Genealogy Brick Walls

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Genealogy "Brick Walls": Busting Through Roadblocks in Your Family Tree

Genealogists, like explorers discovering uncharted territories, often encounter frustrating obstacles in their quest to uncover their family history: “brick walls.”

These roadblocks can range from seemingly insurmountable gaps in records to elusive maiden names and perplexing name variations.

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Understanding Brick Walls

It’s essential to understand that not all brick walls are permanent.

Many appear insurmountable only because we haven’t approached them from the right angle. Fresh perspectives, alternative record sources, and innovative research strategies can often lead to breakthroughs.

However, some brick walls are genuinely insurmountable. Every family history eventually reaches a point where further progress is impossible. This doesn’t diminish the value of the research conducted; it simply acknowledges the limitations inherent in historical record-keeping.

Tackling Brick Walls: A Skill for Experienced Researchers

Attempting to break through a brick wall should not be the first challenge for novice genealogists.

Building a solid foundation of research skills is essential before tackling complex problems.

Common Brick Wall Scenarios

The “Record Desert”: You’ve exhausted all available online resources.

Possible Solutions: Explore offline resources like local archives, libraries, and genealogical societies. Consider utilizing subscription-based databases or contacting professional genealogists for assistance.

The “Name Maze”: Maiden names, nicknames, and variations in spelling can create confusion.

Possible Solutions: Utilize soundex and phonetic indexing systems to identify potential variations. Explore records like marriage licenses, census records, and church records for clues.

The “Destroyed Records Dilemma”: Vital records have been lost due to fires, floods, or other disasters.

Your genealogical research may be impacted by a devastating 1973 fire at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis.

This fire destroyed military records for millions of individuals, including many Army personnel discharged between 1912 and 1960 and some Air Force personnel discharged between 1947 and 1964. If you’re researching military ancestors within these date ranges, we recommend you explore alternative research methods to overcome this significant loss of records.

Irish census records have also been significantly impacted by a series of unfortunate events. The original records for 1861 and 1871 were lost shortly after their collection. Those from 1881 and 1891 were unfortunately pulped during World War I, likely due to a critical paper shortage. Tragically, the most devastating loss occurred in 1922 when a fire at the Public Record Office destroyed the majority of records from 1821 to 1851. Despite these setbacks, valuable research strategies can still be employed to fill these gaps in Irish census data.

Possible Solutions: Seek out alternative records, such as probate records, land deeds, or newspaper articles. Explore oral history accounts from family members. Investigate service records from other branches of the military, explore pension records, or search for obituaries and newspaper articles that may mention military service.

Brick Wall Busting: A Continuous Learning Process

Breaking through genealogical brick walls requires patience, persistence, and a willingness to learn new research techniques. It’s a continuous learning process that involves exploring diverse record sources, developing creative research strategies, and collaborating with other genealogists.

How DavisDNA and Family Research Can Help

DavisDNA and Family Research can provide expert guidance and support as you advance in your family history research.

Our team of experienced genealogists can:

Conduct in-depth research: We can look into various record repositories and utilize advanced research techniques to help you overcome your brick walls.

Analyze DNA test results: We can interpret your DNA test results and help you connect with potential relatives, providing valuable clues about your ancestry.

Develop customized research strategies: We can create a personalized research plan tailored to your specific family history goals and challenges.

By partnering with DavisDNA and Family Research, you can gain valuable insights and overcome the most stubborn brick walls in your family history research.