Hi Reader,

Mid-way through Week 3 of Family History Month, and I need to share some research truth with you.

The reality: Some of you are probably making breakthrough discoveries. Others might be hitting the same walls you've hit before. Both experiences are completely normal in genealogy research.

Here's what most genealogy advice won't tell you: Sometimes the "failure" to find records immediately reveals important information about your ancestor's life. No marriage record might mean they eloped. Missing census records could indicate they were traveling or temporarily living elsewhere.

If you're making progress: Keep going but remember to document what you're finding as you go. It's easy to get caught up in the excitement and forget to save your sources.

If you're still stuck: This is actually valuable information. Sometimes knowing what doesn't work is just as important as finding what does. Don't get discouraged!

🛠️ WHEN YOU'RE STUCK - TRY THIS

Expand your search strategy: If you're looking for "John Haley," try searching for "J Haley" or just "Haley" in the right location and time period. Also consider spelling variations - "Hailey," or "Halley,".

Try different databases: If you usually search Ancestry, try MyHeritage or FamilySearch. Different sites have different record collections, and even when they have the same records, the transcriptions and indexing can vary. Compare Ancestry.com, MyHeritage and FamilySearch.

Think beyond vital records: Cemetery records, obituaries, newspaper articles, and probate records often contain information that birth, marriage, and death certificates don't.

Consider DNA angles: Ancestry DNA and MyHeritage DNA can connect you with living relatives who might have the missing pieces of your puzzle. Consider testing at both databases. Your missed potential matches may be in one database while you are testing in the other.

This week's research resources:

For systematic approaches: "How to Create Your Genealogy Research Plan (& Why You Should!)" - Sometimes stepping back and creating a plan breaks through confusion.

For death date mysteries: "Ancestor Death Date Missing? Your Complete Research Guide" - Specific strategies for finding when an ancestor died.

Week 3 reality check:

Not every research question gets answered in a week. Some take months or even years. The goal this week was to try a strategic approach, not to solve everything perfectly.

Research is often two steps forward, one step back. That's not failure - that's how genealogy works. The key is documenting those steps so you don't repeat the same searches six months from now.

What's next: Wednesday starts our final week, where we'll focus on sharing and connecting your discoveries with family.