Clean Out

I spent a few hours this evening going through brochures and other information I have collected over the past year. Most of it I hadn't looked at since picking it up. I decided to throw out 75% of what I had and to actually file the stuff I am keeping.
It is good to go through and clean up what we have from time to time. This applies to genealogy files - but usually we don't throw those away. We still need to do some clean up and organize. I have random census files and certificates here and there on my hard drive. I need to put them in the correct files so when someone asks me for my documentation, I can find it.
As you collect information, make sure you label it so you know what it is quickly. If you don't put it where it belongs, you will have a label on it so when you do need it, you can use the search function on your computer to find it. You can have long file names: 1841 British Census Joseph and Sarah Waterfield and daughters

The documents and information you have is only good if you are able to find it when you need it.

Census Records

Census records hold a wealth of information. Sometimes it can be very difficult to read and decipher the handwriting, but it can provide a wealth of information if time and patience are taken.
This week I want to mention Peter Knight. For months and probably even a bit more than a year it looked like this ancestor's name was Jeter. Someone had transcribed a census record to read Jeter and because I had not found any other records to counter this, I kept looking for a Jeter.
All along, I felt that this name was wrong and kept coming back to the source over and over again. Then one day it dawned on me! He name was PETER not Jeter. The front part of the P had worn off in the last 168 years on the census. As soon as I realized this, I was able to find more records, including his marriage date to his wife Mary.
I decided that more needed to be done in relation to Peter and Mary and not just follow the genetic line through their son, Edward. I needed more information on Matilda, their daughter.
As fate would have it, I was able to find a cousin, from the line of another brother, who was willing to help me find information on her. Because of this cousin in less than 10 days I was able to find Matilda's husband's name and two of her children.
I know that sharing information and admitting that help is needed can produce great results. I am constantly learning about different ways to find ancestors which creates wonderful bonds with others.
Past Times is more than just those who lived in the past, it is about creating friendships with those who are related to us, and possibility very distantly, but always helping forge those links.