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�Search Strategies in Ancestry.com

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Trees

  • Storage for uploaded Trees
  • Create new Trees
  • Manage Trees (Settings)
  • Import Tree from FamilySearch
  • Learning Center

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Shoebox

  • Great place to store until you have time to review and evaluate
  • Takes you back to the original record
  • Intended for temporary storage
  • Delete record when finished

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Create a strong search plan

  • This is one of the most overlooked steps.
  • Formulate your search into a question.
  • Avoid the shotgun approach.
  • Help determine what records to search for the answer.
  • This will cutdown on aimless searches.

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Search by Name

  • Use variant spellings
  • Get creative with spellings.
  • Many of our ancestors were illiterate.
  • Record keepers recorded what they heard.

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  • Exact: Find only records with the names exactly as you typed them.
  • Sounds Like: This uses various algorithms to find records with names that are similar to what you typed.
  • Similar: This option finds records with common variant spellings and alternate forms of the name you typed, including common nicknames for given names. It’s also a good idea to try separate searches with nicknames instead of given names, especially any unusual ones.

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  • Soundex (surname only): This finds surname variants that have the same Soundex system code as the one you type.
  • Initials (first/middle name only): This includes records that have only first and/or middle initials matching the name you typed.
  • Wildcards - The name fields let you search with wildcard characters to find variants. The * represents zero to five characters; the ? represents one character. You can use a wild card for the first or last letter, but not both, and names must contain at least three non-wildcard letters (*ohnson or Johnso*, but NOT *ohnso*).

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Goal: Find John Sleichter in the 1790 US census

  • Born 1758 in Strasburg, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, British Colonial America
  • 1786 he was living in Manor, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
  • 1787 – daughter Elizabeth born in Franklin County, Pennsylvania.
  • 1800 US census & Pennsylvania Septennial census – living in Letterkenny, Franklin, Pennsylvania.

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Name Variations

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Schleighter Shleighter

Schleichter Sleighter

Schlichter Sleichter

Schlicter Slighter

Schlighter Schlichter

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Keyword Search

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Occupation, event, address, etc.

Use quotes to indicate you are looking for the exact phrase. “Civil War”

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Location

  • Our ancestors were more mobile that we might think.
  • Opportunities for homesteading property.
  • Settling new territory.
  • Employment opportunities.
  • Following other family members.

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Public Member Trees

  • They have their place; but NOT in Sources.
  • It helps to know what others are thinking.
  • They can help narrow down the “haystack”.
  • They can give you a place to start.
  • Document “all” of the information before adding to your file or FamilySearch.

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Results Page Filters

  • First perform an “All Collections” search
  • Use the filters on the left-side of the results to drill down deeper in specific record categories, geographical locations, and time periods.

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Will for David Eckerman

  • “All Collections” Search
  • Use “Search Results” Filters
  • Select Court, Land, Wills and Financial
  • Wills, Estates, and Guardian Records

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3 April 1893 1 May 1893

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Probate for David Eckerman

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Newspapers.com – Obit for David Eckerman

  • FamilySearch Centers have a subscription to Newspapers.com so don’t forget to look for obituaries, marriage announcements, death notices, births, estate sales, probate information, etc.

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Card Catalog�

  • Choose a state
  • Choose a county
  • Choose the township

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