When I hit a brick wall in my search for Harrison Johnson’s parents, I turned to what I consider the genealogist’s most underused tool: the FAN Club approach. Developed by Elizabeth Shown Mills, the FAN principle directs researchers to systematically study a subject’s Family, Associates, and Neighbors — not just the subject themselves. By applying […]
Pre-1850 census records present one of genealogy’s most familiar frustrations — pages of tick marks with only the head of household named, no relationships specified, no birthplaces recorded, and names spelled however the enumerator heard them. Yet these same records, approached with the right analytical tools, can reveal family composition, birth year ranges, migration patterns,
Census Detective Work: Mining Early Census Records for Family Connections Read More »
Have you ever stared at a genealogical brick wall so long you could count every metaphorical brick? I’ve been there too. When direct evidence fails us, I’ve found that turning to careful assembly and analysis of indirect evidence can crack open even the most stubborn ancestral mysteries. Today, I want to share how this methodical
Using Indirect Evidence to Break Through Brick Walls: The Harrison Johnson Case Study Read More »
