deadend

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU COME TO A DEADEND

To Obtain Information On:

Age

First look for: Census, Vital records, Cemeteries.

Then look for: Military records, Taxation, Obituaries.

Birth Date

First look for: Vital records, Church records, Bible records.

Then look for: Cemeteries, Obituaries, Census, Newspapers, Military records.

Birthplace

First look for: Vital records, Church records, Census.

Then look for: Newspapers, Obituaries, Military records.

City of Parish of foreign birth

First look for: Church records, Genealogy, Biography, Obituaries, Naturalization and Citizenship.

Then look for: Emigration and Immigration, Vital records.

Country of foreign birth

First look for: Census, Emigration and Immigration, Naturalization and Citizenship, Vital records.

Then look for: Military records, Church records, Newspapers, Obituaries.

County origins and boundaries

First look for: History, Maps.

Then look for: Gazetteers.

Death

First look for: Vital records, Cemeteries, Probate records, Church records, Obituaries.

Then look for: Newpapers, Military records, Court records, Land and Property.

Divorce

First look for: Court records, Divorce records.

Then look for: Newspapers, Vital records.

Ethnicity

First look for: Minorities, Native Races, Societies.

Then look for: Church records, Emigration and Immigration, Naturalization and Citizenship.

Historical Background

First look for: History, Periodicals, Genealogy.

Then look for: Church History, Minorities.

Immigration or Emigration date

First look for: Emigration and Immigration, Naturalization and Citizenship, Genealogy.

Then look for: Census, Biography, Newspaper, Church records.

Maiden name

First look for: Vital records, Church records, Newspapers, Bible records.

Then look for: Military records, Cemeteries, Probate records, Obituaries.

Marriage

First look for: Vital records, Church records, Census, Newpapers, Bible records.

Then look for: Biography, Genealogy, Military records, Probate records, Land and Property, Nobility.

Occupation

First look for: Census, Directories, Emigration and Immigration, Civil Registration, Occupations, Probate records.

Then look for: Newspapers, Court records, Obituaries, Officials and Employees.

Parents, children and other family members

First look for: Vital records, Church records, Census, Probate records, Obituaries.

Then look for: Bible records, Newspapers, Emigration and Immigration, Land and Property.

Physical Description

First look for: Military records, Biography, Court records.

Then look for: Naturalization and Citizenship, Civil Registration, Church records, Emigration and Immigration, Genealogy, Newspapers.

Place-finding aids

First look for: Gazetteers, Maps.

Then look for: Directories, History, Periodicals, Land and Property, Taxation.

Place (town) when you only know the state

First look for: Census, Genealogy, Military records, Vital records, Church records, Directories.

Then look for: Biography, Probate records, History, Land and Property, Taxation.

Places family has lived

First look for: Census, Land and Property, History.

Then look for: Military records, Taxation, Obituaries.

Previous research (compilied records)

First look for: Genealogy, Periodicals, History.

Then look for: Biography, Societies, Nobility.

Record-finding aids

First look for: Archives and Libraries, Societies, Genealogy.

Then look for: Periodicals.

Religion

First look for: Church records, History, Biography, Civil Registration.

Then look for: Bible records, Cemeteries, Obituaries, Genealogy.