Category: Brick Walls

Are You Sure That’s the Same Man?

Finding the right name in a genealogy record doesn’t always mean you’ve found the right person. Learn how timelines, locations, associates, and other clues can help separate same-name ancestors.

Finding the right name in a genealogy record is exciting.

Finding the right person is a different matter.

This becomes especially important when you’re researching a common name. If your ancestor was named John Brown, William Smith, or even William Logan, there may have been several men with that name living in the same general area at the same time.

Sometimes they were even close to the same age.

That’s when things can get messy.

The Name Matches. What Else Matches?

Suppose you’re researching a William Logan who lived in Pennsylvania in the early 1800s.

You find a tax record for William Logan in the correct county. Then you find a land record for William Logan. A marriage appears. So does a census record.

It would be very easy to attach all four records to your William.

But before doing that, you need to know whether there was more than one William Logan in the area.

The tax record may belong to one man and the land record to another. The William who married in 1812 may not be the William who appears with your family in the 1820 census.

A matching name gets my attention, but I want more before I decide where the record belongs.

Build the Timeline First

One of the simplest ways to sort out people with the same name is to build a timeline.

Put every record you find in chronological order, including the ones you’re not sure about.

Add the date, location, occupation, spouse, children, neighbors, witnesses, land descriptions, church affiliation, and anything else that might help identify the person.

Once everything is lined up, problems often become easier to see.

Your John Brown is documented in Virginia in March 1810, but another John Brown is buying land in Kentucky two weeks later. Could they be the same man? Possibly, depending on the circumstances.

But now you have a question that needs answering instead of two records quietly sitting in the same family tree.

Give Them Separate Identities

When I suspect I’m dealing with two people who share a name, I separate them while I work.

William Logan #1 might be the farmer living near Mill Creek.

William Logan #2 might be the blacksmith whose wife was Margaret.

Those aren’t permanent names. They’re simply a way to keep the evidence from getting mixed together before I’ve figured out who is who.

This is especially useful when several records could reasonably belong to either man.

It also keeps me from deciding too early that every William Logan in the search results must be mine.

Look at the People Around Them

The people connected to a record can be more useful than the name you’re searching.

Who witnessed the marriage?

Who lived next door?

Who served as bondsman?

Who witnessed the deed?

Who appeared with the family at church?

Who administered the estate?

If the same group of people keeps appearing around one William Logan, you’ve started building a network around him. Another William Logan may have an entirely different set of associates.

Family, friends, neighbors, witnesses, and business associates can help separate two men whose names alone cannot.

Pay Attention to the Small Differences

Occupation can help. So can land ownership, tax status, military service, church membership, and the names of wives and children.

Even the way a man is described in a record may matter.

One record might identify William Logan as “Sr.” Another might call someone “William Logan, blacksmith.” A deed may include a residence or the name of adjoining landowners.

Those details are easy to skim past when you’re focused on finding a name, but they may be exactly what you need to tell two people apart.

Record Hints Can Make This Worse

Online record hints are useful, but they don’t know your ancestor.

A hint is usually telling you that something about the record resembles information already in your tree. It isn’t telling you that the identity has been proved.

If there are three John Browns of roughly the same age in the same county, the computer has the same problem you do.

Except it doesn’t have to clean up your tree afterward.

Before accepting a hint, I want to know why I believe that record belongs to my person. Sometimes the answer is obvious. Sometimes it takes more work.

It’s Okay to Leave a Record Unassigned

This is probably one of the most useful habits I’ve developed. If I find a record that might belong to my ancestor but I can’t prove it yet, I don’t have to attach it.

I can save it. I can cite it in my research notes. I can put it in the timeline with a question mark. I can come back to it later when I’ve learned more.

There is nothing wrong with saying, “I don’t know which William Logan this is yet.” That’s much easier than discovering six months later that you’ve built part of your family around the wrong William.

I’ve become much less excited when I see the right name in a search result. Now I want to know whether he is the right person.

That takes a little longer, but it saves a tremendous amount of cleanup later.

Stop Researching Your Ancestor

Yes, I know.

That is strange advice on a genealogy blog.

But if you’ve searched for the same person 847 different ways and you’re still getting nowhere, stop.

Leave Grandpa alone for a while.

