Welcome to My Genealogy Lens
I have been involved in my family research since 1982 and have been assisting others since 1990.
Be sure to visit PAGE 2
Here's my favorite link:
Table of Contents
- Guion Miller Roll (for Cherokee genealogical research)
- Beginnings
- Get Organized
- Family Tree Maker 2009 is HERE
- eBooks
- From those who offer their expertise
- Charts
- Where to Get Help
- Already a Footnote Member? Good until Aug 1st 2009
- Hidden Treasures
- Calculate Birth or Death Dates:
- Census Records
- Why Cemeteries
- Related Items on eBay
- Essential Books for the Genealogist Library
- Resources
- For Canada
- For the United Kingdom
- Message Boards
- Free Trial Memberships
- Related Items of Interest
- FREE Genealogy Items
- Go to Page 2
- What You'll Find on Page 2
- Special Offer
- Not a member?
- If this lens was helpful, please let me know.
Beginnings
As the old saying goes, you begin at the beginning. You are the beginning.
- Who are your parents? (every scrap of info you can get, ie birth dates, birth locations, places lived, schools attended, when, where... etc)
- Who were their parents?(every scrap of info you can get, ie birth dates, birth locations, places lived, schools attended, when, where, death dates, location, cemetery... etc.)
- Who were your grandparent's parents? (same as above)
By now I think you are getting the idea. You want to become a super sleuth and get to know as much as there is to know about your family.
You can get started here:
RootsWeb General Search
You can also download a FREE Family Tree Template below.
Downloadable Family Tree Template
Get Organized
Once you begin, you will start to collect a massive amount of information. What to do with it all?
There are several methods or dealing with the data and you will develop your own method once you get an understanding of the basics.
Once you decide just how you want to organize and maintain your collection of data, you will began to find genealogy is purely addictive.
You begin to know your family and ancestors on a more intimate level.
I have loved westerns all my life but it wasn't until I became familiar with my ancestors (their names, where & when they lived, what they did, etc.) that westerns became alive for me.
While watching Kevin Costner's "Wyatt Earp" (set in the 1880s time frame), I can recall thinking, "my great-great-grandmother must have dressed like that". All of a sudden, it made her very real for me.
Family Tree Maker 2009 is HERE
eBooks
Immediate Download
From those who offer their expertise
You will need a PDF reader such as Adobe Reader
This ebook is on sale and has a surprise bonus. Check it out!:
Step-by-Step Genealogy Guide: How to Make a Family Tree
This ebook is great for those just starting out. Answers many questions, like how to use the IGI. It's on sale too!
Genealogy: Uncovering Your Ancestry
Look here first! This ebook is on sale & has a surprise bonus!
Voodoo Genealogy...The Proven Family Tree Creation System
To research and create your family tree today, you need an expert guide or resource that can teach you the ropes and have you researching and finding valuable information in a very short time.
The Kitchen Table Genealogist: How To Research and Build Your Own Family Tree!
For the more experienced family genealogist:
Resource Kit! Packed full of information, tutorials, excel sheets and much more to help with researching Irish ancestors. Best for those with computer experience.
Guide To Irish Genealogy And Tracing Your Irish Ancestry Resource Pack
Genealogy ebook packed with family history research tips that reveal creative ways to outsmart your elusive ancestors!
The Desperate Genealogist's Idea Book: Creative Ways to Outsmart Your Elusive Ancestors
British Isles Family History Package (includes Pdf Resource Report + 2 Audio Podcasts + Screencast Video) To Aid Those Starting To Research Their UK Ancestors. Useful Breaking Down Brickwalls. *Bonus Video.
Nosey Genealogist: Beginning British Isles Family History!
Step by step instructions to preserve the Life Stories of YOUR family (on sale)
How to Create Life History Videos
Teaching Guides:
Printable Lapbooking Projects About Various People Groups And Eras In The History Of South Africa Including The San, The Dutch, The French Huguenots, The 1820 Settlers, The IsiXhosa, The Zulu, The Great Trek, The South African War And More.
