Navigating Research with the Genealogical Proof Standard

Navigating Research with the GPS
Mark Tucker
www.ThinkGenealogy.com

Agenda
5 Steps of the Genealogical Proof Standard
Worth Tucker Case Study
Genealogy Research Process Map
Content in Syllabus

Brief History
Before 1997 – legal term “Preponderance of the Evidence” (POE)
1980 – Cite Your Sources , Richard S. Lackey
1997 – Genealogical Proof Standard (GPS)
1997 – Evidence! , Elizabeth Shown Mills
2000 – The BCG Genealogical Standards Manual, BCG
2001 – Professional Genealogy, ed. Mills
2007 – Evidence Explained, Mills

Where do I start?

What should I research? Birth? Marriage? Death? Military Service? Land Ownership? Parents? North Carolina? Ashe County? Yadkin County? 1869? 1870?

Create before research begins
Identify:
Principal Person
Objective
Known information
Research Strategy
“ Game plan”

Keeps us focused on our goal
Tracks the sources searched
Records information found & not found
Our long-term “memory”

Research Plan Research Log

Known Information

Source Information Informant / Relationship Pedigree Chart AND Family Group Sheet – Worth Tucker & Florence Abby Pulsipher Worth - son of Moses Tucker and Mary Jane Dollar. Born: 30 Nov 1870 in Ashe Co. N. Carolina Married: Florence Abby Pulsipher on 22 May 1895 Died: 5 Nov 1927 at Livingston, Montana Kirtley E. Tucker – son of Worth Tucker & Florence Abby Pulsipher

Source Information Informant / Relationship Family Group Sheet – Moses Tucker & Mary Jane Dollar Worth - son of Moses Tucker and Mary Jane Dollar Born: 30 Nov 1870 in Ashe Co. N. C. Married: Florence Abby Pulsipher on 22 May 1894 Died: 5 Nov 1927 Andrew Mason Tucker – son of Moses Tucker and Emeline Dollar. Half brother of Worth (20 years younger)

Research Strategy Help
FamilySearch.org
Research Guidance by location
Research Outlines
Genealogy Software
Personal Experience
Visit a Family History Center
Join a Genealogy Society
Hire a Professional

Research Guidance: www.FamilySearch.org

Family History Library Catalog: Place Search

…
Previous Research : Some Tucker History, Ancestral File, IGI, Pedigree Resource File
Census Population Schedules : North Carolina - 1870, 1880; Utah - 1900, 1910, 1920
Tombstone and Sexton Records : Grave Marker
Death Record : Death certificate
Birth Record : Birth certificate

Date Location Record/Source Results Doc 7/4/2008 At home Some Tucker History: Pedigree Chart Born: 30 Nov 1870 in Ashe Co. N. Carolina 1 7/4/2008 At home Some Tucker History: Family Group Sheet – Moses Tucker & Mary Jane Dollar Born: 30 Nov 1870 in Ashe Co. N. C. 2 7/4/2008 At home Some Tucker History: Family Group Sheet – Worth Tucker & Florence Abby Pulsipher Born: 30 Nov 1870 in Ashe Co. North Carolina 3

3 Date Location Record/Source Results Doc 7/5/2008 www.familysearch.org Ancestral File v4.19 Worth Tucker Individual Record Born: 30 Nov 1870 Yadkin Co., Nc 4

3 Date Location Record/Source Results Doc 7/5/2008 www.familysearch.org IGI v5.0 No source information Born: 1870, Ashe, North Carolina 5 7/5/2008 www.familysearch.org IGI v5.0 Film Number: 457622 Born: 30 Nov 1870, Ashe, North Carolina 6 7/5/2008 www.familysearch.org IGI v5.0 Source Call No.: 035126 Record of members … Born: 30 Nov 1870, Creston, Ashe, North Carolina 7 7/5/2008 www.familysearch.org IGI v5.0 Film Number: 1239624 Born: 30 Nov 1870, Of, , Ashe, North Carolina 8 7/5/2008 www.familysearch.org IGI v5.0 Film Number: 170485 Born: 30 Nov 1870, Ashe, North Carolina 9 7/5/2008 www.familysearch.org IGI v5.0 Film Number: 170490 Born: 30 Nov 1870, Ashe, North Carolina 10

