Category Archives: How To’s, Hints & Tips

Was Grandma A Native Born Alien?

In the United States, during the time before the Cable Act, a native born American woman would lose her citizenship status if she married a man who was an alien. This explains why the 1920 census for my children’s great-great-grandmother indicated she was an alien even though she was born in New York State. Her husband was an unnaturalized Greek immigrant.

Did your female ancestor lose her citizenship because her husband was an alien?

How much difference does a letter make?

Remember that a “one-letter” typo can make all the difference. An “a” at the end of Johann can make it Johanna, not only changing the name but also changing the gender.

Who were the debtors?

If you’ve got an estate settlement for your ancestor, look at the names of the people who owed him money. Any chance they are relatives?

Homesteaders Had to be Citizens

If your ancestor filed a homestead claim under the United states Homestead Act of 1862, he had to be a citizen of the United States. This might be a place to locate your ancestor’s naturalization record if he naturalized in some unknown location “back East” before moving west to homestead.

The Widow Might Not Be The Mother

Henry Smith leaves a widow and eight children when he dies in 1820. It is possible that she is the mother of all his children, some of his children, or none of his children.

Simply surviving him does not make her the mother of all his children.