Alice Cornelia Ingram Campbell
My Maternal Great Grandmother
The most elusive ancestor to research is, undoubtedly female ancestors.
Here are some tips that may help you in your research.
1. Try searching marriage records. Marriage records are the most likely place to find a woman's maiden name. If you find by searching census records that most of the children were born in one county, begin your search there. This includes searching online indexes, getting into microfilm, and even contacting the historic church your ancestors attended.
2. Follow her children. Research each of the children, even those not in your line. You could find birth, baptism, marriage, and death records with the maiden name of the child's mother.
3. Check the census records of your ancestor closely. The head of the household is usually the male ancestor but look closely at those living with the family. You could find a mother-in-law, a father-in-law, a sister-in-law, or a brother-in-law in the household. Pay close attention to the people with whom your Mrs. and her husband interacted. Frequently, a marriage union would also cement ties between the families as a whole. Keep an eye out for land transactions, people mentioned in wills, and naming patterns within the family. You’ve also found her maiden name if you can find a brother.
4. Newspapers - the society column would be a great resource for searching for your female ancestor.
5. Contact your local genealogy library if the records are unavailable online and you need assistance.
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