Uncovering Your Black Sheep Ancestors

Barbara BarnesThe New Delaware County Clerk

Carol Savage

2013 Uncovering Your Black Sheep Ancestorswww.SlideShare.net/JeffSavage01

Genealogical Profiling

• A Family Detectives Guide to Hard-to-Find Ancestors• At one time or another, we all run into certain ancestors who cause us

genealogical grief. If you encounter one of these problematic people, use this research aid to re-start your search.

Black Sheep

• The proverbial skeleton in the closet• Convict• Outlaw• Madam• Pirate• Other “colorful” character

Black Sheep – Suggested Sources

• Census (check occupation field)• Coroner and funeral home records• Court Records• FBI, prison and institutional records• Marriage and divorce records• Message boards• Newspapers and obituaries

Census Evader

This individual or family makes an appearance in certain federal enumerations but not in others

Census Evader – Suggested Sources

• City directories• Soundex indexes to 1880 and later censuses• Census searches by first name only and/or demographic

characteristics• State and territorial censuses• Tax lists

Drifter

Moves around more than a band of gypsies. Shows up in adifferent states and localities. Never seems to stay put for an extended period.

Drifter – Suggested Sources

• Censuses (check birthplace fields)• City directories• Deeds and land records• Migration and boundary-change maps• Social histories

Fleeting Female

She might be the mother whose maiden name eludes you, or the daughter whose marriage you can’t pin down.

Fleeting Female – Suggested Sources• Court records• Convent records• Marriage and divorce records• Military pension files• Naturalization papers• Newspaper society pages• Records of her husband and siblings

Mystery Immigrant

Your missing link to the old country. You might know approximately when he came, but can’t retrace his journey or pinpoint his town of origin.

Mystery Immigrant – Suggested Sources• Alien registrations• Censuses (check birthplace and language fields)• Censuses (check check neighbors born in same county)• Church records• Emigration lists• Ethnic newspapers• Naturalization papers• Newspapers’ ship arrival notices• Passenger arrival lists

Orphan or Adoptee

Seemingly, the ultimate brick wall, since the parents’ identies may be unknown or purposely concealed.

Orphan or Adoptee – Suggested Sources• Amended or delayed birth certificates• Apprenticeships• Censuses• Family interviews• Guardianships and orphans court records• Message boards and support groups• Newspaper adoption notices• Orphan train records• Orphanage records

From: Irv Rabideau, Genealogy 104, 03/24/11Adapted from: Lisa A Alzo, “Trouble Makers,” Family Tree Magazine (May 2009)

UNCOVERING YOUR BLACK SHEEP ANCESTORSSEVEN SOURCES FOR SCANDALS

Marriage/Divorce Records Where to write for vital records• www.cdc.gov/nchs/howto/w2w/w2welcom.htm• outlines availability and ordering procedures in each U.S. state

• If you don’t see divorces among your state’s vital records, try the Civil Court dockets. In these cases, juicy details about both spouses may show up in testimony transcripts.

Census Records

• Look closely at occupations in a census• Prostitutes might be named as • “sporting” women• a Household of “dressmakers” run by a “landlady” might be a brothel.

Coroner Records

• Coroners are involved in all types of unexplained deaths.• www.shoestringgenealogy.com/article/coroner.htm• and www.familysearch.org/catalog-search)

Asylum Records

• Institutionalization doesn’t necessarily mean your relative was loony; it might have been family friction. • Most asylum records no longer exist; so search for commitment

papers in probate courts.

Court Clerk Records

• For details of crimes, disputes and other family intrigues, the County Courthouse is your first stop.

FBI Files

• The FBI has kept files on millions of Americans since 1908 www.members.aol.com/rechtman/fbi.html• “Unlocking the Files of the FBI” by Gerald K. Harnes and David A.

Langbart• Footnote.com has some digitized FBI files. • You can also check the FBI website for records access.

Prison Records

• Prisoners appear in censuses under the incarcerating institution• www.cyndislist.com/prisons.htm• www.ancestorhunt.com/genealogical_prison_records.htm• You can always contact the prison administrators about records

access.

2013 Uncovering Your Black Sheep Ancestorswww.SlideShare.net/JeffSavage01