Quick Tip - Look Around the Neighborhood

This came up in a class I was leading the other day. It's just one of those things that you might do automatically, you just never think to share as a research strategy. I'm not talking about drinking too much coffee or falling asleep at the keyboard!

Here's the tip: If you've found a relative on a census record and especially if that relative lived in a relatively small town, take the time to look at 2 or 3 pages before and 2 or 3 pages after the page where you've found your research subject. You'll be surprised how many people you'll find who are either definitely or at least probably related to your family. I can't tell you how many times I found the families of the "Head of Household" or families carrying the maiden name of the "Wife"! It could give you a number of leads to put on your "To-Do" list, your Research Plan.

I'm NOT recommending what we refer to as "Pin Ball Genealogy". I want you to stay focused on the reason you came to that page in the first place! Don't stray! But it won't hurt to make some research notes to follow AFTER you've found what you were looking for in the first place.

Step ONE: Have a specific reason to be researching today
Step TWO: If it's a relevant census record you've found, take a look around the neighborhood
Step THREE: STAY FOCUSED! If you find something interesting, interesting enough to tempt you to stray, create some research notes/plans to come back to AFTER you've solve the purpose at hand.

[caption id="attachment_1146" align="alignnone" width="216"] My 4th GGrandmother is here, Tabitha Robertson (pick a spelling!) in her daughter's household. Rochelle, Holt and Cantrell are all related. And this is just one page![/caption]