
So, you’ve started tracing your family tree. You’ve combed through ancestry websites, scoured census records, and spent hours digging through online databases. But now, you’ve hit a wall. You can’t find the birth record for that elusive ancestor, the immigration document is missing, and all you’ve got left are unanswered questions. This is a common frustration in genealogy research, and it’s where many people throw in the towel. But before you give up, consider calling in a professional genealogist. They have the tools, experience, and know-how to track down those missing records and get your research back on track.
Contents
Why Some Records Are So Hard to Find
There are many reasons why you might struggle to find the records you need. Records might be incomplete, damaged, or never created in the first place. Sometimes, it’s simply a matter of not knowing where to look. Professional genealogists are skilled in understanding why these records are elusive and how to uncover them.
Name Changes, Misspellings, and Variations
One of the most common reasons records are hard to find is because of name changes, misspellings, or variations in how names were recorded. Maybe your great-grandfather decided to shorten his surname when he moved to a new country, or perhaps a record keeper in the 1800s spelled his name phonetically, creating a new version of his name. These variations can make finding the right records feel like searching for a needle in a haystack.
A professional genealogist knows how to spot these variations and work around them. They’re familiar with regional name patterns and the common spelling mistakes made in historical documents. They can track your ancestor even when the name doesn’t seem to match perfectly.
Missing or Lost Records
Another common problem is that some records simply don’t exist anymore. Whether due to natural disasters, war, or poor record-keeping, some documents have been lost forever. It’s frustrating to run into these dead ends, but a professional genealogist knows how to find alternative sources that can fill in the gaps. When the birth certificate is missing, they might turn to church records, land deeds, or newspaper announcements to piece together the missing information.
How a Professional Genealogist Finds What You Can’t
Genealogy requires more than just typing names into a search bar. When the standard resources fail, a genealogist uses specialized strategies to uncover records that aren’t available to most people. Here’s how they can help when your research hits a roadblock.
Access to Exclusive Databases and Archives
While many genealogists start their search on popular websites like Ancestry.com or FamilySearch, professionals have access to much more than just these public databases. They often have memberships to exclusive archives, local historical societies, and specialized genealogy libraries that aren’t available online. These resources can include land deeds, military records, court documents, and international records that provide the missing details you’ve been looking for.
- Example: If you’re trying to track down an ancestor’s immigration records but can’t find them on public databases, a genealogist might look in passenger ship logs stored in a private archive or foreign immigration offices.
- Example: If your ancestor served in the military, a genealogist could access private military archives or pension records to fill in details of their service.
Breaking Through Brick Walls with Advanced Research Techniques
Every genealogist—whether amateur or professional—will eventually hit a brick wall. This is when the usual searches turn up nothing, and it seems like your ancestor has disappeared from history. Professional genealogists have the training and experience to break through these walls using advanced research techniques. They can widen the scope of their search, looking at neighbors, friends, or even extended family members to find clues that lead back to your ancestor.
Decoding and Interpreting Difficult Documents
Even when you do find a record, reading and understanding it is often easier said than done. Historical documents can be full of hard-to-read handwriting, legal jargon, or old-fashioned language that makes interpretation difficult. A professional genealogist knows how to make sense of these records, ensuring no critical details are overlooked.
Reading Old Handwriting
If you’ve ever tried reading a 19th-century will or birth certificate, you know how difficult it can be to interpret the handwriting. Sometimes it feels like you’re looking at an entirely different language! A professional genealogist has plenty of experience with old handwriting styles and can quickly translate those seemingly illegible words into valuable information.
Understanding Legal and Historical Jargon
Old records, especially legal documents like wills, land deeds, or probate records, are often written in formal, legal language that can be confusing to the untrained eye. Genealogists are skilled at deciphering these documents, understanding the terms and phrases that might be unfamiliar to modern readers. This knowledge ensures that nothing is missed, and every part of the record is correctly interpreted.
Uncovering Hidden Clues in Alternative Records
When the primary documents—like birth, marriage, or death certificates—aren’t available, genealogists turn to alternative sources to find the answers. These records often provide hidden clues that can fill in the gaps in your family tree.
Using Newspapers and Local Histories
Old newspapers are treasure troves of information. Whether it’s an obituary, a marriage announcement, or a local news story, these articles can provide key details about your ancestor’s life. Local histories, often written by townspeople or historians, might also mention your family, offering a glimpse into their community involvement or personal achievements.
Professional genealogists know where to find these records and how to interpret them to uncover the information you need. They can track down these often-overlooked resources and bring them into the bigger picture of your family history.
- Example: A genealogist might find an obituary in a local newspaper that provides details about your ancestor’s birthplace or family members, information that’s missing from other records.
- Example: Local historical societies often have records of land ownership or town meetings that can reveal your ancestor’s role in their community.
Exploring Church and Religious Records
If you’re struggling to find official government records, church records can be an invaluable alternative. Baptismal, marriage, and burial records kept by churches often predate government-issued certificates, and they provide crucial details about your ancestors. Professional genealogists know how to navigate church archives and extract the details you need to move forward in your research.
How a Genealogist Can Help You with Foreign Records
Researching ancestors from another country can add a whole new layer of complexity to your genealogy journey. If your ancestors immigrated to a new country, their records may be scattered across multiple borders, or they could be written in a language you don’t speak. A professional genealogist can bridge this gap, helping you find the foreign records you need.
Many foreign records aren’t available online or through U.S.-based genealogy websites. But genealogists often have access to international archives or can request documents from overseas record offices. Whether it’s tracking down immigration records, foreign birth certificates, or military service documents, a genealogist can cut through the red tape and language barriers to get the information you need.
Translating Foreign-Language Documents
Even if you manage to find a record from your ancestor’s home country, it might be written in a language you don’t speak. Genealogists either speak the language or have access to translators who can ensure that every word of the document is properly interpreted. They’ll make sure that no key detail is lost in translation, helping you piece together your ancestor’s story no matter where it leads.
Is It Time to Call in a Professional?
If you’ve hit a roadblock in your research, can’t find the records you need, or just don’t know where to look next, it might be time to call in a professional genealogist. They have the tools, resources, and expertise to dig deeper than most amateurs can, unlocking the hidden parts of your family’s history and uncovering the records you’ve been searching for. With a genealogist on your side, those missing pieces of the puzzle can finally fall into place.