3 Date Location Source Results Doc 7/5/2008 www.familysearch.org Pedigree Resource File Disc #89… Born: 1870, North Carolina 11 7/5/2008 www.familysearch.org Pedigree Resource File Disc #129… Born: 30 Nov 1870, Yadkin, North Carolina 12 7/5/2008 www.familysearch.org Pedigree Resource File Disc #117… Born: 30 Nov 1870, Ashe, North Carolina 13 7/5/2008 www.familysearch.org Pedigree Resource File Disc #13… Born: 30 Nov 1870, Ashe, NC 14 7/5/2008 www.familysearch.org Pedigree Resource File Disc #130… Born: 1870, NC 15 7/5/2008 www.familysearch.org Pedigree Resource File Disc #101… Born: 1870, NC 16 7/5/2008 www.familysearch.org Pedigree Resource File Disc #127… Born: 1870, NC 17 7/5/2008 www.familysearch.org Pedigree Resource File Disc #134… Born: 30 Nov 1870, North Fork, Ashe, North Carolina 18 7/5/2008 www.familysearch.org Pedigree Resource File Disc #135… 30 Nov 1870, Yadkin Co ., NC 19

I’m exhausted. Do I really need to search any more?

“ We conduct a reasonably exhaustive search in reliable sources for all information that is or may be pertinent to the identity, relationship, event, or situation in question.”

First oral or written form From that already written or spoken
Test:
Created at or near time of event
Informants have firsthand knowledge

Tracking of each representation of a source back to the original. Original ← D1 ← D2 ← D3 D? -> … -> Original

Census Microfilm Copy Digital Copy Printout Source Provenance & Original vs. Derivative Original D1 D2 D3 Genealogist Enumerator

Research Analysis Research Plan Research Log

Identify: Original vs. Derivative Source Analysis: Source Type Doc Pedigree Chart Derivative 1 Family Group Sheet Derivative 2,3 Ancestral File Derivative 4 IGI Derivative 5-10 Pedigree Resource File Derivative 11-19

Do I need to keep track of more than the information that I find?

“ We collect and include in our compilation a complete, accurate citation to the source or sources of each item of information we use.”

Gives credibility to our research
Helps us have confidence in the research of others
Aids during analysis

Source Citation Guides:
Evidence! Citation & Analysis for the Family Historian (1997)
Evidence Explained: Citing History Sources from Artifacts to Cyberspace (2007)
By Elizabeth Shown Mills, CG, CGL, FASG Published by Genealogical Publishing Company, Inc.

Why special citation guidelines?

Citation Model Source: Evidence Explained, pg 320 (also 346-350) Derivatives: Church Records Database, Online

Source Doc Kirtley E. Tucker, Kirtley Elwood Tucker Pedigree Chart, Some Tucker History; supplied by Kirtley E. Tucker, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Kaysville, Utah, abt. 1977. 1 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "International Genealogical Index," database, FamilySearch (http://www.familysearch.org : accessed 5 Jul 2008), Worth Tucker Individual Record. 7 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "Pedigree Resource File," database, FamilySearch (http://www.familysearch.org : accessed 5 Jul 2008), Worth Tucker Individual Record. 11

Should there be one standard set of citation guidelines?

Online Source Citation Confusion FamilySearch Ancestry Evidence Explained

How do I analyze all this information?

“ We analyze and correlate the collected information to assess its quality as evidence.”

Duplicate Original (Counterparts) Record Copy (Clerk’s copy) Image Copy Transcript Extract Abstract

Firsthand (participant, eyewitness) Secondhand (non-participant)

Answers the research goal by itself Relevant, but can’t stand alone Absence of information that should exist

Always Derivatives 1 2 3 Transcript Extract Abstract

Source Image Copy Original or Derivative

Original Record Copy (Clerk’s copy) Register Legal copy made by an official Informant Clerk

Duplicate Originals Fed Copy Local Copy Grantor Grantee Deed Census 3 1 2 Enumerator Counterpart

Census Original Enumerator Microfilm Copy Digital Copy Printout Derivatives used as Originals Image Copy Census Fed Copy Duplicate Original Extract Search Index Image Copy Image Copy Similar to an Abstract Original or treat as original Derivative

Who can provide primary information of Worth’s birth?

