How to overcome a brick wall.



We have all been there...you are on a roll with your research and then out of nowhere you hit a brick wall and cannot seem to get through it. Most African Americans will face the brick wall as they get closer to 1865. Unfortunately slavery has almost completely eradicated any path that will lead back to our ancestors. I don't see brick walls as my enemy...I see them as an indicator that it is time to readjust.  The first emotion is frustration because it seems insurmountable, however there are a couple of paths that we can take to get past the brick wall.

Take a break: Usually we become fixated on a particular family member or a branch of the family. Eventually we have stared at the details for so long that we cannot see clearly. Take a break and work on someone new. I usually find a link I have missed previously or I discover a detail that will take me on a journey to brand new information.

Sometimes you just need to Google: In this day and age, web searches can bring along a dearth of information that was not available months or years ago. I was having such a hard time with the Windhams that one day I decided to Google them. What a fantastic thought! I happened onto a post by a Windham in Louisiana who had traced his whole line and had plenty of information on the Windhams of Mississippi. In the course of a week I had gone from a brick wall to a whole new trail.

Ask for help: Because of shows like Follow Your Roots and Who Do You Think You Are, there are webpages, blogs and Facebook groups dedicated to genealogy research. There are thousands of people who have dedicated years to their genealogy and have become very experienced in the trial and error in how to research and how not to. The fellow genealogists in my group are all at different levels in their research. The information that I have been able to utilize has been invaluable. The worst thing someone can tell you is no but you'll never find out if you don't ask.

DNA: Now...an Ancestry DNA test can open up all kinds of wonders for you, prove that Aunt Myrna's stories were correct or in my case, confuse the hell out of you. Before deciding to take a DNA test it is important to realize what you want to find out. For me, I genuinely wanted to find out my DNA Ancestry. My great-grandmother told us that her great-grandmother came from Madagascar. Well my DNA only showed West African, Central African and Scandinavian DNA...which was a surprise. I got what I wanted...now I have to figure out what it means and where it leads me. Do a lot of research before you pick a test. Be honest and realistic about what you hope to find and don't take a DNA test promising to show how you're related to Queen of France.

Most importantly, remember that while there will be some mysteries you'll never be able to solve, never quit and never feel like it is a lost cause. Two years ago I had not found any of my father's ancestors...now I can trace back to the 1700's definitely and I am one link away from tracing the Windham back to the 1200's.

Happy Searching!

Researching your Past...Tips To Remember

 

 

 

 Granny Lizzie. This picture was taken between 1905-1907.





When researching your family history it is imperative to be organized. As you add more people to your family tree, you'll need to keep notes on each person especially your direct ancestors. For example, most of my great grandmothers and great great grandmothers are named Elizabeth. I have a separate file for each of them so that I do not get confused. Creating a file will also allow you to get to know them better as you add to it and eventually you will know them as if you've met them. If you have old pictures, I would definitely save them digitally. My mom received this box from her father's house when he died and inside were tons of photos. Unfortunately we only recognized a handful of people but she kept them all because it was possible they were family. I used to look at those pictures and it made me sad that we did not know everyone in those photos and it is what led me to start researching our genealogy. We decided to save them digitally because they were really old and they would eventually fade away. Saving the photos digitally allows you to later share them electronically with newly found family members who could help you identify them, which is what happened in our case. We still haven't identified them all but I believe that we will eventually.

If you do not have one now, I would suggest purchasing a large family bible. Most importantly one with a large section to add your family information. My mom has one and as I find new people they are added to the bible. She also keeps all the obituaries in the bible which are always helpful. They are a gold mine of information. I often refer back to a persons obit when I hit a brick wall on their line. There is always a chance that you missed some detail or that there is a relative listed that can help you bridge the gap. It also creates a family history that can be added to and passed down to later generations.

Genealogy research can oft times be frustrating but the keys to researching your family history is curiosity, patience and flexibility. With those key traits in mind you'll be able to navigate around any brick wall you find. Happy searching!

The Search...

I have decided to start blogging my experience while researching my family tree. When I started in 2000, I had very little info and did not know the maiden name of my maternal  great grandmother. Now more than 10 years later, not only have I been able to trace her line back to the 1820's I have also traced my paternal line to an actual slaveowner. While I still need to find a viable male to test the DNA to prove a link to the slave owner, I believe I am on the right track.

I am always open to compare notes for family research and I will provide any tips I can. The family names I am interested in are Lang, Windham, Peyton, Keys, Kerr, Thompson, Ducksworth, Bagohin and Evans.