Go bother his neighbors.

Our Trees Give Us Tunnel Vision

Most of us build family trees upward.

You.

Parents.

Grandparents.

Great-grandparents.

Keep going until somebody disappears into the mist.

That makes sense for organizing a family tree, but it isn’t how people actually lived.

Your ancestors had brothers and sisters. They had cousins, in-laws, neighbors, friends, business partners, employers, church members, and probably at least one person in town they couldn’t stand.

They belonged to communities.

When direct records stop giving me answers, I start looking sideways.

Genealogists usually call this cluster research or FAN research. FAN stands for Friends, Associates, and Neighbors.

It’s a fancy name for being nosy about everybody.

I’m quite good at that.

Start With the Census Page You Already Have

Pull up a census where you know you’ve found the right family.

Now look around them.

Who lives next door?

Who lives a few households away?

Do any surnames keep appearing?

Are there people born in the same unusual place?

If your Scottish ancestor is surrounded by people born locally except for two Scottish families living nearby, I’d write those names down.

They may be relatives.

They may have come from the same parish.

They may have immigrated together.

They may have absolutely nothing to do with each other.

Don’t decide yet.

Just notice.

Follow the Land

I’ve spent a ridiculous amount of time in land records lately.

They are worth it.

Who sold your ancestor the property?

Who witnessed the transaction?

Who owned the adjoining land?

Did familiar names buy property nearby?

Did several families sell their land around the same time?

Then look at where everybody went.

I’ve been working with families who moved from Scotland to Nova Scotia, and land records have been especially useful for sorting out who was living near whom and which names repeatedly appeared together.

That doesn’t make them relatives.

I know I keep saying that, but it matters.

We’re looking for patterns first.

Relationships have to be proven.

Research the Siblings

If Grandpa refuses to tell you who his parents were, try his sister.

I’m serious.

Your ancestor may have a useless death record.

His sister’s death certificate may name both parents.

Your ancestor may have no obituary.

His brother may have received half a newspaper column describing where he was born, when he immigrated, who his siblings were, and where everyone moved.

Why?

Because genealogy enjoys tormenting us.

Research every sibling you can identify.

Follow them through censuses.

Find their marriages.

Look for their death records.

Read their obituaries.

Find out where their children went.

I have solved questions about one person by researching somebody else in the family more times than I can count.

Watch Who Moves Together

This is another thing I pay much more attention to now.

Families didn’t always move alone.

Relatives moved together.

Neighbors followed one another.

Friends and church members moved to the same places.

Someone who had already settled in a new area might encourage people back home to come join them.

So when your family disappears from one place and pops up somewhere else, look around the new neighborhood.

Do you recognize anybody?

Then go back to the old neighborhood.

Were those families there too?

Now I’m interested.

Keep a Side List

You don’t need to add every person you encounter to your family tree.

Keep a separate list.

I usually want:

Name
Approximate age
Birthplace
Spouse
Where they lived
How they connect to the family I’m researching
Where I’ve seen them before

After a while, certain names may start repeating.

Those are the people I investigate.

Some will lead nowhere.

Others may lead straight through the brick wall you’ve been banging your head against.

The Answer May Be Next Door

This kind of research becomes even more useful as we move farther back in time.

Records get thinner.

Women disappear behind their husbands’ names.

Censuses stop naming everyone in the household.

Birth and death records may not exist.

That’s when the people surrounding the family can help put the pieces together.

So if you have searched Grandpa’s name every possible way and he still isn’t cooperating, give him a rest.

Research his brother.

His neighbor.

The witness on his deed.

The family living three farms away.

Go sideways for a while.

Grandpa will still be there when you get back.

And with any luck, you’ll know a whole lot more about him.

When the Evidence Changes the Family Tree

I changed my mind about someone recently.

Genealogically speaking.

I had been working with a possibility that two people might actually have been the same man.

The dates made it possible. Other pieces of the family story made it worth investigating. I certainly didn’t have enough evidence to say they were the same person, but I had enough to wonder.

So I wondered.

And researched.

Then more evidence came along.

Nope.

Two men.

Fine.

I’ll just be over here rearranging everything.

