Category Archives: Research

Category focuses on Research in Genealogy and History as it relates to Genealogy.

In the Context of the Family

Besides fitting events in your ancestor’s life into national and regional historical events, consider fitting them into other events in their immediate family as well. Had a parent just died when a child decided to move? Did a parent’s marriage to a new spouse take place a few years before the child left home? Always consider what was going on within your ancestor’s family when certain things were happening in their life.

Smihts in That Database?

Have you considered the possibility of transposition errors when searching that online database? Is there any chance that Smith was entered as Smiht?

Tennessee Place Names and Post Offices

Those with Tennessee connections may wish to check out this database on the Tennessee State Library and Archives website http://www.tn.gov/tsla/history/places/postoff.htm.

The list is based on records at National Archives listing postmaster appointments from 1832 to 1971 (and was taken from National Archives microfilm publications M1131 and M841).

SSDI Entries Not Always Precise

Remember that not all entries in the SSDI are created equally. My grandfather’s SSDI entry only indicates a year and month of death.

Consequently if I enter his date of death-7 December 1968 in the search box, he will not be located as the “7” is not one of the fields in his entry.

Always consider making your searches less specific and keep in mind the reality of how many matches you are going to get. There won’t be many Cecil Neills in the database to begin with. A death year of 1968 is most likely precise enough.

A Different Take on the Social Security Master Death File

This website has the Social Security Master Death File in a slightly different format. You can click on the year, then click on the day of the month and it will pull up a list (give it some time) of everyone in the Social Security Master Death File who was born on that date.

Of course the Master Death File is not perfect but this is an interesting way to search it.

Go here: http://www.ssdmf.info/

scroll down to the years and choose your year. Then choose the date within that year. I easily got a list of everyone in the Social Security Master Death File born on 27 January 1917.