Reposting one of the more popular recent episodes with tried-and-true strategies in genealogy research. Most genealogists start with the “Big Four” record groups—census, vital, land, and probate. But what happens when those records run out… or don’t give you the answers you need? In this video, I’ll show you how to go beyond the Big […]
Master AncestryDNA grouping to organize your cousin matches efficiently. Sort your DNA matches by branches of the family tree and clarify your research results. We’ll talk about the NEW ThruLines® and the DNA match list. Managing thousands of DNA matches can feel overwhelming when you start genealogy research. This guide simplifies the process by demonstrating […]
What records actually prove a marriage, and which ones are simply evidence that it likely occurred? In this video, I walk through common genealogy records and explain what each one truly records. We’ll look at marriage licenses, returns and certificates, bonds versus banns, civil and church marriage registers, divorce records, probate and land records, obituaries, […]
North Carolina genealogy research is much bigger than Ancestry and FamilySearch. Understanding the colony and state’s changing governments, settlement patterns, migration routes, county formations, and record repositories can help you find the records that explain your ancestor’s life. In this video, I take a quick trip through North Carolina history and then show you where […]
Learn how to use NC Ancestry for your North Carolina genealogy research. This guide walks you through the site to find your ancestors. Searching for records in North Carolina can be difficult, but the NC Ancestry website simplifies the process. This video is designed for family historians who need a reliable starting point for tracing […]
Have you ever searched Ancestry® for an ancestor you know should be there… only to come up empty? The problem may not be your ancestor—it may be how you’re searching. In this video, I’ll walk you through 10 practical search strategies I use when Ancestry isn’t finding the records I know should exist. These are […]
AncestryDNA has updated how it predicts certain close-family relationships. Instead of relying primarily on the total number of centimorgans you share with one DNA match, Ancestry can now examine patterns of DNA sharing among networks of shared matches. In this video, I’ll show you what has changed in the DNA Match List and explain how […]
Ancestry has begun rolling out a redesigned ThruLines experience, and in this video I’ll show you what’s new, how it works, and why I think it’s a major improvement for DNA research. We’ll explore the new ancestor and descendant views, compare the new layout with the classic version, and look at how Ancestry is helping […]
Think you know everything about Find a Grave? Think again! In this video, I’ll show you several free Find a Grave tips and tricks that can make your genealogy research more accurate, more organized, and more productive. Whether you’re brand new to Find a Grave or have been using it for years, there are features […]
This episode, produced earlier this year, is full of key strategies that can be used to build a successful family history. Do you know the Big Four record groups you should search for every ancestor? If you can remember Census, Vital, Land, and Probate, you can build and prove your lineage generation after generation. In […]
