As a professional genealogist who helps with lineage society applications, I often spend time sorting through an applicant’s prior research to determine what sources can or cannot be submitted. Here is some guidance to get you started on that process for your own work:
- Birth, death, and marriage certificates: Yes! Societies tend to prefer these sources and will often treat them as accurate. Keep your eye out for any errors: the society may not know how to handle them. You’ll need a plan in advance.
- Census enumerations: Can only be used for what is stated on the enumeration. We often see them used as “proof” of relationship in the 1850s/1860s. They aren’t. One society does not allow. Check society guidance for details.
- Family group sheets or family trees: No! These are not considered to viable sources for lineage society applications, because it’s typically impossible to determine where the information came from. It doesn’t matter if the family group sheet came from Grandma. It still cannot be used.
- ThruLines: No! These are really based on family trees. See above.
- Family Bible: Maybe. You’ll need the publication information and ideally a copy of the title page. Any information recorded should be within a close enough period to the publication date for it to be in the living memory of the person recording.
- Local history: Maybe. Some societies treat these as support for other sources. Do a good evaluation of the source before submitting. Where did the information come from? Did the person providing it likely have good knowledge of the events surrounding it? Histories with citations are more likely to be accepted.
- DNA: It depends. The bulk of lineage societies do not accept DNA because of the challenges of reviewing it. Check with the society.
- Probate records: Yes, although the society may require vital records for the first three generations.
- Military records: Yes, although the society may require vital records for the first three generations.
- Deeds: Yes, although the society may require vital records for the first three generations.
- Images of the headstone: If taken from Find A Grave or similar, only the information on the stone will be reviewed, and the stone must date from the period of the death.
- Newspaper records: It depends on when the record was created. A record from the period of the event is likely to be accepted. A “recounting of historical events” from a century later, probably not. It has to do with source analysis.
- Grandma’s application: Some societies will accept prior applications “as is.” Others will require updating to current standards. Check with the society for guidance.
- Genealogies: It depends. Evaluate the source. Does it have citations? Do you know where the information came from? Was the person providing the information likely to have direct knowledge of events? Some societies will accept certain genealogies 100% of the time, an example being the Mayflower Society’s Silver Books.
Questions? Contact us.