trouble finding proof of my great grandparents getting married, I’ve been researching on my own for about a year now and have had virtually no luck, I’m close to given up on it altogether lol. I’ve been told by family members that they got married around April 1938 in Cincinnati OH.

It’s Raybourne Gallagher b. 1914 in Knox County KY. He moved around to various nearby counties like Newport KY, and Rita Kistner b. 1917 in Cincinnati OH. They lived with my great grandmothers sister and her husband for a while in Cincinnati until they eventually moved and settled in Barbourville KY

Hi! For some time now I’m trying to figure out about one person of my family. I can’t find anything about him except something on CESMA, and (if it’s him) and an arrival in the 1902. The Archivios Civil Sucesion find something about him, but I need to go there in person or send someone out for me, and since then I can’t get in touch with them (I asked on August 3rd if I can pay and have them digitally in my E-mail (I’m from Italy)).

Someone can give me advice? Maybe from someone who needed to talk with them too. Thank you!

(Sorry for my English ahaha, and sorry for the incorrect flair, I don’t know what to chose)

Have you come across someone who did a major good deed? I don't mean like supporting a military event, but just kindness. I was terribly impressed with a story from a friend's family history (ok, cheating, since this isn't in my own tree) During the great depression, her great-grandparents' neighbors starting losing their farms from repossession by banks. Then the banks bundled the debt and started selling the debts for pennies on the dollar (maybe because they couldn't get buyers at full price? idk) My friends' ancestors must have had some non-bank capital, because they bought the debt for many of their neighbors. Then they gave the land back to the original owners. Apparently they "saved" an entire small Iowa town.

What have you found?

My 4GGF, Johann Hermann Bruns (1842-1918) is an illegitimate child of his mother, Friederike Bruns (1823-????). And I'm wondering if It's ever possible to find his father and who he was. The only birth record I have of Johann is this: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPNB-6QH1?lang=en, and I'm POSITIVE it doesn't even contain his name, and that maybe whoever tagged it accidentally chose the wrong one? I'm not sure.

Then the only other confirmed record of his mother is the immigration record: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2757-PYF?lang=en and despite Johann being alive during this time, where he would roughly be about 10 years old, he is nowhere to be seen on that record, however, there does seem to be an 'Ernst Bruns' attached. Whoever he is, I am not sure. Whether it is the father or a brother to Friederike isn't known.

Despite the immigration, I cannot find where they moved afterwards, nor can I find a grave. Though I do know that Johann was buried along with his wife in Missouri: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/23042447/john_h-bruns.

Any information helps, and thanks in advance.

This is my first post, so I hope I’m putting it in the right place. My g.g.grandfather was Joseph Brook Sanders, born in Devon, England in 1836. He is with his family in 1841 and 51, but hasn’t been found in 1861. He resurfaces in Devon in 1865 when his first known child is born. He is married to a German lady named Lydia Sieffert, although I have never found a marriage record. They have three children together, including my g.grandmother.

In 1881, Lydia is in Mile End, London, England and says she is widowed. She also says she was born in Brazil, not Germany, and that she is a naturalised citizen. So that is part of this puzzle. The other part is that Joseph Brook Sanders isn’t dead, he resurfaces in Brazil applying for a passport in 1891. Also, I recently found an 1874 Freemason record for him which states ‘raised in Brazil’. I paid them to do a search but unfortunately they were unable to say where in Brazil. He was thrown out of the Fulham lodge for not paying his membership. I also found bankruptcy records in London newspapers, so think he may have fled the country to avoid his debts.

In 1871 the family are living in a house in Fulham with a servant, but by 1881 Lydia is in a room in the East End which is quite a difference. The family were definitely still in Fulham until 1875 as that is where their last child was born.

The main facts I am looking for are about his life in Brazil. Did he start a new family there? When and where did he die? Did he use the passport he gained in 1891 to maybe move again to another country? He was a master builder/carpenter so should have been easily able to find work. Any help and ideas would be welcome, this has been a brick wall for so long. TIA

TLDR: Searching for Joseph Brook Sanders in Brazil from 1875 onwards (born Devon, England 1836)

My mom and her siblings, along with my dad and his siblings, lived around 20 minutes away in a very rural part of the Midwest. They all went to the same school but all moved away for college. My mom and dad both left to Houston, and started dating again, they dated a little in highschool so it was like a reuinion for them.(which is rare within itself). I dont know how they got together, but my dad's brother started dating my mom's sister. I've never met anyone else have this happen to their family. ​I think its called a siblings exchange? Please help me out!

I'm wondering if anyone else has come across a similar thing...

On my Mum's paternal side, her 2nd great granduncle, a doctor from Canada, was friends with Henry Bonham-Carter (1827-1921). On her maternal side, her English great grandfather, a postman, was friends with Henry's son, Gerard (1865-1956), and they played cricket together. I doubt this is that unusual but it's just crazy to me!

I've been reading some of the previous discussions here about organising research, but I'm interested in one particular bit that I haven't really found an answer to.

Say you find a newspaper article, census entry or other record for John Smith. You already have several John Smiths who could possibly be the person in the record, but you don't have enough evidence yet to decide. Or he could be another John Smith you haven't identified before.

What do you actually do with that record in the meantime?

Do you create another temporary John in your family history software, put it in a spreadsheet/database, save it somewhere to investigate later, or something else?

I'm particularly interested in how people deal with this if they have a lot of same-name people, or are doing one-name/one-place studies where you can collect a lot of names and records quite quickly.

I'm not looking for the “correct” method. I'm curious what people actually do in practice.