{"id":51253,"date":"2019-07-09T10:58:32","date_gmt":"2019-07-09T14:58:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.genealogybank.com\/?p=51253"},"modified":"2025-07-09T12:50:35","modified_gmt":"2025-07-09T16:50:35","slug":"the-woman-in-his-life-finding-female-ancestors-via-their-husbands","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/the-woman-in-his-life-finding-female-ancestors-via-their-husbands.html","title":{"rendered":"The Woman in His Life: Finding Female Ancestors via Their Husbands"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction<\/em><\/strong>: In this article, Gena Philibert-Ortega provides tips and links to help you research your sometimes hard-to-find female ancestors. Gena is a genealogist and author of the book \u201cFrom the Family Kitchen.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s face it, it\u2019s difficult to find female ancestors. Between their surname change after marriage (or multiple marriages) and the lack of a solid paper trail throughout history, women can seemingly disappear.<\/p>\n

But what if we expand our research to include those closest to her? Those people in her circle of family and friends can be the key to discovering information about your female ancestor\u2019s life. For our present purposes, let\u2019s take a look at her husband. Records naming her husband are the ones you would expect to find that document her life. If we consider her husband, what records could he have left behind that document her life? The following are a few to consider.<\/p>\n

\"Photo:<\/a>
Photo: Annie Maud Norton Batelle, widow of John Gordon Batelle, 22 June 1920. Credit: Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Marriage Records<\/strong><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s start with the most obvious: marriage records. After all, if you\u2019re researching a married couple you want to verify their wedding date. One of the best parts of a marriage record is that it will list her surname, either her maiden name or the surname of a previous husband. Some marriage records, such as marriage license applications, may also include the names of her parents. This information is vital to your continued research into her life prior to marriage.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Aberdeen Daily News (Aberdeen, South Dakota), 2 January 1900, page 4<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

However, remember that the term \u201cmarriage record\u201d is vague and can actually refer to any number of documents. Take some time to learn about what paperwork is required for the era and place of your ancestor\u2019s wedding so that you can find all relevant marriage records. A good general reference book like Val Greenwood\u2019s The Researcher\u2019s Guide to American Genealogy<\/em> can help you learn more about records.<\/p>\n

Military Pensions<\/strong><\/p>\n

If her husband served during a war, did she receive a pension? I remember the first time I saw my 3rd great-grandmother\u2019s pension application for her husband\u2019s Confederate Civil War service. That document not only provided me new insight into his service but there was information about her life that was new to me, including why she needed that pension. It may be easy to stop your search once you obtain a military service record, but make sure you access all the military records that are available for him (and her).<\/p>\n

A good source for finding pension records is GenealogyBank\u2019s Historical Documents & Records (1789-1994)<\/a> collection, which includes the American State Papers and the U.S. Congressional Serial Set.<\/p>\n

\"Seven<\/a>
Seven Years\u2019 Half-Pay to the Widows and Children of the Officers Killed, or Who Died of Wounds Received in the Battle of Bunker\u2019s Hill, and Others \u2013 Indemnity to an Invalid for the Expenses Incurred by His Wounds. Communicated to the House of Representatives, February 21, 1793. Page: 70. Publication: American State Papers 036, Claims Vol. 1. Report: Publication No. 35.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

U.S. Census<\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s no surprise I\u2019m going to mention the decennial federal census. It\u2019s the record that is often the first thing we look at because of how easy it is to access (GenealogyBank has the U.S. Federal Census<\/a>). Do you know everything about the census? It\u2019s important to remember that we need to find not just our ancestor in the census, but we must carefully analyze what we find.<\/p>\n

How do we analyze and evaluate what we find in the census? You can do this by becoming more familiar with what the census taker recorded. Enumerator instructions are available from the U.S. Census Bureau<\/a> website. I highly recommend reading those so that you better understand what was asked and how it was recorded.<\/p>\n

Pay careful attention to what the census tells you about your female ancestor, and make sure to find supporting documents that can help you learn more. For example, if she is listed as a widow in the census, look for her husband\u2019s death certificate. It would not be unusual to find that she told the census enumerator that she was a \u201cwidow\u201d when she was really just separated or divorced from her husband. Plus, finding a document that verifies the census information can also help you determine if the person listed in the census is your ancestor or someone with the same name \u2013 something that is crucial when we are dealing with common names.<\/p>\n

Because we don\u2019t know who the informant was for the information in the census (until the 1940 census, when it was indicated by an \u201cx\u201d with a circle around it next to the informant\u2019s name), we cannot completely evaluate the type of information it is. It\u2019s best to use the census as a clue and verify the information you find with additional documents.<\/p>\n

Land Records<\/strong><\/p>\n

Did her husband and\/or she herself own land? This is another record type where you might find her listed. Land records can also help you narrow down a death date or a move. Don\u2019t forget that there are various kinds of land records, depending on the state your ancestor lived in. Also, keep an eye out for land transactions mentioned in the newspaper.<\/p>\n

A great resource for learning more about land records is the book by E. Wade Hone, Land & Property Research in the United States<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Newspapers<\/strong><\/p>\n

There are plenty of newspaper articles that contain the names of both a husband and a wife. Search an online collection such as GenealogyBank\u2019s Historical Newspaper Archives<\/a>. Consider, for example, legal notices having to do with probate actions, lists of names of those that owe taxes or whose land is being foreclosed on, articles about their engagement, obtaining a marriage license, or even their milestone marriage anniversary such as their 50th anniversary. They may also be found in articles having to do with court actions such as divorce.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Spirit of Democracy (Woodsfield, Ohio), 19 January 1859, page 4<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Where Is She??<\/strong><\/p>\n

Where is your female ancestor hiding? She can be difficult to find \u2013 but first, exhaust the records that include her husband. Make sure to create a timeline for your ancestral couple and then identify what records exist for that time and place. The FamilySearch Research Wiki<\/a> is a good place to learn about more records.<\/p>\n

Related Articles:<\/strong><\/p>\n