By
By
Webinar Library
Bonus webinars Methodology and Skills Finding Females

Finding the Elusive Maiden Name

Ann G. Lawthers, Sc.D.
Nov 27, 2021
598 views
CC
Want to watch the full webinar?
Join now to access all 2,310 webinars and unlock all features.
Join now
Syllabus
Join now

Content

Play. Playing.
Introduction
1m 06s
Play. Playing.
Find the Marriage Record
8m 58s
Play. Playing.
Church Marriage Register
17m 19s
Play. Playing.
Finding Aids
6m 05s
Play. Playing.
Learn about the Husband
4m 09s
Play. Playing.
Local History
10m 15s

About this webinar

Searching for the maiden name of our ancestress can be frustrating. This webinar presents a hierarchy of search strategies for tracing the maiden name. Begin by trying to locate a marriage record, keeping in mind the record will vary by time period and geographic location. If a marriage record search proves fruitless, a second tier of sources is recommended including children’s death records, the women’s death record, census and other sources. Finally, the webinar presents strategies specific to the maiden name search such as following the husband and learning about history where the couple lived.

About the speaker

About the speaker

Ann Lawthers

Ann G. Lawthers, Sc.D.
Ann G. Lawthers, Sc.D., a staff Genealogist at American Ancestor’s Brue Family Learning Center for many years, teaches and lectures on a wide variety of genealogic topics. Her research interests include New England and the Mid-Atlantic and e
Learn more...

Comments (3)

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

1000 characters remaining
Cancel Submit

Sort by Newest
Sort by Close.
  • Newest
  • Oldest
  • Likes
  1. LV
    Lisa Van Gemert
    3 years ago

    Thank you so much for this! It was so helpful. I appreciate the detailed syllabus as well. Locating maiden names is so tricky, but so rewarding.

    Reply
  2. SR
    Susan Rogers
    3 years ago

    Very good, clear presentation. Lots of good ideas. Speaker might like to know that the correct pronunciation of Amherst is “am-erst,” — there is no “h” sound. There used to be a sign coming into the town that said, “Welcome to Amherst. Only the “h” is silent.”

    Reply
    1 Reply
    • JC
      James Crittenden
      3 years ago

      The ‘h’ is only silent if you speak with a (non-rhotic) Bostonian accent. Please see: https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/29761/when-did-americans-lose-their-british-accents . There is a city of Amherst in NYS (just outside of Buffalo) and the “h” sound is pronounced. Either way is correct depending on where you live.

