Verification/Prove/Disprove Research

Verification Research is research that is done to document with sources information that has not yet been documented or verified. Or in other terms proven or disproven.

In order to prove or disprove information, documents must be found to verify the information proposed for an individual.

Ex. John Jones was born 21 October 1849 in Chicago, Illinois. His parents are Mark Jones and Claudia Brown.

Previously we have proven that Harold Jones was a son of John Jones and Celia Mann. We have his birth certificate which confirms his parents names and says they are residents of Chicago, Illinois.  Our next step is confirming his father John Jones.  We have no documents on John Jones marriage, birth, or parents. He is our research problem and starting point.

We begin research by searching for published genealogies or information that matches what we know already.
We search New Family Search/Family Tree, and other published genealogies.  We search posts by others on research sites the match our known information.

We located a family tree on New Family Search that has a John Jones born 21 October 1849 in Chicago, Illinois with parents Mark Jones and Claudia Brown.  But all posts have no sources listed.  One says Ancestral File.  Unfortunately, the disclaimer on Ancestral File says that this information is not sourced or proven and it is the users responsibility to document and verify the information.

Many novices and hobbyists overlook this disclaimer that is listed on all Ancestral File information and take the information submitted as proven when it is clearly not. Ancestral File is not a real or true source but just a collection of submissions.

Now we have to prove “verifiy with records” that it is the right John Jones.

We research census records and locate a John Jones with parents Mark & Dia or Delia Jones in the 1850, 1860, 1870 U.S. Censuses. He is in the right location, time period and parents names. We also have siblings. These are secondary documents that circumstantially support our initial information.

Searching the card catalog we learn Chicago is in Cook County, Illinois and we have films with birth records.

We research birth records indexes on films and several John Jones, Jonathan Jones, Johnny Jones listing are found in indexes. Several are listed.   A review of each results in locating a birth certificate for John Jones born 21 October 1848 in Cook County, Illinois. Parents names mostly match.  This is considered a linking document. It links child to parents. It proves and verifies the information with one slight correction for birth year and mothers name. Dia or Delia is probably a nickname for Claudia.

Other birth records in the area and time period are checked and several other children identified with same parents.

Now based on this information we search and locate a marriage record for John Jones and Celia Mann that lists both of their parents. This also confirms our other information.

Further searches located a death certificate for John Jones which confirms his birth and parents as well as wife and Harry Jones [Harold Jones] is the informant.

Cemetery record is found for John Jones and Celia the wife, Harold and other children of JOhn, his siblings and their spouses and children and his parents Mark Jones & Claudia Brown Jones are identified in the same cemetery.

Not only has a linking document been found but we have seen the naming patterns followed in the families by researching the siblings and documenting them also. Sometimes the linking documents are found through siblings and the linking document to the direct ancestor has been lost or destroyed.

With this information we can complete the work for full families. We research each of John Jones siblings their wives and children to complete our families.

Now we are ready to document the next generation and continue on.

Generally a research session takes place on one surname in a specific geographic place; usually a county, and exhausts the records for that surname, family, and related families for one or more generations.

ForGenerations has experience working on such projects that help you determine the best approach to take.  Call us at 801-947-1897 to get started today.