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Did you know there’s a common misstep that trips up even the best genealogists on Ancestry? It’s a mistake I’ve made too, but I’m here to help you stop making it and start uncovering even more about your ancestors.
The Mistake: Only Scratching the Surface on Ancestry Hints
Here’s what often happens: you see a promising hint pop up for your ancestor. Maybe it’s that long-awaited record you’ve been hoping for, so you think, “That’s got to be them!” You eagerly attach it to your tree and move on to the next lead.
But here’s the kicker—by stopping there, you’re likely missing valuable information that’s hiding just beyond that initial hint. In fact, good genealogists know that truly exploring a hint goes beyond just clicking “Attach.” You have to dive in and look at the full record, not just the entry indexed for your ancestor.
The Solution: Digging Deeper for Full Context
So, how do you make sure you’re not leaving anything important behind? Simple. Once you open that hint, go further. Always look at at least one page before and one page after where your ancestor’s information appears. This small habit can yield big rewards by revealing details about relatives, neighbors, or extra notes that give context to your ancestor’s life.
In the following video, I’ll walk you through exactly how to maximize your Ancestry hints and avoid this common pitfall. Here’s what we’ll cover:
How to access record hints on Ancestry.com
How to filter hints in the master list for one tree
Tips for rotating images to make them easier to read
Navigating forward and backward in the Ancestry film viewer
A deep dive into the Canadian World War I CEF Personnel Files (1914-1948) as an example of what you might uncover
Discover just how much you're missing when you do not look at the pages before and after an Ancestry Hint gateway image. You might crack through your genealogy brick walls.
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Discovering Hidden Gems in Canadian Expeditionary Force Files
Let me tell you, when I committed to examining the pages before and after the main hint file for my Canadian ancestor, I struck gold! The file unfolded into over 20 pages of incredible documentation about his service.
Here are just a few treasures I found:
His signature- a personal connection that feels like reaching through history. (And yes, love adding photos when I'm writing a family history.)
Residence information before his service.
Details about his next of kin.
His self-reported birth date and place.
A physical description, down to his eye color, scars, and even any tattoos!
Health evaluations- insights into his vision, hearing, and even a dental log.
An extensive service history, including enlistment dates, postings, ranks, medals, and more.
I highly recommend that you transcribe all of the information in this document. Then, create a timeline to track where your ancestors served and any medical treatments they received.
In the video above, I walk you through how one Ancestry hint turned into pages and pages and pages of family history documentation.
Take Action: Go Beyond the Hint
Now, it’s your turn. Revisit your Ancestry hints and try this method. Be sure to look at the pages before and after each record. Who knows what family mysteries you’ll unlock by taking a closer look?
Happy exploring, and remember—the answers you seek might be just one page away!
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