Researching the surname BROWN is a CHALLENGE. I believe I can go into any library, select a genealogy reference book off a shelf and find Brown in the index. The name is too common.
The problem is I must find the Browns who connect to my family. I have added 159 Browns to my Family Tree Maker program. They are spread over time, beginning in 1730 to today. They are spread over several states: North Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi, Ohio and New York. They have been farmers, mechanics, millwrights, soldiers and more.
Therefore, it is difficult to eliminate Browns who do not connect. I need to read through all those reference books & look at the details before I can find the‘correct’Browns.
If there is a unique Brown who went his own, who started a branch of the family in a different state, it is likely I will not find him.
Researching for Brown, my maiden name, is definitely a CHALLENGE.
Amy Johnson Crow challenges us to remember our ancestors and their families through this task: 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks. I completed '52 Ancestors' in 2014 & here I go again. This post is in response to that challenge. The topic for this week is ‘CHALLENGE.
Years ago I wrote a post about how hard it is to research common names and uncommon names, too. But my common names are so much less common than Brown! I can hardly imagine the challenges of searching for your Brown ancestors, Colleen! Wishing you lots and lots of luck going forward (or, in this case, going backward).
ReplyDeleteWow, that is indeed a challenge. When I find a Jollett, I'm pretty sure they are mine.
ReplyDelete