In genealogy, when the trail of an elusive ancestor goes cold, I stop looking at them and start looking at the community surrounding them.
We call this the F.A.N Club:
- Friends
- Associates
- Neighbours
Why does this matter?
People didn't live in vacuums. They migrated in groups, signed each other's petitiions, stood as godparents, and witnessed eachother's deeds.
When your "target" ancestor left no paper trail, their "fans" usually did.
The Huntress Tip:
If you can't find a birth record for your 3x great-grandfather, look at the man who co-signed his land deed. They might be cousins, or they might have served in the same obscure militia unit.
The story isn't always in the person. Sometimes, it's in the crowd.
This coming Tuesday on The Huntress, I'll be breaking down the methodology of the FAN club - how to reconstruct a life using the "shadows" left by the people around them. Join me as we look at why the most important person in your family tree might not even share your last name.
Which "FAN" has helped you break through a brick wall?