This Happens

When you’re working on a family with missing records, repeated names, questionable dates, and people who apparently considered leaving a clear paper trail beneath them, you have to develop theories.

There is nothing wrong with that.

The problem comes when we forget which parts are theories.

That’s why I’ve become pretty particular about the words I use in my research notes.

Confirmed.

Probable.

Possible.

Unproven.

Conflicting.

Those words keep me from turning “this could be him” into “this is him” somewhere along the way.

It is surprisingly easy to do.

I Really Thought It Might Be Him

In this particular case, I had good reasons to keep the possibility open.

Then family photographs and additional records supported the existence of two separate men.

That didn’t mean the earlier research was bad.

The evidence changed.

So did my conclusion.

I could have tried to explain away the new information because it didn’t fit my theory.

That would have been a terrible idea.

Unfortunately, once we become attached to a theory, explaining away inconvenient evidence can be awfully tempting.

Especially after we’ve spent three weeks on it.

Write Down the Problem

If records disagree, I don’t like forcing them into agreement.

Say one record gives a birth year of 1826.

Another points toward 1827.

Don’t quietly pick one because it fits your tree better.

Write down both.

Then start comparing everything you can find.

How close was each record created to the actual birth?

Who supplied the information?

Would that person have known?

Are there other records?

Could two people with similar names be getting mixed together?

Could both people actually exist?

That last possibility deserves more attention than it sometimes gets.

Families reused names constantly.

Cousins could have the same name.

A child could be named for another child who died, although don’t assume the first child died without finding evidence.

Two men with the same name could live in the same county.

And just when you think you’ve sorted them out, one of them will marry a woman with the same first name as the other one’s wife.

Because genealogy.

Don’t Ignore What the Family Kept

The evidence that changed my recent theory included material preserved by the family.

Photographs, letters, Bibles, diaries, funeral cards, and family recollections don’t automatically outrank official records.

They don’t automatically rank below them, either.

You still have to ask questions.

Who labeled the photograph?

When?

Was the label contemporary or added fifty years later?

Who wrote the Bible entry?

Was the person there when the event happened?

Who told the story?

A photograph labeled by someone’s daughter during his lifetime is different from one labeled by a great-grandchild who never met him.

Both are clues.

They just aren’t the same kind of evidence.

The Tree Is Allowed to Change

I think this is hard for some researchers, especially after years of work.

Removing a relationship can feel like admitting you were wrong.

Well, sometimes we were.

Welcome to genealogy.

We work with the records we have. Then another record turns up, and we know more than we did before.

I’d much rather change my tree than spend the next ten years researching the wrong family because I couldn’t bear to let go of an old conclusion.

And sometimes the best answer really is:

We don’t know.

I know.

Terribly unsatisfying.

But “we don’t know” leaves the question open for more research. A made-up answer sends everyone down the wrong road.

I’ve kept one phrase from this whole recent adventure because I think it’s worth remembering:

A good genealogist isn’t the person who never gets it wrong.

It’s the person willing to change their mind when the evidence says they should.

I still would have preferred being right the first time.

Just saying.

Exploring Family Connections Through Obituaries

Most people think obituaries are just death notices.

But in genealogy research, they can be absolute mother lodes.

A good obituary can connect generations, reveal hidden family relationships, confirm migrations, uncover married names, and sometimes solve mysteries you’ve been wrestling with for years.

And honestly? Many researchers don’t dig nearly deep enough into them.

Obituaries Are More Than Dates

Yes, obituaries often include:

  • birth dates
  • death dates
  • burial locations

But the real value is usually hiding in the details surrounding those facts.

You might find:

  • names of children and grandchildren
  • married daughters listed under married surnames
  • siblings
  • occupations
  • church affiliations
  • military service
  • immigration details
  • hometown references
  • names of pallbearers or close friends

Sometimes the clue you need is tucked into one little sentence that everyone else skips right over.

Pay Attention to Who Is Mentioned

This is one of the biggest genealogy tips I can give.

Look carefully at:

  • who is listed
  • who is NOT listed
  • the order people appear
  • locations connected to family members

For example, if several relatives are living in the same city, that may point toward a migration pattern.

If an obituary mentions a brother living nearby, that could lead you to the correct census household or probate file.

Even witnesses, ministers, and funeral homes can connect families together.

