Lecture on Finding an Ancestor in Census Records

Introduction

• Speaker has been searching for a census record of an ancestor, Nanny Watson Winslow, in the 1880 census.
• Discussion covers the strategies used to locate her.
• Nanny was born in 1874 to Hilaya Winslow and Mary C. Hail, therefore should appear in the 1880 census.

Challenges Faced

• Normal search methods from her profile did not work.
• Nanny was not found in the conventional census record searches.

Strategy and Process

Method 1: Using the Card Catalog

• Use the Card Catalog to locate census records.
• Sorted by record count to access the 1880 census.
• Used "browse collection" feature to access specific townships.
• Found enumeration details and explored different township records.

Method 2: Extracting Census Data

• Copied census data into a spreadsheet for analysis.
• Employed "paste special as text" in Excel to organize data.
• Looked for the surname "Winslow" but did not find Nanny.

Method 3: Research Notes and Property Records

• Checked family dynamics and property transactions.
• Nanny's mother died in 1876; father bought and sold land in Cleveland County.
• Speculated Nanny might be in Cleveland County, not Randolph County.

Method 4: Guardianship Records and Family Search

• Considered Nanny might be under guardianship due to young age and mother's death.
• Used Family Search's full-text search feature to look for guardianship records.
• Found a record revealing Nanny was living with AH McDaniel (her uncle) in Randolph County.

Key Findings

• Nanny was listed as a niece under the McDaniel family in the 1880 census.
• Allan H. McDaniel was married to Jane B. Hail, Nanny's aunt.
• Nanny's father likely left her under the care of her aunt after her mother's death.

Conclusion

• Persistence and varied research strategies led to success.
• Highlighted the importance of using different tools and methods to find elusive records.
• Full-text search on Family Search proved crucial in unraveling the mystery.

Additional Resources

• Mentioned additional episodes and handouts related to the research methods discussed.
• Information on a membership course for learning genealogy research.

Tools and Techniques

• Employed various genealogy tools and research methods.
• Encouraged the use of full-text search and Excel for census data analysis.

Closing

• Highlighted the value of genealogy research in preserving family history.
• Encouraged participation in genealogy learning platforms for skill development.