Related Webinars

1:17:15
Best of ESMMethodology and Skills
Finding Females: Wives, Mothers, Daughters, Sisters & Paramours
Elizabeth Shown Mills, CG, CGL
2.5K views
CC
Finding Females: Wives, Mothers, Daughters, Sisters & Paramours
One of the toughest challenges faced by genealogists is the difficulty of identifying and tracking females. Wives and mothers traditionally have been “supporting characters” to the roles played by their husbands and sons—bearing no known name other than that of the males they married or bore. Historically, social mores and law codes made them second-class citizens, without a legal identity of their own and few rights or opportunities to create the range of records that genealogists customarily use to trace males. This session presents an array of resources—and, more importantly, techniques and strategies backed by case studies—we can use to establish the identities of elusive females.
Best of ESMMethodology and Skills
Finding Females: Wives, Mothers, Daughters, Sisters & Paramours
CC
Elizabeth Shown Mills, CG, CGL
2.5K views
One of the toughest challenges faced by genealogists is the difficulty of identifying and tracking females. Wives and mothers traditionally have been “supporting characters” to the roles played by their husbands and sons—bearing no known name other than that of the males they married or bore. Historically, social mores and law codes made them second-class citizens, without a legal identity of their own and few rights or opportunities to create the range of records that genealogists customarily use to trace males. This session presents an array of resources—and, more importantly, techniques and strategies backed by case studies—we can use to establish the identities of elusive females.
Fri, February 23 2024: 19:00 UTC
Login to register (for webinar members)
Login to register (for webinar members)
1:12:42
Methodology and SkillsHistorical Records
Finding Females in US Naturalization Records, 1790-1952
Nancy E. Loe, MA, MLS
933 views
CC
Finding Females in US Naturalization Records, 1790-1952
Whether you’re missing a naturalization record or finding an unexpected one, this session helps you discover how female ancestors — both foreign-born and birthright — gained, lost, or regained citizenship in the United States between 1790 and 1945. US citizenship and attendant rights for women could be fragile, depending on marital status, prevailing laws, social norms, and other shifting factors. Examples of US naturalization and citizenship records, and search strategies for finding these records are featured in this presentation.
Methodology and SkillsHistorical Records
Finding Females in US Naturalization Records, 1790-1952
CC
Nancy E. Loe, MA, MLS
933 views
Whether you’re missing a naturalization record or finding an unexpected one, this session helps you discover how female ancestors — both foreign-born and birthright — gained, lost, or regained citizenship in the United States between 1790 and 1945. US citizenship and attendant rights for women could be fragile, depending on marital status, prevailing laws, social norms, and other shifting factors. Examples of US naturalization and citizenship records, and search strategies for finding these records are featured in this presentation.
Wed, November 1 2023: 18:00 UTC
Register for free
1:14:27
Methodology and Skills
Unlocking Stories of Our Female Ancestors through Effective Research Methodology
Denyce Porter Peyton
996 views
CC
Unlocking Stories of Our Female Ancestors through Effective Research Methodology
We will explore how implementing standard research methodology may open up new avenues of discovery to unlock previously “hidden” evidence of female ancestors’ stories. Using reasonably exhaustive research, evidence correlation, analysis proof standard elements and cluster research methodology, we can uncover critical information to help us develop our female ancestors’ stories. Today’s discussion includes two case studies of females born in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. An exploration of sources, beyond census and marriage records, was required to enhance their life stories. One subject was born into an affluent family who settled in north central Tennessee, and the second was enslaved from birth until Emancipation in western Kentucky.
Methodology and Skills
Unlocking Stories of Our Female Ancestors through Effective Research Methodology
CC
Denyce Porter Peyton
996 views
We will explore how implementing standard research methodology may open up new avenues of discovery to unlock previously “hidden” evidence of female ancestors’ stories. Using reasonably exhaustive research, evidence correlation, analysis proof standard elements and cluster research methodology, we can uncover critical information to help us develop our female ancestors’ stories. Today’s discussion includes two case studies of females born in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. An exploration of sources, beyond census and marriage records, was required to enhance their life stories. One subject was born into an affluent family who settled in north central Tennessee, and the second was enslaved from birth until Emancipation in western Kentucky.
Wed, April 20 2022: 18:00 UTC
Register for free
50:20
Methodology and Skills
Spinsters and Widows: Using Women to Reconstruct Families
Shannon Green, CG, CGG
1.3K views
CC
Spinsters and Widows: Using Women to Reconstruct Families
We frequently bemoan the dearth of records left by women, but records left by spinsters and widows can be particularly valuable for reconstructing families when properly analyzed. Many people neglect to research spinsters (women who never married) as they have no descendants, but to whom shall they leave their estates? Extended family! Tracing widows to see who they live with can reveal previously unknown family members. See examples where women’s records have illuminated familial relationships and learn strategies to apply to your own research.
Methodology and Skills
Spinsters and Widows: Using Women to Reconstruct Families
CC
Shannon Green, CG, CGG
1.3K views
We frequently bemoan the dearth of records left by women, but records left by spinsters and widows can be particularly valuable for reconstructing families when properly analyzed. Many people neglect to research spinsters (women who never married) as they have no descendants, but to whom shall they leave their estates? Extended family! Tracing widows to see who they live with can reveal previously unknown family members. See examples where women’s records have illuminated familial relationships and learn strategies to apply to your own research.
Fri, April 8 2022: 16:00 UTC
Register for free
1:01:20
Bonus webinarsMethodology and Skills
The Wives of Fishermen: The Lives of 19th Century Women and the Records They Left Behind
Gena Philibert-Ortega
1.0K views
CC
The Wives of Fishermen: The Lives of 19th Century Women and the Records They Left Behind
Using a case study we will take a look at their lives and the records they left behind as well as what 19th century records might record your female ancestor’s life.
Bonus webinarsMethodology and Skills
The Wives of Fishermen: The Lives of 19th Century Women and the Records They Left Behind
CC
Gena Philibert-Ortega
1.0K views
Using a case study we will take a look at their lives and the records they left behind as well as what 19th century records might record your female ancestor’s life.
Fri, July 30 2021: 0:00 UTC
Login to register (for webinar members)
Login to register (for webinar members)
50:19
Methodology and Skills
Learning More about American Female Ancestors Prior to 1850
Gena Philibert-Ortega
6.6K views
CC
Learning More about American Female Ancestors Prior to 1850
One of the stumbling blocks for family historians is researching before 1850 when the US census is limited to only the names of the head of household. Compounded by laws that affected women, such as coverture, and those female ancestors can be fairly invisible to the researcher. So how do…
Methodology and Skills
Learning More about American Female Ancestors Prior to 1850
CC
Gena Philibert-Ortega
6.6K views
One of the stumbling blocks for family historians is researching before 1850 when the US census is limited to only the names of the head of household. Compounded by laws that affected women, such as coverture, and those female ancestors can be fairly invisible to the researcher. So how do…
Thu, April 8 2021: 0:00 UTC
Register for free
1:30:29
Bonus webinarsMethodology and Skills
50 Records that Document Female Ancestors
Gena Philibert-Ortega
26.0K views
CC
50 Records that Document Female Ancestors
“Women can’t be found in genealogical documents.” “They are difficult to research.” While these statements can be true, there are records out there that document their lives. We will explore 50 records to consider as you research female ancestors from the colonial period to the 20th century in the United...
Bonus webinarsMethodology and Skills
50 Records that Document Female Ancestors
CC
Gena Philibert-Ortega
26.0K views
“Women can’t be found in genealogical documents.” “They are difficult to research.” While these statements can be true, there are records out there that document their lives. We will explore 50 records to consider as you research female ancestors from the colonial period to the 20th century in the United...
Wed, October 9 2019: 0:00 UTC
Login to register (for webinar members)
Login to register (for webinar members)
1:25:27
Methodology and Skills
The Art of Negative-Space Research: Women
Jeanne Bloom, CG
2.6K views
CC
The Art of Negative-Space Research: Women
Like using negative space in art, the successful identification of women is often accomplished by using the records of friends and family.
Methodology and Skills
The Art of Negative-Space Research: Women
CC
Jeanne Bloom, CG
2.6K views
Like using negative space in art, the successful identification of women is often accomplished by using the records of friends and family.
Wed, July 11 2018: 0:00 UTC
Register for free
1:00:42
Bonus webinarsMethodology and SkillsHistorical Records
World War I: Women's Lives During the War
Gena Philibert-Ortega
683 views
World War I: Women's Lives During the War
For this 100th anniversary year of the US in World War I, we'll look at the history of American women during World War I and what resources exist to research their story.
Bonus webinarsMethodology and SkillsHistorical Records
World War I: Women's Lives During the War
Gena Philibert-Ortega
683 views
For this 100th anniversary year of the US in World War I, we'll look at the history of American women during World War I and what resources exist to research their story.
Thu, February 1 2018: 0:00 UTC
Login to register (for webinar members)
Login to register (for webinar members)