This week, I will look at search engines that will help you build a firm research foundation from which to work. The key to finding genealogical proof is to start with the present and work backwards, gathering documents as you go. Start with yourself, then your parents. Working slowly backwards, you will soon come to the spot where hearsay, rather than documents chronicle that ancestor. For instance, your mother tells you that your deceased grandmother was born someplace in Ohio, and her father was born in Scotland. Clues... yes. Proof...no!
Where do you start? If the location of your grandmothers death certificate is not available start your search with the Social Security Death Index (SSDI). My favorite SSDI search engine is at http://emh.everton.com/ssmdi.html - EVERTON'S ON-LINE SEARCH: SS Master Death Index. I like the clarity of the way it displays information.
Common information included on the Index is the Social Security number, state of issuance and death, birth and death date. Sometimes, the last known residence and location of the last Social Security payment is included. Once you've obtained a Social Security number, you can write for a copy of the application which may include additional information, such as names of parents.
Before you head out for your search, a good article to read is http://www.ancestry.com/columns/myra/Sha... - Shaking Your Family Tree: Utilizing Social Security Death Index, by Myra Vanderpool Gormley, C.G.. You can find clues in the Social Security numbers themselves, http://www.cpsr.org/cpsr/privacy/ssn/ssn... - Structure of Social Security Numbers provides some very interesting insights. Finally, it is time to head to the official http://www.ssa.gov/ - Social Security Administration Online. Here you can obtain all the information you need to send for the Social Security application papers.
Before you move backwards in time, explore all the paper trails that might have been left in that area. Now that you have a target starting location, you can zero in on a state and county at http://www.USgenweb.com - US GenWeb. States vary in the amount of information that is online. But, check for land deeds, census records, taxes, probate records, any type of possible record that is available. Also, search out relatives that may have been living in the area, a strong possibility when it involves an older person. From the clues you get, you can slowly backtrack to the location of your ancestor's birth records.
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