Ancestral Findings

The 1810 US federal census is a valuable genealogical document. While it is simpler and more basic than later censuses, it is still a useful and important research tool for those conducting research in American genealogy. It captures a unique moment in American history. Here is what you need to know about the 1810 US federal census… Show Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/a-closer-look-at-the-18...

Dolley Madison was the 4th First Lady of the United States. The wife of James Madison, she is famous for saving the portrait of George Washington from the White House during the War of 1812. However, there is so much more to her story than that. Here's what you need to know about Dolley Payne Todd Madison… Show Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/americas-first-ladies-dolley-madison/   Click Here...

The 1820 US federal census is the last one to not use pre-printed forms. Because enumerators often drew their own columns, it can sometimes be challenging to interpret the results of this census. However, the effort is worth it for genealogists. Here is what you need to know about the 1820 US federal census… Show Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/the-1820-us-federal-census-a-closer-look/   Clic...

Alaska has some unique folklore associated with it. Being the largest US state, and the one with the most uninhabited land, Alaska is the perfect place for mysterious things to happen. It also has a rich oral history of Inuit legends. Here are some of the most intriguing pieces of Alaskan folklore… Show Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/the-folklore-of-america-alaska/   Click Here to listen to...

The 1830 US federal census is a unique snapshot in time, showing us what the country and our relatives looked like at that one moment in time. Despite not recording the names of every family member—only heads of households—it still provides some truly valuable genealogical information. Here's what you should know about the 1830 US federal census… Show Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/a-closer-...

Who was Thomas Jefferson's, First Lady? His wife had died twenty years prior to him becoming president. In fact, his eldest daughter, Martha, filled in the First Lady duties during Jefferson's presidency, setting a precedent for close relatives and friends to perform the role when a wife wasn't available. This is Martha Jefferson Randolph's story… Show Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/americas...

The 1840 US federal census is the sixth one done by the United States and the first one that has most of the pages still available for use by researchers today. It is a far more valuable research tool for genealogy than you might imagine. Here's what you need to know about it… Show Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/a-look-at-the-1840-us-federal-census/   Click Here to listen to the weekly podca...

Each state in the union has its own unique folklore. Some are spooky, some are strange, some is fascinating, and some are actually educational. Here are some of the spookier tales from the unique and interesting folklore of the state of Alabama… Show Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/the-folklore-of-america-alabama/   Click Here to listen to the weekly podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/pod...

The 1850 US federal census was a historic one in a few important ways. The most important and obvious is that it is the first one to record the names of everyone in a household, not just the head of household. This makes it an extraordinarily important one to genealogists. Here are the other things you need to know about this remarkable census… Show Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/a-look-at-t...

Abigail Adams was the wife of John Adams, the second president of the United States. Much is known about her life because of the extensive correspondence she left behind. Rather than burning it to preserve her privacy, as was common at the time after a prominent woman died, her family preserved it. This is her story… Show Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/americas-first-ladies-abigail-adams/  ...

The National Museum of the United States Air Force is a historic treasure that you must visit. Learn more about the museum and its history here! Show Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/the-national-museum-of-the-united-states-air-force   Click Here to listen to the weekly podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast Weekly Giveaways: https://ancestralfindings.com/drawing Genealogy eBooks: http...

The US federal census is gone, meaning it is not available for modern genealogists to use. Its loss in a fire in the 1930s was a huge loss to genealogy. Yet, there are ways around the twenty-year gap in information its absence left. Land records are one of those ways. This is what they are, where to find them, and how to use them. Show Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/land-records-substitutes-...

The 1890 US federal census is not available for genealogists to use, thanks to it being destroyed in a fire in the 1930s. This does not mean that all useful genealogical information between the 1880 and 1900 censuses is lost. There are a lot of alternate records genealogists can use to bridge the gap. Maps are one of them. This is how to use them to improve your 1890s genealogy research. Show Note...

If you are looking for information that is missing from your family tree thanks to the missing 1890 US federal census, consider looking at church records. They can be a treasure trove of 1890s information on your family. This is what church records are, how to use them, and what information you may find about your family in them. Show Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/church-records-substitutes...

The 1890 US federal census is not available for genealogists to use, thanks to it being destroyed in a fire in the 1930s. This does not mean that all family history information from that era is lost. There are a lot of different genealogical sources you can use to bridge the genealogical gap. Tax records are one of them. Show Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/tax-records-substitutes-for-the-189...

Most genealogists know the 1890 US federal census is gone. It leaves a large gap in the genealogical record, which can make it challenging to fill in the information on your family tree, or connect the 1890 generation to the one before it. The good news is there are other records you can use to get the information you need. This is how to use vital records to get past the 1890 census. Show Notes:...

Are you looking for a way to learn more about your 1890s-era ancestors and are frustrated by the absence of the 1890 US federal census? There are a lot of good substitutes for this information out there, and city and town directories are one of them. This is what they are and how they can help you fill in the 1880 to 1900 gaps on your family tree. Show Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/town-dir...

The 1890 US federal census is missing. There's nothing we can do about that. There is, though, a way we can still find information on our relatives from this time period, even without it. In fact, there are several ways. State census records are one. This is what you need to know about these wonderfully valuable genealogical records. Show Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/state-censuses-substit...

There are several good substitutes for the 1890 US federal census. Just because it is gone does not mean you can't find out what your ancestors were doing during that time, or the twenty years between the 1880 and 1900 censuses. The 1890 Veterans Census, aka Veterans Schedule, is an excellent 1890 census substitute. This is what you need to know about it. Show Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/...

Genealogical ephemera can be wonderfully useful in filling in the gaps left by the absence of the 1890 US federal census. You can find ephemera of all kinds in your grandma's attic, in local archives and historical societies scanned onto websites like Ancestry.com, and even for sale on eBay. These are some common types of genealogy ephemera, and what information it can give you. Show Notes: https:...

Old newspaper records are one of the best substitutes for the 1890 census, which was destroyed in a fire in the 1930s. The absence of this census is often frustrating to genealogists. But, there are a number of alternate sources you can use to fill in the information gaps. Old newspapers are a very effective and important record set in your genealogical quest. Show Notes: https://ancestralfindings...

In WWII, one young soldier named Horace Greasley braved a barrage of Nazi soldiers most every night to break out of his prisoner of war camp to meet up with the woman he loved. Each night, he would break back in, with the guards never the wiser as to his more than two hundred escapes. This is his incredible and truly romantic story. Show Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/the-amazing-story-of-ho...

What Were Your Ancestors Doing in the 1770s? The 1770s were a decade of innovations, inventions, and political change in the world, and particularly in the British colonies in North America, which were experiencing revolutionary sentiment in the early part of the decade. Your ancestors may have been affected by these things, and at least probably knew about them. These are the highlights of the 17...

What Were Your Ancestors Doing in the 1780s? The 1780s were a decade of transition from the Age of Enlightenment to the Industrial Revolution. It was big on philosophy, laying the foundations of modern philosophy we still use today. The American Revolution, new inventions, and scientific discoveries all made this decade unique in our planet's history. Show Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/what...

Vermont is our 14th state, the first to join the nation after the Revolution. It also spent some time as an independent nation. Here's Vermont's story… Show Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/vermont/   Click Here to listen to the weekly podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast Weekly Giveaways: https://ancestralfindings.com/drawing Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Ha...