When I started doing genealogy research almost a decade ago, I was all about identifying my direct-line ancestors and making my tree taller. I committed to not adding anyone to my tree, thank goodness, unless I had at least one documented source that linked that person to my family. But once I added someone and filled in the basic birth, marriage, death and census data, I moved on.
Then, a few years later, I realized that I would benefit from adding collateral relatives to the tree. (It seems painfully obvious to me now, but it didn’t when I started.) All along, I struggled with maintaining focus and, in 2014, I devised a strategy of focusing on one of my four lines per quarter, rather than jumping all over my family tree when I sat down to research.
Three years later, in 2017, I decided to spend a year on one line, my paternal grandfather’s line (Adams) and then extended that year to 18 months. I tried shifting gears to my paternal grandmother’s line (Rasco), but the Adamses keep drawing me back.
The Adams family was the focus of my recent Kentucky research trip. Specifically, I’ve spent the majority of my time on my 2nd great grandfather, George Washington Adams (1845-1938).
When I attended the National Genealogical Society conference in May, I heard Elizabeth Shown Mills talk four times. Several of those talks have inspired me to dig deeper on this ancestor. Her talk on context, in particular, had a big impact. In it she offered an explanation for why context is so important, along with specific suggestions for how to find context for our ancestors’ lives. It really makes me want to try to understand what life was like for this man and his family.
Why George? He fought for the Union in the Civil War, and I sent away for his pension file back in 2015. It was a thick one: 138 documents and 236 scanned pages. But I realize now it only gave me a window into a small portion of his life. I transcribed that file so I became very familiar with his life while he was living in the National Home for Disabled Soldiers from 1922-1933 and the five years after he left it until his death. (He would move from adult child to adult child fairly frequently and telegraph the pension office every time he did it so he wouldn’t miss a check.) But none of those documents gave me an inkling that he served in the state legislature in the 1890s and early 1900s and also was a magistrate during that time. That I gleaned through newspaper research later.
After his first wife died in 1902, he had a seemingly acrimonious second marriage, with two divorce filings (one of which was completed). He had twelve children, and his youngest child was born 40 years after his oldest (my great grandfather, Elmer Henry Adams).
All this interesting on the face of it. But what I want to do is to research it within the context of life at the time he was living. And once I’ve done that, I’d like to revisit the many documents I have for him and look at them in the proper context.
I think I’ll start with more newspaper research. (Instead of searching for familiar names, I’ll actually read the articles.) I’d like to research some of the people who lived around him to help fill out the picture as well. The syllabus from Elizabeth Shown Mills’ talk on context will be a guide for the types of sources I can consult to really paint a picture of the 93 years during which George Washington Adams lived.
But before I get started, I want to process the documents I found during my research trip, which will be the focus of this month’s 30 x 30 challenge for me. But I’m excited to dig into George’s life and times and see where it takes me!
great post
It is tough to be both must choose one or the other – Taller trees or wider trees!
I totally agree with a proof other than a world tree>
Keep it up
Thank you, Jerry!
When I started (50 years ago) I said I wanted to learn about my family back to the time they landed in America & I would leave Europe to others. Little did I know, at the time, most of my lines came from the Mayflower in 1620 to early groups in the 1630’s & 1640’s LOL When I started on my husband’s line I knew his G-grandfather had come from Germany, so it was going to be easy! LOL again, most of his family came into Maryland & Virginia by 1700. But no matter when they came, collateral lines are a Must! That’s where all the clues are.
I think we’re fortunate that we have so much U.S. research to do, Genie, even if it feels overwhelming. I totally agree with your sentiment on collateral lines. I don’t know what I was thinking when I started out focusing on direct lines!
I also have a George Washington Adams in my direct line. He was born in 1804 in North Carolina and died in 1856 in Scott County, Virginia. And his wife, well, her name was Martha… 🙂
That’s fantastic. I love how people were named after the country’s founders back in the day.
Your endeavor sounds exciting. My research has been primarily dealing with my direct line. On occasion I am intrigued about data found on my collateral line. I have only done limited research on my collateral line. I was wondering how the focusing on a particular family line for a month or two works out? I feel that my research only covers a few family lines and I have been ignoring other family lines. I was thinking of spending a couple months per family line and related collateral lines. I would appreciate any feedback. Good luck on your endeavor.
Jerry, there are so many great clues that the collateral lines can provide. And, often, those collateral relatives are just plain interesting! For me, focusing on a particular family line for a period of time has been helpful because it keeps my focus in one place rather than skipping around. It doesn’t sound like focus is a challenge for you. Instead, consciously moving from one line to another every couple of months may be very helpful in expanding your research to lines that you haven’t been dealing with. I encourage you to give it a try! And I encourage you to explore collateral relatives and see if you find researching them beneficial and enjoyable.
Thank you Janine. I too had a 2nd great grandfather who lead a colorful life around the same time period of yours. Mine immigrated from Bohemia to the US, signed up to serve in the Civil War, came back injured , ran a saloon, moved to Minnesota only to fall victim of poisoning during a train trip to Kansas with his son-in-law. I know nothing about the saloons and why they moved or wanted to move from one state to another, which were considerable distances at the time.
Their lives were so fascinating, weren’t they? I think these folks who were born in the mid-nineteenth century saw so much and possessed so much courage. The idea of crossing an ocean on a boat and then signing up to fight in a war…it’s mind-blowing. (And, I know, not uncommon.) Enjoy your research!
This sounds like a great area to research.. Mystery is his death .
I’m obsessing the last few years on a Civil War ancestor too. My 2x great-grandfather survived Andersonville Prison during the war and went on to live until 1930. I’ve been to see the small Kansas town where he spent most of his last 30 years when he wasn’t off staying with his children in Texas or Indiana. Trying to create a picture of what their lives were like in 1910, 1920, etc. really fascinates me.
We’re of like minds, aren’t we? Piecing together their daily lives is so interesting. That’s great that you’ve been to your ancestors’ Kansas town.
And, oh my gosh, what he must have gone through at Andersonville. I have a 3x great grandfather who survived Libby Prison during the Civil War. I haven’t yet done much research into what he went through there, but I’m definitely interested in finding out more at some point.