South African History File Folder Projects.
Charts
Where to Get Help

Here is a place that has been assisting genealogist, whether the professional or the family genealogist, for decades:
Click here for The Ancestry Store
Once you start, you will see that older family members are willing to help. Older people love and NEED to talk about their youth.
They will offer you family stories and photos. These, you will come to learn, are more precious than gold or diamonds.
Also, you will want to visit your local library or newspaper for archives of the old editions.
I collect obits as there is allot of good info in an obituary! My OBIT page
Obituary Collection
Historic Newspapers Online
For my ancestors, I have started gathering World War Draft Registration cards. You can find these on Ancestry.com but you have to be a *member.
In the sample below, I see that General Monroe CROSS ("General" was his first name, not a rank) lost one eye prior to registering. The information also gathered from the card tells me he had blue eyes and black hair and his birth date is given, as well as where he was living at the time. This is all great info!
*See Free Trial Membership Programs at bottom of page.
Photos
On the back:
Photo #1010-A
National Photo Service
737 E. Houston St.
San Antonio, Texas
My grandfather, Wilburn Joseph "Bill" Wilkinson, is on the top row, second from the right.
Click here To see the entire photo
Battery B, 12th Field Artillery, Ft. Sam Houston 1925
Hidden Treasures
From this card I see that he had a nickname, "Willie" and that his teacher's name was Sarah Cruse.
On the inside of his report card, I find my great-grandfather's signature. His name was Jefferson David Wilkinson, but he must have gone by "Jeff" since that is how he signed my grandfather's report card.
I also see that my grandfather was absent from school during Jan & Feb. I know that he injured his foot in a sawmill accident in 1912. Now I can surmise that it must have been during these two months.
(Isn't it amazing that my grandfather, just 7 years of age, would be working in a sawmill?)
1912 Report Card, Village Mills, Hardin Co., TX (a)
1912 Report Card, Village Mills, Hardin Co., TX (b)
1912 Sawmill Injury. Kirby Sawmill Hardin Co., TX
*News ~ News*
Genealogical Research In Ireland. Specializing In Birth Certificates For Irish Citizenship. Also Assessments, Wills, Land Records, Census Records And Birth, Death, And Marriage Records.
Genealogist In Ireland
Census Records
They are wonderful because of the amount of information you can find. The 1900 census has the month & year someone was born. If you didn't know when someone was born (was it 1885 or 1886, what month was it) and if you were to find them in the 1900 census, you should be able to find this information.
Note: As with all records, there is always the chance of a mistake.
There are very few census records for 1890 (less than 1% actually) due to a fire in 1921. Some states or counties have been able to create a substitute based on tax list, voters list and city directories.
Below is a section of the 1900 Census for Collin County, TX. In order to make the image fit where you could actually see the birth year & month, I had to crop it in such a manner than you do not see the birth location of not only the person but also of their mother and father.
People were very proud to be born in the United States and some times, instead of their state, they'll simply put "United States of America". For us, this can be frustrating if we were hoping to get a lead on a more narrow scope.
But if they were immigrants, then this information would be helpful as it would say the country such as Switzerland, Germany, etc.
--->TIP: Search US Federal Census Records
1900 Collin Co., TX
Why Cemeteries
PROUD CONTRIBUTOR TO THE FIND A GRAVE WEBSITE:

I love cemeteries. Not only for the historical and genealogical information they can provide, but because they are a place of solitude and quiet reflection. I find them to be peaceful and pleasant.
Headstones can be a resource for information. Most headstones do only have the typical name, dates and sometimes their military reference.
You may find a middle name or even a maiden name. This is always a little gem if you didn't already have this.
"Striking gold", as I call it, is when you locate a headstone with information you didn't know where to get such as:
1. Not knowing where they came from so how to find their marriage date?
2. Who did they marry?
If you had only sparse details, any piece of information would be of great benefit!
