Ancestral Findings

The Tenth Amendment is the last amendment in the Bill of Rights. It makes it clear that the powers of the Federal government are limited to only what is particularly given to it in the Constitution. If a power is not given to the Federal government in the Constitution, that power is reserved for the states, and sometimes to the people. This is what the Tenth Amendment means. Podcast Show Notes: ht...

The Ninth Amendment states that rights that are not listed in the Bill of Rights still exist, and are reserved to the people. But, this leaves a whole host of questions open about what those unlisted rights are. Scholars have debated over the exact meaning of the Ninth Amendment for more than two centuries, and the issue of the "unenumerated rights" it mentions is still an open question today. Thi...

If you are searching for a birth record for an ancestor, you might not find one if official birth registration was not required at the time and in the place they were born. However, you will likely come across a baptismal record, as most people in the past belonged to some kind of church. This is what baptismal records were, why they had them, and what type of information you may find on your ance...

Birth records are some of the first types of records you may look for when beginning your genealogy research. After all, most people in the western world have had some sort of documentation of their birth for the past thousand years. Modern birth certificates began being issued between 100 and 150 years ago. This is the information you might find on these documents. Podcast Show Notes:  https://an...

Martha Washington was the very first 1st lady of the United States. We all know this about her, and that she married George Washington. But, what about her life before him, and after him? Do you really know Martha Washington? Here is her story... Podcast Show Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/americas-first-ladies-martha-washington/ Click Here to listen to the weekly podcast: https://ancestralf...

The Sixteenth Amendment to the US Constitution establishes a federal income tax. There had only been one tax of this type before, to pay for the Civil War, and it was canceled not long after the end of that war. Those who supported an income tax thought it would help lower-income individuals by putting a greater tax burden on wealthier people. This is what you need to know about this most contenti...

The Fifteenth Amendment to the US Constitution gave African American men, including those who had been former slaves, the right to vote. While the amendment seemed simple, the US Supreme Court has interpreted it in a variety of ways in the past 150 years since it was ratified to the Constitution. This is what you need to know. Podcast Show Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/the-fifteenth-amendme...

What do you do if you can't find a marriage record, bond, or banns, no matter where you look? Fortunately, there are alternative ways to find a marriage date, or record that a marriage took place. Here are some places to look. Podcast Show Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/a-closer-look-at-marriage-records-4/   Click Here to listen to the weekly podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast We...

Marriage banns were the way marriages were legalized for centuries in most of the western world. There are records of the Roman Catholic church requiring them as early as eight hundred years ago in England. This is what marriage banns are, why they were used, and what information you might find there. Podcast Show Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/a-closer-look-at-marriage-records-3/   Click He...

You know we celebrate our nation's independence on the 4th of July. But, do you know how this holiday came to be? When was it first celebrated? What is its true meaning? Let me share with you this fascinating story of American history, today on the Ancestral Findings Podcast. Podcast Show Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/celebrating-national-heritage-4th-july/   Click Here to listen to the wee...

The Fourteenth Amendment is the second of the three so-called Civil War (or Reconstruction) amendments. It is also one of the amendments most frequently cited in US case law. It was adamantly opposed by the Confederate states, but they were required to ratify it in order to regain Congressional representation after the Civil War. Let's learn about this famous amendment to the Constitution. Podcast...

The Thirteenth Amendment to the US Constitution is the first of three so-called Civil War amendments, added to the Constitution right after the end of the war, to ensure the former slaves maintained their newfound freedom, and were given the same rights as those who had never been slaves. Podcast Show Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/the-thirteenth-amendment-the-constitutional-amendments/   Cl...

Marriage records are a basic part of genealogy research and are usually among the first official family records that beginning genealogists find. There can be a variety of information included on marriage records, depending on when and where the record was created. These are some examples of the types of information you may find on these records. Podcast Show Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/a...

Marriage records are a basic part of genealogy research and are usually among the first official family records that beginning genealogists find. There can be a variety of information included on marriage records, depending on when and where the record was created. These are some examples of the types of information you may find on these records. Podcast Show Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/a...

The Twelfth Amendment to the US Constitution gives us the modern way that presidential elections are conducted. The first four US presidential elections were conducted differently, and resulted in some issues between politically opposed Presidents and Vice Presidents. This amendment still governs how US presidential elections are conducted to this day. Podcast Show Notes: https://ancestralfindings...

The Eleventh Amendment is meant to keep citizens and businesses from suing states in federal court if they do not live in the states they are suing. The US Supreme Court has broadened this interpretation a little bit over the two centuries since the amendment was ratified to the Constitution. This is what you need to know about the eleventh amendment. Podcast Show Notes: https://ancestralfindings....

As a genealogist, one of the things you are no doubt concerned with is getting your young children interested in genealogy. After all, you want your genealogy work to be preserved and to continue long after you. Unless you donate all of your research to an archives or historical society, where it may or may not ever be used, you will need to have at least one child in your family who is interested...

Welcome to the Ancestral Findings Podcast . . . Here are the four best free genealogy websites you should be using, whether you have access to a membership site or are waiting until you are in a financial position to join one. Podcast Show Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/what-are-the-four-best-free-genealogy-websites/   Click Here to listen to the weekly podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com...

Are you building your genealogy book library for the first time? These are four books that would make a great addition. Podcast Show Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/4-genealogy-books-must-personal-library/ Click Here to listen to the weekly podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast Weekly Giveaways: https://ancestralfindings.com/drawing Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebo...

Do you have any ancient genealogical documents in your collection? Here's how to preserve them for future generations. Podcast Show Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/how-to-preserve-ancient-documents/   Click Here to listen to the weekly podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast Weekly Giveaways: https://ancestralfindings.com/drawing Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks H...

The history of the US passport in the United States is an interesting one and one that may assist with your genealogical research. Here's what you need to know. Podcast Show Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/history-of-the-us-passport-application/ Click Here to listen to the weekly podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast Weekly Giveaways: https://ancestralfindings.com/drawing Genealogy e...

The French were interacting with North American Natives for a century before the English. Here's how they established friendly relations and learned each others' languages… Podcast Show Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/before-american-colonization-the-french-and-the-fur-trade/   Click Here to listen to the weekly podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast Weekly Giveaways: https://ancestra...

Genealogy is mobile in the 21st century. If you use mobile devices and are a serious genealogist, you need these apps to do your best work wherever you happen to be. Podcast Show Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/genealogy-apps-to-help-you-with-on-the-road-research/ Click Here to listen to the weekly podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast Weekly Giveaways: https://ancestralfindings.com/...

The telephone was invented earlier than most people may realize. By 1900, it was already present in some private households. Podcast Show Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/modern-communication-a-history-of-the-telephone/ Click Here to listen to the weekly podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast Weekly Giveaways: https://ancestralfindings.com/drawing Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfin...

Irish genealogy research is very popular in the United States because so many of us have Irish ancestry. Here are some fantastic online resources for Irish genealogy to allow you to research your ancestors like a pro without having to actually go to Ireland. Podcast Show Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/how-to-do-irish-genealogy-research-without-crossing-the-atlantic/ Listen to the weekly podc...