Tracking clues of family history

I sometimes wonder if clues to solve some of my genealogical mysteries are scribbled in the margins of notebooks that no longer are read or on the backs of business cards that have slipped into some domestic crevice.

It's always best to jot down promising information sources, focus on the research at hand and follow through on potential leads later. Going off on some tangent when something new pops up often results in failure and frustration.

Trouble is, I often forget to look at those new sources later.

Ferreting out and following those promising little guideposts is my New Year's resolution.

Last year, I resolved to study the orphan trains that moved children from East to West; the routes ancestors traveled to migrate from one part of the country to another; revisit files I have that are five years and older; and read "Only a Few Bones: A True Account of the Rolling Fork Tragedy and Its Aftermath" by John Philip Colletta.

I accomplished one and two. I'd still like to do three and four.

Maybe this year.

Great news!

Images of death certificates that South Carolina counties have been required to create since 1915 are online at ancestry.com. It's no longer necessary to travel to the S.C. Department of Archives and History in Columbia and view the images on microfilm.

Death certificates are consulted by genealogists for much more than death dates. They also provide the burial date, some details of any illness, cause of death, doctor who provided treatment, funeral home, cemetery and quite a bit more.

They also provide the names of the deceased ancestor's parents, enabling a family historian to begin adding another generation to the family tree. And they give the mother's maiden name, something often lost to descendants, enabling the genealogist to research another line.

There are, however, a few things you should remember when using death certificates:

-- Until fairly recently, the spelling of names was not standard, and uniformity was not even expected within the same family. So you might have to try variant spellings to find your ancestor's certificate.

-- People who provide information found on death certificates are usually upset and may make mistakes or be misunderstood. So information found on them should be compared with information found elsewhere.

-- Pay attention to the name of the informant. People who inform officials that a death has occurred usually are trusted family members. You might discover a relative or group of relatives you didn't know you had.

More Kinship

The following Web sites are helpful in conducting genealogical research. The lists of resources available at each site are partial.

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-- state.sc.us/scdah/ -- South Carolina Department of Archives and History. Historical state and county records and some historical manuscripts.

-- schistory.org -- South Carolina Historical Society Library. Colonial records, biographies, genealogies and personal manuscripts.

-- ccpl.org -- Charleston County Library. Local government records and other documents in the South Carolina Room.

-- familysearch.org -- Family History Library of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. A database of names, dates and residences from many sources and a listing of public records on film and available for rent through the church's family history center on Sam Rittenberg.

-- ancestry.com -- a subscription service for historical records, vital records, military records, probate and other court records and newspapers.

-- footnote.com-- original documents, city directories, Confederate amnesty papers and Southern Claims Commission files.

-- genealogybank.com-- a subscription service for historical newspapers, historical documents, obituaries and social security death index.

-- worldvitalrecords.com -- a subscription service for smalltown newspapers, international marriage records, burial records, world gazetteers and Everton's Online Library.

-- usgenweb.com -- county and states information that is digitized by volunteers.

-- genealogy.rootsweb.com -- digitized information that is of value to genealogists.

-- cyndislist.com -- inks to genealogical Web sites.

-- linkpendium.com -- links to genealogical Web sites.

-- bcgcertification.org/associates/ -- Board for Certification of Genealogists, an independent certifying authority, not a membership organization.

-- apgen.org/directory -- Association of Professional Genealogists, an independent organization that supports professional genealogists and seeks to upgrade the profession and protect the interest of those hiring professional genealogists.

-- icapgen.org/Programs/aglist.htm -- International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists tests individuals' competence in genealogical research and is administered by a board of commissioners.

Reach Wevonneda Minis at 937-5705 or wminis@postandcourier.com.