Great Aunt Melissa left wonderful clues about my family (she's the one standing in the middle above). In 1989, I innocently set out to learn more about my paternal ancestors mentioned in her 1964 family history notes. Little did I know that her facts were quite a distance from the mark and that my curiosity about the past would take on a life of its own ...
Great Aunt Melissa's Original Notes
By posting some of my own family history research, others may find ideas, hints, or just inspiration to keep on trying. To keep things simple, I've included a sampling of specific genealogy reports for some of the families I am researching and my complete ancestry report.
NOTE: Dates are intentionally omitted for the living.
Cross-stitch Sampler
by Elizabeth Tenneson, 1809This sampler was passed down to Melissa (Wilson) Lambert, yes, my Great Aunt Melissa above, who passed it along to her daughter who, in turn, passed it down to Melissa's granddaughter. I did not know of its existence until meeting my cousin via email. She had been told it was done by a "Wilson Cousin". As soon as she sent me the transcription, I told her of its great value to us - Elizabeth Tenneson is our Great-great-great-grandmother!
My great-great grandparents,
James & Eliza Jane (Rittenburg) Hinton,
c. 1865 ferrotype
HINTS & TIPS
Family history is fascinating, but without thorough documentation or at the very least a preponderance of evidence it is reduced to family lore. Information offered by others is always welcome, but if not accompanied by supporting documentation, it is a notebook full of valuable clues that must be proven over time.
DOCUMENT SOURCES CAREFULLY
Internet genealogists have to be some of the friendliest folks in the world.
- Don't take advantage of anyone
- Don't ask anyone to violate copyrights.
- In return, share your knowledge and areas of expertise with others.
Enjoy the hunt and everything you learn along the way---
history, geography, old handwriting, traditions, cultures, and more!!!
WHERE DID I BEGIN?
- Gathered together what I knew about my family. Wrote down the family stories I was told over the years and added them to Aunt Melissa's notes. I started separate notebooks for my maternal and paternal branches.
- Set out to prove and/or document the stories via census records, deeds, wills, birth, death, and marriage records, then corrected the original information with the new-found facts.
- Carefully listed ALL sources each step of the way.
- Charted ALL dead-ends so I (or others) don't waste time on those avenues again.
(Who knows? They may link up later!)- Contacted old and "new" cousins in person, on-line, on the phone, or by mail to obtain photos, documents, letters, and more stories to prove.
- Posted queries at all appropriate web sites. (HINT: I list the name(s) of those I'm searching for with date ranges, locales, and other clues such as the given names of their children. I am amazed how well this method works! Wish I'd hooked up to the 'net' earlier.)
- Treated EVERYTHING I was told or given by others as more clues unless documentation was provided.
See STEP 2.- Organized all my factual information, photos, and documents using non-acid papers and archival-safe sheet protectors to preserve my efforts. (Added many more binders over time!)
- I continue to repeat the steps above as needed.
- Above all, I try to remain patient. Some lines don't seem to be going anywhere and then suddenly - a gold mine!
Eureka!!!
My WILSON Colonial Immigrant Ancestor
Found March 1998
Links to My Research
Autograph Book
My ancestors signatures via old documents.Great Aunt Melissa's Original Notes
Ye Olde Documents
Deeds, wills, petitions, & other old documents.Genealogy Reports
Please email me regarding sources of information in the reports below.
Ancestors of Rick Ramos
Ramos, Delgado, Rosello, Diaz, Parra, Grave de Peralta, & moreMy Hinton Genealogical Reports
HINTON of Wales, Ontario, Michigan, Missouri, and Iowa
A joint effort with another descendant.Descendants of Johan Georg RIBBLE
Descendants of Michael RITTENBURG
(including many spelling variations)My Wilson Genealogical Reports
WILS0N of Massachusetts, Connecticut, Quebec, Ontario, and Michigan
Traditional research shared with other descendants.LEE of County Westmeath, Ireland and Michigan
Based upon family interviews, memorabilia, and some traditional research.SUMMERS of Yorkshire, England and Middlesex Co., Ontario
A joint effort with an "on-line cousin".
