Sometimes it seems like there is little hope of finding records of the ancestors. The process is like unto an intricate puzzle of small pieces which do not seem to fit anywhere. Everyone has scaps of genealogical data on their surnames. But how do we find something more specific, something which will connect to our information? The answers lie in discovering the people in the neighborhood where your ancestor resided during a certain time period. They all connect, you know, whether as friends or relatives. The American past can be subdivided into eras and locations which is occupied by a specific group of people. The task is to assemble each family in family group sheets, regardless of whether they are in your direct line. If they have the same surname, a good practice is to consider them relatives and the only way to establish this is with family group sheets. Then, the marriages on these sheets help to establish relationships. It is a cousin thing. The sheets provide a place to enter the little scaps of paper. Eventually, we understand more about the relationships, which helps to eliminate certain people. Image sitting upon a front porch in a rural area. It is spring and the land is being plowed for planting. A neighbor has come to assist. On Sunday, this same neighbor is at church with his wife and children. Who do you suppose your children will marry? The answer is someone in this setting. That is why the names of witnesses to documents, such as deeds, marriages and old wills is so important. As the community grows and documents are recorded at the local court house, the neighborhood is being documented. Index to Virginia Wills and Estates
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