Are you my cousin?

Whenever I see a name that I’ve researched that may be more unique, I wonder if that person might be related. One thing in my research I’ve wished to find is that a friend of mine is my cousin. Yes, I’ve found a lot of cousins online but these are people I’ve actually met online because we were both researching our families, not because we knew each other already and then found out we are related.

Yesterday, needing a break from being stuck, I asked my mom who’d she’d like me to research. She popped off a name, thinking it was an area of need. I already had the information in my database, but I was naming off names in that line which reminded her that she had wondered to her boss if they may be related way back since we had his name in our line and he was from Vermont (several CT lines ended up in Vermont), so that got me going…..

I put his name in ancestry.com (paid sight but probably available at your local library for free- Montgomery County and Harris County both have it for in house use only). I found a name and asked when he was born- BINGO. From there I found his father’s death certificate and marriage certificate. I also found a book with the surname (which I also found for free on HeritageQuest- usually available online with a library card). Using also the LDS site with images and abstracts: http://search.labs.familysearch.org/recordsearch/start.html#p=0. I found more information on his line. In a matter of a few hours, I traced him back to the 1500’s and found indeed he was my mother’s 10th cousin, twice removed!

One thing I want to point out is, the only paid site I used was ancestry.com (which again could be free for you at the library) and that was more recent information that her boss could have given us. Otherwise, I used HeritageQuest (free at home thru the library) and the LDS site. I also think I used www.FindAGrave (another free site). Another thing I want to point out is I used multiple databases. One database can get you some information then use another database to get a bit more, switch back and forth.

Word of warning. I did use a compiled book, which are extremely helpful, but be cautious, they do have mistakes. In my research, I found several. You have to remember that someone is doing the same thing you might be doing, researching branches and going by information they are given by family members and at times making assumptions (which I’ve done myself). I have in my own line books saying certain people married but we’ve basically proven it wrong. I was actually in contact with one of the authors and he agreed! So, even if a book states what you think is your Julia Moore married a Mr. Curtis, you may be right in saying she actually married Thomas Barnes (and this was in several books because, like you even other authors use previous information).

Hope to have a get together on the 19th to maybe show how to navigate different databases. Happy hunting!

So, are you my cousin? May be, let's get together and find out!