On our best day, we find everyone in the records we are looking for. Our ancestors’ names are spelled how we think they should be and we feel confident we have found the right people…our people. But how often does that really happen?
In this blog post you’ll discover that not all record sets are indexed with our ancestors’ names. Sometimes, we have to read page by page to get their story. But trust me, it’s worth the effort.
Do you throw in the towel when you find out a record set hasn’t been indexed? Would you do the same thing with a book that doesn’t have a table of contents? Probably not. Just because it isn’t easy or convenient, doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do it.
What Does It Mean If A Record Isn’t Indexed?
First, let’s talk about what it means when a record isn’t indexed. Most genealogy websites use indexing to make records searchable by keywords. You type in your ancestor’s name, and if it’s indexed, the record pops up. But when a record is unindexed, it means no one has gone through it to mark those names and details. Again, think of a book without a table of contents.
When To Read Records Page By Page
It might sound like a daunting task, but some record sets are worth the extra effort. Here are a few record types you should consider reading page by page:
Deeds and Land Records
These are often unindexed and packed with useful information. Land ownership often stayed in families for generations. A deed might not only tell you who owned the land but who they inherited it from or who they sold it to. Some older land records are handwritten, so search engines have a hard time finding keywords . FamilySearch is working on this last point, however.
FamilySearch is now using AI to make keywords searchable when they haven’t been indexed. You can read more about this exciting way to research your ancestors in my blog post here.
Wills and Probate Records
Even if indexed, wills can contain much more than just names. The text may mention relationships, properties, and belongings passed down to family members. Sometimes a will might not even list every family member, but the smaller details can help you connect the dots.
Court Records
These can include lawsuits, guardianships, or disputes over estates. You may find many older court records in large books, and sometimes only at the courthouse. You can’t always search them by name, so you’ll need to flip through the pages. These records often provide details of family relationships and disagreements that aren’t found anywhere else.
Church Records
Baptisms, marriages, and burials were often recorded by hand in church registers. Even if they’re not indexed, these can be amazing finds for genealogists. Reading through a church record can sometimes reveal entire families who moved to the area or even left to live somewhere else.
Military Pension Files
Military files will often just have the soldier’s name indexed, but nothing else. They may include letters, family details, and even medical information. You might find out where they lived, their family members, or even what life was like after military service.
I have the service record for my 2nd great-grandfather who fought for the Union in the Civil War. I discovered his wife’s middle name and his birth date and place by reading word for word. These details were not found in a keyword search and were worth the time to find them.
Newspapers
Newspapers can be packed with all kinds of information about our ancestors. Think of all the wedding, birth, and death announcements (including obituaries) that are in old newspapers. Even if indexed, they often contain details that don’t make it into search results.
Reading page by page also helps us to know the context of our ancestors’ lives…what grocery store they likely shopped in, what historical events were going on at the time, what community events were taking place, and so much more.
Why It’s Worth The Effort
Reading each page can seem time-consuming, but it comes with its benefits:
- Finding Hidden Details: Indexes can miss things. Not every person mentioned in a record gets indexed. You may find cousins, neighbors, or even business partners that won’t show up in a search. These details can give you a better understanding of the community your ancestors lived in.
- Discovering Patterns: When you read through a large batch of records, you start noticing patterns. Maybe multiple family members bought land around the same time. Or you notice a consistent witness on legal documents, which could lead you in a new direction.
- Building a Fuller Story: Records are more than just names and dates. You get a sense of who your ancestors were. The details hidden within unindexed records can build a richer story than just looking at basic facts.
Indexed Records Worthy Of Reading Page By Page
Even when you find your ancestors in indexed records, it doesn’t mean you should only rely on that search function. Here are a few types of records where examining each page is still worth it:
- Census Records: Even though census records are generally indexed, sometimes names are misspelled or recorded incorrectly. Browsing the actual pages might help you find a family living nearby that you didn’t know about or catch a name that was misread in the index. Sometimes this is the only way you will find your ancestors’ names in census records. It’s good practice to record the neighbors’ names 3-5 pages before and after your ancestor. You’ll often find the same people showing up in other records as witnesses, etc.
- Passenger Lists: Names are often misspelled or written differently in the index. By going page by page, you may catch other family members who traveled together or neighbors who could lead you to their hometown.
- City Directories: These can be indexed, but sometimes the addresses and professions can tell you more. Browsing through the directories can help you locate people living close to each other, helping you connect dots that an index wouldn’t show.
How To Approach This Kind Of Research
When you get to the point in your research when you know you need to read a record page by page, you need to have the right mindset. I won’t sugarcoat it…it’s time consuming and in the end you may not find what you’re looking for. But for those times when scouring a record gives you that missing piece of information or that detail that answers your research question, it’s worth it.
Take notes along the way. Do you recognize other surnames in the record? This may not make sense when you’re looking, but may help you later in your research.
And lastly, be patient. This is slow work. You could read a few pages a day if the record is long. It’s not going anywhere, so give yourself time. This type of researching isn’t without joy. Learning more about your ancestor’s world is always a worthwhile journey.
Volunteer To Index Records
You don’t have to be an advanced genealogist to help the cause. Family Search is always in need of indexing help. Go to www.familysearch.org and click Get Involved from the menu. Choose Indexing and Find A Project.
You’ll see a page like this:
You can pick the difficulty level and then the record group you’d like to index. Follow the prompts and you’ll be on your way to helping others find their ancestors in the records. You might even find your ancestor along the way!
Finally
Unindexed records or even indexed ones that need more attention are often overlooked. But digging through them can lead you to family stories, connections, and details that you won’t find anywhere else. It takes time and patience, but it’s well worth it when you make that breakthrough discovery.
So next time you hit a wall in your research, consider going back to those unindexed records—you never know what you’ll find hidden in the pages.
Genealogy tip: Research where your ancestors lived. Look at the records that available for that time and place. Even if your ancestors aren’t mentioned in the records, focusing on that location can help you fill in their story.
If you’re looking for help in finding your ancestors in unindexed records, give me a call. I’d love to hear about your latest project.
