How did you find that?! Discovering the stories in your family research (a case study)
Sharon Hoyt, CG®
Content
About this webinar
Do you have any larger-than-life tales in your family history? You might be surprised what you find when you focus on the stories behind the records. This talk begins with the surprising stories revealed by a deep dive into the lives of two seemingly unremarkable men who were married to the same woman, then demonstrates the strategy that uncovered their unexpected lives.
About the speaker
Key points and insights
In the presentation "How Did You Find That? Discovering the Stories in Your Family Research," genealogist Sharon Hoyt demonstrates how routine genealogical records can conceal extraordinary, multi-layered human narratives. Centering on an ostensibly ordinary Kansas stonemason named William Henry Johnson, the session reveals how probing beyond census entries and basic vital statistics can completely overturn long-held family assumptions. Rather than settling for a flat paper trail, the presentation underscores how critical analysis, curiosity, and disciplined methodology allow researchers to piece together hidden history.
- Adopt the "ACTOR" Mindset for Tough Problems: Hoyt introduces a five-part investigative framework—Adaptable, Curious, Tenacious, Observant, and Rigorous—encouraging researchers to test new strategies, collaborate with local societies, pursue offline repositories, and systematically question every assumption.
- Never Take Obituaries and Single Sources at Face Value: A surface-level obituary provided an incorrect wedding date, a distorted location, and an erroneous name for William Johnson’s second wife; cross-referencing court dockets, contemporary regional newspapers, and allied family timelines was essential to uncovering the true timeline and identity.
- Follow Collateral Lines to Break Through Dead Ends: Tracking a stepson, step-siblings, and allied in-laws led to the discovery of a spouse's earlier marriage to a notorious figure whose landmark murder appeal went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, showing that the most revealing clues often lie outside the direct ancestral line.
To see how these unexpected twists untangle—from a fatal dispute over an umbrella to a high-stakes legal precedent involving historic national figures—watching the complete webinar recording is an essential next step. Viewing the full presentation offers invaluable firsthand demonstrations of constructing research grids, analyzing narrative legal records, and correlating conflicting evidence. Be sure to explore the supplementary resources and research templates included in the syllabus to elevate your own research toolkit.
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Comments (66)
Sharon's case studies are always fascinating. Her research process is similar to how others describe it, but she uses different wording that may be more suited to how some people's brains work.
This was very interesting and motivating to go look for more stories!
Very informative
Great stories and examples of why "reasonably exhaustive" research is a part of the GPS.
I loved this! Very entertaining story with many twists: different names, different locations, and different points of view. Great case study and very well told. It certainly illustrates the characteristics of a genealogist that Sharon described, especially persistence!
What a story. Thank you so much Sharon it shows me what can happen when one really has tenacity and does not let go of any of the facts. A good lesson to be learned.
So interesting. Have so many stories I want to tell of my family but need resources to back them up. Gave me some help and ideas especially to become an ACTOR.
This helped so much, especially using tables to keep track of a character's movements. I have a colorful ancestor who spent time in prison in MI but I found earlier records of the same man (need to prove as no prison records are available except one prison census and a letter from a man named the same as his father). Just wondering how much "proof" one needs to prove an assumption, This webinar gave me a "plan".