I'm new to researching genealogy but I have been sitting at my computer for a few weeks now doing research and I've found a lot so far. But now I am now STUCK. I cannot find anything about any of David Sizemore's parents or siblings (except 1880 census records say his parents were born in NC, USA). I have used findagrave, familysearch, and every other free site I can find but there's nothing on him. Below, I posted all the information about him that I do have. If you know anything about David Sizemore that may help me, I'd really appreciate it!!

1850 Census says:
he lived in District 28, Emanuel, Georgia
birth year is "about 1815"

(POSSIBLY married to Rachael Sizemore)?

1860 Census says:
he lived in Bryan, Georgia
birthplace: Georgia
birth year is "about 1814"

Married to Margaret Purvis July 30, 1868

1870 Census says:
he lived in Irwin, Georgia
birth year is "about 1810"


1880 Census says:
he lived in Cat Creek, Lowndes, Georgia
birth year "about 1808"
father's birthplace: North Carolina
Mother's birthplace: North Carolina


I believe David Sizemore had 4 children, one is James Henry Sizemore (born 1869 in Georgia)
I believe James Henry had 14 children, one is Vernon Sizemore (born 1904 in Georgia)
I know that Vernon Sizemore had multiple children but I can only find records of one, Vernon Dorsey Sizemore(born 1929 in Georgia)
I know that Vernon Dorsey Sizemore had 3 children. One is my father, Dorsey Stephen Sizemore (born 1953 in North Carolina)

PS!!!!!
It seems as though my Sizemore family started out in North Carolina, moved to Georgia, then came back to NC (where myself, parents, and grandparents live/d) so I assume we are NOT related to the Kentucky or Virginia Sizemores. I have also done research on Edward "Old Ned" Sizemore and we are NOT related to him.

Stephanie,

I don't have any Sizemores in my tree, but if you know where he was born or where he was married, you might try getting birth and/or marriage records. Marriage records often list parents of both parties, sometimes even more information than that, and birth records will list the parents.

Death records will also sometimes list the parents and their birth places. Obituaries (if they exist) usually give a lot of information (all of which needs be verified, of course)

If you can't find any of those at the state or county level, check the churches that were local to his census locations. They will likely have records of births, marriages, and deaths for the entire family unit.

Also - don't limit yourself to searches on Ancestry. If you haven't already, put FamilySearch.org on the top of your list for searching (it's free). If you need other tools, check out CyndisList.com or you can check out the genealogy toolbox on my website (jenny-ology.com).

Hope this helps a little. Happy Hunting!

Thanks but I can't find anything but census records and the earliest one is 1850 and he was born sometime between 1808 - 1814.
The only thing I have found on his parents are from a census record that says "mothers and fathers birthplace: north Carolina". I can't find any death records and the only thing I can find about a marriage just says the date, "July 30 1968" if I'm remembering correctly.
I have used familysearch, findagrave, and google but all of those sites pulled up even less info. I'm starting to think that david was born a 45 year old man and died 15-20 years later because that's all the records I can find :(
I'm going to sign up on genealogybank.com where they claim to have more records and a researcher online 24/7 that will help for no extra charge. Hopefully I can find more there but who knows. I'm at a dead end right now so I guess I have nothing to lose.

Unfortunately, you're not going to find everything you need online. To find death records you might actually have to do it by mail. Search for the county where each person died and see if they have an online option for obtaining death certificates, but most likely you will have to send them money and a form by mail. Alternatively, you might contact the cemeteries where they are buried and see if they still have the documentation. Look also for obituaries - those usually list all the surviving family members. Contact papers local to where the person died, is buried, lived, or was born. I have found obituaries in South Dakota papers for people who died in California, because they were born and had family still in South Dakota.

Quite honestly, if you're basing all of your research on census records, you're doing yourself a disservice. Your proof cannot hinge on census records. Just because the names and dates fit doesn't mean these are YOUR people. Census enumerators made errors, the people giving the information made errors, and the indexers make errors. Heck, sometimes the families weren't even home and a neighbor gave the information. You really have to get ALL the proof before you can jump to the next generation.

You may also try contacting libraries and genealogy societies in the areas where your people lived. All the counties thus far seem to be in southeast and coastal Georgia, not northwest Georgia, where our research is focused. Look for local histories and previously published genealogies. Call the genealogy reference desk at the library and see what they have in their collection. The more information you have, the more informed assumptions you can make, and the easier your research will be.

