{"id":94105,"date":"2023-08-30T08:59:05","date_gmt":"2023-08-30T12:59:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.genealogybank.com\/?p=94105"},"modified":"2023-08-30T08:59:33","modified_gmt":"2023-08-30T12:59:33","slug":"genealogy-101-researching-your-ancestors-house-history","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/genealogy-101-researching-your-ancestors-house-history.html","title":{"rendered":"Genealogy 101: Researching Your Ancestor\u2019s House History"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction:<\/em><\/strong> In this article, Gena Philibert-Ortega gives tips for researching another aspect of your ancestor\u2019s life: their home. Gena is a genealogist and author of the book \u201cFrom the Family Kitchen.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Family historians research their ancestors\u2019 lives \u2013 but there\u2019s more to family history than names, dates, and places. Consider researching other aspects of your ancestors\u2019 life to truly understand who they were. Researching what an ancestor owned or where they lived helps to add context to their overall story. It also may help you understand the records you have previously found.<\/p>\n

A house history is one type of research genealogists conduct on their ancestor\u2019s life. By researching a home, genealogists can add depth to their genealogy. Conducting a house history entails researching the home by gathering records like deeds, mortgages, tax records, lawsuits, maps, and photographs. Historical newspapers can make important additions to a house history. Articles and mentions of tax debt, ownership, or even disasters can add to the other records you find that tell the story about that place.<\/p>\n

\"Photo:<\/a>
Photo: man with car and house. From the collection of Gena Philibert-Ortega.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

How do you get started researching a house history? The three steps below will help you begin this research.<\/p>\n

Genealogy Tip:<\/em><\/strong> There\u2019s more than one way to search for an ancestor.\u00a0 Don\u2019t just search by name. For example, conduct a search on your ancestor\u2019s street address, if applicable.<\/p>\n

First: Gather and Document What You Know<\/strong><\/p>\n

As with any research, always start with the known and work backward. What does this mean in relation to researching a house?<\/p>\n

First, document what you know about the house. Don\u2019t worry if you know very little. Every little bit helps.<\/p>\n

Once you document what you know, continue by describing the house. This might be an ongoing project that will rely on some information found in your home or online, and has to be finished by visiting the home or libraries and archives. To do this documentation, think in terms of how a real estate agent might describe the house.<\/p>\n