Search for content in message boards

PLZ !! I need your help to locate family !!! PLZ !! HELP !!

Replies: 7

Re: PLZ !! I need your help to locate family !!! PLZ !! HELP !!

Posted: 21 Jul 2004 10:13AM GMT
Classification: Query
Dear Mary,
There are many resources I use to track down living people or post-1900 folks. It can be challenging to find ways to research, and it's harder to find free sources for info. A good library is helpful, but of course you need to know a State and a City. I've found it MOST helpful to always start with the last place I know the person was living and work forward. Here are some things I try:
For living or deaths after 1900:
Census 1910, 1920, 1930

Social Security Death Index online (which is what Janet used to give you the info in the prior post)

If you know the city they lived or died, call the Library and see if they maintain an Obituary file. Some small towns have excellent librarians who go out of their way to help.

--a website called ussearch.com allows you to enter a name and approx age (if you don't know the age, start entering 30 yrs, then 40 yrs, 50 yrs, 60 yrs, 70 yrs because you can get the same group of results as entering the exact age of 52) -- -----------this site has levels, from free basic info to paid info. The free info gives you a city and state, a place to begin.

vitalsearch online has searchable databases

If you know a city/state, call or write the Recorder of Deeds Office in that County to see if the person owns land -- especially helpful for a living person.

If you know where a person lived/lives and their faith/religion, try calling a couple churches and explain who you are and why you want to contact Person X -- leave your name and phone number and say "If Person X is part of your congregation, please ask them to contact me."

When you know a state, check the Professional Licensing webpages-- many types of occupations require licensing -- plumbers, contractors, doctors, dentists, nurses, private investigators to name some. This will give the most current city of residence-- or even an address.


There are so many ways you can use to find people. The key is looking at what clues you have and figuring out how to get more info in the easiest way. Many searchers have even taken a chance and called folks-of-same-name in that city, just to see if someone knew the Person X Family. Sometimes it works! (sometimes it doesn't, and it does take time & money for calls -- and the possibility of rejection too.)

I hope some of these ideas work for you.

Judy

PS I've found research in California challenging!
SubjectAuthorDate Posted
Mary Beasley 20 Jul 2004 8:17PM GMT 
Janet 21 Jul 2004 1:40PM GMT 
Mary Beasley 21 Jul 2004 2:03PM GMT 
JudyFlorian 21 Jul 2004 4:13PM GMT 
Mary Beasley 21 Jul 2004 4:36PM GMT 
Janet 21 Jul 2004 5:01PM GMT 
JudyFlorian 21 Jul 2004 7:41PM GMT 
Janet 21 Jul 2004 5:04PM GMT 
per page

Find a board about a specific topic