I will be happy to help you figure it out in any way I can ... if you want me to do that, send me a private message and I will send you my email address so you can forward all the information you have and where you found it. Then we can go from there.

Thanks but the ONLY things I can find are Census records and that's looking on multiple sites. I'm going to sign up on genealogybank.com They claim to be the only website with access to all of the newspapers back to 1620.
I'll let you know how it goes.

I can already tell you how it will go.

You can ONLY find census records because the ONLY place you're looking is online. There are TONS of other sources out there, but only a small amount of them are available via the internet.

You probably aren't going to find much more information than what you have by using online resources, especially as far back as you are going. If you insist on doing that, PLEASE look at the links I gave you and utilize those resources.

I did a brief search on GenealogyBank.com and the earliest newspaper article mentioning "David Sizemore" is from 1919 in Oregon. They only have obituaries from 1977 forward. He wasn't alive late enough to be listed on the Social Security Death Index. I found 3 historical documents with the words "David" and "Sizemore" in them, but not together.

I also looked on Fold3.com, and the only listing they have is the 1860 census. There is nothing for your David Sizemore on Archives.com either.

You can get vital records from Bryan County, GA (where David Sizemore is listed on the 1860 census) by contacting the Bryan County Clerk, P.O. Box 418, Pembroke, GA 31321 (912) 653-3856.

I've done all I can do. You're either willing to do the research or you aren't. Good luck.

Wow! No need to be rude!! OBVIOUSLY, I am willing to do the research because I've been searching at least 5 hours a day since I signed up on this site AND I've been asking where to go from here.
In my last post I said, " I'm going to try blah blah. I'll let you know how it goes.". That was a polite way of saying, "OK I guess you can't help me because I've already tried everything you've suggested so BYE BYE NOW!"

Again, thank you for trying to help but I have already tried all of the sites you suggested and now you're being rude so I have no interest in continuing this conversation.

Genealogybank.com offers all of the things I listed below. Considering I'm looking for things in the 1800s and they have records from the 1600s I'd guess you read something wrong.

**5,800 Newspapers (1690-Today)**
from all 50 states. Find obituaries, marriage notices, photographs, hometown news and much more.

**388,000 Historical Books and Documents (1789-1984)** including military records, funeral sermons, pension lists, land claims and more.

**Social Security Death Index (1937-Today)**
Over 90 million death records–the most comprehensive SSDI collection available online!

I didn't read anything wrong. I have a GenealogyBank membership, and I DID A SEARCH and found nothing in historic newspapers or historic documents. David Sizemore was not alive late enough to be issued a Social Security number, so you will not find him on the SSDI. Just trying to save you a little money.

I wasn't being rude, I was trying to help you by explaining to you that most of the documentation you need in order to properly research your genealogy will not be found online.

I've been researching my genealogy since 1990, so I know a little bit about research. Not to say that I know everything, because I don't. But on this point, I am positive.

I read another of your posts where you said something to the effect that you wanted your tree to be factual. Limiting your research to only online resources will not accomplish that. At some point, you will need to write a letter, make a phone call, or visit an actual building or cemetery.

I see that you've only been working on your tree for a couple of weeks. Here's a tip: When someone who has been doing this for many years tries to give you some helpful advice, listen. Many of your posts on other boards have been snarky and rude. Bite too many hands, and you will find that no one is willing to help you at all.

Re-read the things that I suggested (especially the OFFLINE resources), and I guarantee you will have an easier time finding information on your ancestors. Once you get the actual vital records, you will likely find that at least some of the information contained on your census records is inaccurate.

Actually what I was referring to as you being rude was you saying, "Either you're willing to do the research or you're not.". You were implying that I don't actually care. I never said that I did not plan on going to a courthouse or library. I never said that I did not plan to take your advice. You assumed all of those things which is why I was insulted. I plan to do whatever it takes to get all the information possible on my family. Your head is a bit big for your body, I think.

On a side note, my conversations with other people are none of your business. I am a very nice and polite person until somebody is rude to me. Why should I let somebody I don't even know talk down to me or insult me? The person/s I was "snarky and rude" with replied to my previous question by telling me that I was related to people I'm not related to. Many, many times I told them they were taking about a completely different Sizemore family but (like you), they completely ignored what I said, made assumptions, and implied many things that simply are/were not true. Some of the "experienced researchers" like yourself just get a huge head and forget about their manners.