How to research your family history

How to Research Your

Family History?

Cypress Historical SocietyCypress, Texas

Where to Start?

• Your Immediate Family

1. Interviews

2. Collect documents (Birth, Death, Marriage, Deeds, Citizenship papers)

3. The Family Bible

4. The family “Hoarder” or fellow Genealogist

• The “Family Group Sheet”

The Family Group Sheet

• Fill One Out for Each Family• Use “Abt”, “Bef”, and “Aft”• Make “Source” notes

The Family Group SheetAn Example of making entries to a Family Group Sheet:1910 Census-Harris County, Texas

Quality of your Information Source

• Primary Sources: “an artifact, a document, a recording, or other source of information that was created at the time under study, for which the writer has personal knowledge”.

(Examples – A Birth Date written on a Birth Certificate, filled out by the Mother)

• Secondary Source: “accounts written after the fact with the benefit of hindsight, which cite, comment on, or build upon primary sources”.

(Examples – A Birth Date put on a Death Certificate or grave stone)

Pedigree Chart

U.S. Census Records

• Available 1790-1940 (No 1890!)

• 1850 is oldest census available for Texas residents

• Different information recorded each year

• Location, Location, Location!

1. Thank goodness for Indexes

2. Precincts and Enumeration Districts (EDs)

• Don’t believe everything you see!

1850 Federal Census

1850 Non-Population Schedules - Agriculture• Available between 1850 & 1880 for Agriculture, Industry,

Mortality, and Social Statistics

1850 Federal Census

Slave Schedules• Avail for 1850 & 1860

1900 Federal Census

Month/Year of BirthYears Married

# Children

Year Immigrated

# Years in U.S.

How Do I Find Someone in the U.S. Census?

• Computer index

• Microfilm Index Cards (by Soundex)

• Find their Location

• Enumeration Districts (EDs)

Enumeration Districts (EDs)

www.Ancestry.com

Pitfalls Using Census Records

• Miss-spelled Names

• False or Wrong Information

• Bad Memory

Church RecordsSalem Lutheran

Church of Rosehill

• Good Primary Source (Until Transcribed!)

• Births, Marriages, Deaths, Confirmation• Usually better than Civil Records

Cemetery Records

• Good Primary Source for Death Date

• Often contains Birth Date, Maiden Name, Relationship info, Military info, Church affiliation.

• Contact Local Societies to do “Look-Ups”

• Transcribed sources:

• Local Society Publications (Example: Chaparral’s “Cemeteries of Northwest Harris County and Southwest Montgomery County” ).

• Internet: www.Findagrave.com

Cemetery RecordsSalem Lutheran

Church of Rosehill

Visit and Take Photographs . . .

Cemetery RecordsSalem Lutheran

Church of Rosehill

. . . Before it is Too Late.

Deterioration of Grave Stones

Same stone April, 2009Headstone before 1989

What’s Available at the CHS Library?

Cypress Historical Society

Genealogy and History Research Library

Tuesday 9am – 4pm Wednesday 9am – 4pm Thursday 9am – 4pm 3rd Saturday 11am – 2pm

281-758-0083cypresshistsociety@att.net

www.cypresshistoricalsociety.com

Available at the CHS Library

Local Census Records (Printed) and access to Ancestry.com

Local Church Records:• Salem Lutheran• St John Lutheran• St Lucas Lutheran• Trinity Lutheran• Hockley Catholic (early St. Ann’s)

Available at the CHS Library

Darline Roth’s Cypress area Genealogy

Donated Family History Books

Available at the CHS Library

Scrapbooks of Local Newspaper Articles, Obituaries, & Wedding Announcements

Donated Picture Collections

Available at the CHS Library

Reference Maps

Roads & Homes in 1915(with Modern Road Overlay in Red)

Land Ownership in 1965

Available at the CHS Library

Local Cemetery Map

Obituary Scrapbooks

Available at the CHS Library

Local and Texas History Books and Articles

Local Magazine Articles

Internet Resources

• Pay Sites:

• www.ancestry.com (U.S. $239/yr; World $359/yr)

• www.genealogybank.com ($70/yr)

• www.fold3.com (Military Records) ($80/yr)

• newspaperarchive.com ($144/yr)

• Free Sites:• www.findagrave.com• usgenweb.orgwww.cyndislist.com• www.cyndislist.com• www.familysearch.org (Must Register)