Genealogy and Family History Stack Exchange
Genealogy and Family History Stack Exchange

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1500 questions
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Preservation of original documents and photographs

Over the Christmas period this year I was staying with my elderly Grandfather and knowing my interest in the family history, he pulled out a load of certificates and documents from my late Grandmothers side of the family. Some if them dated back to…
AvieRose
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When did patronymics cease to be used in North Wales?

Searching for the marriage of Griffith Roberts and Jane Pritchard sometime between 1855 (when the groom would have been about 18 and the bride 25) and 1866 in Caernarvonshire, Wales (where they were both born and resident at the birth of their two…
user104
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4 answers

Can anyone interpret this report of a ship's charter for cargo?

In California Digital Newspaper Collection, there is a 'Shipping Intelligence' report I am trying to understand. It's in "Charters", "Shipping Intelligence", San Francisco Call, 25 January 1896, p.12, col.6 - search for 'Glenclova', which is the…
AdrianB38
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Tracing Elizabeth Watson of Winchelsea, Sussex after 1815?

Elizabeth Watson was born about 1793 at Winchelsea, Sussex, England. She is listed as mother to William Bourne Russell Watson, born 30 June 1815 at Winchelsea, Sussex, England. Family folk lore says she did not marry the father but that they…
Peter
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How likely is it that the England & Wales Census would be wrong about an age by ten years?

Or is it just a gap in the records? My 3xgreat-grandmother, Sarah Rule, is shown in the 1851, 1871 and 1881 Censuses for England and Wales with ages that would indicate a date of birth around 1809–1811, and a place of birth as Hull, Yorkshire,…
Verbeia
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Dating this photograph of a younger Emma (Vig) Froiland

Emma (Vig) Froiland (1885-1978) was the youngest child born to Nels and Lovise Vig. This is the same Emma (Vig) Froiland who, shortly before her death, relayed family tradition about Nels and Lovise' immigration. See the Genealogy.SE question,…
GeneJ
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How do I read this descendants tree?

I have, using Ancestry.co.uk found a link in my distant heritage to the Prettyjohn (variations: Prettejohn, Petitjohn) family originally located in Devon. One great source of information on this family, leading all the way back to the 16th Century,…
AvieRose
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How do I digitize documents that are folded or rolled?

I have received many newspaper clippings, certificates, photos, and other invaluable family heirlooms from a relative who would like them returned. Another question has given me great advice about scanning or photographing the documents. One thing…
fbrereto
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Finding original surname of adopted child from New York?

My late father-in-law was adopted by his step-father when he was 10. My late grandmother-in-law never talked about her first husband and there is some confusion on the first husband's surname. My father-in-law was born in 1934 in Syracuse, New…
Duncan
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Where can I search for elusive vital records (birth, names of parents, death) for my great grandmother, Celina Drollet?

Celina/Salina Drollet (or Drowlette,Drolet,Draulette,Drollette,etc) (b. abt 1866) and James Comstock (b. 1874) were the parents of my grandmother Mary Amelia Comstock (Mary was b. Mar 1897 Saranac, NY and she died 1997 in Ithaca,NY). Celina was…
susan williams
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What does "privately baptised" mean in a Welsh parish register of 1799?

The parish register for St. Dogwells, Pembrokeshire has the following entry for 1799: There is no burial record in this or an adjacent parish church in Wales for an infant John James between 1799 and 1802 with the correct parents. In the 10 year…
user104
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3 answers

What source detail should I include for a digital book?

I use the following to record my digital book sources. Should I include anything else? Author Editor Title Publication Place Publisher Publisher Year Page Format Website URL
Edward
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How do I deal with alternative spellings to names?

I am trying to find out information for an Arzula Hokum and am running head-first into issues with her name. Her first name sounds like Ursula and her last like some variant of Holcomb(e). How do I know if a given Ursula Holcomb (or some permutation…
fbrereto
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Do passenger lists for departures from the UK exist pre 1890?

Findmypast.co.uk has passenger lists for ships departing from the UK beginning in 1890. What about dates before 1890? Do the records exist anywhere? I'm particularly interested in departures to the US in 1855.
user47
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How to deal with inaccurate obituaries so I'm not perpetuating the errors?

I like to include obituaries and newspaper articles within my descendancy reports printed for other family members. Often the obituaries have small errors, like wrong town of birth, or year of immigration is off a year. People most often contact me…
Rusty Erpenbeck
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