Married Names Matter

For women, especially, obituaries can be incredibly valuable.

A daughter listed as:

“Mrs. James Walker”

may not seem helpful at first.

But that one line can uncover:

  • a married surname
  • a new location
  • another branch of the family

And suddenly, an entire line opens up.

Don’t Stop with One Obituary

This is where many researchers miss opportunities.

If possible, gather obituaries for:

  • parents
  • siblings
  • spouses
  • children
  • cousins

You’ll often find overlapping details that strengthen family connections and confirm relationships.

One obituary may mention a sister.

Another may list her married name.

A third may reveal where the family moved.

That’s how patterns start coming together.

Newspapers Add Context Too

Remember, obituaries were written by people.

Sometimes they contain errors.

Always compare obituary details with:

  • census records
  • vital records
  • probate files
  • cemetery records

But even when an obituary contains mistakes, it still provides clues worth following.

And sometimes, those clues lead exactly where you need to go.

Final Thoughts

Obituaries are one of the most overlooked genealogy resources available.

They do far more than announce a death.

They tell stories about relationships, migrations, communities, and families.

And sometimes, one carefully read obituary can unlock an entirely new direction in your research.

Need more help? Visit Loganalogy.com Research Specialist page! I offer guidance to streamline your research, provide expert tips, and help you build a family tree that future generations will cherish.

Why Taking Breaks Boosts Genealogy Research

Why Stepping Away Might Be the Best Move You Make

Working with clients means I spend more time climbing their family trees than my own—more than I’d like, honestly. But here’s the unexpected perk: taking a break from your personal research can actually be one of the best things you do for it.

When you stare at the same ancestor profiles day after day, it’s easy to feel stuck… or like you’ve hit the end of the road. But chances are, the road just needs repaving. And maybe a pit stop or two.

🔁 “All the Records Are Gone!” (Spoiler: They’re Not)

One thing I hear a lot from fellow researchers is that sites like Ancestry or FamilySearch have “nothing new.” But that’s just not true. These databases are constantly adding new records—many of them quietly in the background.

Here’s just a glimpse of how often things are updated:

  • 📜 FamilySearch adds ~180 new collections monthly from all over the world
  • 📰 Chronicling America updates hundreds of historical newspapers regularly
  • 📚 Ancestry and FindMyPast both add and update collections weekly
  • 🌍 MyHeritage continues growing by the billions (yep, billions) annually

Moral of the story: if it’s been a while, go back and check again. That “dead end” ancestor may have left a clue behind while you were busy living your life.

💥 Real Talk: My 7th Great-Grandmother’s Will Changed Everything

I recently took a break from my own tree, and when I came back, BOOM—there it was. A will I had never seen before, sitting quietly in my Ancestry hints.

That one document listed her children and grandchildren, which led me to her father’s will, and then her mother and siblings. Just like that, a wall came down, and a whole new branch opened up.

👀 What You Might Be Missing

🧾 Old records, new eyes: Go back and re-read sources you saved years ago. You’re more experienced now—what didn’t click back then might stand out today.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Research sideways: Don’t just follow your direct line. Look into siblings, cousins, and in-laws. They often lead you straight to your missing link.

📚 Check offline: Not everything is online (yet). Local archives, libraries, and family history societies often have gems that aren’t digitized. Don’t be afraid to send an email—you’d be surprised what’s free.

📺 Social history & video tutorials: YouTube is full of amazing, free content—walkthroughs, history docs, obscure record set tips. Don’t sleep on the power of context.

🧠 Bottom Line: Take a Step Back to Move Forward

Taking a break doesn’t mean giving up. It means giving your brain space to reset. The records aren’t going anywhere—but when you come back, you might just see something you missed before.

Need fresh eyes on your research? I’d love to help you break through that brick wall.


Visit Loganalogy.com to get started!

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Top Tips for Beginners to Breakthrough Genealogy Roadblocks

Genealogy research is an exciting journey, but even the most dedicated researchers hit roadblocks. Once you’ve gathered the basics—names, dates, locations—what should you do when you can’t seem to find that next crucial record? Here are key strategies to help you break through those barriers.

