Researching Collateral Ancestors

Well, I've neglected the postings again! No excuses, just haven't gotten around to it for close to three weeks.

One of my presentations covers researching collateral ancestors. It is crucial that you follow-up on your direct line ancestors' siblings, aunts, uncles and other relations during your research. You might want to look at some of the neighbors as well.

Direct-line only research can leave some sizable holes in the pedigree chart and the family story. Let's look at an example:

You have information that Thomas Wesley and his wife Ann had seven children, 3 boys and 4 girls.
Thomas was born about 1830 in Clinton Co., Ohio; parents unknown. Your first "good shot" with census records is 1850. Without the father's name, 1840 is going to be guess work - unless there's only one Wesley in the US. You are looking for a Thomas Wesley, about 20 years old and born in Ohio.

Eureka! In the 1850 census for Clinton Co., OH, you find a Thomas Wesley, aged 21, born in Ohio.
He is married to a woman named Nancy, aged 18, born in Ohio, and they have a daughter named Sally, aged 1, born in Ohio. Your Thomas' wife was named Ann. Ann is a nickname for Nancy, so you have a good match.

What next? Check a few pages ahead and back of where you found Thomas. Copy the info for any Wesleys, Westleys, Wesslees, etc. that you find. Also look for nearby fits for Ann/Nancy's family.
Say the family listed ahead of Thomas and Nancy is that of Albert Roth [42, PA], Sarah [40, PA], Albert Jr. [21, PA], Margaret [16, OH], Emma [13, OH] and Eldon [10, OH]. Could be a fit; Sarah and Sally flip-flop frequently. Put that on hold until some evidence for a fit appears.

Move ahead to 1860: You find in Highland Co., OH: Thomas [31, OH], Annie [29, OH], Sarah [11, OH], Thomas Jr. [8, OH], Albie [6, OH], Laura [3, OH], Sarah Roth[50, PA]. Any good clues? Annie = Ann. Albie? Could be Albert! Sarah Ross? Bingo! [It normally isn't this easy, but.... Oh, you double-check those other 1850 Wesleys and discover an Evan Westley [43, MD], with Laura [42, PA], James [18, OH], Gwen [14, OH], Alice [10, OH], and Matthew [7, OH]. Candidates for Thomas' family? Thomas named a daughter Laura, could be a keeper!

You find the Wesleys in Hancock Co., IN in 1870. Same basic family, still with Nancy's mother, but with two more children: Mary [9, OH] and Evan [4, IN]. Learn anything? Evan with a big sister named Laura? That Westley family looks like a pretty good fit!

OK, here's what you think you have:
Thomas Wesley [b. c1829, OH] married c1847 OH to Nancy Roth [b. c1831 OH]
Thomas' parents: Evan Wesley [b. c1807 MD] m. before 1829 to Laura ________ [b. c1808 PA]
Nancy's parents: Albert Roth [b. 1808 PA] m. c1828 PA to Sarah _______ [b. c1810 PA]
You also have siblings for both Thomas and Nancy. Then there are records for Pennsylvania, Maryland and Ohio to check, with Indiana just around the corner. The family arrived there between 1862 and 1865. Any other records you might look at between 1862 and 1865? Answer tomorrow!     [I hope!]