Information & Evidence Analysis Information & Evidence Analysis: … Doc Information Informant 1 Born: 30 Nov 1870 in Ashe Co. N. Carolina Kirtley E. Tucker – son of Worth Tucker & Florence Abby Pulsipher

Information & Evidence Analysis: … Information (Primary, Secondary) Evidence (Direct, Indirect, Negative) Secondary Direct

From Research Plan
International Genealogical Index (IGI)
US Federal Census: Population Schedules
North Carolina: 1870, 1880
Utah: 1900, 1910, 1920
Grave Marker
Death Certificate
Marriage License
Birth Certificate

IGI Sources
Sealings of children to parents, 1893-1942; heir indexes, 1893-1942. Salt Lake Temple. 30 Nov 1870, of Ashe, North Carolina
Sealings for the dead: couples and children, 1943-1970; heir indexes 1943-1965. Salt Lake Temple. 30 Nov 1870, Ashe, North Carolina

IGI Sources… cont.
Record of members, 1886-1912. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Díaz Ward (Chihuahua, Mexico) 30 Nov 1870, Creston, Ashe, North Carolina
Endowments of the living, 1888-1956. Manti Temple. 30 Nov 1870, Ashe, North Carolina
Sealings of living couples, 1888-1956. Manti Temple. 30 Nov 1870, Ashe, North Carolina

US Federal Census: FHL microfilm 1900 Census: Nov 1869, age 30, North Carolina 1910 Census: calc. 1870, age 39, North Carolina

Grave Marker: www.findagrave.com Photo Courtesy of Find A Grave Nov 30, 1870

Death Certificate November 12th. 1872 North Carolina Primary vs. Secondary Information

Marriage License Age 24 on 15 May 1895 Born: calc. 1870

Birth Certificate County Date Formed Birth Parent Marriage County/ies Death Ashe 1799 1913 Wilkes 1828 1913

Research Completed
15 Sources
8 Originals (image copies), 6 Derivatives, 1 not found
3 databases, 16 records
Information
0 Primary, 27 Secondary
Evidence
15 Direct, 11 Indirect, 1 Negative
4 Conflicts

What do I do about conflicts?

“ We resolve any conflicts caused by items of evidence that contradict each other or are contrary to a proposed (hypothetical) solution to the question.”

Compare weights
Usually:
Sources : Original > Derivatives
Information : Primary > Secondary
Evidence : Indirect >= Direct

All conflicts must be resolved. Even primary information from an original source can be wrong.

Resolve Conflicts Conflicting Evidence: Conflict Resolution 12 Nov 1872 Grieving son was informant. 1869 or 1870 Calculated dates either 1869 or 1870. Worth not in June 1870 Census. Unknown informant for 1900 Census which stated 1869. Ashe or Yadkin Family in Ashe Co. in 1870 & 1880. IGI lists Ashe. Yadkin 50 miles away. Creston, North Fork, or Laurel Family in Laurel in 1870 & 1880. Each place within 5 miles of each other.

Am I done yet?

“ We arrive at a soundly reasoned, coherently written conclusion.”

Includes:
Problem/Goal
Known sources with citations
Evidence and analysis
Conflicting evidence
Main points
Conclusion

There is no such thing as a final conclusion. New information can support, question, or disprove your current conclusion.

Written Conclusion (Proof Argument) Conclusion: Worth Tucker was born Nov 1870 (possibly on the 30 th ) in Ashe County, North Carolina. The exact location is likely Laurel Township where his parents (Moses Tucker and Mary Jane Dollar) were living in 1870 & 1880. Other locations within a 5 mile area that are also mentioned are Creston and North Fork.

Next Steps
Search church records in NC
Search local newspapers in NC
Review microfilm for IGI records
Read Worth’s journal (1903-1907)
Why?
Conclusions are never final.

SOURCES provide INFORMATION from which we select EVIDENCE for ANALYSIS . A sound CONCLUSION may then be considered “ PROOF .” - Elizabeth Shown Mills

Desktop References

Genealogy Research Process Map www.thinkgenealogy.com/grpm/

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Navigating Research with the Genealogical Proof Standard

by Mark Tucker

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