Using Collateral Lines for Family History Research Cindy Webb 503-888-0923 [email protected]
What is a collateral line? A brother, sister, or cousin of your direct ancestor
Types of Family Lines:
. Lineal (names that fit on your pedigree chart) . Collateral (ancestor’s siblings and cousins) . Allied (those that marry into the family)
Why don’t (won’t) we use collateral lines? Only direct line required Takes more time Takes more work I don’t want to
Why we should use collateral lines?
. Get a different perspective . Find information on family you might not otherwise find . Because they may be easier to trace . They may have left records behind . Locate living cousins
Following the collateral relatives of your ancestor may be the easiest way to find your grandparent. Think of finding your ancestor not only as an individual, but also with a family. It was very common for generations of a family to live together, to live next to each other, and to migrate to the same area. Many times a single family member might move first, and then send for the rest of the family. However it happens, look for other family members living in the same general area.
One of the easiest ways to find the siblings of your ancestor is to search census records. Try to trace each family member in three censuses (or more). Take notice of how their name may change, and watch for their occupation, birthplace, neighbors, location, spouse, spouse’s family, etc. It’s often been said to make copies of the three pages before and after your family’s listing so you can study those names also. Make a timeline. Analyze a family by listing all the dates that pertain to them. Where can you fill in gaps of time? Who most likely could fill in those holes?
Example: Edwin Walter Otey (first 34 years)
1816 Born Goose Creek, Bedford, Virginia >> Additional siblings? >> Census record? 1828 Edwin’s mother, Elizabeth died 1838 Surety for sister, Sarah Otey’s marriage in Bedford Co., Virginia 1840 John Otey, Edwin’s father died >> Census record? >> Newspaper article about migration? 1843 Emigration to Oregon with Applegate’s and Nesmith’s 1843 Member Pioneer Lyceum & Literary Club 1844 Edwin won election for 1st Lieutenant, Provincial Government 1845 He tallied votes on Organic Laws, Yamhill Co. 1846 Married Martha Jane Bunton 1846 Oregon City, Tax List, 1500 town lots, $7.50 lot tax 1847 Daughter Eliza born in Oregon City, Oregon Territory 1848 Son James Born in Clackamas City, Oregon Territory 1848 Provincial Land Grant in Yamhill County, Oregon 1849 Clackamas Co. OR Territory Census #3452, E. M. Otey 1850 US Census Oregon Territory, Clackamas Co. pg 56 1850 Son Edward born aboard schooner "Wm. L. Spafford" 45 degree lat. on the Pacific Ocean
What makes a family member stick out in a community?
. Politician . Inventor . Government employee . Owned a business . Belief in a cause . Charitable . The “first” of something . Other Service Organizations . Tragedy . Military . Wealth . School . Pioneer . Different in some way
One Name Study
If you have an unusual surname, sometimes it helps to glean all of one particular surname you can find in an area or a particular time period. A one-name study is a project researching facts about a surname and all the people who have held it, as opposed to a particular pedigree (the ancestors of one person) or descendancy (the descendants of one person or couple). For example, my 3rd great grandmother’s name is Eliza Spollett (of course, with variations of spellings; Spillet, Spolet, etc.). Since most of the family lived in Essex County, Massachusetts and Rockingham County, New Hampshire, I have been gleaning all of the Spollett’s to try to figure out who her possible parents and siblings are. In fact, I am researching all of New England for this particular surname.
Clues in some of the information given help me to piece families together. They may or may not be related to me or to Eliza, but something tells me they most likely are related.
Research Tips
1. Check with family first for 7. Use all available sources records, resources, etc. 8. Record the information 2. Make a timeline 9. Post on bulletin boards online 3. Make a “to do” list 10. Share database 4. Communicate with family 11. Expect the unexpected 5. Whenever possible, call 12. Review often 6. Look beyond the obvious 13. Cite your sources
Relationship Calculator 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
2nd Great 3rd Great 4th Great 5th Great Common Son or Grandson or Great Grandson 1 Grandson or Grandson or Grandson or Grandson or Ancestor Daughter Daughter or Daughter Daughter Daughter Daughter Daughter Siblings Great Grand 2nd Great 3rd Great 4th Great Son or Nephew or Grand Nephew 2 (Brother or Nephew or Grand Nephew Grand Nephew Grand Nephew Daughter Niece or Niece Sister) Niece or Niece or Niece or Niece First Cousin First Cousin First Cousin Grandson or Nephew or First Cousin First Cousin 3 First Cousin Three Times Four Times Five Times Daughter Niece Once Removed Twice Removed Removed Removed Removed Great Second Cousin Second Cousin Second Cousin Grand Nephew First Cousin Second Cousin 4 Grandson or Second Cousin Twice Three Times Four Times or Niece Once Removed Once Removed Daughter Removed Removed Removed 2nd Great Great Grand First Cousin Third Cousin Second Cousin Third Cousin Third Cousin 5 Grandson or Nephew or Twice Third Cousin Three Times Once Removed Once Removed Twice Removed Daughter Niece Removed Removed 3rd Great 2nd Great First Cousin Second Cousin Third Cousin Fourth Cousin Fourth Cousin 6 Grandson or Grand Nephew Three Times Fourth Cousin Twice Removed Once Removed Once Removed Twice Removed Daughter or Niece Removed 4th Great 3rd Great First Cousin Second Cousin Third Cousin Fourth Cousin Fifth Cousin 7 Grandson or Grand Nephew Four Times Three Times Fifth Cousin Twice Removed Once Removed Once Removed Daughter or Niece Removed Removed Fifth Great 4th Great First Cousin Second Cousin Third Cousin Fourth Cousin Fifth Cousin 8 Grandson or Grand Nephew Five Times Four Times Three Times Twice Sixth Cousin Once Removed Daughter or Niece Removed Removed Removed Removed What does "once removed" mean?
Determining our relationships with others, particularly when sorting out the cousins in all their varying degrees, can be quite a daunting task Finding the common ancestor is of critical importance, and yet is frequently overlooked. Below are the common terms.
First Cousins - two individuals with the same grandparents.
Second Cousins - two individuals with the same great-grandparents
Third Cousins - two individuals with the same great-great grandparents.
Removed is used to describe the relationship between two "cousins" of differing generations. For example, your first cousin's child would be one generation removed from your first cousin, known as your first cousin once removed. The same is true in reverse; Your mother's first cousin would also be your first cousin once removed.
DNA Research - This is a way of finding cousins with the same grandparents a few generations back. There are a number of companies that will do this from $100 and up.
Bibliography
Horowitz, Lois. Dozens of Cousins; Blue Genes, Horse Thieves, and Other Relative Surprises in Your Family Tree. Ten Speed Press, July 1999, 114 pages.
Smith Arnold, Jackie. Kinship: It’s All Relative. Genealogical Publishing Company (2nd ed.), January 2000, 123 pages. FHL 929.1 Ar64k 2000
Relationship Calculator - http://genealogy.about.com/library/nrelationshipchart.htm http://www.one-name.org/ - Guild of One Name Studies is the world's leading organization for one-name studies.
When looking back isn't working, maybe it's time to look sideways