Site Search
Includes old documents and genealogy reports
Enter Keywords or a Surname:
Great Links to My Ancestors & Yours
CANADA
IRELAND
GENERAL GENEALOGY
SURNAMES and QUERY SITES
UNITED STATES
CREDITS
CANADA
1871 Ontario Census Index
Searchable On-line Database by head-of-household1901 Census of Canada
Searchable On-line Database by geographic location1911 Census of Canada
Searchable On-line Database by geographic locationGranny's Genealogy Garden
An AMAZING amount of Ontario census & vital records!British Columbia Archives Vital Events Index
Searchable on-line
Genealogy Helplist Canada
Volunteer "Look-ups"Genealogy and Local History County of Halton, Ontario
Hemmingford, Quebec Cemetery Records
Includes some other nearby cemeteries
database by Garry and Jeannie Bickes
Offered as a contribution to the Hemmingford Bicentennial - 1999Huntingdon Co., Quebec GenWeb Project
Looking 4 Kin Genealogy Links & Chat
Well organized genealogy links and a genealogy chatroom!OCFA '98: Ontario Cemetery Finding Aid
Over 2,000,000 entries!Quebec & Eastern Townships Genealogy Research Page
by Marlene Simmons
IRELAND
Irish Genealogical Society, International
The Irish Ancestral Research Association (TIARA)
Irish Times and A Portal Site for Ireland
UNITED STATES
Bureau of Land Management
Search "The Official Land Patents Records Site"
Retrieve actual documents as TIFF files on-line!Looking 4 Kin Genealogy Links & Chat
Well organized genealogy links and a genealogy chatroom!SAMPUBCO
U.S. Wills, Naturalizations, & Census Records
Search the indices; Obtain records for a very low feeUnion Army Regimental History Index
Ye Olde Documents
Deeds, wills, petitions, & other old documents.
(Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, & Michigan)
CONNECTICUT
The Connecticut Gravestone Network
Important information for anyone interested in gravestones and cemeteriesCoventry, Tolland Co., CT GenWeb Project
This is my OTHER web site!Tolland Co., CT GenWeb Project
Early Connecticut Marriages, 1719-1799
FLORIDA
Clerk of the Circuit Court, Hillsborough County, FL
Official Records Index Search by Party or Business NameCity of Tampa Cemeteries Search Page
R. L. Polk Co.'s City of Tampa Directory, 1910 and 1915
State University System of Florida
Publication of Archival Library & Museum MaterialsTRAILS: Tampa History and Obituary Index
Hillsborough County Public Library CooperativeUniversity of South Florida Special Collections
View photos, marriage licenses, and more!
ILLINOIS
Illinois State Archives Online Databases
Civil War and Other Veterans; Statewide Marriage Index, 1763-1900;
Public Domain Land Sales; and much more!
KANSAS
MICHIGAN
1870 Michigan Census Index and Images
Library of Michigan Searchable On-line ResourceGENDIS
Genealogical Death Indexing System, Michigan, 1867 - 1882Hinton Township, Mecosta Co., MI GenWeb
This is my OTHER web site!Mecosta Co., MI GenWeb Project
hosted by Jan CortezPortrait and Biographical Album of Mecosta County [Michigan]...
Courtesy of Clarke Historical Library Central Michigan University on-line library.
Other Michigan titles also available!
MISSOURI
NEW YORK
Clinton Co., NY Genealogy References
Special Collections: Feinburg Library, SUNY Plattsburgh
The McLellan Collection, Manuscript Collection, and more!
Now found on RootsWeb!
SURNAME & QUERY SITES
Reiffenberg, Ritenberg, Rivenburgh, et.al. Links
Descendants of Jan Pietersen Scholl
GENERAL
Cemetery Records on the Internet
Looking 4 Kin Genealogy Links & Chat
Well organized genealogy links and a genealogy chatroom!RootsWeb's Guide to Tracing Family Trees
FIND TOPOGRAPHIC MAPS ONLINE.
Locate cemeteries, churches, schools, and other features.
OTHER INTERESTS
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18 Dec 2006
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CREDITS
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since February 1998.
Last updated 26 Jan 2008
Copyright © 1998 - 2008
Jan (Wilson) Ramos
Jan
(Wilson) Ramos