The Durham-Orange Genealogical Society Newsletter
Volume 8 No 7
November 1998
Have you hit a proverbial dead end in your research? The following trends may help to analyze your problems:
1...There are approximately three generations per century.
2..Average age for men to marry was 24. They rarely married before age 16.
3...The average age for women to marry was 20. They rarely married before age 16.
4...First marriages were usually between couples near the same age. Women generally outlived their husbands, but older widowers frequently marriedmuch younger women who had never been married before.
5...Birth generally occurred at two-year intervals. Frequently the first child was born a year after marriage. As a woman aged, the interval between births grew slightly. Child bearing generally ended around age 45.
6...Families and neighbors usually migrated together from their previous location. Women rarely traveled alone.
7...Men usually married women from their neighborhood, but if a seemingly "strange" woman turned up, check the man's former home. Often men returned to their prior residence to find a wife.
8...If you can't find an old parent, chances are he/she "went West" with a son.
9...If you have a male ancestor born around 1840, strongly consider Civil War service.
10...If your ancestor has a virtue name (e.g. Patience, Charity, Silence) consider a New England heritage.
11...Children were often named for grandparents, both male and female.
12....Frequently middle names or even a first name was the mother's or grandmother's maiden name, especially if the name was repeated through several related families.
Church records...
Dont pass over records of other denominations in the area. For slave owners also look for membership records of their slaves whose admission records might name prior residence, etc. Read original minutes/sacramental records when possible to identify others who joined that church on the same day as your ancestor, or was baptized/married/buried on same day.
Newspapers...
Use newspapers of surrounding counties, even across state lines if another state is adjustant. Also use church newspapers, their obits are often better than those in regular newspapers.
Track collateral lines...
Sisters are often pursued because of their name changes, follow them through their husbands. Their records often fill in gaps created by lost records back home.
Get signatures when possible from gubernatorial , legislative, territorial petitions, federal and state land grant or homestead records; etc. Use these to establish identity, matching signatures from elsewhere if possible.
WPA ex slave narratives often covering both slave families and owner families-white and free black.
Freeman's Bureau records, covers late Civil War and Reconstruction era; includes whites.
When all else fails, backtrack neighbors and associates who have similar naming/migration patterns and let them lead you to your ancestors.
We give thanks to Ms. Louise T. Overton for providing the information!!
"