1) Use the FAN Principle1

The FAN principle (Friends, Associates, and Neighbors), developed by Elizabeth Shown Mills, encourages you to look beyond your direct ancestors. Research the people around them—witnesses on documents, neighbors in census records, and business partners. These individuals can provide clues that lead you to new records or confirm relationships.

2) Try Cluster Research2

Rather than focusing on one ancestor, expand your search to include siblings, cousins, and extended family. Families often moved together, attended the same churches, and were buried in the same cemeteries. Finding details about their relatives can provide missing pieces for your own ancestor’s story. This methodology is also championed by Elizabeth Shown Mills as an effective genealogical strategy.

3) Search Local Records

Not everything is available online. Visit local libraries, historical societies, and county courthouses for records such as:

  • Land deeds
  • Probate records
  • Newspaper archives
  • Church registers
  • Tax lists

These sources can contain unique details about your ancestor’s life that don’t appear in major genealogy databases.

4) Join Genealogy Groups and Forums

Sometimes, fresh eyes can offer new insights. Join genealogy groups, both online and in person, where researchers share tips, records, and even family connections. Facebook groups, local genealogy societies, and platforms like FamilySearch Community can be invaluable.

5) Explore DNA Matches

If you’ve taken a DNA test, use it strategically. Explore resources like Diahan Southard’s Your DNA Guide website, book, and workbook to better understand how to use your matches to confirm relationships and break through brick walls. Her expertise in genetic genealogy provides practical strategies for leveraging DNA results effectively.3

6) Review Your Research Process

Double-check your previous findings for potential errors. A simple mistake in a name, date, or location could lead you astray. Make sure you’ve:

  • Verified all sources
  • Re-examined records for overlooked details
  • Considered alternative spellings or name variations

7) Interview Family Members

Older relatives can provide valuable oral histories, family traditions, and lesser-known details. Ask open-ended questions and record their stories for future reference.

8) Recheck Your Sources

Ensure that all information you’ve gathered is from reliable sources. Unverified details can send you in the wrong direction, so always cross-check with primary records like birth, marriage, and death certificates.

9) Watch for Name Variations and Misspellings

Spelling was often inconsistent in historical records. Before the widespread development of writing systems, our ancestors did not keep detailed records or regularly write down their names. In addition, your ancestor may have used a middle name or nickname or even changed their name. Try searching with:

  • Phonetic spellings
  • Different name orders
  • Abbreviations or initials

10) Verify Ages and Birth Dates

Ages in historical records were sometimes reported inaccurately. Reasons for discrepancies include:

  • Most early ancestors did not keep track of their exact age in the same way we do today, as widespread record-keeping systems were not available
  • Lying to appear older or younger for work or military service
  • Mistakes by census takers or someone else giving census information
  • Lack of birth records causing uncertainty

When searching, widen the birth year range and cross-reference census, military, and vital records for consistency.

Bonus Hint: The earliest recorded birth date is usually the closest or most accurate.

11) Take a Break and Return with Fresh Eyes

Sometimes stepping away from research for a short time can provide a new perspective. Keep a research log so you remember where you left off when you return.

12) Consider Hiring a Professional

If you’ve exhausted all options, a professional genealogist or family history researcher can help. With specialized skills and access to additional resources, they can break through stubborn roadblocks. If you need assistance, I offer genealogy guidance for just $25 per hour. Visit Loganalogy.com to learn more and book a session!

Final Thoughts Every genealogist encounters challenges, but with persistence and the right strategies, you can push past barriers and uncover your family’s hidden history. Keep searching, keep learning, and most importantly—enjoy the journey!

  1. Elizabeth Shown Mills, “QuickLesson 11: Identity Problems & the FAN Principle,” Evidence Explained: Historical Analysis, Citation & Source Usage (https://www.evidenceexplained.com/content/quicklesson-11-identity-problems-fan-principle : [07 Feb 2025]). ↩︎
  2. Elizabeth Shown Mills, “QuickSheet: The Historical Biographer’s Guide to Cluster Research (The FAN Principle) (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 2012), outside panel 1, “The Principle.” ↩︎
  3. Southard, Diahan. “Your DNA Guide- the Book and Workbook.” Accessed February 8, 2025. https://diy.yourdnaguide.com/your-dna-guide-the-book-and-workbook. ↩︎