In the image below, we find that Victoria was the wife of Scott Field. She was born July 13, 1851. Victoria married Scott on Dec. 13, 1874 and that she died Feb. 21, 1877.

It is true that I don't know where these events happened but at least I have a date and that is a big help.
I don't know her maiden name. In the 1870 census, she would have been listed by that name and because she died in 1877, she isn't in the 1880 census.
--->TIP: Search the Social Security Death Index
The next step I would take would be to go to the courthouse and go through the Probate Records. I would also go through the newspaper archives to see if I could find an obit listed in 1877.
NOTE: The newspapers of that day were not laid out in neat little sections like we have today. It may take a while to find her obit, if there is one however, I find reading these old papers to be very interesting.
Related Items on eBay
Essential Books for the Genealogist Library
Genealogical Proof Standard: Building a Solid Case by Christine Rose
The Genealogical Proof Standard is the standard se more...0 points
DNA & Genealogy by Colleen Fitzpatrick
DNA & Genealogy is more than a textbook on DNA more...0 points
Uncovering Your Ancestry Through Family Photographs by Maureen A. Taylor
In this visually stunning book of historic family more...0 points
The Family Tree Problem Solver: Proven Methods for Scaling the Inevitable Brick Wall by Marsha Hoffman Rising
Complications arising from incomplete or missing r more...0 points
Courthouse Research for Family Historians: Your Guide to Genealogical Treasures by Christine Rose
Finally--the only guidebook devoted exclusively to more...0 points
Walking With Your Ancestors: A Genealogist's Guide To Using Maps And Geography by Melinda Kashuba
From locating an ancestor's homesite and where rec more...0 points
Preserving Your Family Photographs: How to Organize, Present, and Restore Your Precious Family Images by Maureen A. Taylor
Genealogists and non-genealogists alike love old p more...0 points
Chasing The Frontier: Scots-Irish in Early America by Larry J Hoefling
The story of the Scots-Irish is one of the struggl more...0 points
Professional Genealogy: A Manual for Researchers, Writers, Editors, Lecturers, and Librarians
Professional Genealogy is a manual by professional more...0 points
Genealogy Online by Elizabeth Powell Crowe
"With years of experience online, Elizabeth P more...0 points
Tracing Your Irish Ancestors, Third Edition by John Grenham
Professional Irish genealogist John Grenham has wr more...0 points
They Came in Ships: Finding Your Immigrant Ancestor's Arrival Record (3rd Edition) by John Philip Colletta
Chances are excellent that your ancestors came to more...0 points
Digitizing Your Family History (Family Tree Books) by Rhonda R. McClure
Family historians know the value of preserving pre more...0 points
Genealogy Handbook: The Complete Guide to Tracing Your Family Tree by Ellen Galford
The most extensive and Internet-savvy resource of more...0 points
A New Genealogical Atlas of Ireland, Second Edition by Brian Mitchell
Since its publication in 1986, A New Genealogical more...0 points
How to Do Everything with Your Genealogy by George G. Morgan
Anyone interested in discovering their family gene more...0 points
Resources
For Canada
For the United Kingdom
Message Boards
Free Trial Memberships
Related Items of Interest
FREE Genealogy Items
In no particular order
Go to Page 2
What You'll Find on Page 2
* A Little Detective Work
* Learn to "dig" for information
* Genealogical Value of Death Certificates
* Soundex? What's a Soundex?!
* Charts
* Who Are You To Me?
* 5 Generation Chart
* Free P.A.F. software
* What are you waiting for?
* DNA
* What is DNA testing for Genealogy?
* Create your Family History Book, complete with supporting documents!
* What do you love about genealogy?
Not a member?
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If this lens was helpful, please let me know.
My personal website Texas History Hunter
LadySquid wrote...
Thanks for the great lens! This will be a valuable resource for anyone with Texas roots.
Stephanie at the Research Your Family Tree lens-stop by and see us!
sherileigh75 wrote...
All I can say is Wow! This is a definite 5* lens. Beautiful job..
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This is a wonderful lens! The photos really bring it alive. 5*
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