In 1906, Nellie Langevin married Frank Henry Hill in Penacook, New Hampshire. Frank vanished three years later, leaving Nellie to fend for herself. Despite her efforts to divorce him, Nellie died in 1914, still officially married. Who was Nellie’s elusive husband and what happened to him? This case study resolves conflicting direct, indirect, and negative evidence to uncover Frank’s identity and highlights the importance of including the FAN Club in reasonably exhaustive research.
The Board for Certification of Genealogists presented a captivating webinar featuring professional genealogist Angela Harris, who specializes in forensic genealogy. In her session, “Finding Frank Henry Hill,” Harris demonstrated how rigorous methods, historical context, and persistence can solve complex identity puzzles. Using a case study rooted in French Canadian immigration, family naming traditions, and conflicting records, she illustrated the practical application of the genealogical proof standard (GPS) and underscored the importance of creative, disciplined research strategies for resolving seemingly impossible genealogical problems.
The Power of Standards and Evidence: Harris emphasized the necessity of the genealogical proof standard, highlighting how direct, indirect, and negative evidence work together to form reliable conclusions. She showed how carefully weighing conflicting sources, rather than discarding them, leads to stronger research outcomes.
Navigating Cultural Context: French Canadian customs—such as naming conventions, the use of “dit” names, and patterns of migration—played a central role in this case. Understanding these traditions provided crucial clues for distinguishing between multiple individuals with similar names, revealing the hidden identity of Frank Henry Hill.
Methodology in Action: Harris employed tools like timelines, FAN (Friends, Associates, Neighbors) research, and layered analysis of wills, obituaries, and court documents. These techniques untangled overlapping identities across multiple regions, ultimately proving the true identity of a man who lived under more than one name.
This webinar is a masterclass in how persistence, contextual knowledge, and adherence to genealogical standards can resolve even the most tangled family histories. Viewers will walk away inspired with practical strategies to tackle their own brick walls.
To fully appreciate the depth of Harris’s research and the step-by-step logic that led to her conclusions, watch the complete webinar on Legacy Family Tree Webinars. Genealogists are also encouraged to explore the detailed syllabus provided, which contains additional resources, cultural background, and research tools to aid in their own investigations.
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This was a fascinating story. It’s a good reminder not to get stuck on names. I loved your last line. Well done!
Great presentation! I liked the way that Angela explained a complicated tale of a family with complications of language, geography, naming customs, marriage, divorce, and the human drive to survive! Agnela inspires me to attempt to sit for the CG board!
Very well presented. Not my area of research, but her methodology is admirable. Thank you.
Well Angela Harris you deserve a medal. That was amazing the way you followed clues sand searched for information. I’m not surprised it took as long as it did. Thank you so much
This was very interesting and helpful. I’m not sure I would have even tried to figure all of it out. Thanks for emphasizing the use of timelines–That’s what I try to use most now. Melody Knight
That was a very complex case to resolve, however, she was clearly able to follow clues to solve the issues.
Angela did amazing. Her pacing was wonderful and her diction was perfect! Clarity of audio 10/10!
Very complex and interesting case study! This is one I’ll watch more than once. Fantastic presentation! Thank you.